Bab 357: Chapter 357: Yezhen is Pregnant
The spring sunshine bathed Hardy and Taylor in its warm glow. As Hardy gazed at the sleeping Taylor, he marveled at her youthful beauty. At eighteen, she was at the pinnacle of her allure, with delicate pink skin, long eyelashes, and a soft layer of fine hair framing her face.
In the past, it was often said that women were at their most beautiful at thirty. But Hardy thought that eighteen was the age when beauty truly blossomed. Though women could still shine at thirty, it was a different kind of radiance.
Taylor was exhausted, having given her all the night before. It seemed she would need some rest.
Hardy quietly rose, showered, and then went to the gym for his workout. After an hour of exercise and a refreshing sweat, he had breakfast. Taylor woke up leisurely after ten o'clock, slowly becoming aware of her surroundings. She realized she was in Hardy's bedroom and, recalling the events of the previous night, felt a rush of blissful memories. The experience had been as wonderful as she had imagined.
She wandered into the living room in her pajamas, where Hardy was engrossed in some documents. Her eyes sparkled as she asked, "Hardy, aren't you going to work today?"
Hardy set down the paperwork, approached Taylor, and embraced her gently. "I'm staying home today to be with you."
Taylor's face lit up with joy. She was about to head to the bathroom for a shower, but Hardy took her hand and guided her into the bathroom instead. The sounds of her singing soon filled the space.
Hardy had initially planned to keep things simple, but Taylor's affectionate gestures and playful kisses made it hard for him to resist. He didn't want to make her feel unloved, so he reciprocated her affection, embracing the moment with her.
---
A few days after Taylor's birthday, Hardy flew to Japan but first made a stop in Malaya to inspect a base. He had informed the base's person in charge beforehand and had brought along Lanster and Henry for this trip.
Hardy had long been interested in Malaya. Whether or not his efforts were successful, it was worth the attempt. If he succeeded, the benefits could far surpass the earnings from opening a few companies. He had reviewed extensive reports on Malaya, including details about British governance, local Sudanese forces, the Chinese population, and the various power struggles.
Malaya had a complex colonial history. Originally colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, it was briefly occupied by Japan during World War II. After Japan's defeat, the British returned. Post-war anti-colonial movements had stirred unrest, but the British had managed to suppress it. Malaya was fragmented, with numerous sultans ruling different territories. Penang and Malacca were directly under British control, bypassing the sultanate's jurisdiction, which meant they were potentially easier to negotiate with.
The political landscape was complicated. Singapore, Penang, and Malacca had significant Chinese populations due to the Malays' resistance to Chinese settlement in their territories. This made these areas potentially valuable for Hardy's plans.
After landing at Singapore Airport, Hardy was greeted by the head of the HD Defense Company's Singapore base and the secretary of the British Governor, Lord Mountbatten. The secretary conveyed the Governor's willingness to provide assistance.
"Thank you for your warm welcome," Hardy said. "Please extend my gratitude to Governor Mountbatten. I'll visit him at the appropriate time."
The secretary left, and Hardy proceeded to the Singapore base. Situated by the sea, the base covered approximately 5,000 acres and included a military camp, canteen, training ground, oil depot, and material warehouse. The base was well-equipped with frigates, patrol ships, and speedboats.
The defense company had initially focused on protecting ships but had expanded due to increased demand from shipping companies affected by piracy. The company's stability and effectiveness in these missions had drawn more clients.
Hardy was investing reinvested profits into base construction and operational enhancements. The Singapore base boasted more than 700 frigates, two 600-ton patrol ships, ten 50-ton torpedo boats, and over 500 personnel.
In Penang, the setup was similar. Hardy visited the city, which resembled Hong Kong with its vibrant Chinese community. He returned to Singapore, instructing Lanster to continue strengthening the base and to recruit additional crew members for the newly acquired Fletcher-class destroyers.
"Additionally, we need an air force here," Hardy stated. "We don't need a large airport, just enough to accommodate transport aircraft. Each base should have ten aircraft and a team of pilots."
He also tasked Henry with increasing intelligence efforts in Malaya to gather information on the local Sudanese and rebel groups.
Henry acknowledged the task, and Hardy flew to Japan, while Lanster and Henry returned to the U.S.
