Ji You mistook the person in front of her. It was Fang Sihuo’s cousin. He scratched his head awkwardly and said, “Sister-in-law, it’s me.”
Fang Sihuo had rushed here on his bicycle as soon as he learned Ji You planned to terminate the pregnancy. Near the destination, the chain slipped twice, which left him behind.
Hearing the name Fang Sihuo, his mood plummeted. Ji You only called him that when she was in an extremely good mood. She had just left the clinic, her mood still good. So the child must already be gone.
Ji You did not like him or their child. Moreover, the pregnancy affected her broadcasting work, which was why she had decided to terminate it.
It was all his fault. He should not have let Ji You get pregnant.
Men could not bear children. If they could, he would have taken the burden himself and spared Ji You the pain.
His heart felt crushed, as if someone had ripped it from his chest, kneaded it, and stomped on it. He jumped off the bicycle, tossed it to the side of the road, and ran toward Ji You.
Ji You refused to admit she had mistaken him. She glanced at the cousin and, her pale lips slightly parting, said, “Step aside, do not block the way.”
What right did this cousin have? He cared about her broadcasting work, and in the previous life, he had even sued her over inheritance. A distant cousin, with what qualifications, with what face, to fight over inheritance.
He was not there to stop the termination. Like everyone else around, he hoped she would terminate the pregnancy and divorce, then return to Binjiang.
As a headstrong person, living for her own comfort, Ji You easily made enemies on all sides.
Fang Sihuo ran with long strides, his feet almost sparking from the pavement. He finally reached Ji You and stopped, eagerly looking her over.
Ji You had severe morning sickness and poor appetite, and the food here had been terrible. Her face looked sickly pale. Her loose top hid the slight bulge of her belly.
Judging by her soft features and cheerful voice, Fang Sihuo realized Ji You had already terminated the pregnancy. That was why she appeared so happy.
He hurriedly took off his jacket to wrap her and said, his voice urgent and hoarse, “I heard that a termination requires recovery like childbirth. You cannot stand in the cold wind. Wear my jacket and go home to rest.”
Ji You did not take her eyes off him. Seeing him strong and full of vigor, she felt relieved to see him in his youth again.
Fang Sihuo had never been stared at like this. His slightly tanned face flushed red. When he handed over the work jacket, the smell of engine oil hit her nose, making her stomach churn, and she let out a dry heave.
His hand froze awkwardly in midair.
“I am not wearing your jacket. It smells like engine oil,” Ji You said.
Returning to the past, her experiences had taught her restraint, but her speech style had not changed. She did not want to change. She lived as she pleased without caring what others thought.
To Fang Sihuo, it sounded like disdain.
He adapted quickly and was not troubled. His warm, large hands pulled back, and he put on the jacket himself. He suggested, “I will carry you. Are you feeling okay? Are you uncomfortable?”
Carrying Ji You meant she would be even closer to the engine oil smell. Fang Sihuo thought she would refuse, but Ji You curved her lips and said, “Sure.”
His long, well-defined fingers buttoned his jacket and took Ji You’s luggage. He did not miss the expression on her face. He could not tell what she was thinking. Her faint smile made him uneasy.
Why was she smiling? Was it because she was relieved after the termination?
Fang Sihuo was tall and strong. He could fully enclose Ji You’s slender frame. He tossed the luggage to the cousin, bent his legs, crouched, and wrapped his left arm around Ji You’s legs and his right arm around her back. With ease, he lifted her horizontally, took long strides, and said to his cousin, “Ride the bicycle first.”
The cousin was confused. Has the termination already happened? It probably had not. Who would leave the hospital immediately after?
Seeing Fang Sihuo’s tense expression, he did not dare ask and hurried to pick up the fallen bicycle, muttering, “Get the termination done and divorce quickly.”
Ji You buried her head in Fang Sihuo’s neck, her arms naturally wrapping around him. The stray hairs at the nape were as hard as him and pricked her.
Fang Sihuo’s chest was strong and solid. His arms held her curled body securely. He walked steadily, effortlessly.
In the previous life, the same scene had played out. He arrived too late. Even if she had not taken the medicine, he could not have stopped it.
In a daze, Ji You remembered his face, full of heartache. She had mocked him then, saying, “There is no family fortune to inherit. Why do you want a son?”
At that time, she was in bad shape. After leaving the clinic, she stayed in a proper hospital for days. When discharged, Fang Sihuo had carried her carefully, fearing to hurt her. Her hands and feet were cold, his body hot.
His expression seemed frozen, unreadable. Did he feel pain from losing the child?
Ji You no longer thought of the past. Looking at him now, his youthful, strong body close to her, she felt a sense of security and peace she had never known.
Now he is healthy and strong. She wanted to help him maintain his health so he could live longer, hopefully a long life.
