Chapter 576 Real Age
This man...
Subconsciously, Xiaoran bites her lower lip and lowers her head.
His gaze is so sharp that she doesn’t dare to look at him in his eyes.
But it reminds her of another man who has the same gaze as him.
They are both influential figures.
“Hua Xiaoran, I’m sorry, but you’ve lost your baby.” Yi Yunrui straightly tells her the truth.
Xia Ning gasps and looks at Xiaoran worriedly.
These words are destructive to every woman.
Xiaoran has just regained consciousness. Yi Yunrui still makes it straight. What if Xiaoran cannot handle the bad news?
Pupils shrinking, Xiaoran is shocked and says after a while, “What did you say? I’ve lost my baby?”
Yi Yunrui nods, “You’ve been pregnant for two months. Your baby did not survive when you were sent to the hospital.”
“Dear.” Xia Ning says, suggesting Yi Yunrui to make it euphemistic.
Xiaoran seems to have complicated feelings. She looks even paler than previously. Finally, she shakes her head and murmurs something no one can hear.
Xia Ning is worried, “Xiaoran, don’t be too sad. It’s an accident which I should take major responsibility for. You can ask for anything, and I will see what I can do to make you satisfied.”
“Make me satisfied?” Xiaoran lifts her head to look at Xia Ning stupidly and smiles.
Yi Yunrui squints. He takes the seat beside his wife.
“My baby... My baby...” Tears streaming down, Xiaoran cries, hiding her face behind her hands.
Xiaoran is physically weak. Her crying makes Xia Ning more worried. She tries to soothe Xiaoran, but Xiaoran keeps crying. In the end, Xia Ning does not know what to say and sits by the bed quietly.
Xiaoran cries for a while before she stares into nowhere on her bed, probably because she has no more strength left in her body.
Xia Ning moves her lips but holds back what she wants to say.
She wants to ask for Ou Yixuan’s number and tell him to take care of Xiaoran. But then she thinks that it will get tricky if the baby is not Ou Yixuan’s.
“Xia Ning...”
Hearing Xiaoran calling her name, Xia Ning responds quickly, “I’m here. Go ahead.”
“Can you meet Yixuan?”
“...” Xia Ning tenses up. Xiaoran still thinks about this at this moment, which suggests how important Ou Yixuan is to her. “Ok. I’ll meet him. What do you want me to do in our meeting?”
The situation is out of everyone’s expectations. Though Xiaoran lost her baby, for which Xia Ning does not have to take major responsibility, Xiaoran’s accident happened in the media building, making her relevant. She just wants to make up for her.
Taking a deep breath before sighing, Xiaoran says with her lips trembling, “I just want to make Yixuan let go of what happened before so that he can live happily from now on. Please, Miss Xia.”
“I know. I’ll set up our meeting when you feel better.”
Xiaoran contemplates and shakes her head, “No worries. If you set up the meeting, he may overthink it. I’ll do this. Miss Xia, all you need to do is to give me your availability.”
“Yes. I can do it at any time. Xiaoran, all you need to do is to recover. Feel free to ask for anything. I’m truly sorry for what happened today.”
Xiaoran closes her eyes, “Leave it. It’s no one’s fault.”
Jing Shu takes a while in the toilet. When she gets out, she finds Beitang Xiu waiting for her.
“Mr. Beitang, why are you still here?”
“I’m waiting for you.” Beitang Xiu says confidently.
Waiting for her? Jing Shu purses her lips, “Mr. Beitang, I’m alright. I won’t cry or make a fuss. I will take my responsibility. If I can’t, I will try to make up for it as best as possible. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Beitang Xiu smiles, “That’s what I’m talking about. Mrs. Xia has Commander Yi by her side. You don’t need to worry about her. What you need to do now is to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Would you like to come to the coffee shop?”
Jing Shu shakes her head quickly, “No thanks. You are busy, and I don’t want to bother you.”
“The coffee shop always prioritizes its customers. It’s our honor to serve them.” Beitang Xiu says and dials a number on his phone, “Mrs. Xia, can I take Shu to my coffee shop? Yes. Thank you.”
Beitang Xiu finishes the conversation and hangs up the phone.
Jing Shu is shocked at Beitang Xiu’s execution.
“I’ve told your boss. Now would you like to come along with me?”
Xia Ning was about to stay with Xiaoran to take care of her. But then she worries that her presence may make her uncomfortable, so she arranges a professional carer for her. Xia Ning feels emotional when she leaves the ward.
All she can think of is the tiny baby that lost its life today.
Seeing his wife being worried, Yi Yunrui says, “Dear, guess how old Hua Xiaoran is?”
“Hmph?” Unsure of what Yi Yunrui tries to say, Xia Ning thinks for a while and says, “She looks like in her twenties. What’s wrong?”
