I'm Pregnant With My Arch-Nemesis's Child - Chapter 4

The horizon began to glow with a faint, pale light as the orange hues gradually covered the paleness, and the gathering light and heat finally began to radiate without reservation.

Chi Yuan looked at the person with reddened eyes opposite him and sighed helplessly. “Why bother saying things so bluntly? Fang Qiming, you are well aware of the truth, aren’t you?”

Fang Qiming’s expression shifted, as if he could not believe it. He gripped his hands tightly in frustration, looking flustered. “Chi Yuan.”

Seeing through the other man’s attempt to argue, Chi Yuan took a few photographs from his pocket and laid them out one by one in front of Fang Qiming.

The photos were blurry, showing that the person who took them had been panicked, but with the images arranged, it was not difficult to piece together the full picture.

“Fang Qiming, you really are something.” Chi Yuan watched the changes in the man’s expression. How could he not understand the truth of the matter? He laughed desolately and said only that.

In the photos, Fang Qiming was acting intimately with a stranger, and both men wore matching rings on their ring fingers.

Since that is the case, why bother provoking me? Chi Yuan had been filled with rage, but after many days of silence, the fire had burned out, leaving only a pile of cold, unmanageable ashes. He felt completely numb. He considered himself calm enough, yet a sorrow he could not ease welled up when he saw Fang Qiming, leaving him speechless.

“Let us break up.”

He threw the photos aside, having no desire to say anything more, but Fang Qiming, sobbing uncontrollably, rushed up and wrapped his arms around his waist.

Chi Yuan paused. He turned around helplessly, only to see Fang Qiming looking at him with red-rimmed eyes, silent.

“Chi Yuan! Do you think you have no problems at all?” Fang Qiming tore away his usual gentle facade, leaving only hysteria and loss of control. “Ask yourself, when have you ever truly seen me? When have you ever paid attention to me? You are so arrogant, Chi Yuan.”

“If it were not for Lu Huai, would you have looked at me even once? You never would have.”

When the other man mentioned Lu Huai, Chi Yuan’s gaze flickered. He felt that the person Fang Qiming brought up during his breakdown was quite reasonable. He scoffed. “You are right. I would not have.”

At these words, Fang Qiming fell completely silent. He had been filled with things to vent, but when Chi Yuan looked at him with those empty, emotionless eyes, he suddenly felt a sense of shame.

Seeing this, Chi Yuan curled his lips in a mocking sneer. He lowered his eyes to smooth the wrinkles in his clothes and walked up to Fang Qiming. With a malicious smile, he pointed at the other man in the photograph. “I wish you happiness.”

He walked away without looking back, not even sparing a glance for Fang Qiming, who had collapsed on the floor.

Footsteps echoed in the stairwell in the dim light of the pre-dawn hour.

Chi Yuan stopped slowly, rubbed his face with his palms, and crouched down, suddenly laughing hoarsely. He looked at the empty surroundings, and his gaze fell on the trash can in the stairwell. He felt he had adjusted his emotions enough. He straightened up and rummaged through his pocket to pull out a bracelet he had intended to give Fang Qiming as an anniversary gift. It seemed it was no longer needed.

He had originally thought that even if they broke up, the gift would be useless, so he might as well give it to someone else. But after Fang Qiming’s outburst, he felt that all his recent struggles and torment had been a joke. Perhaps the trash can was the only fitting destination.

The stairwell was rarely used and dim. Chi Yuan was shrouded in shadow, his eyes dark and unfathomable. He took one last look at the bracelet.

Clatter.

The sound of the object hitting the bottom echoed.

Wholehearted devotion was never enough for others. He did not understand Fang Qiming’s definition of love, but now he felt it was nothing more than that.

“Hello?” Chi Yuan frowned when he saw his secretary calling on the screen. He desperately needed work to distract himself. “Yes, fine. I will be back immediately.”

The secretary explained the situation in a few words. Chi Yuan listened quietly, realizing that representatives from Xinming Technology had suddenly come to discuss a partnership with the Chi Corporation. He narrowed his eyes, vaguely remembering that Xinming Technology was usually on good terms with the Lu Corporation. Furthermore, was this not the project Lu Huai had been busy with recently?

Originally, the Lu and Chi Corporations had different development paths, but now both companies had grown large and expanded into many fields. Their interests overlapped, leading to competition in certain areas.

It was not surprising that Xinming Technology had turned to him. The stagnation in Chi Yuan’s heart dissipated slightly. The long-lost feeling of facing a worthy opponent excited him. He had heard that Xinming’s current project had great potential. If he could really snatch it away from Lu Huai…

“If it were not for Lu Huai, would you have looked at me even once?” Fang Qiming’s question flashed through his mind. Chi Yuan did not notice it. As he waited for his driver, he looked at the sky; the red sun had already risen, leaving no trace of the previous darkness.

Stung by the sunlight, Lu Huai pressed a button to close the curtains.

His blood pressure had not fully recovered, and his face remained pale. He lay buried in his quilt, his thin chin brushing against the edge of the blanket. He had reviewed proposals until 4:00 or 5:00 AM and had only just fallen asleep.

