Jiang Qing and the Xu family used to only see each other during the holidays. Jiang Qing's impression of them, aside from greed, wasn't very familiar.
He'd neglected his wife for years, and he had no idea Xu Lan had been constantly bullied.
Today, I'd ripped off this so-called façade of affection and hit a nerve with Jiang Qing. How could he let it go?
Seeing his anger, my uncle quickly showed weakness, glaring at my aunt. "You disgraceful thing! Go get your clothes off!"
After my aunt came out after changing her clothes, Jiang Qing immediately ordered them to leave.
My aunt was reluctant to leave, and Jiang Qing looked at the others, "You're disturbing my wife's rest. Go away."
Jiang Qing had only been keeping these parasites because of my mother's face. He despised those who only asked for money, so naturally, he wasn't happy with them.
The Xu family hadn't expected Jiang Qing's attitude to change so quickly after my few provocations. He looked at my mother with embarrassment. "Daughter, please say something. We are family. Even if our bones are broken, we are still connected."
My mother has been feeling very uncomfortable these past two days due to pregnancy reactions. Perhaps it's because she's been completely disappointed with her family for years.
So, she just curled up on the sofa the whole time, not saying a word.
When the old man called her, she said coldly, "You guys go away. Wanwan can take care of me."
"Okay, okay, you guys are family, right? Let's go."
The old man always used this trick to kidnap my mother. I'm afraid the next one would be to use my grandmother to force her to obey.
For twenty years, his methods have been this simple and crude.
But this trick worked perfectly for my mother.
But this time, he was going to be disappointed. I knew what my mother was worried about.
While the old man and his family were gone, Lu Yanchen's people were privately contacting my grandmother. If they could free her from that cage, my mother wouldn't have to worry about getting a divorce. The old man didn't realize that by the time he got back, the house would have been robbed.
After the Xu family left, Jiang Qing noticed that Mom's face looked grim, and concern was evident in her eyes.
"Are you feeling bad?"
Mom curled up listlessly, unwilling to speak, her stomach churning with discomfort.
It's not that Jiang Qing doesn't love Mom; he just doesn't know how to love.
He was used to being flattered by women at Lin Hui's place. He and Mom had fallen out when they were young, so he'd always been aloof and had never known how to please or care for a woman.
He reached out and touched Mom's forehead. "Was it this hard when you were pregnant with Wanwan?"
Mom still ignored him. Back then, when she found out she was pregnant, she'd actually considered accepting her fate and living a good life with Jiang Qing.
Letting go of herself, and letting go of Uncle Rong.
Who knew, just as she'd made up her mind, she'd learn of Lin Hui's pregnancy, and Mom was completely despairing.
She turned a cold eye on Jiang Qing and pushed him to Lin Hui's side. How could Jiang Qing possibly understand the pain she was going through during her pregnancy? Only now did he realize that for the past twenty years, he'd only been able to fight with his mother, ignoring her own vulnerability as a woman.
A servant nearby said, "Pregnancy is never easy for a woman. The first three months are so intense she can even vomit blood, not to mention the restless later stages, which make it difficult to sleep. Madam isn't much better either, vomiting everything she eats, even water. As an outsider, I can't say much. Pregnant women need quiet time, and Madam's family shows no concern and keeps disturbing her rest."
Jiang Qing's face was filled with guilt and self-blame. "Honey, I'm sorry. I'll take you back to your room to rest."
He leaned over and picked up Madam. Madam patted his chest, "Let go! What are you doing? The baby's still here."
"Don't move! You'll vomit again soon."
He carried Madam upstairs.
I sighed helplessly, watching his back.
If he had come to his senses sooner, Madam wouldn't have ended up like this. Unfortunately, there's no regret medicine in life. Whether right or wrong, there's no turning back. We can only keep moving forward.
Back in my room, Lu Yanchen had already washed up and was sitting on the bed, reading.
I washed and changed into pajamas. He closed the book and pulled back a corner of the quilt, his tone clearly suggestive.
Last night, our intimacy was after I'd drunkenly; this was the first time I'd been sober.
I shyly moved to the edge of the bed, took off my shoes, and slowly crawled over to him.
Seeing I was still a little embarrassed, he asked, "Do you want to turn off the lights?"
I knew exactly what he meant by "turn off the lights," and I hummed a quiet "Yes."
Although I haven't spent much time with Lu Yanchen in this life, we've known each other for many years. Over time, I've come to understand his feelings, and my affection for him is growing.
I'm just a little shy about that kind of thing, but I'm not opposed to it.
Lu Yanchen is a considerate husband who respects me in every way.
I turned off the lights and lay quietly, my heart beating rapidly in the darkness. Nervous, yet faintly filled with anticipation.
"Baby." His voice was low and particularly alluring.
My heart seemed to tremble at the word "baby."
"Do you want it?" He asked patiently without moving me.
Thankfully, it was dark, so he couldn't see my blushing face.
My voice was as soft as a mosquito's: "...What about you?"
He wasn't as shy as me and said bluntly: "Yes."
I guessed what he was thinking: Lu Yanchen wanted me to take the initiative.
I inched from the edge of the bed toward the source of warmth.
"Baby, hold me," he commanded.