You helped him have a baby, what do you regret about the divorce? Chapter 057

She turned her head and looked at Lin Gengjin, “How are you feeling now? Do you feel… quite lost?”

Lin Gengjin met her gaze. There was no probing in her eyes, only a kind of understanding between kindred spirits. “A little,” he admitted. “It’s like I’ve returned to the starting point, and yet… it’s like I can’t go back anywhere.”

“Take it slow,” Zhang Lihua patted his shoulder, her movement like that of a buddy. “Life has to go on. Look at this mountain, these trees, they’re the same year after year. People are the same; they’ll always find their place.”

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, sprinkling down on them, warm and comforting. Lin Gengjin looked at this straightforward and perceptive woman beside him, and a warm current surged in his heart.

During his time in his hometown, besides the somewhat pressure-laden affection given by his parents, he also gained two different forms of solace: one was the vibrant hope of connecting with the outside world brought by Liu Jiajia; the other was the down-to-earth, lived-in understanding and companionship given by Zhang Lihua.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Liu Jiajia: “Guess where I am? [Image]”

The image was of a high-speed rail station sign, clearly showing the name of the provincial capital.

Lin Gengjin’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at the screen, then at Zhang Lihua, who was gazing into the distance beside him. For a moment, he felt a little disoriented.

…..

The faint morning light streamed through the curtain gap, casting a narrow bright streak on the floor. Su Xinyue sat on the edge of the bed, clutching a pregnancy test stick. The two clear lines on the screen, like two heavy shackles, announced the beginning of a new stage.

She stared at the result for a long time. What surged in her heart was not pure joy, but more of a complex emotion of things settling down. Finally, it had begun. She gently caressed her still flat lower abdomen. A life was brewing there, a “tool” she would use to repay a favor. This realization made her feel a little breathless, but it was followed by a strange determination. Soon, once this child was born safely, she could unburden herself and go find Lin Gengjin, light as a feather.

This thought gave her strength. She took a deep breath, threw the pregnancy test stick into the trash can, and got up to wash. The woman in the mirror had a pale complexion and faint fatigue under her eyes, but her gaze was clear. She needed to stay in her best state, for this child, and for herself.

Her phone rang as expected. It was still that “alarm clock”-like precise name—Zhao Ziyu.

“Hello?” Her voice was calmer than usual.

“Yueyue, are you awake? Did you sleep well last night?” Zhao Ziyu’s voice was as gentle as ever, with just the right amount of concern.

“Mm, pretty good.” Su Xinyue walked into the living room and poured herself a glass of warm water.

“That’s good. What do you want for breakfast?…”

“Zhao Ziyu,” Su Xinyue interrupted him, her tone calm and unruffled, “I’m pregnant.”

The other end of the phone instantly fell silent, as if even the air had solidified. After a few seconds, Zhao Ziyu’s voice finally sounded again, with an unbelievable ecstasy and a hint of imperceptible trembling: “Really? Yueyue, are you… are you sure?”

“Just tested, two lines.” Su Xinyue took a sip of water. The warm liquid slid down her throat, bringing a moment of relief.

“That’s great! That’s great!” Zhao Ziyu’s voice suddenly rose, so excited he was incoherent. “Yueyue, you’re really… I’m so happy! How are you feeling now? Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable? Do you want me to come over right away?”

“I’m fine, same as usual.” Su Xinyue frowned. His overly excited emotions made her uncomfortable. “You don’t need to come over; I need to rest.”

“Right, right, you need to rest!” Zhao Ziyu immediately followed her words. “Don’t get tired. As for work… how about you stop for a while? I’ll support you, Yueyue, you don’t have to worry about anything, just focus on resting during your pregnancy!”

“I’ll arrange my work myself, no need to trouble yourself.” Su Xinyue’s tone cooled a few degrees. She didn’t like this feeling of being arranged, being controlled. The child was her chip to repay a favor, but her life was not for him to dictate.

“Okay, okay, I’ll listen to you, as long as you’re happy.” Zhao Ziyu immediately softened his attitude, his tone becoming cautious again. “Then… about the prenatal check-ups, shall I arrange them? Find the best doctor, the best hospital…”

“I know what I’m doing.” Su Xinyue interrupted him again. “I’ll contact you if I need anything.”

“Alright, alright. But you must remember, if you feel any discomfort, even a little bit, tell me immediately, don’t try to bear it yourself.” Zhao Ziyu cautioned worriedly. “I’ll have nutritional supplements sent over right away, all the best for early pregnancy. Also, avoid things with high radiation, rest after using your phone or computer for a while…”

Su Xinyue listened to his endless arrangements, feeling like an invisible net was slowly closing in from all directions. She irritably pinched the bridge of her nose: “I know, let’s leave it at that for now, I’m a little tired.”

“Alright, alright, you rest quickly, I won’t disturb you. Remember, call me anytime if anything comes up.” Zhao Ziyu’s voice was full of contentment and anticipation.

After hanging up, Su Xinyue let out a long breath. Sure enough, after confirming her pregnancy, Zhao Ziyu’s “concern” had escalated. She walked to the window and looked at the city outside, which was gradually becoming noisy. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering on the towering buildings, reflecting a cold luster.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, it was a delivery person, carrying large bags and small bags, from imported fruits, bird’s nest tonics, to various brands of pregnancy-specific skincare products, and even a few thick parenting encyclopedias.

“Miss Su, Mr. Zhao sent these.” The delivery person had a professional smile on his face. “If you have any further needs, you can directly instruct me.”

Su Xinyue looked at the pile of things at the door and felt a dizzying sensation. She pointed to the entrance area: “Put them here, thank you.”

Zhao Ziyu efficiently put the items down and handed her a business card: “Miss Su, this is my contact information, available 24 hours.”

“Got it.” Su Xinyue took the business card, just wanting to close the door quickly.

After seeing Zhao Ziyu off and looking at the mountain of “care” piled up at the entrance, Su Xinyue not only felt no warmth but felt even greater pressure.

Zhao Ziyu’s possessiveness had already begun to materialize. She casually picked up a beautifully packaged box of bird’s nest, then put it back. She didn’t even want to touch these things.

She turned and went back to her study, opening her computer. Work, only work could make her temporarily forget these烦心事. Emails, reports, proposals… she forced herself to immerse herself in them. However, her thoughts always drifted off involuntarily.