Chapter 68: Let’s... Get a Divorce

Hua Qianjiao held the pregnancy test in front of him, hoping to see him smile. Yet after a long moment, not only did Gu Pingsheng not smile, but the air around him seemed to grow cold and gloomy.

Hua Qianjiao was taken aback, speaking hesitantly, “It’ll be such a cute little baby.”

Wen Zhixia turned around, meeting Gu Pingsheng’s gaze. The joy of her pregnancy collapsed in an instant.

He didn’t want this child.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke first; both harbored their own thoughts.

“Qianjiao, call the driver. Let him take you home first,” Wen Zhixia said after a pause.

Only then did Hua Qianjiao sense the strange atmosphere between them, though she couldn’t understand why. Wasn’t having a child such a happy thing for Sister Wen? So why did Gu Pingsheng seem so unhappy?

“Oh, alright.” Hua Qianjiao stepped aside to call the driver.

While waiting, she fiddled with the child’s tiny clothes, glancing first at Wen Zhixia—whose smile had vanished—and then at Gu Pingsheng, who also looked anything but pleased.

“Sister Wen, you mustn’t be upset when you’re pregnant,” Hua Qianjiao whispered, tugging at Wen Zhixia’s sleeve.

Wen Zhixia forced a faint, crooked smile. “I’m not upset,” she said softly. “I’ll take good care of the baby, even if I’m alone.”

At the word “alone,” Gu Pingsheng’s brows knitted tightly together, his thumb rubbing his forefinger, his deep eyes unreadable.

When the driver arrived, Hua Qianjiao said her goodbyes and left. Once Lanhu County was left with just the two of them, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

“The baby… When did you get pregnant? Didn’t we always take precautions?” Gu Pingsheng tried to keep his voice gentle, hoping to talk things through.

Wen Zhixia set aside the toy she was assembling for the child, disappointment barely concealed in her eyes. “I thought, when the child finally arrived, even if you weren’t overjoyed, you would at least not reject it.”

Gu Pingsheng looked at her for a long moment before speaking in a hoarse voice. “Zhixia, we’re still young. There’s no need to rush with having children.”

He walked over, took her hand in his, enveloping it with his own, his gaze deep as the sea. “Let’s wait a little longer, alright?”

Wen Zhixia jerked her hand away, coldness hardening her beautiful features. “So, what are you saying? This child… you don’t want it?!”

Those three words—"don’t want it”—seemed to drain all her strength.

Gu Pingsheng’s lips thinned, his emotions stretched taut. Wen Zhixia pressed again, “Do you want this child or not?!”

Gu Pingsheng dragged his hand from his forehead down his jaw, his breath heavy and uneven—his typical gesture when agitated. “Let’s wait two more years. After that, we’ll definitely have a child. Just two more years.”

Wen Zhixia laughed in fury. “So, in the end, you just don’t want this child.”

Gu Pingsheng’s face grew darker. “The pregnancy is still early. If we… if we act quickly, the risks will be minimal. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the hospital. I’ll—”

“Smack!”

Wen Zhixia slapped him, so hard her arm trembled as she let it drop.

Gu Pingsheng’s face turned aside, his eyes shadowed. “I’ll contact the best doctor for you. You’ll just sleep through it.”

Even now, he persisted. The child could not stay.

“Gu Pingsheng, if you don’t even want this child, are you planning to give me up as well?” Wen Zhixia took a deep breath, her voice sinking as she questioned him.

Gu Pingsheng turned his head, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins stood out on his arm. “Is that what you think of me?”

Wen Zhixia pressed her lips together, throwing the toys she’d bought for the child at him. She was rarely hysterical, but now she couldn’t suppress her anger. “Then tell me—how am I supposed to think of you!”

She continued, “Since you don’t want this child, fine, I do! Let’s… get a divorce!”

Gu Pingsheng’s pupils shrank, his gaze frozen on her furious face. It took several seconds before he finally reacted. “What did you say?”

Wen Zhixia lifted her chin, her voice clear and slow. “Since we can’t agree on the matter of a child, what’s the point of continuing this marriage? Mr. Gu, go find someone who shares your views. I can raise the child on my own just fine!”

Gu Pingsheng gripped her wrist, his expression icy. “Wen Zhixia, do you even know what you’re saying? Is divorce something you can just say on a whim?!”

She tried to shake off his hand but failed. Meeting his gaze, she said, “I mean it.”

She hadn’t uttered the word “divorce” lightly. On the contrary, she cherished this marriage as much as the effort she’d put into it.

But Gu Pingsheng’s attitude left her disappointed.

How could he so casually suggest something as absurd as an abortion?

“From the day I married you, I never once thought of divorce. Don’t ever mention it again,” he said coldly.

“If you don’t want this child, then we’ll get a divorce,” Wen Zhixia said again, as if delivering a final verdict.

She rarely asserted herself in their relationship, believing it unnecessary. She always thought that living together should be about love, not about dominating the other.

