56 Honeymoon

◎Can we have a child?

Before the May Day holiday, the Xue family held a press conference to respond to a series of events that had occurred in the third branch of the family, causing a huge uproar in Lancheng.

The two generations of Xue family leaders, Xue Qielu and Xue Tan, as well as Xue Lü, the head of Jingtian, were present in person.

At the press conference, Song Qinggui opened by explaining the involvement of the third wife and Yang Ailin in the suicide incident. Xue Tan then frankly discussed the internal economic disputes within the group with the public. Finally, Xue Qielu bowed and apologized to the public.

To demonstrate its sincerity, the Xue family has established a new charitable foundation to provide medical treatment and care for patients with depression and postpartum women suffering from postpartum depression. At the same time, the Xue family has proactively invited relevant government departments to conduct an economic investigation of the group, after which the results will be released to the public.

Establishing charitable foundations is a common tactic used by wealthy families after making mistakes, and the general public doesn't really buy into it, but promising to accept an economic investigation does show some courage.

As soon as the video of the press conference was released, the official platform account responded immediately, saying that it would conduct an investigation into the Xue family at the invitation of the authorities.

As a result, netizens on social media placed bets to see whether Xue would rebound from rock bottom and reverse public opinion, or whether the authorities would gain a lot of political achievements by investigating Xue.

To the public's surprise, the tax authorities were the first to issue an investigation notice. Two of Xue's subsidiaries had failed to report taxes, but the amounts were small. Considering the possibility of financial negligence, it did not constitute intentional tax evasion. The group headquarters and other head offices had all paid their taxes legally.

This single piece of news caused a complete reversal in public opinion regarding the Xue family. Netizens exclaimed that it was remarkable for such a large conglomerate to have virtually no tax issues, highlighting the Xue family's distinguished lineage and their difference from other businessmen. The Xue family's stock also surged accordingly.

...

The vicissitudes of the stock market are not very important to Xue Lu and Song Qinggui.

They have already taken their wedding photos.

Xue Lu is quite capable; the photographer he hired is internationally renowned. Last time, Xu Xiaofeng won an award at Cannes and wanted to ask him to shoot a magazine cover, but he declined due to scheduling conflicts. Unexpectedly, he was willing to deign to take their wedding photos.

"Ms. Song, aren't you considering entering the entertainment industry?" The photographer exclaimed, looking at the finished photos, "They don't even need retouching."

Song Qinggui: "Do married women also have an audience in the entertainment industry?"

"Why not?" the photographer blurted out. "Aren't there plenty of celebrities who've made a fortune from dating and marriage reality shows?"

Song Qinggui smiled and said, "Then I can't get involved. My husband's family is quite wealthy. Let's leave the entertainment industry resources to those who need them more."

Upon hearing this, the photographer couldn't help but look at Song Qinggui: "You really are quite special. I've photographed quite a few actresses who married into wealthy families, and they are very reluctant to mention their partners' financial situation."

Song Qinggui raised an eyebrow: "Female celebrities have value and popularity. For wealthy men, marrying them is like giving their businesses free advertising. They don't lose out. It's just that the public is more critical of female celebrities. But then again, does it stop you from criticizing them in your heart just because they don't mention it?"

The photographer smiled broadly: "It really doesn't cause any delays."

Song Qinggui smiled, but Xue Lu pulled her into his arms and said, "Even without me, she can still earn a considerable fortune."

Even a renowned fashion photographer, accustomed to the glitz and glamour of the city, felt a pang of envy. Today, he wasn't photographing the mundane drama of gold diggers marrying into wealth; he was photographing love.

...

Song Qinggui and Xue Lu held their wedding in June, and they did not choose to go abroad.

Xue Qielu was in poor health, and Aunt Sun and Xiao Tian didn't have passports, so they held a simple and warm ceremony in a garden villa by the sea in Lancheng.

Yan Fengqian and Cheng Wuliang both attended the wedding, and they both brought their wives.

Cheng Wuliang also got married last year. His wife is German and is an excellent musical actress.

The love, hate, anger, and infatuation of youth all stem from the restlessness of the heart.

Now that we are all on our own boats, each with our own ferry crossing, our hearts have settled down, and all those former attachments have been let go.

