Chapter 66:

Xie Qichen hit Yu Qiran in the fire escape, and upon hearing this, Gao Shi and Tan Yuanzhou also rushed over.

At the same time, Yu Qiran’s agent was on the floor below, discussing how to handle this trouble with the company on the phone, when suddenly she heard sounds of a fight. Rushing upstairs, she saw the scene and rushed forward to stop it:

“Hey, how can you hit someone? Let go! I’m calling the police right now!”

The agent tried to pull Xie Qichen away, but Tan Yuanzhou stepped forward and blocked her, sneering, “Go ahead, call the police! Want to let the cops see how your star injured a pregnant woman?”

The agent’s heart quivered.

Then Xie Qichen’s icy gaze swept over, and when her eyes met his, she felt a chill down her spine. Knowing they were in the wrong, she couldn’t utter a word out of fear.

At this moment, Yu Qiran, a tall man over six feet, was pinned against the wall by Xie Qichen, unable to move.

The man’s face pressed against the wall, pain knitting his brows as he hurried to explain:

“Mr. Xie, I really didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t push her…”

Xie Qichen looked at him, his dark eyes filled with coldness:

“What did you want from her tonight? If you hadn’t been harassing her, would she have fallen?”

All of this was caused by Yu Qiran.

Seeing Tan Mo tonight, he recalled the suppression he had endured over the past year. In a bad mood and drunk, he wanted to confront her, which led to everything that followed.

Hearing this, the agent felt anxious while inwardly cursing Yu Qiran for causing such a huge mess.

They had already seen Xie Qichen’s influence last year. She never expected Yu Qiran would dare provoke him again—was he tired of being a star?

But now, no matter how angry she was, she could only clean up after her artist first, apologizing profusely:

“Mr. Xie, this is entirely our fault. Qiran lost control after drinking too much. But I just heard that both mother and child are safe, so it’s fortunate. Can we discuss how to handle this? We’re willing to compensate in any way. Fighting like this isn’t good either. Yu Qiran is a key artist at Lexin Entertainment. If this gets out…”

Beside her, Tan Yuanzhou smirked: “Lexin Entertainment? Please, do you really think you’re something special?”

Combined, the Tan and Xie families held more power than most.

The agent couldn’t utter a word. Yu Qiran, bruised and bloodied, was pinned against the wall. After a while, seeing Yu Qiran’s face turning red from suffocation, Tan Yuanzhou, fearing Xie Qichen might lose control completely, timely grabbed his arm:

“Enough, Achen. Now the most important thing is Mo Mo and the child. We can’t let it escalate.”

Yu Qiran murmured an apology. Xie Qichen’s icy gaze fell on him. After a few seconds, he coldly said:

“If anything had happened to my wife or the child in her belly today, I wouldn’t have stopped at a few punches.”

Finally, the man let go, looking at Yu Qiran, his tone sinking to the depths: “There’s no possibility of reconciliation.”

Yu Qiran’s heart sank.

“This debt, I will settle with you slowly.”

Then, Xie Qichen turned and left.

Yu Qiran’s mind echoed the man’s words, his head buzzing, when the agent immediately berated him:

“Yu Qiran, look at the mess you made while drunk! Knowing how powerful Xie Qichen is, you still dared to provoke him. Now even Director Zhao can’t save you. You’re on your own!”

Yu Qiran leaned against the wall, his eyes hollow, slowly sliding to sit on the ground…

Meanwhile, Xie Qichen returned to the ward.

Tan Mo was still asleep. Several bloggers by the bedside saw Xie Qichen and politely made space for him.

The man, now calmer, thanked them. They said it was nothing, and since it was late, Xie Qichen let them leave, so they went, saying they would visit again tomorrow.

After everyone left, only the two remained in the ward.

Xie Qichen sat by Tan Mo’s bedside, holding her hand and gazing at her with restrained heartache.

He quietly stayed by her side.

Tan Mo, eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed, had been asleep for a long time.

In her subconscious, Tan Mo fell into one chaotic dream after another.

In the end, she had a nightmare.

In the dream, she was pushed to the edge of a cliff by Yu Qiran. She stepped back, crying for help, but no one was around. Finally, he pushed her.

Tan Mo felt herself falling off the cliff. She screamed in fear and instantly woke up.

