Six years after our breakup, I sat in his emergency room.

"I'm pregnant, and the baby is yours."

His face turned livid. "What kind of baby takes six years to gestate?"

The atmosphere turned awkward to the extreme.

"You're not going to acknowledge it?"

"Do you think I'm going to take the blame?" he retorted.

I fell silent for a few seconds. "Fine, then I'll find someone else to be the father."

Nine months later.

He fiercely grabbed the attending doctor. "Buddy, please, make sure you stitch her up nicely. She loves her appearance."

1

I went for a pre-marriage medical examination with my blind-date partner.

And the exam revealed a baby.

The wedding was off.

The matchmaker came to my house and scolded my mother.

"You said your daughter was a virgin, but which virgin has a two-month-old baby?"

"Your family has really ruined our reputation!"

"Don't come to me again. It's so unlucky!"

...

My mother was scolded severely.

And then I was scolded severely by my mother.

"Who's the father of the baby?"

"..." I didn't say anything.

"Chen Jia, you're 28, not 8. Are you still messing around? Do you have any brains?"

"Do you want to drive your mother to death?"

"Oh." I turned and went upstairs, locking the door behind me.

2

I lay in bed, recalling that my menstrual cycle was indeed three weeks overdue. Recently, I had also been feeling a bit off my food. My menstrual cycle has always been irregular, making it difficult to keep track, a result of staying up late frequently. I had assumed this was just another one of those times.

Never did I imagine that I was pregnant.

And the father of the child? It wasn't anyone else.

It was my ex-boyfriend from six years ago.

Two months ago, I attended a classmate reunion, and he arrived late, drunk. I was the one who escorted him home. When I got to his house, I practically carried him inside. When I left, I stumbled my way out. The taxi driver must have thought something was wrong with me, glancing at me in the rearview mirror the whole way, afraid to speak.

...

After several days of pondering at home, I decided to go to Gu Xiao's hospital. I queued, paid, underwent the necessary tests, and finally took the report to his department.

"Morning consultations are over, come back in the afternoon," he said without even looking up, dismissing me with a single sentence.

Perhaps sensing that I hadn't left, he suddenly raised his head and saw me. His gaze trembled, his pupils narrowing slightly.

He looked completely surprised, as if we had just met after a long separation.

Such a good actor, how could he mistake me for someone else at the classmate reunion?

"Chen Jia?" he began to say.

Before he could finish, I placed the report neatly in front of him.

"I'm pregnant, and the father is you," I said bluntly.

He glanced down at the report, his expression solemn. I sensed a hint of fear in him.

"What child takes six years to conceive?" he asked, tapping the report with his long fingers. "Have you lost your memory? We broke up six years ago."

His words left me speechless, my face flushed.

"You don't want to acknowledge it?" I asked him through gritted teeth.

He looked up at me, his expression unreadable.

"Chen Jia, regret should have its own appearance. How... do you think I'll be a scapegoat?"

He didn't look at the report again, burying his head in his work, ignoring me.

"Take you..." I almost let slip a curse.

I never expected that instead of acknowledging it, he would accuse me of regretting it?

As for him, that scum of a man, I, Chen Jia, would never regret it in my lifetime.

Even if... I regretted it, I would never let him see it!

I took a few seconds to calm myself down and figure out what to say.

"Don't you think the baby's eyes look exactly like yours?"

He still managed to glance at the report while buried in his work, finally sighing.

Right?

Has he finally admitted it?

"A 10-week ultrasound, and you're asking me where the baby's eyes are?"

Instantly, I realized my mistake.

It's no use trying to wake someone who doesn't want to be a father.

"Fine, then I'll find someone else to be the father," I said, turning and walking out of his door.

3

Gu Xiao was a senior who graduated a year before me, the cream of the crop in the medical school. He was notoriously difficult to pursue. I chased after him for four years, and finally succeeded in winning him over a few months before graduation.

They all said that Gu Xiao was with me only because I cried, made a fuss, and even threatened to hang myself, driving him to his wits' end.

"Otherwise, how could such a high-and-mighty talent from A University ever look at Chen Jia, that fat and ugly girl from the History Department?"

"Just look at her belly, when she's full, it looks like she's five months pregnant."

They didn't know that to pursue Gu Xiao, I had lost 30 pounds, my weight dropping from 120 to 90. I uninstalled all my food delivery apps, ate apples for breakfast, and cucumbers for dinner. After eating like that for several months, I even found myself craving the long-legged mosquitoes in my mosquito net. As a result, I lost weight, but my menstrual cycle became severely irregular, and my sleep was also severely disrupted. All this, just to get Gu Xiao to look at me a little more.

One day, while running on the track, I followed him, and he turned back to look at me. He stared for a long time, and my entire face turned crimson with embarrassment. He likes me, I thought for sure. Nervously, I walked up to him, preparing my opening line.

"Are you Chen Jia's younger sister?" His words were like a bucket of cold water, soaking me from head to toe.

I was both angry and amused. "Um... kind of."

After a moment of silence, he handed me a bottle of water. "Then go tell her to stop clinging to me."

I took the water from him, it was the first time I had been so close to him. His eyelashes were so long, his nose so straight, and his speech so gentle. But his words were so cold.

"Okay," I swallowed my grievances.

After that, we often encountered each other on the track. After the tenth encounter, he asked for my WeChat. For the first time, I felt that the 30 pounds I had lost were worth it! Because from childhood to adulthood, no one had ever asked me for my WeChat, except for those handing out flyers on the street.

I invited him to watch a movie, and he didn't refuse. When I suggested we start dating, he didn't refuse. Even when I finally broke up with him, he didn't refuse. It was me who cried in my dorm room for a whole day and night.

My roommate asked, "Is a breakup so upsetting?"

Through my tears, I said, "It's okay."

"It's like bidding farewell to an old friend, one has to cry a little."

4

He is like a stagnant pool at the bottom of a lake, so calm that it terrifies me. I heard that later, his friends never dared to mention my name in front of him. Whenever they did, he would immediately turn sour. I understand this feeling. For him, a big yacht who has capsized in my small canal, feeling upset and angry is inevitable. But to say that he hates me, I don't think I deserve that.

After graduation, I returned to work in the downtown area of my hometown. With a monthly salary of 4,500, my mother arranged ten blind dates for me each year. After countless encounters, I had become numb. So, when the matchmaker introduced me to someone and we got to know each other for less than a month, we decided to get married.

He is a primary school teacher in the town, 30 years old, with a stable job. His parents live in the countryside, and he has a younger brother in high school.

"It's not easy to find someone with such conditions. Think about how much money his younger brother will need for high school and university."

"You're 28 now. If you don't get married soon, you'll only have second-marriage options left."

"Nowadays, second-marriage men with children might find it difficult to accept your family situation, especially with your younger sister."

My mother spoke humbly and nodded constantly as she sat at the table.

"You should ask clearly if they don't mind our family situation, right?"

"Tell them not to worry. Jia Jia's sister won't be a burden to them. We're still young and can work..."

Every time I see my mother like this, I feel annoyed. It feels like I'm being treated like a commodity with a set price, and the cheapest kind.

My mother politely sent the matchmaker away and gave her a big red envelope on her way out. Everything was ready. But then that incident happened, and my mother didn't speak to me for days. Despite her anger, a few days later, she came to visit me in the city with a carton of eggs. The carton was wrapped in her coat, and there was rice inside. Her hair was almost falling apart, but the eggs were intact.

"Have you gone to the hospital for a check-up?" My mother carefully placed the eggs in the fridge and turned to ask me.

"Check-up for what?" I played with my phone and replied, "There's nothing to check."

"To see how the baby is growing! You, why are you so unconcerned?" My mother said as she tried to pull me out.

"What's the point of looking?" I pushed her away.

"Are you really not going to keep it?" My mother looked at me worriedly.

The atmosphere was awkward. I fell silent. It's not that I don't want it; it's that he doesn't.

"You're not young anymore. If you don't keep it this time, what if it's harder to have one in the future?"

"You've been on so many blind dates. Why don't you bring that boy over? Let me and Dad have a look. If he's decent, you can just get married."

Get married? She's really thinking big and beautiful.

"Don't worry about it. I'll go to the hospital for the procedure in a few days." I sent my mother away.

When my mother heard my determination, she tried to persuade me again.

"Don't be impulsive. It's a life." My mother struggled as I closed the door.

"Did you give birth to Chen Yu like this?" I blurted out.

My mother fell silent. Her eyes showed hurt.

Chen Yu is my younger sister. She's also my mother's Achilles' heel. Because she has epilepsy and is 10 years old but still cannot speak.

After sending her away, I felt a heaviness in my chest. Every time I say those things, I feel like it's revenge, but I quickly feel regret. I picked up my phone, booked an appointment, and went to the hospital.

On my way there, I seriously considered my mother's words, "Maybe you should just get married."

I pondered, if I were to marry Gu Xiao, would I be willing?

How could I not be willing? It was once my dream.

As I passed by the emergency department on the first floor, I caught sight of Gu Xiao at once.

A group of nurses and doctors surrounded a newly arrived patient, performing emergency resuscitation.

He wore a white coat and had just inserted a tracheal tube into the patient. The side profile of his face made my breathing become erratic.

So, I thought, even if it happened again, I wouldn't have been able to push him away that night at the classmate reunion.

The moment I saw him, he also saw me.

He only glanced at me for a second and then turned back to continue the resuscitation.

He was so busy.

I didn't dare to approach and disturb him, so I sat on a chair outside to wait for him.

I made a decision. Even if he rejected me again, I would have to ask him clearly.

Why did he act so passionately towards me that night at the classmate reunion, but then didn't acknowledge it afterwards?

Even if he didn't acknowledge it, he should have accompanied me for the surgery.

I was at a loss.

During the dozen minutes of waiting for him, I imagined countless possibilities.

I prepared an escape route for each scenario.

But everything vanished into thin air when I clicked on my QQ space and saw his post.

"Gu Xiao: Six jin and six liang, mother and child are safe."

My heart jolted, as if all my strength had been drained.

He's married and has a child, born today.

That's why he didn't acknowledge that night.

That's why he didn't want the baby.

5

I find myself in a state of mockery.

That evening, he was drunk, with red-rimmed eyes, asking me, "Are you Chen Jia?" I hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes." However, he looked at me with a defeated expression and said, "You're not her."

"So, what do you want with her?" I asked him with a smile.

"To settle a debt," he replied.

A debt?

My smile froze.

"What kind of debt?"

"A love debt," he said, looking helpless and cold. "No one has ever played me like that."

Upon hearing those words, I lost my composure. The next moment, he kissed me, and I didn't push him away. Later, when things got out of control, it was partly due to my own indulgence. Amidst the ambiguity, I foolishly thought that perhaps he still loved me in that moment.

I don't recall how I ended up at the obstetrics and gynecology department. The entire process was a blur. All I remember is hearing the doctor say that my HCG levels were low, my uterine wall was thin, and the risk of miscarriage was high. The doctor wanted to give me shots to help retain the pregnancy, but I refused. I thought of Gu Xiao's post on social media and decided there was no point in trying to save the pregnancy.

I got back in the car and headed home, feeling defeated. Suddenly, my phone rang, and it was an unknown number. "Where are you?" It was Gu Xiao. Even though it had been six years since we last spoke, I recognized his voice immediately — arrogant and aloof.

"In the car," I said, adjusting my breathing and calming my emotions.

"Why did you call me earlier? What's the matter?" he asked, still sounding arrogant.

I hesitated for a moment and replied, "It's nothing now."

He fell silent for a while before saying, "Haven't you given up yet? There's no chance for us."

"Alright, I'll hang up now," I said, ready to end the conversation.

But he wasn't ready to let it go.

"I heard from your doctor that your condition isn't good. You should come back and get those shots to retain the pregnancy. I'll talk to the doctor. Since we've known each other, I can only help you to this extent," he said.

I hung up the phone with a bang. What a scumbag! Who needs his help?

He sent me a text message, furious, asking, "Chen Jia, how could you be so rude now?"

I felt outraged and replied, "What do you mean by rudeness? Instead of educating me here, you should go home and change your baby's diaper a few more times."

He sent a question mark in response.

I didn't bother to reply.

Does he still think I'm the same Chen Jia he could manipulate back then? Back then, I would carefully ponder over every post he made on social media. When chatting with him, I never dared to let his replies end the conversation. I would try my best to find topics to talk about, but his replies were always curt: "I'm going to sleep," "I'm going to take a shower," "I'll talk to you later," and so on.

When I got home, I lay on the bed and took out our photos. I cut them all up and flushed his face down the toilet. Scumbag, go to hell! But despite my efforts, tears still streamed down my face uncontrollably.

6

The next day, I returned to work at the company.

The company transferred me to the marketing department.

"The marketing department involves running around to different stores, it's tiring, but if you do well, your salary can reach over ten thousand," the head of the marketing department promised me with a pie in the sky.

The truth was that a colleague in the marketing department had gone on maternity leave, and they were short-staffed.

From their perspective, someone like me, an older unmarried woman without even a boyfriend, was the perfect candidate for this job.

Otherwise, selecting anyone else could potentially be a minefield.