After speaking, she felt a sudden pain—whether in her stomach or her gut, she couldn’t tell. Frowning, she clutched her belly and sat down on the sofa.

Seeing her in discomfort, Gu Pingsheng rushed over. “Where does it hurt?”

Wen Zhixia couldn’t describe it; she just felt terrible all of a sudden.

“Breathe out… relax,” Gu Pingsheng said, supporting her.

Wen Zhixia took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and after a while, gradually returned to normal.

The furrow between her brows eased.

“All these years without a child, haven’t we lived well enough?” He cupped her face, coaxing gently. “Zhixia, isn’t having me enough? We’re just postponing it for now. In two years, when we’re ready, we’ll have a child. Just listen to me this once, alright?”

Wen Zhixia pushed his hand away. “I won’t change my mind. Do as you wish.”

Gu Pingsheng closed his eyes. “This child cannot stay, but I won’t divorce you either.”

Agitated, he yanked at his tie. “It’s late. You should rest. Tomorrow, I’ll make you an appointment with a doctor to confirm the timing.”

He had no intention of considering her wishes, making the decision for both of them.

Wen Zhixia averted her gaze, reining in her temper. Without another word, she turned and headed for the door.

Since they couldn’t reach an understanding, there was no point in continuing the conversation. She was determined to keep this child.

Gu Pingsheng strode forward and grabbed her. “It’s late—!” He was about to shout in anger, but when he saw the chill in her eyes, his tone softened. “You need to rest. If you don’t want to see me, I’ll go out tonight. Just don’t wander off; stay home and rest.”

He was always like this—just when she thought his feelings for her had changed, he’d revert to his old, attentive self.

It made her believe that nothing had ever changed between them.

Gu Pingsheng waited a few seconds, but seeing she had no intention of asking him to stay, he slowly let go and left.

At the entryway, he paused. “It’s cold tonight. Don’t forget to close the windows.”

Wen Zhixia sat on the sofa, feeling an unprecedented heaviness in her heart. She cradled her still-flat belly, lost in thought.

Gu Pingsheng sat in his car, gazing solemnly in the direction of Lanhu County. The light-hearted mood he’d had an hour earlier had vanished.

“Had a fight?”

In the neon-lit club, Ye Lanzhou scanned the room before spotting him.

Half a bottle of liquor was already gone from Gu Pingsheng’s table. As he was about to pour another glass, Ye Lanzhou snatched the bottle away. “President Gu, you fake being drunk too often. Your wife won’t buy it anymore.”

“Zhixia is pregnant,” Gu Pingsheng said, grabbing the bottle back before Ye Lanzhou could stop him.

Ye Lanzhou paused. “If you didn’t want a child, why weren’t you more careful?”

If it were another woman, she’d either want money or call it an accident. If you didn’t want the child, there were always ways. But Wen Zhixia was different; if she so much as cut her finger, Gu Pingsheng wished he could suffer for her. For something as big as having a child…

Gu Pingsheng rested his forehead on his hand, and after a while, gave himself a sudden slap.

Ye Lanzhou was startled. “What are you doing?”

“She’ll never give up this child,” Gu Pingsheng said.

Ye Lanzhou asked, “So what will you do?”

Gu Pingsheng shook his head. “This child cannot stay.”

Ye Lanzhou wanted to say more but finally fell silent.

They clinked glasses. Gu Pingsheng swirled his drink, the liquid reflecting the colorful lights as he stared, dazed.

“We can have a good life together. Why is the child so important to her…”

His voice was so low and hoarse it was barely audible.

Ye Lanzhou only saw his lips move, unable to catch the words.

“Senior… Let me help you home.” Zhao Fuhe called Gu Pingsheng, but it was the bartender who answered. After getting the address, she came straight away.

Ye Lanzhou was tipsy himself and vaguely noticed a woman arriving—someone who looked like Wen Zhixia, but not quite. As he tried to focus, Zhao Fuhe’s “Senior” snapped him alert.

“Pingsheng…”

Gu Pingsheng had drunk even more than Ye Lanzhou. As Ye Lanzhou tried to warn him, Zhao Fuhe was already pushed aside by Gu Pingsheng. “Get out!”

His attitude, especially in front of others, left Zhao Fuhe humiliated.

But as the saying goes, if you want to stand out in public, you must suffer in private. Zhao Fuhe lived by this rule. No matter how Gu Pingsheng treated her while drunk, she clung to him as if unaware.

Ye Lanzhou, seeing how resilient Zhao Fuhe was, didn’t know what to say.

“Senior, you’re drunk. Let’s go back to Chengya Residence,” Zhao Fuhe said, not knowing Ye Lanzhou but recognizing his close relationship with Gu Pingsheng by his demeanor.

“Pingsheng is drunk. I booked a hotel nearby. We’ll rest there tonight. You should go home,” Ye Lanzhou said.

