47 Pregnancy test sticks
After the Spring Festival, Wen Xueyan sat at her desk, a number swirling in her mind: five.
My period is five days late.
She stared at the dense array of instrument parameters on the computer screen, but none of those numbers could register in her mind.
"It shouldn't be pregnancy," she told herself.
She remembered clearly that the last time she was with Cheng Boyan was in the car. Now, looking back, in that dark, enclosed space, where all movements relied on touch and habit, was it possible that something went wrong?
This thought made her fingers, which were resting on the keyboard, slightly cold.
They have broken up.
Now, more than a month after their breakup, she may be pregnant with his child.
Wen Xueyan subconsciously placed her hand on her lower abdomen. It was flat as usual, without any unusual sensation.
Can life really begin in such a quiet way?
"What if I really am pregnant?" she asked herself.
Raising a child alone? She had just found this job and was still in her probationary period.
She worked as a technical assistant at the domestic representative office of a foreign chemical instrumentation company, helping the sales manager with quotations.
If I get pregnant, can I continue working like this? After the probation period, will the company retain a pregnant woman?
The job market is tough, this job isn't great, the salary is average, and the prospects are limited, but at least it can cover rent, living expenses, and my mother's medical bills.
Cheng Boyan had left her one million yuan, but fate is unpredictable. During the Spring Festival, her mother was hit by a tricycle, suffering multiple fractures. They had already spent over 800,000 yuan, leaving little money. The family of the tricycle driver who caused the accident was destitute and could only come up with a few thousand yuan in compensation.
It's hard to imagine what would have happened to my mother if we hadn't had that money.
As for Cheng Boyan, when will he get a divorce? This question is like a tightly closed door, and she no longer tries to push it open.
So, should we abort it?
The moment the thought popped into my head, something inside me gave me a slight pang of pain.
That's Cheng Boyan's child! How could she bear to part with him!
The time in the bottom right corner of her computer screen showed 4:30 PM. She had an hour and a half left before she could leave work. She decided to go to the pharmacy downstairs to buy a pregnancy test after work.
This decision calmed her down a bit.
Taking action is always more effective than waiting in calming anxiety.
She refocused her attention on the screen and began revising the quote.
The parameters of chemical instruments are complex and precise, and every decimal point must be accurate.
Life, however, is quite the opposite, full of ambiguity and uncertainty.
"Assistant Wen, could you help me find some information on the K-type temperature sensor?" Sales Manager Li Feng peeked over from the next cubicle.
She nodded and began searching the file system. Li Feng was a man in his early thirties, hardworking and humble. His wife had just given birth to their second child. Sometimes Wen Xueyan would see a family photo of the four of them on his phone's screensaver, everyone smiling.
That kind of orderly happiness seemed like a story from another world to her.
It's six o'clock, time to get off work.
Wen Xueyan packed her things, put on a beige down jacket, and wrapped a plaid scarf around her neck. The elevator was crowded with people leaving work.
The pharmacies on the street are marked with a bright green cross.
That's life, she thought. We always think we're making choices, but more often than not we're just reacting to what has already happened.
Wen Xueyan pushed open the door of the pharmacy and walked towards the shelf where pregnancy tests were displayed.
She chose a mid-priced option and went to the cashier.
As she left the pharmacy, night had already fallen. She tucked the small cardboard box into the inside of her backpack and zipped it up.
When she got home, she read the instructions and found that the test was more accurate in the morning, so she decided to wait until tomorrow morning to use it.
*
In the Cheng Group's president's office, the heating was on full blast; a meeting that had lasted for several hours had just ended. Cheng Boyan loosened his tie and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the entire wall.
Beneath my feet lies a dazzling yet icy river of light in the city's winter night, winding its way into the unseen distance.
He suddenly recalled the last night he saw Wen Xueyan. He held her on his lap, embracing her, feeling her soft warmth. In the heat of the moment, as he withdrew, he discovered that the small rubber band had somehow slipped to the ground.
Cheng Boyan's heart sank at that moment. He wanted to say something, but he found that her eyes were red. Later, he heard her propose breaking up.
Cheng Boyan kissed her, wanting to beg her not to break up, but he couldn't change the current state of their marriage and was afraid that she would be hurt again.
All the romance and tenderness came to an abrupt end when Secretary Qiao's phone call abruptly brought him back to reality. His mind was racing, trying to find a solution to the project crisis.
Once things calmed down a bit, it seemed the best time to explain or ask about that night's incident had passed. He thought, "I'll wait a little longer. It might not work on the first try. If there really is a result, she'll definitely tell him, right?"
Cheng Boyan sat down, but didn't turn the page of the document in his hand for a long time.
He wanted to call her. This urge had been surging like a tide lately, coming on several times a day. His fingers had already dialed her number, but he didn't press the button.
