I didn't make our reunion a difficult or complicated affair, because one of us came with sincerity and a sense of indebtedness, while the other waited with anticipation and deep love. When we met at the perfect time, we would naturally be together without hesitation.
It really is time to say goodbye now, but Yi'an's baby hasn't been born yet, and Chu Mu hasn't given this little life the best welcome. We'll meet again tomorrow night at 8 PM for the grand finale of the main story.
Chapter 65 (End of Main Text)
Chu Mu took Shu Yi'an back to Beijing on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Shu Yi'an was reluctant to part with her grandfather and insisted on staying an extra day before agreeing to go back with Chu Mu. Shu Xuehong seemed to have expected this, but because her granddaughter had only been back for two days and was leaving in such a hurry, she threw a tantrum and refused to come out to see them off. The butler, Qingshan, arranged a car to take the two to the airport, and fearing that Shu Yi'an would be worried, he specially stood outside the car door to give the couple some instructions.
"The old man said he doesn't like parting. He will personally go to see you when you give birth to this little one, so you won't leave crying. There's still a long life ahead of you." Looking at Chu Mu protecting Shu Yi'an, Qingshan lowered his head slightly, "Young master, may I have a word with you in private?"
Chu Mu coaxed Shu Yi'an into the car and closed the door before following Qingshan to the other side of the gate. "Please speak."
"The old man asked me to tell you that the reason he hit you with your cane that day was twofold: to teach you a lesson and to make Miss Shu react. He might have been a little too heavy-handed, but actually, Old Master Shu didn't mean to hurt you."
Chu Mu recalled the shocking bruise on his back when he was changing clothes last night, which had surprised and distressed Shu Yi'an for quite some time. Adding to that the bite mark on his shoulder, he had taken advantage of the situation by using the pretext of applying medicine to hold her close and enjoy his freedom. He couldn't help but chuckle softly.
“Go back and tell the old man that I deserved it.”
"And another thing..." Qingshan rubbed his hands awkwardly, not daring to say it in front of Chu Mu. "And another thing, the old man said that if he can get you to take her back, he can bring her back. If you... cause Miss Shu any more grievances or make her unhappy, the old man has many outstanding students, and there are plenty of excellent men who are worthy of our girl. In that case, he might really arrange for her to be given away to someone else so that you can't find her anymore."
Chu Mu chuckled. This old man really was something... even on his way out, he didn't forget to give him a threat...
"Let the old man give up on this idea; he won't have that chance."
Qingshan personally opened the car door for Chu Mu, saying, "That's for the best. You two should be careful on the road."
The plane was in first class, and Shu Yi'an was dozing off in the warm cabin and with the flight attendant's sweet voice. Looking at the clouds outside the window, she blinked, "What did Uncle Qingshan say to you?"
Chu Mu took a blanket and covered her with it, wincing as he thought of the painful wound on his back. "He didn't say anything. I'll have someone bring Grandpa over when your due date arrives, don't worry." Chu Mu regretted not being involved in the entire process of raising Shu Yi'an, and he had so many questions and curiosities about this little life. He couldn't resist pinching her nose to wake her up.
"How old is it exactly? Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
Shu Yi'an frowned and thought about it seriously for a moment, "Nine months along, and we still don't know the gender... The hospital doesn't do gender identification, are you being sexist?"
Chu Mu smiled slightly, "What are you thinking? A month to prepare for its birth... I'm afraid it won't be enough time. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. You can stay in the compound until the 15th, and let Mom and Yuanyuan take care of you."
Shu Yi'an was startled, almost forgetting the obvious worry in the eyes of the people living in the compound. "Does Mom know? Will she blame me...?"
When Chu Mu thought about calling home on New Year's Eve, Sui Qing almost fainted upon hearing the news about Shu Yi'an. When she came to her senses, she grabbed Chu's father, overjoyed. Chu's father only knew that Chu Mu had gone to see Shu Yi'an; he hadn't expected such a big surprise. Because it was the New Year, even he, usually so serious, showed some anticipation and a smile.
"Did he find a wife? Look how happy you are!"
Sui Qing patted Chu's father on the shoulder, "Not only that, Chu Mu called to say that Yi An is pregnant!! Guess what? That child from back then was never miscarried! Thank goodness!"
Even the usually composed and steady Mr. Chu couldn't help but laugh. He paced around the living room several times with his hands behind his back, busy telling Sui Qing to contact the hospital to prepare a room.
