Volume One, Chapter 106: The Child Who Was Lost Before Birth

Huo Mingting appeared at the door of the hospital room.

When Ye Sheng saw him arrive, she stood up. “You two talk. I’m leaving—I have outpatient appointments this afternoon.”

“Ye Sheng.” As they brushed past each other, Huo Mingting slightly turned his head. “Let’s talk.”

In truth, at this point, there was nothing left to discuss.

At least, Ye Sheng had nothing more to say to Huo Mingting.

They faced each other in silence for a moment before Huo Mingting spoke. “Minshu…”

Ye Sheng glanced up at him briefly, her eyes calm and detached, silently shutting down whatever he wanted to say.

“Go ahead,” she said evenly, no longer stirred by any mention of Qin Minshu.

In Ye Sheng’s eyes now, Huo Mingting and Qin Minshu were the same kind of people—after all, two people couldn’t share one bed without being alike.

Huo Mingting could sense the change in Ye Sheng but couldn’t quite pinpoint what had shifted.

“The matter of her dismissal, Director Ji has already spoken to me. Qin Minshu will no longer be employed at Haici Hospital. Just follow the proper procedures,” he said.

Ye Sheng responded with a simple “Hmm.”

That was for the best—it would save her a lot of trouble.

Even if the Huo family and the Qin family joined forces to crush Qin Minshu at Haici Hospital, Ye Sheng would find a way to eliminate her.

She could not bear to see Qin Minshu’s face repeatedly within her line of sight; it disrupted her peace of mind.

“That’s all?” Ye Sheng asked coldly. “Anything else?”

“…”

Her calm and indifferent demeanor was as if she were speaking to a stranger, devoid even of the anger she once showed.

This was no good sign.

Huo Mingting’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. “Ye Sheng, I hope you won’t oppose Qin Minshu anymore. Whatever happened between us has nothing to do with her. She was indeed a bit willful, and I take some responsibility for that, but as I said before, no matter how many mistakes Qin Minshu made, she saved Cong’er’s life. We owe her.”

“It’s you, not me,” Ye Sheng took a step back, putting more distance between them.

Seeing her move away, Huo Mingting’s brows tightened once again.

“I don’t owe anyone anything—not her, and certainly not you. Don’t try to guilt-trip me,” Ye Sheng said coldly, throwing the words at him. “Mr. Huo, you and Qin Minshu have been together for many years, inseparable in love, but do you really understand her?”

“In your eyes, is she particularly kind and innocent?” Ye Sheng smiled faintly. “As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Huo Mingting looked at the smile on Ye Sheng’s face, and for the first time, his heart faltered.

Her smile used to be full of sarcasm, but now it seemed... almost like a blessing?

“Qin Minshu and I have already...” he tried to say they had separated, no longer lovers.

But Ye Sheng had no intention of listening.

“You two did make a good match. Back in school, you were seen as the perfect couple,” she said, shaking her head softly. “I was rash—I shouldn’t have married you just because of an unexpected pregnancy, causing a three-year gap between you and Qin Minshu... though it wasn’t a complete break, considering you were always somewhat entangled.”

Huo Mingting frowned.

“No matter what, I delayed you two. But truly destined lovers will never part. I wish you both happiness and a lasting union.”

There was little expression on Ye Sheng’s face, but her blessing was sincere.

She never spoke falsehoods.

Huo Mingting’s breath grew heavy, his eyes narrowing. “You’re saying this to anger me, to fight for custody of Cong’er.”

“I will fight for custody,” Ye Sheng said firmly. “I know you genuinely love Cong’er. You’ve worked hard raising him these past three years, and I see how close you are. I’ve never denied you’re a responsible father. Even if custody goes to me, the father-son bond between you and Cong’er won’t be severed. You can see him whenever you want. You will still have your own children, but I won’t have any more.”

“Won’t have any more?” Huo Mingting raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Ye Sheng replied lightly, “Having two children nearly took half my life. Huo Mingting, do you remember the child we lost?”

Huo Mingting’s eyes ached.

How could he forget?

Twins, healthy in the womb, but one was stillborn.

That event left a deep scar in both their hearts.

During Ye Sheng’s delivery, she suffered severe hemorrhaging. At the time, he was on a business trip in a neighboring city and rushed to the hospital at full speed. Upon reaching the delivery room door, he was forced to sign numerous surgical consent forms and critical condition notices, even being asked whether to save the bigger or smaller baby.

When Madam Huo blurted out “save the smaller one,” it was the first time Huo Mingting was angry with his mother.

He grabbed the doctor by the collar, shouting, “You must save the bigger one, or I’ll smash your hospital!”

In the end, what came out of the delivery room was a barely alive Ye Sheng and a red, wrinkled infant.

Only one.