Chapter 81: Unspoken Concerns

Chapter 81: Unspoken Concerns

In the dead of night, Ethan rose quietly from bed. Emily wasn't clinging to him like usual. She was sound asleep on her side, her hands resting gently on her abdomen, curled up like a shrimp.

Ethan glanced at her for a few seconds, then tucked the covers more snugly around her and gently touched the top of her head. Emily murmured softly in her sleep, her lips curling into a smile.

Ethan's own lips lifted in response, his gaze softening further. His little woman was smiling even in her sleep. She must truly feel happy beside him. Nothing could be more fulfilling for him. Everything was worth it.

Ethan picked up the divorce agreement from the desk and walked to the study, tossing the entire document into the shredder. The machine immediately whirred to life.

He remembered something and took out the medical report, placing it into the shredder as well. All the papers were quickly reduced to a pile of scraps.

Ethan walked around the room once more, retrieving an old lighter he hadn't used in a while. He flicked open the lid, and the deep blue gem reflected a cold light. A flicker of red appeared between his pale fingers, spreading into a thin wisp of smoke.

Leaning against the railing, he took slow, deliberate puffs from the cigarette, his sharply defined features and furrowed brow gradually disappearing into the smoke. The night was cool and quiet. Some stayed awake through the night.

**

Due to her period, Emily woke up earlier than usual. But the space beside her was already empty. Her hand touched her abdomen and felt a warm, soothing sensation. Looking down, she saw that a new heating pad had been placed there sometime during the night.

Emily's lips curved into a smile as she noticed a large thermal cup on the nightstand. She opened it to find it filled with red sugar water. Her smile widened as she took a big gulp, savoring the warm, comforting love from her husband.

The care from her husband didn't end there. Emily walked into the bathroom and saw her tampons and various heating pads neatly arranged on the sink.

Imagining her husband, dressed in a suit, taking care of these things made her smile even more. Despite being surrounded by such all-encompassing care, the persistent cramps in her abdomen still nagged at her.

Emily clutched her stomach and lay back on the bed, sipping slowly from the remaining half of her sweet red sugar water. As she scrolled through her phone, a message popped up.

Jessica: [The new spring and summer collection from C's has arrived, including limited editions!! Aren't you going to check it out, Mrs. Wealthy?]

Emily: [Me: Shop shop shop! Aunt Flo: No, you don't want to [dog emoji]]

Jessica: [...Really?]

Jessica: [Aren't you almost done? How can it still hurt this much?]

Emily: [Feeling wronged emoji]

Jessica sent an address.

Emily: [No, I'm not going anywhere. Planning to stay home and rest [lying down emoji]]

Jessica: [This is the Chinese medicine clinic I mentioned earlier, you should go check it out]

Emily: [I don't want to drink bitter bark]

Jessica: [...Typical foreigner reaction]

Jessica: [This clinic is a prestigious old establishment, like your husband's family, with a century of tradition. They are renowned for their skilled treatments!]

Emily looked at the clinic's address and felt a sense of déjà vu. Was this the same place Old Mr. Harrison had recommended for her body adjustment?

Jessica continued to persuade her:

[You should go see, Mr. Chen, who is on duty today, is the most authoritative old Chinese doctor in Jiangcheng. Usually, it's hard to get an appointment with him. Olivia, who used to suffer from severe menstrual pain, is now fine after two months of treatment there.]

Emily rubbed her aching abdomen, feeling a bit tempted. Her menstrual pain had indeed been worsening. In the past, she would take painkillers, but they seemed increasingly ineffective.

She recalled that Olivia had also visited this clinic before her wedding… Now, a year later, Olivia had a baby and a happy anniversary.

Thinking about how she and Ethan had been trying for a baby with frequent attempts, and yet no success, she remembered Ethan's strange expression when he saw the heating pad on her belly last night.

She had joked about him "trying harder" next time, and Ethan's reaction had seemed slightly off.

Emily shook her head and blinked lightly.