"Is there any allowance?" I asked.

In the world of adults, I didn't believe in empty promises; I only cared about the bottom line.

"There's a daily transportation and living allowance of 80 yuan, and if you do well, we'll even cover your phone bill," he said.

"Alright," I agreed.

Eighty yuan a day meant 2,400 yuan a month.

Sending that extra 2,400 yuan back to my mother might slow down the growth of her gray hair.

So, I went from being an ordinary office worker to a lowly mis-sales manager, scurrying between supermarkets every day, punching in, checking inventory, and tallying mis-sales.

By the time I got home every day, I was so exhausted that I didn't even want to talk.

While using the toilet, I noticed a trace of blood.

I remembered the doctor's words and sighed inwardly.

The baby was probably gone.

But I was more upset than I had imagined, and I couldn't sleep the entire night.

After another weekend passed, I went to the hospital to register for a check-up.

This time, it was a female doctor named Liu Qian, who was quite pretty.

"You know Shun Xiao, huh? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Dr. Liu's sudden enthusiasm made me feel a bit uneasy.

"Kind of."

"Did he have a girlfriend in college? What type was she?"

I was taken aback.

Her questions seemed to go beyond the doctor-patient relationship.

I seemed to understand that she had a crush on Gu Xiao.

But Gu Xiao already had a child, didn't she know?

Could it be that Gu Xiao hadn't told his colleagues and pretended to be single?

Such a scumbag.

"His girlfriend in college was very ordinary," I answered truthfully.

"Do you have a photo? I want to see it," she persisted.

I looked her straight in the eye and let her gaze at me for a few seconds.

Why look at a photo? The person is right in front of you.

She seemed to have forgotten that I was there for a check-up.

I got angry just thinking about Gu Xiao already having a family but still claiming to be single at the class reunion and now putting on a single facade in the hospital.

"Didn't he get married?" I gently reminded her.

"Married?" She was obviously shocked. "I didn't hear anything about that."

This...

"Why do you say that?" Her expression became a bit unnatural.

She seemed to think I was lying, and it gave me a headache.

"Could it be that his account was hacked?" I had to show her the post.

She looked at the post and was shocked to the point of losing her composure.

"Dr. Gu has a child?"

Just as she finished speaking...

"Come out here for a moment," a cold voice rang out behind me.

I was startled.

Gu Xiao?!

Oh no, he's definitely going to be angry with me for exposing his secret.

"Gu Xiao, why are you here..." Dr. Liu stood up excitedly.

I turned around and saw him in a white coat, looking handsome as ever, but his face was extremely dark.

"Hurry up, I don't have time..." He seemed angry.

I thought for a moment and realized there was no need to be afraid of him. It was his fault, not mine.

So, I reluctantly followed him out.

He led me to his office and locked the door behind us.

I held onto my arm, feeling a bit nervous.

"Why did you lock the door? We're just talking," I said, eyeing the locked door and feeling a bit uneasy.

"I don't want to be interrupted," he said tersely, sitting down in his office chair.

Hmph! He still has a big ego, just like six years ago.

"Alright, then you speak," I said.

In this enclosed room, I actually felt a bit scared to look at him.

"You're telling everyone I have a child?" He looked at me with narrowed eyes.

It made me sweat.

"I didn't tell everyone... I just stated the truth. Brother Gu, Dr. Liu is a nice person, you shouldn't lie to her," I said.

He didn't respond, his gaze sweeping over my stomach.

Why is he looking at my stomach?

I quickly pulled down my clothes.

"Hmph..." He let out a cold laugh. "So you're really clinging onto me? How come, your blind date didn't satisfy you?"

Me: ?

When did I cling onto him? The child I'm talking about isn't this one. Does he have a brain disorder?

"Don't flatter yourself," I said, exasperated.

"Chen Jia, I know you too well. Your current demeanor, is it any different from when you chased after me back then?" He looked at me mockingly.

I admit, his words stung me.

"And so?"

"Impossible. Your little tricks might have fooled me back then, but do you think after six years, I'll still fall for them?" He snorted.

"I heard you're about to get married, so don't cling onto me anymore. Do you want me to give you a wedding gift?"

Get married? He thinks I'm looking for a wedding gift from him?

He really stung me.

"Do you really think you're still as handsome as you were back then? You're old now, with wrinkles. Do you think a used-up man like you would interest me?" I said in one breath.

His smile froze, and his expression darkened even more.

"Chen Jia, taunting won't work on me," he said, standing up and calmly removing his white coat.

"We broke up, and even if we hadn't, I wouldn't let you run wild. You can't just do whatever you want," he said.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

I smiled.

When did he ever pamper me? What a fake!

"Gu Xiao, you're something," I said, smiling as I walked to the door. Just before reaching it, I remembered something and turned back. "And just so you know, your 'seed' is gone," I said, pointing at my stomach.

7

He stood there frozen, as if struck by a heavy blow. Seeing his discomfort filled me with a strange sense of satisfaction. After shutting the door, I returned to the obstetrics and gynecology department, where I received a shocking revelation.

The baby had survived. Not only that, but it was thriving. "It's completely normal. Sometimes, HCG levels start low and gradually rise. The little one is doing well. I'll set up a record for you," said the doctor.

I was stunned. "I bled when I used the toilet that day," I asked Dr. Liu, trembling. "A bit of bleeding is nothing to worry about," she assured me kindly. "This child has a special connection with you. Don't be too upset. As a friend of Dr. Gu, I'll be honest with you. Infertility is a common issue nowadays, and conceiving a child is particularly challenging. Moreover, your uterine wall is thin, making pregnancy even more difficult in your case."

"Oh, and you mentioned that Dr. Gu has a child? You must have misunderstood. It seems like it's his cousin who had the baby, not him. He doesn't even have a girlfriend yet. You scared me for a moment," she added.

"What? His cousin?" I exclaimed in surprise. Why would he post something about his cousin giving birth? Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had made a huge mistake. That explained why he was so angry earlier.

However, despite the misunderstanding, the fact remained that he didn't like me and didn't want this child. After a moment of calm reflection, I sighed and said, "There's no other way. The father doesn't want it."

Just as I finished speaking, Gu Xiao appeared before me again. "Could you come out for a moment?" he said.

I felt a chill run down my spine. Why was it him again? And why did he always say the same thing? Dr. Liu looked at us with a puzzled expression, obviously feeling somewhat annoyed.

With a headache, I followed him out. "What is it now, Dr. Gu?" I asked, feeling frazzled and unwilling to engage in any more arguments due to my concerns about the baby. "Couldn't you just leave me alone for a while?"

"That night... you said something happened between you and me?" he asked, staring intently at me. "Which night?" I pretended to be ignorant. "The night of the academic conference," he growled. "Don't you remember what happened? Don't you know what you did?"

I was annoyed. He had called my name countless times that night, and now he was pretending to have forgotten? After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Is the child mine?"

"Who else could it be?" I retorted. "Don't accuse me of playing games with you," I smiled. "There was no one else but you during those days." In fact, there had never been anyone else, but I was afraid that admitting that would make it seem like I still had feelings for him.

"So, what do you want to do?" he sighed.

"What do you mean, 'what do I want to do'?" I asked impatiently. I didn't want to argue with him any further, so I simply stated my demands. "Get a marriage certificate with me. The child needs a birth permit. And give me 3000 yuan every month. I can't raise a child on my own."

He stared at me silently, making me feel uncomfortable. As he didn't speak for a long time, I became increasingly nervous.

"If you think 3000 is too much, 2500 is fine," I tentatively asked him.

"Chen Jia..." he said in a startlingly low voice, "marriage is not a game."

I fell silent.

Does he still not want to marry me?

After a tense few seconds, I felt a bit awkward and bit my lip, turning to leave.

"Clear your schedule for the weekend," he called out to me, as if he had made a difficult decision.

"Why?"

"I'm going to your house."

I was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and pretended to be indifferent, replying with a casual, "Oh."

Back in the department, I established a medical card. Dr. Liu was still very warm towards me and even tried to pry into my relationship with Gu Xiao.

I carefully observed her.

With an oval face, fair skin, and delicate hands that suggested a privileged upbringing, she had a cheerful personality.

If I were a man, I would like her too.

Such a girl pursuing Gu Xiao made me feel uneasy, but I seemed to have no qualifications to feel that way.

Does Gu Xiao's intention to visit my house on the weekend mean he wants to marry me?

After the consultation ended, I took the newly established medical card and passed by the emergency department without seeing Gu Xiao.

Disheartened, I headed for the bus, but then his text message arrived.

"Did you leave already?"

"Yes."

"I'll call you tonight."

"As you wish."

Sitting on the bus, I stared at the text message. Despite having seemingly reached a major milestone in my life, I couldn't help but feel unhappy.

Later that night, he kept his promise and called me.

But he was so boring and cold.

Our conversations revolved around questions like, "Did you vomit today?" "How many times?" "What did you eat?" without any concern for how I felt.

I mechanically answered his questions, sometimes a bit superficially. But he got upset, asking, "Chen Jia, are you always so cavalier?"

"Well, Dr. Gu, are you always like a cold machine when you're not in bed?"

The conversation died down quickly, and I hung up the phone.

Should I always have to warm up to his cold shoulder?

8

On the weekend, a black Mercedes was parked in my yard.

At the dinner table, there were suddenly three strangers - Gu Xiao, his father, and his mother. The atmosphere was as awkward as it could be.

"How long have you been pregnant? This child didn't even tell us," Gu Xiao's mother spoke up.

She was dressed in a suit and skirt, and her high heels had accidentally stepped into the gutter of my house when she got out of the car. She struggled for a long time to pull them out.

"12 weeks," Gu Xiao said.

I was a bit surprised, not knowing how he knew.

Later, I realized he was a doctor and he would know how to calculate it.

"12 weeks already, we need to hurry up and get things done. Soon your belly will start to show. What do you think, in-laws?" Gu Xiao's mother asked my mother for her opinion.

"Yes," my mother replied eagerly.

Gu Xiao didn't say anything, but when I reached for the chili peppers, he gave me a stern look and said, "Don't eat too much spicy food."

"Have some steamed egg, it's nutritious," Gu Xiao's mother said, scooping up a spoonful of steamed egg for me.

However, as I stared at the yellow steamed egg, my stomach churned, and I quickly stood up and ran to the bathroom to vomit.

After vomiting, I felt completely drained.

"Are you feeling this bad?" My mother looked at me with concern.

"Strong reactions mean the baby is healthy," Gu Xiao's mother said with a smile, seemingly satisfied with my reaction.

"So, how about you two finding a time to get married first? Of course, we'll have a wedding too. Gu Xiao is our only child, so when Jia Jia comes over, it'll be like having another child in the family. We'll definitely..."

Before Gu Xiao's mother could finish her sentence, my dad suddenly came back, followed by my younger sister.

"Dr. Gu..." My dad first recognized Gu Xiao's father.

That single greeting made me break out in a cold sweat.

Yes, Gu Xiao's father was a renowned neurologist and the attending doctor for my younger sister.

Before my dad came back, my mom hadn't mentioned it, and I thought she had forgotten.

But as soon as my dad came back, he recognized him immediately.

Gu Xiao's father was also taken aback.

Probably because he had seen so many patients, he had forgotten about my sister until my dad mentioned it.

"Do you know each other?" Gu Xiao's mother asked.

Gu Xiao's father pursed his lips and didn't speak.

He looked at my sister, then at my dad, and finally at me, before finally withdrawing his gaze.

"Just a patient," he sighed, as if he wanted to say more but didn't.

Gu Xiao stared at me with a puzzled expression.

Gu Xiao's mother also fell silent.

"Sister," Chen Yu said with her pronunciation not quite accurate. She smiled and ran up to me, spreading out her hand as if she wanted to give me something precious.

When I saw the water leech in the palm of her hand, I felt a chill down my spine.

"Be good and don't play with this," I said, trying to keep my emotions under control and praying that she would understand me this time.

"Sister," she couldn't read the expression on my face and continued to hold out the water leech to me.

"Just be a little bit obedient..." I begged her.

"Water leeches suck human blood! Take it away from her quickly!" Gu Xiao's mother stood up to help, but my sister, startled, screamed and hid under the table, looking at the strangers in fear.

My sister's behavior abruptly exposed our deepest shame.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," my mother apologized awkwardly, standing frozen in place. "My youngest daughter... there's something wrong with her mind."

"But she's just shy, she'll be fine in a moment," my mother said as she crawled under the table, struggling with all her might to coax my sister out.

When that didn't work, my dad had to join in, and together they managed to pull Chen Yu out and carry her to her room.

The whole process was both comical and heartbreaking.

Seeing the overly expressive look on Mrs. Gu's face, my heart sank.

I had imagined that if his parents knew my sister was epileptic, we could sit down together and discuss it openly.

If they didn't accept it, I wouldn't blame them.

After all, it's a realistic issue.

But I underestimated my sister's ability to make a scene that was enough to scare anyone.

After my mother locked my sister in her room, they all sat back down.

For a moment, everyone sat silently, no one speaking.

"How is the child? Has she had many seizures recently?" Mr. Gu couldn't help but speak up first, "I'll go check on her."

