Chapter Forty: Black and White

Seeing this, Qin Huairu immediately stepped forward and threw the medical examination report in her hand right into Xu Damao’s chest. "Take a good look for yourself! It's all written there in black and white. Do you still want to deny it? Not a chance!"

Xu Damao took the report with trembling hands. His eyes scanned the lines, as if every word were delivering a silent judgment upon him.

He hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Qin Jingru, are you... are you sure this child is mine?"

The moment these words left his mouth, the Qin sisters ignited like a powder keg, reacting with such intensity that it left everyone stunned.

Qin Huairu’s eyes blazed with fury as she shrieked, "Xu Damao, are you even human? How could you say such a thing? My sister is a pure, innocent girl who has been ruined by you, and now you want to refuse to take responsibility?"

Qin Jingru was also sobbing heart-wrenchingly, wiping away tears as she cried, "Everyone, listen to this! Is what Xu Damao just said even human language? I’m just a young girl from the countryside—how would I know about such malice? I was deceived by him, and now he wants to just walk away? It’s not going to be that easy!"

The surrounding crowd watched the scene unfold, casting looks of contempt at Xu Damao. Their murmurs were filled with sympathy for Qin Jingru and condemnation for him.

"Qin Huairu’s sister is so pitiful, being tricked by this animal at such a young age."

"That Xu Damao has been rotten to the core since he was a kid. Any girl who crosses his path is truly cursed for eight lifetimes."

"Exactly! He got her pregnant and now he wants to deny it? He’s not a man at all!"

Although Xu Damao was no saint, the chorus of public blame and the intermittent sobs of Qin Jingru wove together into a complex scene. His face grew dark and his brows knitted together as his gaze fell upon the tear-streaked woman beside him, Qin Jingru. Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, each one seemingly pouring out endless grievances and sorrow.

Xu Damao felt a mix of emotions. He knew his impulsive words had hurt her, but at this moment, he could only bite the bullet and attempt to salvage the situation. He stepped forward slowly, gently taking Qin Jingru’s trembling hands, his voice low and soft, "Jingru, stop crying. I was just acting on impulse earlier, and I spoke without thinking. Please, don't take it to heart."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jingru’s sobbing gradually subsided. She looked up at Xu Damao, her eyes shimmering with a mix of anticipation and unease.

Xu Damao took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision. He clenched his palms tightly, trying to draw courage from the sensation. "Jingru, you... you can rest assured. I, Xu Damao, will definitely..." However, the words caught in his throat. Those promises and oaths suddenly felt so difficult to utter.

He took another deep breath, trying to distill the thousand words in his heart into a single complete sentence: "I will never let my child become an orphan without support. The two of us..."

Just then, a sudden voice interrupted him: "A medical report doesn't necessarily mean it's true."

The remark was like a stone cast into a calm lake, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. The speaker was He Yuzhu. Standing in the crowd with a sharp gaze, he continued, "I saw Qin Jingru climbing onto the roof just a few days ago to retrieve a sandbag. She was incredibly agile—does that look like someone who is pregnant?"

He didn't forget to add, "I’m just being fair here. Xu Damao, you should probably take Qin Jingru back to the hospital for another check-up to avoid making a fool of yourself later."

What happened today had nothing to do with He Yuzhu, and normally, he wouldn't bother to get involved. But just a minute ago, the system, which had been silent for so long, issued him a task: stop Qin Huairu from achieving her goal. For the sake of the reward, He Yuzhu had no choice but to "meddle" in this affair.

Upon hearing this, a faint, imperceptible smile appeared on Xu Damao’s face, and he seemed to let out a sigh of relief. The Qin sisters, however, glared at He Yuzhu with murderous eyes, as if they wanted to tear him to pieces. He Yuzhu remained indifferent; he had his own calculations. He knew for a fact that Xu Damao was infertile, so he was certain that Qin Jingru was not pregnant.

Xu Damao had never found He Yuzhu so agreeable; in fact, his stature seemed to grow a little taller in his eyes. He Yuzhu’s words had undoubtedly opened a new window for him. Regardless of whether Qin Jingru was truly pregnant, at least for now, he didn't have to promise to marry her under the public gaze.

Clearing his throat, Xu Damao said to Qin Jingru, "Qin Jingru, we have to make another trip to the hospital tomorrow." His tone held an unquestionable resolve. "If the results show that you are indeed carrying my flesh and blood, then I, Xu Damao, won't say another word—I’ll marry you immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the Qin sisters instantly wilted like frost-bitten eggplants. Though Qin Huairu was panicking, she put up a front, trying to make a final stand. "Xu Damao, what kind of game are you playing? The medical report is right here in plain sight, and you still don't believe it? What exactly are you trying to do?"

She paused, her tone becoming more assertive. "Let me tell you, our Jingru is not going to the hospital for any more check-ups. You must give us a clear answer today, otherwise, I will take this report directly to the factory tomorrow and let the leaders judge for themselves how you treat our family!"

Xu Damao’s heart skipped a beat at these words. He knew he worked for a unit and had to act cautiously, leaving no room for anyone to use leverage against him. Otherwise, if this blew up and affected his future and his livelihood, the consequences would be dire. He felt like a duck being roasted over a fire, caught in a dilemma. A breath of frustration churned in his chest, unable to go up or down—it was excruciatingly uncomfortable.

Just then, He Yuzhu spoke up again, unhurriedly: "Xu Damao, even if you take this to the factory, it’s still the medical results that will have the final say. Besides, too many people already know about this; one more check-up won't hurt, right?"

He looked calm and his tone was indifferent, as if everything were under his control.

Qin Huairu’s mind was in turmoil after listening to He Yuzhu. Her thoughts felt like a tangled rope tossed by the wind; the more she pondered, the more she felt she had been careless earlier, overlooking potential risks that might work against her.