at night.
After coaxing her grandmother to sleep, Shen Zhi Qiu lay comfortably on the rattan recliner in the small courtyard, looking up at the starry sky.
Suddenly, she smelled a familiar fragrance. Without turning around, she knew who it was.
"Zhi Qiu." Si Mingyu's gentle voice sounded above her head.
Shen Zhi Qiu opened her eyes and met Si Ming Yu's gentle gaze. His eyes were burning with passion, and he made no attempt to hide his feelings for her.
Shen Zhi Qiu frowned slightly, then sat up and said calmly, "Brother Ming Yu."
Si Mingyu nodded and said softly, "Why aren't you asleep yet? Staying up late is bad for the child."
“It’s rare to have such a peaceful night,” Shen Zhi Qiu said softly, then turned to stare at the roses climbing the wall. “The fragrance of roses is very faint, especially at night, it has a special charm.”
Taking a deep breath, Shen Zhi Qiu's face broke into a smile. "It's really comfortable here. I feel much more at ease than when I lived in Nancheng."
"So, you plan to stay here for a long time?" Si Mingyu was taken aback.
"Yes. I have that idea, and this place is very suitable for Grandma to recuperate, so I can stay by her side."
"But what about the child?" Si Mingyu pointed out the key issue. "The child is the bloodline of the Gu family, Zhi Qiu, have you thought about it? The Gu family will not allow their child to be left to wander outside."
Shen Zhi Qiu nodded gently, "I've thought about it too, that's why I kept it from Gu Qing Yan."
“Zhiqiu, Qingyan already knows. I forgot to tell you, after you disappeared, Qingyan somehow found out that you were pregnant and rushed to Miss Zhou's house to ask about your whereabouts. I happened to be there at the time.”
Shen Zhi Qiu was slightly surprised, but then she remembered that she hadn't taken the pregnancy test report from the closet with her, and guessed that Gu Qing Yan might have found it.
She gave a bitter smile and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "Mingyu, do you know? Actually, when I first found out I was pregnant, I thought that since Xiao Wanqing was back, my marriage with Gu Qingyan was destined to be short-lived, so I thought I might as well not have the child."
But the doctor said I was carrying twins, and if I miscarried, I might never be able to have children again, so I couldn't bear to give it up.
Everyone says children are the bond of a family, right? I thought maybe this could be a turning point for our marriage. I considered telling him several times that we were having a child, but before I could even say it, I was completely disappointed by his indifference.
It's pointless. I can't bear to let my child grow up in a loveless family. Since Xiao Wanqing is the most important person to Gu Qingyan, then I'll just step aside.
Shen Zhi Qiu raised her face and smiled faintly, "There's more than just Gu Qing Yan in the world."
“Hmm. I don’t understand Qingyan either. After you disappeared, he searched for you like a madman. You heard the phone call that day; he was really anxious,” Si Mingyu said.
“Whether he’s nervous or anxious, he ignores me when I’m around. Now that I’m gone, who is he trying to impress?” Shen Zhi Qiu chuckled. “Ming Yu, have you ever heard the saying, ‘Late-blooming affection is worthless than grass’? Besides, who knows if it’s because he’s too controlling? I certainly don’t think it’s because of love or care.”
Si Mingyu lowered his eyes and frowned. He felt that the phrase "belated affection is cheaper than grass" seemed to be implying something about him.
Shen Zhi Qiu seemed to realize this as well, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.
"Zhiqiu, you're here? Perfect timing, I've made you some bird's nest soup." Lu Jia led Lu Xiaoyu up the stairs, and the round ball followed Lu Xiaoyu up the last step.
Lu Jia placed the stew pot on the table and invited Shen Zhi Qiu to come and sit down.
Shen Zhi Qiu got up from the recliner, nodded to Si Ming Yu, and then walked towards the table, with Si Ming Yu following her.
As soon as Shen Zhi Qiu sat down, Lu Jia took off the coat draped over his arm and put it on Shen Zhi Qiu. "It's cool in the mountains at night, so it's best to wear a coat. Otherwise, by the time you feel cold, you've probably already caught a cold. You should try to avoid taking medicine now. Drink some while it's hot." As he spoke, he placed a ceramic soup spoon in Shen Zhi Qiu's hand.
Shen Zhi Qiu smiled and said she understood, then took a sip and said with satisfaction, "Delicious."
Lu Jia's brows relaxed, and she said with a smile, "If you like, I'll make it for you every day."
“Brother Lu, I like it too.” Lu Xiaoyu leaned closer and pulled Lu Jia’s arm.
"Why would a boy eat bird's nest!"
Lu Xiaoyu pouted and stood aside, looking aggrieved.
"Why are you being so mean to him, Xiaoyu? If you want some, I'll give you some every day."
"He doesn't need it. He can just have some white fungus soup at the canteen in the hospital," Lu Jia said, glancing at Lu Xiaoyu with annoyance.
"Brother Lu, you're so biased," Lu Xiaoyu complained.
"Yes, I am biased," Lu Jia readily admitted.
Upon hearing this, Si Mingyu gave him a cryptic look. After observing him for the past few days, he realized that Shen Zhi Qiu truly trusted Lu Jia completely, and their interactions were very casual.
Every time he did something for Shen Zhi Qiu, even something as simple as washing fruit, she would thank him. But she wouldn't do that with Lu Jia; she would accept his kindness without hesitation. Judging from how naturally Lu Jia did it, it was clear that this had always been their way of interacting.
Si Mingyu pursed his lips; it would be a lie to say he wasn't envious. There was a time when Shen Zhi Qiu would follow him around, chattering incessantly, and he had always been used to her noisy presence.
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