Upon arriving at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Hardy's assistants and security personnel greeted him. An urgent telegram awaited him. Hardy tore it open, and his heart sank as he read the brief message:
"Yezhen is pregnant, let her know."
The message was from Han Yezhen, and its impact hit Hardy like a heavy blow.
Bab 358: Chapter 358: The Underground Vault is Officially Opened
**
Hardy stared at the telegram in disbelief, a rush of emotions he couldn't quite describe washing over him. His heart raced in a way it never had before. The thrill of violence, the achievement of his first million, and even his rise as an American tycoon had never caused such a reaction. But the news of Yezhen's pregnancy was different—profoundly personal, and profoundly real.
He swiftly donned his jacket and instructed his assistant, "Call the airport. I'm heading to Hong Kong immediately." Then, he added, "Send a telegram to Victor in Hong Kong. I need him to pick me up at the airport."
Hardy rushed out to his waiting car, his driver and bodyguard already on standby. The flight to Hong Kong was swift, and within four hours, Hardy landed, arriving in the city at around 11 p.m. Victor and a small team awaited him on the tarmac.
"Boss, you seemed urgent. I have the security team ready," Victor said, his serious demeanor hinting at his concern.
"No need for the security team. Just take me to Yezhen," Hardy replied, a smile on his face.
They drove to Mid-Levels Manor, where the butler greeted him with surprise. "Master, you didn't give us any prior notice."
"I came in a hurry. Where's Yezhen?" Hardy asked.
"She's asleep," the butler answered.
Hardy dismissed the security team and entered the bedroom quietly. Yezhen was sleeping soundly, and Hardy approached the bed, careful not to wake her. A change in light stirred her, and she opened her eyes, seeing Hardy beside her.
"Am I dreaming?" she murmured groggily.
Hardy smiled, brushing his thumb across her face. "I came as soon as I saw the telegram. I had to see you."
Yezhen, now fully awake, stretched out her hand and embraced Hardy. "You really came. I thought I was dreaming. I only wanted to let you know, but you came so quickly."
Hardy gently touched her abdomen. "How did you find out?"
Yezhen explained her symptoms and the subsequent confirmation from both a Western and a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor. "I wanted to tell you later, but I thought you'd be surprised if you came and found a child already here."
Hardy chuckled. "If I came back a year later and found a child, I'd be shocked. But that's not going to happen. I'd have heard about it from someone here."
As they settled into bed, Yezhen reminded Hardy of the doctor's advice to avoid physical intimacy during the early stages of pregnancy. Hardy, though understanding, simply wanted to be close to her and talk. They spent a long time chatting about the pregnancy and other details before falling asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Yezhen woke to find Hardy gone. After freshening up, she entered the living room to find a group of distinguished elderly figures there. Hardy stood with them, holding her hand. "I wanted you to meet some experts from the Chinese Medicine Research Institute. They'll check on you."
The Hong Kong Academy of Chinese Medicine had assembled over thirty renowned doctors. Old Mr. Zhao Weihan and Master Zheng Youqian both confirmed that Yezhen's pregnancy was healthy and that no immediate medicinal intervention was necessary. They advised maintaining a proper diet and avoiding certain foods.
Hardy ensured that all recommendations were noted, and the chefs would follow the guidelines.
After the experts left, Yezhen and Hardy were alone. Hardy expressed his concern and care, while Yezhen, touched by his attentiveness, assured him that she was fine. They talked about their plans and the antiques Hardy had recently acquired from Japan.
Curious about the treasures, Yezhen led Hardy to the vault. The museum building was nearing completion, and the vault housed both antiques and a substantial amount of gold. They began inspecting the antiques, unpacking them with excitement.
When Hardy opened a box filled with calligraphy and paintings, Yezhen identified a scroll by Zhao Ziang, a celebrated calligrapher. Then, Hardy uncovered a painting by Tang Bohu, depicting a classic romantic scene. Yezhen blushed, and Hardy commented on the vividness of the artwork.
Amused by Hardy's commentary, Yezhen shook her head, teasing him as they continued their exploration. The vault was filled with treasures, promising more surprises to come.
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
3 Power
stone 
Komentar Paragraf