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After my dad returned, this plan naturally reached his ears. Compared to my mom, my dad reacted more strongly, directly saying that I shouldn't do this.
My parents raised me to always have a kind heart, even when faced with bullying; I should do my part and not become a bad person myself. My current actions clearly contradict their expectations, so it's understandable that they are angry with me.
But I must tell them the reason: I am afraid that Wang Xu will suddenly come over and learn about my plan. By telling them now, at least my parents can be somewhat mentally prepared and hold back from speaking out, avoiding any surprised or shocked expressions.
In reality, involving them was the most helpless choice.
I didn't expect that just over a day later, Wang Xu still didn't keep our agreement and showed up at my doorstep. Not only did he come, but his mother, wearing a forced smile, stood behind him, making me feel as if I were dreaming.
"Zhuang Jun, are you still sleeping? Did we wake you? It's okay; you can sleep a little longer. Is Dad at work? Mom should be home; we can just chat with her. You go rest."
Wang Xu spoke while cautiously stepping into the house. He seemed afraid of bumping into me, carefully not advancing too quickly, yet he was determined to move inside, with his mother following closely behind.
"Yes, yes, if you want to sleep, sleep a bit more. It's still early; you rest. I'll make lunch. What do you want to eat? I've already bought the ingredients; you can pick what you like. If there's nothing you want, let your mom prepare something. I'll handle the cooking."
His mother confidently began directing my mom as if it were second nature. As her daughter-in-law, I was supposed to respect and serve her, but my mom was different. My mother-in-law's attitude really angered me.
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking? I'll go buy it myself. Let Mom stay home and rest more with you. Ah, Zhuang Jun, don't rush; just go inside and we can talk there."
Wang Xu gently held my arm and led me into the house. After he and his mother entered and closed the door, my mom came out upon hearing the commotion, frowning deeply: "What are you all doing…"
"Mom…" Wang Xu approached with a smile: "I came to see you and Zhuang Jun. My mom also came along because she hasn't seen you in a while and really wants to chat with you. We hope we’re not disturbing your rest."
My mom looked at Wang Xu and then at me with a complex expression. She had just been told about my pretense of being pregnant and needed some time to digest it all. Afraid of revealing any signs of panic in haste, I stepped forward and tugged at my mom's sleeve: "Didn't you say you wanted to take a nap? Why not go rest now? I'm here; don't worry."
Wang Xu, upon hearing this, excitedly said, "Mom, if you want to rest, just go ahead. My mom can come and cook for us at noon. You don't need to worry; just sleep for a bit. Is Dad coming back for lunch? If he is, I brought his favorite wine. I'll have a couple of drinks with him."
I pulled my mom into the room and closed the door, whispering to comfort her, "Mom, you should rest for now. I'll send them away before you come out. Don't worry; there's nothing to be afraid of."
I knew she was concerned about me. After all, such a big lie could easily be exposed. The excitement from Wang Xu and my mother-in-law could lead to unimaginable consequences if the truth came out. I understood all of this, but I was taking a risk this time; I couldn't give it up.
"Hey, just handle it well, Zhuang Jun. I still hope you can be honest with Wang Xu. You two should talk it out; there must be a way."
Hearing my mom say this made me feel particularly helpless. Although she was on my side and considering my feelings, she didn't know many things. She didn't realize that there was no possibility of talking things over with Wang Xu anymore. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed like I still had many options, but only I knew that I was being forced into this situation.
As I stepped out of the room, Wang Xu and my mother-in-law, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up. Wang Xu quickly walked over and took my hand, saying, "Is Mom feeling unwell? Should we take her to see a doctor?"
I felt a surge of anger inside me. "What are you saying, Wang Xu? Are you cursing my mom's health?"
Wang Xu's face showed an inexplicable sense of grievance as he replied, "No, dear, that's not what I meant! I just noticed Mom didn't look well and thought she might be unwell, so I wanted to show concern for her. That's not what I meant at all."
