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墨書 Inktalez
Ye Ya spent a night at her aunt's house, in a room that she had once shared with her mother. Staying here, she could almost feel her mother's presence lingering in the air.
She was unsure how to bring up the topic of her mother, wondering if news of her had reached this small town. Feeling a bit troubled, Ye Ya woke up early as dawn broke.
Last night’s rain had left the air exceptionally fresh. The sky was clear, a vast expanse of blue stretching far into the distance. The sun had yet to rise over the mountains, and in the small courtyard, the dew on the trees glistened, gently lifted by the breeze and scattered whimsically.
Zhou Fang was already awake. Seeing Ye Ya in the yard, she walked over and said, “Xiao Ya, why are you up so early? You should sleep a little longer.”
When her sister had passed away, she left behind only a child. At that time, Ye Ya was just five years old. Later, she was taken back by the Ye family, but given her status, life there was not easy for her either; still, it was better than staying here.
“Auntie, I’m used to it. Let me help you make breakfast,” Ye Ya offered to help but was pulled aside by Zhou Fang and made to sit on a stone bench.
“Xiao Ya, I saw the news. I know about your situation. You can’t keep that child, do you understand?” Zhou Fang couldn’t let her continue down the same path as her sister. Watching the news portray Ye Ya in such a negative light made Zhou Fang anxious; she had planned to go into town to find her but was relieved to see that Ye Ya had returned on her own. It was clear that she must have endured a lot of hardship.
Hearing her aunt’s words, Ye Ya paused for a moment. Did even her aunt think she shouldn’t keep the child?
“Xiao Ya, you can’t follow your mother’s path. That child will be born without a name or status. Both of you will face hardships in life. You’re still young; you’ll have the chance to meet a good man and get married someday. Do you understand?” Zhou Fang expressed her concerns, fearing that the child might inherit her sister's temperament.
Ye Ya contemplated for a moment and decided to keep her thoughts to herself. She only intended to stay here temporarily to avoid trouble; once things settled down, she would naturally return to Ning Cheng. She didn’t want her aunt worrying about her all the time. Besides, if Zhou Fang knew that the child was still with her, she feared it would make their living situation uncomfortable; she didn’t want anyone constantly suggesting that she should get rid of her child.
So Ye Ya nodded and said, “Auntie, don’t worry. I didn’t keep that child.”
Just as she finished speaking, the wooden door of the courtyard suddenly burst open. Both Ye Ya and Zhou Fang jumped in surprise as an angry man strode in. “Ye Ya, what did you just say?” His voice roared like a lion’s growl, causing discomfort in their ears.
Seeing Lu Tianyang standing there shocked Ye Ya; however, she quickly regained her composure. “Lu Tianyang, what are you doing here?”
Zhou Fang glanced between them and realized they knew each other. This man appeared tall and handsome—someone who could match well with her Xiao Ya.
“Let’s talk calmly; there’s no need to get angry,” Zhou Fang said, sensing that tensions were rising between them.
Ye Ya nodded slightly and gently patted Zhou Fang's hand. “Auntie, it’s fine. He’s just an ordinary friend. I’ll step outside to talk with him.”
"Alright, you two go ahead and talk. Xiao Ya, make sure to communicate properly, okay?" Zhou Fang said with concern, glancing at Lu Tianyang. "Mr. Lu, please be courteous to our Xiao Ya."
Ye Ya stepped out of the courtyard, followed closely by Lu Tianyang. As she noticed the Hummer parked on the road, its front covered in mud, she realized that this man must have driven all night to get here. Was it really because she had lost the baby? If he was in such a hurry, why wait until now? He should have shown up when the news broke, not when her reputation was already in tatters.
The summer morning in this small town had a unique charm. Walking along the path by the fish pond, Ye Ya looked around to ensure no one was watching before stopping and turning to face Lu Tianyang. "Did you come here for something?"
Watching this woman remain as calm as the water in the pond while he felt like an ant on a hot pan, he had driven all night just to find her in this desolate place.
But upon arriving at her door, he heard her say that she had already terminated the pregnancy. For some reason, he felt an intense anger bubbling inside him.
"Ye Ya, was that child mine? How could you terminate it without my consent? Is your heart made of stone?" Lu Tianyang grasped her shoulders and shook her slightly as he questioned her.
Ye Ya sized him up and couldn't help but smile lightly. "Lu Tianyang, are you really so bored that you rushed over here just to interrogate me about the child? What makes you think that child is yours? I have more than one man in my life. Don't pretend to be some virtuous gentleman; it's disgusting."
Ever since the Ye Family left, Ye Ya had no intention of getting caught up in that whirlpool again. That kind of life among the wealthy held no emotion for her; it was as cold as a winter's day. She didn't want herself or her child to live like that in the future.
This place couldn't accommodate her, nor could the Ye Family. She planned to live well with her child from now on; that would be enough.
With every word Ye Ya spoke, Lu Tianyang's expression darkened further. He released her and took a step back, his eyes cold as he asked again, "Ye Ya, are you telling the truth? That child really isn't mine? You were clearly a virgin that night."
