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Psst! We're moving!
Qin Moling scrolled through the myriad of answers online, his heart lurching like a roller coaster, nearly shattered by the turmoil.
Bang!
He threw his phone onto the table, and it slid across the surface, nearly falling to the floor.
Just as he was wallowing in regret, an unexpected visitor interrupted him.
Leng Wenning had called him only after arriving downstairs, asking to come up to his office for a cup of coffee.
She had clearly heard about Yu Qing’s plan to hold a bidding on March 1st and had come to check the situation.
Yu Qing’s office was right next door, but instead of going to her, Leng Wenning sought him out.
Basic courtesies still had to be observed, so Qin Moling instructed his secretary to prepare some coffee.
Leng Wenning was particular about her coffee—every time she visited, she insisted on freshly ground beans.
The weather was cold, but Leng Wenning wore only a dark long skirt. She had probably parked her car in the underground garage and didn’t bother grabbing her coat before heading upstairs.
Qin Moling glanced at her—she looked fierce.
Leng Wenning removed her sunglasses. “What kind of nonsense are you guys trying to stir up?” She skipped the pleasantries entirely.
Qin Moling’s mood wasn’t great—the shadow of the contraceptive pills still lingered—and he didn’t appreciate her arrogant attitude. “We’re planning to find a new favorite for Lemong.”
Leng Wenning paused. “Did you take the wrong pill today?”
Qin Moling: “...”
Another handful of salt was ruthlessly sprinkled on his wound.
It wasn’t just that he had taken the wrong pill—he felt like even his gender might have been compromised.
Leng Wenning reined in her temper slightly but couldn’t suppress her frustration. “What exactly is Yu Qing trying to do? Show off her capabilities? How long has she been in charge, and already she wants to replace the planning company? Does she even understand how important marketing is in the fast-moving consumer goods industry? One misstep, and you lose the market completely.”
She stared at Qin Moling. “Yu Qing is acting recklessly, and you’re letting her? Can you stop playing with Lemong’s life and death?”
Qin Moling didn’t respond, raising his eyelids slightly, adopting an indifferent expression.
He bit down on a cigarette, unlit since a lady was present.
Bored, he chewed on the filter.
Leng Wenning felt as if she had punched a cloud of cotton—her sense of defeat was soft, yet unbearable. “Out of respect for you, I came here to negotiate nicely. Let’s share the wealth. Please pass a message to Yu Qing—don’t be so stubborn.”
The coffee arrived, and the secretary, sensing the tense atmosphere, placed the cups down and quickly left.
Qin Moling gestured toward the coffee. “Drink up. For work-related matters, talk to Yu Qing.”
“You want me to approach her directly?”
Leng Wenning sneered. “Hmph.”
Her face was filled with sarcasm.
Qin Moling enunciated each word slowly. “Whether or not to approach her is your business. Whether or not to pass on a message is mine. Whether or not to replace the planning company is Yu Qing’s decision.”
Leng Wenning understood what Qin Moling meant—he wouldn’t interfere with any of Yu Qing’s decisions.
With things said this clearly, continuing the conversation would be pointless.
She stirred her coffee absentmindedly. The Yu sisters were truly something—one more exasperating than the other.
________________________________________
In the adjacent office.
Yu Qing leaned back in her swivel chair, spinning around slowly.
She didn’t know what kind of mood Qin Moling was in now. He probably didn’t believe her and thought the pills were actual contraceptives, sulking over it.
Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but laugh.
But as she laughed, the amusement faded.
The vitamin C on her tongue had passed its initial sourness.
Perhaps her mouth had simply adapted to the acidity.
Even Qin Moling had noticed her recent drowsiness. She could no longer deceive herself.
At the beginning of last month, the day after Fu Jichen accompanied her to the hospital, her period arrived.
Following the doctor’s advice, she stopped taking the contraceptive pills.
For over a month, her body hadn’t experienced any discomfort.
But her period was delayed again.
She kept telling herself it was due to irregular cycles, but certain areas that shouldn’t feel swollen had started to feel tender these past few days.