“In her twenties?” Yi Yunrui purses his thin lips, “Don’t be fooled by her appearance. Hua Xiaoran is in her forties.”
“Forties?” Xia Ning widens her eyes. She asks again unbelievingly, “Is she really in her forties?”
“I have looked into her medical records, which say that she is forty-four.”
“...” Xia Ning is speechless. How come she always encounters women with babyface features who look younger.
Ou Yixuan is in his thirties and Hua Xiaoran forties, making Hua Xiaoran roughly ten years older than Ou Yixuan.
If these two are together, it will be that she is robbing the cradle.
Hang on. Hua Xiaoran is in her forties. By rights, getting pregnant for women like her is especially risky. She did not seem to be aware that she had been pregnant. She probably did not think that she was still fertile. Menopause usually happens in women’s forties or fifties. It makes sense that Hua Xiaoran did not know that she is pregnant.
However, this baby was probably the last chance for Hua Xiaoran. She missed her final shot. It can be imagined how Hua Xiaoran feels now.
Xia Ning thinks of this and calls the carer to tell her to take good care of Hua Xiaoran. She hangs up the phone only after she has talked about it several times.
She is worried that Hua Xiaoran cannot accept it and commit suicide.
Yi Yunrui holds his wife’s hands tightly and soothes her, “You have little to do with this. Don’t overthink. You have also been pregnant for over three months. Your bad emotion can affect the baby. What has happened between Ou Yixuan and Hua Xiaoran is for them to solve. Other people can offer some help at best.”
Speaking of Ou Yixuan makes Xia Ning hesitate, “Dear, Xiaoran asked me to meet Ou Yixuan to talk him through his problem. And I agreed. Dear, are you ok with this?”
Yi Yunrui smiles and says, “Why not? You are just going to meet him.”
“Are you happy?”
“Do I look like someone mean?”
Not mean? He is not mean most of the time. But when he is, he is terrifying.
“Hmm, I see. I can have a good chat with Ou Yixuan.”
Commander Yi tenses up at Xia Ning’s words immediately.
What is a good chat about? What are they going to talk about?
“I will ask Zhang Hai to go with you in case Ou Yixuan causes any trouble.” Yi Yunrui adds in a low voice before closing his eyes to take a rest.
Ask Zhang Hai to go with her? Xia Ning smiles secretly.
Yi Yunrui sounds OK with this, but he is still worried and wants Zhang Hai to be his eyes.
Who says he is not mean? He is still tense.
“Not bad. The coffee’s aroma and taste are both authentic. Shu, you’ve made great progress. Congratulations!” Putting down the coffee, Beitang Xiu praises.
Jing Shu is a bit uncomfortable receiving the compliment and she scratches her head, “Thanks to your training, Mr. Beitang. My coffee is only edible compared to yours.”
“No, it’s really good.” Beitang Xiu says and pushes the mug towards Jing Shu, “Making coffee is a technique and art. Coffee will taste differently if it is made with different emotions. You can still remain calm and focus on your task given what happened today. It suggests you have strong potential.”
Jing Shu contemplates for a while and shakes her head, “I didn’t calm down, actually.”
“Hmph? Why?”
“Your presence gave me the pressure that calmed me down.”
Beitang Xiu pauses and then laughs, “So today I learn that I’m a sedative.”
Jing Shu smiles and grabs the coffee to take a sip. Her hand stops when the mug is close to her lips, and the slight scent reaches her nose.
Beitang Xiu has had some coffee from this mug. If she uses the same one, does it mean that they have an indirect kiss?
Jing Shu blushes at this thought and hurriedly puts down the mug.
Beitang Xiu frowns, “What’s wrong with the mug?”
Jing Shu purses her lips and shakes her head, “Nothing.”
“Nothing? And then why do you look so panicked?”
Jing Shu blushes even harder. She takes a glimpse of someone before she talks.
Someone she is familiar with walks into the coffee shop. He looks around before fixing his gaze on her and walking over.
It is Zhang Hai.
For no reason, Jing Shu has a bad feeling at once.
Zhang Hai walks to them. He stands straight, takes a look at Jing Shu, and says to Beitang Xiu, “Mr. Beitang. Can I have a word with you? Just you and me.”
“Zhang Hai, what do you want? This is Mr. Beitang’s coffee shop...”
Beitang Xiu shakes his hand to mute Jing Shu, “Ok. Shu, give me a second. I’ll talk to Zhang Hai. This way, please.”
Looking at Beitang Xiu and Zhang Hai’s leaving, Jing Shu feels worried. Zhang Hai does not look friendly. They had a small fight in the hospital. Is he here to have some quarrels with Beitang Xiu?