53 I miss him, I want to tell him

"I heard there are going to be layoffs," Li, the engineer next to Wen Xueyan, whispered.

"In light of the strategic adjustments at the group's European headquarters," the HR's voice clearly echoed throughout the room, "the company has decided to gradually withdraw from the mainland market. Consequently, our operations here will cease entirely, and the company will soon be dissolved."

After he finished speaking, the office fell silent.

The HR Director continued announcing the compensation plan: "The company will strictly adhere to labor laws and provide economic compensation to everyone. For long-term employees, the compensation standard is N+6. Colleagues still in their probationary period will also receive one month's salary as compensation at the company's discretion..."

Wen Xueyan didn't quite catch what was said after that. She was still in her probationary period.

She realized that her mother was still in the recovery period and needed medical expenses and careful care from a caregiver. The caregiver's salary was settled weekly, which was an expense that could not be interrupted.

How should she find a new job throughout her pregnancy? Which company would be willing to hire a pregnant woman whose pregnancy is about to become very noticeable and who will soon need maternity leave? The mandatory pre-employment medical examinations at reputable large companies, especially the X-rays, are risks she absolutely must avoid for her child's sake. She checked her mobile banking again; she still had a balance of over ten thousand yuan.

Rent, mother's medical expenses, caregiver fees, future delivery costs, and hospitalization fees for childbirth...

If Cheng Boyan's divorce proceedings drag on indefinitely, she will have to face it all alone. Her financial straits force her to consider all possibilities.

A thought she had previously suppressed resurfaced: contact her ex-husband, Song Tiancheng, and transfer the ownership of the house that was agreed to belong to her in the divorce agreement. The new house was fully furnished, and whether she moved in herself to save money, rented it out for a stable income, or sold it, it would alleviate her current predicament.

Song Tiancheng still sends Wen Xueyan WeChat messages almost every day, but Wen Xueyan rarely replies.

Just then, Song Tiancheng's message arrived, still in his favorite classical style: "Xueyan, I returned from my business trip this morning and passed by the noodle shop we used to frequent. The copper bell under the eaves is still there, and the aroma of soup wafted through the air when I opened the door, as if I were back in our early wedding days, when you would always pour the toppings into my bowl. I heard you've changed jobs; if it's convenient, please let me know where you are. I'll drive to meet you at sunset and we can go to our old haunts together. These days, every time dusk falls, I remember the times we sat facing each other eating noodles. I wonder if you would allow me to hold your hand again and continue our life's story? I want to remarry you."

Song Tiancheng was afraid that Wen Xueyan wouldn't read carefully, so he used plain language for the final remarriage.

Looking at the message, Wen Xueyan felt a surge of intense irritation and resistance. She could almost foresee the exhausting tug-of-war that would ensue after they met.

No, we must never repeat the same mistakes.

She scrolled through her phone, her gaze drifting to another chat window: Cheng Boyan. Since the day she broke up with him, he had indeed kept his promise and hadn't sent a single word.

Wen Xueyan glanced out the window, then picked up her phone again and quickly typed in the chat box: "Watch your manners. I've made it very clear, there's no need for us to meet again." She intended to use this resolute statement to completely respond to Song Tiancheng.

After sending the message, she got up and went to the restroom.

A few minutes later, when she returned to her office and picked up her phone again, her heart skipped a beat. A new WeChat message had arrived from Cheng Boyan.

The content consists of only a simple and cold symbol: "?"

Wen Xueyan's mind went blank for a moment. In her memory, Cheng Boyan had never spoken to her in such a simple yet oppressive tone.

She opened the chat interface, and when she saw the message she had just sent, in a daze, she mistakenly sent the message that was meant for Song Tiancheng and was intended to draw a line between them to Cheng Boyan!

After being apart for many days, her first attempt to contact him began with this absurd mix-up. She hurriedly tried to salvage the situation: "Sorry, I sent it to the wrong person. It was originally meant for my ex-husband."

At that moment, Cheng Boyan was chairing a crucial meeting. The instant his phone screen lit up and displayed the name "Wendy," his heart raced.

To protect his privacy, he saved Wen Xueyan's name as Wendy in his phone.

He even raised his hand, signaling for a brief pause in the meeting, and opened the message with a hint of joyful anticipation. However, the cold "There's no need to meet again" froze his newly risen warmth like a sudden chill.

Disappointment, confusion, and a hint of anger at being unjustly accused.

He had clearly respected her wishes and hadn't crossed any lines, so why did he receive such a message? Could it be that even asking Fang Jing for help when she needed it was seen as an unbearable "disturbance" by her?

The meeting was still in progress when a client asked a question, so in the rush, Cheng Boyan only managed to reply with a question mark.

Less than five minutes later, when Wen Xueyan's second explanation message arrived, he glanced at his phone, continued the meeting, and did not reply.