The IV drip he had pulled out left a string of wet stains on the white tiles. Lu Huai’s hand rested on the quilt, the bleeding wound red and swollen from his violent actions. His skin was so fair that it looked shocking.

Ling Zhi, who pushed the door open just in time to see this, was furious at the patient who refused to follow medical advice. However, seeing the dark circles under Lu Huai’s eyes, he could not bear it; his hand rose high only to drop gently, tucking the quilt in for him.

To his surprise, Lu Huai opened his eyes alertly at the movement.

“You… you are awake.” Ling Zhi scratched his head sheepishly. Seeing that Lu Huai’s eyes were still unfocused, he paused until the other man was fully awake before continuing. “Your secretary wants to see you. I kept him outside because I was afraid it would disturb your rest. Do you want to see him?”

He had intended to lecture Lu Huai about pulling out his needle, but considering his workaholic nature, he did not want to delay important matters.

Lu Huai nodded. His consciousness was still chaotic. Perhaps the dream he had during his nap was too wonderful, and being dragged back into the cold reality made him uncomfortable.

The secretary had not expected Lu Huai to look like this after a few days, but he maintained his professionalism. “There are some problems with the partnership proposal with Xinming Technology.”

Lu Huai did not want his current state to be seen by too many people, but given the circumstances, he had to force himself to sit up, trying hard not to reveal his pain.

“Explain in detail.” His peach-blossom eyes were half-lowered, harboring an indescribable chill as he asked in a cold tone.

“We were at the final stage of face-to-face negotiations to sign the contract, but it seems Zhang from Xinming Technology has had a change of heart. First, they delayed the scheduled time, and just now, we received news that the other party has taken their proposal to the Chi Corporation.”

The secretary carefully observed Lu Huai’s expression as he spoke. He knew that Lu Huai and Chi Yuan were on bad terms, so his voice had softened when mentioning the Chi Corporation.

Chi Corporation… Chi Yuan? Lu Huai whispered the two names in his heart, a smile curling on his lips, mixed with a bitterness others could not see. Chi Yuan was truly good at finding opportunities to make things difficult for him.

Before he could speak, Ling Zhi lost his patience. “That Chi Yuan! Aren’t you two childhood friends? How could he kick you while you are down?”

Lu Huai looked up at Ling Zhi, his voice faint but unquestionable. “Xinming never fully confirmed the partnership with us. Who can say for sure how things go in the business world? Even if Chi Yuan could lure them over, that is his skill.”

He glanced at Ling Zhi. “Do not say such things again.”

Ling Zhi was furious. “You are truly magnanimous! I do not share your level of composure.”

The secretary, seeing the sudden tension, shrank back and whispered, “So, President Lu, what do you think…”

Lu Huai had already reviewed all recent valuable proposals in his mind. His expression was solemn, but another person gradually emerged in his thoughts.

He had carefully considered the partnership with Xinming. The project they proposed naturally had room for growth and great potential—all clearly written in the submitted proposal—but Xinming was not necessarily the best choice for the Lu Corporation.

Having already made up his mind, Lu Huai rubbed his knuckles, his expression no longer as heavy as before. He said, “Everything will proceed as usual. We will strive to secure the partnership with Xinming, but if they have already reached an agreement with the Chi Corporation, there is no need to force it. Our terms remain unchanged, and we will not step back.”

“President Lu…” The secretary was surprised by this decision. Lu Huai had only just returned to the country, and the secretary had not witnessed his strength. Hearing an order completely contrary to the expected solution, he naturally questioned it. He hesitated. “Should we discuss this with Chairman Lu before making a decision?”

Lu Huai’s smile vanished, and his deep pupils fell onto the secretary. “It is normal for you to have questions. But since Chairman Lu has entrusted these matters to me, it means I have the ability to bear the consequences.”

Seeing the secretary shrinking away, he stopped applying pressure. “Just do as I said.”

Lu Huai knew where the secretary’s anxiety lay. He was not unwilling to explain his thoughts, but the matter was not yet settled. Success would be best, but if it failed, it would avoid unnecessary trouble. So, he prepared to handle the negotiations himself before making a final decision.

As the secretary left, Ling Zhi stood by, wanting to say something.

“You really…”

“Hmm?” Lu Huai looked up to see his friend’s complex expression. “What do you want to say?”

“Are you really going to let Chi Yuan have them? Has the sun risen from the west?”

Ling Zhi could not help but feel this was too abnormal.

Lu Huai’s gaze landed on the darkened screen, a meaningful smile lingering on his lips. “Small fry. If I let them go, I let them go.”

“Our vision must be long-term, do you not think?”

The fluorescent light hitting Lu Huai’s profile transcended the passage of time, faintly highlighting a bit of the rebelliousness from his youth. His affectionate peach-blossom eyes were filled with determination.

Ling Zhi felt, for no reason, that Lu Huai, who showed such vitality because of Chi Yuan, was truly captivating.