"Mom, don't you think about her anymore. She's the one Ling Yucen cherishes the most right now. Do you know who Ling Yucen is? We won't get away with anything if we cross him."
Xia Wanfu only wanted them to back down. After all, Ling Yucen was not someone to be trifled with, and Xia Wantang was not foolish. She wouldn't show any mercy if pushed too far.
Han Wenjuan fell silent, but her expression was grim. Xia Wanfu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Han Wenjuan had taken her words to heart. But Han Wenjuan was not someone who would easily give up. How could Xia Wantang live so well when they were in such a sorry state? She would absolutely not let her live in such ease.
At this moment, Xia Wantang was at the hospital for a prenatal check-up. She was unaware that Xia Linfeng and his wife had been released from prison. Ling Yucen, however, had already received the news. His expression remained calm, showing no significant reaction.
Holding the B-ultrasound printout from her recent scan, Xia Wantang said with frustration, "My due date is in April, I'll be giving birth in about two months. The doctor said the baby is two weeks larger than average and advised me to control my diet."
Ling Yucen suppressed a smile and wrapped his arm around her slightly thickened waist. "Then eat a little less," he chuckled.
These two months were crucial, and it was precisely at this time that Xia Linfeng and his wife were released. He had to be extra cautious. He knew people like Xia Linfeng and Han Wenjuan all too well; they would do anything when cornered. However, with bodyguards protecting her discreetly, they couldn't harm Xia Wantang. But there was another method: leveraging public opinion. With the internet's prevalence, it was easy to attract social attention. Once a trend gained traction, it could lead to moral blackmail, causing emotional distress that could escalate to physical harm, as few could withstand online attacks.
Of course, he could also exert a little control over the internet. After all, many entertainment companies were under Tengkong Group, and even other companies would give Tengkong face. No matter what he did, as long as he was in the right, it would work. This time, he wouldn't stop their actions; in fact, he hoped the situation would escalate. When the heat reached its peak, Gong Ye's appearance would leave them with nowhere to hide. After all, Gong Ye had just returned home with merit, which would only make the Xia Linfeng couple's fate worse. It would also elevate public opinion to a national level.
Of course, he had another personal motive: to use this opportunity to reveal Xia Wantang's true identity, allowing her to establish herself more firmly in high society. However, these were all his conjectures. If they could simply be content and law-abiding, that would be for the best. This would also spare Xia Wantang heartache. Although the outcome was predetermined, Xia Wantang would still be the one hurt when things unfolded.
Xia Wantang was feeling frustrated, but then she noticed Ling Yucen wasn't paying attention to her, as if he hadn't heard her speak. She immediately got angry and huffed, "What are you spacing out for? Still smiling, are you laughing at me for being too fat to eat?"
"No," Ling Yucen leaned closer and whispered, "You've gained weight, and it feels even better."
Xia Wantang was already immune to his teasing. She simply gave him a cool glance, her eyes full of disdain. "The doctor said it's not good for childbirth if the fetus is too large. If it's too much larger, I might have to have a C-section." Xia Wantang pouted, her mood soured. She really didn't want a scar on her belly.
Ling Yucen's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. The closer she got to her due date, the more nervous and fearful he became, but he couldn't show it in front of Xia Wantang. When he panicked, Xia Wantang felt even less assured. "It's okay, we can still manage if we control our diet. I'll eat less with you." On the surface, he appeared calm, but he quietly squeezed Xia Wantang's hand. Xia Wantang wasn't experiencing prenatal anxiety, but he was. Especially lately, with too many videos about pregnant women appearing in his searches, social media apps kept pushing similar content to him. He grew more and more scared as he watched videos of difficult births.
Xia Wantang sighed, feeling as though all sorts of delicious foods were drifting away from her.
They returned to the Ling residence. Old Mrs. Ling, Old Mr. Ling, and Gong Ye were all waiting for them. Seeing that Xia Wantang was not in high spirits and looked listless, not her usual cheerful self from when she left, they all grew worried.
Old Mrs. Ling couldn't help but ask, "Was the check-up smooth?"
Xia Wantang nodded. "Yes, it was fine. The baby is just two weeks larger than average, and the doctor told me to eat less."
"That's great! It means good nutrition and a healthy baby that will be chubby later," Old Mr. Ling said with a hearty laugh, not quite grasping the issue. As a man, he naturally wouldn't understand these things. Moreover, in the eyes of the older generation, a bigger baby was always better.
"Great about what?" Old Mrs. Ling glared at him before turning to Xia Wantang with concern. "If the baby is too big, it will be difficult for you, Xia Wantang. You'll have to control your diet in the later stages."
Xia Wantang touched her belly and smiled helplessly, too shy to admit she was hungry again. Since she became pregnant, she had been experiencing more intense cravings for food, getting hungry easily and wanting to eat at any moment. While others had various pregnancy symptoms and discomforts, she had none. Throughout her pregnancy, she couldn't stand eggs, but she ate everything else heartily and fell asleep as soon as she lay down. This was why she was gaining weight easily and the baby was well-nourished.
Another issue was the increasing frequency of urination; she had to go to the restroom all the time. After thirty weeks, her pubic bone started to ache, her legs would cramp, and in the last couple of days, her legs had become swollen, forcing her to wear Ling Yucen's shoes.
Thinking she needed to go to the restroom again, she took a deep breath, preparing to get up. But as soon as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her inner thigh, making her almost fall onto the sofa. Fortunately, Ling Yucen quickly caught her. He asked nervously, "Is your pubic bone hurting again? Let me carry you to the restroom!"
Xia Wantang whimpered pitifully and clung to Ling Yucen's neck. Old Mrs. Ling, having been through it herself, understood the difficulties of pregnancy. She sighed, "No one can go through it for her. There are still two months left; she just has to endure it. Fortunately, Yucen takes good care of her."
Seeing his daughter's struggles during her pregnancy, Gong Ye was reminded of his wife's pregnancy. He was busy with his missions and was not by her side during her pregnancy or childbirth. He wondered how she had managed alone. Not only had he missed his wife's pregnancy, but he had also missed his daughter's growth. In this life, he had only let down his wife and daughter.
When Xia Wantang returned from the restroom, she felt much better. Seeing their concerned gazes, she smiled and reassured them, "It's okay. It only hurt for a moment; it's not that uncomfortable." Although pregnancy was difficult, with so many people who cared about her, she didn't find it unbearable. Besides, she wanted to have several more children!
"I brought you a photo album this time. It has pictures of you when you were little, and also of your mother, grandparents..." Gong Ye wasn't one for sentimental speeches. He felt sorry for his daughter and knew she was bored staying at home during her pregnancy. So, he often brought her gifts. Discovering her interest in the Gong family's affairs, he thought of bringing her a photo album.