Chapter 486: The Return of The Preceptor

Pei Ziheng's heart fell. He finally said after a long time, "Do your best to preserve her reproductive capabilities."

The doctor shook his head, his heart going out to Pei Ziheng. No man would be happy to hear that his wife would not be able to get pregnant ever again, let alone such a domineering man like Pei Ziheng.

However, such was life. There was no way to change it.

"I will do my best, but I would advise you not to harbor high hopes." The doctor responded before walking away.

Pei Ziheng accompanied the still unconscious Xia Ling in the ward for a while. He was full of loathing for himself. If he had not had too much to drink at the evening celebrations... If he didn't quarrel with her... If the child didn't disappear... perhaps... just perhaps... things would not have come this far.

Yet, she was exasperating as well.

How could she suspect that he was behind the child's disappearance?

"Xia Ling, I'm disappointed for having provided for your child for so long." He said to Xia Ling in a cold voice as she lay unconscious in the ward bed.

The head of security came in and said to him in a low voice. "Sir, we've investigated the bungalow premises thoroughly, both inside and outside. The child is not in the bungalow. Too many guests came through the bungalow today, and they were all in dress suits and evening gowns. There weren't many who brought large bags or carriers; hence, it would be hard for them to have taken the child away. Other than these people, in the period that the child could have gone missing, the only vehicle that went through the premises was a rubbish truck. Judging by the size of the truck, there is a high possibility that they could have taken the child away."

"Investigate that truck." Pei Ziheng said. He needed to find that child urgently to wash himself clean of the incident. He stood up as he finished his sentence, saying, "I'll go with you."

"But Sir... we need to go to the rubbish disposal grounds..."

Pei Ziheng glanced coldly at the head of security, who immediately shut his mouth and silently led Pei Ziheng to the car and drove towards the rubbish disposal grounds.

It was 4 am in the morning.

The wide rubbish disposal grounds was desolate under the dark night sky as a sole crescent moon shone over it.

Pei Ziheng and the head of security spread out to begin the search.

Rubbish was piled up all around with all kinds of trash. As Pei Ziheng trod through the trash in his expensive hand-woven leather shoes, many cockroaches and rats went scurrying around. Pei Ziheng did not expect himself to have to walk through such a filthy place to look for a child that had absolutely no blood ties with him.

If that child was thrown into a rubbish bin, poured into the rubbish truck and thrown here... would he still be alive? He could have died from his skin rotting from all this filthiness, or maybe bitten to death by the cockroaches and mice in the vicinity.

As Pei Ziheng thought of these possibilities, he suddenly felt bad for the child. The child's clear and bright eyes came to the forefront of his mind. The child was smiling at him, stretching out his small arms asking to be carried... such an innocent and beautiful sight.

Pei Ziheng frowned slightly and waved away the weird feelings that had emerged in him.

He told himself that he was only looking for the child to be able to absolve himself from blame with Xiao Ling.

He would not develop any feeling for that bastard.

After searching for a long time, his expensive cashmere sweater was stained with all kinds of filth and was beyond repair. However, that child was nowhere to be found.

He started to feel anxious.

Suddenly, he heard the cries of a baby.

Elation filled his heart, and he turned his head towards the sound. He saw a man dressed in a snow-white shirt standing on top of a high pile of trash under the moonlit sky. That man was tall, and he was carrying a child in his arms. The child was gargling and making a lot of noise.

"That's my child." Pei Ziheng recognized the child immediately.

"He isn't your child." The man in the white shirt said.

Pei Ziheng's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Who are you?"

"Who I am isn't important." The man in the white shirt started to walk closer, carrying the child.

Pei Ziheng was able to see him more closely, realizing that the man had handsome features. He had monolids over his eyes, with thin but nicely shaped lips. He looked a little like Xia Ling in her past life.

A name popped into Pei Ziheng's mind. "Xia Moyan?"

He suddenly recalled that Xiao Ling had mentioned that she had found her family in her past life ― her brother called Xia Moyan. If that were true, then given this man's resemblance to Xia Ling, he must be Xia Moyan.

A contemplative look came upon the man's face as he stood tall amidst the trash. "It seems that Xiao Ling has mentioned me before." He paused before adding. "What a pity."

Xia Moyan had perceptive capabilities, and he could tell that this man in front of him had an unusual relationship with Xiao Ling. He had heard that Xiao Ling had been together with this man in her past life, and looking at him up close, he definitely was someone compatible with the "Phoenix." However, he was not the sycamore.

But he was a dragon of a man.

If Xiao Ling were not the "Fire Phoenix" that was destined for suffering, but the "Soaring Phoenix" that was destined for happiness, then Pei Ziheng and her would be a match-made-in-heaven. Unfortunately, they were destined to only have that short relationship of 10 years in her past life.

Pei Ziheng did not understand what he was saying and frowned. "Return the child to me."

Xia Moyan tilted his head slightly and asked, "You want this child to continue to raise him?"

Pei Ziheng went silent.

He realized that he did not really want to bring the child back. So what if he brought the child back to Xiao Ling's side? The child was going to take up all of her time and her gentleness again, wasn't he? Was he bringing him back for her to pine after another man again?

Pei Ziheng's expression was unreadable under the moonlight.

Xia Moyan stood opposite him with a mysterious gaze. "Think about it really carefully."

Finally, Pei Ziheng came to a decision. "I don't want this child."

Xia Moyan lowered his head slightly and looked at the child in his arms. He mumbled, "You're Pei Zhaohui, aren't you? It looks like we should change your last name to Li."

"What are you going to do?" Pei Ziheng looked at him in high alert. "And... how do you know the child's identity?"

"Me? I know everything..." Xia Moyan replied lightly, before saying again. "What a pity."

"What's a pity?" Pei Ziheng realized that something was amiss.

Xia Moyan did not respond. He looked at the tall man in front of him ― the dragon of a man destined to dominate and have a perfect life. His only trial was that of the trial of love. If he were dominant enough, he could resolve this trial of love. If he could tolerate the "Phoenix's" child by his side, then he would win the Phoenix over. Otherwise, he would lose her forever.

Xia Ling had been through a lot of suffering already, so her "Fire Phoenix" characteristics were waning, and her "Soaring Phoenix" characteristics were increasing over time.

Now, she was standing at the crossroads of destiny, trying to determine if she would follow the dragon or the sycamore. Yet, it was the dragon of a man that had made the choice.

"Sycamore then? That's good as well." Xia Moyan murmured to himself. He lowered his head and regarded Pei Ziheng. "You have tied Xiao Ling to yourself for a long time with that death vow. Now's the time for that curse to be broken."