Chapter 3 — Gardenias After the Rain

Three months passed in such profound and unbroken peace that I almost managed to convince myself that the events of that fateful night had been nothing more than a fever dream. And then—the crushing realization struck me. I had missed my cycle, and a subsequent test confirmed that I was pregnant. Panic immediately seized my rational thoughts, leaving no room for hesitation. Before any maternal affection could take root or complicate matters, I hastily scheduled an appointment at the clinic to terminate the pregnancy. The vivid memory of the class monitor’s boisterous teasing from a few weeks prior still lingered in my mind; he had joked that since Hao Chi was bound to settle down and have a family soon, he would inevitably be expected to treat the entire class to a celebration. The mere thought of bringing an illegitimate child into a world where judgmental eyes would whisper behind our backs filled me with dread. I refused to let an innocent life bear the heavy burden of sins committed by adults.

The operating room was sterile, harshly lit, and biting cold. As I lay upon the frigid metal table, a dull, persistent ache began to bloom in my lower abdomen, as if some fragile existence deep within my flesh was desperately clinging to life, refusing to surrender to the impending void. Perhaps the tiny life within truly sensed the encroaching shadow of death. My breath caught in my throat, and a sharp, constricting pain gripped my chest. Guided by some primal instinct, I jolted upright, swallowed by a quiet, suffocating sorrow. No... deep down, I simply could not bear to go through with it. What crime had this unborn soul ever committed?

Doctor, I do not—

Before the final word could escape my trembling lips, a heavy, unyielding hand descended upon my shoulder, firmly pressing me back down onto the table. The physician's face was concealed behind a surgical mask, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed—yet those very eyes possessed a haunting, deeply familiar gaze that sent a shiver racing down my spine. In his gloved hand, he nonchalantly lifted a gleaming surgical scalpel that reflected the cold, metallic light of the overhead lamps. Just as my terrified gaze drifted downward to read the identification badge pinned to his chest, which clearly bore the title Doctor Liang, a low, velvety voice that sounded dangerously reminiscent of a demon whispered right beside my ear:

Miss Song, I now have strong suspicions that you are attempting to commit premeditated murder against my child.

This surgical procedure is hereby suspended. I expect your full cooperation with the investigation.

The quiet of the on-call room was so profound that I scarcely dared to draw a full breath. Hao Chi sat directly across from me, radiating an air of chilling composure, looking every bit like a spectator settling in to watch a fascinating theatrical performance. With his fingers interlaced and resting neatly upon the wooden desk, his posture mirrored that of a seasoned detective conducting a rigorous interrogation.

Speak. Exactly when did you discover that you were pregnant?

My voice trembled slightly as I offered a truthful reply:

Two days ago.

The fierce edge in his tone seemed to soften for a fraction of a second, only to flare up with renewed intensity the next moment:

Then why on earth did you keep it from me and attempt to undergo a termination behind my back?

Lowering my gaze, a profound sense of guilt gnawed at my conscience:

The class monitor mentioned that you were getting married next month... I had no desire to let my child grow up fatherless, stigmatized as an illegitimate child.

When all was said and done, the fault rested entirely upon my shoulders. I let out a heavy sigh, lifting my eyes to offer him a look of genuine contrition:

I am sorry... this is entirely my fault.

I really should not have forced—

Realizing just how inappropriate and ambiguous that word sounded, I hastily fumbled to correct myself:

I should not have coerced you.

His expression darkened even further at the phrasing. Panicking, I scrambled to alter my explanation once again:

It was truly my fault for attempting to seduce you.

By this point, his countenance bore no trace of restraint; he was evidently enraged to his absolute limit. Goodness gracious... I had already apologized sincerely, what more could he possibly demand of me? Besides, if one were to look at the matter objectively, he had certainly not suffered any losses. That night had been my first time as well. A sudden wave of frustration washed over me, prompting me to turn my face away, refusing to grace him with another word. To my utter astonishment, Hao Chi stood up, effortlessly circled around the desk, and dropped into a squat right in front of me so that his eyes met mine at eye level.

The class monitor was merely indulging in idle banter. I am not engaged to anyone.

He spoke with an earnest sincerity that bore no resemblance to deceit. Even so, he surely must have a girlfriend tucked away somewhere, right? I had no intention of ever playing the role of a homewrecking third party in someone else's relationship.

Do not overthink this. This child belongs to me alone, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with you. Furthermore, I have no expectation for you to shoulder any responsibility.

Absolutely not.

Let me make this unequivocally clear to you: this child is equally mine. I intend to take full responsibility for both of you until the very end.

A throbbing headache began to plague my temples. Good heavens, his stubbornness was utterly exasperating. As he grew older, he had only become more obstinate and intractable, completely lacking the endearing charm he possessed during our childhood years. Desperate to alleviate any lingering sense of obligation he might feel, I decided to resort to a blatant fabrication:

You are letting your imagination run wild. This child genuinely has nothing to do with you. After all, that night was not my first time; the baby belongs to my former boyfriend.

A cold, mirthless chuckle escaped his lips. Abruptly, he leaned in close, his breath brushing against the shell of my ear as he murmured a single sentence that caused the blood to rush to my face, setting my cheeks ablaze:

Not your first time? Then pray tell, why did you weep with such abandon on that evening?

The final word had barely faded into the silence when a scorching heat flushed across my skin. I did not even need to touch my face to know it was burning red, radiating enough heat to practically combust. Observing my breathless reaction, Hao Chi let out a soft, knowing laugh, straightened up, and casually reached out to ruffle my hair. Then, with a audacity that left me speechless, he issued a parting threat:

Be a good girl and wait for me right here in this on-call room. If you dare to attempt an escape...

I will make sure the entire alumni chat group hears all about how you abandoned me after a passionate tryst.

I froze entirely in place, utterly thunderstruck. It was simply beyond belief that the gentle boy from our youth—who used to blush crimson after uttering merely two sentences—had transformed into such a shamelessly bold man.