155: frank

Leave this place!

Hain told himself.

There was no longer a place for him here; Tu Nan's happiness did not require him.

Though Kong Jiamu always appeared indifferent toward emotions, how was that not just another form of earnestness?

Just as he had come from a merchant family but never looked back once he decided to join the military.

This stubbornness made the Kong Family hesitant to question his decisions. Unlike Hain, Kong Jiamu could marry whomever he wanted without any trouble.

He should let go, yet his eyes remained fixed on the window.

With his S-rank perception fully active, he was still catching fragments of Tu Nan's words, even through the high-performance soundproof window.

It was a final shred of comfort... no.

Hain grasped at a lifeline; he had a reason he must stay by Tu Nan's side, provided his suspicion... was true.

***

Kong Jiamu exhausted all his efforts but still couldn't convince Tu Nan to stay for another night.

The next morning, he had to go to the Garrison Military District of Xiuyin Star early to handle a backlog of affairs. Furthermore, although he had bickered with Gu Lvhai during the day, Tu Nan had convinced him it was just a misunderstanding, so for Hain's sake, he invited her to stay.

Gu Lvhai stayed on with a determination that felt like she was challenging herself.

Perhaps it was still because of Hain, Tu Nan thought.

In any case, that night, Tu Nan slept in her own bed.

At noon the next day, Hain rang the doorbell with a somber expression.

"...Lord Hain." Tu Nan opened the door but did not step aside to let him in.

But Hain was persistent.

"Let's go to the study, alright?" His tone was urgent, almost pleading. "I have something important to ask."

Hain would not speak falsehoods.

Tu Nan silently led him into the study, but once inside, Hain hesitated to speak, his gaze stubbornly fixed on her.

"What happened?" she had to ask.

Hain suddenly drew close and grabbed Tu Nan's shoulders, only to release them immediately.

As if handling an incredibly fragile vessel, his hands slid down her arms to her elbows, when suddenly...

He gently touched Tu Nan's lower abdomen. Through her clothes, she felt a momentary warmth, but the pressure was remarkably light.

No heavier than the brush of a feather.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Hain's tone was incredibly devout; he looked as if he were both laughing and crying.

As if afraid of disturbing the unconscious child, his voice was very soft and slow.

"There is a child here."

He looked at Tu Nan, seeking a salvation that could rescue him from his invisible plight.

With her hidden secret exposed just like that, Tu Nan took two steps back, only to be pulled into Hain's embrace.

"No..." she denied instinctively.

Yet Hain confirmed everything from her instantaneous physical reaction.

Life returned to his eyes.

It was true.

Tu Nan was having a child—his child.

Yesterday, he had gone straight to the Testing Center and waited while they analyzed the samples he provided.

The moment he received the results, he finally felt he had a reason to appear before Tu Nan again.

He slowly knelt before Tu Nan, hugging her legs and burying his face against her with deep attachment.

Tu Nan should have pulled away, but she couldn't move. Hain's slightly arched back was trembling.

He... this wasn't right!

Even if Hain knew she was pregnant, he might tell Kong Jiamu, remain silent, or even cast her aside immediately.

But there was no reason for him to be this emotional.

"Hain," Tu Nan said, burning her bridges and confessing. "It was indeed wrong of me to hide this from Kong Jiamu, but I want this child. No matter what Kong Jiamu thinks or what the reason is, I won't give up."

It took Hain a moment to understand what Tu Nan was saying.

Ah, she still knew nothing.

Suppressing his shame, he refused to look up and confessed in a muffled voice.

"The child is mine. That day—the day before I met you—the one who was with you all night..."

"...was me."

How was that possible? "It was... you?"

Tu Nan no longer knew what she was saying or thinking.

"I am guilty, Tu Nan. Please punish me, but as you said, for whatever reason, please do not give up on this child." Hain finally looked up.

Faint traces of tears were at the corners of his eyes.

"I will take responsibility—no."

"I want to be with you and the child." He urgently sought Tu Nan's assurance. "I will go and speak to Kong Jiamu myself. I'm sorry..."

He didn't know how to say what came next.

Tu Nan had been so close to happiness.

He had shattered everything.

And yet, he actually felt relieved now?

Tu Nan forced herself not to think about what had actually happened that day for the moment.

In her extreme confusion, she clung to the only thread of logic—a simple calculation.

The earliest a self-test could detect pregnancy was seven days after conception.

She had timed her test exactly.

But Hain had only been... three days before the test. Therefore, she must still be carrying Kong Jiamu's child.

Hain was still waiting for her answer.

It wasn't Hain's fault either; he didn't know that she had filled the room with incense used to lure Male Beasts. Even with a dosage strong enough to make anyone lose their reason, he had still been so gentle.

Yes, Tu Nan vaguely recalled the questioning, restraint, and tenderness hidden beneath the excitement that day.

It was she who had pleaded over and over again.

Why did it have to be Hain?

The person she was most reluctant... to hurt.

But whether for Hain's sake or for the sake of the child in her womb, she had to clear this up.

[host, I advise you to wait.]

Just as she made up her mind, the System spoke up, which was rare.

[What do you want to say?]

Tu Nan would not ignore anything the System said. Ever since she learned its energy was limited, she knew every word it uttered was vital.

[This is an additional reminder: I cannot confirm your pregnancy status for the time being. You are a Cat Beastkin, and your pregnancy mechanism is quite unique. Go and get an examination. Given your previous course of action, I fear you will regret it later.]

Cat Beastkin? What was so special that the System would specifically intervene to stop her from rejecting Hain?

She crouched down, trying to meet Hain's eyes at the same level.

She chose the least significant matter to tell Hain first.

"Hain... you can't be blamed for what happened that day." She tried to give a nonchalant smile but failed.

"That day, I lit aphrodisiac incense. You were lured by me."

Hain's eyes widened instantly.

These words sounded ominous; would he be rejected in the next sentence?

"Regarding the child..."

Tu Nan found it very difficult to discuss this topic face-to-face. "I will consider it carefully."

"It's too sudden." She sat on the floor, feeling truly dejected.

"I didn't expect to face all this. I need to think it through."

"Alright, alright."

Hain's panic was visible.

He had never seen Tu Nan look so lost, and it was all because of him.

Moreover, Tu Nan was wrong.

He was S-rank; even with the influence of the drug, if it hadn't been her in that room... things would not have progressed to this point.

All of this was still his own choice.

It was him.