Thinking of the situation at home, Chu Mu squeezed Shu Yi'an's hand. "I hope you won't be scared after you get off the plane."
After a flight of several hours, the plane landed on time at Terminal 3, where Sui Qing and Chu Weiyuan came to pick them up. Watching the two emerge from the gate, Sui Qing, seeing Shu Yi'an's pregnant belly, was almost moved to tears. "My dear daughter, it's so good you're back, so good you're back!"
Shu Yi'an also missed her mother-in-law, who had treated her almost like her own daughter, very much. She lowered her head, hugged her, and gently called out to her.
"mom."
Shu Yi'an's address of "Mom" completely stripped Chu Mu of his status. Chu Weiyuan and Sui Qing flanked her, escorting her directly to the pre-arranged private hospital. This prevented Chu Mu from bringing up remarriage several times.
After all... without those two little red notebooks, Chu Mu always felt uneasy...
To allow the couple more time alone, Sui Qing had the Lake Garden villa cleaned, while she and Chu Weiyuan went shopping for their unborn baby.
Returning to the place she had lived in for two years, Shu Yi'an felt an unusual sense of familiarity. Chu Mu still had the key she had left behind hanging on the little bear hook in the entryway. The water glass in the kitchen, the dark blue quilt and pillows in the bedroom, and even her towels and bathrobes were all neatly placed on the shelf in the bathroom, showing no trace that she had ever left.
Shu Yi'an stared blankly at the furnishings in the room, too moved to speak. Chu Mu gently wrapped his arms around her from behind and placed the bunch of keys in her palm.
“I moved out after you left. I told you, this house is yours, and I don’t want anyone else living here except you.”
The reason Chu Mu has been delaying the disposal of the house is because he firmly believes that sooner or later he will find her and take her home.
Shu Yi'an sniffed sullenly and pushed him away. "When did you become so good at coaxing people?"
Chu Mu followed closely behind her upstairs, looking completely innocent. "Did I?"
"At least... you've never said that before."
Looking at her slightly aggrieved expression, Chu Mu suddenly leaned in and kissed her, his voice coaxing, "Wife, when I get back from my business trip, let's remarry?"
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Before she knew it, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Chu Mu had returned once on the eighth day and then left again for almost seven days. Shu Yi'an still remembered the shock she felt when she saw him on the morning of the eighth day. He, who should have been in Frankfurt, had hurriedly driven her away from her home, looking travel-worn.
"I'll be back for a few hours, and I'm leaving this afternoon."
Shu Yi'an looked at him with a puzzled and slightly distressed expression, noticing his obvious sleep deprivation and dark circles. "Then why did you come back?" Chu Mu remained silent until he parked the car in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau, at which point she realized he had come to help her complete the remarriage procedures, leaving her both amused and exasperated.
Father Chu was busy early in the morning, leaving only Shu Yi'an, Sui Qing, and Chu Weiyuan at home. All three of them seemed preoccupied, missing and thinking about the person far away.
In the evenings, Chu Mu would call when the time difference was right and he was not busy. Because she was afraid that Sui Qing would find out that she was playing on her phone, Shu Yi'an would usually answer the phone under the covers before going to bed. As the two of them chatted, she would become drowsy.
With only ten days left until the due date, the Chu family was on high alert. Sui Qing meticulously instructed the kitchen to prepare three meals a day for Shu Yi'an according to the doctor's prescribed diet, taking care of her with utmost care. She even used the finest fabrics in the house to make many bibs and quilts for the baby. Chu Mu also made more frequent phone calls during the day, fearing something might happen to her.
That day, Chu Weiyuan woke up early and, feeling bored, secretly peeked into Shu Yi'an and Chu Mu's room, asking, "Sister-in-law? Are you awake?"
Shu Yi'an was reading a book while leaning against the headboard when she saw Chu Weiyuan arrive. She quickly put down her book and waved to her. "I've been awake for a while. Mom won't let me watch TV or go online. I'm so bored."
Chu Weiyuan chuckled and snuggled into Shu Yi'an's blanket, gently hugging her belly. She spoke to it with a serious expression, "My little nephew, have you missed your aunt? Shall I come keep you company?" Seeing the baby clothes Sui Qing had prepared long ago on the bedside table, she picked them up with great curiosity and examined them from all angles.