First shift.

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Suddenly, Yun Doudou stopped talking and looked at Chuxia with an awkward smile: "I almost forgot, you’re the one who knows the most about this. Wasn’t there anything wrong with what I said earlier?"

"Doudou, you’ve done quite a bit of homework..." Chuxia chuckled as she wrapped an arm around Doudou’s shoulder, "Honestly, you seem to know more than I do. You’ve been planning this, haven’t you?"

"Doudou..." Luo Xiaoqiong eagerly looked up and down at Yun Doudou, "You wouldn’t be... also..."

"What are you thinking?" Yun Doudou interrupted her quickly, "I stay in the hospital all day; it’s normal to know these things after seeing and hearing so much."

"Do you think someone like me is embarrassing?" Luo Xiaoqiong looked at her with a hurt expression, "So all that you said earlier was just to comfort me, and you’ve been laughing at me, haven’t you?"

"No... no..." Yun Doudou hurriedly explained, "I would never laugh at you. I admire you too much to do that. Why would you think that?"

"Weren’t you implying that with your words just now?"

"No, no... I... Zhou Hanliang and I are different from you and Zhao Qiliang..." Yun Doudou blushed and looked at the two, "Actually, I wanted to use your trick, but it didn’t work out."

"Really?" Luo Xiaoqiong’s eyes widened immediately, "When did that happen? That’s really not fair; you never mentioned it to me."

"Weren’t you not telling me either?" Yun Doudou sighed, "I was forced into a corner and wanted to use this method to make Zhou Hanliang marry me.

But he was too clever; he immediately saw through my intentions. Not only did he stop me from drinking, but he also made things clear. He said he wouldn’t back down if I had really made up my mind.

However, he didn’t approve of my method. He said he hadn’t agreed before because he was thinking of me, and now that I understood it myself, he wouldn’t be pretentious anymore.

He said he couldn’t accept something so beautiful becoming a must-marriage bait. He felt my way showed distrust and misunderstanding of him. Anyway, it took numerous apologies from me, and he finally forgave me.

Afterward, I felt too embarrassed to face him, but fortunately, he kept his word and proposed to me later; otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to face him."

"I... I don’t know what to say?" Luo Xiaoqiong softly looked at Chuxia, "Should I say Zhao Qiliang lacked resolve, or that his feelings for me weren’t as deep as Zhou Hanliang’s for Yun Doudou?"

"Get lost!" Chuxia glared at her, "Is this something you can compare? Have you thought about the experiences Zhou Hanliang went through? And my brother as well.

I’m definitely not siding with him because he’s my brother; I’m just discussing the matter at hand. Different personalities, different experiences—how can you judge them by the same standards? Is that fair?"

Luo Xiaoqiong let out a long sigh: "Right, I didn’t think about that. Earlier, I just felt that once I used my beauty trick, Zhao Qiliang fell for it; it seemed so lame."

"How can anyone dare talk to you about anything in the future?" Yun Doudou looked at her helplessly, "You know, I was almost scared to death by you just now.

I told you this to let you know that we are similar in this regard, but who would have thought your focus would shift to Zhou Hanliang, making me seem like I’m showing off."

"Hehe..." Luo Xiaoqiong laughed awkwardly, "If Zhao Qiliang heard my doubts just now, he’d be furious. I was the one scheming him, yet blaming him—truly resembling Dou Bo’s injustice, huh?

Actually, he fell for my trap because he completely trusted me. Doudou, would you think Zhou Hanliang doesn’t trust you based on what I said?"

"No." Yun Doudou shook her head, "I don’t have those complicated thoughts like you. You’re pregnant now; I’m not going to argue with you."

Chuxia chuckled and interjected: "You got that right. I was puzzled earlier, thinking how could someone so straightforward suddenly become suspicious and indecisive. Now I understand; it’s all due to the upheaval caused by estrogen."

Luo Xiaoqiong stared at her displeased: "Are you bragging that estrogen hasn’t affected you?"

"See, you’re overthinking again, aren’t you? I was well aware of how bad-tempered I was at that time..." Chuxia shook her head with amusement, "You’re really frighteningly sensitive right now."

Luo Xiaoqiong’s small face fell: "Oh no, I’m becoming a neurotic, why do I always twist your words?"

"It’s okay, it’ll pass soon. You’re just not used to it yet, and with things unclear, your heart is restless..." Chuxia comforted her, patting her, "I know you understand the logic, but you can’t control yourself. For the sake of the child, you must calm your emotions. You don’t want to give birth to an impatient child, right?"