Looking at Cheng Yan and the other person who were sincerely raising their glasses to bless him, Xue Lu couldn't help but think of Luo and others.

He still didn't come.

He is a consistent person, and every word he says is honest.

He once told Song Qinggui that, out of morality, he could not guide Song Qinggui to ignore Xue Lü's affection.

He also told Xue Lu that, due to his emotions, he could not face the affection between him and his wife.

So he left, so he didn't come back.

The day after the wedding, the Lancheng Meteorological Observatory issued a weather forecast for an approaching typhoon.

Meteorological authorities detected that this typhoon was strong and would last a long time, so they named it "Siren".

The Sirens are sea monsters in ancient Greek mythology. Their songs are sweet poisons that lure lost sailors to follow their voices, only to devour them.

To avoid the sirens, Xue Lu and Song Qinggui spent their honeymoon at a seaside villa.

They purchased sufficient supplies, including drinking water, rice, vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood, various seasonings, and... sets/sets that were all the right size and comfortable to wear.

Xue Lu had no intention of letting Song Qinggui off the hook.

He hugged her from behind by the window of the villa.

Outside the window, wind and rain raged, raindrops pounding against the glass and pouring down. Song Qinggui's body was also experiencing the same storm.

From the windowsill to the floor, from the floor to the bed, there were traces of a sudden storm everywhere.

Song Qinggui finally collapsed in Xue Lu's arms, trembling. After a long while, she looked up at him.

Having just experienced several peaks and climaxes, her tears had been forced out, and her eyelashes were still damp.

Xue Lu couldn't help but kiss her eyes.

Song Qinggui's voice was also weak, filled only with the lingering echo of the storm: "You are the Sirens, you lured me and then made me die."

Xue Lu smiled contentedly: "Then are you willing to live and die with me like this?"

Song Qinggui took a deep breath and leaned against him resignedly: "I'm willing."

“Song Qinggui…” Xue Lu looked at the person in his arms and said apologetically, “I was too greedy. I know you love me, but I’m never satisfied. So please indulge me one more time.”

“You…” Song Qinggui thought he was about to make a comeback and couldn’t help but shrink back.

To her surprise, Xue Lu's voice rang gently in her ear the next moment, a plea: "Can we... have a child?"

Xue Lu wanted a child because a child could give him a sense of security, and he was looking forward to witnessing what kind of little fruit his love with Song Qinggui would bear.

But this is an extremely selfish idea. Childbirth is an incredibly difficult thing for women, a hardship beyond what men can imagine. Xue Lu, because of his medical studies, barely managed to perceive the boundary of the Gate of Ultimate Suffering.

He felt ashamed of himself because of this.

Song Qinggui did not answer.

While Song Qinggui remained silent, Xue Lu changed her mind. The decision of having a child should be hers: "Qinggui..."

"Wait a minute," Song Qinggui said. "Having a child is no small matter. Let me think about it."

"I'm not...you don't need to..."

"I told you to wait a minute!"

Xue Lu dared not move.

After a long time, perhaps twenty minutes, perhaps half an hour.

Song Qinggui finally spoke up: "We need to change houses as soon as possible, to three-bedroom houses in good school districts."

Xue Lu realized what was happening: "Change it."

Song Qinggui: "Although we both studied medicine, we know almost nothing about pediatrics. So we need to spend time learning about childcare, obstetrics, and postpartum recovery."

Xue Lu: "Learn."

Song Qinggui: "After becoming pregnant, for a long period until delivery, marital life will be affected, you..."

Xue Lu: "Endure."

Song Qinggui: "Even with a child, I can't give up my career to take care of her. I really enjoy both of my current jobs, so you should..."

Lawyer Xue: "I'll hire a nanny."

Song Qinggui punched Xue Lu, yelling, "Why don't you just say one word anymore? What happened to your skills?"

Xue Lu smiled and said, "I can't possibly give up my career. But I promise I won't leave childcare to the nanny or you. I will try my best to be a good father. You know me, I mean what I say."

Song Qinggui pursed her lips, somewhat helpless, but she did acknowledge that Xue Lu was a man of his word.

Xue Lu added, "As for our marital life... I won't do anything reckless for your health. But you have to promise me that you'll make it up to me later."

