Shu Yi'an's heart clenched as she listened to the series of sounds from the next room. Even the little one in her arms seemed to be expressing its displeasure, beginning to move violently in her womb. She pointed her index finger at her ball-like belly, clearly unhappy.
"What are you doing? Are you protesting?"
She sat quietly for less than a minute before finally opening the door and walking towards the study.
Having scolded and hit the old man, his anger had subsided considerably. Seeing the cold sweat seeping from Chu Mu's forehead, he took a handkerchief from the table and handed it to him. "Kid, remember this, this is what you deserve today. As for whether Yi'an and the child will be willing to go with you in the future, that's entirely up to you."
The snowstorm outside had stopped. Shu Xuehong opened the door and saw the clumsy Shu Yi'an, who couldn't dodge in time. She was taken aback for a moment, then turned her back to Chu Mu and whispered, "The New Year's Eve dinner is ready. Come and eat."
Author's Note: Mr. Chu's pursuit of his wife wasn't very long, because Meimei isn't a pretentious or affected woman; she loves simply because she loves. Also, guess whether Meimei's baby is a boy or a girl. I'll pick the first few correct guesses to send red envelopes. Thank you all for your continued support.
Yesterday I was at the hospital waiting for my follow-up appointment until after 5 pm, and I was in a bad mood so I didn't update. I also let you know on Weibo, and I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. Also, I woke up to find I was following nine more people on Weibo, I was so happy, hahaha! #Do people who never have 100 followers seem to have a low threshold for laughter?#
Let's talk about Chapter 63, shall we?
The New Year's Eve dinner at six o'clock was a rule that Shu Xuehong had always set. Since he had made the promise, it meant that he had agreed to let Chu Mu spend the New Year in the courtyard.
Shu Yi'an was caught red-handed standing at the study door. Chu Mu, enduring the pain, walked towards her with a smile in his eyes. The blow from his cane made even his turning movements a little stiff, and his back felt faintly numb.
"Worried about me?"
Shu Yi'an walked uncomfortably toward the main hall with her head down, her steps hurried. "Who's worried about you? I was afraid something might happen to Grandpa because you were making such a loud noise."
Chu Mu quickly took a few steps, grabbed her, spun around, and pinned her against the wall. His gaze was fixed on her bloodshot eyes, and one hand was firmly placed behind Shu Yi'an's head.
"Then why are you crying?"
"Who's crying?!" Shu Yi'an reacted violently, shoving him sharply, creating some distance between them. "Don't be so self-righteous!"
Although Shu Yi'an was pregnant, apart from her large belly, she didn't exhibit any of the typical characteristics of a pregnant woman. Her slender limbs and small face made her appear particularly fragile in the night wind. Chu Mu didn't dare to argue with her at all, and watching her throw him down again, he rubbed his nose in frustration.
This is really... the wheel of fortune turns.
Just then, Qingshan and his men carrying dishes passed through the corridor. Upon seeing the two people, they quickly lowered their heads and hurried past, afraid of seeing something they shouldn't have.
The Shu family was, after all, a well-known and respected family in Jiangnan. This year was different from usual, as Shu Yi'an was pregnant and needed extra care; therefore, the dishes were prepared with utmost care. A total of eighteen dishes, each with strong local flavor, were arranged in two circles around the table, arranged meticulously according to their temperature (hot or cold), meat or vegetables. Shu Xuehong, seeing the two people behind her, pointed to the two seats opposite her.
"Please sit down."
The bowls and chopsticks were made of fine bone china. Shu Xuehong squinted at Chu Mu, then turned to Qingshan and ordered, "Go and get the wine I put in the cellar."
"This wine is quite old. It was brought back by someone when I went to Shanxi for an academic conference. I've been storing it in the cellar with peach blossoms ever since. I'm usually alone and don't really have the interest in it. I'm happy that your family is here to keep me company today. How about having a drink with this old man?"
"good."
At this point, Chu Mu would be happy to drink anything, let alone alcohol! Besides, the old man had specifically used the phrase "your family" to clearly express his attitude, so Chu Mu immediately rolled up his shirt sleeves and poured wine for the old man to keep him company.
Many of the dishes on the table were things Shu Yi'an loved to eat as a child. A pot of soup, simmering for some time, was specially kept warm over an alcohol burner, the lid of the clay pot rattling softly from the steam. During the New Year, she never needed anyone to serve her meals; she did everything herself. Although Shu Yi'an was a little annoyed, seeing the table full of food immediately brightened her mood.
Having lived together for two years, Chu Mu could sometimes clearly understand Shu Yi'an's intentions with just a glance or an expression. Stopping her hand from reaching for the soup pot, he calmly took the bowl and spoon from her, saying, "I'll do it."
"Did your family know you were coming here?" Shu Xuehong asked Chu Mu. "The end of the year is a busy time, can you really put your work aside?"
