This sudden news caught me completely off guard. I stared blankly at Xie Nana, whose face was flushed red, like a child who had done something wrong.
"Hua, if you're not ready, we can wait."
"How can we? This is our flesh and blood. What are you thinking?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but.' You take good care of yourself. It's just that you can't be by my side now. I'll handle the rest!"
I said firmly, holding Nana tightly in my arms.
"Sleep now. Don't think about anything else. I'm looking forward to the baby's arrival."
Xie Nana nodded, gently pulled herself out of my embrace, and led me by the hand to wash up.
The next morning, I called my mother and told her about Nana's pregnancy.
My mother hesitated on the other end. Clearly, she was also taken aback by the news. She didn't even know Xie Nana existed.
Jing Lei and I had been a couple, and she had long since assumed our relationship was settled. Suddenly, the female lead had changed to Nana, and she hadn't adjusted yet.
After just a moment, her kindly voice came through: "Let her stay at home. Don't let her travel around with you. Both mother and child need a peaceful environment."
I hummed in agreement and hung up. I called Wen Siqiang and asked him to prepare a car to take us back.
After hanging up, I felt it was not a good idea. Our car was too conspicuous and could easily expose us. It would be better to just take a taxi.
I asked Wen Siqiang to still drive the car and head in a different direction.
After more than ten minutes, Nana and I came out. Seeing that there was no movement outside, we went to the roadside to flag down a taxi.
We both got into the back seat, told the driver the address, glanced outside again, and told the driver to drive.
Only when I handed Nana over to my mother did my heart finally relax.
I didn't rush to leave; I stayed to have breakfast with my parents.
By my calculation, I hadn't visited them for several months. My father no longer went out for drinks or played chess. He spent his days poring over documents, organizing his teaching notes. He said he wanted to compile his teaching experiences from over the years and publish a series of books, from junior high to high school. If he could contact a publisher, he wanted to share his accumulated teaching theories with the world.
"Dad, you organize them with peace of mind. I'll handle the publisher."
My father nodded, tears of excitement shimmering in his eyes. Teaching was his life, the noble endeavor to which he had dedicated his life's energy. Despite suffering such a great blow, he had not forgotten his original intention. If he could successfully publish and contribute to the education sector, how happy that would be for him.
I had made up my mind: once he finished, I would pay out of my own pocket to help him publish the series.
Since Nana arrived, she had been staying obediently by my mother's side. Although it was the first time the two of them had met, it was as if they had known each other for a long time, with endless things to talk about.
After settling Nana down and giving a few more instructions, I went downstairs and headed out.
The sky was still light, so I didn't go back to the hotel directly. I took a taxi to Jing Lei's place.
Jing Lei opened the door with a bit of surprise; she hadn't expected me to visit.
Just yesterday, I was lying in the hospital, with the doctor giving me a grim prognosis. I hadn't expected to be standing in front of her now.
"Aren't you supposed to still be in the hospital?" she asked, letting me into the room.
"The situation has changed. Brother Hui is targeting me. He sent assassins last night, but they failed. So I completed the discharge procedures and came out. I'm here to tell you to try not to show yourself in public for the next few days. I plan to go to the other side to find him."
"How can you do that? The doctor said your old injury hasn't fully healed. Isn't that very dangerous? It's not as convenient to go to the other side as it is here. What if something goes wrong?"
"The current situation is that I'm not safe here either, perhaps even less so. In the face of life and death, health is not the most important thing. Don't worry, I have my seniors with me, so there won't be any major problems. It's just you and Lan Ya that I can't let go of. You need to stay in contact with Da Kui. I've asked Da Kui to look after you here."
Jing Lei nodded helplessly. She also understood that such an arrangement was the best option at the moment.
I hesitated whether to tell her about Nana. Although she was the closest person to me, we had never discussed our future. I knew her thoughts; she was eight or nine years older than me. Although she loved me, she didn't have enough information to discuss marriage with me, and I had never brought it up.
I never cared about her age. Even when Xie Nana appeared later, my love for Jing Lei had never wavered.
She was different from Lan Ya. I felt that Lan Ya and I were more like buddies. Even if we had a relationship, it was more physical than emotional. But Jing Lei was different. She gave me so much familial affection and warmth; I relied on her more.
She acknowledged Xie Nana's existence, but acknowledging didn't mean she could accept the fact of her pregnancy.
"Something is on your mind?"
Jing Lei was perceptive; my expression was clear on my face, and she saw it at a glance.
"Yes, there's something. I don't know how to say it."
"Is there anything we can't talk about? Have you found another woman?"
"I can't even take care of my own life, how could I have anything like that?"
"Your expression tells me that what you're hiding is related to a woman."
I sighed at Jing Lei's sensitivity; she had seen through me so clearly.
"It is related to a woman, but it's not another woman. It's about Xie Nana."
"What happened to her? Does she want to leave you? I saw how much she cared about you yesterday. How could she change overnight? Could it be that she's thinking of kinship and wants to separate from you?"
Jing Lei knew that I had sent Xie Nana's father to prison and was now going against her uncle, Brother Hui.
"It's not that. Her feelings haven't changed. It's something else."
"What else could it be? Just treat her well. You two are close in age, and she likes you so much. Don't worry, as long as you two are happy, I won't be upset even if we have no future. I sincerely hope you two continue to be happy."
"Jing Lei, it's really not because of these things. Although at first, it was Xie Nana who liked the role I played, my love for you has never wavered. Later, I gradually accepted her because she didn't hold a grudge against me for what I had done and remained the same. So..."
"You don't need to explain these things to me. Having your words is enough for me, and it's worth loving someone. Since that's the case, what can't you say?"
I gathered my courage, took Jing Lei's hand, and said, "Nana is pregnant."
Jing Lei's mouth widened in surprise, and she let out an exclamation, just like I did yesterday!
"Did I shock you?"
"Is it true? When did it happen?"
"She said her period this month didn't come, and she was worried she might be pregnant. She went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor clearly told her she was pregnant. The fetus is more than four weeks old."
Jing Lei looked at me and said, "Hua Zi, this is good news! What kind of fortune did you cultivate to have a baby come so quickly? I'm genuinely happy for you. No, I'm happy that we are welcoming this new life."
She looked at me with genuine sincerity. Through her clear eyes, I saw no trace of any other sentiment.
"Thank you, Jing Lei. I'm relieved that you think this way."
"What kind of person do you think I am? I love you, so of course, I will accept everything about you."
I opened my arms and hugged her tightly, not knowing how to express my emotions at that moment.