Yu Xiaogang's greatest lifelong regret was his inability to break through the 30th rank—a hurdle that haunted him relentlessly.
For Liu Erlong, the woman he loved (and believed loved him in return), to ruthlessly expose this insecurity inflicted a devastating blow.
Of course, her "affection" was merely his delusion.
"Erlong, what you just said… was that necessary?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Liu Erlong, hoping she'd retract her words.
Liu Erlong understood his intent but refused. Instead, she stated coldly, "Xiaogang, I'm only speaking the truth. Aren't I?"
"Erlong, you've changed. The old Liu Erlong would never speak to me like this," Yu Xiaogang said bitterly.
The Liu Erlong he once knew had coddled his ego, orbiting her world around him. This new version felt like a stranger.
A faint smile touched Liu Erlong's lips.
She was sober now—brutally awakened by Tang Yin's "big rod." Clarity had shown her how pitiful her past self had been.
Those days were over.
"Xiaogang, I'm just being honest. If I've wounded your fragile pride, I apologize. Now, if you'll excuse me."
She turned to leave.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea gripped her. She clamped a hand over her mouth, fighting the urge to vomit.
It surged too fiercely to suppress.
"Gag—"
"Gag—"
She doubled over, dry-heaving violently.
Yu Xiaogang watched, concern flickering across his face. But as he observed her symptoms, his eyes widened like copper bells.
As a scholar of soul beast theory, Yu Xiaogang had studied texts on human physiology—including inheritance patterns and reproduction.
He recognized this.
Morning sickness.
Liu Erlong… was pregnant.
His mind reeled in denial. Liu Erlong was his woman—the one who loved him. They'd never even… How could she be pregnant?
The idea of her with another man was unthinkable. In his mind, she belonged to him alone—incapable of loving another, let alone carrying someone else's child.
Yet the evidence was before him. His face darkened.
It must be something else. Just indigestion.
"Erlong… a-are you alright?" he stammered, dreading her confirmation.
After catching her breath, Liu Erlong ignored his question. Horror, disbelief, then dawning joy flashed across her face as she pressed a hand to her abdomen.
As a teacher and headmistress of Lanba Academy, she knew exactly what this meant.
Tang Yin had assured her he'd taken precautions… but clearly…
She channeled her soul power inward, probing her body.
A gasp escaped her.
"I… I'm pregnant."
As a mature woman, motherhood had always been a secret longing.
Now Tang Yin—the man who'd conquered her body and soul—had granted that wish.
Ecstasy flooded her.
But for Yu Xiaogang, her words were a thunderbolt.
He stared at her belly, his face ashen, like he'd witnessed his parents' corpses.
"Erlong… w-what did you just say?" he whispered, clinging to denial.
Liu Erlong beamed, unrestrained. "I'm pregnant."
CRACK.
Yu Xiaogang's heart shattered like glass.
He swayed, vision blurring, struggling to breathe.
His woman—his Liu Erlong—pregnant with another man's child?
NO!
IMPOSSIBLE!
His mind screamed, but reality refused to bend.
"Xiaogang? Are you… okay?" Liu Erlong asked, concern cutting through her joy. Despite everything, remnants of their Golden Iron Triangle bond remained.
"N-no… I'm fine," Yu Xiaogang rasped.
He turned away, stumbling toward his room like a ghost.
Just then, Flender appeared.
Spotting Yu Xiaogang's devastation, he clapped his shoulder.
"Xiaogang? You look like death! What happened?"
Yu Xiaogang met his best friend's eyes, deadpan.
"Erlong is pregnant."
"WHAT?!" Flender's jaw dropped. "Liu Erlong's PREGNANT?!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
Flender erupted in laughter.
"HAHAHA! Xiaogang, you dog!"
"One try and you nailed it?! Where's Erlong? I need to congratulate her!"
"But why the long face? This is cause for celebration!"
As Flender grinned, Yu Xiaogang's blood ran cold.
…Could it be HIS child?
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