"Yao Yao, what's wrong with you?" Qin's Mother asked with concern.
Qin Ruoyao's face was pale.
"I don't know what's going on, but I suddenly feel terrible. Even when I had stomach issues before, it was never like this," Qin Ruoyao said, her eyelashes still damp with tears.
Qin's Mother anxiously replied, "I'll take you to the hospital."
"Ugh—" Qin Ruoyao began vomiting into the sink again.
Qin's Mother patted her back, her voice filled with worry, "Yao Yao, I was the same when I was pregnant with you. But you couldn't possibly be pregnant, could you?"
Pregnant...
Qin Ruoyao's eyes lit up.
She grabbed Qin's Mother's hand. "Mom, I know why my stomach feels so bad now."
"I'm pregnant. I must be pregnant!"
Her voice was filled with excitement.
If she was pregnant, she could use this child to secure her position and marry into the Lin Family.
"Pregnant?" Qin's Mother frowned. "Whose child is it?"
"It's Lin Li's, Mom. I'm carrying Lin Li's child," Qin Ruoyao said, clutching her mother's hand. "I can marry into the Lin Family now."
"But Yao Yao, didn't you say Lin Li always used protection?" Qin's Mother asked, puzzled.
"Mom, during the last few times, I secretly replaced his condoms with ones that had holes in them," Qin Ruoyao explained excitedly.
Qin's Mother's eyes widened. "If you're really pregnant, Yao Yao, you can use this child to marry into the Lin Family."
"Exactly," Qin Ruoyao nodded. "Once I become Lin Li's wife, I'll have endless wealth. And if I want to enter the entertainment industry, I can use Starlight Entertainment's resources to promote myself."
"Also, I'll destroy Lin Xuan's company!"
Qin Ruoyao's eyes were filled with hope.
This child had come at the perfect time.
"Yao Yao, let's go to the hospital for a test," Qin's Mother said, taking Qin Ruoyao to the gynecology department.
They opted for a blood test, which would take two hours for the results.
Qin's Mother, worried that Qin Ruoyao might be too exhausted, let her return to their rented apartment first.
Qin's Mother returned with the test results.
"Mom, what's the result? Am I pregnant?" Qin Ruoyao asked anxiously.
"You're pregnant," Qin's Mother nodded with a smile.
Qin Ruoyao snatched the report and saw the words "pregnant" on it. Her hands trembled with excitement.
"Mom, I'm going to find Lin Li," Qin Ruoyao said eagerly.
"Yao Yao, wait," Qin's Mother stopped her.
"Mom, what is it?" Qin Ruoyao asked, confused.
"You can't just go to him like this," Qin's Mother said. "Last time, you ruined his reputation. He must hate you now. If you go to him directly, he might not let you keep the child."
Qin Ruoyao thought back to the birthday party where Lin Li had spoken harshly to her.
Her mother was right. Lin Li wouldn't want this child.
Qin Ruoyao touched her belly, a wave of fear washing over her.
This was her last bargaining chip. She couldn't lose it.
"Mom, what should I do then?" Qin Ruoyao asked urgently.
"Let me think," Qin's Mother furrowed her brow, deep in thought.
Time ticked by.
Two minutes later.
"I've got it," Qin's Mother's eyes lit up.
"Yao Yao, we'll go to the media and make this public. We'll let everyone know you're pregnant. That way, Lin Li won't dare to harm the child."
"Moreover, under public pressure, Lin Li will have no choice but to marry you."
"Okay, Mom, I'll do as you say."
Qin Ruoyao couldn't help but smile.
It seemed fate was still on her side, giving her this child when she was at her lowest.
The news of Qin Ruoyao's pregnancy spread like wildfire in just one afternoon, as her relationship with Lin Li had already been a hot topic.
Lin Chang saw the news and slammed his phone down, his face dark.
"She's pregnant!" Lin Chang said through gritted teeth.
Qin Ruoyao was a stain on Lin Li's reputation, and now her pregnancy had become public knowledge.
How could Lin Li ever marry someone from a family more prestigious than the Lin Family now?
"Who's pregnant?" Jiang Shuqin asked, confused.
"Qin Ruoyao," Lin Chang replied grimly.
"What?!" Jiang Shuqin stood up abruptly from the sofa.
Lin Chang clenched his teeth. "Now everyone is speculating whether Lin Li will marry Qin Ruoyao. If he doesn't, our family will be condemned by the public. If he does, people will ridicule us."
The Lin Family was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Jiang Shuqin's mind was in turmoil, unsure of how to handle the situation.
One thing was certain: Qin Ruoyao could not marry into the Lin Family. With her temperament, she would turn the family upside down.
Lin Li returned home.
He had been busy preparing for the national computer competition ever since he heard that Lin Xuan would represent Qinghua University.
He was determined to beat Lin Xuan!
Lin Li hadn't had time to check the news.
"Dad, Mom, what's going on?" Lin Li asked, noticing the grim expressions on Lin Chang and Jiang Shuqin's faces.
"See for yourself," Lin Chang tossed his phone onto the coffee table, his voice heavy. "Look at the mess you've made!"
Jiang Shuqin frowned disapprovingly. "What kind of attitude is that? This was all orchestrated by Lin Xuan to trap Lin Li and Qin Ruoyao. Lin Li is the victim here. Why are you blaming him?"
"Your indulgence has ruined him!" Lin Chang snapped.
Lin Li picked up the phone, a sinking feeling in his stomach.
His hands trembled as he read the bold headline: "Qin Ruoyao Pregnant with Lin Li's Child."
Lin Li's eyes widened in shock.
How could this be?
He had always used protection with Qin Ruoyao.
How could she be pregnant?
Lin Li's face turned pale.
His affair with Qin Ruoyao had been nothing more than a scandal, something people would eventually forget.
But now that she was pregnant, everything had changed...
That bitch must have done something!
"You need to fix this!" Lin Chang said sternly.
"Yes," Lin Li replied, his expression dark.
Qin Ruoyao, you've forced my hand!
Lin Xuan had just emerged from his private space and was lounging on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
As soon as he opened Weibo, he saw a trending topic.
"Holy crap," Lin Xuan exclaimed. "Qin Ruoyao is pregnant!"
What was going on?
In his previous life, Qin Ruoyao had never been pregnant before his death.
Could it be...
Lin Xuan thought of Luo Yuan and called him.
"Brother Xuan," Luo Yuan's tone was unusually deferential.
Once bitter rivals, Luo Yuan had disliked Lin Xuan in every way. Now, he had become Lin Xuan's devoted admirer.
"Did you have something to do with Qin Ruoyao's pregnancy?" Lin Xuan asked.