"Okay," my dad stood up somewhat embarrassed, "Thank you, Doctor Gu."

My dad's use of the title "Doctor Gu" stung me.

Even though the two families were discussing their marriage, he still called him "Doctor Gu".

My dad and Mr. Gu went to check on my sister in her room, and I sat there silently.

"About the marriage, we have no objections, whatever is fine," my mother spoke up, her head drooping.

"My youngest daughter has epilepsy, it's congenital, we've been treating it for years but it's incurable."

"But don't worry, as long as her dad and I are alive, we won't be a burden to you."

Mrs. Gu's face changed expressions repeatedly before she finally spoke.

"Ms. Chen, you said you're only 12 weeks pregnant, right?"

"Yes."

"You look quite thin, and I heard from Gu Xiao that your previous medical exams weren't too good. Giving birth is a big matter, and at 12 weeks, it's still uncertain whether the pregnancy is stable."

Her tone changed so abruptly that my expression darkened.

"The wedding isn't urgent, with the pandemic, everything should be simplified. We can get the marriage certificate later when the pandemic is over, there's no rush..."

Of course, I understood what she meant, and I lowered my head, not saying a word.

Actually, Mrs. Gu had spared us enough face.

Other mothers would have said something like, "Your family has a fool, who would dare to marry you! Whoever marries you will be burdened with this idiot for the rest of their lives."

"Alright, Mom, stop saying that," Gu Xiao finally interrupted his mother.

Her face stiffened, and she fell silent.

9

Chen Jia, can I have a look at your room?" Gu Xiao suddenly asked.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The earlier situation had been truly suffocating.

My home was a rural self-built house with two floors. I led him upstairs.

He followed silently behind me, not uttering a word.

The more silent he was, the more uncertain I felt.

Once we were in my room, he played with my childhood toys, exuding a low-key atmosphere. "Is there something you want to say to me?" he asked.

"Say what?" I asked nervously, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Anything, just say what you want," he said, his emotions unreadable.

I couldn't fathom his intentions, and the feeling of waiting to be judged was unpleasant.

"You saw everything, what else do you want me to say?" I mumbled under my breath.

He suddenly turned to face me, looking down at me with a serious expression. "I want to hear it from you."

He paused for a moment. "Tell me why you knew my father all those years ago and pretended not to. Tell me why you chose me. Tell me why you chose to have this child."

His words left me stunned, unable to utter a single word.

My mind flashed back to six years ago when I broke up with him.

At that time, my sister had another episode at home. My dad spent several days in the hospital trying to get an appointment with an expert. My mom and I struggled to get her to the hospital.

"Her condition is quite severe, and it's difficult to cure completely. We can only control it with medication," the expert said.

"But based on what you've said about the frequency of her episodes, you, as her parents, need to keep a close eye on her at all times," he added, noting my horrified expression beside my sister.

"Are you her sister?" he asked.

I didn't respond.

"Yes," he said, not saying anything more.

Later, when I went to pay the fees and brought the receipt to the department, I encountered his assistant doctor talking to him.

"Oh, her sister is also going through a tough time. After her parents are gone, it'll be up to her to take care of her sister. No one will dare to marry into such a situation," the assistant said.

"Don't discuss others' affairs," the expert sighed, cutting him off.

That expert was none other than Gu Xiao's father, Gu Mingsheng.

I had heard Gu Xiao mention before that his father worked in the neurology department of this hospital, and the name matched.

On my way home that day, I thought long and hard before sending a message to Gu Xiao.

"Let's break up."

"What are you fussing about now?" he replied.

"I'm not fussing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He didn't reply, effectively agreeing to it.

We both had the tacit understanding of never contacting each other again.

Being young and insecure, with a tinge of pride, I had proposed the breakup.

Little did I know that six years later, fate would arrange for us to go through this mess again.

When Gu Xiao confronted me, I didn't respond, just playing with my phone.

Perhaps tired of waiting for my answer, he turned away in disappointment and left the room.

As the sound of the car starting downstairs echoed, my phone screen went blank.

There was water on the screen, making it unresponsive. In a fit of anger, I threw the phone aside.

10

The wedding was a dismal failure, and the atmosphere at home reached its iciest point.

"They had something to attend to and went back early," my dad came to my room to relay the message.

He was trying to comfort me.

I knew.

Anyone with eyes could see what had happened.

"Xiao Gu wants to go get the marriage certificate tomorrow," my dad added.

"Oh," I said, feeling a bit surprised. I had expected him to leave directly and not even consider marrying me.

"As for the wedding... his mother doesn't want one," my dad continued.

"Alright."

"His mother has bought an apartment near Xiao Gu's hospital. You can live there after getting married, but it's a bit far from your workplace, isn't it?" my dad asked.

"Yeah, a bit," I replied. My workplace was in the north of the city, while the hospital was in the south. It would take nearly two hours by subway and bus.

He walked over and sat beside me.

"Have you made up your mind?" my dad looked at me.

"About what?"

My dad sighed and hesitated to speak. "You're grown up now, and we can't control you anymore."

"Don't you want me to get married? You and Mom always wanted me to get married, didn't you?" I asked him, trying to sound casual.

"We wanted you to get married because we wanted someone to take care of you," my dad said, sounding a bit angry.

I had nothing to say in response and muttered, "I don't need anyone to take care of me."

My dad didn't say anything else and sighed as he went downstairs.

When he saw me off at the bus station, he stuffed a package into my hands.

"We have money at home. You should keep what you earn for yourself. Buy whatever you want to eat or need. Don't send money home," he said.

"My life is set this way, but yours is still long ahead."

After saying that, he turned and walked away without giving me any chance to speak.

Sitting on the bus, I opened the package and found a bag of fresh peanuts and a plastic bag filled with money.

Holding the money in my hand, I felt an indescribable heaviness in my heart.

The next day, at nine o'clock sharp, I arrived at the civil affairs bureau. Gu Xiao was already there.

Getting the marriage certificate took less than ten minutes. Afterward, he said he was very busy and had to go to work in the afternoon.

"I only took the morning off," he said, handing me the keys. "I haven't even lived in that apartment yet. I usually stay in the dormitory."

"Take a look at the apartment first and make a list of what you need to buy. Send it to me," he continued.

"The emergency room is very busy. You don't have to wait for me. I might not even come back once a week."

Listening to him, I felt like we were just going through the motions of a transaction, devoid of any human touch.

I understood his implications clearly.

Getting married was forced upon him, and he didn't want to see me.

"Funny, I only took two hours off too. Could you please stop at the next intersection?" I smiled and pointed to the upcoming crossroads.

He obviously didn't expect this from me, and his expression darkened.

"I'm not going to work until the afternoon. If you leave now, where am I supposed to go?" he asked.

Why should I care where you go?

Didn't he say he didn't want to see me?

Just now, when we were saying our wedding vows, it felt even more awkward than if he were being interrogated. Did he think I wanted to see him?

"There's a park up ahead. A lot of old men play chess there. If you really don't have anywhere to go, you can go there to relax," I said, smiling at him before opening the car door and walking away without looking back.

Once I was out of sight of his car, I took a bus.

On the bus, I received a text message from him. It consisted of only three words.

"You're really something."

I didn't bother to reply.

To be honest, his workplace was too far from my office, and I regretted it a little.

If I had known, I would have asked him to drop me off at my company.

Ever since I got pregnant, the mingled scents of many people on the bus made me feel nauseous and want to vomit.

Why was I getting angry at the bus? Now I was suffering...

11

After a long day of work, I took the subway for two hours to get to his house.

The neighborhood was upscale, and the house was spacious. It was a duplex with a rooftop terrace.

The decoration was quite simple, as he had mentioned. No one had been living here, and the rooftop garden was just soil with no plants or even weeds.

There were five rooms in total, much larger than my one-bedroom apartment.

I sent him a text message asking, "Which room should I stay in?"

He didn't reply.

So be it.

I chose a small bedroom on the second floor.

Since no one had been living here for a long time, I had to clean up for an hour, and I was exhausted to the point of not being able to straighten my back.

I didn't want to cook, so I ordered takeout and ate it hurriedly.

I waited for him that night, but he didn't come back until 12 o'clock. I didn't ask, and I just went to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up, got dressed, and left in a hurry.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

When I was changing my shoes at the door, I noticed that the men's slippers hadn't been moved at all.

A slight emotion welled up in me.

Then the second day, the third day...

For a whole week, those shoes didn't move.

When I came back at night, I changed my shoes and sat at the door, lost in thought.

Finally, I bent down and put the men's slippers away in the shoe cabinet.

Why wait for someone who doesn't want to come back?

Because of the long subway rides, I didn't have the energy to buy and cook my own food. I ate takeout for several days, and the little one inside me started to get upset.

Just the sight of takeout made me want to vomit.

So I bought some frozen dumplings from downstairs and cooked them myself.

When my mom called me on video, I was boiling the dumplings.

"Is that all you're eating?" My mom was worried.

"It's quite delicious," I said.

Simple and convenient, frozen dumplings were really the first choice for office workers for dinner.

"Delicious? You're not alone now. How can this provide enough nutrition for the baby?"

"He's only 14 weeks old, just a little fish. What nutrition does he need?" I said impatiently.

"Where's Gu Xiao? Hasn't he come back yet?" My mom asked.

The atmosphere suddenly became silent, and I casually said, "He's busy."

Truthfully, I was a little sad at the beginning when he didn't come back.

But after getting used to it, I found it easier and more comfortable to be alone.

"He doesn't even come back. What kind of marriage did you get into?" My mom sighed on the other side of the video.

"Doctors are like that," I explained. "I'm fine by myself. Don't worry about me."

"How are Dad and Chen Yu?" I changed the subject.

I always mentioned my sister's name in front of my mom.

Yes, I didn't agree with her having a second child initially, so I refused to call her my sister. Later, I got used to calling her Chen Yu and didn't feel like changing it anymore.

"Your dad..." My mom shook her head. "He hasn't been able to sleep well these days because of your marriage."

My mom started crying as she spoke.

My heart suddenly sank.

"Why are you saying these things to the child!" My dad scolded my mom on the side.

"I'm just worried. Both of my children... why are their lives so difficult?" My mom cried on the other side of the video while being scolded by my dad.

Listening to the noise on the other side of the video, I didn't say anything and just kept quiet.

After an indeterminate amount of time, my father took the phone.

"Jiajia," he called my name.

"Does Gu Xiao's mother not come to visit you there?" my father asked me in a soft voice.

"They have their own home. Why would they come here?" I replied.

"I see..." My father pondered for a moment. "Can you handle it alone?"

"Why not? You forget that I'm a top-notch chef when it comes to cooking," I said with a smile. "It's just that I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently and can't eat much, so I've been eating frozen dumplings. But once I feel better, I'll cook up some delicious meals for myself."

"Don't worry about us," I assured them.

"Alright," my father said, but his face still showed concern.

"This house is quite big, and it feels empty with just me living here. You can come to the city for a visit when you have time," I suggested.

"That's not appropriate," my father discouraged me. "Just take care of yourself and let us know if you need anything."

"Alright," I replied.

Later, we chatted about my work.

Although he didn't quite understand it, he listened intently.

After each of my explanations, he couldn't help but offer me some advice.

"Jiajia, suffering is a blessing. Take your time, and I believe you can achieve your goals. I trust you," my father said.

"Girls should also strive and work hard. The result is not important; it's always worth a try. You used to say you weren't suited for the marketing department, but I think you're doing a great job," he added.

Every time I saw him analyzing things so seriously, I found it amusing.

He was just a construction worker who dealt with cement and sand every day and didn't really understand my work.

But he thought deeply and sincerely wanted to help me.

So, I pretended to listen to his analysis seriously.

12

On Wednesday, I went to the hospital for my NT scan for the baby. Doctor Liu was as warm and welcoming as ever.

"Why are you always here alone for your appointments? Where's your husband?" she asked, watching me pay the fees, queue up, and run up and down.

"He's busy," I replied with a smile, trying to hide the awkwardness.

"Busy enough to miss all your prenatal appointments?" Doctor Liu held up the NT report and examined it carefully.

I fell silent. The truth was, Gu Xiao wasn't completely absent. He was always at the hospital, just not with me for my appointments. He didn't even want to see me, let alone accompany me for my prenatal checkups. If he could choose, he would probably prefer not to have run into me at the classmate reunion.

"The baby is fine," Doctor Liu said, pointing to the report. "It looks a bit chubby and cute."

I looked at the tiny human shape on the ultrasound image and felt a strange sensation in my heart. Life was truly amazing, so small and yet so perfect. Even though it was just a tiny bundle, I could already see the outlines of its arms and legs. Its round head took up two-thirds of its entire body.

"You can come back for the Down's syndrome screening next week. Don't forget," Doctor Liu reminded me.

"Thank you, Doctor Liu," I said sincerely.

"You're welcome. Doctor Shun is very concerned about you. He always asks me about you when we meet," she said with a smile. "He remembers more about you than you do yourself."

"Hi..." I hesitated.

"It's obvious that you were once very good friends," she continued. "Dr. Gu is usually very reserved, but I've never seen him so concerned about anyone else. Even when his sister gave birth in our hospital, he didn't seem as worried. He only learned about it the next day."

