Chapter 2

A flicker of panic flashed in Lu Peichuan's eyes, but it was gone in an instant. "The person I was negotiating with today was a woman," he said calmly. "Her car was in the shop, so after we signed the contract, I drove her back to her company." Rong Zheng didn't suspect anything and got into the car. Lu Peichuan helped her fasten her seatbelt, walked around to the driver's side, and drove toward Ink-Wash Fragrance. While they were eating, the phone on the table rang. Lu Peichuan was wearing gloves, peeling shrimp for her. Rong Zheng reached for the phone to put it on speaker. "Don't answer it," Lu Peichuan stopped her. When she looked at him in confusion, he said casually, "It's an unfamiliar number. Probably spam. Just hang up." Rong Zheng nodded and hung up. But a few seconds later, the same number called again. A spam caller wouldn't call back twice. "It might be a client," Lu Peichuan said. He had already taken off his gloves and picked up the phone. Rong Zheng couldn't hear what the other person was saying. She could only see his expression turn tense. Worried, she waited until he ended the call. "What happened?" "There's an emergency at the company. I need to go." "Right now?" Lu Peichuan glanced at her plate. She had only eaten a few bites. "Eat first. After you're done, I'll take you home, then go." Rong Zheng didn't want to hold him back. "I'll call Uncle Chen to pick me up." "No need. I'll wait for you." She took his hand and placed it on her belly. "The baby is waiting for you to earn money for his milk powder. Go. I can manage." Lu Peichuan gently stroked her belly, his expression softening. "Alright. I listen to you." He finished peeling the shrimp for her, then called Uncle Chen. Only then did he leave. By the time Rong Zheng finished eating, Uncle Chen had arrived. On the way home, she kept thinking about Lu Peichuan's tense expression during that call. Uneasy, she sent him a message: _[How are things at the company?]_ The reply came quickly: _[Handling it. Don't worry. Nothing serious.]_ She relaxed. Then she called Luo Qinghe. "Busy woman, have you eaten yet?" "This is the last IV drip. After this, I won't need any more." An unfamiliar female voice answered, a little distant. Rong Zheng's heart tightened. "You're in the hospital? What happened?" "I was in a minor car accident..." "A car accident? Is it serious? Which hospital?" "Don't worry. Just a minor injury. I'll be discharged in a couple of days." "You're hospitalized and you call it minor? Tell me which hospital and what room." Luo Qinghe gave her the address. As soon as she hung up, Rong Zheng told Uncle Chen to drive to People's Hospital. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the inpatient building and saw Lu Peichuan in the elevator lobby. He was holding a shopping bag in one hand, looking at his phone. "Peichuan, what are you doing here?" Lu Peichuan's grip tightened on his phone. He paused, then looked up. "Zhengzheng, what are you doing at the hospital?" "Qinghe was in a car accident. I came to see her." "I came to visit a client." The elevator doors opened. Lu Peichuan shielded her as they got in. "Which floor is Lawyer Luo on?" "The twelfth floor." He pressed 12, then pressed 9 as well. Rong Zheng checked the directory. The 9th floor was the Neonatal Department. She looked at him, confused. "Why are you going to the neonatal department?" Lu Peichuan lifted the bag. "My client's wife just gave birth. He asked me to bring some maternity and baby supplies." Rong Zheng recognized the logo. It was from a well-known mother-and-baby store. She'd been researching those lately since her due date was near. "Do you want to come with me and take a look?" he asked. Rong Zheng was tempted. She had zero resistance to newborns lately. But... "No. I'm worried about Qinghe, and your client is there. It wouldn't be convenient." The elevator reached the 9th floor. Lu Peichuan held the door open and looked at her. "Want me to take you home later?" "Did you take care of the company matter?" "I'll take you home first, then go to the company." "Don't keep running back and forth. Go handle your client and work. Don't worry about me. Uncle Chen is with me." "Alright. I listen to you." Lu Peichuan stepped out. He watched the doors close and the elevator rise, then turned and walked deeper inside. When Rong Zheng reached the hospital room, Luo Qinghe told her the accident happened while they were on the phone. She got distracted and hit a guardrail. "No wonder you hung up. I thought you were busy," Rong Zheng said guiltily. "Stop. It's not your fault. I was the one who called." Thankfully it was just a minor fracture on her left arm. A blessing in disguise. Rong Zheng wanted to stay and take care of her. Luo Qinghe refused. "With that big belly, I'll end up taking care of you instead." Rong Zheng stayed a while, promised to visit for dinner tomorrow, then left. While waiting for the elevator, she messaged Lu Peichuan: _[I'm heading home first.]_ He usually replied within seconds. This time, there was no reply for a long time. It wasn't until 9 PM that he finally answered: _[Sorry, I've been busy. You and the baby should sleep early. Don't wait for me. I'll be very late tonight.]_ _[Okay.]_ Rong Zheng put her phone down, read a childcare book for a bit, then fell asleep. The next morning, she woke up and found the space beside her empty. She was a deep sleeper, and with her big belly, she barely moved. The pillow, sheets, and blanket beside her were untouched. Lu Peichuan hadn't come home last night. In the three years since they got married, this was the first time he had spent the night away. Did something serious happen at the company... and he was hiding it from her? With her heart pounding, Rong Zheng picked up her phone and dialed his number.