When We Meet Again, She's Pregnant - Chapter 7

In the dimly lit room, a melodious ringtone suddenly pierced the silence. Soon after, the rose-patterned wall lamp flickered to life, casting a warm glow. On the soft, pale-white bed, Liu Ying blinked drowsily at the phone on the nightstand.

With effort, she propped herself up and silenced the ringing device before collapsing back onto the bed, gently wiping away the tear stains at the corners of her eyes. Last night, she had dreamed that she lost her magic. In the dream, her friends and family looked at her with disdain, ignoring her desperate pleas, leaving her utterly alone. The helplessness had brought her to tears.

Now, Liu Ying pressed her cool forearm against her eyes, replaying the dream’s details in her mind, a habitual morning ritual. But today, the memory carried an extra weight of sorrow.

Does the day’s worry truly shape the night’s dreams?

She exhaled deeply. Ever since being summoned by Future Ying, her emotions had been in constant turmoil. Yesterday, she had visited the Magical Beast Theme Park just to clear her mind.

Yet, against all odds, she had run into Yang Xiyan.

That stunningly beautiful girl might very well be one of the reasons she would lose her magic.

Liu Ying kept her right arm over her eyes, clutching the blanket tightly with her left hand, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip. Beneath her calm exterior, fear gnawed at her. The sight of her future self, abandoned and alone, filled her with dread.

She loved her mothers, her sister, her family—she cherished her life as it was now. The thought of being cast aside was unbearable. She never wanted to be alone again.

Her family meant everything to her.

According to Future Ying, when forbidden magic was used to summon one’s past self, the world would split into mirrored parallel universes. Yet, even then, the rules of fate remained, making it nearly impossible to alter the future.

Future Ying had given her three warnings. Liu Ying had believed that as long as she followed them diligently, she could avoid disaster even if it meant delaying her graduation, skipping the training expedition to the Beast Island, and resisting the temptation to meet the girl who had captivated Future Ying’s heart.

But reality had dealt her a harsh blow. Just last night at the dance, and then yesterday at the theme park despite her intentions, she had encountered the very girl Future Ying had warned her about. It was as if fate itself were pulling the strings.

What terrified her even more was that she couldn’t shake her concern for that girl. She felt compelled to follow her to the Beast Island training grounds, to see what would unfold as if she had no choice but to go.

She had already decided not to go.

Yet now, she was still planning to.

After calming down, she realized: didn’t this mean the future could be changed?

If she went and the future remained unaltered, then no matter what she did, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from devouring that girl and subsequently being sealed away.

Honestly, she was panicking. But if she didn’t go, then the one bullying the girl might not be her, it could be some vile villain instead. That was something she couldn’t accept.

“No,” Liu Ying murmured, her cool arm pressed against her forehead and eyes, steadying her thoughts. As she lowered her arm, her dark gaze sharpened with resolve and confidence. “Future Ying’s story is her story. Even if fate is guiding me, I’ll break its hold.”

She refused to meet the same end as Future Ying.

And she would uncover the truth about that girl.

After analyzing her emotions and finally calming down, Liu Ying’s mood gradually returned to normal. She let out a long sigh, and a beautiful smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

Pushing herself up, her slender, delicate feet touched the cool floor as she stretched contentedly, taking in the sight of the exquisitely furnished guest room.

—This was the City Lord’s residence.

Though she had initially been reluctant to heed her sister’s request, after careful consideration, she had ultimately decided to come and help. In other words, after meeting with Vice President Xia Lingxi the night before, she had gone to the City Lord’s residence to discuss cooperation.

Upon hearing that she had no immediate plans to graduate, the City Lord had invited her to stay here.

Given the close relationship between her family and the City Lord’s residence, she had agreed without much thought.

After freshening up, Liu Ying changed into a blue gown and carefully groomed herself in front of the mirror, ensuring she looked presentable without overshadowing her hosts. Satisfied, she stepped out of the guest room.

She looked stunning now, with an added touch of girl-next-door charm enough to astonish anyone who knew her well.

Leaving the guest room, she passed through the immaculate corridors and descended the stairs to the reception hall on the first floor.

The first thing she saw was Xia Lingxi chatting and laughing with a young man in the hall. The untouched fruit on the table and the artfully designed leather sofa made the scene look almost like a date.

