Zhōng Zhuóhuá turned off her phone after attending the charity gala and, having no work the next day, slept until nearly noon.
Her family hadn’t bought any newspapers—just as well, since it saved her from reading all the rumors.
Her period was over a week late, and the nausea in her stomach was growing worse by the hour.
Afraid of being caught by paparazzi, she hadn’t dared to buy a pregnancy test. But she was almost certain—she was pregnant.
When the maid saw her get up, she prepared a simple breakfast.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá lifted the glass of milk to her lips, but a wave of nausea churned violently in her stomach.
Not wanting anyone else to know about the pregnancy, she forced herself to sip just a little, then signaled the maid to leave her alone.
After the maid left, she held her forehead and drank half a cup of warm water to suppress the milk taste.
The breakfast on the table looked abundant, but she had no appetite for any of it.
From the day her period was delayed until now, her heart had been restless, plagued by anxiety but unable to make a decision.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá knew, even if she stayed silent, the truth wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
Setting down the glass, she went back to her bedroom and turned on her phone to call her agent, asking her to come over and bring a pregnancy test.
“What bring?” the agent thought she’d misheard.
“A pregnancy test.”
The agent nearly dropped her phone. “Zhōng Zhuóhuá, you really are my grandaunt!”
So angry, she hung up immediately, spun around on the spot, and didn’t know how to vent her frustration. She kicked the sofa twice in succession.
The last kick was so forceful that her toe throbbed painfully, and sweat broke out on her back. She cursed Jiang Jingyuan fiercely.
Squinting, she waited for the pain to subside.
Jiang Jingyuan had called her yesterday, saying he wanted to see her.
She’d already denied to the media that they were dating, and if they were photographed meeting, it would damage her reputation—not him. It wouldn’t affect Jiang Jingyuan in the slightest.
She had refused his request coldly, even sneering a few times.
But who would have guessed—Zhōng Zhuóhuá was actually pregnant.
Asking her to buy a pregnancy test wasn’t because he suspected she was pregnant; it was because he probably couldn’t keep it a secret any longer and wanted to inform her.
The agent grabbed a soda from the fridge, popped it open, and downed the whole can in one gulp with a “gulp gulp—”.
With a bang, she tossed the empty can into the trash.
Thinking about Zhōng Zhuóhuá carrying Jiang Jingyuan’s child made her blood boil; the cold soda didn’t help at all.
With no other option, she called Jiang Jingyuan.
Having been turned away at Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s place yesterday, she wondered if the Third Young Master of the Jiang Family would even pick up this time.
***
After a few seconds, the call was met with a tone—the number was off.
[Mr. Jiang, please call me back when you turn your phone on. It’s important.]
The agent changed clothes and went downstairs, her rare day off spoiled.
Now, the only person she could trust was the driver. She told him to go somewhere farther to buy the pregnancy test.
She warned him, “Don’t tell your boss about this.”
The driver wasn’t from their agency but was hired by Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s older brother especially to look after his sister.
The Zhōng family had settled abroad years ago. Their parents and older brother were dentists who ran two clinics locally. Not wealthy, but comfortably well-off.
By chance, a Star Scout discovered Zhōng Zhuóhuá and hoped she would return to Hong Kong Island to pursue her career.
Her parents disagreed, bluntly stating their family had no background and that entering the entertainment industry would mean hardship—they wanted her to focus on her studies.
But the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Zhōng Zhuóhuá was already captivated by acting and had no interest in school.
No amount of persuasion could change her mind; she was determined to go back to Hong Kong Island.
Her parents issued a harsh ultimatum: if she went back, she was never to return—pretend they had no daughter.
Having been spoiled growing up, Zhōng Zhuóhuá was unafraid of threats. She packed her bags and bought a ticket back that very day.
Though her parents said they would cut ties, her father still contacted an old friend in Hong Kong and, through multiple connections, managed to reach the agency’s Boss, pleading for patience with his daughter’s temper.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s older brother, worried for her safety, hired a full-time driver and bodyguard with a generous salary.
