Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Mo Li sat quietly by the bedside, a pregnancy test stick in her hand.
The two red lines on it revealed that she had already hit the jackpot.
However, she remained expressionless and did not look happy at all.
On the contrary, she felt somewhat afraid.
Afraid of what, she had no idea either.
Knock, knock, knock. A few knocks sounded on the bedroom door, followed by the voice of a maid, “Young Madam, Madam is downstairs and calling for you.”
“Alright.”
Mo Li threw the thing in her hand into the rubbish bin, then straightened her clothes before going down to see Mrs. Ye.
She was sitting on the sofa, scrutinizing Mo Li with a swift and fierce gaze when she came down. She cut straight to the chase and asked impatiently, “How long has it been already, is there anything happening in your stomach?”
“I’m pregnant,” she replied matter-of-factly.
Mrs. Ye’s face lit up in happiness. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just found out. My dearest Mother-in-law, may I know if you have any other instructions?”
“Go to the hospital to do a test.”
“I know,” Mo Li answered lazily.
After receiving this great news, Mrs. Ye’s attitude changed completely. “Tell me the results after you’ve gotten checked. If everything’s well, rest well at home. I’m sure this time around, the child will be a boy.”
Mo Li did not answer. As she watched a delighted Mrs. Ye leave, she could feel her heart growing heavy instead.
She went to the hospital to check, and it was confirmed that she was more than one month pregnant.
After doing a checkup at the hospital, she walked all the way to her parents’ breakfast shop.
Seeing her there, Mrs. Mo immediately asked, “Lili, where have you just been to?”
“I just went to the hospital. Mother, I’m pregnant.”
Noticing that she was not happy with the news, Mrs. Mo dragged her into the house and poured a cup of tea for her. “Since you’re pregnant, don’t think too much about other things. Give birth to the child and raise it properly. For all you know, this child might be a boy.”
“Mother, I feel uneasy inside.” Mo Li revealed her innermost thoughts to her mother. “The moment I think of the price I have to pay for changing my fate to get a son, I feel afraid.”
Mrs. Mo understood how upset she was and consoled her, “Why don’t you call that Ms. An? Isn’t she very accurate at reading such things? You should hear what she has to say.”
Mo Li agreed and responded, “We were quite close in the past. But later on, because Xiaotian and Qingyan’s companies became rivals, I didn’t even greet her when I saw her. But I did call to apologize to her recently.”
“You…” Mrs. Mo gently advised her, “Don’t interfere in matters between men. No matter what, she saved you before, how can you not talk to her when you see her? Lili, I really think this Ms. An is a nice person. You have no relation to her whatsoever, but she still helped you back then. Don’t ever do this again in the future.”
“I know.”
Mo Li fished out her phone to call An Xiaoning. Upon knowing that she was at the Gu residence, Mo Li’s face lit up, and she wanted to find her immediately.
Mrs. Mo wanted to accompany her, but she insisted that it wasn’t needed and took a taxi there by herself.
An Xiaoning had finished her breakfast and was lying on a chair in the courtyard to get some sunlight. She had wanted to rest properly for a few days since she had labored so tirelessly at the Autumn Palace for so long and was utterly exhausted.
Since she had the chance to relax properly, she wanted to treat herself well, of course.
When Mo Li arrived, she noticed that An Xiaoning was in a white blouse with a denim jacket as outerwear, accompanied by an elegant black fishtail skirt. As for her legs that were resting on the chair, they were tucked in a pair of pointed flats. Her eyes were closed as she enjoyed the energy from the sunlight.
Mo Li went forward and sat beside her. “The weather’s great today.”
An Xiaoning opened her eyes and slowly sat upright. “That’s why we shouldn’t waste away such good sunlight, right? Tell me, what’s the matter?”
Mo Li smiled awkwardly. “How did you know… I had something to ask you?”
An Xiaoning smiled faintly. “Well, if there’s nothing, you wouldn’t have to find me.”
“It’s like this, today, I found out that I’m pregnant.”
An Xiaoning’s gaze landed on her flat stomach. “This child that you’re carrying was conceived because your mother-in-law changed your fate?”
“Most probably. Because I’m really not sure if I was destined to conceive it or only because my fate was changed.”
“Tell me your birth characters, I’ll check if your fate has been changed.”
Mo Li hurriedly told her, and she pondered for a moment while Mo Li couldn’t help but get nervous. “Has it really been changed?”
An Xiaoning turned to face her and gazed at her haggard face, which could not even be concealed by makeup. She did not answer her question yet but asked, “Mo Li, have you been losing sleep and not eating well lately?”
“How did you know?”
“Just from seeing your face.” She frowned. “Your fate can be controlled, but only you can control it. Some people can change their own fate just from working hard, this is the most remarkable thing about fortune-telling. Not everyone’s fate stays the same, only those who go on the same path, despite knowing that it’s wrong, and not stop their ways in time have their fates sealed. You’re around the same age as me, why have you made yourself suffer like this?”
Mo Li was visibly moved as she stared at the face before her, then thought about herself. She admitted that what An Xiaoning said was right.
They were both thirty years old. An Xiaoning had gotten divorced thrice but was still living a vibrant life. As for herself, she did not even have the power to make her own life choices.
Was that not pathetic?
“Has it really changed?”
“It looks like your mother-in-law has spent a lot on this.” An Xiaoning went on, “It seems that the child in your stomach must be a boy.”
Hearing this news, Mo Li was not only not happy, but her face also looked even paler.
“Xiaoning, do I have to pay the same price to keep this son?”
An Xiaoning fixed her gaze on her. “I don’t quite get what you mean. Are you worried that there’s a heavy price to pay for this or just want to know the price you need to pay to keep this son?”
“The former, of course. I want to know what kind of price I may have to pay.”
“I’m not very sure about this either, because there’s no accurate answer.” She pondered for a moment, then replied, “I think it might not be a light consequence. It’s very possible that this punishment may be inflicted on someone dear to you. After all, you were the one who drank the water with the amulet, so the punishment will target you. Your mother-in-law wouldn’t possibly have taken the risk with her son’s birth characters.”
Mo Li suddenly lapsed into a state of panic. “Is there any way to change this punishment?”
“If there is… do you want to do it?” An Xiaoning asked in a serious manner. “Even though I don’t have a deep understanding of you, I do know your character quite well.”
“What ways are there to avoid such punishment? Xiaoning, please tell me quickly.”
“Get rid of the child now, then do a ritual. Everything should be fine after that.” An Xiaoning was reluctant to tell her the solution, but the final choice was in her hands.
“What?” It was as if Mo Li received a head-on blow and would faint anytime. “Get rid of it? My mother-in-law would force me to drink another time.”
