Jin Ye had barely entered the room when Xue Zhi Qiao strode over with remarkable speed.
The two men were of similar height and possessed equally powerful, sharp demeanors. Standing together, they created an impactful sense of irreconcilable conflict.
"Jin Ye, is this how you take care of her?" Xue Zhi Qiao demanded angrily.
Jin Ye remained silent, his brow furrowed. He sidestepped Xue Zhi Qiao and walked to Su Ding's bedside.
Su Ding looked bewildered. What was going on?
What kind of incurable disease did she have?
"Ding Ding," Jin Ye knelt down and took her hand.
"?" Su Ding looked at Jin Ye, then at the furious Xue Zhi Qiao, and also at Jiang Jia Yi, whose expression was somewhat complex. She asked, "What's wrong? What illness do I have?"
"Illness? Humph," Xue Zhi Qiao snorted coldly, ultimately conceding the news to Jin Ye.
"You're pregnant," Jin Ye said, his voice heavy.
He held her hand tightly, his voice low, with an almost uncontrollable tremor, his expression filled with apology.
Upon hearing the words, Su Ding felt a sense of daze.
Pregnant?
She was pregnant?
The words echoed incessantly in her mind, and Jin Ye in front of her seemed to blur.
She was actually pregnant, carrying Jin Ye's child.
"If we hadn't brought you to the hospital for a check-up today, I wouldn't have known you were pregnant. Tell me, how dangerous is that!" Xue Zhi Qiao berated, his face flushed, his anger clearly directed at Jin Ye.
"It makes sense. President Jin is so busy with his work that he doesn't even know his wife is pregnant. What a thoughtful and responsible husband," Xue Zhi Qiao taunted, deliberately provoking him. Jin Ye's expression indeed turned unsightly.
Jin Ye knew this was his negligence.
They had never used protection during their intimacy, and he secretly hoped for a baby.
If Su Ding could get pregnant, his mother would have no reason to reject her.
Of course, as Su Ding's husband, he also wished for their own bloodline...
He lowered his head, letting Xue Zhi Qiao continue his tirade.
"Zhi Qiao, stop talking," Su Ding interrupted Xue Zhi Qiao.
If she had paid more attention to her own health, this accident wouldn't have happened.
Xue Zhi Qiao's concern for her made her feel as though she had the support of her family, and she was truly grateful.
"I have my own responsibilities too," Su Ding said softly.
"No, it's that I haven't paid enough attention to you," Jin Ye said gravely, holding Su Ding's hand.
He didn't say much more; he was a man of few words.
However, for someone as proud as he was to admit his responsibility in front of others was the greatest acknowledgment.
Xue Zhi Qiao's expression softened slightly, but he remained displeased.
If Su Ding were with him, he would definitely put down his work to treat her well.
To this day, he still didn't understand why Su Ding had chosen Jin Ye over him.
"As long as you know it in your heart. If you don't cherish her, others will. Don't regret it when you've lost her," Xue Zhi Qiao said to Su Ding, his gaze filled with undisguised admiration.
Jin Ye remained silent, his face darkening, his eyes chilling like ice.
He would never give Xue Zhi Qiao such an opportunity.
But what he didn't know was that Xue Zhi Qiao's words would later become a prophecy.
"Alright, alright, this is a joyous occasion. Let's not dwell on whose responsibility it is anymore."
Jiang Jia Yi broke the silence at the opportune moment, smiling and saying, "The fetus's condition isn't good, you need to rest well these days."
"How is the baby?" Su Ding asked, instinctively touching her lower abdomen with concern.
"Your irregular schedule recently has naturally affected the baby's development. You'll need to adjust gradually later on."
"Yes, thank you, Jia Yi," Su Ding said, finally feeling relieved.
Jiang Jia Yi smiled.
Su Ding's heart lightened, and her mood became cheerful with the good news.
Xue Zhi Qiao then said, "Since you've finished filming this drama, take a good rest during this period. As for the variety shows..."
"I will send someone to handle it," Jin Ye stated firmly.
He felt a slight displeasure towards Xue Zhi Qiao's words, as he was, after all, Su Ding's husband.
Yet, despite his inner displeasure, he had to admit that Xue Zhi Qiao genuinely cared for Su Ding, and he didn't want to appear narrow-minded.
Shortly after, the doctor came to examine her. "Family members, please be attentive. Let the patient rest well. It's best to stay in the hospital for observation during this period, as there are signs of threatened miscarriage."
Upon hearing this, Jin Ye's face paled dramatically.
Su Ding quickly said, "Thank you, Doctor. I will cooperate with the examination."
After the doctor left, Xue Zhi Qiao and Jiang Jia Yi also bid farewell. Jin Ye stayed behind to keep watch.
