Chapter Two: She Was Pregnant

"You!"

The man turned his head, staring in disbelief at the bedraggled woman before him.

Under their stunned gaze, the woman slowly rose to her feet.

[Are you satisfied now?]

She waved her pale, limp arm, her sleeve—shredded by tree branches—fluttering pitifully in the wind.

"Damn it!"

Rang Wu, standing behind, cursed under his breath, frozen in place.

"You mute! Have you lost your mind?"

The man stood up and gripped Wen Zhi’s arm. The faint scent of tobacco trailed from his proximity, making her frown.

[I am not crazy.]

Her unnaturally pale face spoke volumes of her dire physical state.

"You—"

Before Bo Ye could finish, the woman collapsed into his arms. Only then did he feel how deathly cold she was.

"Rang Wu, drive to the hospital."

He frowned, scooping her up by the waist.

"Oh, oh... right."

Rang Wu finally snapped out of his daze, recovering from the shocking sight of his own boss being slapped.

"Turn on the heat!"

As a thin blanket was wrapped around her, the woman’s body temperature gradually climbed; a high fever set in, flushing her fair cheeks with heat.

She looked utterly wretched; her dark, soaked hair clung to her forehead in wet strands, long lashes rested against pale, delicate eyelids, and the mole on her cheekbone stood out against the flush of her fever. Under the warm light, her moist, red lips looked tempting enough to eat.

The slim-fitting cheongsam clung to her, leaving nothing to the imagination.

The partition in the car was raised.

Bo Ye effortlessly stripped off her ruined clothes and draped his own shirt over her clean, white skin. He tossed her tattered garments out the window, watching them arc away into the night.

—

"Does the patient have any specific conditions?"

The man paused. "She is pregnant."

The female doctor looked up sharply. "You made a pregnant woman walk through the mountains?"

The multiple abrasions on the woman’s body were all the evidence needed.

Bo Ye: "..."

"I will prescribe some mild medication, but her recovery will rely mostly on physical therapy and her own immune system."

"Understood."

Bo Ye’s face darkened. After taking some medicine, her complexion improved, losing that deathly pallor.

Rang Wu noticed the man’s suit jacket was worn without a shirt underneath and gave Bo Ye a look that clearly labeled him a "beast."

"If your eyes aren't working, go see an ophthalmologist."

Rang Wu: "..."

—

In his drowsiness, Rang Wu saw the person on the bed stir, and his sleepiness vanished instantly. "Ma... Ma... Madam."

"You're awake?"

When Wen Zhi heard the title, a look of immense confusion crossed her small face.

[Where is Bo Ye?]

"I don't understand sign language. I'll go get the boss!"

As Rang Wu rushed out, he collided head-on with Bo Ye, who had just returned from smoking downstairs.

"Are you blind?" Bo Ye said impatiently.

"Bo... Miss Wen is awake."

Rang Wu was a sensible man. He knew his president detested Wen Zhi, and he had initially shared that dislike; he didn't care for calculating people. But how could he put it? After seeing her fearlessly slap Bo Ye, he had only one word for her: Brave!

Bo Ye’s gaze finally shifted toward the hospital bed. The wall clock in the VIP suite ticked away, its hands pointing precisely to nine.

The man walked toward the bed in his leather shoes, while Wen Zhi’s hands, hidden beneath the covers, clenched tightly.

[I’m sorry.]

She was apologizing for her temper.

Bo Ye looked away, speaking to no one in particular. "My subordinates were stupid and didn't understand my instructions, which is why they didn't pick you up in time."

Wen Zhi: "..."

She was puzzled.

Bo Ye turned back to look at her. "You are carrying our child."

Only then did Wen Zhi understand. She had wondered how Bo Ye could possibly care about her; it made sense now that it was for the child’s sake.

[Is the child okay?] she asked cautiously.

"It's fine."

"Get up once your fever settles... the guests have been waiting for us for a long time." He sounded impatient.

[Alright.]

Seeing his annoyed expression, Wen Zhi tentatively reached out to tug at the corner of his jacket.

[My clothes...]

*Whoosh.*

Caught off guard, she gasped as he swept her up into his arms.

[What are you doing?] she asked quickly.

"Buying clothes."

Bo Ye’s long legs moved swiftly. Within moments, they were at the elevator. Fortunately, there was no one else around at such an hour. She was wearing only his knee-length shirt, tightly swaddled in a dark blanket.

[It's so late...]

Only then did the man deign to give her a glance.

"Remember this: in W City, even if I, Bo Ye, were to go crazy at three in the morning to buy clothes, no one would dare refuse to serve me."

What gave him such arrogance? The fact that his surname was Bo.

Wen Zhi shivered at his words.

As the car door closed, she squeezed herself into the corner on his left as hard as she could.

Was she afraid of him?

Bo Ye felt a surge of disdain. Was this the same woman who, just a few nights ago, had held a medical report and forced him into marriage with such poise?

The car sped through the darkness. Wen Zhi suddenly recalled something—the bare skin she had brushed against when he held her earlier.

Did this man have an exhibitionist streak? She looked at the shirt she was wearing, and her mind started spinning.

She pointed to the shirt. [Did you change me?]

After a long pause, the man spoke. "No."

He then turned his head slightly toward the window.

In the darkness, the woman let out a sigh of relief. The space in the car was small, and the man heard her clearly; his lips curled unconsciously, as if a prank of his had succeeded.

In the back seat, the man and woman sat at opposite ends, facing away from each other, the distance between them feeling like an entire galaxy.

—

"Mr. Bo—" The staff member bowed obsequiously.

"Take her to the women's section. Find the best designer to style her."

"Of course. Madam, please follow me."

Wen Zhi followed the woman obediently.

[Where are you going?]

—

Wen Zhi chose a mermaid-cut gown. The hem was long, trailing on the floor. A large blue-green butterfly flower hung from one shoulder, and golden patterns were embroidered from the bodice to the hips. The fit around her thighs was perfect. The gown was a mysterious, noble blue-green, and the golden embroidery shimmered under the lights.

"For this outfit, we suggest pairing it with high heels. It will make your figure look more statuesque and complement the gown better."

Her feet were still throbbing with pain, and she had just remembered she was pregnant.

[Show me the flats, please.]

"Certainly." The clerk nodded at the words she wrote and led her away.

After changing her shoes, she sat in the dressing room like a doll, waiting for Bo Ye. One look at the clerk’s expression told her the dress was exorbitantly expensive; in a single day, the clothes she had worn were worth a small fortune.

"Let's go."

The man entered.

His taste was truly terrible: black coat, black tie, black shirt, black trousers, and matching black leather shoes. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was attending a funeral.

Wen Zhi followed him with small steps.