Before Wang Xu could finish explaining, my mother-in-law interjected, "It's fine; it's all a misunderstanding. Wang Xu, what are you talking about? Why bring up doctors during the New Year? Saying that brings bad luck! Can't you speak properly?"
"I know, I know! I won't say that anymore," Wang Xu quickly changed his tone. "What do you want to eat today? My mom bought a lot of things; there are many local specialties from our hometown. Come over and take a look at what you want."
Wang Xu pulled me over to a pile of bags and began pointing out the items inside one by one while introducing them with pride on his face. He watched my expression intently; this kind of thoughtful concern was the focus I had longed for.
Forget it.
"I don't want to eat any of it; you can take it back."
My mother-in-law became anxious upon hearing this. "How can we take it back? These were specially prepared for you! Look at these items; you can't find them in the city now. Eating these during pregnancy is especially nourishing. When I was pregnant with Wang Xu, I couldn't even get these kinds of things! Yet I still gave birth to him and raised him healthy and chubby all by myself without any issues..."
"Mom." I've heard how she raised Wang Xu so many times that my ears have developed calluses. I used to feel moved for Wang Xu and wanted to repay his mother for her kindness, but now, listening to her makes me feel nauseous, and I really don't want to hear her continue.
"I know all this, but I don't want to eat. You can't just pry my mouth open and force it in, can you? You should go back now; I want some peace and quiet. I've made myself very clear before; you didn't come here to pressure me into leaving, did you?"
There was no threat in that, and what I'm really afraid of now is that I'm glad I confessed to my parents first; at least I won't be flustered.
"How could that be? We came because we were genuinely worried about your health. Mom is getting older and worries about her grandson every day. We’re afraid that since you’ve finally gotten pregnant, your body might not handle it well. We just wanted to bring some supplements to take care of you. Dad is still at work, and Mom can't manage everything alone. If we can help a bit, why not?"
Wang Xu spoke so sincerely that it almost moved me. His mother also forced a bit of genuine emotion onto her face, nodding vigorously as if she was afraid I wouldn't see it.
I coldly replied, "Mom's grandson—there's more than one."
In an instant, the expressions on Wang Xu and his mother's faces changed dramatically, becoming unusually complex and unpleasant. Seeing them like this brought me satisfaction, and I had to remind myself not to show any joy on my face.
"Well then, Zhuang Jun, look at the color of these farm-fresh eggs. They're good for you; they’ll nourish your body. Are you hungry? I'll make you a bowl of sweet egg soup to replenish your strength."
His mother broke the momentary silence, bending down to pull two eggs from her pocket and gesturing in front of me, saying she would go to the kitchen to cook without acknowledging what I had just said.
From her, I intermittently saw Wang Xu's shadow—Wang Xu lying, Wang Xu shirking responsibility; it must be hereditary. His mother really raised a good son.
Without waiting for my consent, his mother quickly headed toward the kitchen. Perhaps she was more afraid of my refusal; before entering the kitchen, she turned back to give Wang Xu a knowing look. Wang Xu secretly glanced at me and said submissively, "Honey, why don’t you sit down for a bit? Don’t stand too long; it’s uncomfortable."
Wang Xu pulled me back into the living room, away from the kitchen. I raised my voice slightly: "If you've forgotten, let me remind you—I said please don’t come to my house and disturb my normal life. What you're doing right now is making me very angry. Are you trying to drive me away so you can live with Deng Xiaomei openly at home?"
Wang Xu made a shushing gesture towards me with a frown and lowered his voice in rebuttal: "Of course not! Honey, you're completely misunderstanding me. I'm really just worried about your health; that's why we came over together with Mom. We're just here to bring you some things and see if there's anything you need. There’s no other intention behind it. I've discussed this with Mom; if you don’t want to go home right now, we won’t force you until you're ready."
Wang Xu's words seemed genuinely considerate of me as he shared his own difficulties: "I’ve resigned from my job and have nothing to do at home; every day I just think about you and hope you'll come back. But I understand that you want to stay in your own place; I won’t force you and respect your choice. But surely you can't really not let me see you at all? I miss you so much every day; please understand that. Haven't you thought about me at all?"
