"Sorry, I need to head back first."

Lu Qing hesitated but still mentioned his intention to leave early to the organizer’s representative. He came here mainly as a favor to them, and it was about time to wrap it up. He started his polite goodbyes as he prepared to leave.

Yan Lv was also among them.

Even though he saw Lu Qing, he had no time to chat with him; it was just a quick greeting before leaving. His mind was troubled by something, something he wouldn’t have thought of if he weren’t alone. Thus, new thoughts began to stir within him.

"Women, they’re just troublesome. My wife is the same, checking up on me every day."

"Isn’t it true? I really don’t know what women’s minds are made of. If you return home late, they’ll bombard you with questions and sniff around to see if you have the scent of perfume."

Yan Lv watched the men in front of him vent their frustrations, feeling particularly embarrassed. Mu Sha never checked up on him or sniffed him for perfume scents. Suddenly, he envied them because their wives genuinely cared about them.

Whenever he thought of Mu Sha, who never outright expressed the truth, his unease grew. Because when she was pregnant, he didn’t understand what the child meant to her.

"If Mu Sha and I had grown up together or if we married out of love, everything would be straightforward. Unfortunately, our marriage is the most cliché of all, arranged by our parents with a matchmaker. It couldn’t be more tragic."

Yan Lv worried she wouldn’t come around and would continue to resist the marriage. Initially, he was against it too, but spending time with her made him appreciate Mu Sha, seeing her strengths, and even her endearing flaws, all surprised him positively.

When Mu Sha returned home, she received a message from her best friend. She stared at it absent-mindedly, wanting to reply but unsure of what to say. She sighed softly and entered the house.

Her mind was replaying the nonsensical chat they had face to face.

"I don’t want to give up my career; this is the most critical time."

"Are you seriously considering giving up this child?"

Her friend’s questioning didn’t cause Mu Sha to overthink at the time. She hesitantly nodded in the end, her emotions already complicated. Now, having settled her thoughts, they became even more tangled. The more she pondered, the more troublesome things seemed, causing her to sink onto the sofa, lost in thought.

The phone emitted a piercing sound, and instinctively, Mu Sha answered: "Hello... Doctor Zhang. I’m free now, go ahead." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Doctor Zhang from the obstetrics and gynecology department was calling, asking if she had made her decision. If she decided, it would be better to undergo the procedure sooner rather than later, sparing the child from unnecessary suffering as it grew.

Mu Sha didn’t fully grasp the sensation of being pregnant, but there was an inexplicable sense of presence within. She even felt like the little life in her belly wanted to communicate with her. Despite this, she maintained her decision to not keep the child, telling the doctor she would soon go to the hospital for the procedure.

After hurriedly ending the call, Mu Sha’s mind plunged into contemplation. She was fully aware that removing the child equated to snuffing out a little life. However, she knew her current situation was unsuitable for the child’s arrival. She wasn’t prepared, nor had she mentally embraced the role of becoming a mother, forcing her to abandon the idea.