The key point was her drowsiness.
She had never deliberately avoided anything before, but this was the first time. She didn’t want to go to the pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test, nor did she want to visit the hospital for a check-up.
It was as if, by not confirming it, this child wouldn’t exist.
These past few days, aside from coming to the office, she didn’t want to see anyone, especially Fu Jichen.
Counting today, she hadn’t seen him for four days, nor had she let him come over. She told him she was busy lately, and he never asked further.
But today was Valentine’s Day.
What excuse did she have to avoid him?
Half the afternoon slipped away amidst her scattered thoughts.
As the workday was nearing its end, Yu Qing received a call from Yu Shaohong.
Yu Shaohong first expressed concern, asking how her work was going and whether she had adjusted to her role transition.
Yu Qing found it baffling. “Dad, we live together—you ask me these things every day. Why bother calling specifically?”
Yu Shaohong coughed awkwardly.
“Dad, just say what you need to say.” Yu Qing wasn’t in the mood to banter with her father today; her mind was tangled with countless thoughts.
Yu Shaohong sighed inwardly. “Have you seen your mother’s social media posts?”
Yu Qing rarely checked social media, and her mother hardly ever posted anything—at least, not in her memory.
“What’s wrong?” she asked her father.
Yu Shaohong hesitated. “Your mother remarried today.”
Yu Qing: “...”
Yu Shaohong was careful not to say anything wrong. “Your grandparents are gone. You’re her closest person. Can you give her your blessings? It’s not easy being mother and daughter.”
As he spoke, his voice softened. “She posted it on social media—she probably wanted to tell you.”
Yu Qing wasn’t surprised by her father’s magnanimity toward her mother’s remarriage because he had long stopped loving her. Without her in his heart, he could generously offer his blessings.
Of course, such blessings were rare and precious.
“She only has you as her child. Maybe she doesn’t know how to love you, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you.”
Yu Qing remained silent.
“If you really don’t want to call her, at least give her post a like.”
“…………”
Yu Shaohong didn’t dare say more. He could joke with his daughter about anything, except for her relationship with her mother—that was a taboo topic, one he avoided even in passing.
Yu Qing leaned back into her chair. “Do you have Mom’s WeChat?”
“Mm. I added her, but we’ve never contacted each other since.” Yu Shaohong explained why he had proactively added her mother on WeChat: “I just thought that when you get married one day, I’d discuss with her what kind of joint blessing we should give you.”
Yu Qing glanced at the fake contraceptive pill bottle on her desk. It was an eyesore, so she picked it up and put it in the drawer.
Yu Shaohong didn’t waste any more words, reminding his daughter to check her mom’s social media before hanging up.
Yu Qing found her mother’s WeChat contact and saw that there was only one post on her feed.
A single English word: 【LOVE】
There were also two photos—one of her holding hands with her second husband, and the other a solo photo of her mother from her younger days.
Yu Qing had seen her mother’s current husband for the first time at her mother’s wedding.
His surname was Pang.
She used to call him Uncle Pang.
He was a financial heavyweight from Wall Street and the mastermind behind a global asset management company.
Low-key by nature.
Self-made, he had spent over thirty years building his own business empire.
His features were rugged, and his height was average.
But his presence was commanding.
Like her mother, Uncle Pang had been married once before, and his romantic history was equally colorful and dramatic.
Her mother’s heart probably still belonged to her father.
And Uncle Pang’s heart still held the memory of a long-ago first love.
Two people who had seen countless sails in the capital markets had divorced and remarried, even flying to Las Vegas to register their marriage at midnight on Valentine’s Day.
Looking at the photos her mother had posted, Yu Qing realized it had been a very, very long time since she last saw her. Aside from feeling more distant, everything else seemed unchanged.
Her mother was still charming, noble, and exuded the regal air of independence as if it were spilling out of the screen.
If she were to offer a blessing, she hoped her mother’s remarriage was because she had discovered that Uncle Pang was her soulmate.
She also hoped this marriage would last long, healing the wounds inflicted by her first marriage.