Feeling his gaze, Fang Sihuo lowered his head. Ji You’s focused eyes met his dark ones. His face flushed slightly.
He lifted her carefully, like holding precious porcelain, afraid to hurt her.
Ji You placed her hand on his chest, feeling his strong, fast heartbeat. She smiled and said, “Fang Sihuo, why are you blushing? You look so innocent. Yes, during the day, you are very innocent.”
Fang Sihuo was speechless.
Did she mean his nighttime actions were rough? She was pretty, fair-skinned, soft-waisted, and he always acted like a starving wolf.
She was a broadcaster with a pleasant voice. Under his rough movements, her voice became sticky and soft. He wanted to hear more, which made him rougher, forcing more sounds from her lips.
Only in the dark, when taking what he wanted, could he feel she was his wife, his woman. Otherwise, she did not pay attention to him.
Now Ji You seemed to blame him for the pregnancy.
His voice was low and slightly hoarse. “I am sorry. I should not have let you get pregnant. I heard that a termination hurts the body. If you do not divorce, I can avoid that in the future.”
Ji You tilted her head, puzzled. What did he mean by that?
She looked at his seemingly honest and awkward face, full of apology and regret, and laughed. She was in a good mood and teased, “Fine, then you can be a monk. Do not think of going back on your word. I will not agree.”
Did she mean she would not divorce?
A light seemed to shine into Fang Sihuo’s world. He knew Ji You was unpredictable. He could only promise, “Okay, I can be a monk. I will do whatever you say.”
Fang Sihuo carried Ji You back to the housing provided by the agricultural machinery station.
“Cousin, I have waited for you a long time. I will leave first.”
Yu Zimin saw Fang Sihuo’s expression and quickly left.
The room at the station was small, only one unit of twenty square meters for a family of three.
The location was convenient, close to the city center and the radio station, making it easy for Ji You to commute.
Even with his strength, holding a position like this made his arms ache, but he did not want her to notice. He set her down gently and reached for the luggage. Ji You asked, “You carried me all this way. Are you tired?”
Fang Sihuo froze. Did she actually care about him? That was impossible. Ji You had never cared. Was there something behind her words?
He wanted to help her, and seeing she did not refuse, he held her steadily. “Not tired,” he said, advising her, “Walk slowly.”
Ji You did not know her simple question stirred so much thought in him.
They went upstairs to the second floor. Ji You first used the public restroom, then returned to her room.
The early morning, the bus ride, walking, and all the emotions had exhausted her. She needed rest.
The apartment had two rooms. The couple stayed in the inner room, Fang Sihuo’s mother, Zhang Guilan, stayed in the outer room. The bathroom was shared. Cooking was done in the corridor. The house was narrow and poorly lit. Being assigned to such a place was already lucky.
Back in the room, Fang Sihuo stood by the bed, fluffed the blanket, placed the sleepwear along the edge, and waited for Ji You.
Ji You sat down, calmly changed her sleepwear. Knowing she disliked being watched, Fang Sihuo turned away until the blanket made rustling noises. He leaned forward and carefully tucked it around her shoulders, saying, “Rest well. I will go buy some meat to help you recover.”
Hearing meat made Ji You uncomfortable. Her body rejected greasy food. She said, “I still have morning sickness. I will not eat meat. Only boiled vegetables and water.”
Fang Sihuo fell silent. She had always been malnourished. If she did not recover well after the termination, her health would collapse.
Morning sickness would eventually disappear. Then he could nourish her properly.
He suggested, “How about I make some milk for you?”
He was torn. He worried she would sleep poorly but also worried about her nutrition.
Ji You ended his hesitation quickly, saying, “Okay.”
With hot water in the thermos, he added two scoops of milk powder, one scoop of malted milk, poured in boiling water, stirred, fanned it until warm, and served it to her.
Ji You opened her eyes, sat up, and took a large sip. The sweet malted milk warmed her body. She said softly, “Go to work. Do not worry about me.”
Fang Sihuo, looking down from his height, shook his head, “I took leave. I will not go today.”
His wife had just had a termination. Her body was weak. Going to work then was unreasonable.
After Ji You finished the milk and lay back down, he stayed nearby. She was unusually quiet, having experienced so much, yet she did not complain or say she was uncomfortable.
Had she already lost hope in their marriage?
Watching her peaceful face, her lashes trembling as if she were about to open her eyes, Fang Sihuo quickly washed the empty cup and sat in the outer room to read.
Ignoring the surrounding noise, Ji You soon fell asleep.
She was awakened by Fang Sihuo’s mother, Zhang Guilan.
Zhang Guilan, in her fifties and healthier than Ji You, rushed home like a whirlwind. The door was unlocked. She shouted, “Sihuo, are you home? It is terrible. Your wife went for a termination. Sihuo, Sihuo.”