Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Nobody at the table said anything, but they all subconsciously looked at Gu Mang’s hand. Bai Qingqing, meanwhile, could not figure out why Gu Mang would sign the life-and-death agreement with the Elders’ Association despite knowing that she had almost no chance of winning.

  Gu Mang looked up and smirked. “Consider it a handicap for them.”


  Huo Zhi could tell from her arrogance that she was telling him to shut up because nothing he said would change her mind. His gaze lingered on her for several seconds longer before he finally looked down as if he had accepted her decision.

  Everyone ate in silence.

  Gu Mang picked up a piece of fish and was just about to put it into her mouth when her stomach started churning and a wave of nausea hit her.

  Upon noticing that she had stopped eating, Huo Zhi asked, “What’s wrong?”


  The hearts of the few people who knew about Gu Mang’s condition lept into their mouths. Yu Mufeng’s throat tightened as he looked at the plate of sweet and sour fish while Jiangsui internally trembled with fear.

  The cook they had brought over was not a professional. He did mostly home cooking which tasted pretty average. However, Gu Mang was more sensitive to smell and taste now because she was pregnant. She probably felt nauseous because of the fishy smell.

  “Is the fish no good?” Lin Shuang, being the calmest of them all, looked at Gu Mang while tasting a bite of the fish. “It?

  ?a little fishy. The cook probably didn’t get rid of the smell properly. Just make do with it and eat less.”


  “Mm.” After suppressing the urge to vomit, Gu Mang swallowed the piece of fish.

  Gu Si and Yu Mufeng, too, tasted it and agreed that the cook had failed to cook the fish well.

  Although their reactions appeared pretty normal, Huo Zhi’s keen gaze remained on Gu Mang and stayed there for a long time. His eyes, however, gradually darkened when he noticed that even though nothing seemed out of ordinary from Gu Mang’s appearance, she did not eat anymore of the sweet and sour fish, and only opted to eat the boiled sliced pork and ribs.

  He retracted his gaze.

  …


  After dinner, Gu Mang went upstairs without saying bye to Huo Zhi as usual, while the others went about their own business. Bai Sui stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window as he talked to Old Master Bai on the phone.

  Just as Huo Zhi was about to leave, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked back toward the stairs. He stood still for several seconds before turning around to head upstairs.

  His bald subordinate, who wanted to follow him, stopped and looked confused as he said, “Wait here for me.”


  …


  Huo Zhi made a beeline toward Gu Mang’s bedroom. Standing outside her door, he stared at the doorknob for several seconds with pursed lips and dark eyes. He rubbed his fingers slightly and lifted his hand to open the door.

  He was instantly met with Gu Mang’s frigid gaze. She was standing in front of the table with her head turned slightly in the direction of the door while holding a glass of water in one hand and a few pills in the other.

  Lin Shuang, who was playing a mobile game on the bed, looked over as well. Huo Zhi’s eyes flickered slightly when he noticed the pills in her hand.

  Even without saying anything, the hostility in her eyes was enough to send chills down one’s spine. Her voice was sharp and cold like a knife. “Do you really think I won’t do anything to you?”


  “Sorry, I forgot to knock.” Huo Zhi offered a humble apology. “I just wanted to tell you something.”


  Gu Mang popped the pills in her mouth before drinking a mouth of water to help swallow the pills. “Spill it.”


  The doubt in Huo Zhi’s eyes vanished a little when he saw her take the medicine. “I’ll be there at the assessment venue tomorrow. You can stop the assessment whenever you want.”


  “Get lost,” barked Gu Mang mercilessly.

  “Go to bed early tonight.” Huo Zhi flashed her a good-natured smile and then closed the door. As he made his way down the stairs, he ran into Bai Sui who exuded a cold and terrifying aura.

  Bai Sui did not bow to him like any other subordinate would do when he walked past Huo Zhi. Instead, he continued to look forward as he walked up the stairs.

  Huo Zhi narrowed his eyes as he turned back to look at him.

  The bald subordinate happened to see this scene too. He took a few steps toward Huo Zhi and glanced at Bai Sui. “Do you want me to send some men to teach him a lesson, sir?”


  Nobody on Jijing Island dared to treat Huo Zhi like that, yet Bai Sui had even beat up his right hand man in front of him previously.