Yu Qing didn’t know how to leave a comment, and as for liking the post, it seemed unnecessary.
Just as she was about to exit, her father’s call came through again.
“Did you see the photos?” Yu Shaohong asked.
Yu Qing: “Mm.”
“In the second photo, slightly behind your mother to the right, there’s a child wearing a sun hat. The photo isn’t very clear, but that’s you.”
“…”
Yu Shaohong didn’t say anything further and hung up.
Yu Qing zoomed in on the photo—it really was her.
She remembered that dress. There were a few photos in her grandmother’s album where she wore that same dress.
After staring at the photo for a while, Yu Qing still didn’t know how to leave a message or what kind of blessing to give. She exited the app.
Before she could think too much, Fu Jichen’s message came through: 【Come straight home after work, no matter what time. I’ll be waiting for you at home.】
For the first time ever, Yu Qing left work early, shutting down her computer and leaving as soon as it was time.
On Valentine’s Day, the streets were bustling with people.
As she passed by a pharmacy, Yu Qing glanced at it but quickly averted her gaze.
The roads were crowded with cars and pedestrians, and by the time she reached the road leading to her neighborhood, it was already 6 p.m.
Yu Qing bit her lip lightly, steeled herself, and turned on her blinker, steering the car into the pharmacy’s parking lot.
She sat in the car for a few minutes, her mind racing. The dull ache in her lower abdomen became increasingly noticeable.
She got out of the car and headed straight to the shelf, grabbing two brands of pregnancy tests.
At the checkout counter, she realized she had mistakenly picked up an ovulation test instead of one of the pregnancy tests.
How could she have missed such big letters?
She went back to exchange it.
When she got home, the two chefs were busy in the kitchen, and Fu Jichen was seated at the dining table, engrossed in something.
Hearing her footsteps, Fu Jichen looked up. “So fast?” Then he quickly added, “Don’t come over yet.”
Yu Qing retracted her steps and turned toward the living room.
“President Fu, Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Mm.”
Yu Qing turned on the TV and zoned out without realizing it.
She had originally planned to prepare a gift for Fu Jichen.
But her mind was preoccupied, and she hadn’t prepared anything.
“I’m going upstairs.” Yu Qing picked up her bag, unconsciously gripping it tightly, and ascended the stairs.
The moment of judgment had arrived.
The two pregnancy tests almost simultaneously changed color.
Yu Qing’s legs went numb.
That numbness spread from the soles of her feet to every inch of her body.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, for a fleeting moment, the world spun.
The slim chance of getting pregnant while using protection had hit her.
Yu Qing crossed her arms and rested her forehead against the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window.
She was the one who deserved to face the wall and reflect.
Twenty-five years ago, when her mother had just become pregnant with her, she must have cried tears of joy. At that time, she was a testament to her parents’ love.
But just months later, their feelings changed.
Her mother’s pain—she couldn’t fully empathize with it.
But she knew it must have felt like being stripped of her bones.
Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts.
It was the marketing director, reporting the latest situation in the Beijing market. Normally, he had the authority to handle such matters himself, but since it involved Duo Xin, he decided to consult her as a precaution.
“Director Yu, regarding Duo Xin’s Beijing market, there’s an internal price war. Zhuo Hua Trading is a distributor, but they’ve opened a separate account and are directly shipping products from Duo Xin’s factory. They’re supplying merchants at a price three yuan cheaper per unit than Boss Qian. Boss Qian’s market share is at risk.”
Yu Qing was momentarily stunned. She steadied herself and quickly pulled herself out of her chaotic thoughts.
She hadn’t expected Xiao Yilin to replace Boss Qian, but now Xiao Yilin couldn’t control Zhuo Hua Trading, causing the market prices to spiral out of control.
The marketing director continued, “It’s not really our problem.” Every beverage company’s sales department engaged in all sorts of underhanded tactics.
It was nothing unusual.
But, “Their prices are so low that it’s affecting the sales volume of our Lemong products.”