"Huh?" Luo Xiaoqiong looked at Chuxia blankly, "You’re not scaring me, are you? Can my emotions really affect... affect..." She hesitated and was too embarrassed to say "baby," just pointed at her belly, "affect its emotions?"

"It does have an impact. That’s why they say you shouldn’t get angry while pregnant."

Luo Xiaoqiong took a long breath, and after a while, couldn’t help but make a bitter face: "I can’t do it, just thinking about my mom finding out makes me feel chaotic."

"You’ve got to talk yourself into it, there’s really no other way..." Chuxia seriously looked at her, "No matter how we try to persuade you, it’s actually just going in one ear and out the other.

Because in your heart, you feel that if Fat Auntie, Uncle Gangshun and my Eldest uncle and aunt find out, it’ll be extremely embarrassing. Even if I tell you that aside from Fat Auntie being a bit taken aback at first, everyone else will only be happy for you, you won’t believe it.

So now you have two options: One, talk yourself into relaxing, or two, just confess to the elders and ease your worries sooner.

Luo Xiaoqiong, you’ve been braver than me since we were kids. This time, you can’t be a coward, or I’ll really look down on you."

"Playing mind games won’t work..." Luo Xiaoqiong looked at her annoyed, "I understand everything you’re saying, but I just can’t do it, I can’t do either option, what should I do?"

"Look at you being so wishy-washy..." Yun Doudou glanced at her, "Instead of living in constant fear, wouldn’t it be better to solve it all at once?

Even if Fat Auntie scolds you, let her scold. Agreeing to let you marry shows she really likes Zhao Qiliang, likes this marriage, so there’s no way something so minor would make her turn on you.

What’s the difference if it’s a few days earlier or later? As for your husband’s family, you don’t need to worry at all. They’ll only be grateful once they know the truth, how could they look down on you?"

Chuxia chimed in: "I’ve said this to her before, but she doesn’t listen at all."

"You’re stubborn, you’ll regret this someday..." Yun Doudou looked at her seriously, "Don’t think I’m exaggerating, I’m definitely not joking around.

If I had succeeded back then and got pregnant, I would definitely tell my family straightforwardly, especially because the first three months are risky, if anything happened, the consequences would be unbearable.

Think it over, is it better to wait in torment, or to solve it decisively, bluntly speaking, what’s more important: your pride or the baby? You decide."

Chuxia gave Yun Doudou a thumbs up, she couldn’t believe Yun Doudou’s final words wouldn’t move Luo Xiaoqiong! Yeah, why hadn’t she thought to say it that way before?

Indeed, with three people, one must be my teacher; she thought her persuasion was profound enough, but with those words from Yun Doudou, she realized all she said before was pointless!

Predictably, Luo Xiaoqiong’s expression changed, and then she silently walked out.

"Is she..." Yun Doudou looked at Chuxia with disbelief, "Did I really persuade her?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Chuxia looked at her grinning, "Your last sentence pierced right into her heart, if she still doesn’t understand, then she’s really being selfish."

"So I’m the hero now?" Yun Doudou chuckled to herself for a while, then turned to walk out, "I have to find Uncle Zhao and Auntie Zhao to claim my reward, thanks to me their joy keeps growing!" She slapped her forehead at the door, "I really am silly, Xiaoqiong just spoke to Fat Auntie, what am I there for?" She glared at Chuxia, "Annoying! Why didn’t you remind me."

"You’re so unreasonable..." Chuxia laughed looking at her, "I thought you were joking with me, how was I to know you were serious."

"My brain is a mess..." Yun Doudou touched her forehead, sighing, "If Guoguo were here, she’d surely scold me again. Let me tell you, though Guoguo can be muddle-headed about some things, she observes more keenly than me on others.

Yesterday when I returned to my home, my mom secretly shed tears as I was leaving, I didn’t notice. Guoguo glared at me, thinking I didn’t care about my family just because I got married, I felt confused at that time. It wasn’t until my mom hugged my sister and laughed that I realized my mom’s eyes were red."

"Second Aunt, when did you arrive, is there something you need?" Chuxia turned and found Liang Xiaohong standing at the door, hesitating, so she got up and greeted her.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, I just arrived..." Liang Xiaohong looked at the two awkwardly, feeling extremely embarrassed. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)