Chapter 17: Is Zhou Jingyi Infertile?

As soon as the words were spoken, Wen Ni collapsed into Zhou Jingyi’s arms. Zhou Jingyi frowned as he gazed at her pale face, pressing his palm to her forehead. She was burning up. She was truly ill.

Without hesitation, Zhou Jingyi scooped her up, his long strides carrying them swiftly to the car. He tucked her into the back seat and drove immediately to the hospital.

At the hospital, Zhou Jingyi roused Wen Ni. She rubbed her eyes, now bloodshot, and got out of the car sluggishly. “You go on with your work, Zhou Jingyi. I’ll go see the doctor,” she said, giving him a gentle push before walking into the hospital alone, a solitary figure.

She made her way straight to the elevator and up to the obstetrics and gynecology department, seeking out her close friend, Lin Luo.

Lin Luo hurried to her side, holding her arm. “Your face is so flushed, do you have a fever?”

Wen Ni’s voice was urgent. “Quick, get me a pregnancy test. Once I’m sure I’m not pregnant, I’ll get my injection.”

Lin Luo knew all about Zhou Mingfan’s secret—the plan to borrow a seed had been partly her idea, after all.

She quickly fetched a pregnancy test kit, explained how to use it, and sent Wen Ni into the washroom to take the test.

Ten minutes later, Wen Ni emerged, and Lin Luo hurried to steady her swaying friend, her eyes silently asking for an answer.

Wen Ni shook her head.

Lin Luo sighed. “If you keep delaying, even if I forge a prenatal exam report for you, your belly won’t lie. Maybe it’s time to give up…”

She looked at Wen Ni earnestly. “Let it go.”

But Wen Ni shook her head. Once seated, her voice hoarse, she said, “I can’t. Min Xianshu is trying every possible way to drive me out, and now Zhou Chengli seems to want the same. But aside from the inheritance, I have another reason I must stay in the Zhou family. Only a child can let me remain for now.”

Lin Luo sat beside her, contemplating for a moment before suggesting boldly, “How about I help you lure Zhou Mingfan out, hit him with a stun baton, and get someone to collect a sample? You could try IVF. That way, the child would definitely be a Zhou.”

At this, Wen Ni’s face twisted in revulsion. “No. The thought of putting something dirty like that inside me makes me sick. I’d rather die than carry that hypocrite Zhou Mingfan’s child.”

Lin Luo sighed again.

Wen Ni gripped her hand. “I have someone in mind. But I just can’t get pregnant.”

Lin Luo was skeptical. “Have you been checked?”

Wen Ni nodded. “Before the wedding with Zhou Linchuan, Min Xianshu took me for a checkup. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have consented to the marriage.”

“Then it’s not your body’s problem, just bad luck,” Lin Luo concluded. She nudged Wen Ni’s arm. “Did you try what I taught you?”

Wen Ni nodded obediently. “Yes. Don’t shower immediately after, use a pillow under the hips to help absorption.”

“Then the man you found must be the issue,” Lin Luo judged.

Wen Ni was speechless.

“I see it all the time in OB/GYN,” Lin Luo went on. “Many women who can’t conceive, or have recurrent miscarriages, it’s because the men’s sperm quality is awful. They smoke and drink, the motility rate is below ten percent, and yet the blame always falls on the woman. I’ve seen it so many times—women getting injections throughout pregnancy, and if anything happens, it’s always her fault.”

Wen Ni’s cheeks flushed. She whispered, “I think he’s… okay.”

Lin Luo frowned, scrutinizing her. “Do you mean he looks okay, or he performs okay?”

“Both,” Wen Ni replied.

Lin Luo eyed her with disdain. “Have you just never had anyone good?”

Wen Ni was at a loss for words.

“How long is he?” Lin Luo pressed.

Wen Ni, recalling from memory, measured a bit with her hands. “About this long.”

Lin Luo paused. “Are you sure? Over twenty centimeters?”

Wen Ni nodded softly.

Lin Luo scratched her head. “Then is he a three-second man?”

Wen Ni calculated. “About an hour.”

With a sudden look of realization, Lin Luo concluded, “If he’s so vigorous and it still doesn’t work, then he must have dead sperm.”

At that moment, Zhou Jingyi opened the door.

The instant Wen Ni saw him, she stood up too quickly and felt a wave of dizziness. “Uncle.”

Lin Luo recognized who he was and forced a polite smile. “Hello, I’m Wen Ni’s close friend.”

Zhou Jingyi gave a slight nod, his dark eyes fixed unblinkingly on Wen Ni’s flushed face, the fever painting her cheeks crimson. He asked, “You came to OB/GYN for a cold?”

“I haven’t seen Luo Luo in a long time. I came to chat,” Wen Ni replied.

Zhou Jingyi’s face was tense, a storm brewing in his eyes. “Clearly, you’re not sick enough.”

Wen Ni waved to Lin Luo as she walked out. “I’m off to see the doctor. If you get off work early, come check on me.”

Lin Luo nodded, escorting Wen Ni to the door and watching her leave.

Wen Ni went to the outpatient clinic. The doctor diagnosed her with a cold caused by exposure, a wind-cold type. She had two blisters in her throat, and the doctor recommended an IV.

Eager to recover quickly and not delay her work, Wen Ni nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Zhou Jingyi remained behind her throughout.

As the doctor wrote the prescription, he advised, “Next time you feel unwell, come to the hospital sooner. If you’d come earlier, you wouldn’t need an IV.”

Wen Ni’s voice was raspy as she forced out, “My boss wouldn’t let me come. I had to finish my work first.”

The doctor joked, “Tell your boss next time: if I die at my desk, it’s on you.”

Wen Ni replied, “He’d probably think I’m faking.”

Returning her ID card, the doctor said, “Are there still such slave-driver bosses these days?”

Wen Ni took the card with both hands. “Yes, slave-driver. Works us to death, thinks I’m pretending to be sick.”

“Fire him.”

Wen Ni smiled, sneaking a glance at Zhou Jingyi.

The doctor instructed, “No need to be admitted. Just tell the nurse your name, and they’ll set up the IV for you. Wait outside on the chairs. It’s not that serious; don’t waste hospital resources.”

“Alright,” Wen Ni replied.

She went out and sat on the plastic bench. “Uncle, why did you come back? Worried about me alone?”

She tilted her head up, her face feverish and pitiably delicate.

Zhou Jingyi looked away. “Will you be able to work the day after tomorrow?”

Wen Ni mumbled an assent.

Soon, a nurse came to insert the IV. She patted the back of Wen Ni’s hand, where veins stood out clearly. “Easy job, I love obedient veins like these,” the nurse said cheerfully.

Wen Ni smiled weakly.

With deft hands, the nurse set up the IV. “If you need anything, go to the nurse’s station.”

Wen Ni replied softly.

The clear fluid dripped from the soft plastic bottle, drop by drop gathering in the little chamber below, sending ripples through the liquid.

Wen Ni gestured to the empty seat beside her. “Aren’t you tired? Please, sit.”

Zhou Jingyi glanced at his watch—a gesture men often made when they wished to leave.

Wen Ni lifted her chin. “Go get your work done.”

He grunted and left.

Gone.

Wen Ni pressed her lips together, feeling a sudden, inexplicable anger.

Sleepiness began to overtake her, and she slowly lowered her head, closed her eyes, and drifted off.

When Zhou Jingyi returned, he saw a bespectacled man sitting directly across from Wen Ni, his phone raised, taking photos of her.

Wen Ni was wearing a short skirt today.