Chapter 150 Leaving

The truck, billowing black smoke, carried her and her dowry away in a grand procession.

The wind blew by, carrying faintly the sound of Zhou Anping crying.

Nan Zhiyi couldn't let go of it in her heart.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked towards the Zhou family's courtyard.

The courtyard gate was not closed, and the house door was wide open, with traces of the earlier chaos and mess still remaining.

Upon entering the living room, one could see Song Lanxin lying on the sofa, her face ashen, her eyelids drooping, and her chest rising and falling slightly.

Zhou Anping squatted down beside his mother, holding her hand tightly, sobbing, "Mom, you scared me to death... That kind of woman, we're done with her, we don't want her! When my brother comes back, he'll definitely find someone better..."

Song Lanxin closed her eyes and remained silent, as if all her energy had been drained away, even her fingertips were limp.

As Wu Ma was wiping the cold sweat from Song Lanxin's forehead with a damp towel, she saw Nan Zhiyi come in and hurriedly said, "Why did you come here? It's a mess here."

Zhou Anping's eyes were red and swollen. When he saw Nan Zhiyi, it was as if he had found his pillar of support. He felt even more aggrieved and grabbed her hand: "Zhiyi! You saw it all, didn't you? Lu Linlang... she's simply inhuman! My brother just got discharged from the army, and she rushed to abort the child, filed for divorce, and even moved her things out... How could there be such a heartless person!"

Nan Zhiyi grasped Zhou Anping's cold hand: "Anping, don't rush, speak slowly. The most important thing now is your aunt's health. She's already gone, it's not worth getting upset over someone like that."

She glanced at Song Lanxin, who looked ten years older in an instant, on the sofa. "About the child... it's just that fate hadn't brought them together yet. When your brother comes back... everything will be alright then."

This comforting reassurance finally calmed Zhou Anping's rapid breathing somewhat.

Song Lanxin, who had been keeping her eyes closed and silent, opened them. Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, but she tried her best to maintain a composed demeanor.

"Anping, stop talking... help me back to my room to lie down."

She struggled to sit up, and Zhou Anping quickly went over to help her.

With her daughter's help, Song Lanxin stood up, her gaze sweeping over Nan Zhiyi and Wu Ma, and forced a polite smile: "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine, I just need some rest."

This is a clear invitation to leave.

Nan Zhiyi could tell that Song Lanxin didn't want outsiders to see her in such a disheveled and miserable state.

She said no more and told Zhou Anping, "Take good care of your aunt. If you need any help, just let me know."

Zhou Anping nodded repeatedly, wanting to say something more, but Song Lanxin gripped his wrist tightly, so he had no choice but to help his mother and slowly walk upstairs step by step.

Aunt Wu put down the towel in her hand, walked over and helped Nan Zhiyi out of the Gu family home.

The two returned to their living room, where the breakfast on the table had long since gone cold, and a thin layer of skin had formed on the surface of the porridge.

Aunt Wu muttered, "This won't do. You have to heat it up before you eat. You can't go hungry right now."

She picked up the bowls and plates and headed to the kitchen.

Nan Zhiyi had no appetite and felt a tightness in her chest: "Aunt Wu, stop working, I don't want to eat."

“That won’t do!” Aunt Wu said firmly. “Nothing is more important than your health. You’re taking care of two people now. It’ll be over soon. Sit down and wait a bit.”

Nan Zhiyi couldn't refuse, so she nodded and sat down at the dining table.

The sunlight shifted, making the room bright, but she felt a little cold.

She gently stroked her lower abdomen, where a small life was growing.

Lu Linlang's swift and decisive action was almost cruel.

What kind of heart... what kind of state of mind... would make a mother abandon her child without hesitation?

Perhaps from the very beginning, the child was just a tool to Lu Linlang. Now that the tool is no longer useful, she discards it like worn-out shoes.

She sighed softly.

Aunt Wu brought over some warm porridge and side dishes, and the heat from the food temporarily dispelled the chill.

"Eat it while it's hot."

Nan Zhiyi picked up the spoon and slowly scooped a spoonful of warm porridge into her mouth.

The rice was fragrant and soft, yet she tasted a bittersweet flavor of life's uncertainties.

A few more days slipped by uneventfully.

Nan Zhiyi's body felt increasingly heavy, as if she were carrying a heavy melon that was getting fuller and fuller.

The baby's movements became very strong; sometimes, a kick would make her gasp for breath.

Braxton Hicks contractions became more frequent, her belly would tighten and harden in waves, and leg cramps were common, often waking her from her restless sleep in the middle of the night.

She was lost in the darkness for a moment, rubbing her throbbing calves, before drifting off to sleep again.

In the middle of the night, half asleep and half awake, she felt a familiar, warm chest press against her back, an arm wrapped around her waist, and a hand carefully placed on her swollen belly.

She was so sleepy, and with that comforting scent lingering around her nose, she didn't move. She just snuggled closer to her nose and drifted off to sleep again.

When I woke up again, it was already broad daylight.

That embrace truly existed; it was not a dream.

Nan Zhiyi was taken aback for a moment, then felt a surge of joy.

She cradled her belly and awkwardly turned around slowly.

Sure enough, my partner came back.

Gu Xiao had his eyes closed, seemingly fast asleep.

He was a bit darker and thinner, and his jawline was more defined.

Nan Zhiyi reached out and gently stroked the newly sprouted stubble on his chin with her fingertips; it was hard and a little prickly.

He didn't open his eyes, but he grabbed her finger and rubbed it against his lips: "...Awake?"

He pressed her hand against his face, saying, "I missed you so much."

Nan Zhiyi's eyes welled up slightly, and she leaned in to rest her forehead against his chin: "I missed you so much too."

In the midst of her excitement, the baby inside her belly also started kicking and punching excitedly, with large movements. Then her belly tightened and became hard.

The two were very close, and Gu Xiao could clearly feel the unusual tightness and hardness. He opened his eyes, wide awake: "What's wrong? Why is my stomach so hard?"

Nan Zhiyi explained, "Don't worry, the doctor said it's Braxton Hicks contractions, it's normal, it will soften up in a while."

Gu Xiao frowned, and only breathed a slight sigh of relief as he felt the tension in his palm slowly subside.

He sighed and pulled her closer to him: "Being pregnant is so hard."

He thought to himself, "Whether it's a boy or a girl, having only one child is enough. I can't let her suffer like this again."

He helped her slowly sit up, took a maternity dress from the side, and carefully helped her put it on.

Touching her hand, I noticed that her fingers were also swollen, and her knuckles looked round and swollen.

He held her hand and pressed his thumb on the back of her hand, leaving a shallow dent that slowly bounced back after a while.

Gu Xiao felt as if something had clenched his heart, causing a dull, aching pain.

He held both of her hands in his palms, looked down at her, and remained silent for a long time.