Lemong and Duo Xin had similar product lines. For convenience store and supermarket owners, selling Lemong drinks versus Duo Xin drinks was merely a matter of brand preference.
They’d naturally favor whichever brand brought in more profit.
Now that Duo Xin was offering products at a price three yuan cheaper per unit, store owners were naturally inclined to stock more of Duo Xin’s drinks.
The storage space in small shops was limited—stocking up on Duo Xin’s products meant there was no room left for Lemong’s.
With fewer purchases, sales naturally decreased.
This directly impacted Lemong’s sales volume.
The battle between Boss Qian and Zhuo Hua Trading over market share showed no signs of ending anytime soon. If this continued for two or three months, Lemong would suffer significant losses.
After a moment of consideration, Yu Qing said, “Contact our legal advisor, Yu Fei, and have her help Boss Qian file a lawsuit.”
“Alright. You’re busy.”
As the work call ended, Yu Qing’s rationality slowly dissipated.
The issue of the child once again weighed heavily on her mind.
She had been upstairs for a while now, and she figured Fu Jichen must have finished setting things up.
Yu Qing went to the walk-in closet and picked out a dress to change into.
She chose a style Fu Jichen liked—low-cut and backless.
Facing the mirror, she pulled her hair up.
Inadvertently, her gaze drifted toward her abdomen in the reflection.
After tidying herself up, Yu Qing went downstairs.
The chefs had already left.
“You can come over now,” Fu Jichen called out to her.
Yu Qing smiled. “What’s the surprise? Making it so mysterious.” As she spoke, she walked over.
Fu Jichen turned off the dining room lights, leaving only the candles on the table to illuminate the scene.
Yu Qing kept her hands behind her back, trying to appear relaxed so as not to ruin the romantic atmosphere.
When she saw the surprise on the dining table, she froze momentarily.
The table was covered with a thick layer of rose petals, and above them, a small fish shape had been created using perfume.
At this moment, she should have excitedly jumped into Fu Jichen’s arms, kissed him deeply, and celebrated the occasion.
But she didn’t.
For some reason, she instinctively refrained from acting like her usual self.
Yu Qing opened her arms. “Fu Jichen, hold me.”
Fu Jichen didn’t find anything unusual about her request. After all, he had used up his entire stash of perfumes—every single bottle—for today, just to make her happy.
He expected her to be moved.
That’s what he thought.
Despite the painstaking effort put into setting up the dining table, Yu Qing didn’t want to disturb it, so they made do with their Valentine’s Day dinner at the kitchen island.
She was unusually quiet tonight, and Fu Jichen noticed. He assumed it was work-related and didn’t press further, instead trying to shift her focus to happier topics.
But he found that she wasn’t interested in anything.
“Regarding Leng Wenning, if you’re happy working with her, then do so; if not, don’t. Don’t overthink it.” Fu Jichen looked at her. “You still have me backing you.”
Yu Qing nodded. “Mm.”
Fu Jichen handed her the glass of red wine and clinked it with hers. “The first Valentine’s Day, the start of countless ones to come.”
“Thank you, my first love, President Fu.” Yu Qing held the wineglass, tilted her head slightly, and let the wine touch her lips—but she didn’t drink. She set the glass aside.
Yu Qing’s absentmindedness persisted until they lay in bed.
Even she could feel it. She wanted to adjust her mood, to pretend everything was fine, but her state wouldn’t return.
This wasn’t something that could simply pass with disappointment or anger—it lingered.
It concerned her and Fu Jichen’s relationship.
It would leave a scar in her heart.
She had been abandoned before, and she knew how it felt.
Perhaps her brain had short-circuited—why did she stop taking the contraceptive pills when her body wasn’t in great shape?
“Still not sleeping?” Fu Jichen had already showered, gotten into bed, and turned off the lights.
Fresh out of the shower, his body was cool.
Yu Qing snuggled against his arm. It was Valentine’s Day—she’d tell him tomorrow.
Fu Jichen gazed at her profile in the dim light, able to see only a vague outline. He couldn’t discern her expression at this moment.
His hand trembled slightly as he raised it, then slowly lowered it.
