Contractual Love: Mistaken for True

The next day, Xia Chen went alone to get the results. Originally, he was supposed to accompany Xu Xiaoyou, but just before they left, Xu Xiaoyou suddenly felt unwell, so Xia Chen told her to stay home and rest while he went.

Xia Chen went to the doctor that Xu Xiaoyou recommended and explained the situation. The doctor took out the report from the drawer, glanced at it, and said, “Xu Xiaoyou, right? You’re not pregnant.”

“Not pregnant?” Xia Chen was a bit skeptical. He knew that Xu Xiaoyou hadn’t had her period for almost two months. Every time her period came, it caused her a lot of pain, so how could she not be pregnant?

The doctor was an experienced older man who was used to seeing newlywed couples like them. He comforted him saying, “You both are still young; it will happen in due time. Getting pregnant isn’t something to rush.”

Xia Chen understood that if she wasn’t pregnant, he couldn’t blame the doctor. Thinking about how much Xu Xiaoyou suffered during her periods, he asked the doctor if there were any good treatments for her condition.

There were many cases like Xu Xiaoyou’s, but most of the time, the symptoms disappeared or lessened after marriage. It was rare to see someone like her still experiencing such severe symptoms.

The old doctor adjusted his glasses and said, “I’ll prescribe some blood circulation medicine. You see, dysmenorrhea can’t always be cured outright; it’s crucial to take care of oneself. If she regulates her body well, maybe after having a child, the symptoms may lessen. Everyone’s body is different, so I can’t give a definitive conclusion. Let her come back for a check-up when she has time, and we’ll decide from there.”

Xia Chen mentioned the previous check-up results from the old traditional Chinese doctor and told him about the herbal medicine that Mom Xia had been giving to Xu Xiaoyou.

“I see,” the doctor said. “Then she really needs to be examined properly. This is not something to take lightly, especially since she is still so young. It would be a real shame if…”

After leaving the hospital, Xia Chen picked up his phone wanting to call Xu Xiaoyou but didn’t know how to start, so he decided he would tell her when he got home.

When he opened the door, he didn’t see Xu Xiaoyou. He guessed she was probably in the bedroom. Sure enough, she was sitting on the bed, lost in thought with a pale expression.

“What are you thinking about that you didn’t even notice I was back?” Xia Chen sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Xu Xiaoyou noticed him and realized she had been thinking about the baby. She figured Xia Chen might have found out already. Just before leaving, she had felt pain in her stomach, only to discover that her period had come, meaning she wasn’t pregnant after all-a false alarm.

“Ah Xia… the baby… actually…” Xu Xiaoyou hesitated, unsure how to begin.

Xia Chen didn’t expect Xu Xiaoyou already knew about the baby, but he could only hold her gently and say, “We are still young; it will happen.”

Xu Xiaoyou replied softly, “Mm.”

The two embraced in silence, both lost in their thoughts for a moment.

After a long pause, Xia Chen finally asked Xu Xiaoyou how she found out. Xu Xiaoyou blushed and replied that her period had come. Seeing the pale look on her face, Xia Chen realized the truth; her complexion always went colorless whenever her period started.

Xia Chen told Xu Xiaoyou to rest well and went downstairs to prepare some food for her to help her regain her strength.

At work, Xiaoyu came over to ask Xu Xiaoyou about the situation. Xu Xiaoyou smiled and shook her head. Even though she wasn’t pregnant, she and Xia Chen had discussed it and decided that they wouldn’t take any precautions from now on. They wanted to have a child soon to carry on the Xia Family name.

One day, while Xia Chen was reviewing some documents in the office, Shu Yuqing burst in. Shu Yuqing wasn’t part of Tianchen’s crew and had been filming out of town for the past few months. Just a few days ago, she mentioned that Yilin said she wouldn’t be back so soon, so Xia Chen was surprised to see her today, especially since she looked like something was wrong.

“What’s going on?” Xia Chen asked as he motioned for Yilin to pour a cup of coffee for Shu Yuqing.

“Zihan is in trouble,” Shu Yuqing said anxiously.

Xia Chen feared he had misheard her. How could anything go wrong?

“It’s true. He hasn’t called me in a few days, and when I tried to reach him, his phone was off. I asked my friends; they said he might be missing,” Shu Yuqing said, tears streaming down her face. Chen Zihan would call her every day to check in, and the sudden silence had her genuinely worried.

“Calm down, don’t worry. I’ll make some calls,” Xia Chen said, trying to reassure her. He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed.

Xia Chen had been in touch with Chen Zihan during his stay in Hawaii. He knew Zihan’s grandfather wanted to train him to be his successor, and Zihan had mentioned that he would work hard for his and Shu Yuqing’s future. Disappearing didn’t seem plausible.

Xia Chen’s call was directed to Chen Zihan’s grandfather. He had always respected the old man, especially since Mom Xia had once told him that he saved her life at a critical moment.

The call was quickly answered, and after asking about the Old Master’s health, Xia Chen got straight to the point. The Old Master, as if anticipating Xia Chen’s inquiry, didn’t respond but stated it was a private matter for the Chen Family.

Xia Chen understood that this was not something he could interfere with, but Chen Zihan was like a brother to him; they had grown up together. How could he just stand by if something had happened to him?

The Old Master chuckled on the other end, asking, “Ah Xia, what do you intend to do? Do you want to step in and compete for the position of the Chen Family’s successor in his place?”

Xia Chen smiled back and replied, “If the Old Master doesn’t mind, I would be more than willing.”

