When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 285: Chapter 112: Top Sister of the ’60s Cultural Troupe (51)_3

”Or you could help me call my family. My colleagues in Group Two are all blaming me. I had no other choice but to come to you.”

She was cautious and pleading. Her pitiful appearance made it easy for people to jump to the conclusion that she was the weaker party.

Xia Zhaoyun raised an eyebrow and chuckled. ”I learned a few tricks from an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor. We have our ways of observing a patient, and from what I see, you’re just physically weak and unable to support a new life. You should be resting at home instead of making trouble for everyone by trying to dance.”

The people in the practice room exchanged glances, and the flames of gossip began to flare.

’When did Song Zhenbao get married again?’

’Half a month ago, wasn’t it? Even if Comrade Tong Yuanbin was skilled enough to score on the first try, no doctor, no matter how brilliant, could detect a pregnancy pulse so soon. The only explanation was that the baby in her belly was already a month or two along.’

People’s minds raced. They recalled the discussions in Group Two about how Song Zhenbao had been especially good at slacking off and acting innocent lately. Her complexion was usually normal, but the moment she started dancing, she’d put on a frail act, and no one knew what she was scheming.

If this frailty wasn’t an act, then it was highly likely that Song Zhenbao was pregnant!

’That makes sense. Even though wedding procedures are simplified these days, for families like the Song Family and the Tong family, getting married just half a month after the engagement is still rare enough to be counted on one’s fingers.’

No one would believe there wasn’t something more to it.

Song Zhenbao was startled by Xia Zhaoyun’s blunt words. She quickly waved her hands in denial. Seeing the strange looks from the crowd, her words became clumsy. ”How... how is that possible? Yuanbin and I have only been married for half a month. There’s no way I could be pregnant.”

”It’s just that my body was weakened from my long time in the countryside. I’m a bit malnourished, that’s all.”

”Comrade Xia Zhaoyun, I... I was just asking you for a small favor. If you don’t want to help, fine, but why must you always try to sling mud at me?”

Now, she gritted her teeth, speaking with righteous indignation, ”Don’t you know how important a woman’s reputation is?”

Xia Zhaoyun sneered. ”You know perfectly well that out of everyone in this troupe, I’m the one who detests your little act the most. Yet you chose to run right into me. I wonder what you’re really after.”

”It’s a good thing you’re not pregnant. Otherwise, I would’ve thought you were trying to frame me.”

Song Zhenbao clenched her fists, hating herself for being so weak. ’How could I have let a man sweet-talk me into forgetting to take precautions?’ Her body hadn’t even recovered, yet she was already pregnant, which meant she couldn’t even frame someone properly.

She had oversimplified the problem. Before, when she didn’t know the issue was the timing, she figured she could let the pregnancy go to full term and just lie that it was a premature birth. No one would press the issue.

But now, if she wanted to frame Xia Zhaoyun, she needed a plausible reason.

After all, the symptoms of a miscarriage are different for a woman who is two months pregnant versus one who is only half a month pregnant!

Xia Zhaoyun’s next words plunged her into an icy cellar. ”By the way, Comrade Song Zhenbao, someone saw you go to the Southern City General Military Hospital last week. Were you visiting someone, or getting a check-up?”

Song Zhenbao pressed her lips together, staring daggers at Xia Zhaoyun’s smug expression, yet she still had to force a smile. ”I was visiting a patient, of course. Our Northern City Hospital is perfectly good. I have no reason to go so far out of my way.”

Xia Zhaoyun nodded. ”True. Unless you had something to hide, there would be no reason to cross the entire city just to see a doctor.”

After saying this, she chuckled and said:

”Comrade Song Zhenbao, the situation outside is uncertain. It would be wise for you to go out less.”

”Our factory has a good atmosphere. We’re all single-mindedly focused on production and development, and everyone gets along harmoniously. Oh, or perhaps it’s because we all know each other’s secrets and can keep each other in check, which is why things are peaceful for now.”

”For example, if someone were to anonymously pin an anti-socialist label on me, I can’t guarantee that my willpower wouldn’t falter. I might just have to rat someone else out to show my unwavering loyalty to the organization. Wouldn’t you agree, Comrade Song Zhenbao?”

”You also hope for our factory to remain as it is, don’t you?”

Xia Zhaoyun cast a meaningful glance at Song Zhenbao’s stomach, then casually patted her own.

A chill ran through Song Zhenbao. Her mind went blank, with only a single thought remaining: ’Xia Zhaoyun has me cornered! She knows about my pregnancy check-up at the Southern City General Military Hospital!’

And if anyone were to report Xia Zhaoyun, she herself would likely be an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.

She steadied herself against the doorframe, her vision starting to go dark. She forced her lips into a twitch. ”Comrade Xia Zhaoyun is right. Everyone hopes we can stay far away from the turmoil outside.”

With that, she turned and left, fumbling her way to the office to call her family and ask them to send someone to pick her up.