"It's so late, let's go to sleep tomorrow!" Xu Qingning turned over and looked at him. In the darkness, she couldn't see his face, but she could feel his burning breath. "You've had a long day, go to sleep!"

"I'm not tired." Zhao Jingyu propped himself up on his arm and looked at her, reaching out to play with her hair, and asked her thoughtfully, "Why didn't you talk to me during the day?"

"No way..." Xu Qingning didn't know what to say for a moment. Did he really have to keep pressing for an answer?

“I thought you were angry because you weren’t talking to me.” Zhao Jingyu let go of her hair and started touching her hand again. “Tomorrow we’ll go to the hospital for a check-up and find that Dr. Lin to see if we can make an appointment with her so we can go directly to her.”

"Okay." Xu Qingning agreed. Actually, she hadn't gone for a checkup because the child was also part of the hidden storyline, so he was definitely healthy.

Furthermore, she heard that apart from the provincial capital, no hospitals in the surrounding areas offered ultrasound services.

That was the reality of the time, so she didn't bother to make any changes.

“I saw a small bed outside. Did Dad make it?” Zhao Jingyu also took a liking to the small bed. It was very nice and practical.

“Yes, your dad is not only a good cook, but also a good carpenter.” Xu Qingning then opened up: “Because of what happened to you, your cousin sent him a telegram and asked him to come. He stayed here for a few days and bought some wood. He only went back after he knew you were alright.”

The phrase "father's love is as solid as a mountain" is embodied in Zhao Futang.

He was concerned not only about Zhao Jingyu, but also about the harvest back home, the private plot of land belonging to Zhao Jingwen, and his two little grandsons.

“After a few days, once things are settled at home, I’ll have him come over. Mom’s here anyway, so we can have them celebrate the New Year with us this year.” Zhao Jingyu looked down at Xu Qingning. “Dad can cook too. I’ll prepare more New Year’s goods and have Dad cook for us. Mom and I will take care of you and the baby. I’ll be in charge of washing the sheets and diapers.”

He knew that his mother had never returned to her hometown after she came, and that his family had undergone tremendous changes, all thanks to the help of his parents.

His parents care about him.

"You certainly know how to make arrangements." Xu Qingning glared at him when he mentioned washing bed sheets. Washing diapers is fine, why add washing bed sheets too…

"That's all I can think of." Zhao Jingyu thought for a moment, then asked her, "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"Nothing for now." Xu Qingning thought he was quite thoughtful. "I'll let you know when I think of something."

"Then it's settled." Zhao Jingyu lay down in bed, placed his large hand on her stomach and stroked it, then asked in a low voice, "Is the baby asleep?"

"How would I know..." Xu Qingning's tone softened unconsciously. "Don't touch him, or he'll start kicking you again."

The child has been with her ever since she came into this world of books.

She felt that she and her son were truly dependent on each other, and the story changed because of this child, making her life so wonderful.

"Do you think he can hear us when we talk?" Zhao Jingyu deliberately lowered his voice. "I'll tell him a story tomorrow to scare him."

"If you're going to tell a story, then tell a story. Why are you scaring the child?" Xu Qingning pushed his hand away and scolded, "Prenatal education usually involves soothing music and pleasant stories. Are you going to tell a ghost story?"

What kind of father is he?

Speechless.

“His father has weathered many storms, so he can’t back down.” Zhao Jingyu didn’t see anything wrong with it and laughed again, “What, you feel sorry for him now that I’m threatening him?”

"I don't need your prenatal education anymore." Xu Qingning instantly felt that he was unreliable, glared at him, and said, "If you dare to scare him, I'll fight you."

"I was just joking with you, and you actually took it seriously." Zhao Jingyu chuckled. "This is my child, how could I bear to scare him?"

"I want to sleep." Xu Qingning's eyelids started to droop. Perhaps she was tired from working on those sample garments for the competition a few days ago. She was particularly exhausted these past few days and always wanted to sleep. Sometimes, even when she wasn't sleepy, she would still want to take a nap.

"Go to sleep!" Zhao Jingyu covered her with the blanket and unexpectedly pecked her lips. "I'll hold you while we sleep."

"No, I can't sleep like that." Xu Qingning turned over and pulled the blanket over herself; she still preferred to sleep alone.

Zhao Jingyu, however, was wide awake. With her arms behind her head, she stared blankly at the roof covered with new newspapers, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. Outside, the wind howled, but inside, she felt warmer because of her.

It was so warm that he didn't want to go to sleep.

He worried that when he woke up, it would all be a dream.

As he thought about it, he moved closer to her and then fell into a deep sleep.

The next moment, he found himself standing on an unfamiliar street, surrounded by bustling cars, just like the ones he had seen abroad.

Not far away, a girl in a white dress was standing by the roadside waiting for a car. He recognized her as Xu Qingning.

A surge of excitement welled up inside him, and he hurried over: "Wife, where are you going?"

"Zhao Jingyu, what are you doing here?" Xu Qingning looked at him incredulously. "Shouldn't you be in the book?"

"What are you talking about? What book?" Zhao Jingyu glanced at her stomach instinctively. She was slender and no longer looked like a pregnant woman. "Where's the baby?"

"The baby?" Xu Qingning looked down at her stomach and panicked. "Yes, where's the baby?"

I remember now, she's pregnant, and the baby should be in her belly.

But right now, her stomach is flat, and the baby is gone!

"Did you leave it at the hospital?" Zhao Jingyu grabbed her and ran towards the hospital.

The two were sweating profusely and asked everyone they met if they had seen a newborn baby.

"Baby!" Xu Qingning woke up first, her forehead covered in cold sweat. She quickly touched her stomach, thankfully, the baby was still there.

A large hand then reached out and touched her: "I also dreamt that I couldn't find my child."

It took them a while to calm down, and they were no longer sleepy.

Outside the window, the moonlight was bright and clear.

It quietly spilled onto the bed.

"What do you mean by the book you mentioned?" Zhao Jingyu pulled her into his arms with lingering fear. Everything in the dream was too real, and he remembered it vividly.

"Is it possible that the world you are in right now is a world in a book, and you and I are just characters in the book?" Xu Qingning looked up at him, "And I, originally, did not belong to your world."

"Have you been reading too many books?" Zhao Jingyu was amused by her words. "If that's the case, it doesn't matter. Every book we've read is adapted from the real world. It's based on reality but transcends it, isn't it?"

"If one day I disappeared without warning..." Xu Qingning suddenly felt a little sad, "What would you do?"

Previously, she only thought about successfully reaching the finale and returning to her original world.

But now she has ties to her, and her thoughts are different from before.

Thank you Clownfish for the monthly pass.