“Xiao Hong, are you alright?” Xiao Yun asked.
“I’m fine, Sister Yun, just a little unwell.” Xiao Hong coughed a few times as if about to vomit.
“How could this happen? You’re not… pregnant, are you?” Xiao Yun suddenly realized.
“Yes. It’s been over four months,” Xiao Hong said, a little embarrassed.
“Then why are you still drinking alcohol?” Xiao Yun chided.
“It was impossible to refuse. I’m meeting everyone for the first time, and I’d feel bad if I didn’t drink.”
“You, truly, are looking for trouble by saving face. If you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t drink, and no one will blame you. Is the child Yangzi’s?”
“Yangzi?”
“Guo Xu Yang, that’s who we all call Yangzi.”
“Yes. After Yangzi and I broke up last year, I returned to Pengcheng, intending to go to school. But then I discovered I was pregnant, so I didn’t go. I’ve been resting at home.”
“I saw you wearing such thick clothes at home earlier and wondered if you were pregnant. Why didn’t you tell me yesterday? If you had told me, you wouldn’t have had to come over; we could have visited you.”
“I’ve never visited Yangzi’s home before, and I wanted to see it. Yangzi saved me, and I didn’t expect to get pregnant.”
“He’s just like that; he dislikes using protection, finds it uncomfortable, and never considers others’ feelings.”
“It’s not like that. I’ve never complained about him. I’m truly happy to have his child.”
“You, you’re just too foolish. Are you twenty?”
“I’m twenty-one this year.”
“Not that old either. Are you feeling better? Shall we go in?”
“I’m much better now, Sister Yun.”
“Let Xia Li help you in. I need to go to the restroom.”
“Thank you, Sister Li.”
“You’re welcome,” Xia Li replied.
Seeing the pregnant Xiao Hong, Xia Li felt an indescribable mix of emotions. Why was one person after another getting pregnant, while her own womb remained barren? She couldn’t help but make a silent vow to spend more time with Guo Xu Yang during his few days at home.
The two arrived at the dining room to find everyone looking at them.
“It’s alright now; this young lady is pregnant,” Xia Li announced.
“Pregnant? Yangzi’s?” Wu Shang Qing exclaimed with great surprise.
Xiao Hong nodded.
“How many months?”
“Over four months.”
“That’s quite a few months. I was just telling your uncle that you were dressed so warmly, and I didn’t expect you were pregnant.” Wu Shang Qing, while greeting Xiao Hong, nudged Guo Xu Yang, who was sitting next to her, away.
“Come over here and sit next to me. You go over there.”
“Who did I offend?”
Guo Xu Yang rubbed his nose and moved to the seat Xiao Hong had just vacated.
“Daughter, you must absolutely not drink while pregnant; it has a significant impact on the fetus.”
“I understand, Auntie.”
“Since you’re here, stay for a few more days. You sisters can have each other for company. Xiao Xi and Yang Yang participate in prenatal education activities every day, and you can join them for company,” Wu Shang Qing said happily.
“Auntie, I told my family when I left that I’d be back tomorrow.”
“What are you worried about? Call home later and say you’re staying with Auntie. When you want to go home, I’ll have Yang Zi take you back.”
“Thank you, Auntie. As long as you don’t mind me, I’ll be fine.”
“What nonsense are you saying? How could Auntie mind you? I’m just delighted. Absolutely do not drink any more wine. Drink more ginseng porridge; it’s very good for the fetus.”
“Thank you, Auntie. I’ll serve myself.”
“Everyone, don’t just stand there; eat, eat!”
Guo Yi Yu saw that everyone was captivated by Wu Shang Qing and Xiao Hong and quickly made way.
“Mom, you can’t be so biased. I have a baby in my belly too, and I haven’t seen you serve me ginseng porridge.”
“You little girl, are you deliberately trying to find fault with Mom? Xiao Hong is visiting our home for the first time. She’s a guest from afar, and I need to entertain her well.”
“I don’t think that’s it. It’s more likely that your son has brought home another daughter-in-law, and you’re overjoyed, right?”
“Are your limbs itching? Come here, let me scratch them for you.”
“I’m not going. Yang Zi, come here and help me serve a bowl of ginseng porridge.”
“Alright, I’ll serve it right away.”
Guo Xu Yang quickly stood up and served a bowl for her, then served one for Yang Yang.
Elena and Xiao Yun sat together. Xiao Yun had already served Elena and placed it aside. At this moment, Elena was using her chopsticks to feed little Guo Yi Shun with some porridge. Seeing Guo Xu Yang wanting to serve her, she quickly stopped him, “No need to serve. It won’t be good to drink once it cools. Please serve Auntie and Uncle instead.”
Uncle and Auntie quickly waved their hands, saying, “No need to come over; we can serve ourselves. Everyone, eat more dishes; it’s a waste if we don’t eat this entire table full.”
As everyone was eating, Xiao Yun came in. Her eyes looked a little red, as if she had just reapplied makeup. Indeed, after asking Xia Li to help Xiao Hong in, she had quietly slipped into the restroom to shed tears. She felt a bit wronged, a bit resentful of her own body for not being more cooperative. Now, several people were pregnant, yet she, who had been with Yang Zi the longest, was not. She heard Xiao Hong say the fetus was over four months old. Calculating the time, it should have been when Guo Xu Yang met Xiao Hong in Shanghai before going to Africa, and after they got together, he got Xiao Hong pregnant. She had been with Guo Xu Yang for so long, and they had never used protection, yet she didn’t know why she couldn’t get pregnant. She even suspected if it was something she had done with other boyfriends in the past. She had always been very beautiful; since middle school, many boys had written her love letters, and it had never stopped. Back then, there was no shortage of going through the motions. She had her assets: tall, beautiful, and long legs. But after meeting Yang Zi, she realized how unbearable she had been. Now, when she wanted a child, she couldn’t conceive. She couldn’t help but regret and feel sad.
What she didn’t know was that she had encountered something particularly unbearable in America, but unfortunately, that memory had been erased from her mind by Guo Xu Yang. Guo Xu Yang had also erased his memory of that period, which was why their relationship was so harmonious. Currently, only Lu Liang, Xiao Yu, and Yu’er knew about those events. These three would never mention these things to Guo Xu Yang and Xiao Yun. After all, that matter was too disgusting, and if the two of them were to remember it again, they probably wouldn’t be together.
Of course, Xiao Yun was unaware of those matters. She merely resented her own body for being uncooperative and unable to conceive Guo Xu Yang’s child.
“Sister Yun, what’s wrong?” Yu’er quietly nudged Xiao Yun and asked.
“Nothing. I accidentally got hand sanitizer in my eyes while washing my hands earlier.”
“Hurry and eat; the food will get cold soon.”
Everyone enjoyed this meal immensely, except for Guo Xu Yang. He was bossed around by Li Min Xi, being asked to serve porridge, pass dishes, and even fetch food; he was just short of being fed.
Author’s Note: This book has three updates, morning, noon, and evening. Please continue to follow along. Cast your free silver votes and let’s have some fun together.