"I was so worried about you. Come home with me!" Xu Qingning turned to look at him and exclaimed in surprise when she saw the bandage wrapped around his forehead, "You're injured?"
Strange, in the original story, he was supposed to get injured three years later, so why did it happen earlier than expected?
Has the main storyline collapsed, causing the plot to become chaotic?
"It's nothing, I just got hit by a piece of metal." Zhao Jingyu took her hand and gently rubbed it against his face. "How did you get here? Am I dreaming?"
"I don't know how I came to be." Xu Qingning then realized that this was her dream. Even if it was a dream, she was very happy to see him. She took his hand and placed it on her belly. "Feel it, the baby is moving."
The moment he placed his hand on her belly, the little one inside kicked him without hesitation. Curious and delighted, he touched it again and again: "The baby is kicking me."
“He knows you’re his father.” Xu Qingning looked at him, feeling inexplicably wronged. “You’re coming back with me; your parents are very worried about you.”
"Don't worry, I'll be back in a while." Zhao Jingyu hugged her, his gaze still so direct and passionate. "I promised you I would raise the child with you, and I will definitely do it."
"That's good." Xu Qingning was very happy to hear that. She snuggled up to him and looked at the bright sea all around. "I wish I could stay on the ship with you."
"The conditions on the ship are too harsh, how could I bear to let you suffer?" Zhao Jingyu hugged her tightly, resting his chin on her hair. "Wait for me at home, I'll be back soon."
“Zhao Jingyu, I’m sorry, I changed your storyline…” Xu Qingning looked up at him, at the wound on his forehead, “Do you know? Your accident was originally supposed to happen three years from now, but it happened earlier than expected.”
Whether the story being brought forward is a good thing or a bad thing, she doesn't know.
But it's good that he's safe and sound.
"What are you talking about?" Zhao Jingyu smiled and comforted her. "Don't apologize to me. This is my job. It has nothing to do with you. Although the storm was fiercer than usual this time, it turned out alright. Otherwise, how could I be standing safely in front of you?"
As he spoke, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then whispered, "When I get back, what reward will you give me?"
"What reward?" Xu Qingning didn't understand.
"I think about you every day. What reward do you think I want?" Zhao Jingyu looked at her with a half-smile. "Do you really want me to tell you?"
"We're worried about you at home, and you're thinking about these things." Xu Qingning gave him a playful look. "There's plenty of time, what's the rush..."
Even if she wanted to, it wouldn't work.
She's pregnant!
"I'm in a real hurry." Zhao Jingyu kissed her lips without waiting for a reply. His kiss was forceful and passionate, leaving her no room to refuse.
In her dream, Xu Qingning felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. She turned over and woke up.
She woke up to find the moonlight soft and gentle, quietly spilling onto the bed. After a while, she came to her senses; she had just dreamt of him.
The dream was realistic and not chaotic.
Her breath seemed to linger on her lips; she remembered his words and the expression on his face perfectly.
Xu Qingning pulled the blanket over her face.
Is she thinking about him?
In the afternoon, Du Juan and Fang Meiyuan arrived.
The two women carried fruit and malted milk powder. As soon as Fang Meiyuan entered, she apologized: "I'm sorry, I should have come to see you sooner. I've made you worry these past two days. We just received a call that everyone on the ship is safe. Most of them were slightly injured, but none of them are in life-threatening danger."
"It's good that he's alright." Xu Qingning breathed a sigh of relief when she thought of her dream last night. What was there to be afraid of with Zhao Jingyu having a scar on his forehead? She didn't mind.
Yang Yuelan was overjoyed upon hearing this, and burst into tears of happiness: "Thank you all for worrying me."
Zhao Futang and Zhao Jingwen went to the meat processing plant with Liu Dawei and haven't returned yet.
She couldn't wait to tell them the news.
"I heard the ship was hit hard and damaged, and it needs repairs." Du Juan has been worried about this for the past few days. "It might take a few days longer than expected to get back."
"It's okay if they come back later, as long as they're safe and sound." Yang Yuelan busily made tea for the two of them, so happy she was almost incoherent. "Stay for dinner tonight, I'll make dumplings for you."
"Haha, no need. When Jingyu comes back, we'll definitely make him treat us." Fang Meiyuan understood the feelings of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and said to Xu Qingning with a smile, "Take good care of yourself, we'll come to see you when we have time."
"Thank you, Manager Fang and Teacher Du, for bringing this wonderful news to our family." Xu Qingning grasped their hands, moved, and said, "Thank you for the company's concern for our families."
"Of course, of course." Fang Meiyuan looked at Xu Qingning with her eyes crinkling, thinking to herself that Xu Qingning and Zhao Jingyu were actually quite a good match, both of them were very good at talking.
Fang Meiyuan and Du Juan sat for a while, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got up to say goodbye.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law saw them off at the gate. Xu Qingning was fine, but Yang Yuelan couldn't stop her tears. Her worries of the past few days were finally released.
When the old ladies saw that Yang Yuelan's eyes were red from crying, they understood perfectly well that Zhao Jingyu was definitely gone.
Otherwise, why would Fang Meiyuan come looking for them?
She must have been sent by the company to visit the family.
The news spread faster and faster, and became increasingly outrageous.
By evening, even the residents of the No. 3 State-Owned Cotton Mill's family compound knew about it, and it quickly became a topic of conversation among them.
"Have you heard? The ocean shipping company's cargo ship has run into trouble. It encountered a storm overseas, and no one has returned."
"Really? That's terrifying."
“It’s absolutely true, that’s what the people in the Ocean Shipping Company’s tenement said.”
"By the way, isn't the man Xu Qingning married from the Ocean Shipping Company?"
"Yes, they've only been married for less than six months. What a pity."
"I heard Xu Qingning is pregnant, what are we going to do!"
Soon, Xu Jianguo and Jiang Yumei also heard the news. The couple were both surprised and somewhat disbelieving.
Xu Jianguo went out to inquire about it, and when he came back, he remained silent and started smoking one cigarette after another.
No matter what, Xu Qingning is his own daughter. As her father-in-law, he naturally wouldn't stand idly by after his son-in-law's incident.
Jiang Yumei then wiped her eyes, quite fittingly, and said, "Such a big thing, and Qingning didn't even tell us. What will she do in the future!"
"I'll go ask Tingshen and Wenya right now and see what they have to say." Xu Jianguo couldn't sit still any longer and got up to walk out.
“I’ll go with you.” Jiang Yumei followed him out. Halfway there, she reminded Xu Jianguo, “It’s not right for us to go empty-handed. Why don’t we buy some fruit?”
"What time is it? You're still thinking about these old customs." Xu Jianguo was very angry. "Is Qingning's matter less important than your little bit of face?"
"Xu Jianguo, what do you mean?" Jiang Yumei snapped. "Did I cause this accident involving your son-in-law?"
Xu Jianguo glanced at her with disappointment, then strode forward without saying a word.
Upon entering the large courtyard of the Ocean Shipping Company, he stopped, glanced at Xu Qingning, and hesitated.
Did he go to ask Tang Wenya for information first?
Or should we just ask Xu Qingning directly?
Thank you to wind1970 and reader-ad for the monthly ticket, and thank you to everyone who voted for the author.
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Second watch.
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