5
1054 Words
That meal left Xia Zixin feeling nauseated. It was the first time she had forced herself to eat so much, and now her stomach churned in discomfort. The suffocating atmosphere at the table had drained her, and she silently prayed never to experience such a scene again.
As they stepped out of the hotel, a fleet of luxury cars awaited. After exchanging pleasantries, the four elders departed in their respective vehicles, leaving Zixin, Yaqing, and Luo Yiwei behind. Luo Yiwei kept a firm hold on Yaqing’s waist, only releasing her when his car was brought to the front. Striding towards it, he said, “Yaqing, I need to head back to the office to handle some matters.”
Yaqing smiled faintly, adjusting his collar with care. “Go ahead. I’ll take my sister shopping.”
Luo Yiwei retrieved a gold card from his wallet, placing it in Yaqing’s hand. “Buy whatever you like.” After pressing a kiss to her cheek, he climbed into his car, started the engine, and sped away.
Standing to the side, Xia Zixin felt out of place, as if she were intruding on their affection. “Sister, I won’t go shopping. I have schoolwork to attend to,” she murmured, desperate to leave. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt uneasy around her sister.
Yaqing grasped Zixin’s arm, her expression suddenly serious. “We’re not going shopping. We’re going to the hospital.” She opened the car door and guided Zixin into the passenger seat.
“The hospital? Why?” Zixin asked, startled.
Seated behind the wheel, Yaqing tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her voice brisk. “To check if I’m pregnant.”
Pregnant.
The word struck Zixin like a thunderclap. Her hands instinctively covered her abdomen as a wave of unease washed over her. She had almost forgotten about that possibility, and now the thought left her paralyzed.
The car pulled into the parking lot of Hong Kong’s Queen Mary Hospital. Wearing sunglasses to avoid recognition, Yaqing led Zixin directly to the sixteenth floor. A young doctor in a white coat greeted them as they entered, his features refined and his expression warm. Setting down the file in his hand, he approached with a smile.
“Hi, Yaqing, you’re finally here.” He embraced Yaqing in a distinctly British manner. Stepping back, his gaze shifted to the girl behind her. “Is this her?” He seemed surprised by the stark difference between the two sisters, noting Zixin’s anxious demeanor.
Yaqing nodded and gently pushed Zixin forward. “Jinyan, I need the results as soon as possible.”
“Got it. No problem.” Making a “K” gesture with his hand, the doctor offered Zixin a reassuring smile. “Your name is Zixin, right? Come with me.”
Inside a pristine white room, Dr. Li Jinyan prepared a blood-drawing kit. Sensing Zixin’s nervousness, he asked gently, “Are you scared?”
Zixin shook her head but remained silent.
“You can call me Dr. Li, or even ‘brother’ since you’re Yaqing’s sister,” Jinyan said lightly, trying to ease her nerves.
Before she could respond, he had already finished drawing her blood. “All done. Let’s wait for the results outside,” he said, standing up.
Zixin followed obediently, marveling at how quickly it had ended.
About ten minutes later, Jinyan emerged from the lab, and Yaqing hurriedly approached. “Jinyan, what’s the result?” she asked urgently.
Zixin, sitting stiffly in her chair, lifted her head. Her tension was palpable.
Jinyan took a seat at his desk, clasping his hands together. “The blood HCG test results show no pregnancy.”
The words struck Yaqing like a thunderbolt. She collapsed into a chair, her hands pressing against her temples in anguish. “How could this be? How?” she whispered, the pain evident in her voice.
Alarmed, Zixin quickly stood and supported her sister. “Sister, are you okay?” she asked, her concern genuine.
Jinyan observed Zixin’s actions with a faint smile. This girl, he thought, was endearingly naive.
Later, they sat in a coffee shop. While most such places exuded a relaxed ambiance, tension hung heavy around their table. Sitting across from her sister, Zixin clutched her teacup, her eyes clouded with confusion. “Sister, is your headache any better?”
“Zixin…” Yaqing placed her slender arm on the table and grasped Zixin’s hand tightly, her expression pained. “You have to help me.”
“Sister… I…” Zixin faltered. She had mustered all her courage the last time to help her sister, but it had ended in failure. Now, the thought of repeating the ordeal drained her of resolve.
Seeing her sister’s hesitation, Yaqing’s anxiety deepened. She held Zixin’s cold hands tightly. “Perhaps I should never have fallen in love with Yiwei…” Tears spilled from her eyes as she continued, “A woman who can’t bear children isn’t truly a woman. I’m selfish to want to keep him.”
“Sister…” Seeing Yaqing’s sorrow tore at Zixin’s heart. She knew that her sister’s infertility was her fault. It was a debt she owed.
“But I love Yiwei so much… I don’t know what to do.” Yaqing’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Love left her with no other choice.
“Sister, don’t worry. I’ll help you,” Zixin said softly. She couldn’t bear to see Yaqing suffer. If another attempt was required, she would endure it. After all, she owed her sister a debt that could not go unpaid.
Yaqing’s gratitude overflowed. She held Zixin’s hands tightly, unable to express her emotions fully. “Zixin…”
“I only want to see you and Brother-in-law happy…” Zixin murmured. She understood all too well the deep love in Luo Yiwei’s gaze when he looked at Yaqing. It was something no one else could ever experience. Yet, Zixin thought to herself, If I do this again, it won’t just be my body I give away—I might lose my heart too…
As a red Porsche sped down the highway, Yaqing gripped the steering wheel tightly. The wind lifted her long hair as her exquisite features remained calm beneath her sunglasses. Yet inside, her thoughts swirled chaotically…
- Writer