Tan Mo opened her eyes, dizzy and gasping for breath, hearing the gentle, hoarse voice of the man reach her ears:

“Mo Mo, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Tan Mo’s vision gradually cleared, revealing Xie Qichen’s face.

Seeing Xie Qichen suddenly in front of her, Tan Mo was stunned for a long time, realizing it wasn’t a dream. Her eyes welled up with tears as she choked out: “Qichen, you’re finally here…”

Seeing her cry, the man’s eyes also turned red. He raised his hand to hold her head, looking at her up close, soothing hoarsely:

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’m with you.”

Seeing herself lying in a hospital bed, Tan Mo anxiously asked: “The baby…”

“It’s fine. The doctor said the baby is okay.”

Hearing this, the stone in Tan Mo’s heart fell, her nose tingling: “I was so scared. I thought I lost the baby…”

The man gently patted her head: “Don’t worry. Both you and the baby are safe. You just fainted from the shock.”

He wiped her tears with a tissue. Tan Mo turned her head and saw Tan Yuanzhou walking in from the ward door. She asked him: “Uncle… why are you here?”

“Tonight I went to your house to have tea with Achen, and then came here with him,” Tan Yuanzhou walked to her side. “How are you? Are you feeling better now?”

“Nothing serious, just a bit weak.”

“Rest well these few days,” Tan Yuanzhou smiled. “Tonight really scared us. You didn’t see how anxious Achen was on the way here. Thank goodness it was just a false alarm.”

Tan Mo turned to meet Xie Qichen’s gaze, her eyes misty with emotion, her hand held tighter by his.

Then the nurse came to change Tan Mo’s IV and left. The man first asked Tan Yuanzhou to stay there: “I need to go make a call to the group, arrange some work. I won’t be going back tomorrow.”

Right now, he only wanted to focus on taking care of Tan Mo.

“Okay, go ahead.”

Xie Qichen looked at Tan Mo: “Don’t participate in the D Station shoot tomorrow, okay?”

Tan Mo was taken aback: “Won’t they…”

“It’s okay. I’ll call them and discuss it.”

Tan Mo nodded.

Given her current condition, she indeed couldn’t continue filming.

After Xie Qichen left, Tan Yuanzhou gave Tan Mo some water. She looked at him: “Uncle, today I caused you trouble. I’m sorry for making you come all the way to Xicheng late at night…”

Tan Yuanzhou lightly tapped her head: “What trouble? You don’t need to be so polite with me. I’m off these days, plenty of time.”

Tan Mo smiled. Tan Yuanzhou said, “Your blogger friends came to the hospital too, but since it was late, I sent them home. As for that bastard Yu, don’t worry. Xie Qichen has already taken care of him.”

“Dealt with?”

Tan Yuanzhou smirked: “Earlier, Xie Qichen beat him up badly.”

Tan Mo was shocked: “Did Qichen actually hit him?”

“What else? Do you think he could calmly negotiate with the other party in such a situation?”

Thinking back to the scene, Tan Yuanzhou teased her: “Xie Qichen was rebellious in high school and was good at fighting. Many boys were afraid of him. Later in college, he fought less. But if you’re bullied, he absolutely can’t tolerate it. He’s most worried about you.”

Tan Mo, moved, softly murmured: “I know…”

That’s how Xie Qichen always protected her.

“It’s okay. That Yu won’t dare to bother you again. Now just rest well,” Tan Yuanzhou patted her head. “I’m here too. Who dares to come after you, I’ll beat them up too.”

Tan Mo was amused: “Yeah, with Uncle here, I feel really safe.”

As the two were chatting, Xie Qichen returned to the ward after making the call. Seeing him walk to the bed, Tan Mo asked: “Is everything settled?”

“Yeah,” the man’s gaze fell on her and Tan Yuanzhou, his eyes softening slightly. “The D Station staff said to rest well. They’ll let you do the congratulatory video solo—no need for group shoots.”

“That’s good…”

She was worried she wouldn’t be able to go in tomorrow and delay the filming schedule.

Xie Qichen looked at Tan Yuanzhou: “It’s late. Let me arrange a hotel for you to rest? I can take care of Tan Mo alone.”