As for the occasional scandals and rumors, the family was too far away to do anything.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá was stubborn and hot-tempered.
When she first entered the industry, she didn’t wait for others to show their disdain—she showed them hers first.
Being wronged was out of the question.
But she had paid a price.
Just like this time with the rumors—so many secretly took pleasure in her downfall and kicked her when she was down.
After a detour of dozens of kilometers, the agent finally bought the pregnancy test and headed straight to Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s apartment.
Before entering the building, the agent checked her phone again—no missed calls, no messages.
Whether Jiang Jingyuan’s phone was off or he had seen the message but refused to reply, she couldn’t tell.
A man of his status would be hard to forgive such a slight.
The doorbell rang for a long time before the maid came to open.
“Miss Zhong hasn’t been in a good mood. She only drank a few sips of milk for breakfast.”
Seeing today’s newspaper, the maid assumed Zhōng Zhuóhuá skipping breakfast was related to Jiang Jingyuan and didn’t think about pregnancy at all.
The agent grew angrier and angrier. “Not eating is fine—she won’t starve.”
She sent the maid away and headed straight to the master bedroom.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá was leaning against the bay window, soaking up the sun, clutching a pillow, completely listless.
The agent tossed the pregnancy test onto the window ledge in frustration. “I told you every time to take precautions! Why won’t you listen? Men only care about their own pleasure!”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá wasn’t defending Jiang Jingyuan. She explained, “I used protection.”
The agent sneered. “Are sperm that powerful now? They can get through the condom by themselves?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá—
The agent pointed toward the bathroom, urging her to test.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá wanted to say there was no need, but she opened her mouth and then closed it again.
As expected, two deep red lines appeared.
The agent flushed the disposable test down the toilet and stuffed the packaging back into her bag.
“Your mom asked me to take good care of you. I’ve been so negligent.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá hugged the agent. “It’s not your fault. Sorry to trouble you.”
The agent brushed her hand away. “Let go. Don’t be mushy. Honestly, I’m annoyed just seeing you right now.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá held on, feeling empty inside. Holding onto someone was the only thing that made her feel secure.
Her mind was tangled and conflicted, unable to decide what to do.
[You planning to do what?]
Solve it on your own or contact Jiang Jingyuan?
If on her own, then cut off all ties—never see Jiang Jingyuan again.
His family was Jiang Jingyuan’s. Having a child wouldn’t guarantee she could marry into that family.
The agent patted her, signaling her to release her grip. “Sit and talk.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá let go and sat back on the window ledge.
She stared blankly out the window for four or five minutes.
Her silence left the agent uneasy.
“Need that long to think? Don’t tell me you hadn’t thought about it before I came?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá didn’t reply.
The agent gave up fetching a stool and sat on the floor, tired, leaning against the bed. “Grandaunt! Please say something!”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá withdrew her gaze from the window. “I’m going to keep the baby.”
The agent nearly had a heart attack.
Just as she feared!
“Zhōng Zhuóhuá, I warn you—don’t be stupid!”
Clutching her chest, the agent stood and tried to catch her breath.
Knowing Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s stubborn temper, she might not respond to soft words, but hard words wouldn’t work at all.
She spoke earnestly, “You’re not new to the entertainment world, and you haven’t been back on Hong Kong Island for just a day or two.”
“Look around—who here got into a wealthy family just by having a child? Rich families have plenty of kids. It’s no big deal to have one more or ten more.”
“You have a bright future; don’t make things hard for yourself.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá said, “I’m not trying to marry him. Whether he acknowledges the child or not doesn’t matter. I’ll raise the kid myself—I can afford it.”
The agent was at a loss for words.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá’s mind was made up. “The baby’s in my belly because it’s fate. As long as I can take care of it, I can’t bear to abort.”
The agent was powerless. She knew Zhōng Zhuóhuá well. Once she made a decision, she wouldn’t turn back. Just like her stubborn pursuit of the entertainment world—her parents couldn’t stop her.
And she was just an agent.