"I miss you, of course I do." Seeing a hint of joy on Wang Xu's face, I continued, "I wonder why you haven't gone away yet. You're still here, but you've become someone I don't recognize."
Wang Xu has become too unfamiliar to me; I can hardly find the beautiful person he once was. Only through scattered actions can I discover that the person I once loved has changed too quickly.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Zhuang Jun, you need to take care of yourself. If anything feels off, tell me right away. How did your visit to the hospital go? Did you get checked recently? If not, I can accompany you today."
I immediately refused, "I can take care of myself. The child in my belly is something I've fought hard for; why wouldn't I treat it well?"
Wang Xu nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, that's only natural. But this is your first time being a mother; there are bound to be things you're unprepared for. It's not your fault; it's just a lack of experience. My mom raised me alone when I was little, and she had more experience and knew what to pay attention to."
I scoffed, "Sure, I'm inexperienced as a first-time mother, but you're not a first-time father, and your mother isn't a first-time grandmother. Is that what you mean?"
Wang Xu's face turned pale. "No, that's not what I meant at all! Zhuang Jun, you've misunderstood me. There's nothing like that. Please don't think too much about it; I promise I'll do everything I've said. I swear."
At that moment, he looked as aggrieved as a child, raising his hand to swear so smoothly. I interrupted him, "You promised me before that you wouldn't suddenly come and disrupt my life, but you did anyway. You've made too many promises; you once swore you'd love only me in this lifetime, and now look at your promises—they're becoming less valuable."
The coldness of our feelings is striking; how sincere those words were back then now feels so hurtful.
"I'm not lying; I truly love only you. Now and in the future, my wife will always be you, Zhuang Jun. I'm not lying about this. Coming to see you was unavoidable; it's because I love you so much that I can't bear to miss seeing you even for a moment. You need to understand my feelings, my wife."
While Wang Xu was earnestly expressing his grievances, my mother-in-law came out of the kitchen holding a bowl. She shot Wang Xu a glare before walking over to sit beside me and placing the bowl on the tea table in front of me.
"It's still a bit hot; let me cool it down for you. Wait until it cools off before drinking it. You should rest for now and tell me what the doctor said during your last visit. How's my grandchild doing?"
My mother-in-law leaned down to blow on the bowl containing the farm-fresh egg while occasionally glancing at me with wide eyes as she listened for my response. Her question piqued Wang Xu's curiosity as well; he looked at me with the same expression. With both an elder and a younger person staring at me from either side, I silently gave myself a boost of confidence.
"The doctor said the baby is developing well but that my progesterone levels are low, so I need to take care of myself and visit the hospital regularly for monitoring. Other than that, they didn't say much."
"Did you say nothing? Just this? How is that possible?" My mother-in-law paused her actions and questioned.
I impatiently replied, "The doctor only said this. The hospital is overcrowded every day, and the doctor has to see dozens of patients in the morning. I waited in line for so long, and by the time it was my turn, I only had a few minutes to hear the report results. What else could she say?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Mom, you're older and don't understand. The hospital is particularly crowded now, and doctors are too busy seeing so many patients. It's normal for them to only say this much. You haven't been to a hospital, so stop talking nonsense." Wang Xu feigned dissatisfaction, accusing my mother-in-law of being incorrect.
My mother-in-law immediately changed her tone: "Oh, I'm just being forgetful. I spoke without thinking. There are indeed many people at the hospital. Wang Xu, can you find some connections to get us to see the child earlier? We can't delay important matters!"
"Where am I supposed to find connections? I've already... voluntarily resigned, and my colleagues don't contact me anymore. How can I go to the hospital to find connections?"
"In today's society, you really can't get by without some connections. You should quickly find a job and not cut off your own path. If we can't find anything at the hospital, I know a few doctors back home who are quite capable; they've delivered several babies. I'll ask them first."
