Li Yunlan noticed Lin Xiaoxiao's face turn pale. She staggered backward, looking as if she might collapse. Alarmed, Li Yunlan rushed to support her, her voice trembling with panic. "Xiaoxiao... what's wrong?"

Outside, Zhou Huaian had been shoveling snow with Zhou Zhennan when he heard Li Yunlan's strained cry. He immediately dropped the shovel and dashed inside.

Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's ashen face and the beads of sweat on her forehead, he swept her into his arms without a second thought and bolted toward the hospital.

Li Yunlan hurried after them, but she was no match for Zhou Huaian's pace.

Zhou Zhennan was also startled. "What happened? Did she fall?"

Li Yunlan shook her head anxiously. "She suddenly turned pale, clutched her chest, and couldn't speak. Do you think she might have a heart condition?"

The thought worried her even more. If Lin Xiaoxiao had heart problems, she might not be able to carry a child safely—it could be life-threatening.

Without another word, Zhou Zhennan urged, "Let's follow them and see what's going on."

Zhou Huaian ran as fast as he could, his jaw tight and teeth clenched. He didn't dare ask what was wrong—even if she told him, he wouldn't know what to do. His only thought was to get her to the hospital. Fear drove him to run even faster.

The sharp pain lasted only about ten seconds for Lin Xiaoxiao. By the time it subsided, Zhou Huaian had already carried her out of the residential compound. The cold wind felt like knives against her face.

She could hardly catch her breath. With the wind roaring in her ears, she could tell how fast he was running.

After a moment, she regained enough strength to call out, "Slow down... I'm okay now. Put me down—I feel sick."

The jostling made her nauseous, as if her organs were being shaken loose.

Hearing her speak, Zhou Huaian finally slowed, relief washing over him. But he still insisted on going to the hospital—only a doctor's reassurance would calm him.

When he showed no sign of stopping, Lin Xiaoxiao struggled lightly. "Zhou Huaian, put me down. I'm really fine now. Listen—even if we go to the hospital, they won't find anything."

Finally, he came to a halt. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his eyes were red-rimmed, and the tension in his face showed how frightened he'd been.

Lin Xiaoxiao patted his arm and wrapped her hands around his neck. "Don't be scared. It's an old issue—it might even go away after the baby comes. It hurts like crazy when it happens, but it's over quickly. I just had an EKG a few days ago. Everything was normal."

Zhou Huaian remained silent, breathing heavily as he scanned her face. Seeing her color return, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "We're not keeping the baby."

Lin Xiaoxiao slipped out of his arms and stared at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?

Why? This has nothing to do with the pregnancy!"

He stood firm. "It's too risky. childbirth could be dangerous."

As he bent to pick her up again, she pounded his shoulder. "Zhou Suo! Turn back right now! I told you I'm fine—I can deliver this baby safely. Besides, it's too late for an abortion. Are you trying to get me killed? Is that it? So you can find someone else?"

He stopped again, glaring at her now-energetic protests. "Don't talk nonsense. I don't want anyone else—just you."

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. "Then put me down. If you try to make me get an abortion, I'll divorce you!"

Zhou Huaian fell silent. He was still worried, but the threat of divorce left him torn.

As he stood frozen in the middle of the road, she nudged him. "Let's go home. Your parents must be worried sick. And I'm only wearing a sweater—I'm freezing!"

Just then, Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan came hurrying toward them. Li Yunlan was carrying Lin Xiaoxiao's coat, and she quickly wrapped it around her.

With the elders present, Lin Xiaoxiao felt embarrassed being carried. "You can put me down. I can walk."

But Li Yunlan gently pressed her back. "Let him carry you. Don't catch a cold." Still concerned, she asked, "Shouldn't we go to the hospital? What if it's her heart?"

Lin Xiaoxiao reassured her firmly. "My heart is fine. I was just checked."

Relieved, Li Yunlan nodded. As much as she cared for Lin Xiaoxiao, she couldn't help worrying about the baby too—a natural, if selfish, hope for a healthy grandchild.

She told Zhou Huaian to be careful as they headed home.

Suddenly, Zhou Xiaoling came riding up on a bicycle she'd borrowed from somewhere. "What's wrong? Did Sister Xiaoxiao have another chest pain?"

Li Yunlan frowned. "You knew about her chest pains?"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "Yeah, it's happened before. It goes away quickly." She seemed puzzled—it hadn't happened in a while.

Li Yunlan chided her lightly. "You should've told me. I would've been more careful."

"How could we predict it?" Zhou Xiaoling replied helplessly. "She's usually perfectly healthy. Even the doctors didn't find anything."

Lin Xiaoxiao added, "It's really not her fault, Mom. I didn't think much of it either. I'll get a more thorough checkup at the city hospital next month."

Satisfied, Li Yunlan didn't press further. Back home, she insisted Lin Xiaoxiao rest in bed and even brought her meal to her.

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a little embarrassed. "Mom, I'm totally fine now, really."

But Li Yunlan was firm. "It could be related to the pregnancy. Better to be safe."

After lunch, Li Yunlan and Zhou Zhennan returned to their own place. On the way, she whispered, "Do you think Xiaoxiao's condition will make childbirth dangerous? What if Huaian really wants her to terminate?"

She could see how deeply Zhou Huaian cared for his wife.

Zhou Zhennan sighed. "Whatever they decide, we shouldn't interfere. We're here to support them."

Li Yunlan nodded quietly. "I know. I feel a little selfish... For a moment, all I could think about was the baby."