Because dinner time had passed, Minmin felt extremely hungry. "Well, who asked her to be pregnant?" With this realization, she immediately felt vulnerable.
"Yixiang, do you have any brown sugar here? Mix me a cup to tide me over." She had gradually gotten used to sugar water after coming here.
Shen Yixiang shook her head, "No, should I go check if my brother is back yet?"
"Forget it, let’s wait."
"No, Mom said you can’t go hungry. I’ll still go check, and if he’s not back yet, I’ll buy some myself." After saying this, Yixiang rushed out before anyone could stop her.
But she returned the next second because Shen Yiguang was right behind her.
"Speak of the devil, my brother is back."
Yixiang quickly cleared the table with a smile.
"We’re a bit late, there’s only noodles and rice left, which one do you want?"
"Noodles, I don’t feel like chewing rice."
Shen Yiguang opened the noodles and was about to feed her when Yixiang interjected, "I can do it, I’m not hungry yet, brother you eat first."
"Let your brother do it," Minmin said.
Yixiang glanced at her brother, sighing inwardly—back in their hometown, men never fed their wives.
But seeing her brother enjoying himself, she didn’t say anything further.
Minmin was still lying down; the doctor had ordered her not to move, so she had to lie there and be fed.
Suddenly, the feeling wasn’t good.
"Put a towel under me."
"Cool it down for me, watch it, don’t let the soup spill on my face."
"Don’t stare at me while I eat, it’s embarrassing."
"I want to drink the soup, use a straw, you don’t have one? Figure something out, I want it now."
Yixiang sat by and watched her sister-in-law directing her brother , her eyes widening in surprise. She continued to eat but couldn’t help glancing at her brother’s expression, discovering he was incredibly patient and even had an indulgent smile.
After dinner, Minmin wasn’t feeling well; the meal hadn’t been comfortable, and she felt her temper rising.
Shen Yiguang wiped her mouth and said, "Let’s endure it for now, there’s nothing else we can do; it’ll be better in a couple of days."
Then, Shen Yiguang asked Yixiang to go back, he would take care of things here.
"You’re exhausted today, go back and get a good night’s sleep."
Yixiang’s eyes reddened slightly as she whispered, "Brother, aren’t you mad at me?" It was her who insisted on visiting the university, her who couldn’t keep their sister-in-law safe, though thankfully, their little nephew was saved.
Shen Yiguang patted her shoulder, "I’m not mad at you, it was an accident. Don’t think too much, just go back."
Yixiang wiped the corner of her eyes, shaking her head, "I can’t sleep if I go back, I’ll stay here with you guys."
"No, if you don’t rest well, how will you have the energy tomorrow? I’m counting on you to help take care of your sister-in-law. Go back, light the stove first, and tomorrow bring some congee." Shen Yiguang said firmly.
Only then did Yixiang leave.
Luckily, the rental was not far from the hospital. She walked outside to catch the bus, just two stops, and Shen Yiguang made sure she took the bus since it was getting late, not to walk. The house was close to the main road, just separated by an alley, and having been there for two days, the neighbors already recognized her, so he felt assured about her returning alone.
When Shen Yiguang entered the room, Minmin asked him, "Is Yixiang back?"
"That silly girl still wanted to stay here, but I sent her back."
"She was also terrified today."
"I was terrified as well."
Yiguang wrung out a hot towel and gently wiped her hands and face, saying, "Minmin, I’m sorry."
Pei Min looked at him curiously, "What have you done to be sorry for?"
"It really is my fault, startling you like that. If not, we would have discovered the pregnancy sooner."
Pei Min laughed, "How could we discover it? I didn’t even know myself."
"Minmin, thankfully our child is alright. Otherwise... Now that we really are having a child, I’m so happy." This was a feeling of regaining what was lost. Yiguang’s heart was filled with emotion, grateful that fate had given him this chance; otherwise, he wouldn’t know what he might have done.
Pei Min blinked, "Yeah, I’m happy too."
Yiguang tenderly brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, his voice overflowing with joy, "Minmin, thank you." Thank you for giving hope.
"Hey, do you want a boy or a girl?" Pei Min squinted her eyes, picturing the child’s face in her mind—boy? Whatever she likes. Girl? That too!
"I hope the first one is a boy."
"How many do you want to have?"
"Well, it’s not really up to us, is it? What if we can’t have more?"
"Get out of here! What do you think I am?"
Yiguang burst into laughter, only managing to restrain it under the fierce glare of his wife, "Alright then, you tell me, how many do you want to have?"
"Two, ideally one boy and one girl."
"Isn’t that a bit few?"
"No negotiation, my belly, my rules!"
Pei Min put an end to the discussion with a decisive strike.
Meanwhile, Yixiang walked out of the hospital entrance when suddenly someone called her from behind. She turned around to see her sister-in-law’s roommate, what was her name, Feng Erxi, "Oh, it’s you. What’s up?"
Feng Erxi approached, asking, "Where are you heading?"
"I’m going back to my place."
"I’m also about to head back. I can still catch the last bus."
Yixiang nodded, and they walked together to the bus stop outside.
"Is your brother looking after your sister-in-law?"
As the two were to take the same bus, the strong evening breeze made both shiver despite being warmly dressed, hoping that talking might distract them from the cold.
"With you gone, is there anyone to look after that pregnant lady of yours?" Yixiang inquired.
Erxi nodded, "She’s much better, able to move around using the walls for support and grab things. I left only after she fell asleep. I’ll come back in the morning. I have no choice since I’m already behind in my courses. If I don’t attend the classes now, I’m afraid I’ll fail the exams, and then I won’t know what to do."
"By the way, looking at your sister-in-law, it seems she’ll stay in the hospital for a few days. Her studies will fall behind," Erxi also started worrying about Pei Min.
Yixiang said, "She has classmates who promised to bring her notes every day. She’ll learn as much as she can, after all, there’s no other choice. Health comes first."
"That’s somewhat relieving. Are you going to stay here to take care of your sister-in-law?"
"My family learned that she’s pregnant, and my parents specifically asked me to come and look after her."
Erxi expressed admiration, "Your family really cares for their daughter-in-law."
Yixiang felt a sense of pride, "That’s right. My home is a heavenly one. My mother treats my sister-in-law even better than me. When she heard about the pregnancy, she ate an extra bowl of rice and immediately got together nutritional supplements and money, asking me to take leave and come here."