Chapter 14: Let's Run Away Together

A flicker of panic flashed in Jiang Qi’s eyes. “Y-You… how are you here?”

“If I hadn’t caught you, how long were you planning to keep this a secret?” Xie Chenhao clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand as he struggled to contain his anger.

Jiang Qi instinctively glanced toward the examination room door.

Without hesitation, he pushed past her and rushed inside.

“Xie Chenhao, what are you doing?” Jiang Qi quickly moved to stop him.

But her feeble strength was no match for the furious man.

He shoved open the door and charged in without a second thought.

Gu Fangyu, who had just lain down, showed a subtle change in expression.

Xie Chenhao realized he had been too impulsive—this was no place for a man to stand.

He quickly turned his back and stepped out into the outer area.

But he didn’t leave.

Jiang Qi followed him in.

Fortunately, Gu Fangyu had not yet removed her clothes and gestured for Jiang Qi to pull the curtain aside.

“Why are you here?”

Jiang Qi hastily waved her hand. “It wasn’t me.”

Xie Chenhao turned back, his eyes red-rimmed. “Whose child is it?”

Gu Fangyu knew that today’s attempt would likely fail again. She apologized profusely to the doctor and then signaled Jiang Qi to lead her outside.

The three of them stood at the end of the corridor.

Jiang Qi stepped aside, giving them space to talk.

The man’s eyes remained red.

He asked again, “Whose child is it? Is he unwilling to take responsibility?”

Gu Fangyu’s gaze flickered evasively. She could lie effortlessly to Gu Hanchen, but with him, the words wouldn’t come.

Suddenly, Xie Chenhao stepped forward and grabbed her hand. “Fangyu, no matter whose child it is, we’re married. I will take responsibility for this child.”

Her eyes shot up in shock.

Gu Fangyu struggled to pull her hand away, but he held on firmly.

“Fangyu, wait for me. I will annul my engagement with Gu Yao. We will get married,” Xie Chenhao said earnestly, his eyes brimming with desperate hope.

At this moment, he seemed like a man who had endured years of restraint and had finally found an excuse to marry someone he didn’t love without betraying his own will.

“You’re insane!” Gu Fangyu forcefully shook off his hand.

Her expression turned cold and her tone devoid of warmth. “The child is not yours. This has nothing to do with you. Just pretend you never saw me today, and you know nothing about the child.”

Xie Chenhao furrowed his brow, pain flickering in his eyes. “You know I would never abandon you.”

She looked up silently.

“I won’t force you. If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask,” he said, always yielding unconditionally in front of her.

That had been the case when he broke off their engagement as well.

Whatever she wanted to do, he was willing to help her achieve.

“But from today on, you must let me know your plans. Also, you and the child will be under my care.” This was his greatest concession.

Gu Fangyu’s lips twitched as she instinctively wanted to refuse.

But she knew him too well; if she did, who knew what he might do.

“Fangyu, don’t refuse me again,” he pleaded sincerely.

She looked at him, torn.

There was another reason she didn’t want him involved: the father of the child was Gu Hanchen. If he found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Their eyes met—his full of affection, hers filled with hesitation.

Yet, in the corner, hidden cameras captured this scene, and due to the angle, it even seemed inexplicably tender.

None of the three noticed they were being filmed.

Gu Fangyu was the first to look away, her gaze darting nervously. “I understand, but don’t act recklessly.”

“Okay.” Xie Chenhao let out a relieved sigh.

When he smiled, it was like a breath of spring breeze.

“Does the Gu family know?”

She shook her head. “No, no one knows except you and Jiang Qi.”

Xie Chenhao pondered for a moment and understood.

It was better that the Gu family remained in the dark.

“Please don’t tell Gu Yao or anyone else in the Gu family,” she implored—the first time she had ever begged him since their breakup.

Hearing this, Xie Chenhao felt even more heartbroken.

“Fangyu, I’ll cancel the engagement. We’ll leave Jiang City and find a place where no one knows us. Let me take care of you and the baby. Will you let me?”

Gu Fangyu’s heart stirred.

She had thought about this before—in the first year with Gu Hanchen, she had tried to do just that.

But Gu Hanchen had found her and brought her back.

Afterward, he punished her in bed so severely she was bedridden for three days.

Gu Fangyu had not learned her lesson. She tried to run again, but every time she thought she had succeeded, the man appeared and dragged her back.

Each punishment from Gu Hanchen was harsher than the last.

Eventually, she gave up trying to escape.

“Fangyu, believe me. I will take good care of you both,” Xie Chenhao’s eyes shone with faint hope.

She pulled her hand back again. “I’m sorry.”

The disappointment in his eyes was genuine.

Yet he forced a smile. “It’s okay. Think it over carefully. At least for now, let me take care of you.”

She didn’t refuse again.

After much coaxing, Gu Fangyu finally persuaded him to leave.

Once Jiang Qi and the others had gone, she approached. “What now?”

“Let’s postpone the surgery for now.”

Jiang Qi nodded in agreement.

Canceling the operation meant she had to find a way to bluff her way through the upcoming medical examinations.

Gu Fangyu knew all too well how difficult it would be to pull off a switch right under Gu Hanchen’s nose.

“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange for Old Jiang to schedule the company’s employee check-up on the same day as yours,” Jiang Qi reassured her. “I’ll find a way to have our tests done together.”

Gu Yao understood her implication but thought it was too risky.

“Since the day I went with you to buy the pregnancy test, we’ve been in the same boat,” Jiang Qi reasoned, sensing her hesitation. “Even if I did nothing, Gu Hanchen would suspect I’m your closest friend and that I must have done something. Better to confirm it than be falsely accused.”

Gu Yao almost laughed at her twisted logic.

In the end, she didn’t insist any further and decided to survive this challenge first.

The longer they could delay Gu Hanchen’s discovery, the better.

Once they left the hospital, fully prepared, they parted ways to return home separately.

Gu Fangyu arrived home to find the house unusually quiet.

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