Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Meng Qingxue suddenly realized that she had asked something personal. She stopped herself and apologized ruefully. âIâm sorry; I shouldnât pry into your affairs.â
âItâs fine,â Chu He replied. âI donât know how to answer your question, for Iâm clueless on who the father of my child is, either.â
âHowâs that so?â The other woman furrowed her brows quizzically.
The reason she was more concerned about this topic was, perhaps, she thought she had found a kindred spirit.
Single mother?
Unmarried and pregnant?
A single woman living alone with a child?
The qualities of Chu He matched her too well as if she was a projection of her. Perhaps there was more to this than what met the eye!
However, the answer âIâm clueless on who the father of my child is, eitherâ of the other woman shocked her thoroughly.
How can she not know who the father of her child is?
Chu He saw the inquiries in her eyes but did not seem to resent her curiosity. Hooking her lips into a smile, the policewoman told her casually, âThis is a complicated matter. Letâs talk next time. Iâll get changed first; you wait here for me.â
âAlright.â
Meng Qingxue sat quietly in a chair to wait, and when she saw Chu He coming out in plain clothes, she stood up immediately.
âLetâs go. Weâll return to the hostel first!â
âEh?â Just as she expressed her surprise, she heard the policewoman explaining, âYour clothes are still there, right? Thereâs also your deposit; you should collect it.â
She immediately explained, âActually, it doesnât matter if I donât collect it.â
âAre you sure that itâs alright?â The cop stopped in her tracks, casually sized her up, and gave her a hint with a smile. âSince you want to have a baby, you naturally need to be prudent with your money. Youâll need it to meet the childâs needs.â
Meng Qingxue was taken aback. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came forth, and eventually, she chose to follow the other woman in silence.
The policewomanâs vehicle was a motorcycle. She started the engine, put on the helmet, then patted the back seat, and said to her, âCome on up!â
She did as told.
âHold on to me. Itâs rather windy, so you should hide behind me.â
âDonât you feel cold?â
âIâm used to it. I have a good constitution.â
âAlright.â
Chu He drove her to the hostel, where she got back the deposit and clothes. The inn-keeper felt bad about the incident she had encountered at his place and, on account of the policewoman, returned the room fee as well.
On the way back, Meng Qingxue asked curiously, âOfficer...â
âYou can call me Sister Chu.â
âOkay. Sister Chu... how did you know that Iâm pregnant?â
She had never told anyone about this since the beginning.
âWhile we were in the car on the way back to the station, you were sitting on the passenger seat with your head down and were silently caressing your belly. Only a pregnant woman would make that kind of movement.â
She was stunned for a while before finally responding admiringly, âYou have keen observation.â
âWhereâs the childâs father?â asked the policewoman all of a sudden. âHow come you are alone? Why isnât the childâs father with you?â
An expression of loss flashed across her face abruptly before she hooked her lips into a self-deprecating and bitter smile. âThe father doesnât want his child, so...â
âSo you went out of your way to leave him and came to this poor countryside, where you intend to give birth to the child anonymously?â finished Chu He for her.