Noticing Liu Ying’s arrival, both stood up immediately. The young man smiled warmly and said, “Ying-mei, did you sleep well last night?”

This was Zhou Renchen, a man in his thirties dressed in a sharp, well-tailored suit. As the City Lord’s second son, he was the most likely successor to the position.

“Quite well, very comfortable,” Liu Ying replied with a reserved smile. Truthfully, she wasn’t particularly familiar with the City Lord’s family, the only one she knew slightly was the old City Lord. As a child, when her mothers were busy, she and her sister had stayed with him for a while.

“Ying-mei, there’s no need to be formal. Treat this place as your own home,” Zhou Renchen said with a smile.

Liu Ying nodded politely and leisurely made her way to the bar to order a drink. Though breakfast was available, she wasn’t in a hurry.

The butler at the bar was undoubtedly a master of his craft, swiftly mixing a delicious beverage. Liu Ying sat gracefully by the counter, sipping her drink as she surveyed the reception hall.

It was spacious, bright, elegant, and equipped with everything one could need.

Just as she was relaxing, two lovely young girls approached her with quiet grace. “Miss Liu, breakfast is ready. Please follow us.”

Liu Ying smiled politely at them. “Of course. What are your names? You look identical, are you twins?”

“Yes, I’m Youyou, and this is my elder sister, Lianlian,” the girl in the blue dress said, pointing to the one in red before blushing and lowering her head. “Miss Liu, p-please come with us.”

“Alright!” Liu Ying followed them to the breakfast reception area, where a nutritious meal for two had been prepared. The surroundings were quiet, with no one else nearby, and the view outside the windows was refined and tranquil.

Liu Ying marveled at the City Lord’s hospitality so formal and reminiscent of ancient aristocratic families. No wonder they were a lineage with a thousand-year legacy. According to etiquette, someone would surely join her for the meal soon.

How unnecessarily complicated.

Her own family was never this fussy, even though her mother was a princess. She couldn’t wait to finish her business here and leave.

The summer morning was cool, and the breeze felt especially pleasant. Liu Ying took a sip of her morning tea when she suddenly noticed the two sisters behind the nearby screen secretly watching her, seemingly even getting into a little argument.

The older sister tugged at the younger one and warned, “What’s wrong with you, silly girl? Acting like a lovesick fool and wanting to take pictures. You almost gave us away just now! How rude! Aren’t you afraid of getting fired?”

“But it’s Sister Ying! And don’t act like you weren’t blushing too just now,” the younger sister pouted, sneaking another glance. “I never thought we’d run into Sister Ying here! She usually wears a mask, but seeing her up close like this, she’s so beautiful and dashing!”

“Who was blushing?” The older sister turned her head away, her face flushed.

Even so, she couldn’t deny the way her heart was pounding or the heat rising in her cheeks.

Who was Liu Ying? She was the top student at Tian Xingzi Magic Academy, the world’s number one genius beauty, a prodigy among prodigies. At just 12 years old, she had saved an entire city by standing against a thunder dragon at the cost of her own life. At 13, she competed in the World Magic Games and took first place, later rescuing countless people during the “Wedding Snatching War,” earning widespread admiration.

She also had an online account under her real name, Liu Ying, dedicated to explaining hardcore magic techniques and theoretical knowledge in an accessible way, making her beloved by many. She was a genius in every sense though nowadays, her sister managed the account for her.

Liu Ying had sparked a trend, inspiring countless young boys and girls to fall in love with magic and helping many magicians break through their bottlenecks. You could claim not to know a celebrity, but saying you didn’t know Liu Ying would just be embarrassing.

“Stay composed, Youyou. We can’t act unprofessional, it’s time to serve the dishes,” the older sister said, pulling her dazed younger sibling back to reality as she tried to steady herself.

Liu Ying could, of course, hear the two girls’ conversation but pretended not to. Listening to their racing heartbeats and watching their professional movements and smiles, she chuckled. “You can take pictures, but don’t post them online.”

“Really?” the younger sister blurted out before being nudged by her sister, making Liu Ying burst into laughter. She stood up and pulled them in for a photo.

She adored her fans as long as they weren’t the type to throw themselves at her the moment they saw her, she was happy to indulge them.

Honestly, she didn’t even understand why she was so popular. She hadn’t done anything special, wasn’t some big-screen celebrity, yet everywhere she went, people recognized her. By the time she realized the problem, she no longer dared to use her real name and eventually started wearing a mask.