She typed out a few words on her phone:

[Give me the phone number of that Chinese medicine clinic]

**

The Chinese medicine clinic was as private as Ethan's regular place. Though it was a traditional establishment, the service was modern and high-end, with one-on-one consultations and no other patients in sight.

Dr. Chen, the attending physician, looked like an old sage, his hair silver, his appearance ageless. His clear eyes and youthful demeanor gave him an almost ethereal presence.

Emily started to regret coming alone as soon as Dr. Chen began examining her. She felt exposed, as if he could see through her completely.

Dr. Chen asked detailed and awkward questions, and soon Emily had disclosed her entire history of menstrual pain.

This wasn't the most embarrassing part. After a few moments of scrutinizing her, Dr. Chen began to speak:

"Maintain caution, avoid letting external forces disrupt your meridians, regulate your meridians without causing harm to the organs. Avoid excessive stimulation and maintain moderation in your diet—no excessive consumption of cold, hot, bitter, sour, spicy, or sweet foods. Ensure your body does not become weak, and avoid letting diseases penetrate the meridians."

Emily: "???"

Seeing her confusion, Dr. Chen smiled kindly. "In general, you should take care of yourself and not let ailments interfere with your meridians. Maintain a balanced diet and avoid overindulging in spicy or cold foods. Especially considering your fondness for spicy food and ice, it's not good for your body over time."

Dr. Chen paused, then added, "Also, regulate your sexual activity; do not engage too frequently."

Emily: "!!!"

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively looked away—was there a hole she could crawl into right now?

She wished she had brought the person who kept "engaging too frequently" along with her!

She was so embarrassed but couldn't help feeling a bit of respect—how could someone see through her so completely with just a few questions? Was he really a sage?

Dr. Chen was used to the shy, delicate wives of wealthy families and was brief and to the point. He indicated the pulse pillow, signaling Emily to place her hand on it.

After checking her pulse with both hands, Dr. Chen's expression changed slightly. He looked up at Emily, then continued with his other hand.

After finishing, he lowered his gaze and pondered briefly.

Emily felt a sinking feeling as she saw the doctor's expression, an unspoken worry settling in her chest.

"Um…" she bit her lip, nervously asking, "Is there something wrong?"

Dr. Chen shook his head and offered a reassuring smile. "It's nothing serious. Go get some X-rays done. We'll discuss further after that. Drink plenty of water."

He wrote a note, handing it to Emily.

Emily took the note with a pale face, her anxiety growing. She left to get the X-rays done, leaving a contact number in her medical file for Dr. Chen to reach her if needed.

**

The X-ray took three hours. When Emily finally finished, Dr. Chen was with other patients.

She glanced at her watch, feeling impatient. Ethan had promised to take her out for a new Japanese restaurant, and even managed to get her favorite, discontinued Dragon Whisper strawberries.

Emily left her contact information for Dr. Chen with the nurse and headed straight to Creston Media's headquarters.

As she approached the office, she saw a group of people exiting the meeting room. The lead man was particularly striking, with a tall, confident presence that seemed like he walked straight out of an advertisement.

He paused at the door, shaking hands with the foreign businessmen and giving a slight nod, speaking in impeccable English.

As if sensing something, Ethan turned his head slightly and met Emily's gaze. He gave her a subtle wink, his usually stern expression softening briefly.

The surrounding negotiation team noticed this fleeting gentleness and some glanced over, recognizing the beautiful woman smiling in the distance as their boss's wife.

The foreign businessman continued chatting by the door, laughing and talking endlessly. Emily was a bit bored when her phone buzzed with two messages from an unknown number.

The first message contained two photos: one of her medical report with additional blue-black text she couldn't decipher, and another of her ultrasound and test results. Her eyes widened and her face went pale as she read the final lines:

[…There are thickened fluid-dense areas on both sides, indicating possible fluid accumulation; the endometrial lining is excessively thickened.

Preliminary diagnosis: Bilateral fallopian tube obstruction and polycystic ovary syndrome.]