It took him two tries to grip her shoulder firmly.
“I’m sorry. I… I didn’t know. I didn’t mean for this to happen. The condoms—I thought they were fine.”
His words came out jumbled.
He wasn’t sure whether he felt more guilt or sadness.
“I’m sorry.”
His voice was hoarse as he repeated the apology.
Yu Qing suddenly lifted her head. “How did you find out?”
She racked her brain, trying to remember if she had forgotten to throw away the pregnancy test.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall.
Her mind was a complete blur.
She shouldn’t have forgotten to throw it away, right?
After a long pause, Fu Jichen finally said, “I saw the box of the pregnancy test.” It was on the shelf—likely left there because she had been distracted.
From her behavior tonight, he knew for sure that she was pregnant.
He didn’t dare ask if she wanted to keep the child.
She probably didn’t.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so tormented and conflicted.
“I’ll respect any decision you make.”
He lay down and held her.
The bedroom was silent except for the sound of their breathing.
A long time passed.
Maybe two hours.
Yu Qing hadn’t fallen asleep, and she knew he was still awake too.
“Fu Jichen.”
“Mm?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
After a pause, he said, “I hope it never gets light.”
Yu Qing turned over and hugged him tightly.
Later, neither of them knew what time they finally fell asleep.
It felt like they had just closed their eyes when the alarm went off.
Fu Jichen turned it off. “Let’s sleep a little longer.”
Yu Qing murmured an “Mm.”
This was the first time they hadn’t let go of each other even in sleep.
But, the sun still rose.
At 7:30, they had no choice but to get up.
They washed and got ready.
Fu Jichen prepared breakfast for Yu Qing. From eating to leaving the house, neither of them spoke much.
The driver sensed the unusual atmosphere between them and tactfully lowered the privacy panel.
They both stared out of their respective windows. This was the first time they were heading to work as the sun rose.
Suddenly, Fu Jichen turned his head. “Yu Qing, I want to back out of something once.”
Yu Qing turned around, and their eyes met. “Back out of what?”
Fu Jichen held her hand. “I want to be selfish this time—for my own sake—and ask if we can keep the child? I can’t bear to lose him. And I know that when you decide not to keep him, it will also be the moment you leave me. Didn’t you say you’re like a kite? The child will be the string, connecting you and me for life. You can fly as far and as high as you want—I won’t worry about losing you anymore.”
Yu Qing looked at him, blinked, and suddenly turned away.
The last time she felt this kind of pain and sadness was when her grandmother passed away.
That wasn’t losing her soul—it was losing her roots.
Fu Jichen moved closer and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s give him a home, okay? That way, you’ll have a home, I’ll have a home, and all three of us will have a home.”
“Yu Qing, can you not give up the child and not leave me?”
Yu Qing didn’t respond. Instead, she picked up her phone and started hitting him on the back—once, twice, three times…
She began beating him again.
Fu Jichen let out a long sigh of relief. She was willing to keep the child.
“Fu Jichen.”
“What is it?”
“I want to give you a nickname.”
“What kind of nickname?”
“Game. Next time someone asks me, ‘Yu Qing, what did you do during the holidays?’ I’ll say, ‘I played games at home.’“
“…Alright. As long as you don’t uninstall me, you can level me up to King.”
“…”
Yu Qing pushed him away. “Fu Jichen, from now on, even if you want to show off, try to tone it down a bit in front of me. Your side has bright sunshine, while mine has storms!”
She rested her forehead on her hand, trying to calm herself down quickly. There was still a lot of work to deal with.
Fu Jichen moved to the car window, keeping as much distance from her as possible.
Looking out the window, he couldn’t help but smile.
“Yu Qing,” he turned his head. “What nickname should we give the baby?”
Yu Qing glanced at him indifferently. She hadn’t yet adjusted to the role of being a soon-to-be mother, and her mind was preoccupied—she didn’t have the energy to think about names. “Fish eggs, kitten, Perfume Yu, Rich Fu—what do you think?”
Fu Jichen: “…”
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