"Oh," I said, lost in thought. "I'll thank him when I see him."

"Sure!" Doctor Liu took my arm and led me out. "Why not now? I'm just getting off work. Let's go find him together."

"Ah, no need. I can do it another day..." I didn't want to see him. It would be too awkward.

"Come on, I'm actually just using this as an excuse to talk to him," Doctor Liu said with a blush. "There's a team-building event tonight at the hospital. I'm going to see if he's going. If he's not, then I'm not going too."

Team-building? It seemed that their lives weren't as busy as I had imagined. He wasn't busy; he just didn't want to see me. I was curious to see what made the hospital so comfortable that he preferred to stay in his department rather than come home.

So, I followed Doctor Liu to Gu Xiao's department. It was noon, and most of the nurses had gone to lunch. A few doctors were sitting in the office, eating their boxed lunches and chatting. Despite their white coats, I immediately spotted him among them.

He was sitting on the sofa, apparently finished with his meal. However, there was still quite a bit left in his lunch box, indicating that the hospital food wasn't very appetizing. His phone was lying next to him as he leaned back, eyes closed, seemingly resting.

After a week's absence, a few stubble had appeared on his chin. It was only when he was closed-eyed that I dared to look at him so freely.

Results hadn't even been in my sight for two seconds, and suddenly he opened his eyes, startling me. I couldn't dodge in time and felt incredibly embarrassed.

"Why aren't you guys going to the canteen and just eating takeout?" Liu Qian walked over to greet them.

"We're tired of the canteen food."

"We're tired of takeout too."

"Life is hopeless," they complained, their enthusiasm for anything waning.

"Takeout can't compare to the nutrition in the canteen," Liu Qian joked with them, smiling. "If you're tired of it, find a girlfriend to cook for you."

"Can we find a girlfriend with this job?"

"We spend 20 out of 24 hours in the hospital. Even if we found someone, it would be a waste."

They spoke with indignation.

I stood outside the door listening to their conversation, while Gu Xiao stared at me the entire time. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, I decided to move to the side and avoid looking at him.

"Gu Xiao, are you going to the team-building event tonight?" Liu Qian asked him.

I was also curious and peeked up at him. He was looking back at me.

Why is he staring at me? Does my face have the answer written on it?

"Keep looking," he said, his voice sounding dry and exhausted.

Has he been up all night again?

"Oh," Liu Qian said, sounding disappointed. Then she remembered something and beckoned me to come in. "Jiajia, come in and say hello."

With a forced smile, I walked in.

"Who is this?"

"Liu, is this your sister? She's so pretty!"

"Introduce her to us!"

The male doctors instantly put down their takeout boxes and turned their attention to me.

I felt uneasy.

"Hello, I'm Chen Jia," I introduced myself as best I could.

"Hello, I'm Chen Jianwei," one of the doctors stood up and reached out to shake my hand.

I glanced at Gu Xiao and saw his face darken.

"Get away," Liu Qian pushed away the doctor's hand. "This is Gu's college classmate."

"Gu Xiao, when did you have such a pretty classmate and not introduce us?"

"Miss, I'm..." Another doctor stood up to introduce himself to me.

The crowd around us started to cheer.

Gu Xiao, who had been silent beside me, suddenly stood up and squeezed through the gap between me and the doctor. Then he stopped and said, "She's pregnant, so don't even think about it."

Me: !

Being pregnant isn't embarrassing, but the way he blurted it out made it really awkward. I saw several doctors withdraw their hands, embarrassed to the point of digging their toes into the ground.

"No, we didn't notice," one said.

"With such a slender figure, we really didn't see it," another added.

"Don't mind it, miss," a third comforted.

"Yeah, she's been pregnant for over three months," Liu Qian said with a smile.

Then she turned to me and whispered, "These old men are like this. Stuck in the hospital all day, they see a pretty girl and it's like they've discovered a new continent."

"Oh," I replied.

"What do you want to talk about? Come out here," Gu Xiao said, standing at the door with a haughty expression.

Me: ? I wasn't even looking for him.

"I wasn't looking for you, just passing by," I smiled back.

His face darkened.

But I didn't care.

After that, I bid farewell to Doctor Liu.

"I'll be going now," I said.

"Take your time eating, you've worked hard," I waved to the doctors and turned to leave.

Gu Xiao didn't say anything else and threw his takeout box into the trashcan outside.

As I walked into the elevator, he followed me in.

Without looking at me or saying a word, he just stood there. Fine, if he didn't want to talk, I would keep silent too. After a few seconds, he lowered his eyes and glanced at me. "What kind of examination are you getting today?" he asked.

Oh, finally he remembered there's a baby involved. I sneered inwardly.

"NT," I replied briefly.

"Is everything okay?" he asked again.

"Yes."

The atmosphere once again fell into an awkward silence. I remembered how he used to be when we were dating, sparing his words like gold, speaking so little it was almost maddening. Every time to avoid an awkward silence, I would rack my brain for topics to talk about.

Now it's different. I don't want to force myself anymore. If it's going to be awkward, so be it. After enduring so much in society, no one expects anyone to love them. I'm already struggling to live my life, I don't need to add more torture to myself.

As it was, he followed me all the way to the bus stop, still silent.

"Didn't you say riding the bus was uncomfortable?" he asked, frowning as he looked at the crowded bus.

"I think working is also uncomfortable, but I still have to do it," I said calmly, then turned and squeezed onto the bus.

He really is a spoiled prince who knows nothing about the struggles of ordinary people.

Do I not drive a BMW because I don't like four-wheeled vehicles? My monthly salary is 4,500, with subsidies bringing it to less than 7,000. My rent for a one-bedroom apartment is 1,500, and my daily expenses add up to around 2,000. That leaves me with 3,500, and I still have to send 2,000 to my mother every month. With monthly prenatal check-ups, it's really difficult to save even a few hundred dollars.

He asked me why I took the bus. Because I'm poor. Since we broke up, I haven't had the courage to ask him for money.

Just then, I received a WeChat message. It was a transfer of 3,000 yuan. I hesitated for a few seconds but eventually accepted it. I felt like accepting his money made me seem spineless, but life has taught me that one has to survive first before talking about pride.

He kept his promise and finally remembered to send me 3,000 every month. I obediently sent a message, "Thank you."

He didn't reply.

13

In the evening, I accompanied a client to dinner.

It was already quite late when we finished, and I was exhausted. So, I returned to my rented one-bedroom apartment.

Although the apartment is small, it provides me with a sense of relaxation.

As I lay in bed, I suddenly realized that I was living comfortably in my rented home. Why should I go and live in a big house?

If I move, I'd have to spend two or three hours commuting every day. In that huge house, I'd be too lazy to clean and I'd just be eating, doing laundry, and sleeping alone every day.

Why should I go through all that trouble?

So, I made a firm decision to go and retrieve my things the next day.

It was almost midnight when I was still preparing my meal for the next day.

Recently, I've been finding it difficult to get used to eating takeout food, so I've been cooking my own meals in the evening and reheating them at the office during the day.

After finally finishing my preparations and lying in bed, I noticed that Gu Xiao had sent me a message.

"Why aren't you at home?" he asked.

The message was sent half an hour ago.

Has he gone home? That's really unexpected.

After some thought, I replied, "I'm here, not there."

Almost immediately, he sent back a single question mark.

I took a deep breath. Was he so stingy with his words now that he could only send a symbol?

"Tired," I replied, imitating his brevity.

He didn't reply again.

Exhausted, I didn't think much more about it.

The next day after work, I took a woven bag and headed over to Gu Xiao's house.

After packing up my things quickly, I was just about to leave...

The door opened.

It was Gu Xiao's mother.

"Auntie," I blurted out without thinking.

As soon as I saw her expression change, I realized that I had spoken incorrectly.

We haven't seen each other since that unhappy encounter at my house.

Calling her "mom" was just too much for me.

"Are you... planning to leave?" She walked in, changed her shoes, and sat down on the sofa.

"I, I think it's a bit far from here, and commuting to work is a bit of a hassle, so I'm planning to move back," I said truthfully.

"Have you and Gu Xiao been fighting?" she asked me.

"No fights," I said, closing the door and putting down the woven bag. It looked like I wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.

"If there's no fighting, why did he call and ask me to come over?"

"Ah?"

I was a bit confused.

Did Gu Xiao ask his mother to come over? Why?

"There's really no fighting," I said, feeling a headache coming on. "Actually, he hasn't been back at all. Don't worry, I haven't had any interaction with him, so there's nothing to fight about."

But I found that the more I explained, the more complicated it became.

Because his mother was looking at me with a strange expression.

"You've been married for a week or two, and he hasn't been back?"

See, here's the problem.

On second thought, if he doesn't want to come back, I can't force him to. What does it have to do with me?

"Yeah, he's busy," I said, hanging my head.

His mother frowned deeply and took out her phone to call Gu Xiao's father.

Embarrassed to listen, I stood aside pretending to clean up.

"He hasn't been back.

"I told you so.

"What kind of marriage is this?

"Forcing the child to not even come home."

I heard a few snippets of their conversation.

She's right. What kind of marriage is this?

I don't know.

It seems like there's no difference between me now and when I was single, except that I feel nauseous every day and I don't have to worry about arranged meetings anymore.

What does marriage look like? I really don't know.

But as for whether this marriage is worth it?

I think it is. I've kept my child, married the person I want, moved into a big house, and my parents seem less worried about me.

But sometimes when I'm walking alone in the dark or cooking and washing dishes, I feel like something is missing.

Mrs. Gu Xiao called me out after the phone call.

"How's your health recently? I feel like you've lost some weight," she said.

"I'm fine," I replied.

"How much did you weigh before getting pregnant?" she asked again.

"94 pounds," I answered.

"And now?"

I hesitated for a moment, then nervously said, "92 pounds."

Yes, I've lost 2 pounds in over three months of pregnancy.

I can't eat much and everything I eat comes back up.

Plus, I'm running around all day in different stores, exhausted.

"You've lost weight while pregnant?" She looked at me in surprise.

What can I say? Is it my fault for losing weight? "I guess I'll gain it back later," I said.

"Give me your mother's number," she said, pulling out her phone.

I had no choice but to give it to her.

They added each other as friends and started a video call.

I sat there obediently, listening to their advice.

"Whose child loses weight while pregnant? Can this child get enough nutrients?" His mother seemed concerned.

"I always call her to eat more, but why is she still losing weight?" My mother was also worried.

I sat there, feeling a headache coming on.

"If you have time, one of you should come and take care of Jia Jia," his mother suggested.

"No, really no need," I quickly refused.

But they ignored my words completely.

"My husband is not young anymore and he's busy at the hospital. I can't come over. Gu Xiao is also very busy in the emergency room and can't even take care of himself. So we're wondering if one of you can come to the city to take care of her."

"We understand, but her younger sister needs constant care," my mother explained.

Yes, Chen Yu needs someone to watch her 24/7. She can't take care of herself and can easily fall into a ditch or a pool if no one is paying attention.

My mother definitely can't come.

My father works on a construction site every day, earning money for the whole family. Chen Yu's monthly medication costs 2000 yuan, so he can't stop working.

I've thought about this before. I even want to save more money so that when the baby is born, I can go to an affordable maternity center by myself.

"But what about Jia Jia? Look at her, alone and skinny like this. Will the baby be healthy when it's born?"

"Auntie, I can take care of myself. You don't have to..." I didn't want to put any more burden on my parents.

I called her the wrong name again, which annoyed me.

"Alright, every family has its own difficulties. I see you're holding something and about to leave. Gu Xiao isn't coming back, and you're pregnant. What are you doing? If that's the case, why did you try so hard to keep... the child is innocent."

"I'm getting old and can't handle you and Gu Xiao anymore. Do whatever you want."

She sighed, put some seafood into the fridge, and left.

I stood there, dazed.

Did I try so hard to keep the child? Did I force your son to go to the civil affairs bureau or something?

Gu Xiao hasn't accompanied me to any prenatal appointments in over three months of pregnancy. Why is he feeling sorry for himself?

I sat on the sofa, sulking.

Life seems to always be against me, and I can't find an escape.

14

After all that commotion, I decided not to move after all and continued commuting a few hours a day by subway.

One day, after work, as I walked up to my apartment door, I saw a worker standing there, holding a plastic bag.

As I got closer, I realized it was my dad.

"Dad?" I thought I might be seeing things.

He was dressed in long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and his smile was slightly reserved.

"Why are you so late getting off work?" My dad quickly came over and took the groceries from my hands.

"I had to run to a store and got delayed," I explained.

I noticed he was still wearing a safety helmet, clearly indicating he had just come from the construction site.

Once inside, he placed the groceries on the shoe cabinet and whispered, "I found a job in the city."

"Oh? What kind of job?" I asked, slightly surprised.

"Painting walls for someone renovating a storefront. It's not far, just around here," he said with a smile.

"So you can come over often?"

"Yeah."

As he spoke, he stepped back outside and began to take off his jacket and pants right there at the doorstep.

"Dad, why don't you come inside to change? Why are you standing outside?" I urged.