"Want a ride back in my car?" Xue Zhi Qiao asked outside the hospital.
"Yes, that would be great, thank you," Jiang Jia Yi agreed readily.
Once inside the car, Jiang Jia Yi took the initiative to ask, "Have you known Ding Ding for a long time?"
"Mhm," Xue Zhi Qiao replied faintly.
Seeing that he wasn't inclined to chat, Jiang Jia Yi didn't get upset and continued, "Sigh, I think Ding Ding has had a tough time. President Jin has indeed been neglecting her."
"Isn't that the truth? That guy Jin Ye is definitely not a thoughtful person!"
Xue Zhi Qiao's spirits lifted when he found her agreeing with him.
He felt a pang of sourness in his heart, thinking about the woman he liked carrying another man's child.
"Yes, I also think Ding Ding deserves a man who would care for her," Jiang Jia Yi agreed, nodding.
"Yes, if only she thought the same way you do," Xue Zhi Qiao said, his face creased with worry.
Jiang Jia Yi covered her mouth and smiled, playfully asking, "So, if Ding Ding really separates from President Jin, would you still be willing to accompany and cherish her?"
"Of course," Xue Zhi Qiao started, then shook his head. "Never mind, the possibility is not high."
Jiang Jia Yi, however, said, "Nothing is absolutely impossible."
Xue Zhi Qiao smiled but didn't reply. If Su Ding had been willing to accept him, she would have done so long ago.
Jiang Jia Yi said no more, her mind quietly contemplating something.
...
In the evening, Su Ding was resting in her hospital room when there was a knock on the door.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and a young man wearing a baseball cap stood at the entrance. "Excuse me, are you Miss Su Ding?"
"I am," Su Ding sat up and asked.
"Hello, someone asked me to deliver a letter to you," the young man said politely.
He was fair-skinned and clean-cut, resembling a university student.
Su Ding was a bit puzzled. "Then please come in. Who asked you to deliver the letter?"
The young man handed the envelope to Su Ding and said, "It was a girl. I didn't get a clear look at her face. She just told me to give the letter to a woman named Su Ding and then left."
"Alright, where did you meet her?" Su Ding inquired.
"I'm working part-time downstairs. She gave me a hundred yuan on the way and asked me to come up to this room and deliver the letter to the woman called Su Ding. She didn't say anything else." The young man finished and added, "I have other things to do, so I must be going."
"Mhm," Su Ding estimated that she wouldn't get any more information and opened the envelope.
The envelope was thin, containing only a single photograph.
As she clearly saw it, her heart plummeted, and her face instantly turned pale.
This was...
Jiang Jia Yi at the door of room 2411, which was Jin Ye's room.
The long strand of hair she had found inside Jin Ye's suit jacket at noon perfectly matched Jiang Jia Yi's hair color and length!
Why did Jiang Jia Yi's eyes dart away when she saw her?
Why had Jiang Jia Yi looked so haggard that morning?
So that was it?
Jin Ye had been intimate with Jiang Jia Yi behind her back, which was why he had just showered when she entered?
A tempest surged in Su Ding's mind!
She recalled Jin Ye's reaction when he faced her; he had been so calm and composed, as if nothing had happened!
She had never imagined he could be so deeply disguised!
Su Ding was so angry she was breathing heavily, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She still couldn't believe it; how could those two have gotten involved?
Could it be a misunderstanding? But this coincidence was too great.
If Jiang Jia Yi and Jin Ye had nothing going on between them, why would she react that way?
The more Su Ding thought about it, the angrier she became, and her lower abdomen began to ache faintly. She tried to breathe deeply to calm herself.
She was pregnant now and couldn't get angry.
But she still couldn't help but overthink, even recalling the period when Jin Ye was on a business trip and had been distant towards her.
How could Jiang Jia Yi know about Jin Ye being harassed by foreign women abroad?
Unless they were in contact!
Madam Jin's satisfaction with Jiang Jia Yi last night also flashed through her mind...
Tears streamed down Su Ding's face. The despair and pain of betrayal were suffocating, but she didn't cry out loud.
She bit her lip tightly, her face flushing with discomfort.
All the genuine affection was fake. Jin Ye didn't choose her over Shao Lin, but that didn't mean she was the only one.
Heh, she had lived a foolish life, so naive.
She kept wiping her tears with her hand, but they flowed as if inexhaustible. She had only just received the joyous news of her pregnancy today, and before she could be happy for long, this devastating news arrived!
Why, why would Jin Ye deceive her like this!
Su Ding clenched her fists, her eyes filled with intense hatred. Did Jin Ye truly treat her as a fool to be toyed with?