Xu Musen reached out to Yao Mingyue: "Let's go home first and take a look. We can walk back slowly."
Yao Mingyue looked at him. In the dusky evening light, Xu Musen's smile was warm. In that moment of daze, it felt like returning to the past, where every afternoon after school, the two of them would walk home slowly .
Yes, all along the way, they plotted how to make the remaining days more meaningful and exciting.
But upon truly returning here, her heart felt calm instead. Isn't this very moment the most meaningful?
She raised the corners of her lips, her gaze turning tender and lively, but she proudly raised her chin: "No way, Mom said we can't just let boys hold our hands casually."
Xu Musen laughed; this girl was acting all theatrical again.
Yao Mingyue suddenly leaned closer to Xu Musen, and in front of him, her almond-shaped eyes shone brightly. She tiptoed slightly and gave Xu Musen a peck on the cheek.
Her cheeks turned slightly red, and she hooked her arm through Xu Musen's: "But... I'm not exactly a good kid who listens to Mom, lucky you~"
Xu Musen's heartbeat seemed to suddenly return to the rhythm of being eighteen, speeding up, speeding up, thud thud thud...
In April's weather, slightly cool, warm sun, evening, the wind rustling through the leaves...
At this moment, in the room, An Nuannuan put down her phone and looked at the nearly completed picture album, flipping through it page by page.
The door was pushed open, and Mother Xu leaned her body in.
An Nuannuan closed the album, shaking her head with a smile: "No, not really."
"I came to talk to you about a few things."
Mother Xu walked over, looking at the soon-to-be daughter-in-law who was already engaged. She lightly rubbed her hands: "About Musen and Mingyue's matter... sorry to have wronged you."
Mother Xu actually never knew how to bring it up. Though this was a matter between young people, as a mother, how could she just watch helplessly?
An Nuannuan was truly liked by her, with a good temperament, considerate nature, she catered to Xu Musen's every need, and had helped her son so much.
It could be said that the Old Xu Family's ancestors never witnessed such fortune.
An Nuannuan gently held Mother Xu's hand, showing a smile: "Mom, about the matters between us, I've thought it over. I don't blame him."
Looking at An Nuannuan, the more understanding she was, the more uncomfortable Mother Xu felt. Such a good child, it seemed like the whole family was bullying her.
Mother Xu tightly held onto An Nuannuan's hand. She knew she couldn't intervene in their matters anymore, but she did owe this wonderful young lady an explanation.
"Nuannuan, you are a good child... Since you call me Mom, you're my own daughter. No matter what happens between you, you can come and tell me. For me, you will always be the most important person, no exceptions."
These were Mother Xu's heartfelt words, the only thing she, as a mother, could do at that moment.
An Nuannuan looked at Mother Xu, feeling the sincerity from her. That radiance of motherly love made her momentarily distracted, as if seeing a figure who would be this gentle to her, too. Her eyes slightly moistened, and she nodded heavily.
"Great, here, I just made you some snacks. This is hawthorn cake, give it a try."
Mother Xu took out the freshly made snacks, still exuding a sweet and sour aroma, making An Nuannuan's eyes light up immediately.
An Nuannuan picked up the hawthorn cake, taking a bite; its tart and sweet flavor stimulated her appetite.
"Is it good?" Mother Xu asked with a smiling face.
"If it's good, have more. I've also made some yogurt, I'll bring it over for you to drink in a bit."
As Mother Xu was about to get up to fetch the yogurt, An Nuannuan suddenly frowned and dry-heaved.
Mother Xu leaned over to look at her.
An Nuannuan slightly rubbed her stomach, the momentary nausea fading away: "Nothing, I've just been feeling slightly off appetite lately..."
"Could it be acclimatization? It's common here. I can't even buy yeast for steaming buns. Let me pour you a cup of hot—"
Mother Xu said, but as she saw An Nuannuan gently covering her stomach, it suddenly occurred to her that An Nuannuan had seemed to have felt nauseous several times while eating lately.
She suddenly remembered something, looking at An Nuannuan: "Nuannuan, have you... had any other symptoms recently, like craving sour or spicy foods and occasionally feeling a bit dizzy?"
"Mm, I've been wanting sour foods a bit, I..."
An Nuannuan replied, and as she listened to the end, she also realized a potential possibility.
She touched her flat stomach, her big eyes suddenly wide open.
Mother Xu was a bit excited, her voice stumbling: "Nuannuan, you... tell me, have you and Musen recently... has your period been delayed?"
An Nuannuan thought carefully. According to the days, it should have happened these past few days, but there's been nothing. Initially, she paid no mind, but thinking about it now, it really is possible!
"Mm..." An Nuannuan nodded, feeling genuinely at a loss for a moment. She had never experienced such a situation in her two lives.
Girls feel especially excited and complex in that moment.
Mother Xu got so excited, she quickly stood up.
"Really, this... wait, the hospital is right next door. Let's go, I'll take you for a check-up!"
An Nuannuan touched her belly, also standing up.