Chapter 152 As long as she's doing well

The next afternoon.

The aroma of tea wafted through the old Su family mansion as several elegant elderly ladies arrived.

They were Mrs. Su's close friends for many years.

Shen Shuangmiao followed instructions and went downstairs, sitting next to Old Madam Su. She still looked listless and lacked energy.

She forced a smile and politely nodded and greeted the elders.

Seeing that she was wearing a loose sweater, had a pale face, and dark circles under her eyes, the group knew she was not in good condition.

The elderly ladies exchanged a knowing glance.

They had already vaguely learned some information from Old Madam Su.

After a few rounds of tea, the conversation subtly shifted to Shen Shuangmiao.

Madam Chen put down her teacup, looked at Shen Shuangmiao gently, and said with a tone full of pity, "Shuangmiao is such a good child. She has been wronged."

Another person chimed in, their gaze falling on Shen Shuangmiao's hand, which was instinctively protecting her lower abdomen. They said earnestly, "No matter what grudges the adults have, the child in her belly is innocent. This is a little life, a gift from heaven. You must keep it."

“That’s right.” Old Madam Chen nodded repeatedly, her tone becoming somewhat agitated, tinged with dissatisfaction towards Zhu Jin. “Especially in this situation, Zhu Jin is truly acting recklessly and without thinking. This child is the only bloodline he left in this world.”

"We must protect it no matter what! This is the root of the Zhu family!"

As they talked, they began to make their own decisions, all saying that the child must be born, as this was to leave an heir for Zhu Jin and to fulfill the responsibility of continuing the bloodline.

Shen Shuangmiao lowered her head, holding the slightly hot teacup, but her fingertips were icy cold.

She knew, of course, that the child was innocent, but these words made her feel that giving birth to the child in her womb was more like a task that had to be completed, rather than something that Zhu Jin was looking forward to.

Just as she was feeling increasingly uncomfortable, a cold, angry voice suddenly rang out.

"Who gave you permission to meddle in other people's business here?"

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Zhu Jin standing at the entrance of the flower hall.

His face was so gloomy it could drip water, and he walked in step by step, his gaze falling on Shen Shuangmiao.

Zhu Jin then looked at the elderly women, his tone merciless and tinged with sarcasm: "My bloodline? The roots of the Zhu family?"

He gave a cold laugh.

"I, Zhu Jin, don't care whether anyone will carry on my family line or whether the Zhu family will have any descendants."

He stared at Madam Chen and said, word by word, "I just want her to be happy."

Shen Shuangmiao raised her head and looked at Zhu Jin.

Does he not care about his children? Does he not care about his bloodline?

After Zhu Jin finished speaking, he ignored the embarrassed and dissatisfied old ladies and walked straight to Shen Shuangmiao.

He extended his hand, his tone softening slightly, but still leaving no room for argument: "Come back with me."

Shen Shuangmiao looked at the hand extended in front of her. That hand with its distinct knuckles had once brought her warmth, but also brought her pain.

Her mind was in complete turmoil; she couldn't think straight, and she couldn't face the situation.

Before the tears fell, Shen Shuangmiao suddenly stood up, forcefully swatted away his outstretched hand, didn't even glance at him, and staggered upstairs with her head down.

Zhu Jin's hand froze in mid-air as he watched her fleeing figure, his eyes filled with a deep, lifeless gray.

The afternoon tea ended unhappily.

The elderly ladies looked at each other, and in the end, they could only leave awkwardly.

Only Madam Su and Zhu Jin remained in the living room.

Seeing his utterly despondent state, Old Madam Su was both angry and heartbroken. She couldn't help but scold him, "You child! Do you really have to do this? You're determined to die, pushing away everyone who cares about you. Have you thought about Shuangmiao's feelings? This is selfish of you!"

Zhu Jin slowly withdrew his hand, put it in his pocket, turned around, and faced the window.

"So be it, I'll be selfish."

"She will be sad now, she will."

"But time heals all wounds. Even without me, she will always move forward. She will meet someone better and live out her life peacefully."

"You..." Old Madam Su was so angry that she didn't know what to say.

Zhu Jin interrupted her, his tone certain: "She will."

Looking at his stubborn expression, Old Madam Su sighed heavily.

She shook her head: "Jin, you overestimate time and underestimate your place in Shuangmiao's heart."

"Even if she hates you, she doesn't want to see you die, and she doesn't want you to neglect your child because of this."

Zhu Jin pursed his lips and remained silent.

Under these circumstances, Madam Su understood that nothing she said would make a difference.

She sighed. She waved her hand dismissively: "Alright, everyone's putting pressure on her, including you. You should go back now. Don't bother her."

Zhu Jin had nothing to say and could only leave silently.

Upstairs, Shen Shuangmiao was repeatedly thinking about Zhu Jin's words.

"I just want her to be happy."

If he is truly determined to die, then these remaining less than two weeks will be his final days.

Must she remain consumed by anger until she watches him leave?

She thought of the lost child, and all the time they had missed together.

Do I hate them? Do I resent them? Of course I do.

But compared to letting him walk alone to the end, those hatreds and resentments seem to have become less important.

The next day, with red and swollen eyes, Shen Shuangmiao calmly packed her luggage.

She walked downstairs and nodded slightly to Grandma Su, who was having breakfast: "Grandma, I'm going back now."

Madam Su looked at her without surprise, but sighed knowingly and gently patted the back of her hand.

"Go, child, follow your heart."

Shen Shuangmiao nodded and turned to leave.

When she stood in front of the Zhu family's old house again, her state of mind was different.

When Zhu Jin saw her dragging her suitcase back, a fleeting look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"I'm back."

Shen Shuangmiao put down her suitcase, walked up to him, and looked up. "Since this is your last period of time, I will stay with you for the remaining two weeks, and we will make the most of it."

Zhu Jin looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

"good."

"What is your wish?" Shen Shuangmiao asked him earnestly. "Or where do you want to go, or what do you want to do? I will accompany you to accomplish it during this time."

Zhu Jin remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on her face, as if trying to etch her image into his mind.

He slowly began, "I want to live with you like a real married couple."

It wasn't forced, nor was it filled with resentment or entanglement; it was like the most ordinary loving couple, spending a period of peaceful days with only each other.

Shen Shuangmiao felt a pang of sadness, but nodded and said, "Okay."

Zhu Jin's gaze unconsciously swept over her flat stomach as he asked, "What about the baby? Have you made up your mind?"

Shen Shuangmiao looked up at him and blurted out, "You're about to die, why do you care about these things? Whether we have children or not is none of your responsibility."

The moment she finished speaking, she regretted it.

She saw Zhu Jin's face turn as pale as paper in an instant, and he pursed his lips, looking somewhat hurt.