As the workday drew to a close, Wen Xueyan's phone vibrated again. She saw the sender was Song Tiancheng. She expected an even more persistent pestering, but the message read: "Xueyan, there's an urgent overseas assignment at the company that requires immediate departure. Tonight's appointment has to be cancelled, and I sincerely apologize. I'll find you again when I return."

Soon after, another message arrived, sent by Qiao Lanyue. The message was professionally and clearly worded: "Dear Ms. Wen, our employee Mr. Song Tiancheng departed tonight to handle an urgent project elsewhere. In addition, the company has arranged for him to go on a long-term business trip overseas next month, and the relevant visa matters are currently being processed. This is to inform you."

Wen Xueyan looked at her phone. Although Cheng Boyan didn't reply again, it was as if he had already replied.

Over the next few days, the office gradually emptied out. Colleagues sitting next to me took leave one after another to go out for interviews, or simply completed their resignation procedures.

Most of Wen Xueyan's resumes disappeared without a trace, and the few calls she received were either for insurance sales or tutoring jobs, which were far removed from her major.

Perhaps it was this anxiety that caused her to suffer from insomnia late at night. What troubled her even more was that her previously severe morning sickness had suddenly lessened considerably.

This change did not bring her relief; instead, it made her worry: Is the baby alright?

Driven by this unease, she took a day off on Wednesday afternoon and went to the hospital alone. As she lay on the examination bed, feeling the cold coupling gel and the ultrasound probe moving across her abdomen, her heart pounded like a drum.

It wasn't until the doctor looked at the screen and said, "The fetus is developing normally and is very healthy. You should try to relax and reduce your anxiety," that her heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, seemed to find a branch to rest on temporarily and slowly returned to solid ground.

Holding the examination report, Wen Xueyan walked out of the clinic and gently stroked her lower abdomen, trying to convey this sense of peace to the little life inside.

However, this brief tranquility was shattered by an unexpected figure.

Xu Junxian was standing not far away, obviously having just come out of a consultation room as well.

She didn't want to give up after being rejected by Cheng Boyan last time, so she came today to check if her various indicators were suitable for trying to conceive, and also asked the doctor to prescribe some nutritional supplements.

She wore a well-tailored off-white cashmere coat and had exquisite makeup, but her eyes were not as gentle as her clothes. Her gaze fell on Wen Xueyan, with an undisguised scrutiny.

“Miss Wen? What a coincidence.” Xu Junxian’s voice rang out. She took a few steps forward and glanced at Wen Xueyan’s face.

When Wen Xueyan walked out of the consultation room, she had already put the ultrasound report into her bag.

"What are you doing here?" Before Wen Xueyan could answer, Xu Junxian raised her chin slightly, her tone carrying a sense of declaration, and said to herself, "I just confirmed that I'm pregnant. My husband is very happy. He said he loves this child and loves me very much."

Looking at Xu Junxian's expression, Wen Xueyan's rationality told her that this was likely a lie deliberately told to provoke her, and she was not unaware of Cheng Boyan's attitude.

Emotionally, the words "My husband is very happy, he said he loves this child" still made her feel a little insecure.

Wen Xueyan did not respond to Xu Junxian's words and was about to walk past her when she saw Xu Junxian's older brother, Xu Junheng, waiting in the corridor outside the waiting area.

Xu Junheng gazed in the direction Wen Xueyan had left and lowered his voice, saying, "Judging from where she went, she went to the obstetrics and gynecology department. Last time, Father urged me several times..."

"Don't do anything excessive." Xu Junxian hurriedly interrupted, "Bo Yan said that no matter what happens to Wen Xueyan, it will be my responsibility."

Stepping out of the hospital building, the early spring wind still carried a chill. Wen Xueyan hugged herself tightly, a coldness rising from her feet. Had Xu Junxian sensed something? Could she pose a threat to her child?

Loneliness and stress surged back like a tide. The uncertainty of her job, the pressure of finances, and the potential threat from Xu Junxian all weighed heavily on her frail shoulders.

As she got into the taxi and drove back, Wen Xueyan whispered to the baby in her womb, "Baby, Mommy feels so much pressure being alone. Can I tell your dad that you're here? Mommy once broke up with him, but now I regret it."

Welcome all readers, teachers, and darlings to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.

Yes! Tell President Cheng right away, let's face this together!

Thank you to all the readers for reading and commenting; it's so heartwarming.

Ahhhhh, it's too short! The happiness of reading is too fleeting every day!!! I want to read more!!

Thank you so much for your comment, I'm so touched!

Ugh, why is it stuck here? I want to see more!

Thank you for your comments and for urging me to update!

I really want to meet you soon, I feel so sorry for you.

Thank you for the heartwarming comments from the readers!

I'm giving you my recommendation vote! It's so good, I want to watch more! Looking forward to it!