Abort your child

Qiao Hua's eyes darted around. "I don't know President Yan's phone number. Why don't I call him next time?"

As if he had anticipated her answer, Gu Wenze took the phone, found a number in the contacts, and tossed it back to her. "No need to wait. You can call him right now."

Yan Yu's name was right there on the screen.

Qiao Hua gritted her teeth. So Gu Wenze had planned this all along.

Now she couldn't even find an excuse. Reluctantly, she dialed Yan Yu's number. He answered quickly, his voice as gentle as ever.

"President Yan, it's me."

A ripple disturbed the calm in Yan Yu's voice when he heard her. "Qiao Hua? Why are you calling me from this number?"

Qiao Hua gave a couple of awkward chuckles. "This is... my friend's phone."

At the word "friend," Gu Wenze's gaze darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

Yan Yu sighed. "After your husband called me yesterday, I couldn't get hold of you. I worried all night. Are you all right?"

Qiao Hua forced a breezy tone. "I'm fine. I accidentally broke my phone, so I couldn't contact you until now. Sorry about that."

"As long as you're all right." Yan Yu paused. "Qiao Hua, we're still waiting for you to come back to work."

Qiao Hua caught Gu Wenze giving her a warning look. Lowering her eyes, she said apologetically, "President Yan, I'm sorry, but I'm quitting."

The other end of the line fell silent.

After a long while, Yan Yu finally spoke slowly. "Is it because of your husband?"

Even if Qiao Hua wanted to say yes, she couldn't. Gu Wenze was right beside her, watching.

She reluctantly said, "Not entirely. I've been out of work for so long that I'm having trouble adjusting. I'm really sorry, President Yan, but I probably won't be coming back."

Seeing how firm she was, Yan Yu sighed. "All right. Since you've made your decision, I won't push you. But Qiao Hua, I'll always keep the assistant position open for you. You can come back whenever you want."

"President Yan, I..."

Before she could finish, her hand was empty. Gu Wenze had snatched the phone away without her noticing. He spoke coldly into it. "That won't be necessary. If Qiao Hua needs a job, my company will arrange one for her."

With that, Gu Wenze hung up, a barely perceptible anger in his movements.

Qiao Hua acted as if she hadn't noticed. "I quit like you told me to. Are you satisfied now?"

Every trace of Gu Wenze's earlier gentleness vanished. He warned her coldly, "If I find out you've gone back to Yan Yu's Company, I won't let you get away with it."

Qiao Hua gave a perfunctory acknowledgment.

Once she got out, he wouldn't be able to control what she did anyway.

After resting in bed all night, Qiao Hua felt the pain in her abdomen ease considerably. Back to her usual lively self, she planned to go to the company first and explain yesterday's events to Yan Yu.

But when she went downstairs, she found Gu Wenze eating breakfast in the dining room, even though he should have left for work.

Hearing her, Gu Wenze turned. Seeing that she seemed ready to go out, he asked indifferently, "Where are you going?"

Qiao Hua wasn't stupid enough to tell the truth. She said matter-of-factly, "You made me quit my job. Obviously, I'm going to look for another one."

What job? I'm going straight to Yan Yu to get my old job back.

With a clatter, Gu Wenze's knife and fork dropped onto his porcelain plate. His face darkened. "Are you going to see Yan Yu?"

Qiao Hua's heart lurched, but she struggled to keep her smile in place. "I've already quit. Why would I go see him?"

How does he know I'm going to see Yan Yu? Did he figure out that I was just stalling last night?

That can't be right. Didn't I put on a pretty good act?

Gu Wenze's temple throbbed. He had known Qiao Hua wouldn't be so obedient.

Sure enough, she was planning to see Yan Yu behind his back again.

A barely restrained brutality edged Gu Wenze's voice. "Since you're looking for a job, I'll have someone go with you."

Qiao Hua's eyes widened.

Seriously?

Gu Wenze was going to send someone out with her?

How could that work? If someone went with her, how was she supposed to see Yan Yu?

Qiao Hua's mind raced. "There's no need. I can look on my own. If people found out I needed someone to accompany me while I looked for a job, they'd laugh themselves silly."

Gu Wenze narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing darker. "Qiao Hua, why are you so against my help? Are you hiding something from me?"

Qiao Hua's heart jolted. She feigned composure. "What could I possibly be hiding from you? I just don't want to trouble you."

Gu Wenze cut her off, his tone brooking no argument. "Either way, if you go out, someone has to go with you. Otherwise, you're staying here."

Seeing that Gu Wenze wouldn't let her leave without someone following her, Qiao Hua reluctantly agreed to avoid arousing his suspicion.

Over the entire day, Qiao Hua couldn't find a single chance to speak with Yan Yu alone. She did, however, submit plenty of résumés.

"President Gu, Miss Qiao didn't do anything today besides submit résumés."

The bodyguard was reporting over the phone.

Gu Wenze's expression betrayed no emotion. "Keep an eye on her. Report everyone she meets to me."

The bodyguard agreed. "Yes, President Gu."

After hanging up, Gu Wenze set his phone aside and returned to his work.

Night fell, shrouding the entire city in darkness, as though endless layers of thick ink had been smeared across the sky.

When Gu Wenze returned to the villa, he found Qiao Hua sitting on the sofa, venting her frustration on the buttons of the remote in her hand.

Seeing him return, Qiao Hua finally found an outlet for the anger she had bottled up all day. "How long are you going to keep having people follow me?" she snapped.

Gu Wenze's tone was calm. "Until you find a job."

Qiao Hua thought she would never get rid of them for the rest of her life, then.

Given the current situation, seeing Yan Yu was out of the question. But she could deal with the baby in her belly first.

Work had left Qiao Hua no time to undergo an induced abortion. Now that she no longer had to work, she could take this opportunity to abort the baby.

Early the next morning, no sooner had Gu Wenze left than Qiao Hua headed out.

At the hospital, she told the bodyguards behind her, "I'm having a gynecological examination. Wait here for me."

The two bodyguards exchanged a glance. Apparently, they also thought it would be awkward to accompany her, so they stayed where they were to wait.

Having shaken them off, Qiao Hua secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She went to the gynecology department and, after an examination, received an appointment slip for an abortion.

While she was waiting in line, her phone suddenly rang.

Qiao Hua had bought the phone while looking for work the day before. Guessing that the bodyguards had reported to Gu Wenze, she pursed her lips and answered.

Gu Wenze's low voice came through the phone. "The bodyguards told me you went to the hospital?"

Qiao Hua gave a perfunctory hum of agreement. "I'm here for a gynecological examination."

Gu Wenze's voice was low. "What kind of gynecological examination?"

"A routine blood test," Qiao Hua said casually.

Gu Wenze was about to say something when Qiao Hua's thoughts suddenly rang clearly in his ears. What else would I be here for? Obviously, I'm going to abort your child.