Hidden Marriage Chapter 1: Seven Months Pregnant

Her entire body scorched like molten lava deep within a volcano. The man standing right before her was the only one who could rescue her now.

She gripped tightly onto his cold, marble-smooth skin, her fierce will to live forcing her to yield completely.

Once the agony faded, ecstasy soared wildly, akin to fireworks bursting in her thoughts, plunging her into a blazing inferno.

Fading in and out of awareness, escape proved impossible.

"Hey, wake up… the air conditioning is cold here. Don’t sleep or you’ll catch a cold —"

The hand pressing on her shoulder jolted Ning Xi awake, her eyes fluttering open in bewilderment to face the nurse right there. A flush of embarrassment heated her delicate cheeks; she couldn't dodge the nurse's stare.

Damn, that incident happened ages ago. Yet dreams of that drunken night fooling around with Su Yan kept flashing back.

Having drunk way too much booze, her memories of that evening remained hazy. She had no clue how to confront Brother Yan now.

Noticing her rouse, the nurse handed over the paper she held: "You forgot your pregnancy report! Dr. Zhang would have made you return next week if you'd left it behind!"

Ning Xi took the report with a warm smile, tucking it securely into her bag.

Su Yan, who had been abroad for studies, was due back today. The thought of seeing him that evening made Ning Xi's nerves jangle.

Since Su Yan's spot was so far-off, contact had been impossible until their baby reached seven months.

Recalling Su Yan's stunned reaction to her pregnancy news, Ning Xi grew anxious.

Was her pregnancy heightening her sensitivity and unease? Ning Xi sensed Su Yan wasn't thrilled about it like she was.

Doctors had explained that with a first child, guys often seemed detached and disbelieving initially.

Still… bringing up marriage—she couldn't possibly broach it first, could she?

Exiting the hospital, she found the sky bright with a blazing sun.

One hand on her waist, Ning Xi moved to hail a cab when a glaring red sports car suddenly roared her way.

Ning Xi's pulse raced as she hastily stepped back.

Brakes screeched piercingly as the red car halted, its edge grazing her garments.

Terror gripped Ning Xi, nearly halting her heart, leaving her unsteady on her feet. From the vehicle emerged Ning Xueluo in a skimpy red dress showing ample cleavage.

"Ning Xueluo, are you insane?"

Meeting her eyes, Ning Xueluo smirked meaningfully. Arms folded, she strutted up to tower over belly-swollen Ning Xi in her stilettos. "What? Afraid I'll ram you and end that bastard in your belly?"

Ning Xi shielded her stomach instinctively, retreating further while eyeing her warily: "Ning Xueluo, don't go too far!"

She had long known Ning Xueluo's animosity, but never imagined such venomous words from her.

"Me going too far? You're the one who crossed boundaries! Got smashed, slept with some random guy, got knocked up, and now expect Su Yan to father it. Tch… Ning Xi, got any shame left?"

Ning Xi went rigid and whispered, "What did you say?"

"You really think the guy you hooked up with that night was Su Yan?"—Ning Xueluo cackled madly—"You claim childhood sweethearts with Su Yan, yet can't recognize his physique?"

Each word drained the color from Ning Xi's face. Despite the sweltering heat, chills racked her frame.

Indeed, that man from that night…

She had assumed… maybe puberty had bulked him up beyond her memories.

But Ning Xueluo's jab suddenly brought it all back: apart from the build, nothing about that man matched Su Yan…