“Ah Xia, I know you’re looking out for him,” the Old Master said seriously, “but this is something he needs to handle as a member of the Chen Family. You can’t just step in and take his place. Besides, I haven’t even settled the matter regarding Ziyi yet!”

The Old Master had always been wary of Shu Yuqing, believing that she would bring trouble to Chen Zihan. However, Chen Zihan didn’t listen and left Hawaii with Shu Yuqing. When the Old Master saw that there was no hope for Chen Zihan, he started training Chen Ziyi to be the successor. Little did he know that Ziyi had been dead for many years, and they had kept it a secret. If it weren’t for Shu Yuqing, that secret might never have surfaced.

“Ziyi’s death was an accident. Besides, in the end, he and Zihan reconciled, didn’t they? You’ve always hoped for their reunion, so hasn’t that fulfilled your wish?” Xia Chen began to reason with the Old Master gently.

There was silence on the other end of the call as the Old Master processed this. Xia Chen remained quiet, knowing this was his opportunity to gather information about Zihan.

After a long pause, the Old Master finally asked, “Are you serious about wanting to compete for the position of successor?”

“Yes, Grandpa,” Xia Chen replied earnestly. For Chen Zihan, he was willing to give everything.

“Then let’s see your sincerity!” the Old Master said before abruptly hanging up.

“What happened?” Shu Yuqing asked anxiously as soon as Xia Chen ended the call.

“I suspect Zihan is being held captive. I can’t be certain until I see the situation for myself,” Xia Chen explained. He then used the intercom to instruct Yilin to bring Shen Mobai back to the country within 24 hours. (Note: Although Xia Chen and Shen Mobai didn’t grow up together, they were like brothers who had fought side by side. Initially, they had conflicts due to matters concerning Xu Xiaoyou, but that didn’t affect their bond.)

“You’re going? I want to go too!” Shu Yuqing said, unable to wait any longer. She needed to confirm Chen Zihan’s safety to feel at ease.

“No, you absolutely cannot go,” Xia Chen opposed. “We have no idea what happened to Zihan right now. If you go and the Old Master finds out, it could create unnecessary trouble. You need to stay here in the country, and I will inform you as soon as I hear from Zihan.”

Shu Yuqing leaned weakly against the sofa, her heart in turmoil. Ever since Chen Zihan had gone missing, she had been worried and afraid that something terrible had happened to him. If she had known it would come to this, she would never have let him go to Hawaii alone; they should have faced it together.

Xia Chen understood that what Shu Yuqing needed right now was time and space, so he left the office to discuss some company matters with Yilin. Taking Chen Zihan’s place in the competition for the successor would likely take two to three months, and during such a lengthy period, leaving Shen Mobai to manage two companies alone would be challenging. With Yilin’s help, Xia Chen could offer some guidance, and he also needed Yilin to assist with matters concerning the Xia Family.

After laying everything out, Xia Chen suddenly realized he hadn’t informed Xu Xiaoyou or Mom Xia about his trip to Hawaii. He wasn’t too concerned about Xu Xiaoyou, but he was unsure how to explain things to his mom. It wasn’t exactly a vacation; she would surely worry.

“Mom, I…” Xia Chen hesitated, unsure of how to begin.

“What’s wrong, son?” Mom Xia’s voice sounded distant, as if she were outside in a noisy area.

“Zihan is in trouble, and I need to go find him.” Xia Chen finally blurted it out.

There was a long silence on the other end, making Xia Chen wonder if she had hung up. But the call was still active, so he held the phone back to his ear.

“Are you seeking my advice, or are you just telling me?” Mom Xia’s tone was flat, lacking any inflection.

“I’ve already made up my mind. I’m sorry, Mom.” Xia Chen braced himself, knowing his mother would not agree.

Mom Xia hung up the phone abruptly, leaving Xia Chen with a bitter smile. He put his phone away and took the elevator down to the basement to retrieve his car and head home.

To his surprise, when he parked, he saw Mom Xia’s car. She was here-did Shu Xiaoyou already tell her?

In fact, Mom Xia had arrived at their place shortly after Xia Chen left in the morning. She had taken Xu Xiaoyou shopping at the mall and then to the market to buy groceries with plans to cook a meal. However, after receiving Xia Chen’s call in the market, her mood soured completely, and she immediately took Xu Xiaoyou back home. Mom Xia was all too aware of the kind of family Chen Zihan came from. As Xia Chen’s mother-in-law, she adamantly opposed her son’s involvement in anything dangerous in Hawaii. She understood that the competition for the successor in the Chen Family wasn’t just ordinary business rivalry; it involved methods unique to the underworld-violence. Although Xia Chen was trained well and capable, those involved often relied on deceit and underhanded tactics. He was her only son, and how could she agree to let him take such risks?

Xia Chen sat across from Mom Xia while Xu Xiaoyou sat beside him, and for a moment they were all silent, uncertain of what to say. Deep down, they all knew that once Xia Chen had made a decision, it was unlikely to change. However, this was no ordinary situation. They felt powerless and didn’t dare to let Xia Chen take the risk.

Eventually, Xia Chen spoke up first: “Mom, Xu Xiaoyou, you don’t need to worry. I will take care of myself, truly; if it becomes too much, I won’t go through with it. Right now, I’m not alone; I understand the stakes. For you and Xu Xiaoyou, I promise to protect myself. Mom, you know my abilities better than anyone.”

Mom Xia’s tears fell as she listened. It was precisely because she knew how capable Xia Chen was that she had allowed him and Chen Zihan to rescue Ziyi four years ago. But what had been the outcome? Blood everywhere, and he had been in a coma for three long days in the hospital. Having gone through that once, she couldn’t bear the thought of putting Xia Chen in danger again.