The morning breeze was cool, and just as Liu Ying was lost in thought, a spirited elderly woman suddenly walked in through the door. At the sight of her, the two girls froze in shock, and even Liu Ying was taken aback. “Grandma!” she called out quickly.

The servants all retreated at once.

“My, how our Ying has grown,” the old woman remarked.

“Grandma Yuan, what brings you here?” Liu Ying hurriedly took the old woman’s hand and guided her to the table.

The City Lord’s estate was a family with a thousand-year legacy, and they had a unique way of hosting guests. If a guest stayed overnight, the next morning, someone of comparable status would join them for breakfast.

The higher the guest’s standing, the more importance the City Lord’s estate placed on them, and the person sent to accompany them would vary accordingly.

The current lord of the City Lord’s Manor is “Zhou Qulong,” a prominent figure not only on the Monster Island but also in the magical world. He governs nearly half of Monster Island and is a cheerful, burly man. Usually, he only prepares for morning visits when my mother comes to the City Lord’s Manor.

Liu Ying had assumed the lord would send his eldest daughter to meet her, but to her surprise, it was Granny Yuan who came. She was completely caught off guard.

Zhou Yuan, also known as Granny Yuan, was 79 years old. In her youth, she was a legendary figure. Her tale of single-handedly saving a nation was even adapted into a movie, making her one of the most renowned grand mages of her time.

Even her mother would treat Granny Yuan with utmost respect.

Liu Ying had never imagined Granny Yuan would come to greet her personally. If it were just a friendly visit, an evening or midday meeting would suffice. A morning greeting carried special significance.

Liu Ying was genuinely startled.

“What, can an old woman like me not come to see you?” Granny Yuan shook her head kindly, placing her staff aside as her gentle eyes fixed on Liu Ying’s face. “It’s been about two years, hasn’t it? Last time we met, you were still at magic school. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”

“Yes, it’s been two years,” Liu Ying replied with a smile, sitting beside her like a child. “How have you been, Granny? I didn’t bring any gifts this time, but next time I’ll bring some pearl crab roe paste for you to try.”

“Good, good. With your skills, that shouldn’t be hard to arrange,” the old woman chuckled, gazing at her warmly. “How have you been lately? Any boyfriends? Or girlfriends? You and your mother both have a way of attracting girls. One glance from you could make a young lady swoon.”

“I don’t have my mother’s charm. I’m just ordinary,” Liu Ying muttered awkwardly, her eyes darting around like a young girl teased by an elder.

“Don’t think Granny doesn’t know. Those girls go even crazier for you than the boys do,” Granny Yuan laughed, casually pointing at the nearby young ladies, making Liu Ying blush even harder.

………

As the two chatted about everyday matters, the twin sisters nearby hid in a corner. The elder sister in red stared at the old woman with admiration. “Youyou, look! It’s Lady Yuan, the City Lord! We barely see her once a year, and here she is with Sister Ying.”

Youyou, however, was more focused on Liu Ying than the City Lord. “So when Sister Ying is happy, she’s just like any other girl. Not only did we get to see her without her mask today, but we also got to see her like this. Skipping work at the hotel to become maids was totally worth it!”

“It’s so strange, though. Why would Lady Yuan come for a morning greeting? Even for Sister Ying, this is unusual. No matter how close they are, a morning greeting is too formal,” the elder sister mused, but her younger sister didn’t dare respond.

A morning greeting usually meant serious business was afoot. If Lady Yuan herself was involved, the matter must be significant far beyond what little girls like them could fathom. The steward had already dismissed everyone from the area.

Even Liu Ying, chatting amiably with Lady Yuan, couldn’t fathom what earth-shattering matter required Granny Yuan’s personal attention. Hadn’t she retired already? Couldn’t they let the old woman enjoy her twilight years in peace? Honestly.

Liu Ying grumbled inwardly.

Time passed, and at last, the City Lord of Yuan began to address the main matter. The servants had all withdrawn, and a gentle breeze wafted through the air.

Grasping her slender, snow-white hand, the City Lord lowered his head and sighed, “Ying, my girl, today the family sent this useless old woman to handle things, and indeed, there are some issues. I had hoped to come quickly, but unexpected matters arose along the way, causing a delay.”