I Became the Mother of His Child

Xu Xiuxiu slept until nearly noon, as she seemed to already have the early pregnancy symptom of excessive sleepiness. Ignoring the aunt and nephew, Xu Jingjing and Song Chengguang, in the living room who were too nervous to even breathe because she had left the bedroom, she, with her belly rumbling, buried herself in the kitchen. She took out the steamed buns that had been kept warm on the stove and devoured them with the spicy radish strips she had specially prepared a few days ago.

Perhaps she was really starving, Xu Xiuxiu ate the steamed buns with gusto.

"Xiuxiu, aren't you hungry anymore?" Xu Jingjing, holding the hand of her little nephew, Song Chengguang, was surprised to see her third sister wolfing down the two big steamed buns from the pot, then finishing off more than half of the big jar of pickled radish strips. She asked with a bit of shock.

Xu Jingjing knew her third sister's normal appetite—Xiuxiu usually thought even one bun was too much, yet she had just eaten two in one go! Hm! Maybe it was because she skipped breakfast, Xu Jingjing thought, finding a good excuse for her sister.

"I'm not hungry anymore!" Xu Xiuxiu shook her head and stood up to start cleaning up the dishes.

"Xiuxiu, have a seat, I'll clean up!" Xu Jingjing had been reminded by her brother-in-law in the morning, and now, seeing Xu Xiuxiu getting ready to clear the table, she immediately stopped her and skillfully began to help.

Xu Xiuxiu looked puzzled as Xu Jingjing took the dishes from her hands. She didn't stop her and turned her head to look at Song Chengguang, who stood there in a daze. The little guy was looking at her with an indescribable look of concern.

"Chengguang, have you had lunch yet?" Xu Xiuxiu bent down to make eye contact with Song Chengguang, compulsively straightening out the little one's slightly untidy clothes.

"I have." Song Chengguang nodded his head, which was fuzzy like a man's stubble, "Mom, are you sick?" he asked, staring at Xu Xiuxiu with large, worried eyes, his voice so soft as if he was afraid of startling her.

"No! Don't be scared, Chengguang, mom's not sick," Xu Xiuxiu said, pulling the little one into a hug and then slowly walking to the sofa.

"Mommy, don't get sick, getting shots is really painful." Song Chengguang had his little hand pricked several times last time he had a fever. He even got a few shots in the bottom, and every time he remembered, a dark shadow loomed over his tiny heart. The pain of the injections, especially on the bottom, was just too much to bear.

"Don't worry, mommy won't get sick," Xu Xiuxiu promised with a nod, then cuddled with Song Chengguang on the sofa to watch television. The mother and son also shared a Fuji apple, happily nibbling away, taking turns with each bite.

Xu Jingjing washed and cleaned the pots and dishes, then sat down on the sofa to watch TV with them. When the time for a noon rest came, she prepared to take a nap and also lulled Song Chengguang to sleep.

Xu Xiuxiu had lain down in the morning and slept straight through to noon, leaving her body stiff from lying down for so long, so naturally, she gave up the idea of taking a nap. She went to the balcony to water the top-grade orchid, then returned to the room to pick up the first edition of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and began to read it carefully.

This was the original first edition print of "Dream of the Red Chamber"! Before, she had tried so hard to purchase one without success, but now she had luckily stumbled upon a great bargain.

After she grew tired of reading, Xu Jingjing and Song Chengguang, who had been napping, had also woken up, and the sun outside had already dropped quite a bit. It was no longer as oppressively hot as at noon, leaving Xu Xiuxiu idle and bored. So, she picked up a deck of cards and started to play the "Catch the Turtle" game with Xu Jingjing and Song Chengguang.

Song Chengguang was young and didn't really know how to play. He just clumsily grabbed a handful of cards, finding joy in the quantity he could snatch. Xu Jingjing seriously taught the little guy the rules. The little fellow nodded his head blankly as he agreed and started playing. He then excitedly began snatching cards again, much to Xu Jingjing's annoyance. Despite this, the atmosphere was still quite happy as they played.

As evening approached, the sun outside had slowly set, leaving only a sliver of the setting sun spreading softly over the Military District's grounds. The pale yellow sunlight carried the moist, cold breeze of spring. Xu Xiuxiu made a point to check out Mr. Deng's flowerpot on the balcony and saw that the top-grade orchid was thriving, looking more alive than before. Even the two small buds had grown considerably, at a surprisingly fast pace. Judging by this rate, within three days, those buds would probably blossom, Xu Xiuxiu thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

In the living room, when Song Chengguang started chasing the cartoon that aired promptly at four o'clock, the sound of keys opening the door could be heard.

"How come you're home so early today?" Xu Xiuxiu looked surprised as she saw Song Yuanhuan, dressed in his military uniform, walk in. He was off work a full two hours earlier than usual. It was just past three in the afternoon, and he was already back!

"I was worried about you, so I came back to take you to the medical office for a check-up," Song Yuanhuan said as he walked up to the sofa, his gaze fixated on Xu Xiuxiu, whose bare face was so tender it seemed you could squeeze water from it. "Are you feeling better? Do you have any more discomforts?"

"It's fine, I feel much better after sleeping!" Xu Xiuxiu replied with a faint smile. "There's no need to go to the medical office. I know my body well enough. It's just a little stomach discomfort these past few days; it's not a big issue." Xu Xiuxiu insisted on refusing to go to the Military District's medical office for a check-up.

"Even if it's nothing, we should still go for a check-up!" Song Yuanhuan seemed quite insistent. The scene he had witnessed that morning had frightened him; she was so frail, sitting in the bathroom with a pale face devoid of any color. The moment he closed his eyes and remembered it, he would feel utterly panicked. He wouldn't allow her to be stubborn now.

"I really don't want to go," Xu Xiuxiu said, a bit pained.

"Wife, let's just go for a checkup, okay?" Song Yuanhuan coaxed softly, his own head aching from the effort.

"Even if you call me 'wife,' I won't go. Why should I visit the military doctor if I'm feeling fine?" Xu Xiuxiu raised her voice at Song Yuanhuan, obviously a bit exasperated.

"You're not fine. Xiuxiu, be a good girl, can we go to the medical office for a check-up, please?" Song Yuanhuan ignored Xu Jingjing and Song Chengguang in the living room, solicitously and sweetly implored Xu Xiuxiu by drawing close and persuading her kindly.

"Song Yuanhuan, I'm really not going," Xu Xiuxiu said petulantly, turning her head away.

"Fine! I know you don't want to go, but could you consider going just for me? If your stomach is uncomfortable, we can get some medicine for it," Song Yuanhuan continued to coax, holding Xu Xiuxiu, who sat beside him, as if she were a spoiled little girl.

Xu Xiuxiu's face turned red with embarrassment as she looked at Song Yuanhuan, who was earnestly coddling her.

"Does Song Yuanhuan have to be like this? Let me tell you something in exchange; after you listen, then you can think about whether or not you still want me to go to the medical office, okay?" Xu Xiuxiu looked at Song Yuanhuan helplessly, knowing that he was set on taking her to the medical office, so she also put away the thought of keeping it a secret from him any longer.