"Are you saying you're pregnant with Junyan's child?"
The voice, suddenly pitched high, rang out through the spacious hall, declaring the turbulent emotions roiling within its owner and startling the young girl who had been daydreaming in the corner.
Du Anrao glanced at the woman sitting on the sofa—dressed in white with long hair, possessing a slender frame, and eyes drooping with a watery, glistening sheen. With her slightly flushed cheeks, she looked just like a fragile little white flower swaying in the wind, pitiful and endearing.
Yet, as soon as Du Anrao recalled the true nature hidden beneath that facade of fragility, her eyelid couldn't help but twitch violently.
A few days ago, when Du Anrao was expelled from her Master's mountain gate, she had accidentally discovered that she was actually the Du Family's biological daughter, lost for over a decade. On her way home with Father Du and Mother Du, they encountered a small accident, and when she regained consciousness, she found a library of books inside her mind.
Du Anrao hadn't paid much attention to it at first—until she ran into Bai Xiuqing at home today.
"Aunt Yao, I know this news might be a bit sudden for you all. On the fifth of last month, I had just returned from abroad. While passing through City C, I happened to run into Brother Junyan the night I checked into my hotel. He had been drinking and had no one around to look after him, so I followed him out of concern. I never expected..."
"This was an accident, and it shouldn't be blamed on Brother Junyan. I had originally intended to keep this to myself, but two days ago, I suddenly felt unwell. After a check-up at the hospital, I discovered I was pregnant."
At this point, the woman's eyes grew even redder. "I don't mind having no status, but the child... the child must have a father."
[The child needs a father, sure, but that doesn't mean you can just grab anyone to call 'Dad.' Since you're in such a rush to name a father for the baby, have you even asked the real one?]
"Wh—" The sudden, disembodied voice pulled Mother Du back from her thoughts. Turning her head, she locked eyes with her husband, who wore an equally shocked expression.
The two exchanged a look and turned simultaneously toward their newly recovered daughter standing not far away.
Seeing them suddenly stare at her, Du Anrao looked confused. "What's wrong?"
"...Nothing." Mother Du suppressed the doubt in her heart and looked at Bai Xiuqing again. "Are you saying that the night you met at the hotel, you already..."
Bai Xiuqing appeared shy. "Yes, it’s already been over a month."
[Lying without even blinking. Her belly is already that big, and she says it's only been a month? That’s at least three months along!]
Father and Mother Du: "..." Confirmed. It wasn't an auditory hallucination; it was their youngest daughter's voice.
But the current situation didn't allow them time to dwell on it. Following Du Anrao's reminder, both their gazes fixed on Bai Xiuqing's stomach.
Bai Xiuqing stiffened, instinctively pushing the report she had prepared in advance toward them. They picked it up and looked—it did indeed say just over a month.
Du Anrao leaned in to sneak a peek, unimpressed.
[Everything is fake these days, so why not a medical report? If I remember correctly, the radiologist at the Third People's Hospital is one of Bai Xiuqing's pathetic sycophants. It’s only because he helped cover for her that she managed to skip those subsequent prenatal checkups and successfully conned Big Brother into being the 'sucker' who takes the fall.]
Father Du’s hand shook, and he nearly splashed the tea in his hand right onto Bai Xiuqing's face.
Mother Du’s eyes widened in shock, though she calmed down after a moment and mused, "This report is far too simple; so much information is vague. It would be better to get another check-up. Let Old Li prepare the car, and we will go to the First People's Hospital together."
Hearing that Mother Du intended to take her to the First People's Hospital instead of the Third, Bai Xiuqing’s heart skipped a beat, and her composure nearly crumbled.
"Go to the First People's Hospital? Why not the Third? I recall that Uncle Du has shares in the Third People's Hospital, and it’s closer and more convenient."
Du Anrao was also surprised by Mother Du's decision, and her eyes brightened.
[The First People's Hospital is great! No one there will help her forge documents. Once she's examined, Big Brother's innocence will be proven.]
Hearing this, Mother Du became even more firm in her resolve. "The obstetrics department at the Third People's Hospital isn't as authoritative as the First. It's settled; I'll have someone arrange it immediately."
"Aunt Yao! Actually, it doesn't have to be this much trouble. I already had the necessary exams done yesterday, and the doctor said both the baby and I are perfectly fine..."
Before she could finish, Mother Du interrupted. "This is your first pregnancy; you have no experience and will inevitably overlook things. Besides, who knows if the doctor who examined you is even reliable?"
"Although your Uncle Du doesn't have shares in the First People's Hospital, the two hospitals have always cooperated. He is well-acquainted with the doctors there and will certainly find you the most authoritative obstetrician to perform a thorough examination."
Father Du immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm calling the director of the First People's Hospital right now."
Seeing the deathly pallor on Bai Xiuqing's face, Du Anrao knew she was panicking. But she also knew that Bai Xiuqing had come prepared and wouldn't give up so easily.
Sure enough, a second later, Bai Xiuqing said in a grief-stricken tone, "Aunt Yao, Uncle, do you not believe what I just told you? Otherwise, why would you keep confirming the details of the child over and over again?"
Mother Du was stunned. She thought, *What’s the harm in double-checking something as important as this? Why does it sound like I'm the one being unreasonable?*
"You... you are simply insulting me. I am a respectable girl; how could I possibly joke about something like this?"
Listening to her righteous defense, Du Anrao couldn't help but want to laugh.
[You're certainly not joking about the matter; you're just hell-bent on pinning this cuckold's crown on my big brother's head.]
Father and Mother Du: "..."
Bai Xiuqing, unaware of their internal conflict, continued her performance. "I know that as an orphan with no parents, no power, and no status, I am not worthy of Brother Junyan. But the child is innocent. After my parents passed away, I dreamed of having a relative connected by blood. Now that he has finally appeared, there is no way I am giving him up. If you don't want him, I do."
She stood up, preparing to leave. "I was too rash today; just pretend I never came. From now on, this child will be mine alone and will have nothing to do with your Du Family."
Mother Du was left speechless by Bai Xiuqing's one-woman show, caught off guard.
Father Du, hearing the mention of her parents, felt his resolve soften.
Du Anrao, however, saw right through Bai Xiuqing's little scheme and tutted inwardly.
[What a classic move—retreating to advance, and turning the tables to boot. By playing the 'orphan with no status' card and acting like she's being bullied, she's trying to make her weakness her shield. Such a classic con.]
Father and Mother Du: "..." It really did seem that way.
[But come to think of it, do your parents know that you're abroad, willingly serving as a mistress for your own father's murderer, carrying his child, and then finding your father's good friend's son to take the fall and raise the murderer's baby? If they knew, they’d probably crawl out of their graves just to strangle you to death.]