"I have a set of clothes on inside," he said, pointing to the T-shirt he was wearing. "The clothes from the construction site are dirty."

"It's okay, just wash them," I said, a bit impatiently.

But he simply put the clothes in a plastic bag and left them outside the door.

"They'll dirty the floor," he said, pointing to the pristine floor inside.

"No, they won't!" I exclaimed, feeling both frustrated and worried. "If you leave your clothes outside like that, someone might take them."

"They're not worth much, no one will take them," he said.

Then he took off his shoes and walked barefoot into the house.

"This house is quite spacious," he commented.

"Don't walk barefoot, put on these slippers," I said.

"Alright, I'll rinse my feet first," he replied, grabbing a pair of slippers and heading towards the bathroom.

I looked at the plastic bag at the door, feeling a mix of emotions.

I followed him inside and watched as he quickly rinsed his feet, dried them, and then put on the slippers.

After that, he took the groceries I had bought and went to the kitchen to start cooking.

"Let me do that," I said.

Truthfully, my dad doesn't often cook at home.

Unless we have a lot of relatives visiting and there's a big occasion, my dad will take charge of the cooking.

So, I noticed that he wasn't very skilled at washing vegetables.

"You should rest," my dad insisted, refusing to let me help and burying himself in the cooking.

Unable to persuade him, I stood in the kitchen and chatted with him.

"Dad, are you going to be in the city for a while? Will Mom be able to handle things at home alone?" I asked.

He paused for a moment.

"She's been much more obedient lately, your mom can handle it," he said.

"Oh."

"So, how long are you going to be in the city?"

"A few months," I replied.

A few months? In my memory, my dad always did renovation work nearby so he could take care of the family.

The city is different from the countryside. It takes several hours to get back home.

How will he manage both?

That evening, as I ate the meal my dad had cooked, I felt a sense of happiness, but at the same time, a vague feeling of unease.

Before going to bed, I called my mom and she finally told me the truth.

"What coincidence? Your mother-in-law called and asked us to take care of you. Your dad has been tossing and turning for several nights, asking around to find a renovation job in the city. He deliberately found a place near you to make it easier to take care of you."

Upon hearing this, my heart skipped a beat.

"I've told you, I can do it, but you won't listen."

"As parents, who doesn't worry about their children? Your dad was afraid you'd feel委屈 over there alone, so he hurried to cook for you. Your mom hasn't even tasted your dad's cooking that often in her whole life."

"But what about you at home?" My voice choked up.

"What can we do? We still have to live. Don't worry about us at home, just take care of yourself and the baby."

After hanging up the phone, I lay in bed, thinking about coming home at night and seeing my dad standing at the door. I don't know how long he had been waiting there with his things.

Thinking about how stubbornly he insisted on changing his clothes outside, afraid of dirtying the floor.

It suddenly dawned on me that even though I live in this big house, my dad knows better than I do whether or not I'm the master of this house.

That's why he felt so uncomfortable and couldn't do as he pleased.

He struggled to find work in the city, wearing dirty work clothes after work and enduring countless snide remarks while commuting on the subway.

He only cared about me.

Thinking about this, my nose twitched, and the tears couldn't help but spill out of my eyes.

I suddenly felt like a failure.

I don't know why I insisted on keeping this child, why I insisted on marrying Gu Xiao, what my obsession over these years was all for.

I was too selfish.

After crying for a while, I realized it was almost 1 am. Frightened, I immediately stopped crying.

I still had to get up at 6:30 in the morning, take the subway, and catch the 8:30 attendance check.

I got up, washed my face, and fell asleep immediately.

As an adult, even crying isn't something we can do as we please. What am I being sentimental about?

15

In the following days, I led a comfortable life.

Every day after work, my dad had already prepared the meals, so I only needed to eat and didn't even have to wash the dishes.

I had made an appointment for the Down's syndrome screening on Friday.

I planned to get the screening done on Friday afternoon and then go back to my hometown together with my dad after he finished work.

When I went to the hospital, I bumped into Gu Xiao again.

However, this time he wasn't wearing a white coat, and he was standing in the obstetrics and gynecology department, almost as if he was waiting for me.

"I heard from my mom that you've lost a lot of weight?" He looked me up and down. "I don't think you've lost any weight at all."

He was right. Because my dad cooked several dishes every day, I had noticeably improved in complexion over the past few days.

I wanted to snap back at him, but then I realized that there was no need to strain our relationship and make my parents worried. So, I held my tongue and walked past him.

As soon as I took a step forward, he grabbed my hand.

"Do you really not want to see me?" He asked me expressionlessly.

"I'm going for my check-up. Can you please not waste my time?" I didn't want to talk to him.

"Alright." He let go of my hand and finally softened his tone. "You go inside to get your prescription. I'll wait for you here."

"Why are you waiting for me? Aren't you supposed to be at work today?"

He's always so busy, so why is he so free today?

"It's a holiday today."

That's why...

"Wait a moment." I turned and walked inside.

It's good to have someone run around and pay the fees for me. I didn't need to get angry with him.

The Down's syndrome screening only required a blood test.

While Gu Xiao went to pay the fees and accompanied me for the blood draw, his colleagues at the hospital all looked at him with surprised expressions.

"Who is this, Dr. Gu?"

"Is she a relative? You're even accompanying her yourself."

"Why isn't Dr. Gu at work today?"

...

Everyone was teasing him, and I nervously awaited his response.

However, he was like a man without a care in the world and didn't answer at all, just smiling.

He didn't want to make our relationship public.

I felt a little sad, but only a little.

"Are you upset?" He asked me without lifting his head as he used a cotton swab to stop the bleeding.

"No." I lied.

"Don't pay attention to them."

"Okay."

He threw away the cotton swab and looked at me seriously. "This job as a doctor is very stressful, with a lot of gossip..."

I didn't say anything.

That wasn't a reason for him not to disclose that he was married and I was his wife.

I knew that he just wanted to maintain his single image.

"What do you want to eat?" He asked me.

"I'll cook at home myself." I pushed him away. "I'm leaving."

"You..." He followed me and finally sighed, grabbing my hand and trying to comfort me.

"Why are you pulling me?" I struggled to free my hand, but he held on tighter.

"Why do you say that?" He asked me in return.

"Are you not afraid of your nurse sister seeing us now?" I didn't hold back my words.

You didn't dare to hold hands in the hospital, but now in the underground parking lot, where no one is around, you dare?

He looked at me and suddenly started laughing, without saying anything, just laughing there.

I felt like he was mocking me, so I got angry and stamped on his foot.

He let go of my hand in pain.

I didn't bother with him and continued walking forward.

He didn't follow me either.

As I walked further away, I heard his voice behind me.

"Chen Jia, enough is enough..."

I turned around and saw him standing in the distance with a haughty expression, looking at me.

In truth, I was hesitant. Rationally, I knew I should get along with him well since we were already married and he was the person I liked.

But the reality was that I was angry with him and couldn't control it.

I would get angry when I saw Doctor Liu showing interest in him.

I would also get angry when I saw those nurse girls behaving sweetly in front of him.

And I was angry when I saw him not wanting to make our relationship public.

But...

It was me who forced him to marry me with the child.

He doesn't like me.

Regardless of any aspect, it was my own choice.

I could only be angry with myself and couldn't blame anyone else.

With that thought, I turned to leave.

Suddenly, I felt my body lighten, and I was lifted into the air.

"Gu Xiao, you..." I realized that he had walked over and picked me up horizontally without my noticing.

"Why are you so light?" He ignored my struggles and asked me, bending down.

Our breaths were too close, and my heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

"Put me down." I intended to snap at him, but somehow, my words came out in a different tone, almost sounding like a whine.

I felt annoyed.

When he heard me whine, he seemed flustered and froze in place, holding me without saying a word.

After a few seconds, he carried me slowly towards the black Mercedes.

He freed one hand to open the passenger door, kicked it open with his foot, and then bent down to gently place me inside.

After putting me down, he didn't leave but leaned over towards me.

I nervously held my breath.

But he only reached behind me to pull the safety belt and carefully help me put it on.

"Get out now!"

I turned my face away from him.

But he didn't move.

"Expecting something?" He paused and asked me with a smile.

"I'm not expecting anything," I retorted, but as soon as I turned my face, I almost bumped into his lips.

Scared, I immediately shut my mouth and didn't dare make a sound.

He still didn't move and just lowered his eyes to glance at the position of my lips for a second before withdrawing.

"Let's go home first." As he pulled away, I saw his throat move slightly.

I didn't say anything, my heart was beating so fast, and my fingers were clutching my clothes tightly.

Later, every time I thought of this scene, I would laugh at myself.

It wasn't my first kiss, and we had done everything, but I was still nervous like a girl just starting to fall in love. I really looked down on myself.

16

On the way home, we still didn't speak to each other.

He drove while I played on my phone; our roles were clearly defined.

But in my mind, I couldn't stop replaying his earlier words, "Let's go home first."

Go home, and then what?

There was no then. Once we got home, he lay down on the sofa, picked up a book, and started reading, expecting me to cook dinner.

I was really annoyed.

"I don't eat coriander," he said, furrowing his brows as I brought out two bowls of noodles.

I...

"Then eat your noodles and leave the coriander," I said, handing him the chopsticks. He really thought he was the boss.

He stared at the noodles for a few seconds, sighed, and said, "It has a weird taste."

He was really hard to please.

I didn't want to be annoyed to death by him, so I had to use the chopsticks to pick out all the coriander and put it in my bowl, pushing the noodles towards him.

He still didn't move.

"There's also spring onion," he said.

"You don't want the spring onion too?"

"Yes, I do," he smiled at me.

I...

If he wanted it, why did he say anything?

I buried my head in my noodles and ignored him.

He ate slowly, chewing each noodle carefully. By the time I finished, he was still eating.

"Eating slowly helps with digestion," he explained, looking at me.

I was speechless. I never noticed before that he had so many quirks.

After he finished eating, he went to wash the dishes.

At least he had some conscience!

"Is this cupboard a bit too high for you?" he asked, looking around the kitchen as he washed the dishes.

Yeah, he said I was short, I knew that.

"It's okay."

"Why don't we have any green plants in the house?" he looked around again.

"If you like them, go buy them yourself. I don't have time," I said truthfully.

I finished work late every day and didn't have the energy to buy plants.

Of course, I probably didn't consider this place my home and didn't have the heart to decorate it.

"There aren't any of your books in the study," he said again.

"I don't read books," I said, brushing him off.

I found him strange today, making conversation when there was nothing to say.

"Won't the baby need to read books in the future?" he asked me with a smile.

I froze.

Baby?

To be honest, I hadn't thought that far ahead, nor had I imagined him and the baby sitting on the carpet reading books while I cooked.

But suddenly, when he mentioned it, the image came to mind, and I felt a strange emotion in my heart.

That emotion gently brushed past the tip of my heart, leaving a soft and tender feeling wherever it passed.

At 15 weeks pregnant, I finally felt it for the first time - I was pregnant, and there was a small life growing inside me.

It was slowly growing.

"I don't know what books to buy," I said awkwardly.

But he reached out and gently touched my head.

"We can go shopping together when we have time," he said.

I awkwardly avoided him and said, "Okay."

After that, I went to my room.

But he came in after washing the dishes.

"Why did you choose this room?" he asked, looking around.

"I like small spaces when I'm alone," I said.

It gives me a sense of security.

"Alone?" he snorted slightly, sounding displeased. "Where am I going to sleep?"

"Sleep wherever you want..." I said, realizing my tone was too sharp, so I added, "The master bedroom is ready with new sheets and blankets, you can sleep there."

I guessed he was tired too; his dark circles seemed even heavier each time I saw him.

He looked towards the direction of the master bedroom before finally sitting down beside my bed.

"Let's squeeze in together," he said casually, but I felt a moment of nervousness.

"It's too small, you should sleep in the other room."

This was a 1.5-meter bed, and he was 1.88 meters tall. I worried it wouldn't be big enough for him.

He didn't speak, just took off his jacket, sat down, and finally looked at me with a funny smile.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid? Of what am I afraid!" I snapped.

I didn't know what I was afraid of myself.

Six years ago when we were dating, we only held hands and kissed. We never had anything substantial before breaking up.

That time at the class reunion, I had a few drinks and in the dark, with a surge of impulse, I threw caution to the wind and jumped into it.

In broad daylight like this, it really... felt awkward everywhere.

"I'm going back to my dad's hometown later," I blurted out nervously as he lifted the blanket.

He paused, "When?"

"5 pm."

He raised his wrist to check his mechanical watch, "That gives us enough time, it's only 2 pm now."

Enough time? My scalp started to tingle.

"You take a two-hour nap, and I'll wake you up later," he said, sitting beside me and covering me with the blanket.

"Oh, and what about you?"

"Me?" He picked up a medical book at random, "I'll read for a bit."

Read? He just wants to read?

I was overthinking.

I gripped the blanket, wanting to bury myself inside it.

"Or do you want to do something?" He chuckled from outside the blanket.

"No, I'm sleeping, don't talk to me," I covered my head.

"Alright, I'll wake you up when it's time. Sleep well." His voice softened.

After a few minutes of indecision, my mind started to blur, and sleepiness overcame me. I closed my eyes.

