Three hours earlier.
"Miss Shen, your pregnancy is too far along now. An induced termination would carry significant risks," the doctor said gravely, looking at Shen Zhen's test results.
Qiao Hua turned to Shen Zhen at those words. She sat pale-faced in her chair, struggling to take it in.
Qiao Hua remained fairly calm. "Doctor, is termination really not an option? My friend doesn't want to keep this baby."
The doctor shook his head gently. "We could have done it if she'd come earlier, but it's too late now."
Shen Zhen clenched her hands until her fingertips turned white. "What if I insist?"
Seeing how determined she was, the doctor grew even more serious. "Then we can't guarantee your safety during the procedure."
In other words, the procedure would be extremely risky.
Shen Zhen's hands drifted to her belly, her gaze vacant. "So my only choice is to keep this baby?"
The doctor nodded. "That would be my recommendation."
Shen Zhen's mind went blank, and she slumped back against her chair, drained of strength. She had finally found a chance to terminate the pregnancy, only to be told that it was no longer possible.
Didn't that mean she would have to give birth to You Xiaonian's child?
Qiao Hua stood silently beside her. In truth, she had known all along. In the original plot, Shen Zhen had delayed too long and hadn't been able to terminate the pregnancy.
Back at the Rental Apartment, she had wanted to tell Shen Zhen, but she had swallowed her words, afraid that Shen Zhen might become suspicious of her.
They visited several more hospitals, but every doctor gave them the same answer.
Shen Zhen's initial hope gave way to despair. She sat on a bench outside the hospital, the doctors' words echoing endlessly in