"Once it’s missed, it’s missed; once it’s over, it’s over," Cheng Hao said with downcast eyes, thinking countless times that it was all a dream, and upon waking up, he and Zou Yaru would still be as loving as before.
But reality is cruel, and after living in a drunken stupor of a dream, one eventually has to wake up.
"But, we were clearly so in love."
"I know I was wrong. Can’t you forgive me?"
"I really was wrong. If I had known they were tricking me into marriage, I would never have married someone else, even if it killed me."
Zou Yaru tried urgently to say something, but Cheng Hao’s attitude weakened her words gradually.
In the private room, silence reigned, and it was quiet.
Zou Yaru picked up a tissue to wipe away her tears. It was the hope that Cheng Hao would forgive her that supported her long journey to find Ningbei, believing that as long as she apologized sincerely, Cheng Hao would forgive her, but Cheng Hao’s attitude broke her heart.
"You’re really heartless."
Zou Yaru looked at his face and suddenly felt a wave of dizziness in her head.
Cheng Hao watched as Zou Yaru collapsed, reaching out without hesitation to catch her, and called out with concern, "Yaru."
Outside the private room, Xu Nianhua was eating glutinous rice meatballs. The outside was sticky rice, and the inside was meat filling—particularly delicious. Suddenly, seeing Cheng Hao carrying Zou Yaru out, she murmured to herself, "Is it really that serious?"
"Boss, the money." Pei Yicheng laid down fifty yuan, saying they would return later, and hurried out with Xu Nianhua.
Pei Yicheng drove swiftly, taking Zou Yaru to the hospital.
"How can you be a husband ? Don’t you know your wife just had a miscarriage? A miscarriage is just like confinement period; she needs to nourish her body, must not be exposed to wind, and needs to enhance her nutrition," the doctor scolded Cheng Hao until he was lost for words, before saying, "She needs to be hospitalized. Please go handle the admissions procedures."
Cheng Hao silently took the slip and went to handle the procedures.
Just as Pei Yicheng was about to speak, Xu Nianhua held him back. She smiled and said, "Doctor, we’re all still young, and there’s so much we don’t understand. Please, could you give us more advice?"
"After a miscarriage, if you don’t take care of your body, it will affect future pregnancy, so you must be very careful."
No one rebuffs a smiling face, and especially not when Xu Nianhua, looking so lovely, was speaking so humbly, admitting their ignorance and their mistakes.
After several reminders, the doctor continued with other patients.
It wasn’t until they were in the hospital corridor that Xu Nianhua explained, "Cheng, you absolutely must not say anything that would lead to a misunderstanding, otherwise, if the doctor asks us where Zou Yaru’s husband is, how are we supposed to answer?"
Pei Yicheng pursed his lips and glanced at Zou Yaru, who was unconscious on the hospital bed. Only a little more than ten days after the miscarriage, she had come all the way to Ningbei. Considering how soft-hearted Haozi was, knowing Zou Yaru’s situation, it was one thing not to reconcile, but that didn’t mean he’d just stand by and watch her be bullied.
"Gu Junhe, that’s Zou Yaru’s husband. I saw him during the first month of the year; he treats her very poorly." Xu Nianhua didn’t know what else to say. Zou Yaru’s present circumstances were her own choice; no one else could be blamed. Now, having traveled thousands of miles to find Cheng Hao, what would he do?
"She chose him herself," Pei Yicheng thought of Cheng Hao’s state after their breakup and couldn’t bring himself to pity Zou Yaru.
A black sedan drove into Shuanghe Village. For the village that often saw trucks coming to pick up furniture, a small sedan no longer attracted a crowd as it once did.
"Hello, could you tell me where Xu Nianhua’s home is?"