  “No need.” Huo Zhi retracted his gaze and continued walking down the stairs. “He’s Gu Mang’s subordinate and he’ll be following her to Base 102.”


  “Understood.” Despite feeling indignant, the bald subordinate had no choice but to do as ordered.

  …


  Bai Sui did not disturb Gu Mang. He had only headed upstairs to check on the situation.

  Meanwhile, in the room.

  Sitting on a chair, Gu Mang casually rested her hands on her abdomen.

  “As expected of Jijing Island’s first-in-command. He sure is sharp,” Lin Shuang commented with lingering trepidation as she walked over. Just a piece of fish was enough to raise his suspicions.

  Gu Mang looked down and said nothing.

  “What’s your plan? During the assessment, what if you…” Lin Shuang had a frown on her face as she let her sentence trail off.

  Gu Mang calmly pressed her hand against her belly. “Show me some face and don’t be as useless as your father. If you make me feel nauseous again and reveal yourself to the others, you’ll bear the consequences alone.”


  Although this was no laughing matter, Lin Shuang could not help but let out a chuckle. “Can the baby even understand what you’re saying?”


  “Well, I have no choice.” Gu Mang sighed.

  Lin Shuang nodded. “Fine. Why did you mention Lu Chengzhou anyway? How is he useless?” Only Gu Mang could dare to say that about him.

  Gu Mang smiled mysteriously at her. “You’ll know when the time comes.”


  Not knowing what her friend was talking about, Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows in confusion.

  …


  It was already nightfall when Huo Zhi made his way back to the Council House.

  Sitting in the back of the car with his face hidden in the shadows, he drummed his fingers against the seat every now and then as he recalled the scene during dinnertime.

  During the earlier meal, Gu Mang had drank an extra glass of water and only eaten a mouthful of fish. Although she did eat some meat, it was very little compared to her vegetable intake. On top of that, she ate porridge instead of rice.

  Realizing that something was amiss, Huo Zhi pursed his lips and then ordered his subordinate, “Get Top Hospital’s director to come over to the Council House.”


  Although the bald subordinate felt a little confused by the order, he hurriedly responded, “Yes.”


  …


  At the Council House.

  The bald subordinate opened the door to the study. “Please enter, Director Yan.”


  “Okay, thank you.” This was the first time Director Yan had been summoned to meet Huo Zhi privately, so he felt extra nervous while entering the room. His heart beat even faster as he heard the door close behind him.

  Huo Zhi turned his office chair around to face Director Yan. He lifted his chin in the direction of the chair opposite him. “Take a seat.”


  “Okay.” Director Yan broke out in a cold sweat as he sat down, trembling.

  Huo Zhi looked at him aloofly. “What tests did you administer to Gu Mang at the hospital?”


  Director Yan had no idea why Huo Zhi was asking this, but he answered the question honestly all the same. “An X-ray for her hand and some basic checkups.”


  “Nothing else?”


  Director Yan shook his head. “She only suffered external injuries, which should have more or less healed by now.”


  Huo Zhi stayed silent for several seconds. “While doing the checkups, did you find any signs of pregnancy?”


  It was only then that Director Yan realized why he had been summoned. Knowing that Huo Zhi was Gu Mang’s fiancé, he thought nothing of the question. “The only way to know if she’s pregnant is to do a specific examination. We can’t tell during a basic checkup.”


  Upon recalling that Gu Mang had been taking medicine, Director Yan’s expression turned serious and his voice was strained as he spoke. “If Ms. Gu is really pregnant, then you have to monitor the child’s development closely. It’s best to abort the child if necessary as Ms. Gu has been taking a lot of medicine recently. Even sleeping pills can affect development.”


  Huo Zhi wrinkled his eyebrows. “Sleeping pills?”


  “Yes,” answered Director Yan. “When she was admitted into hospital, she could only fall asleep after taking three sleeping pills. She even took a bottle of sleeping pills from me when she was discharged.”


  Huo Zhi rubbed his fingers lightly against his chair’s armrests.

  Huo Zhi could finally put his mind at ease. “I got it. You may go back now.”


  Feeling much more relaxed, Director Yan stood up and said, “Okay.