"Mom, don't go looking for random doctors. Are those even real doctors? We still need to get checked at a proper hospital; we can't delay normal treatment. You don't understand anything and just talk nonsense; please stop making things worse."
"How am I making things worse? This is my grandson; of course I'm anxious! If you can't find connections, can’t I look for a couple of familiar doctors? Are the doctors in the village not doctors? Let me tell you, those doctors are much better than the ones sitting in offices now. What do you know? They delivered you when you were born, and look how healthy you turned out."
"Alright, alright." I really didn't want to listen to these two complain about each other in my house. Besides, being caught in between them made it worse. Continuing this topic would reveal too much, so I had to steer the conversation back on track once again.
"Let's talk about something serious. I told you not to come before, but you still did. Well then, let me ask you directly." I glanced at my mother-in-law with a cautious expression and then looked at Wang Xu, who was listening intently: "What about the house? Should we resolve that issue or not?"
The two exchanged glances over me; my mother-in-law pursed her lips and said nothing while Wang Xu's expression changed slightly as he fell silent. The two who had just been so noisy suddenly became quiet. I truly didn't know how to describe my current feelings.
It was perhaps a profound sense of desolation.
"What’s wrong? Why is no one speaking? Is it that we can't get the house back? Will Deng Xiaomei continue living downstairs? Oh no, not just her; there's also your child—my mother-in-law's grandson—living down there with her. Do you still expect me to go back and continue being a family?"
After a moment of silence, Wang Xu took the initiative to speak first.
"Zhuang Jun, I promise I will fulfill what I promised you. I guarantee it, so don't worry. Let's not think about this for now, okay? Don't overthink and let it affect your emotions and health. You're pregnant now, and thinking like this isn't good for your body. This is a special time; once it's over, we can discuss this matter, alright?"
They really have their plans well laid out!
First, since I'm currently pregnant and it's not stable yet, they want to delay things. Second, Deng Xiaomei's child is about to be born, so they want to wait and see how that goes before making any decisions. The Wang family is suddenly gaining two new members, but what about me? They really haven't considered my situation at all.
From the conversation just now, they kept talking about checks and children without even considering how my body is doing. I didn't realize it before, but now thinking back on these details really makes my heart sink.
They are standing on opposite sides of a conflict; they want to have the child first and avoid discussing the house issue, while I want to settle the house matter before addressing the child issue.
Previously, they held the advantageous position, and I could only keep retreating step by step. But now it's different. I slowly placed my hand on my belly, and both my mother-in-law and Wang Xu's gazes followed my movement. Clearly, in Wang Xu's eyes, I saw an intense longing that couldn't be hidden. This is also why my parents don't want me to handle problems this way.
Thinking about the current Wang Xu and then recalling the truth he knows is quite terrifying.
"I'm tired. If you still don't plan to give me an explanation regarding this matter, then I have nothing more to say. The house is something you offered; even if I don't have a tenth of the money inside it, I still have a small portion. Now that you're avoiding telling me whether we can get the house back or not, I think there's nothing more to discuss."
I stood up to leave, but Wang Xu quickly got up and carefully blocked my way: "I'm not avoiding the discussion; I really need a bit more time. Trust me, dear, I will give you a satisfactory answer. Please don't get agitated; whatever you do, don't get agitated."
"Yes, yes! Everything we promised will definitely be taken care of. Don't worry, Zhuang Jun. Look at this free-range egg; it's going to get cold! You should eat some first; don't let trivial matters delay your recovery time. Come on, sit down."
My mother-in-law pulled me back down into my seat from across the table. She picked up the bowl of free-range eggs and placed it in front of me. I glanced at it with disdain and said irritably, "You just blew so much saliva into it; isn't it inappropriate for me to eat now?"
As soon as I finished speaking, Wang Xu became anxious: "Zhuang Jun, you..."
Although my mother-in-law's expression was still stiff, seeing Wang Xu getting worked up made her quickly wave her hand in objection: "Yes, yes! I didn't consider it thoroughly just now. It’s not appropriate for me to serve something with my saliva in it. I'll make you another bowl; just wait a moment."