Song Qinggui laughed: "You may have lofty ambitions now, but you might be too old and physically unable to keep up by then. As the saying goes, fortunes change, and I might be the one relentlessly pursuing you then."

Xue Lu raised an eyebrow: "Miss Song Qinggui, are you sure you want to provoke your husband like this?"

Seeing that Xue Lu was getting determined, Song Qinggui quickly softened his tone: "No, no, Mr. Xue, I was just joking. You are a magnanimous person."

The two lay half-reclined on the bed, listening to the wind and rain outside the window. The light was dim, and a record player was playing soothing piano music.

They embraced tenderly until their breathing became steady and their heart rates returned to normal.

Song Qinggui bit her lower lip, as if she had made up her mind. She looked intently at Xue Lu and said, "Are you really sure? Do you want to have a child with me? Becoming a father is a very important thing. It concerns your whole life."

“My life was already set.” Xue Lu gazed at her tenderly and earnestly. “From the moment you appeared, I was destined not to have children with any other person. It’s a rule that men are not well-developed, and reproduction is a primitive instinct that transcends reason, but you are my only choice. Only if you love me can I have a child.”

Song Qinggui's eyes welled up with tears again.

Xue Lu rubbed his forehead against hers: "Do you want to take a shower? I'll make you something delicious tonight."

Xue Lu braced himself on the bed, about to get up, but Song Qinggui grabbed his wrist.

Xue Lu was puzzled, but Song Qinggui did not let go: "Let's do it again."

"Huh?" Xue Lu's heart skipped a beat.

"This time... I won't wear it..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xue Lu leaned in and kissed him.

Song Qinggui.

His innermost thoughts resurfaced in Xue Lu's mind.

You are the Sirens, the bewitching demons.

You entice me, no need for song. Your mere presence is already a gift of faith from heaven.

However, fate played a cruel trick on us.

No matter how deep the love between a couple is, there will inevitably be some regrets in their married life.

Xue Lu and Song Qinggui tried for a whole year, but there was still no news of the child.

Lawyer Xue advocated letting things take their course, but Song Qinggui secretly went to the reproductive medicine department for a checkup.

The test results showed ovarian aging, which was related to malnutrition during her childhood and adolescence, as well as excessive academic and work pressure in adulthood. The doctor suggested that she take Xue Lv for a test, and if Xue Lv's indicators were normal, they could do in vitro fertilization.

Song Qinggui told Xue Lu the inspection results, and Xue Lu immediately expressed his opposition without hesitation.

“IVF is too painful. I’d rather not have a child like that. Don’t even think about it.”

Xue Lu was adamant, and Song Qinggui no longer insisted.

As Song Qinggui turned thirty, the Xue family finally resolved the personnel and financial disputes that had accumulated over the years, and Jingtian Hospital had already gained a good reputation in Lancheng, which greatly reduced Song Qinggui's workload.

So Xue Lu discussed with her about making up for the honeymoon.

Two years after their wedding, they originally planned to go on their honeymoon, but several senior executives of the Xue family caused trouble together, and Xue Qielu was hospitalized again due to a sudden onset of angina, so the honeymoon was put on hold.

Now that they finally have the opportunity, both Xue Lu and Song Qinggui want to take a break.

The couple had already obtained their visas for going abroad and had taken their annual leave well in advance. However, a problem suddenly arose in Jingtian Group's recent acquisition deal. The other company insisted that Lawyer Xue personally handle the acquisition-related matters.

The company was in Hong Kong, and the honeymoon turned into a business trip overnight.

Song Qinggui packed his luggage and said optimistically, "Hong Kong is great too."

Xue Lu replied dejectedly, "But didn't you want to go somewhere with mountains and rivers?"

Song Qinggui: "Hong Kong also has mountains and water, Victoria Peak and Victoria Harbour, which are very beautiful. Besides, I haven't been to Hong Kong yet, and I'd like to visit some of the places featured in old Hong Kong movies."

"Really?" Xue Lu was worried that she was just pretending to be happy.

"Of course it's true!" Song Qinggui said solemnly, "If you doubt me again, I'll swear to God."

Xue Lu was finally amused by her.