It was Xueyan who initiated the breakup. He remembered her expression when she said those words; beneath the calm lay a hint of resolute determination.
There were also her past complaints about her ex-husband Song Tiancheng's entanglement after the divorce. She said she hated people who maintained a lingering connection after a breakup, and that once it was over, one should completely leave the other person's life.
He didn't want to be the "persistent ex" she talked about. He also didn't want her to think he was as annoying as those men who keep clinging on after a breakup.
But……
Cheng Boyan put down the documents. The divorce case was still at a stalemate; the Xu family was unyielding, and Xu Junxian refused to divorce him. Contacting Xueyan at this point would likely only bring her more trouble.
Perhaps not disturbing her is the best way to be gentle with her right now. Even though this restraint makes each of his days feel exceptionally long.
As he walked out of the office to go home, he saw Xu Junxian waiting at the office door.
It was already past nine o'clock, and all the other employees had already left work.
"If you won't let me into your office, I'll wait for you here. I'll wait until you come out eventually."
Cheng Boyan paused, his brows furrowing, wanting only to walk past her.
"Wen Xueyan has already resigned from the company, so you two broke up completely a long time ago, right?" Xu Junxian asked.
Cheng Boyan did not answer and continued walking forward.
Xu Junxian followed up: "Then why are you still so insistent on divorcing me?"
Cheng Boyan stopped, but didn't look at her; his gaze remained fixed on the door leading to the elevator at the end of the corridor.
“I was going to divorce you anyway.” His voice was flat. “I decided before she even came along. She’s not a mistress, you know that very well.”
Xu Junxian's voice carried a hint of resentment, "What do I know? I know that even though she's gone, her soul is still haunting you! Is it not enough for her to just resign from her job? Does she have to leave this city, or even never appear in this world again, before you'll withdraw the divorce lawsuit?"
Cheng Boyan turned around and said, word by word, "Let me tell you, Xu Junxian, if anything happens to Wen Xueyan, no matter what it is or who did it, I will hold you responsible!"
He took a step closer, and the chilling aura emanating from him made Xu Junxian subconsciously take a half step back.
"Are you really that protective of her? I'm your wife! My brother said he'll protect my rights as his sister."
“If she is in any danger,” Cheng Boyan stared at her, “I will make your whole family pay with their lives. I mean what I say.”
This statement was far too harsh, completely exceeding the scope of business warfare or emotional disputes. Xu Junxian seemed frozen, her mouth agape, staring in horror at the familiar yet unfamiliar man before her.
She had never seen Cheng Boyan so angry.
Cheng Boyan turned around and strode towards the elevator.
That night, Cheng Boyan dreamed of Wen Xueyan.
In his dream, she stood on the stage at a chemical industry summit, a scene reminiscent of the first time he met her many years ago. Behind her, a projection screen displayed diagrams of chemical instrumentation, and she explained the technical challenges in a clear and pleasant voice.
Cheng Boyan looked at her; her fingers gently traced the curves on the screen, her eyes as clear as a stream after the first snow.
Cheng Boyan sat in the first row below the stage, looking up at her just like before.
In her dream, Wen Xueyan suddenly looked at him, and the instant their eyes met, she smiled slightly. This smile was one she had never shown in reality; in public, they could only keep their distance.
"President Cheng," Wen Xueyan suddenly put down the laser pointer in the dream, "do you think this plan is feasible?"
All eyes in the room were on him. He wanted to answer, but found himself unable to utter a sound. Wen Xueyan on the stage was still smiling, but that smile gradually turned sorrowful.
Cheng Boyan suddenly woke up with a start.
The bedroom was pitch black, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner running. He reached out and touched the empty pillow beside him; the cold silk fabric reminded him of his reality: Wen Xueyan had broken up with him.
He sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. The warm yellow light dispelled some of the darkness, but it couldn't dispel the melancholy in his heart.
Cheng Boyan closed his eyes, as if he could still feel the warmth of her being held in his arms.
He missed Wen Xueyan; this longing wasn't a sudden impulse, but rather something that seeped into his life like the air. In this early morning hour, it became exceptionally clear.
Welcome all readers, teachers, and darlings to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.
I can't get enough of the baby, I'll post more!
Okay, thank you for your comments, I'll try to write more!
Is she really pregnant? I can't get enough of her, hahaha!
Is it really true? If it is, it feels like the baby came at the wrong time (personal feeling, please don't criticize) because they've both been going through so much. During the most difficult time, they were both worried about each other and wished the baby would be born after they had resolved everything...
Thank you for your comments, readers! The answer will be revealed in the next chapter!
Thank you for your insightful comment. The female protagonist is indeed conflicted; she's reluctant to have an abortion if she's pregnant.
I'm so worried! Is there a baby or not?
Thank you for your comments, readers! The answer will be revealed later.
Hope is there; the baby will become Mr. Cheng's motivation to move forward.
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