“Where do you plan to give birth? How will you keep this a secret?”
“I’ll contact Jiang Jingyuan. If he’s willing to help, he can spend more time with the child. If not, I’ll figure it out myself.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá sent Jiang Jingyuan a text: [I’m pregnant. I want to keep the baby but don’t want the child disturbed, so I need your help. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you. Once I’ve earned enough to raise the child, I’ll take them to my parents and never come back.]
[No need to meet again. Just have someone arrange everything.]
[Dating you is the most boring thing ever, so I don’t want to see you again.]
At that moment, a knock sounded on the bedroom door.
“Miss Zhong, Mr. Jiang is here.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá froze. She had just sent the message—how did he arrive so quickly?
The agent finally understood why Jiang Jingyuan’s phone was off earlier—it was because he was on a plane to Hong Kong Island.
She patted Zhōng Zhuóhuá on the shoulder. “Talk it out. Since you’ve decided to keep the child, try to give the kid a home.”
The agent met Jiang Jingyuan in the living room. He wore a black shirt and dark gray trousers, looking dusty and worn-out, as if he’d rushed straight over.
She didn’t speak, only nodded briefly in greeting.
Jiang Jingyuan shrugged off his jacket onto the sofa and strode toward the master bedroom.
He was grateful he had flown here today instead of waiting for her message to rush over.
He hadn’t hoped much for a reconciliation but was surprised she was carrying his child.
Maybe he had done a lot of good deeds in previous lives for this child to come at such a time.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá sat on the window ledge, not even looking up.
Seeing her calmed Jiang Jingyuan’s heart.
Earlier that morning, Yu Lǎoshī had taken him to the airport and teased, “You never eat your own leftovers, do you?”
He replied, “I’m not trying to get back together. Just going to see her and talk a little.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to reconcile—it was that Zhōng Zhuóhuá didn’t want to.
With her personality, he was powerless.
He walked to the window, bent down, and hugged her, unable to hide his excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá pushed him away. “Don’t hug me!”
“I’m not hugging you, who else?”
“Hug whoever you want! We’re broken up, so don’t touch me!”
“For the baby, we can’t break up. Don’t you want to give the child a home?” Jiang Jingyuan looked at her. “I do.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá snorted coldly, ignoring him.
Jiang Jingyuan kissed her lips and bit lightly.
Now that she was pregnant, he dared not say much. After being broken up with for so long, this was his only way to vent the complicated emotions inside.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá winced in pain, pushing him hard. Jiang Jingyuan staggered back two steps and fell onto the bed.
Still not satisfied, she grabbed the pillow on the window ledge and slammed it at him.
“Serves you right for being dumped by your first love! You chased after someone who didn’t want you!”
Jiang Jingyuan looked at her helplessly. “How did I chase after her?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá said, “Stop pretending!”
She didn’t know the exact details of his past with his first love. All she knew was from the media. Though exaggerated, it was true he had clashed with his family over her and missed the engagement party.
Why was he with her then?
Wasn’t it because his first love moved on? He was too heartbroken and wanted someone to distract him from the pain.
“Don’t think I don’t know why you dated me!”
Jiang Jingyuan said, “Besides liking you, what else? Do I have some sinister plan?”
“Don’t give me that crap! I heard from Ji Zong that your first love got married in a hurry and had a child.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá felt a pang herself. “You’re still bitter, aren’t you?”
Jiang Jingyuan admitted, “I was. But Zhōng Zhuóhuá, me being with you has nothing to do with my last relationship. Also, I only chased after her that one time.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá laughed. “You really believe that?”
Jiang Jingyuan didn’t argue. “If you want to blame me, you won’t believe anything I say now.”
“Of course not. You came running to see me now because you haven’t found anyone prettier than me yet. And you probably never will.”
Jiang Jingyuan laughed at her anger and hugged her again. “I’ll never find anyone prettier than you in this life. I’m stuck with you. Don’t be mad—the baby’s in your belly.”
He was now pinning all his hopes on this child.