Tan Mo agreed: “Yeah, Uncle, you go rest first. I’m fine now.”

There’s no need for all three to stay in the hospital. Tan Yuanzhou guessed the couple probably had a lot to talk about alone, so he didn’t linger: “Alright, no need to arrange anything. I’ll book a hotel nearby. I’ll come early tomorrow with breakfast. Tan Mo, rest well tonight.”

Tan Mo nodded.

Tan Yuanzhou stood up, looking at his brother: “Call me if you need anything. Don’t hesitate.”

“Okay.”

Then Tan Yuanzhou left. Gao Shi, who had gone to buy some necessities, happened to return just then.

Seeing Tan Mo awake, Gao Shi apologized for not taking good care of her tonight. Tan Mo told her not to blame herself, saying it wasn’t her fault; it was just an accident. Xie Qichen didn’t blame her either.

Gao Shi’s heavy heart finally lightened, and she left too.

After Gao Shi left, Xie Qichen took the toiletries and said to Tan Mo: “I’ll go get some water to help you clean up.”

“Okay.”

Tan Mo was in a high-end private ward, only her. After getting water, Xie Qichen locked the door, came back, sat beside her, helped her up from the bed, half-holding her against him, and wiped her with a warm towel.

Leaning against him, Tan Mo noticed he suddenly fell silent and felt a bit surprised:

“Xie Qichen—”

The man looked at her with lowered lashes: “Hmm?”

“What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Are you still angry, or did something happen at work…”

“No.”

Xie Qichen pursed his lips slightly: “I’m a bit jealous. I’m still digesting it.”

“Huh? Jealous? Of what?”

Tan Mo was surprised: “You’re not jealous of me and Uncle, are you?”

The man muttered: “Earlier, you told him you felt safe with him around.”

Hearing this, Tan Mo couldn’t help but laugh: “Xie Qichen, you’re just a jealous vinegar jar. I meant to express my gratitude to him, not to say only he can make me feel safe.”

She turned around, wrapping her arms around his waist, smiling at him playfully:

“Uncle is important, but you being with me is definitely the most important. You’re my husband, and the father of this little one in my belly. When I first opened my eyes and saw you, I wasn’t scared anymore.”

Xie Qichen kissed her, his dark eyes filled with affection: “Hmm, I know. I was teasing you.”

After helping her clean up, he let her lie back down. Xie Qichen also quickly freshened up.

When he returned to the ward, Tan Mo said she wanted to chat with him. Knowing she wanted to be close to him, the man lifted the blanket and got into bed, pulling her into his arms, smirking: “Is this okay?”

Smelling his familiar sandalwood scent, Tan Mo’s heart felt like a small boat finally docking at a safe and warm harbor.

Looking at him, her red lips curved, eyes slightly teary: “Qichen, I really missed you.”

As her words fell, her chin was caught, and the man’s thin lips descended.

Lips met, Xie Qichen kissed her lips, tracing and sucking gently. After a while, he pried open her teeth, feeding her his cool mint breath, entwining his breath with hers, layer upon layer of love. Tan Mo closed her eyes, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, responding.

Silence filled the ward, the man embracing the small girl tightly, kissing her deeply.

All fear and anxiety were soothed by love in this moment. In their world, there was only each other.

After a long while, Xie Qichen finally stopped, looking deeply into her eyes: “I love you.”

Even though he had said it many times, he still wanted to tell her again.

Tan Mo: “I love you too…”

Xie Qichen gently stroked her belly: “How’s your stomach? Still hurting?”

“Not anymore.”

She held his hand, lifting it to see the bloodshot eyes, her heart aching slightly as she gently asked: “Did it hurt when you hit him?”

“You know?”

“Yeah, Uncle told me.”

Tan Mo hugged him: “I know you were angry, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Xie Qichen ruffled her hair: “Do you know? Before I got Gao Shi’s call tonight, I had a premonition. I felt anxious for no reason. On the way here, I thought if something happened to you and the child, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Tan Mo’s nose tingled slightly: “I’m sorry for making you worry… I shouldn’t have gone to the party tonight. When I saw Yu Qiran there, I should have avoided him and left earlier. I was scared too—if anything had happened to the baby, how heartbroken you would be…”

Tan Mo knew no one cared more about the baby’s arrival than Xie Qichen. Ever since she found out she was pregnant, Xie Qichen had been so happy, eagerly anticipating the child’s birth.

