I Became the Mother of His Child

Knocking on the door to Xu Jingjing's hospital room wasn't anyone else but Xu Xiuxiu's elder sister, Xu Fangfang—the very culprit responsible for Xu Jingjing's unbearable pain.

"Xu Fangfang, how dare you show your face? I thought someone like you would be hiding where no one could find you at a time like this!" Xu Xiuxiu said sarcastically, her voice icy and piercing as she simultaneously gave Xu Fangfang a cold stare. Xu Fangfang was dressed in ragged clothes, her hair a mess and her eyes red from crying. Behind her, Xu Fangfang's elder brother-in-law Song Guomin entered the room, looking nearly as disheveled as she did, both appearing as if they had just endured a great calamity.

What were these two up to? Playing the pity card to gain sympathy, to ask for forgiveness?

"When you arrived, it was just in time, Si Ya. Tell mom it wasn't you who brought harm to Doudou, was it? It wasn't your fault, right?" Mrs. Xu immediately went over to Xu Fangfang upon seeing her and grabbed her hand to question her, hope lingering in her tone.

Xu Fangfang, feeling guilty, guessed that everyone already knew about what she had done to Doudou because of the expressions on their faces. In fact, when she and her husband went to the Song Family Village looking for Xiuxiu's help, they found out that both Xiuxiu and her husband were at the county hospital because Xu Jingjing had an accident and they were both accompanying her there.

After realizing it was Xu Jingjing who had the accident, Xu Fangfang didn't want to come to the hospital to ask for trouble. Showing up in such a moment was definitely like walking into a trap but, being at her wit's end, she had no other choice but to come.

She clearly did not anticipate, however, that upon her arrival she would be met with Mrs. Xu's interrogations.

"Mom, I'm sorry, it was my fault, I was wrong. I shouldn't have believed Song Wenshu's words and caused harm to Doudou. Even if you beat me to death today, I deserve it. I've wronged Doudou and would have no complaints even if beaten to death," Xu Fangfang said while crying, though her expression seemed insincere and forced.

"It really was you, Si Ya! How could you do such a thing? Doudou is your sister! How could you bear to treat her this way, what happened to your conscience?" Upon receiving Xu Fangfang's admission, Mrs. Xu raised her hand and began to beat Xu Fangfang mercilessly. Each punch was forceful, and coming from a rural woman in her forties or fifties, they were strong enough to cause anyone to howl in pain.

Xu Fangfang took the beating stiffly, enduring the pain while expressing guilt and sadness. "Mom, I was wrong, I really was! But I had no other choice at the time! I owed a huge debt to Song Wenshu and he was constantly coming to our door demanding payment. Despite his scholarly appearance, he was nothing more than a rogue and a troublemaker, coming over and beating Doudou until she was frightened out of her wits. Guomin and I only have Doudou; she's our life. How could we bear to see her suffer? Besides, Song Wenshu only said he wanted to meet with Jingjing, that if they both liked each other it would be a good match. And if not, he promised not to make trouble for me. I thought just meeting wouldn't be a big deal—it's not uncommon for men and women who meet to not be suitable for each other. I had no idea he would assault Jingjing, let alone do such vile things!" Xu Fangfang cried pitifully.

"Si Ya, how could you be so foolish! What are you going to do about Doudou now? What should we do? You knew he was a troublemaker, yet you brought him in front of Doudou. You deserve to die!" Mrs. Xu, hearing Xu Fangfang's defense, showed no signs of softening but was also not as furious as before. She continued to cry and kept her fists flying.

Every time she thought about how she had contributed to Doudou's downfall due to her own negligence, Mrs. Xu felt an even deeper pain.

"Mom, I know I was foolish, I know!" Xu Fangfang, crying, knelt and fell to the floor. "Is it okay if I apologize to Doudou by kowtowing? Doudou, your elder sister was wrong, please forgive her!" Saying this, Xu Fangfang reached out towards Xu Jingjing's bed and then knocked her head hard on the floor.

"Sister, I don't want to see her," said Xu Jingjing, who had regained consciousness with the arrival of Xu Fangfang. Looking calmly at Xu Fangfang for a moment, she then spoke to Xu Xiuxiu.

"Fine." Xu Xiuxiu stood to the side, watching Xu Fangfang for a long time, feeling sad about how even at this moment Xu Fangfang still hadn't shown a trace of sincere guilt. Si Ya was her sister, after all! How could this woman be so heartless? Xu Xiuxiu shook her head, quite angrily.

"Xu Fangfang, if you want to cry, get out and cry. Don't disturb Si Ya's rest." Xu Xiuxiu spoke viciously, stepping forward to grab Xu Fangfang, intending to drive her out of the hospital room. She really didn't want Xu Fangfang's arrival to unsettle Xu Jingjing's hard-won calm.

Xu Fangfang fell to her knees on the floor: "Si Ya, your big sister was wrong, truly wrong. Can you forgive your big sister, please?" Xu Fangfang stubbornly refused to leave the hospital room.

"I won't forgive you." Xu Jingjing turned her head away, her expression cold and unyielding.

"Si Ya, how could you be so heartless! Isn't big sister kowtowing to you enough?" Xu Fangfang cried, protesting Xu Jingjing's cruelty.

Xu Jingjing silently laughed in response.

"Song Yuanhuan, come and help, drive this couple out for me." Xu Xiuxiu was again thoroughly disgusted by Xu Fangfang, she begged Si Ya for forgiveness, but when Si Ya didn't forgive, she turned into the heartless one. Indeed, she couldn't afford to be soft-hearted toward someone like Xu Fangfang, because it simply wasn't worth it.

Hearing Xu Xiuxiu's order, Song Yuanhuan knew she was angry and immediately decided to go and help without hesitation. After all, his sister-in-law needed rest for emotional stability, and his own wife had just given birth a few days earlier. He truly couldn't bear his wife getting too upset.

"Elder brother-in-law, you go out first!" Song Yuanhuan approached Song Guomin and spoke up. Song Yuanhuan carried an air of military authority, and Song Guomin was quite intimidated by him, this brother-in-law from the Song Family Village. Although Song Yuanhuan was much younger than he was, Song Guomin really didn't dare to cross him.

"Fine! Fine! We'll go out first." Song Guomin said, stepping forward to help pull Xu Fangfang, planning to walk out of the hospital room.

Xu Fangfang suddenly became furious, tears and snot running down her face: "Why are you pulling me out? Si Ya hasn't forgiven me yet!"

"Let's go out first! It wouldn't be good if we disturbed Si Ya's rest." Song Guomin advised Xu Fangfang in a hushed voice, looking away.

Xu Fangfang seemed extremely reluctant, but was still pulled out of the hospital room by Song Guomin. Xu Xiuxiu stood at the hospital room door, grabbing the handle and about to close the door.

"Um, Xiuxiu! Your big sister and elder brother-in-law need a favor, can you come outside for a moment?" Xu Fangfang wiped away her tears and, blocking the hospital room door with her body, gave Xu Xiuxiu a pleading smile.