Wei Yumeng shook her head, "No, I'm not going."
"That's better. Come, let me apply the medicine." Zhan Mohan appeared harmless, but Wei Yumeng could sense that if she dared to step out, he would ensure she had no peace for the night. He was capable of such things.
After the medicine was applied, it was nearly midnight. Zhan Mohan stood up, "I'm leaving. You rest well."
Wei Yumeng instinctively asked, "Aren't you staying here to rest?"
It was so late, and he was still leaving.
Zhan Mohan winked at her playfully, "Miss me already?"
"No, I just thought, if you drive back now, it might not be safe. How about you just spend the night on the sofa?"
Wei Yumeng was genuinely worried. Zhan Mohan had injuries on his face, and he seemed tired when she saw him in the car earlier.
Zhan Mohan gently ruffled her hair, his voice soft and warm, "No, this is someone else's rented place. And your neighbors are all elderly. If they see a man appearing at your place often, it won't be good for your reputation."
Wei Yumeng hadn't considered this. Zhan Mohan even thought of this. It was true; sometimes when food or delivery drivers knocked, the neighbors would open their doors to peek, wary of strangers entering.
The last time Chu Zi'an and Zhan Mohan both visited, for days after, she and Mu Linjing would hear the old ladies gossiping, questioning their professions and why men frequently appeared at their residence.
Wei Yumeng didn't mind it much, as she was often the target of criticism anyway. It was just unfair to Mu Linjing, who hadn't even dated anyone yet, to be misunderstood by those elderly women.
Thinking of this, a sense of guilt welled up within her.
Zhan Mohan saw that the time was right, "I'm going."
"Mm, be careful on your way," Wei Yumeng escorted him to the door and watched him descend the stairs before closing it.
She walked into the living room, poured herself a glass of water, and fell into deep thought. Should she and Mu Linjing consider moving, or perhaps she should move out on her own?
As she was lost in thought, Mu Linjing emerged from her room, her tone tinged with mischief.
"Mr. Zhan left?"
"Yes, he insisted on going back, saying that if he stayed here and left in the morning, the neighbors might see and gossip."
Mu Linjing sat on the sofa, "You know, Mr. Zhan is surprisingly considerate sometimes. How are things between you two? Has it eased up a bit?"
"Sort of. But I still feel this isn't a long-term solution. You know about the child in my belly, and I don't even know who the father is. The Xin family is also demanding I terminate the pregnancy. Zhan Mohan hasn't forced me to abort, but I always feel he's unpredictable. And any man would find this situation hard to accept, right?"
Mu Linjing concluded, "That's because he loves you too much."
Only when someone loves another person enough would they abandon their own beliefs, break their rules and bottom lines, and ultimately become unlike themselves.
She was quite surprised when she first heard Zhan Zhang agree. But later, she felt nothing but admiration for Mr. Zhan.
He had compromised so much for Yumeng. His love wasn't just superficial; it was evident in the efforts he made behind the scenes.
If they hadn't gone to the police station, Yumeng might not have known that Zhan Mohan went to find him only after seeing that damn text message from Xin Ran.
Wei Yumeng found this almost unbelievable.
"What did you say? Zhan Mohan likes me?"
This had to be a joke.
Mu Linjing was almost speechless, "You still can't tell after all this? If it were you, say if Mr. Zhan and Jiang Siyu were together, and Jiang Siyu got pregnant with his child, would you accept it?"
"No," Wei Yumeng answered without hesitation. She figured anyone wouldn't accept it.
"And if Mr. Zhan absolutely had to accept this child, for example, if he could never have children again, and this was his only descendant. You and he would raise the child together, but Jiang Siyu wouldn't be involved in your lives. Would you be willing?"
Wei Yumeng hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Although I wouldn't be very willing, I could consider it."
Mu Linjing clapped her hands, "Exactly. Only when your love for a person reaches a certain level will you make such compromises."
Wei Yumeng still found it hard to believe that Zhan Mohan truly liked her. She felt he was just trying to save face. After all, the Zhan family held such a high status in Pengcheng. If her situation affected them, it would be a significant loss.
Her head was starting to ache from thinking, "Forget it, I'm going to bed."
"Wake up early tomorrow; we have a hospital check-up."
"Okay."
Perhaps because Zhan Mohan had agreed to let her keep the child, she slept more peacefully that night.
The next day, Wei Yumeng and Mu Linjing went to the hospital, getting a consultation with Doctor Yang Tao.
Through these interactions, they had all gotten to know each other.
As Wei Yumeng entered the consultation room, she saw Chu Zi'an chatting and laughing with Yang Tao.
"Dr. Yang, you doctors are really brave, chatting with people in the hospital."
Mu Linjing said jokingly as she walked in.
Yang Tao's smile faded, "Isn't it Saturday today? Not many people."
Chu Zi'an added, "She wasn't supposed to work today, but she thought of Yumeng's check-up and switched shifts with a colleague."
Wei Yumeng thanked Yang Tao sincerely, "Thank you, Dr. Yang, for specially switching shifts for me."
"It's all this kid. I've been longing for that meal he promised for ages, and he never delivered. He insisted on waiting for you. Well, today's a good day. After the check-up, we'll have a big meal."
Yang Tao had already planned to thoroughly "fleece" Chu Zi'an.
Chu Zi'an readily agreed, "Today, everyone eat to their heart's content. My treat."
Yang Tao wrote out the form and handed it to Wei Yumeng, "Go get an ultrasound first and see how things are."
"Okay."
Mu Linjing followed, "I'll go with you."
"No need. You stay here and chat with Dr. Yang and the others. I can find my way."
Wei Yumeng didn't want to trouble Mu Linjing further. She had already burdened her too much recently.
Mu Linjing thought that since Mr. Zhan had agreed for Yumeng to keep the child, there shouldn't be anything to hide anymore.
"Then be careful."
Chu Zi'an asked Mu Linjing after Wei Yumeng left.
"What's been going on with you two these past few days? I heard that Xin Ran's mother even went to see Yumeng and tried to force her to abort the baby."
Mu Linjing was surprised, "You've heard these rumors too?"
"Of course. These things spread quickly in our circles. Yumeng and Xin Ran's affair caused quite a stir. If Zhan Mohan hadn't stepped in promptly and spread the news of their divorce, I fear this matter would have reached abroad by now."
Yang Tao nodded thoughtfully, "Looking at it that way, Zhan Mohan's decision was indeed wise."
Chu Zi'an remembered what Mu Linjing had told him last night.
"What were you trying to tell me yesterday?"