The man held her tightly: “Silly, why are you apologizing? Don’t think like that. Everything’s fine now, right?”

Tan Mo smiled: “Yeah, the baby is very strong.”

Xie Qichen comforted Tan Mo: “You’ll rest well from now on and take good care of yourself.”

“Okay…”

The girl leaned against him, chatting, finally succumbing to sleepiness.

The bed wasn’t big, fearing she might sleep uncomfortably, the man gently got off the bed.

Standing by the bed, he looked at her, placing a tender kiss on her forehead.

—

Throughout the night, with Xie Qichen by her side, Tan Mo slept soundly.

The next morning when she woke up, her mental state was much better, and her body no longer felt so weak.

Xie Qichen helped her get up to wash up. A while later, Tan Yuanzhou brought breakfast. After breakfast, the doctor came for rounds, checked her, and said Tan Mo was fine and could be discharged, needing only to recuperate.

After packing up, Xie Qichen went to settle the bill, while Tan Yuanzhou took Tan Mo downstairs first.

After a while, Xie Qichen arrived at the first floor and saw Tan Mo and Tan Yuanzhou chatting and laughing by the hospital entrance.

The man walked over. Tan Yuanzhou looked at him and teased, “I just realized, some people are real vinegar jars—extremely childish ones.”

Xie Qichen raised his eyebrows at him. Tan Yuanzhou casually put an arm around Tan Mo, grinning annoyingly: “Even though you’re about to be a dad, you’re still jealous of me and Mo Mo. Xie Qichen, your possessiveness is really too strong!”

Tan Mo had just told Tan Yuanzhou about last night’s events. She secretly smiled beside him. Xie Qichen glanced at Tan Yuanzhou: “Take your hands off.”

“See, I knew this guy is stingy.”

Xie Qichen pulled Tan Mo to his side, smirking: “She’s my wife. Why should I be tolerant of you?”

…

Unbearable this guy!

After some jokes, everyone was about to get in the car to return to Licheng. They had two cars coming to Xicheng. Tan Yuanzhou said he didn’t want to eat their dog food and got into one car alone. Thus, Tan Mo and Xie Qichen got into the back seat of another car, while Gao Shi sat in the front passenger seat.

After the front partition was lowered, the rear compartment became private.

Fearing Tan Mo might feel unwell, Xie Qichen instructed the driver to drive slowly and prepared some snacks for her, consulting the doctor to ensure they were safe for her to eat.

After the car started, Tan Mo took a plum candy and sent messages to bloggers like MIMI.

Originally, they wanted to visit her, but since Tan Mo was going back first, they said they would meet in Licheng when possible. Tan Mo expressed her gratitude, saying she was fine now and they needn’t worry.

As for Yu Qiran, Tan Mo heard from Tan Yuanzhou this morning that Xie Qichen would definitely handle this properly.

Tan Mo didn’t want to trouble herself, so she didn’t ask further.

After sending the messages, Tan Mo casually scrolled through her phone. Suddenly, she thought that their wedding anniversary was coming up soon. Last year, Xie Qichen took her to a snow-covered place in the north for a particularly romantic anniversary. This year, she felt she should take the initiative and start preparing a gift.

However, choosing a gift for a man was really difficult. Wanting to give him something meaningful, she decided to ask about his preferences: “Xie Qichen, is there anything you like the most?”

“Hmm?”

Tan Mo knew he could guess her thoughts, so she decided to be honest: “It’s almost our anniversary. I want to give you a gift you’ll like. I won’t tell you what it is, but you can give me a hint.”

“Hmm, weren’t you very familiar with me back in high school?”

“That was then. I’m not sure if things have changed. Come on, just tell me. Like your favorite sport or hobbies, so I have a direction.”

The man held her hand, his fingers scratching her palm gently, softly asking, “I don’t have any favorites. Does that count you?”

Tan Mo was momentarily stunned, then smiled, patting her belly:

“Isn’t what you like most me and this little one inside me?”

Xie Qichen smiled: “But you asked for my favorite.”

He leaned closer to her, placing a kiss on her red lips, looking at her tenderly:

“I only have one favorite.”