In a daze, someone kissed my forehead and sighed, "It's only three months, it's not very stable yet."

I tried to figure out who was speaking, but before I could, I fell asleep.

17

When I woke up, he was already gone.

I walked into the living room and saw some plastic mats spread out. Following the line of sight, I saw him barefoot, crouching on the floor, piece by piece, putting them together. The afternoon sun fell on him, and I felt a bit dazed.

Time seemed to have gone back to the days eight or nine years ago.

Back then, I was a freshman in college. Because of my younger sister's issues, I had a big fight with my family.

"You're the one who wanted to have a child. Now that she's like this, what's the point of crying? Why did you have her?" I shouted at my mom on the phone.

"Mom doesn't know what happened. When she was born, she was so cute. How... how could she have epilepsy?" My mom sobbed inconsolably on the phone.

"You ask me what to do, how do I know? I'm only 19, how do I know what to do?" I sat by the basketball court, crying while talking on the phone.

"The doctor said it can't be cured, and she'll be like this for the rest of her life. Jia Jia, Mom regrets it, Mom really regrets it. Mom shouldn't have followed others and had a second child. The doctor said your sister won't live past 20."

"Regret? It's too late!" I hung up the phone.

Sitting there alone, my heart was filled with anxiety and anger.

Life was hopeless.

I remember, when Chen Yu was just born, I hated her and wished I could choke her to death.

But she was so small, and every time I wanted to pinch her, she would smile at me.

I would curse her in my mouth, "You idiot."

But this little idiot would smile at me whenever she saw me, and her little fleshy hands would grab onto me and not let go. No matter how hard my heart was, it couldn't resist a few-month-old baby.

While I said I hated her, I secretly amused her and always snuck her all kinds of little flowers. Wherever I went, I thought about bringing her something nice to look at.

I hated her for stealing my parents' love, but I also thought about waiting for her to grow up and competing with her fairly.

But how could I have known that she was really an idiot, how could I have known that she wouldn't live past 20?

That afternoon, I cried for a long time by the basketball court, unable to understand this fate.

Then I looked up and saw Gu Xiao. I didn't know him then.

He and several medical students seemed to have just come out of the lab, passing by the court.

They didn't notice me.

Somewhere along the way, Gu Xiao stopped and crouched down.

Several medical students gathered around him shortly after.

I watched for a long time before realizing that they were performing CPR on a little bird that had fallen from a tree.

I was curious and also found it somewhat funny.

Who knows how long that bird had been fallen? How could they possibly bring it back to life?

However, a cheer erupted from that side.

I saw the bird on the ground standing up unsteadily. After standing for a long time, suddenly it flapped its wings and flew away.

I was stunned by this scene.

The miracle of life created by these medical students brightened my eyes.

Life suddenly seemed less hopeless and a hint of expectation began to arise.

Later, I learned his name.

His name was Gu Xiao.

I often saw his name on the confession wall.

As I recalled these memories, I realized that my eyes were moist.

I quickly turned away and wiped my tears.

"Awake?" Gu Xiao also saw me, but he didn't come over and continued laying out the mats.

"Why are you doing this?" I adjusted my emotions so he wouldn't notice anything unusual.

"The floor is too slippery, and it won't be safe for you later when your belly gets bigger. Also, it won't be safe for the baby when it's small." He spoke calmly, but I heard warmth in his words.

"It's not going to happen that fast." I walked to the sofa and sat down to play on my phone.

"I know," he replied. "But I might not have time later, so I'm doing it now when I can."

"Oh."

I knew he was busy.

I didn't expect too much from him.

I didn't tell him that I didn't need him to be with me all the time, revolving around me. I was already touched by the fact that he came back occasionally and did something like this.

I also didn't tell him that I actually wanted to have a daughter who looked like him and would keep me company.

And I didn't tell him that I hadn't forgotten about him all these years.

I was afraid of scaring him.

Just being like this, plain and simple, was good enough.

18

When my dad came back and saw Gu Xiao, he was quite surprised.

"Dad," Gu Xiao called out quite casually.

"Yeah," my dad's expression was unnatural, but when he came over to help me carry the packages, I saw that his eyes were moist.

He must have been happy.

On the way back to our hometown, my dad was initially quite reserved.

Gu Xiao is a cold person, but that's just his nature. He's not bad at finding topics to talk about.

"That family's house looks quite nice," he pointed to a villa-like house beside the rural road.

"It was built a few years ago. It used to be a mud house that collapsed during an earthquake, so they rebuilt it," my dad showed some interest. "Things have changed so much in the past few years. Look over there, there used to be a pond where all the kids in the village would swim in the summer. Now it's a road."

"Oh?" Gu Xiao looked at me with interest. "Did Jiajia go there when she was younger?"

"Yeah, even when she was a big girl, she still went to swim there. One time, her clothes were taken away and she had to stay in the water for half a day until someone from the village found her and came to tell me to get her clothes." My dad talked about my embarrassing childhood without any hesitation.

My face turned red instantly.

"Really? How old was she then?" Gu Xiao's smile was quite restrained.

"Around 5 or 6," I said casually.

"Sixth grade in primary school? She was 12 then, not 5 or 6," my dad corrected me seriously.

Me: ...

"Dad..."

"12 is quite old," Gu Xiao couldn't stop laughing as he drove.

I wanted to find a hole to hide in.

I didn't want to say anything anymore.

On the way, it was mostly them two talking. To be more precise, it was my dad talking endlessly about my childhood while Gu Xiao listened quietly, nodding or smiling or asking a question or two.

I felt like I was a bit redundant.

They could talk about my antics for the whole night.

When we got home, my mom had already prepared the meal, but Chen Yu was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Yu?" my dad asked.

My mom avoided his gaze. "She's in her room."

"It's almost time for dinner. Why is she still in her room? Go get her and tell her to get ready for dinner," my dad said as he was about to go and call her.

But my mom looked embarrassed.

I sensed that something was wrong.

"You guys go wash your hands first. I'll go get her," I took a bottle of Wangzi milk and walked with my mom to the room.

"Chen Yu, open the door. It's your sister," I knocked on the door.

It took a long time for the door to open, just a crack.

Usually, if I bought Wangzi milk back, she would be overjoyed.

Because her epilepsy had affected her brain development, even though she was 10 years old now, her IQ was still only that of a one or two-year-old, and she couldn't speak.

I pushed the door open and saw her crouched in the corner, looking very afraid. I offered her the Wangzi milk, but she didn't even stretch out her hand to take it.

I had never seen her like this before.

I looked at my mom. "What happened?"

My mom didn't say anything. She glanced at the door and whispered to me, "That single man in the village...he hit your sister."

"Hit?"

I looked at Chen Yu. Although her IQ hadn't improved over the years, her height had already reached 160 cm. She had bushy eyebrows, big eyes, and...

Suddenly, something clicked in my mind, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Did he just hit her, or did something else happen?" I asked my mom in a low voice.

My mom was visibly terrified and quickly covered my mouth, "Just... just..."

"Tell me the truth!" I tried to keep my temper.

"She came over and he touched her... just touched her," my mom said, tears streaming down her face.

My anger flared up instantly.

"Don't tell dad about this. He has a temper, and if this gets out of hand, how will the child survive? How will she ever face people again..."

"And don't tell Xiao Gu. How will he look at your sister? How will he look at you..."

My mom grabbed me and begged me in tears to keep it a secret.

From what she said, it seemed like the man had only touched her once. She promised to be more careful next time and ensure it wouldn't happen again.

Seeing my mom like this, heartbroken over her daughter being bullied and afraid to speak up, it hurt me deeply.

I suppressed my emotions and took a long time to calm down before joining my mom for dinner and helping clear the table.

From start to finish, I didn't say a word.

After dinner, while Xiao Gu was showering, I told dad that I wanted to go for a walk alone, to stroll on the road outside our house.

Before leaving, I took a wooden stick from our doorstep.

I used to be afraid of walking alone in the dark.

But this time, the 100-meter walk from our house to the bachelor's house, pitch-black and desolate, didn't faze me at all.

The bachelor was already over 50 years old.

Until now, I had always considered him a hardworking and honest uncle.

So, every time he passed by our house, I greeted him politely.

When I arrived at his house, he saw me standing at the door, and his chopsticks fell to the ground in shock.

"Jiajia, you're back," he said, putting on a smile.

"Yeah," I managed a smile and walked towards him slowly, "What are you having for dinner? It smells delicious."

"Just some stir-fried green peppers with meat. The place is a bit small, so please have a seat," he politely offered me a stool and even wiped it for me.

I stood there, unmoving.

He still looked as honest and unsophisticated as ever.

I couldn't understand how someone I had once respected could do such a thing. It was completely beyond my imagination.

"Did Chen Yu come here a few days ago?" I asked bluntly.

He froze.

"Yeah, yeah, she came over and begged me for some candy," he said, avoiding my gaze.

He was quite short, and standing next to me at 165 cm, he didn't even reach my height.

SLAP!

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face.

He was stunned, completely unprepared for it.

When he recovered, he stared at me with wide eyes, furious.

"Jiajia, what are you doing!" He shouted at me.

"Nothing much," I replied with a smile, "Next time she comes asking for sugar, don't let her in."

"Are you out of your mind? I just gave your sister some candy, did I do something wrong?" He seemed ready to confront me.

I understood; he felt embarrassed for being challenged by me.

"Whether you did something wrong or not, you know it well. I warn you, if you dare to lay a hand on her again, I'll send you to jail."

"Are you out of your mind? You can't just spout nonsense. Believe me, I'll gather the whole village to mediate this." He glared at me furiously.

"I must be out of my mind! If you provoke me, I'll burn your house down." I was infuriated. "You're still a welfare recipient, living off the government. Trash like you should just disappear!"

"You've gone mad!" He charged towards me, ready to engage in a fight.

Suddenly, a force pulled me to someone's embrace, and a hand reached out above my head, effortlessly grabbing the single man's hand.

A familiar scent enveloped me.

Gu Xiao?

"Who are you?" The single man grimaced in pain, but didn't beg for mercy.

"Her husband," Gu Xiao exerted a bit more force, causing tears to well up in the single man's eyes.

"Let go of me first, you two are teaming up to bully me..." His face turned red with anger. "It was your sister who hit me first."

"I didn't see that," Gu Xiao said calmly, "I only saw you hitting her."

"I haven't hit her yet!" He stomped in frustration.

"If you had, your hand would have been broken by now." Gu Xiao coldly pushed him away, and he fell to the ground.

Then, he started crying and lamenting, pouring out a string of grievances.

I didn't want to give him any sympathy. I grabbed a stool and threw it at him, saying, "There won't be a next time."

After saying that, I walked out of the door, with Gu Xiao following behind.

I didn't speak to him; I was afraid he would ask me about it.

I didn't want him to know about those despicable, shameful, and dark aspects. I was already low enough in front of him, I really didn't want to...

He followed me silently, without saying a word or asking me anything.

But halfway through, he suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me into his embrace. No matter how I struggled, it was useless. He didn't let me go, just pressed my head against his chest, comforting me with his repeated strokes on my head.

"I won't ask you, don't be afraid."

"Don't go out alone, I'm afraid I won't be able to reach you in time."

His chilly voice echoed above my head, and tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably.

Later, I cried until I was tired, and it was already late.

He squatted down, carrying me on his back towards home.

I didn't resist, nor did I have the strength to resist.

Lying on his back, step by step towards home, it reminded me of when I was a child, sick, and the hospital was too far from home. My dad used to carry me like this, circling around the house over and over again.

Later, when we had Chen Yu, my dad couldn't carry me anymore.

When Chen Yu cried at night, my dad would carry her around the house again and again.

It was a whole night each time.

Now I'm 28, Chen Yu is 10.

My dad is old now, unable to carry anymore.

I sighed.

Unfortunately, time can't go back.

19

After returning home, Gu Xiao slept alone in the guest room.

Once again, I had a restless night.

He had to go back to work in the morning, and when he left, I was still asleep. He came to my room and gently kissed my forehead.

"I'm leaving. I'll wait for you at home."

Those simple words kept me from falling asleep.

"Mm."

I knew he had left when I heard the sound of his car starting downstairs.

As soon as he left, I started to miss him.

I began to hesitate, thinking that I should have said one more thing: "Drive carefully."

Such a simple phrase, yet I couldn't bring myself to say it.

My pathetic pride.

After procrastinating for a while, I got out of bed and helped my mother clean the house.

With me keeping an eye on Chenyu, my mother took out all the quilts in the house to wash and air out. My father went to the field to pull out the weeds, checked the natural gas and water pipes at home, replaced the dimmer light at the entrance with a brighter one, and installed a stronger lock on the door.

For the sake of food, Chenyu finally agreed to come out of the room slowly.

She still loved catching various insects in the yard and putting them in my hand, saying, "Sister."

"Insects like this won't bite, and these ones that do bite are only painful and not poisonous," I pointed to a few insects and let her identify them.

"Ones like this are poisonous and shouldn't be caught," I pointed to the hornet.

She looked thoughtful, staring at the insects I pointed out.

I thought she understood, but she suddenly grabbed all the insects and put them in my hand, smiling at me.

