In the past year, Han Yi hasnāt fallen behind on his cultural studies. Needless to say, heās excelled in his specialized subjects.
The day before leaving, the family of three visited their mother-in-lawās home. Hu Lijuan is soon to be a sophomore at the university. This summer, besides helping Hu Dong at the cinema stall, she often visits Yu Qianqian to knit together.
At home, theyāve made over a dozen pieces. The designs are quite good.
The mother-in-law said that the younger sister-in-law left two days ago; their school year has begun.
Speaking of schooling, Lin Wan mentioned to her mother-in-law that Han Yi was going to the military academy.
"Military academy is great. After two years, heāll have a college diploma, right?" Uncle Hu, who is knowledgeable and thinks ahead, remarked.
Han Yi nodded beside him.
"This is a good opportunity. Grasp it well; another chance is not far away. Look at our unit, those promoted are all college-educated, a degree is essential. Oh... right, Xiao Wan, your brother works in a government unit now, doesnāt he?"
"Yes, heās in the city statistics bureau, just a junior employee for now."
"Hmm, I saw him there a few days ago. Your brother is doing well, and I happen to have an old colleague there who might lend a hand."
"Thank you, Uncle Hu." Itās true, having friends makes lifeās journey easier.
"Weāre all family; itās what I should do."
It was rare for Xiao Yi to visit, so Shen Qing prepared a table full of dishes as usual.
During these visits, although Han Yiās face rarely showed a smile, he was still able to chat with them and have a few drinks with Old Hu.
This made their family very happy.
Only a few days were left before Han Yi would head to the Capital City. Despite her unwillingness to part, Lin Wan knew it couldnāt be helped. Life was long, and they were only temporarily apart. After all, in the two years of being married to Han Yi, he had gone away before.
Every time he was on a mission, it was for several months; the longest nearly being a year.
"Are there female students at the school?" Lin Wan held Han Yi close at night, unwilling to let go.
"There should be... Iām not sure." He hadnāt been to a military academy, but there were female students, mostly cultural troupe members or medical staff.
"If there are female students, you must take care."
"Why?" Han Yi was puzzled.
Seeing his confused look, Lin Wan angrily pinched his face, "Youāre so handsome, what if they have their eyes on you?"
Han Yi laughed openly, holding her and kissing her, "Silly Xiao Wan, I wouldnāt. Having you and the child in this life is enough, there will never be anyone else."
"Of course, I believe you, but I donāt trust those women. What if they all flock to you?"
Han Yi raised an eyebrow, secretly thinking how rich womenās imaginations could be.
"So... what do you think I should do?"
"Hmm... When youāre over there, donāt casually smile at the women. Donāt be too friendly. Always keep at least two meters away from them. Understand?"
Lin Wanās domineering words made Han Yi thoroughly enjoy it, obediently responding, "Everything is under the wifeās command, adhere to the leaderās opinion, promise to complete the task."
"No cheekiness."
....
"You... Mr. Mei... why are you here now? Quick... quick, have a seat," that night, seeing the person standing in front of her, Ye Qing was flustered.
She clearly didnāt expect Mei Langchi to come at this moment.
Though she knew he would come looking for her, she didnāt expect it this quickly. She thought it would be after the child was born, when sheād find an opportunity to go south to find him, letting a little truth slip then.
One so smart as Mei Langchi surely wouldnāt fail to notice the child was his.
With the child, she couldnāt allow him to do any harm.
Hearing the conversation between the supervisor and Mei Langchi last time, she vaguely knew of his coming.
Despite her pregnancy, she didnāt take leave from work, aiming to encounter him at the office.
The heavens had eyes; not long ago, Mei Langchi indeed saw her heavily pregnant.
In their conversation that day, she hinted at the pregnancyās term, even intentionally revealing some troubles sheād been having with family planning.
But since that day, Ye Qing hadnāt seen him again. She worried her ruse had backfired, making Mei Langchi truly believe she was married.
Anxious for days, she didnāt expect him tonight. Her surprise wasnāt an act, but genuine.
Mei Langchi did not sit, his eyes fixed on Ye Qing, "Whose child is it?"
"The child... of course, itās my husbandās," Ye Qing stammered, then feigned a relaxed grin.
Her tone made it clear she was hiding something.
Mei Langchi glanced at her, "You might fool others, but not me. Iāve checked the hospital you frequent and your marriage certificate. They donāt match. If you truly are married, why hasnāt your husband been around with the child due soon?"
Mei Langchiās words brought a momentary delight to Ye Qingās heart, but she displayed unease, guilt, and kept silent, seemingly confirming his claims.
Mei Langchi, backlit, looked at the woman with a glaringly protruding abdomen, weak frame, and tear-filled red eyes, felt a tug of compassion, sighed softly, and asked, "Is the child mine?"
His words made tears well up in Ye Qingās once crimson eyes; she hurriedly grabbed Mei Langchiās arm, pleading, "Mr. Mei, I beg you, please donāt abort my child. Heās nine months now, in one month heāll come into this world. He already lacks a father, I canāt let him be without a mother. I beg you... donāt make me have an induced labor, itās unbearably painful. I fear it, and love the child too much to part from him. Thatās why I had someone forge a marriage certificate from the family planning office, Mei, please let me and the child be. No one knows heās yours, not now, not ever. In the future..." Ye Qingās words turned into tears, cascading down like broken beads.
"What about in the future...?"
"In the future... if you donāt want to see us, weāll leave immediately. Iāll never appear before you again in this life."
Mei Langchi frowned, ultimately responding ruthlessly, "The child can be born, but once born, I must take him. Henceforth, act as if you never had this child... Of course, once you give birth, Iāll provide a substantial sum of money. You shouldnāt stay here, find a small city in the North to live your life well. Iāll help with your work to ensure youāre not disadvantaged."
"No... I beg you, donāt harm my child, donāt make me leave my child," hearing this, Ye Qing felt desolate, and being heavily pregnant, she fell to her knees before Mei Langchi with a thud, "Donāt separate me from my child, Iāve put all my love into him these ten months of pregnancy. Taking him would be like killing me. Mr. Mei... my reputation is ruined, getting married in the future will be tough, the in-laws wonāt accept me. Thatās why I never planned to marry, just wanted to raise the child alone. Rest assured, whether now or later, we wonāt disturb your family life."
Mei Langchi remained silent, staring intently at Ye Qing for a long time,
On the one hand, he was judging if Ye Qing was being truthful, on the other, pondering over the solutions heād devised in recent days.
It was certain, the child in Ye Qingās womb was ninety percent likely his own.
Regretfully, he discovered this too late, now that itās nine months, aborting it risked Ye Qingās life. An impossible choice. His child couldnāt be left astray.
At worst, after the child was born, heād bring him back, let his mother raise him.
He could lie to his wife, saying the child was from a soldier friendās family, where the father died and the wife couldnāt handle it, leaving behind the child.
Heād have to take in the child then.
If said like this, his wife might somewhat accept it.
Ye Qingās side was simpler to solve; give her money, arrange her work, that might suffice.