"Lu Tianyang, how naive! Let me tell you, I am a love child; how could I possibly give birth to another nameless child whose father I don't even know? I never expected the president of Lu Group to be so gullible," she said with a laugh.
"Ye Ya, you're something else. But it makes sense; a woman like you who sleeps around has no right to bear my child. It's better that it was terminated—having such a bastard exist in this world would be a disgrace." After saying this, Lu Tianyang looked at Ye Ya one last time before feeling as if he had sullied his own eyes. Moments later, the mud-covered Hummer sped away.
Lu Tianyang didn't look back; otherwise, he would have seen Ye Ya's pale face as she leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. Saying such things hurt her heart too.
But this was the only way she could live quietly with her child. To her, whether it was the Ye Family, Jing Family, or Lu Family, they were all luxurious cages. She and her child longed for fresh air and freedom—no more disdainful glances from others; just a peaceful life.
"I'm sorry, my baby. Please forgive what Mommy just said; I love you more than my own life."
After resting for over ten minutes, Ye Ya returned home. When Zhou Fang saw her come back alone, she asked, "Xiao Ya, where's that man? He rushed over early in the morning; does he have feelings for you?"
"Auntie, it's not like that. He's just a friend I've met a couple of times, someone I can't really reach. I don't want to go back to that kind of life anymore. I just want to stay here for a while. Is that okay?" Ye Ya couldn't help but cling to Zhou Fang and act cute.
Zhou Fang gently tapped her on the head. "Alright, the room is empty anyway. Stay as long as you like."
With her aunt's consent, Ye Ya let out a sigh of relief.
Living in such a small town had its advantages; at least no one was gossiping about her all day, and there were no pointed fingers calling her names.
The doctor had said that she needed to maintain a good mood for the first three months to ensure the baby developed healthily.
After staying here for two days, Ye Ya found it too quiet and increasingly dull. Her aunt wouldn't let her help with the farm work. Then she spotted a nearby elementary school and realized it would be a great way to pass the time.
The principal of the local elementary school welcomed Ye Ya when he learned she wanted to substitute teach. After all, a girl from the city was a rare sight, and Ye Ya was volunteering.
At the school, watching the children's smiling faces and their innocence brought Ye Ya an unprecedented sense of relaxation. There were no intrigues, no cold jabs, no scheming; she enjoyed this carefree life.
A person suddenly came to mind—after all these years, she wondered how he was doing. Xiao Lin, the boy who had warmed her high school days. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have joined the taekwondo club in college.
During this time, life was incredibly peaceful. Occasionally, she would turn on her computer, but there hadn't been any news about her from Ning Cheng lately. Such things were easily overshadowed by other headlines, like some celebrity dating a wealthy heir, quickly capturing public attention.
Ye Ya taught at the school for over a month until Tao Momo's long-distance call came in.
Tao Momo was Ye Ya's college classmate and they were very close—almost inseparable during their university days. Later, Momo went to France for further studies, and now this young lady was preparing to return home and specifically requested Ye Ya to host her.
Ye Ya knew that after such a long time apart, they both missed each other. Their friendship hadn’t faded with time; she cherished having such a dear friend in her life.
The baby was nearly three months along now. Staying any longer might raise suspicions from her aunt; it was time to go back. Life needed to continue, and having a child changed everything.
As autumn arrived with still warm weather, Ye Ya packed her belongings. Zhou Fang felt somewhat reluctant. "Xiao Ya, make sure to call me often when you get back. Take good care of yourself and come visit whenever you can, alright?"
Ye Ya hugged Zhou Fang tightly and nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. She had deceived her aunt; in the end, she had chosen to keep this child.
"Little Aunt, I know, you take care of yourself too. I'm leaving now." Ye Ya understood that this place was not hers; her little aunt had her own life to live, and she had to take charge of her own.
By the time Ye Ya returned to Ning Cheng, it was already afternoon. Feeling a bit tired, she ordered takeout to be delivered.
At that moment, Tao Momo's call came in. Ye Ya picked up the phone and couldn't help but smile; this girl really knew how to pick her timing, knowing she had just gotten home.
"Ya, I have a flight at three tomorrow afternoon, but I need to go home first. I won't be able to see you until the day after tomorrow. Make sure to order a big feast for me!" Tao Momo said with a mischievous laugh, sounding as if she was planning to rob Ye Ya of her food.
"Sure, I'll order a big feast for your return. Are you bringing back a handsome French guy for me?"
"Pfft, why would I let those foreign guys have the good stuff? The juicy meat should stay with us!" They joked for a while before hanging up, as international long-distance calls could be quite expensive.
After ending the call, Ye Ya pondered how to welcome Tao Momo back. She still remembered the young lady's tastes; back in school, they could enjoy a plate of beef offal together.
Right now, her stomach was starting to show, and finding a job would be even more challenging. She needed to think of other ways out; otherwise, how would she continue living? Tao Momo's return might just be an opportunity. She wondered how the girl had fared in France over the past three years.
Ye Ya gently touched her belly. No matter how difficult things got, for the sake of her child, she had enough courage to keep going.
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