Chapter 306: Chapter 304 Premature Birth
Jian Xi’s mother told the truth.
"After you left, I had all the gifts he previously gave me returned to him. I didn’t expect him to send them back, saying it was unrelated to you and should be considered a gift from a junior to an elder. Honestly, Xiaofu is a really good man, and he handles things beautifully. If it weren’t for you and Zhang Yaxuan having a child, I would have insisted you be with him. A man like that is someone you can rely on for the rest of your life."
Jian Xi couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her mother seized any opportunity to praise Fu Shengyuan and try to matchmake them, which was utterly boring.
"Enough with the praise. Get to the point."
Jian Xi’s mother muttered, "Accepting gifts makes one feel indebted. Jian Group is poaching talent! Tianyao Group has complicated internal dynamics; no one in the Fu Family is easy to deal with. Even though he’s the richest man, he’ll inevitably face difficulties. As an elder, it’s not wrong for me to show some concern, is it?"
Listening to her, there really didn’t seem to be anything wrong with what she said. Perhaps I was overthinking it.
"Jian Xi! You can’t treat Fu Shengyuan like this! You owe him too much!"
"Owe him?" Jian Xi scoffed.
"Did I beg him to pursue me? Did I beg him to send gifts to please me? Did I beg him to show off Luo You and Tianyao Group to me like a peacock displaying its feathers? Or, Mom, do you feel that I have to marry any man who earnestly pursues me just to be ’fair’ to them? Is it not shameless to demand reciprocation for every effort made?"
Jian Xi’s mother was taken aback by her words.
"You’re right! Mom was wrong. Modern people shouldn’t be judged by old standards. You already have a child with Zhang Yaxuan, so why am I still going on about this?"
Jian Xi felt a pang in her heart.
"Mom, I’m sorry. My tone wasn’t good."
"No, it’s Mom who was too fixated. I always wanted to find a good man for you and neglected your own feelings. If you don’t like someone, you don’t like them. It can’t be forced."
Jian Xi forced a smile.
Jian Xi’s mother asked, "You’re about to give birth. Can Mom come and see you?"
Thinking that Si Yuhuan might strike from the shadows at any moment and that she was in danger, there was no need to involve her mother and make her worry. Jian Xi refused, "No need, Mom. I’ll bring the babies back to see you."
Jian Xi’s mother gritted her teeth. "You stubborn girl! You heartless thing!"
When being gentle didn’t work, she resorted to being tough. "If you don’t let your mom make it up to you, I’ll..."
BEEP BEEP BEEP—
Jian Xi hung up the phone.
Knowing her mother’s relentless persistence, Jian Xi didn’t dare to engage any further.
Jian Xi’s mother was so furious she almost smashed her phone.
"Little rascal, getting more and more opinionated."
Just then, Father Jian came downstairs. Seeing him, Jian Xi’s mother started scolding, "Like father, like daughter! Both so stubborn!"
Father Jian, feeling wronged, didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly. With his wife in such a rage, it was better for him to keep his mouth shut. He wanted to ask about Jian Xi’s situation but held back, deciding to ask her fourth brother instead. He just wondered if he could even get through to his research-obsessed son’s phone.
Wan Yu came in and saw Jian Xi looking so repressed she seemed on the verge of depression. Wan Yu went over to rub her shoulders. "Auntie is just worried about you. Zhang Yaxuan doesn’t look like a qualified husband, no matter how you see it, so it’s inevitable they’d have suspicions."
"Forget Auntie. Even your second brother has been subtly probing me several times."
"So Second Brother really does suspect," Jian Xi said.
Jian Xi gave a wry smile. Her second brother was too smart. It was a good thing she’d left when she did; otherwise, he would have already exposed her lies.
"It’s not just your second brother. Suoya has been quite gossipy lately too, constantly asking me about you and Si Yuhuan. She’s not as listless as you described!"
Wan Yu gnawed on an apple and tossed one to Jian Xi. "But she’s really good to you. I’ve seen it. She personally handles all your food and drinks and is always meticulously preparing the baby’s room. If you didn’t know better, you’d think she was her own younger sister! It’s rare to find a nanny like that."
"Yes, Suoya is indeed very good."
But why is she suddenly so interested in gossip about me? Forget it, no need to dwell on it. I’ll just wait quietly to give birth.
With Wan Yu around, she felt very comfortable.
When Wan Yu mentioned Si Yuhuan’s publicity stunts, Jian Xi’s usual admiration and praise were gone. Instead, she spat out venomously, "That bastard! He’s an expert at exploiting everything he can. He’s ruthless and cold-blooded! A guy like that deserves to die!"
Wan Yu shivered. "Xixi, are you alright?"
Even though their marriage had ended, Jian Xi had never spoken about Si Yuhuan like this before. This time, her harshness made it sound as if she bore a deep grudge. Wan Yu strongly suspected that pregnancy hormones were wreaking havoc, making her a bit neurotic.
「That evening.」
Jian Xi inexplicably felt a severe pain in her abdomen.
Wan Yu scrambled out of bed. "Oh my god, don’t tell me she’s going into labor!"
The doctor arrived quickly.
Her fourth brother, Jian Sirun, also came in.
"Miss Jian, it looks like you won’t be able to have a natural delivery. We need to prepare for a C-section!"
Jian Xi was in so much pain she could hardly breathe. As labor truly began, she felt the world spin. Even though she thought she was prepared, at this moment, panic and fear overwhelmed her. She struggled to grab the doctor’s sleeve. "Why am I going into labor prematurely?"
"There are many possible reasons. We’ll need to do a detailed examination to determine the cause. Miss Jian, please focus on preparing for delivery now!"
Wan Yu held Jian Xi’s hand, trying to encourage her. "Don’t be afraid, Xixi. Everything will be alright. You must cooperate with the doctors. You can do it!"
Jian Sirun furrowed his brow, a sense of unease settling over him.
"Leave everything to us. We’re going in now," the attending physician said to Jian Sirun, then immediately entered the delivery room.
Jian Xi’s cries of pain felt like a vise gripping Jian Sirun’s heart. He couldn’t think about anything else, praying only that his younger sister would be safe.
In a corner, Suoya was frantic.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
As soon as the call connected, she burst out, "Didn’t you say those were nourishing herbs? Why did Miss Jian go into premature labor after taking them? Are you trying to kill her? I can’t believe it! You claim to love Miss Jian, yet you do this to her! I won’t help you anymore!"
After she unleashed her tirade, a magnetic male voice on the other end asked, "What are you talking about? Xixi is in premature labor?"
"You..." Suoya’s eyes reddened with anger.
"This really has nothing to do with me. The prescription was indeed nourishing. If you don’t believe me, you can check it yourself. I had no idea this would happen. I’m being wronged!"
Suoya asked tentatively, "Director Si, are you truly not involved in this?"
"Of course not. Xixi is the woman I love most, and she’s carrying my children. How could I possibly harm her or our children? I’m a human being, not an animal! This must be a misunderstanding. I’ll investigate thoroughly and give you an explanation. Suoya, don’t panic. Stick to the plan. Think of it as doing this for Xixi. You’ve seen for yourself that she’s not safe where she is. Only when she returns to my side can I guarantee her and the babies’ safety."
"Alright."
Suoya nodded, suppressing her suspicions, and ended the call. She immediately checked the prescription. Finding nothing amiss, she felt somewhat reassured.
"Miss Jian, you have to be alright!" Suoya clasped her hands together, tearfully praying.