Chapter 142: An Unexpected Turn

Nanming City. The sun was shining brightly.

"How are you feeling? Perhaps... I should stay home with you today instead of going to work?" Lu Kun asked, noticing that Liu Liping’s complexion seemed a bit off.

Counting the days, Liu Liping’s due date was likely within this week.

"I’m fine. Go to work; the company has a lot going on," Liu Liping said with a forced smile, patting Lu Kun’s arm, though her face was noticeably pale.

"Are you really sure?" Lu Kun’s voice was laced with concern.

"Don't worry, I’ll be fine at home. Besides, Auntie Jiang will be here soon. Nothing will happen," Liu Liping said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.

Auntie Jiang, whom she mentioned, was the hourly worker they had hired. She was a very honest person, quiet, yet efficient in her work.

Lu Kun glanced at his watch and saw it was exactly nine o'clock. He figured it would be about an hour and a half before Auntie Jiang arrived. "Surely, nothing can go wrong in such a short time," he tried to reassure himself, yet a shadow of unease hung over his heart.

"If anything happens, remember to call me. I won’t be without my mobile phone these next few days. If you can’t get through, call my office landline," Lu Kun said, smoothing her long hair and giving careful instructions.

"Yes, I will," Liu Liping smiled, waving the phone directory she held in her hand.

Lu Kun chuckled, feeling a bit relieved that she had already made her own preparations by keeping the directory with her.

"I’ll be back early," Lu Kun said with a smile as he waved goodbye.

...

When Lu Kun went downstairs, he found his driver already waiting.

"Let’s go," Lu Kun said as he got into the car, adjusting his tie.

At the headquarters of the Huakun Group, in the general manager's office:

"General Manager? General Manager?" The finance manager stood outside the door, clutching a stack of documents and rapping on the wood with his knuckles.

"My apologies, I was lost in thought. Come in," Lu Kun said, snapping out of his daze and straightening his posture. "I don't know what’s wrong with me today; I’ve been feeling so restless."

"These are the summary and analysis reports for the first ten days of the month. Please take a look," the finance manager said, not daring to ask further after noticing Lu Kun’s troubled expression. He quickly placed the documents on the desk.

"Yes, I’ll look at them in a moment. You may go back to your work," Lu Kun said with a strained smile.

He set the documents aside and rubbed his aching temples. "They say that when you reach middle age, you have no choice but to drink tea with goji berries, but I’m clearly not at middle age yet!" he grumbled to himself.

"Xiao Shen, go make me a cup of goji berry tea!" Lu Kun called out to his assistant as he stood up with his mug and walked to the door.

"Would you like some globe amaranth added to the goji berries?" the assistant, Xiao Shen, asked weakly as she took the mug.

"Anything works, just make sure to add plenty of goji berries," Lu Kun waved her off.

Xiao Shen: "..."

...

Finding a moment of respite, Lu Kun slumped back into his office chair, propping his legs up on the desk and fumbling with the buttons on his landline.

*Beep. Beep. Beep.*

"What’s going on? Why isn't anyone picking up?" Lu Kun’s brows furrowed. He checked his watch; it was already ten o'clock.

"Could something have happened at home?" The thought flashed instantly through his mind.

"I have to go back and check," he decided, leaping to his feet and grabbing his coat as he rushed out.

Liu Liping’s due date was so close—he couldn't let anything happen to her. He sprinted out of the office regardless of everything else.

"Sir! Your goji berries..." the assistant called out to him.

"Forget it! Keep them for yourself!" Lu Kun snapped back, accelerating as he rushed down the stairs.

...

"Home, quickly, hurry!" Lu Kun roared at the driver.

*Vroom.*

Seeing his boss’s expression, the driver didn't dare hesitate, slamming his foot on the accelerator. The car shot forward like an arrow.

Fortunately, the distance between the house and the company wasn't far, and with the driver’s aggressive skill, they arrived at the apartment complex in less than five minutes.

*Click-clack.*

"Damn it!"

The key wouldn't fit the lock—had it changed or something? He had been fumbling for so long! Lu Kun loosened his tie, took a small step back, and kicked the door with all his might.

*Bang!*

The door flew open, and Lu Kun nearly stumbled from the recoil. Without a second thought, he charged into the apartment.

The scene he witnessed was one he would never forget for the rest of his life.

Liu Liping was covered in beads of sweat, collapsed on the floor, her left hand supporting her weight while her right hand struggled to reach for the landline on the coffee table. Beside her legs was a large, vibrant pool of blood.

"Liping!!!"

Lu Kun roared, rushed over, scooped her up into his arms, and ran for the stairs.

"Hey, Xiao Lu, what’s happening?" The neighbors, startled by the sound of the door being kicked in, came out to see what the commotion was.

"Everyone, please, keep an eye on my place. I need to get my wife to the hospital!" Lu Kun said, his voice trembling.

Seeing the blood covering both of them, the neighbors quickly cleared a path.

"To the hospital, quick!" Lu Kun said after placing Liu Liping in the car, wiping the blood from his own face.

...

"Doctor! Doctor! Where is everyone? Save my wife, please!!!" Lu Kun, his face smeared with blood, wept uncontrollably.

"Sir, please calm down. Leave the pregnant woman to us. We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Please trust us," a nurse said, rushing over to block him.

Lu Kun wiped his tears and said desolately, "If it comes to a choice, please save the mother."

The nurse: "..."

Lu Kun knew he sounded like a madman. He paced back and forth outside the delivery room.

"Boss, why don't you sit down for a while? Childbirth isn't something that happens in a moment," the driver said, stepping forward to advise him.

"Mind your own business, as if you know anything," Lu Kun scolded, pushing him away while muttering to himself, "Jade Emperor, Buddha, the Three Pure Ones, the Earth Goddess, Great Merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, please, I beg you to keep my wife and child safe..."

The driver: "..."

Watching his boss pacing and muttering, one would never guess he was already a father of several children—he looked like a complete novice.

...

"Wait, is there anything I need to prepare?" Lu Kun turned back to ask the driver.

The driver: "..."

Lu Kun was already a father to three children—Daya, Er-ya, and Haohao—but they had all been born in the countryside with the help of a midwife. He truly had no idea what procedures were required for a hospital birth.