After hearing my sarcastic remark, my mother-in-law willingly walked into the kitchen while quietly reminding Wang Xu to speak properly as she passed by him.
What I said earlier was indeed excessive, but it was nothing compared to how my mother-in-law treats me on a daily basis. It's only natural for Wang Xu to feel uncomfortable; aside from the child, his mother is the person he cares about the most. Hearing me speak about her like that, it's understandable that he wouldn't feel good.
However, I thought about Deng Xiaomei's arrogant nature. When facing my mother-in-law, she would inevitably be bossy. So when Deng Xiaomei throws a tantrum, what would Wang Xu's attitude towards her be? Would he endure it? Would he comply?
Because I spoke about my mother-in-law like that, Wang Xu's displeasure was written all over his face. He was no longer as enthusiastic as before; after sitting down, he looked sickly and remained silent, not making any promises or assurances to me.
This was fine by me; I enjoyed the peace and quiet. The television volume was low, and I could get lost in the visuals until my mother-in-law placed a bowl of eggs in front of me again. She stirred the eggs with a spoon without blowing on them anymore. When they had cooled down a bit, she cheerfully called out to me.
"Zhuang Jun, it's ready now. You can try it; it shouldn't be hot anymore."
I obediently took the spoon from her hand. Wang Xu's expression gradually softened. I gently stirred the eggs and took a spoonful into my mouth, but just a few seconds later, I put the spoon down.
"It's too sweet."
"What?"
"Mom, you might not know my taste since you haven't cooked before. I can't handle something this sweet. Plus, ever since I got pregnant, I've been prone to nausea. Just looking at this makes me want to throw up. Forget it; I won't eat it. You can take it away."
Of course, this was intentional on my part. Wang Xu and my mother-in-law weren't fools; they could see through it. Especially since my mother-in-law didn't know my taste well, but Wang Xu did. He at least knew that I preferred sweet food. I made it so obvious that I wasn't worried he wouldn't catch on.
Sure enough, Wang Xu's expression darkened even more. He frowned at the remaining eggs in the bowl, and several times he tried to speak but was silenced by his mother's glare. Finally, in frustration, Wang Xu snatched the bowl from in front of me.
"If you won't drink it, then I'll drink it."
Wang Xu quickly finished everything in the bowl and set it down with red-rimmed eyes. I couldn't deny that Wang Xu was a dutiful son; he couldn't stand seeing his mother treated like this by me.
Yet while I was being teased by my mother-in-law, why didn't Wang Xu stand up for me more forcefully?
Forget it, forget it. Why think about this now? In Wang Xu's heart, there has always been a scale, with me and my mother-in-law on either side, weighing who is more important. I know clearly that every time this situation arises, my heart feels cold and pained.
After all, I really foolishly hoped for something.
After a while, the expressions of the three of us were not good. Wang Xu wiped his mouth and said in a muffled voice that he needed to go to the bathroom. He got up and left. My mother-in-law and I exchanged glances in silence, but she still forced herself to chat with me for a bit. I responded perfunctorily with "uh-huh" and "yeah," and she stopped talking.
Until Wang Xu came out of the bathroom, his face was worse than ever. After he came out, he kept looking at me in a way that left me confused.
If it was about what had just happened, then he should have shown a bad expression earlier; it shouldn't have changed only after coming out of the bathroom. Did he recall what had happened while in there that made him so angry?
Yes, I saw anger on Wang Xu's face.
"Zhuang Jun, tell me the truth. Are you pregnant or not?" Wang Xu asked me word by word, almost choking up midway through. His eyes were red-rimmed and filled with determination.
My heart sank in panic as I tried to recall what Wang Xu might have thought about in the bathroom that led him to suddenly ask me this.
I answered him very naturally: "Of course I'm pregnant. Do you think I'm lying to you?"
"Wang Xu, what nonsense are you talking? Stop saying that..." My mother-in-law shot him a disapproving look, urging him to be quiet.
