CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 363: THE SINGLE REMAIN SINGLE

May saw the city slowly coming to life; the streets were no longer deserted, and the blazing sun did not diminish people’s enthusiasm for spending.

The stock market for the food industry surged, many caught the wave and made a killing... ah, but I digress.

It wasn’t just the snack and milk tea shops on the streets that overflowed with people; the gynecology and obstetrics hospitals were also crowded. People wearing masks came and went, forming long queues at the registration desks, snaking around in long lines.

Xu Wei naturally did not have to queue; without VIP access, there were always scalpers to provide timely check-ups.

In the consultation room.

After a series of check-ups, Xu Wei sat at the table and listened to the doctor recount the results, silently looking down at the medical report that was handed over, not saying a word for a long time.

"Can I get it done now?"

"Hmm... you’ll need to schedule an appointment," said the doctor, pushing up his glasses, hesitating.

Xu Wei fell silent again.

"That..."

"What reactions, or rather side effects, will there be after taking emergency contraception?" Xu Wei interrupted, not allowing the doctor to finish speaking.

"Huh?"

The doctor was taken aback and swallowed his initial thought, saying, "It depends on each individual’s health condition. Typically, there may be nausea, vomiting, possible bleeding, menstrual delay, as well as dizziness, fatigue, breast tenderness..."

Xu Wei listened quietly, gripping the medical report tighter in her hand, squinting her eyes as she asked, "If I make the appointment now, when can I have the surgery?"

"With the current situation... let me check, it’s possible one week from now, on the 21st—"

The doctor paused briefly, pursed his lips, and said, "Your ultrasound shows heterozygous twins, are you sure you want to terminate it..."

Xu Wei was stunned, frowning as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"Simply put, they are twins."

"..."

"..."

"Schedule it."

...

...

In the gym.

Sun Wen held his phone, and upon hearing the "sorry! the subscriber..." from within, his face involuntarily revealed a shade of worry.

It had been nearly a month since he last saw Xu Wei; her phone was also unreachable. At first, when he thought he had succeeded, he felt good for a while, but as Xu Wei vanished, he started to have a bad feeling.

This woman... did she really have no maternal instincts?

He glanced at the few scattered individuals in the gym, put a cigarette in his mouth without lighting it, and waved the head coach over.

"Brother Wen, what’s up?"

"Keep an eye on things for me, I have to step out. Call me if there’s anything."

After a brief greeting, Sun Wen picked up his car keys and headed out to Xu Wei’s place.

He was already a familiar face around here, so the security guard at the door did not make things difficult for him. After a temperature check and registration, he was let through. Sun Wen hurried up the stairs to Xu Wei’s door, hesitated for a moment, and rang the doorbell.

No matter what, he had to know the outcome.

If nothing had happened, he’d act as if everything were normal; if she was pregnant, that was naturally good. But if the pregnancy had been terminated... the possibility tightened his heart, and he hoped it wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

Seeing the social circles of Xiao Yu and their friends, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t envious; reaching midlife, all he wanted was a child of his own.

Regardless of who bore the child, it would be his; he believed he would make a good father.

The doorbell rang a few times, and after waiting quietly for a moment with no response, Sun Wen lifted his hand to press it again, a trace of impatience clearly showing.

Ten minutes later, he gave up dejectedly; there was no one inside.

Given Xu Wei’s personality, no matter what, she would not hide and refuse to see him.

Walking out of the building with a cigarette in his mouth, he looked around downstairs under the scorching sun, feeling an emptiness inside. Unable to guess where Xu Wei had gone, he could only start the car again and drive out of the residential area.

A few minutes later, a fiery red Maserati drove from a distance and stopped in the parking space. Xu Wei got out of the car with a mask on, clutching the medical report in her hand as she headed upstairs.

...

...

"Wow! So cute!"

Gu Xiaoqing was still as cool as ever, with short hair, a baseball cap, and jeans, exuding a refreshing vibe. Despite the years, she hadn’t changed a bit; if Brother Qin saw her from behind on the street, he would still mistake her for a man.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, she had kept in touch with He Fang on Weixun and had seen photos of little Anya. Now, seeing the baby lying in the stroller, Gu Xiaoqing’s eyes widened in surprise at the cuteness, which was completely different from the photos.

"Can I... hold her?" Gu Xiaoqing asked He Fang tentatively.

"Sure, have you ever held a baby before? Put your arm underneath like this, support here, right..."

He Fang instructed her how to pick up her daughter from the stroller. Gu Xiaoqing held her like she was a precious treasure, her body stiff and tense. Feeling the baby’s soft little body and looking into her big dark eyes, her heart melted. She cooed and played with Anya for a bit before hastily returning her to He Fang, her palms already sweating.

"No no, I’m too nervous. Better you hold her," said Gu Xiaoqing, wiping her hands on her pants and smiling foolishly at the baby.

He Fang smiled and rocked her daughter gently, saying, "Cute, isn’t she?"

"Cute!"

"You should have one too."

"Don’t joke, I’m still all alone. Who am I supposed to have one with..." Gu Xiaoqing laughed and waved off the suggestion.

"Aren’t you looking for a boyfriend? Wait another two years, and you’ll be thirty, a leftover woman."

"I’ll just stay leftover, single all the way."

Gu Xiaoqing was unconcerned, leaning in to play with little Anya with her finger. Although the baby was adorable, having one of her own was a different story. She preferred to stay single.

"Ah, you..."

"Hehe, I’m single and I’m proud, I’m saving the country some... Bah, it’s pretty good this way." Gu Xiaoqing looked around, "Where’s Brother Qin? His comics are so amazing... Did you know that, Sister He?"

Speaking of this, she grew excited, gesticulating, "I fantasized a long time ago about how great it would be if your novel were made into a comic. Later, when I found out that you and Brother Qin were a couple, I thought, if Brother Qin drew it, that would be perfect—hahahaha, I never thought my wish would actually come true. That day... I remember it was New Year’s Day; I was so excited when I saw Brother Qin post the new comic, I almost jumped up!"

Gu Xiaoqing was animated, "When will there be a physical edition? I’ll come to you both for autographs; I just love it so much!"

"Haha, he’s at home drawing. Join us for lunch later? I’ll tell him to make extra..." He Fang gestured towards the third floor in the distance, looked up to see the position of the sun, and extended an invitation to Gu Xiaoqing while taking out her phone to message Brother Qin.

"Ah, won’t that be a bother? No need to trouble yourself; I was just..."

"No worries, we’ve known each other for so long, but you’ve never been to our house to sit down for a meal."

He Fang smiled warmly. She and Gu Xiaoqing had long surpassed the relationship between author and reader, becoming close friends in life. Bringing her home for a meal was no big deal.

Pushing the stroller back to their building, Qin Guanglin came down from upstairs after a short wait. He Fang held the baby, Qin Guanglin carried the pram, and Gu Xiaoqing followed them upstairs, marveling silently at how different Brother Qin now looked.

Had it not been for He Fang bringing her over, if she had encountered him by chance outside, she would never have recognized this plump man as the tall and thin Brother Qin from before.

One gains weight and ruins all, with not a bit of the old charisma left; the only thing unchanged is the enduring tenderness and indulgence he shows towards He Fang.

"Long time no see, Xiaoqing."

Brother Qin greeted her; Gu Xiaoqing had been their bridesmaid back in the day. Reunited now, he felt a mix of emotions and nostalgia.

How foolish he had been to regard her as a Snake Spirit.

Truly, so foolish.