I wanted to scold her again, but I reached out and ended up stroking her head. "In the future, you can't let anyone touch the parts of your body that are covered by your clothes. If anyone tries to, I'll come back and break their hand."

She seemed to understand again and didn't say anything.

The next second, she went back to playing with the insects.

I sighed and sat quietly beside her.

The next day, my father and I went back to the city.

Life continued as usual.

Every morning, I woke up, rushed to the subway, went to work, ate, went home, and slept.

I felt like a wound-up clock, doing what needed to be done at the right time.

Gu Xiao still hadn't returned.

However, he would call me in the evening or send a message if it was too late, simply asking about my situation.

Because of this small difference, I suddenly felt like there was something to look forward to in my life.

I started learning about pregnancy online, browsing shopping websites, and looking for various baby products.

I made a list of everything I needed.

What to buy this month, what to buy next month... After all, my savings couldn't afford to buy all the equipment at once.

I just didn't know what books to buy yet and was thinking about asking Gu Xiao for his opinion when he came back one day.

One ordinary afternoon, I was on my way to another store to punch in for work on the subway.

Suddenly, I received a call from the hospital.

"Is this Chen Jia?"

"Yes."

"The Down syndrome screening showed a high risk. Please come to the hospital to pick up the report."

(Note: A high risk on the Down syndrome screening indicates a possible congenital genetic disease in the fetus.)

Those simple words were like a bolt of lightning striking me.

I stood in the subway, watching train after train pass by without moving.

The crowd around me pushed and shoved, passing me by, while I remained frozen in place.

I didn't know when the call from the hospital had ended.

When I came to my senses, I realized that the bag in my hand had fallen to the ground.

Like a soulless zombie, I mechanically picked up the scattered items.

My heart had never been so panicked.

I ran out of the subway and took a taxi to the hospital for the first time.

In the car, I constantly wished that the driver would drive faster and faster.

Deep down, I knew that no matter how fast we went, it wouldn't change the fact.

But before I got the report, I still clung to a shred of hope.

Finally, after going through a series of procedures at the hospital, I obtained the report.

As I read the words "High Risk for Down Syndrome Screening," my heart was torn apart.

The name was correct, the result was accurate, and everything was settled.

Sitting on a bench in the hospital, holding the report for a long time, I eventually went to the emergency room to look for Gu Xiao.

"Is Gu Xiao here?" I asked the nurse.

The emergency room was in a state of chaos.

The nurse hurriedly told me, "What do you need with Doctor Gu? He's in the operating room saving a patient's life."

I saw everyone running around, patients being carried in one after another, cries and shouts mingling together.

"It's nothing," I said.

The nurse was too busy to attend to me and went back to her work.

I later learned that there had been a series of car accidents on Xinqiao Road.

He would probably be busy for a few more days.

Dragging my feet, I took the bus home alone.

20

After returning home and changing my shoes, I sat there in a daze.

When my dad came back and saw me crouched on the floor with my head in my hands, he quickly helped me up and asked what was wrong.

"Did you have a fight?"

I shook my head.

"Did you lose your job?"

I shook my head again.

"What's wrong? Don't scare me," my dad said, hugging me tightly while he didn't even have time to change his clothes.

"Dad, the Down Syndrome screening for the baby came back high-risk," I told him through tears.

"What does that mean?"

"The baby might be mentally disabled, like... like Chenyu."

My dad stiffened, and for the first time, he sat down with a defeated look.

He sat beside me, lost in thought, for a long time.

Finally, he took off his safety helmet and placed it aside.

"Dad..." I called out to him.

He didn't respond.

I saw him wiping away tears, and when he looked up, his face was already streaked with tears.

I was shocked.

In my memory, from childhood to adulthood, my dad had never shown more than a furrowed brow. I had never seen him cry before.

When my mom wanted a divorce because of Chenyu's illness, he didn't cry.

Even when the doctor said that Chenyu would never recover and would never be able to care for herself, my dad didn't cry.

He was like an unwavering mountain, standing tall through the years.

But now, he was crying for my child, crying like a child.

I felt so sad.

But there was nothing I could do. I didn't even know how to comfort him.

We sat there silently for a while.

After crying for a bit, my dad wiped away his tears and stood up.

"Get up," he said, helping me to my feet.

I refused.

So he bent down and picked me up.

"Jiajia, there's no obstacle in life that can't be overcome," he said.

I didn't respond.

"Medical technology is very advanced nowadays. If it doesn't work out, you're still young. You can have many more children."

I still didn't say anything.

My dad led me to the sofa and sat me down while he busied himself in the kitchen.

I don't know how much time passed, but he eventually brought me to the table for dinner.

"I can't eat," I said, tears streaming down my face as I looked at the full table of food.

My dad sighed and got up to make a phone call on the balcony.

I didn't know who he was calling or what he was saying.

After the phone call, he returned to his seat and looked at me.

"Jiajia," he called my name.

"You've been through what your mom and I have been through."

"When your mom and I were doing renovation work, neither of us had any education. How many rural pregnancies back then got checked?"

"We just watched your mom's belly grow day by day, thinking that as long as she ate well, the baby would grow well too."

He paused for a moment and continued.

"Then your younger sister was born, white and chubby. Who didn't like seeing her?"

"But when she was less than half a year old, she would suddenly fall asleep, like a phone suddenly crashing. It only lasted a few tens of seconds, and then she was back to normal."

"Dad didn't pay attention to it and didn't take her to the hospital for a check-up. Until one day, everyone noticed that the 'crashes' were getting longer and longer. When we took her to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor said it was epilepsy and that it couldn't be cured in this lifetime..."

My dad covered his face with his hands, and I couldn't see his expression.

"Do you regret it?" I asked him calmly.

It was during my third year of high school when my parents went out to work, leaving me behind with my grandparents.

My grandparents told me that my parents were out earning money to support my college education.

But the neighbors all said that my mom had gone to have a second child.

I didn't believe them at first, but on the day of my college entrance exam, when I returned home, I saw my mom lying in bed with my newborn sister beside her.

At that moment, I felt betrayed.

I hated them for a long time.

"Yes, I regret it," my dad said firmly.

I was surprised by his candor.

"I later heard that this condition can be detected during pregnancy, and the child can be aborted. I also heard that if it's caught early and treated at a major hospital like in Beijing, the cure rate is high.

"Jiajia, I don't regret taking care of your sister for the rest of my life. No matter what she looks like, she's still my child. What I regret is missing several opportunities that could have allowed her to grow up healthy. I didn't have much education, and I didn't know. So I caused my daughter pain and also caused pain to the family. It was my fault."

The words "it was my fault" made me feel terrible.

I had been waiting for this sentence for a long time.

I had always believed that my miserable life was caused by my parents having a second child.

So I had always harbored a grudge.

I thought that hearing those words would make me feel better.

But it didn't. Instead, I felt ashamed of myself.

My dad has always been a good father. It was me who was being selfish.

I sat silently, unable to speak.

I felt like I should comfort my dad. He had worked so hard his whole life, yet fate had played tricks on him, making his life so difficult.

But I couldn't say anything.

"When you got married, Gu Xiao's parents might have suspected you of having ulterior motives and treated you unfairly. But dad understands. I believe in you. Our Chen family are upright people. No matter how difficult it is, we must live with integrity.

"It was what hurt me the most that none of them came to take care of you or show you any concern. No matter how hard or tired dad is, I will take care of you."

...

"Dad, don't say anymore," I sobbed.

This was the first time my dad had talked to me about his feelings since I grew up.

"Alright, dad won't say anything more. Just one last thing."

"Dad can take care of you for another ten or twenty years, but who will take care of you after I'm gone? You're smart, but you're being foolish about this. Xiao Gu is a good person. In a marriage, both parties need to support each other. Only when you exchange sincerity with sincerity can you walk a long way together. The person who will spend the rest of your life with you is him, not dad."

I listened quietly, starting to seriously consider my relationship with Gu Xiao for the first time.

21

Just as I was about to continue thinking, I heard the sound of the door unlocking.

I turned my head to see what was happening, feeling a bit perplexed.

"I called Xiao Gu," said my dad as he stood up to open the door.

Gu Xiao rushed in without even changing his shoes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, stopping in his tracks when he saw me crying.

My dad patted his shoulder and carried the meal into the kitchen.

Gu Xiao led me into the room, closed the door, and hugged me, standing next to the door without saying anything.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't cry. I'm here now," he said.

I thought I had cried all afternoon and had run out of tears, but when he said, "I'm here now," I couldn't hold it in anymore and buried my face in his chest, sobbing and sniffling, wiping my tears and snot all over him.

No matter how much he tried to comfort me, my tears wouldn't stop.

Then he lowered his head to kiss me.

The kiss made my head spin and I lost all my strength. He carried me to the bed.

"Don't cry anymore, it hurts here," he said, taking my hand and pointing to his chest.

He helped me wipe away my tears.

"Now, tell me what happened," he said.

"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you with my life," he added.

I pursed my lips and said, "The baby... has a high risk of Down's syndrome."

He paused for a moment, probably processing the information, and then reached out to stroke my hair.

In a low voice, he soothed me, "Wait a moment, I'll call Liu Qian."

"Okay," I nodded.

He took out his phone, intending to go to the balcony, but looked at me and decided to stay with me instead. "Shh, I'll call her like this," he said.

"Okay," I nodded obediently again.

The phone was answered quickly.

"Dr. Liu, it's Gu Xiao. I have a question to consult you about," he said.

"Dr. Gu, what is it?" asked the doctor.

"Is a high-risk result for Down's syndrome screening very dangerous?" he asked.

"It can be dangerous," said the doctor.

Upon hearing this, my heart sank again.

"Who is it? One of your patients or a relative?" asked the doctor.

Gu Xiao hesitated for a moment and then said in a low voice, "My wife."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment.

"Dr. Gu, you're married? When? How come we didn't know?" asked the doctor.

"Yes," Gu Xiao said after a moment of silence. "Please tell me more about this condition..."

"Actually, it's just a preliminary screening and it's not very accurate. A high-risk result doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. Most high-risk results are actually fine. The accurate result can only be determined through DNA testing or amniocentesis," explained the doctor.

"Dr. Gu, I didn't know it was... your wife. Don't worry too much. Just have your wife come to the hospital for a DNA test or wait a few weeks for an amniocentesis, and it will be fine," said the doctor reassuringly.

"There are many factors to consider in the screening now, such as a family history of genetic diseases, which can lead to a high-risk indication. In fact, with the increasing age of childbirth nowadays, many factors are taken into account, and most pregnant women end up with high-risk results during the screening. However, after further testing, most of them are actually fine," the doctor continued to explain.

The doctor explained a lot more after that, and my heart finally settled down like a roller coaster that had successfully landed.

Gu Xiao listened carefully and asked more detailed questions. Finally, after expressing his gratitude, he politely hung up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, I realized that I could have easily looked it up online myself.

But because I was so panicked and worried, I ended up making a fuss out of nothing. I cried for the whole afternoon, and even my dad was crying along with me.

And now I had dragged Gu Xiao back from the hospital too.

He's so busy.

I felt really guilty about it.

Gu Xiao put me down and said, "I'll go talk to Dad to ease his worries."

"Okay," I said.

After a few minutes, he came back in.

Instead of coming over, he leaned against the door and looked at me.

And as we looked at each other, we both started laughing.

Yeah, I was laughing at myself.

"Do you still have to go back to the hospital?" I asked him.

"No, I'm not going back," he said with a smile as he walked over to me.

"Oh..." I felt even more guilty. "I heard there was a car accident today and your emergency room is super busy. Are you sure it's okay for you to stay here? Won't they need you there?"

He came over and stroked my hair, then hugged me tightly.

"The emergency room is always busy," he said with a bitter sigh. "If I leave, there will be other doctors to take my place, but you only have me."

I didn't say anything.

"When Dad called me, I was so scared," he said, kissing my hair. "If I didn't come back tonight, my heart wouldn't have been able to calm down."

"I'm sorry," I said. I had overreacted and caused everyone to worry about me.

"Why are you apologizing?" He paused for a moment and then stood up. "Come here, let me wash your hair for you."

"Why do I need to wash my hair?" I asked, pulling my hair up to sniff it. "Does it smell?"

"No, it smells good," he said, pulling me up. "I just want to wash it for you."

So, he really did wash my hair for me.

He used a few chairs to make a makeshift lie-down chair for me to lie on while he carefully washed my hair.

"Is it comfortable?" he asked me.

"No, it's not comfortable," I said.

I thought he was washing too slowly, and I didn't like lying down to wash my hair. Usually, when I'm busy with work, I just hunch over and wash my hair in a few minutes.

I don't have time to wash it slowly and make a fuss about it.

"You'll have to get used to it," he said, gently massaging my scalp with his fingers. "Later on, when your belly gets bigger, it won't be comfortable for you to hunch over to wash your hair, and what about the baby?"

He was thinking so far ahead for me.

"Doctor Gu, washing hair is not like suturing a surgical wound. You don't have to be so meticulous about it, do you?" I said helplessly. It had been half an hour and he still hadn't finished.