“Senior drank so much—he’ll feel awful later. Let me—”

“The hotel’s booked. Let’s go,” Ye Lanzhou cut her off.

Someone of Ye Lanzhou’s background rarely bothered to be polite, especially since Zhao Fuhe’s intentions were too obvious.

Under his insistence, Zhao Fuhe had no choice but to help Gu Pingsheng toward the hotel.

Whether intentionally or not, Ye Lanzhou chose to walk instead of drive.

He led the way, Zhao Fuhe following with the stumbling Gu Pingsheng, occasionally glancing back but otherwise showing little reaction.

After only a dozen meters, Gu Pingsheng, having drunk so much and staggered along, bent over a grass verge and retched.

Seeing this, Ye Lanzhou finally called the driver.

Zhao Fuhe helped Gu Pingsheng into the car, but as she tried to get in as well, the door closed.

“Miss Zhao, you should go home. I’ll take him,”

Before Zhao Fuhe could protest, the car drove off, leaving only its taillights behind.

She stamped her foot heavily. “Why is it, no matter what I do, you all look down on me!”

If Wen Zhixia had come instead, would he have treated her this way?

Of course not. She could see it in Ye Lanzhou’s eyes—he looked down on her, didn’t think she was one of them.

“Mr. Ye, where to?” the driver asked.

“A hotel,” Ye Lanzhou replied.

The so-called hotel reservation had just been an excuse.

The driver nodded and turned the car around. With little traffic, he paid little attention at the intersection—never expecting another car to suddenly swerve out and crash into them.

Though Ye Lanzhou had grabbed the handle and fastened his seatbelt in time, the impact made him feel as if his organs had all shifted. In the back, Gu Pingsheng let out a muffled groan.

Before they could react, the culprit’s car, with its hood crumpled, paused briefly, then sped away.

Had he not been so well-mannered, Ye Lanzhou might have cursed aloud.

Gu Pingsheng regained consciousness in a hospital bed, one arm immobilized. When he tried to sit up and jarred the injured limb, he winced.

“Fracture. Be careful,” Ye Lanzhou said from the side.

Gu Pingsheng turned at the sound. “What happened?”

He only remembered drinking with Ye Lanzhou; after that, things were fuzzy. Now, he woke up in a hospital.

“On the way to the hotel, there was an accident. The other driver fled. The police have a report and are investigating,” Ye Lanzhou explained. “By the way, ten minutes before you woke up, I called Wen Zhixia. She didn’t answer, so I sent a text.”

Gu Pingsheng grunted. The doctor came in to check his arm. Suddenly, Ye Lanzhou recalled something. “Also… the road where the accident happened is, coincidentally, also the way back to Chengya Residence.”

Gu Pingsheng had no memory of Zhao Fuhe’s involvement the previous night. “What are you trying to say?”

“I mean… the woman also knows you were hurt. She said she went home to make you soup,” Ye Lanzhou said, rubbing his nose.

At that, Gu Pingsheng’s eyes instantly turned cold. “What did you say?”

“Sorry, my mistake,” Ye Lanzhou replied, realizing too late after he’d already sent the message.

Gu Pingsheng glared at him, his eyes black and penetrating. “Give me the phone.”

Knowing he was at fault, Ye Lanzhou handed it over.

Wen Zhixia was on speed dial. He called her, but before the call connected, Zhao Fuhe entered the room with a bowl of soup.

Gu Pingsheng’s brows knitted.

Wen Zhixia still didn’t answer.

“Senior, I simmered this broth for three hours. Please try some,” Zhao Fuhe said, pouring a bowl.

Gu Pingsheng did not accept it. “You should go.”

Zhao Fuhe forced a bitter smile. “Is it because of Senior Wen? If you’re afraid she’ll misunderstand, I can explain. I won’t get between you. I know nothing I do can compare to Senior Wen in your heart. I’ve come to terms with it. I don’t ask for anything—just seeing you every day makes me happy.”

She wiped tears from her eyes, forcing a smile. “I’m not saying this for any other reason. Please, have some broth. It’ll help you recover faster. Once you drink some, I’ll leave.”

A tactic of retreat in order to advance.

Instead, Gu Pingsheng suddenly asked, "Does it hurt, having an abortion?"

Zhao Fuhe’s head shot up, tears streaming uncontrollably as she covered her face and sobbed, nodding.

Of course it hurt.

“It hurt—a lot,” she said. “That was my first child, and it was gone. Even now, thinking about it makes me sad. I know it was just an accident, but… but if it hadn't been for Senior Wen and Miss Hua, my child wouldn't have…”

Ye Lanzhou had been quietly listening, not expecting her to suddenly mention Hua Qianjiao.

His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Gu Pingsheng, who seemed lost in thought, staring at a point in the air.

Meanwhile, at the hospital information desk—

“Excuse me, which room is Gu Pingsheng, who was admitted early yesterday morning, in?”