Chapter 10: No Chance for Pregnancy

A sudden shiver ran through A-Li, jolting her awake. She sat up in bed, her eyes meeting the man’s grave and serious expression. Uncertain and a little apprehensive, she wasn’t sure why he looked so cold, but since puncturing the condom wasn’t exactly something to be proud of, she didn’t dwell on it.

She nodded awkwardly. “Yes, I did it…”

“You wanted to get pregnant?”

“Grandmother said that to prevent you from getting back together with Liu Mengwan, it would be safer if I had your child…”

“And what do you think?”

“Me?” A-Li faltered, honestly not having thought much about it—either way was fine. If she got pregnant, she’d have the baby; if not, so be it.

“Um, I don’t really mind…”

Lu Jinyan could see that A-Li had simply been persuaded by his grandmother.

He sighed softly, pinched her cheek, and said, “You’re still too young. There’s no need to think about having a child so soon.”

A-Li shot him a sidelong glance. “Uncle, don’t you want me to be pregnant?”

A flicker of something passed through Lu Jinyan’s eyes.

But his face remained so calm and unruffled that no emotion could be read from it. In a gentle, teasing tone, he replied, “Didn’t I just say you’re too young? You’re still a child yourself—I have no desire to raise another one.”

“How am I a child?” A-Li protested, wrinkling her nose. “Isn’t my figure alluring enough? If you see me as a child, then why are you so… beastly every time you sleep with me? I’ve never seen you act like I’m a child then.”

This girl could be timid at times.

But every now and then, she was bold beyond measure.

Fearing she might say something even more outrageous, Lu Jinyan swiftly silenced her with a kiss.

After leaving her weak and breathless, Secretary Zhang called, “President Lu, I’ve arrived.”

“Alright.” Lu Jinyan set down his phone, brushed aside A-Li’s damp hair, pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, and said in a husky voice, “I’m heading to work. Remember to take your contraceptive pills when you wake up.”

Exhausted, A-Li barely mustered a response before drifting back into a groggy sleep.

**

It was afternoon before A-Li finally roused herself lazily from bed, having completely forgotten about the contraceptive pills.

After eating, she decided she needed to find something to do.

Although it was good that Uncle had no intention of divorcing her, A-Li didn’t want to live in constant anxiety any longer. A woman should have her own work, after all—to live independently, without relying on anyone.

But the problem was, she was undocumented! Thanks to the Lu family’s connections, she was now registered in their household, but her mysterious origins meant she had no educational background. Without a diploma, finding a decent job was nearly impossible.

“Madam, are you going out?” Aunt Liu asked, seeing A-Li heading for the door.

“Yes, I’m just going for a walk.”

Staying cooped up at home wasn’t helping, so A-Li thought she might as well go out—maybe she’d get lucky.

“Shall I have Old Li drive you?”

“No need, I want to walk alone.”

“Be careful on the road.”

“I will.”

A-Li first visited a job market to see if she could find anything suitable.

But she was astonished to discover that even jobs offering a monthly salary of three thousand yuan were being fought over by graduate students. The scene left her stunned.

After making a round, she found nothing.

Instead, she felt even more discouraged.

If the graduate students were competing so fiercely, what chance did someone like her—who didn’t even have a primary school certificate—stand? If she ever left the Lu family, would sweeping the streets be her only option?

Perhaps being a good housewife and keeping Uncle happy was the best path after all.

Dejected, A-Li wandered the streets.

Suddenly, a melody caught her ear.

She realized she was standing in front of a piano shop.

“Miss, are you looking to buy a piano?” the saleswoman greeted her warmly, seeing A-Li peering inside.

“Uh…” A-Li was about to shake her head—there was already a piano at home—but the saleswoman smiled brightly. “Would you like to come in and have a look? We have every style you could imagine.”

Thinking there was no harm in browsing, A-Li followed her inside.

In fact, A-Li had taken piano lessons for a while at the Lu household, hoping to please Lu Jinyan since she knew he liked it. But when he found out, he told her there was no need to imitate Liu Mengwan, so she had stopped playing since then.

“Would you like to try?” the saleswoman asked.

Before A-Li could answer, a sharp, mocking voice rang out. “Well, if it isn’t Little Mistress Li. Now that Mengwan is back, you feel threatened and want to imitate her by learning piano?”

The voice was unmistakably hostile.

A-Li looked back and, unsurprisingly, saw her adversary.

Tang Ying, Lu Jinyan’s cousin.

Like An Yu, she was a fervent supporter of Lu Jinyan and Liu Mengwan as a couple, though lately she seemed to be pursuing someone else, which was why she hadn’t attended the last gathering.

A-Li had no wish to engage.

She turned to leave.

But Tang Ying’s scornful voice called after her, “That’s right, the piano is a refined art—not something someone like you could ever hope to taint. Only someone as noble as Mengwan is worthy of playing! You don’t deserve it!”

A-Li had a stubborn streak.

She turned back and asked the saleswoman, “May I try this piano?”

“Um…” The saleswoman snapped out of her embarrassment and nodded. “Of course.”

“Thank you.”

A-Li sat down at the piano.

Seeing A-Li deliberately defy her, Tang Ying’s face darkened. “Did you not hear me? I told you not to touch the piano!”

She started forward to stop her, but her friend held her back.

“Yingying, don’t make a scene. Young Master Song is still upstairs.”

At the mention of Song, Tang Ying immediately halted.

Recently, she’d been pursuing Song Qisheng, the third son of the Song family of Linyi City. He was a world-class conductor—elegant, refined, and charming. He was upstairs now discussing business with the store owner; Tang Ying couldn’t afford to cause a scene here.

“Hmph, let’s see what kind of spectacle this woman can make! At least it won’t be me losing face.”