"Sorry, it's a habit from my profession," he smiled. "I always want to tie a knot."

"Alright, please make it a bowknot," I said, closing my eyes. Since I couldn't resist, I decided to enjoy it.

22

In the evening, Gu Xiao and I moved into the master bedroom.

He complained that the other room was too cramped for him to move around freely.

Don't get the wrong idea, we were just chatting.

We talked about our childhood, our school days, and our future plans.

"I've decided on a name for the baby," he suddenly turned over and looked at me.

"Oh? It's too early for that," I said.

"We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl."

"The name can be used for both genders," he smiled.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Gu Jia."

"That's a girl's name, you're biased. What if it's a boy?" I was speechless.

"It's the 'jia' for family. As in 'thousands of families,' 'well-known to every household,' 'a scholarly family'..." he muttered.

Listening to him explain, I started to think that the name was actually quite nice and could be used for either gender.

"What about a nickname?" I asked him.

"Jiajia," he said.

"Jiajia?" I repeated. "Jiajia sounds like Jiajia, doesn't it?"

I felt like something was wrong.

"Gu Xiao, are you taking advantage of me? It sounds like I'm your child now," I said as I raised my hand to hit him.

But he caught my hand.

The atmosphere suddenly became very intimate. I tried to pull my hand back, but he wouldn't let go. Finally, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.

Then he pulled me closer and whispered, "Is the baby asleep?"

"It's only as big as a fist. How would I know if it's asleep or not?"

"Even better," he said, and then his kisses came down on me without restraint.

"Gu Xiao..."

"I have my limits," he said.

23

Waking up the next day, I found that Gu Xiao was already gone.

A small note was left on the bedside table.

"I'm going to work. I'll be back at night. Remember to buy me a set of pajamas. Take care of yourself at work and don't overexert yourself."

As I read the note, I couldn't help but scold him for crying crocodile tears.

But even though I was cursing him, my heart felt sweet.

My dad had left breakfast for me and gone to the construction site.

I took a half-day off from work and rested at home.

I went to the supermarket downstairs, bought pajamas for Gu Xiao and my dad.

Then I ran into Gu Xiao's mother.

Without a doubt, Gu Xiao must have called his mother, otherwise she wouldn't have come over suddenly.

"Jiajia, why are you carrying so many things alone? Let me help you," she said as she took the things from me.

I felt a bit embarrassed and had to give them all to her.

We wandered around the supermarket for a while. She bought chicken and fish. When we got back, she started rummaging through the fridge.

"Why haven't you cooked any of the seafood?" she asked me.

"I don't have time to cook," I said. Usually, my dad does the cooking. He doesn't eat seafood much and isn't very good at cooking it.

"Oh, it's okay. I'll cook it for you from now on," she said as she took out the seafood to thaw.

I was a bit shocked and stood there motionless.

She probably sensed my surprise and explained, "I've hired a housekeeper for Gu Xiao's dad. Someone will take care of his meals, so don't worry about it. Besides, the old man says my cooking isn't as good as the hospital cafeteria's, so he wants to eat there."

"So, I'll still come over and cook nutritional meals for you."

After that, she started busying herself again, sorting and washing vegetables and cutting meat with practiced movements.

"Actually, my dad cooks for me every day," I said in a low voice.

I was a bit embarrassed. With my dad here and my mother-in-law also here, wouldn't it be easy for conflicts to arise?

"Ah, Gu Xiao said your dad's work is almost done and he's going back to his hometown, isn't he?"

"I don't know," I said. I hadn't heard my dad mention it.

Could it be that he discussed it with Gu Xiao yesterday?

"Ah, Jiajia, you have to understand your dad. A man is indispensable in the family, and he will eventually have to go back," she said after a pause. "Before, it was my fault for not understanding your situation with Gu Xiao."

"Yesterday, Gu Xiao's dad scolded me when he heard that you cried sadly because of the baby. If I had been here with you, this wouldn't have happened. You're still young, and I've been through this before. Pregnancy for a woman is like going through a series of challenges. As long as the baby is in your belly, these challenges won't stop. When I was pregnant with Gu Xiao, the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck three times, and the doctor said there was a risk of asphyxia. It scared me so much. But after a month of worry, when I went for another check-up, he had unwrapped himself."

"Ah, that's scary," I said. I could imagine that if my baby had that kind of situation, I wouldn't have been any calmer than I was yesterday.

Pregnancy is really a life experience.

"You think Gu Xiao was naughty in my belly? It wasn't just that. In the later stages of my pregnancy, I had constipation and my water broke when he was only 7 months old. It was so stressful for me..."

His mother sighed and then came over to hold my hand.

"Jiajia, as you experience more, you'll come to understand that children's vitality is much stronger than we imagine. They're not as fragile as we think, so don't worry. In the future, if you have any questions, just ask me first. As a mother, I know a bit about these things."

"Okay," I said.

After hearing what she said, perhaps infected by her identity as a mother, some of the doubts in my heart gradually dissipated.

Gu Xiao's mother is an optimistic and cheerful person. While cooking, she chatted with me, and I actually felt incredibly warm.

In the evening, my dad told me that he would go back to our hometown this weekend.

"Although your mother-in-law is a city person, she doesn't have any airs. Her reaction at our house before can be understood. As parents, she was definitely worried about her son. True hearts exchange true hearts. If you treat her well, she will treat you well. People's hearts are made of flesh. Dad is going back now."

"Okay," I nodded.

On the weekend, Gu Xiao drove back to our hometown with us.

Gu Xiao's mother also came along.

In my mother's vegetable garden, Gu Xiao's mother couldn't contain her happiness.

"This vegetable is good, natural and pollution-free. It's good for pregnant women to eat."

As she spoke, she insisted on picking the vegetables herself, getting mud all over her clothes but still smiling happily.

"The countryside is great. The pace of life in the city is too fast. Thanks to you, I can come to the countryside occasionally to relax."

"You can relax, but don't pluck out the whole vegetable garden," Gu Xiao frowned as he looked at the ransacked garden.

"Oh, it's okay. We have plenty of vegetables in the countryside. We have several plots of land on the mountain that are all planted with vegetables. Do you want some more?"

My mother is a very honest person.

"Really?" His mother's eyes lit up when she heard that.

Gu Xiao gave his mother a look.

"Next time, in-laws. I'll come again next time."

"Okay, you're always welcome. Just tell me what vegetables you like, and I'll plant them for you. You can just drive back and pick them up."

The family talked and laughed together.

Later, every time I and Gu Xiao came back, his mother would come along too. She would unload all the snacks, meat, and daily necessities from Gu Xiao's trunk and bring them to my house, filling up my mother's fridge. Then she would take a cartload of vegetables back.

He also got into the habit of bringing a box of Wangzai milk for my younger sister every time he came back, as well as looking for various insect specimens for her.

24

As I looked at the fridge stuffed full in my hometown and the trunk loaded with vegetables, I teased, "Dr. Gu, your vegetables are quite pricey, aren't they?"

"Expensive? Nothing compares to the joy of seeing someone smile," he replied, smiling as he took me for a walk on the village road.

"You're so nice to me, what's your ulterior motive? Spill it!"

"An ulterior motive?" He laughed and pinched my cheek. "It's you who has an ulterior motive, hooking me in like this and being so ungrateful."

"Who's ungrateful? Did I make you sleep on the sofa or in the kids' room?"

He sighed helplessly, "Where you sleep matters little. It's how you sleep that counts."

"How we sleep?" I teased, amused by his cheekiness.

"Do your colleagues know you're like this?" I asked, genuinely baffled. Who knew that the usually aloof and proud Dr. Gu would have such a different side after work?

"They're not you, how would they know?" He kissed me and said, "I only show you my other face. More for the same price. Be nicer to me, hmm?"

"Who cares..." I scolded him for being unserious.

"I've been transferred to the internal medicine outpatient department next week," he announced.

"What? When?" I asked, surprised.

"Next week," he replied. "The outpatient department is less stressful, and I'll have more time for myself. You're about to give birth. How can you do it without me?"

As he spoke, he crouched down to listen to the baby's movements.

"I can take care of myself, and your mother is here too," I assured him.

I never imagined that Gu Xiao would change departments for me, considering his passion for emergency medicine.

"It kicked me," he suddenly frowned seriously.

"Little brat, you can kick me, but not your mom. Behave yourself," he said, pretending to pat his stomach.

"What are you doing?" I took his hand away. "How do you know it's a boy?"

I couldn't bear the thought of favoring boys over girls.

"If it's a girl... I wouldn't dare scold her. I'd be too afraid to hurt her," he said, looking at me with a pout.

This Gu Xiao, how did he become more childish with age?

"Actually, I have something for you to keep," he said, handing me a bank card.

"What's this about, Dr. Gu?" I asked with a smile. "Trying to bribe me? Let me tell you, my heart is sealed and my love is locked. Unless..."

Unless you bribe me with your eight-pack abs, I thought.

"Then take a look and see if it's enough," he said.

I took out my phone and logged into the bank app. When I saw the balance, my eyes lit up.

"How... how did you get so much money?" I stammered.

"Scholarship money from when I was studying, hospital salary, bonuses... I never used them, had no time to use them, and no one to spend them on... so I saved them all," he explained with a hint of bragging.

Goodness, listen to him! Why didn't he show me this earlier? I had to scrape and save to buy baby supplies. I thought he didn't have much money.

This... it excited me so much...

"Gu Xiao, I think... I think I've wet myself," I said, feeling something unusual.

He quickly crouched down to check and saw some moisture on my pants.

"Your amniotic fluid has broken," he said, scooping me up in his arms and running to the car.

"Hey, don't run so fast," I panicked.

So, with urgency, Gu Xiao drove me to the hospital and straight to the inpatient department.

After being admitted to the inpatient department, his mother and mine stayed with me while he took the examination reports to discuss the treatment plan with his colleagues.

In the end, he decided that a cesarean section would be the best option.

"The fetus is in an abnormal position, the head is too large, the birth canal is narrow, and the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck..." he calmly explained to me. "I don't want to put your life and the baby's at risk with unknowns. I trust the scalpel. Cesarean delivery is less risky. You have to trust me."

"Mm-hmm," I nodded.

Of course, I trusted him.

More than ever before.

He's a doctor. I was at ease knowing my life was in his hands.

The cesarean section was scheduled for 10 pm, and I was given a semi-anesthetic.

During the surgery, the anesthetist kept chatting with me to keep me relaxed.

"Your husband really tricked us," he joked. "We had an agreement to stay single forever, but he snuck away and had a baby."

"Ah, well..." I couldn't blame him for that.

"Do you think you're worse off than me?" the surgeon interjected.

"That darn Gu Xiao. After being a doctor for years, he still asks me to make the incision look pretty, threatens to break my leg if it's off by a millimeter, and wonders if I can tie a bowknot?"

"Are you serious? A bowknot?"

The doctors and nurses in the operating room were amused.

"He's really something, a doting husband to the extreme."

"Sister-in-law, only you can tame that Gu Xiao. Go home and teach him a lesson. He's been so obnoxious that we can't even do our jobs."

"Ah... okay," I nodded silently.

After about half an hour, a baby's cry pierced the silence of the operating room.

My heart immediately settled.

"This kid is really fair-skinned. Gu Xiao hit the jackpot," the doctor commented.

"Watch your language!" someone reminded.

"Sister-in-law, I meant the baby is healthy and it's a boy," the doctor clarified, holding him up for me to see.

"Mm-hmm," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes as the baby was pressed against my cheek.

Gu Jia, Jia Jia, my baby.

The surgery was uneventful, and I was wheeled out of the operating room. My mother, Gu Xiao, and his mother were all standing at the door waiting for me.

"Look at your baby, such a chubby boy. He's so adorable," my mother-in-law said, holding him up for me to see.

"Does it hurt?" Gu Xiao asked, taking my hand.

"No, the anesthetic makes it feel numb," I replied.

"That's good," he said, turning away to wipe away a tear.

"Look at him, he's such a softie. Before you came out, he was pacing around like a madman. It was so annoying," his mother complained to me.

I didn't say anything, just reached out to hold his hand.

He turned back, took my hand, and we walked to my hospital room together.

Throughout the night, he stayed by my bedside.

The baby was crying, and it was time to change his diaper. My mother-in-law took care of it while Gu Xiao watched and learned, fetching tea and water, moving quickly. After a busy spell, the two elders couldn't hold out any longer and went to the hotel to rest, leaving Gu Xiao to accompany me and the baby.

"Are you tired? Should you take a nap?" he asked, hovering beside the bed.

I was still groggy from the anesthesia. "A little bit, how about you?"

"I'm not tired," he smiled. "After so many nights of staying up, I've finally done it for myself."

"Mm-hmm," I mumbled, lost in my own thoughts, listening to him speak.

"Jiajia, thank you."

"Mm-hmm."

"I have a home now, with you and Shun Jia."

"Mm-hmm."

My heart was moved. Wasn't I the same? Because of him, I also had my own little family. I saw hope in our days ahead. Every day in the future would only be better than the last.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing my forehead gently.

I didn't speak, but tears streamed down the corners of my eyes.

"Mm-hmm, I love you too."

Jiajia also has a home now.