“No need, I…”
Before she could finish, Lu Xiuyuan spoke first:
“Mom, that’s not necessary.”
Grandpa Lu, waiting for the nurse to bring medicine, overheard and added:
“Don’t think just because you’re young that you can ignore your health.”
Grandma Lu chimed in helpfully:
“I think Xiao Xu would be an easy mother. It’s just that Xiuyuan isn’t home often if he goes with the military, she could have two kids in three years.”
Xu Zhixia’s face suddenly flushed she was already carrying two!
Could this man be protecting her?
Worried she might find a health problem?
She hadn’t expected such thoughtfulness.
“Actually…”
She was already pregnant, just a little shy to say it.
No one had even asked if she was pregnant.
Lu Xiuyuan interjected:
“There’s no rush about the child. Life is easier in the capital anyway.”
Previously, the military relocation had caused arguments, and Xu Zhixia preferred living in the capital.
Life at the base wouldn’t be as comfortable as here.
Xu Zhixia looked at him and met his eyes:
“Is that so? But I was planning to go with you to the base.”
She finished with a sly wink.
Lu Xiuyuan instantly squeezed her hand. How could she say such things so naturally?
Was she pretending?
He pressed his tongue to his cheek she better be telling the truth.
Mrs. Lu was delighted; the original couple was always best.
Seeing Xiao Xu willing to change and follow her son to the military district, what was there to worry about?
Surely, this was about settling down happily.
She asked excitedly:
“When will you go?”
Xu Zhixia shyly glanced at Lu Xiuyuan:
“That depends on Xiuyuan. I’m fine; I can quit my factory job.”
Mrs. Lu saw how determined she was. The problem lay with her son.
She slapped his back:
“Your wife wants to join the military. Call your superior, handle the paperwork later, and return after this leave.”
Lu Xiuyuan frowned at the strong smack this really was his mother.
He couldn’t tell if Xu Zhixia was lying to the elders or truly wanted to go.
Her actions these past days had been confusing.
Mrs. Lu began happily imagining:
“I wonder what your child will look like like both of you, surely very cute.”
Xu Zhixia blushed:
“Mom…”
She cupped her belly, smiling at Mrs. Lu, then glanced at Grandpa Lu.
He had lost a lot of weight.
She wanted to share the happy news now, to lift Grandpa’s spirits.
Sometimes a patient’s vitality is half the cure.
As long as their spirit is strong, the body recovers better.
“What’s wrong?”
Mrs. Lu now found her more pleasant and a little more concerned than before.
Xu Zhixia blushed and slipped her hand back into Lu Xiuyuan’s large palm.
Her voice was soft and gentle:
“I’m actually pregnant.”
The words exploded in the room.
“What? You’re pregnant?”
Mrs. Lu’s voice was loud.
Grandma Lu quickly said:
“Why shout so loud? You scared our great-grandson.”
Mrs. Lu smacked her head:
“Yes, yes, sit here. Are you uncomfortable? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
She pushed Lu Xiuyuan aside and helped Xu Zhixia into the room’s only soft chair.
“Anything you want to eat? You’ll move back here tonight, so I can take care of you.”
Mrs. Lu babbled on, completely forgetting yesterday’s insistence on divorce.
Xu Zhixia was overwhelmed by the sudden warmth.
Grandpa Lu’s weathered face bloomed into a smile:
“Months have passed, and you didn’t say a word.”
Lu Xiuyuan froze these words were thunderous.
She was pregnant?
They had a baby?
A surge of joy flooded him this was their child.
He could almost hear his heart pounding, fast and strong.
The world seemed to quiet instantly.
All he saw was Xu Zhixia; his heart felt like it would jump out of his chest.
At that moment, he realized clearly: he longed for a child with Xu Zhixia’s blood.
There were many children in the compound, but he had never cared.
Now, thinking of having one with Xu Zhixia, it felt wonderful.
The experience was novel.
But then, a chilling thought hit him like ice water:
If she was pregnant, why had she attempted suicide and argued about divorce a few days ago?
She hadn’t mentioned pregnancy at home.
And now, suddenly, she said it here.
Most likely, before coming, they agreed to act like a loving couple. She was just pretending.
She had really gone all out, even fooling him.
He remained frozen, like a statue.
Lu Tiantian, hearing Xu Zhixia was pregnant, was unhappy.
She knew her brother well.
If this woman were pregnant, he certainly wouldn’t divorce her.
But a quick glance at her brother revealed otherwise.
His face showed no joy, only a hint of anger.
She moved closer:
“Brother, you don’t want Xu Zhixia to be pregnant, do you?”
Lu Xiuyuan lowered his voice:
“Go away.”
Lu Tiantian scratched her head, speechless how reasonable was that?
He was cold as ice, plain to see.
After scolding her, Mrs. Lu remembered her son and grabbed him:
“Son, you’ll move back home tonight. Your room is ready, and I’ll make another chicken soup tonight.”
Mrs. Lu babbled on.
Just then, Su Ruan came in:
“Grandpa Lu, here’s your new prescription three times a day, one packet each.”
She held several packets, each containing a few pills.
Xu Zhixia glanced at the prescription, dividing her attention.
“Grandpa, while taking these, I can also apply medicated ointment to your joints—it’ll help your health.”
Grandpa Lu, happy today, said:
“You can do that too? Then please help me.”
“No trouble, no trouble.”
Su Ruan, seeing the good mood in the room, couldn’t resist asking:
“Is there some happy news?”
Mrs. Lu smiled:
“Yes, our daughter-in-law is pregnant.”
Lu Tiantian nodded:
“Then that’s indeed great news, Sister-in-law?”
She recalled seeing Lu Xiuyuan’s wife a bit plump a few days ago.
Mrs. Lu shook her head:
“They already have two sons. With family planning now, she’s on birth control.”
“Ah? Second brother is married?”
“No, Xiuyuan’s wife is pregnant.”