One check could be called a misdiagnosis.
Two checks, and still calling it a misdiagnosis, that just doesn't hold water.
Shen Nanchu's slender fingers gently stroked her swollen belly, feeling the lively little life inside kicking.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in their depths.
What Shen Nanchu wanted wasn't a misdiagnosis; she wanted a single, decisive strike.
Anyone who wanted to harm her son would have to pay a price.
A flicker of contempt passed through Liu Yan's eyes; she was certain Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu wouldn't spot anything amiss.
"Alright, no problem."
Liu Yan's voice was deliberately softened, a professional smile hanging on her lips.
No matter how many checks they did, the result would be the same.
She could already picture Shen Nanchu lying on the operating table in her mind.
The thrill of controlling someone else's fate made Liu Yan's heart race.
Liu Yan took Shen Nanchu to the ultrasound room again.
...
The second "check" was quickly over.
The three of them soon returned to the office.
Liu Yan held the newly printed images, her face wearing a mask of false sympathy.
"I'm afraid the result is still the same."
She sighed, deliberately lowering her voice a notch as if genuinely regretful.
Shen Nanchu sat in the chair.
Her gaze, initially calm, settled on Liu Yan and suddenly turned sharp.
"Dr. Liu,"
"Do you know the consequences of intentionally misdiagnosing a military family member?"
Shen Nanchu's voice was unhurried, yet it seemed to make the room's temperature drop several degrees.
Liu Yan's heart skipped a beat.
She hurriedly recalled her two examinations, and after confirming nothing was out of place, her heart finally relaxed.
This woman was just a pretty face, what could she possibly understand?
"Comrade Shen Nanchu, I understand how you must feel right now."
Liu Yan stood up, putting on a pained and earnest expression.
"But facts are facts. I deeply grieve that your child has suffered such misfortune."
"Even if you were to give birth to him, are you sure he would want to live in this world with such an incomplete body?"
Liu Yan spoke passionately, as if everything she did was for Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu's own good.
If Pei Zhengnian still didn't sense something wrong now, he'd be an idiot.
He slid the ultrasound printout in front of him towards Liu Yan, tapping a specific spot with his finger.
"Dr. Liu, can you tell me why the timestamp here is still the same as the last one?"
Liu Yan inwardly cursed, but her expression remained calm.
"That... must be a malfunction when the machine was printing."
It was a decent excuse.
"Then your hospital's equipment is really subpar."
Pei Zhengnian pointed to two other places with his finger.
"Here, and here, why are they exactly the same as the last image?"
It had to be said, Pei Zhengnian was clever. He didn't challenge the ultrasound image itself, but instead focused on other minor issues on the printout.
Shen Nanchu gave him mental points.
Watching Liu Yan's slightly flustered look, a hint of amusement flashed in Shen Nanchu's eyes.
"How about this then!"
"Just to be safe, let's do one more check!"
As soon as Shen Nanchu finished speaking, she immediately gained Liu Yan's support.
"Yes, that would be best."
Liu Yan secretly rejoiced inwardly. This woman was truly a fool, actually handing her another opportunity.
She was already planning in her mind how to alter the image data this time to make the result appear more convincing.
Shen Nanchu was also quite pleased inwardly. This Liu Yan was truly a fool.
If Liu Yan were smarter, she would have backed off temporarily. Following Pei Zhengnian's earlier line about the machine having problems might have saved her job and her neck.
Now, if they did another check with the same result, and Liu Yan still insisted that Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu terminate the pregnancy, then this play would be hard to wrap up neatly.
What a pity!
When Liu Yan's mother gave birth to her, she forgot to give her a brain.
Shen Nanchu sighed inwardly, feeling regret over Liu Yan's stupidity.
Liu Yan, believing everything was under her control, had no idea she had already become a pawn in Shen Nanchu's palm.
In the game of cat and mouse, the cat isn't in a hurry to catch the mouse immediately because the cat is waiting for the moment to strike lethally.
The third check took a bit longer.
After all, Liu Yan had to ensure this image had absolutely no issues.
She was busy in the ultrasound room, sweating profusely, her fingers flying over the keyboard, glancing warily at the door from time to time, afraid someone might burst in.
Shen Nanchu just watched her performance quietly.
When they returned to the office once more,
Liu Yan had put on her regretful expression again.
"The results of all three checks are the same."
"The child is still missing one arm and one leg."
Liu Yan placed all three images in front of Shen Nanchu and Pei Zhengnian.
"One mistake could be an accident."
"Three times with this result can only mean it's true."
A look of regret flashed in Liu Yan's eyes, her manner deeply concerned.
"I know making this decision must be incredibly difficult for you."
"But the child is innocent. Can you really bear for him to face gossip and stares from everyone, from childhood to adulthood, after he's born?"
"Are you sure this is the life he would want?"
"Perhaps he doesn't even want to come into this world?"
The air in the office seemed to freeze. Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu fell silent.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing a glint of sharp understanding in each other's eyes.
Pei Zhengnian clenched his fists, his knuckles white, his expression pained and conflicted.
"Dr. Liu, could you give us some time to think it over?"
As soon as Pei Zhengnian finished speaking, disappointment flashed in Liu Yan's eyes.
Damn it, they weren't deciding immediately.
"Of course, no problem."
Liu Yan's voice carried understanding, but inwardly she was seething.
When Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu walked out of the hospital, they looked at each other.
Shen Nanchu suddenly laughed.
"Regiment Commander Pei, what's your take?"
"Madam Pei, what's your take?"
Madam Pei?
It was the first time Shen Nanchu heard this address, and she found it rather novel and interesting.
"Cold-tossed stir-fried eggs, delicious and good-looking."
This playful remark made Pei Zhengnian chuckle.
"You..."
Pei Zhengnian also rarely allowed a smile to touch his lips.
The gloom from the hospital was swept away.
He placed his hand on Shen Nanchu's belly, feeling a tremor against his palm.
He felt both joy and heartache.
His child, not even born yet, and someone already wanted its life.
Just wait!
He would definitely dig out the person behind this.
...