Chu Mu nodded, glancing at Shu Yi'an with a natural expression. "I came in a hurry. There are foreign affairs activities at the ministry on the third day of the Lunar New Year, so I have to go back." He meant that he only had three days to coax his wife back home.
Shu Xuehong pondered for a moment, "I'm afraid you're just a general in the field who may not always obey orders."
Chu Mu was about to answer when he saw Shu Yi'an frown, cover her mouth, and gag in obvious discomfort. His hand, holding the spoon, paused as a wave of nausea washed over him.
Seeing her run out, both of them were startled. Shu Xuehong was taken aback, "Why are you reacting so strongly at a time like this?"
Chu Mu's tense expression remained unchanged. He put down his cup and followed them out. "I'll go take a look."
Because she hadn't eaten anything yet, and had only drunk a few sips of soup, her stomach was empty. Shu Yi'an leaned over the pool and dry heaved for a while, but nothing came out. Chu Mu stood behind her, protecting her in his arms with one hand.
"Feeling very uncomfortable?"
Shu Yi'an washed her face with water, feeling extremely weak. She felt like she had no strength left in her hands and feet, and didn't want to get entangled with him any longer. She just shook her head, her face pale.
"I'll go to the hospital with you." Chu Mu became even more anxious when she didn't speak, so he pulled her along and walked out.
"No need." Shu Yi'an subconsciously grasped Chu Mu's fingers and took a deep breath. "Maybe it's because I haven't eaten all day, and I'm not used to drinking too fast tonight. It's been like this before, I'm used to it."
Chu Mu frowned. "You were vomiting so badly before?" He couldn't imagine what it would be like for her to be pregnant alone in an unfamiliar city and living environment. The bathroom wasn't very big, and the two of them were incredibly close. His tall and serious expression made Shu Yi'an freeze for a moment, and she quickly let go of his hand and turned her head away.
"Pregnancy symptoms are nothing to worry about."
For a moment, neither of them spoke; the atmosphere was unusually quiet. Tiny water droplets still clung to her eyelashes after she washed her face, fluttering with her lowered eyelids. Beneath her red sweater, he could clearly see her fair neck and collarbone, and even… her soft, fuller mounds…
Chu Mu silently calmed his breathing, his mind racing hundreds of times per second to control his thoughts, but the light in his eyes grew increasingly deep. Perhaps feeling too uncomfortable, being cornered by him beside the pool, Shu Yi'an cautiously moved away. "I'm going out..." Seeing Chu Mu remain motionless, she reached out and poked his arm. "Hey!... Hmm..."
Chu Mu pulled her close, pinning her against the wall before he could even think, and kissed her passionately. Afraid she would struggle, he grabbed both of Shu Yi'an's wrists high with one hand and placed the other on her shoulder, preventing her from escaping.
The instant their lips met, Shu Yi'an was forced to tilt her head back slightly, feeling as if she couldn't breathe, and her mind went blank. She felt as if the impregnable wall she had been holding onto had instantly collapsed into ruins.
Afraid of hurting her, he leaned over her in an awkward position, completely exposing her stomach. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd touched her… He only knew that since she left, he had been alone, uninterested in any woman around him, not even bothering to look at them. Every night, lying in bed, his mind was filled with the feeling of her slender body being held tightly in his arms, her soft breathing. Looking at the empty pillow beside him, he always remembered her forehead soaked with sweat from being pinned down, her body shrinking back, begging for mercy, biting her lip, frowning, refusing to make a sound… So many images of her, Shu Yi'an, were almost unbearable for him, so the next day he hurriedly packed his bags and moved back to the single apartment he used to live in alone. He thought that moving to a place without her presence might be better.
But when Chu Mu bit her soft lips, he truly understood the meaning of "self-deception." Her slightly rapid breathing and heaving chest made him almost unable to restrain himself. All the worry and longing for her in his heart burst forth, almost making him kiss her until his eyes reddened. Without him noticing, the hand that had been holding her loosened and instead stroked the back of her head, while the hand that had been on her shoulder slowly slipped down to her waist and began to knead her soft side with a gentle, light touch.
Shu Yi'an was on the verge of collapse from the feeling of drowning. The slightly alcoholic taste of his breath filled her mouth. With a sliver of consciousness, she reached out and haphazardly hit his back, trying to stop his next move. In the chaos, she heard him hiss and suddenly frown and release her.
Shu Yi'an leaned against the wall, breathing in large gulps of fresh air, her voice trembling. "You're insane!"
The spot on his back where Shu Xuehong had hit him burned with pain. Pointing at her round belly, Chu Mu forced out a few words with difficulty: "You murdered your husband."
Enraged, Shu Yi'an kicked him in the leg, for his sake and for her own pathetic compromise. "You deserved to be killed!!!"
The cramped bathroom was hardly a place to talk, so Chu Mu ignored her struggles, picked her up, and carried her through the corridor towards her room. One of them was kicking and thrashing about restlessly, while the other remained calm and indifferent as they walked into the room. The people around them exchanged knowing smiles.