But Wang Xu looked at me with grievance and unwillingness. After a long pause, he said, "Then what was that thing in the bathroom? Don't say it was your mother's."
I grew suspicious. "What thing?"
"The sanitary napkin. The one on the shelf in the bathroom—who else could be using it besides you? And it was already opened! Don't tell me you've left it there for months without putting it away after using it? Tell me, are you really lying to me?"
After hearing this, my mother-in-law's expression changed drastically. She looked at me with the same incredulous gaze, scrutinizing me from head to toe.
"Oh no," Wang Xu said, and it was only then that I remembered there were sanitary pads in the bathroom! I had thought about them coming over, but I never expected to be caught in this way! I had imagined countless reasons for being discovered, but could it really be because of this that I would lose everything?
Of course not, I reassured myself in my mind. It's okay, stay calm. Wang Xu knows how to lie and cover it up, so I must come up with some excuses.
I tried to keep my expression as cold as possible. Clearing my throat, I said softly, "It's Miao Miao's."
"Miao Miao? Mu Miaomiao?"
"Yes." I nodded. "Miao Miao often comes over to take care of me and left some things here. If you don't believe me, there’s also Miao Miao's toothbrush and cup in the bathroom. There are clothes of hers in my closet too; you can check if you don’t believe me."
These items did indeed belong to Miao Miao; she had casually left them here. However, the sanitary pads were definitely mine. I never expected these items could serve as evidence for my lie.
"You say all these are Mu Miaomiao's..." Wang Xu's excitement faded a bit, and his emotions gradually cooled down.
"Yes, after I got married, I haven't made many friends. Fortunately, I have a friend like Miao Miao who is very caring and knows I'm pregnant. She comes over every few days to take care of me. But what surprises me is that my own husband has been doubting my sincerity. If you don't believe me, I'll go to the hospital right now! If the results show that I'm really pregnant, I'll terminate it right in front of you!"
Leading the conversation down a dead end was meant to prove its authenticity. As soon as I said this, both Wang Xu and my mother-in-law looked as if they had been struck down. My mother-in-law immediately grabbed my arm and cried out, "Zhuang Jun, don't get agitated! What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking nonsense? I've figured it out; you don't believe that I'm pregnant at all, do you? You think I'm lying to you? So now that you've found something, you think you've caught me? Fine, if you want to see for yourselves, let's go to the hospital. But I’m telling you, since you don’t believe me, then I won’t keep this child! Just wait and see how it gets terminated! Let’s go to the hospital!"
I angrily shook off my mother-in-law's hand and stood up to head for the door. She hurriedly grabbed me back and desperately explained, "No, no! It's all a misunderstanding! We didn't doubt you; we came out of concern for you! We won't look anymore; Wang Xu, say something!"
Wang Xu looked pale as a sheet. It was only when his mother called out to him that he snapped back to reality, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me.
"Dear, it's not what you think. I was just asking casually; really, I've never doubted you. Don't go; don’t go to the hospital. I believe you; don’t harm the baby; it's your child too."
"I know it's my child, but my child hasn't even been born yet and is already facing such doubts! If you don't believe I'm pregnant, then let’s go to the hospital and let the doctor tell you the results."
"I'm not going, I'm not going." Wang Xu stepped forward and tightly embraced me. "It's my fault, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for you. I shouldn't have doubted you. I was just confused for a moment. Please forgive me, I beg you to forgive me."
I breathed heavily as Wang Xu held me in his arms. I could feel his pounding heartbeat and the apologies he whispered in my ear, and my heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife.
The reason Wang Xu was apologizing now was because of my repeated deceptions. I had successfully covered up my mistakes after they were exposed, but my feelings were not as good as I had imagined; instead, they were particularly terrible.
What am I doing? What am I doing?
I slowly closed my eyes and listened to Wang Xu softly speaking in my ear.
"Wife, I love you. I really love you. I want to spend my life with you. Don't leave me, don't impulsively get rid of the child. Let's continue to live well together, okay? I'm begging you."
There is no "okay," because it's already too late to go back.
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