Love's Ambition

Chapter 2

As Xu Yan found an empty parking spot and stopped the car, another vehicle pulled up in front of them.

A man wearing black-framed glasses got out and said, "It's you again. You've parked in my spot again."

Xu Yan recognized him as her neighbor across the hall, whose surname she thought was Tang.

Once, his package had been delivered to her apartment-a box of mini Lego toys. When she brought it over that evening, his eyes were red.

She had glimpsed his TV playing "Comrades: Almost a Love Story," with Maggie Cheung sitting in Leon Lai's backseat.

Xu Yan apologized, "I didn't know this spot was yours. There's no sign."

As she was about to move the car, the man waved his hand and said, "Never mind, I'll move mine instead." He got into his car and started the engine.

Qiao Lin smiled and said, "He must have seen that I'm pregnant. Nowadays, I never have to queue anywhere. People give up their seats on the bus. When the baby's born, I might not be used to it anymore."

Xu Yan opened the apartment door. She hadn't planned on bringing Qiao Lin home. The apartment was spacious and luxuriously decorated.

Even someone unfamiliar with Beijing would likely guess that the rent was beyond most people's means.

But Qiao Lin showed no surprise and did not comment. She stood in the middle of the living room, head lowered and eyes narrowed as if adjusting to the bright light from the crystal chandelier overhead.

After a while, she came to her senses and asked Xu Yan, "What time does your show air?"

Xu Yan replied, "It's already over. Nothing worth watching."

Qiao Lin asked, "Do people recognize you on the street and ask for autographs?"

Xu Yan said, "It's just a cooking show. Who remembers what the host looks like?"

She found a new bathrobe and led Qiao Lin to the bathroom.

Qiao Lin pointed at the huge round bathtub and asked, "Can I try it?"

Xu Yan said, "Pregnant women shouldn't take baths."

Qiao Lin sighed, "Oh well, I wanted to soak for a bit." She raised her arms to take off her sweater, revealing half her face as she smiled and asked, "Could you copy your show onto a DVD for me to take back? Don't worry, I won't tell Mom and Dad. I'll watch it secretly."

Under Qiao Lin's sweater was a dark blue undershirt, stretched tight over her protruding belly. It was unbelievably round.

Her transformed body, that curve expanded by life, held a mysterious beauty. Xu Yan felt a twinge in her heart.

The phone rang. Shen Haoming urged her to come quickly. Seeing that Xu Yan was about to leave, fear flashed in Qiao Lin's eyes. Xu Yan assured her she'd be back soon, then grabbed her coat and left.

Xu Yan opened her eyes to find herself in a hospital room. The walls were white, the table was white, and the vase on the table was white.

Qiao Lin sat by the bed, gazing at her with a sorrowful look. Xu Yan sat up and asked Qiao Lin, "Tell me, what's wrong with me?"

Qiao Lin lowered her eyes and said, "You have a tumor in your uterus. You need surgery." Uterus? Xu Yan placed her hand on her stomach, wondering where this organ was-she had never felt its presence.

Qiao Lin continued, "You're only 17. You shouldn't have this illness. The doctor said it's a hormone issue, possibly related to the poison they injected you with at birth."