Chapter 230: A lost friendship gained once again
Nana got alarmed. Her hand immediately went to touch her belly. She shuddered with the thought that she might have fallen.
Jianyu asked worriedly, âNana! Are you okay?â He angrily looked behind to deal with the man who pushed Nana, but he was already lost in the crowd.
He gritted his teeth. âThat stupid man! Canât he see where he was going?â
Jianyu saw her clutching her stomach and asked questioningly, âWhat happened? Is your stomach hurting?â
Nana said, âIt isnât hurting. I was worried about my baby.â
âHuh?â Jianyu looked dumbfounded. He blinked his eyes. âWhat?â
âIâm pregnant.â
âR-really?â
Nana slowly nodded.
His eyes were staring unblinkingly at her. âBroâsâ¦â It wasnât a question that needed to be answered.
âYes. Iâmâ¦married to Jinhai now.â
Jianyu widened his eyes in shock. After he left banquet night, he had completely cut off his connections with the outside world. He wanted to stay alone and out of the radar. He shut himself off. So, he also wasnât aware of the press conference that Jinhai gave.
âWhat about Huian?â
In short, Nana explained everything to him. Jianyu felt like he was getting one shock after the other. These two months had changed everything for Nana and his cousin too.
Both of their lives had taken such a big turn. They were at a point where both had got into new relationships.
But he was disappointed with Huian. He already knew her truth on the banquet night, but here she was still trying to force this marriage on Jinhai, even at the cost of her life, not caring about Xiang Wei and Xiang Qingge.
âHow is her condition now?â
Nana sighed. âShe is still in the vegetative state. Doctors and uncle Zhou Bingwen are trying their best.â
Jianyu slowly nodded.
He looked at her, and his eyes were filled with complicated emotions. âAre you happy?â
Nana softly said, âYes.â The joy in her eyes was unmistakable.
Jianyu felt happy for her, really so glad. It felt like a huge burden was lifted off his chest. Even when he started his relationship with Serena, he always felt guilty like he was leaving her alone and moving forward on his own.
But now she also had a special someone in her life. And he couldnât be thankful enough.
âIâm glad. You cannot imagine how delighted Iâm to know this.â He was relieved. He hesitated and said, âI know you might not treat me as a friend anymore, but I do. I always will. And as a friend, Iâm really, really happy for you.â
Nana looked at him and said nothing.
Jianyu realized. âYou take a seat. Should I bring you some water?â
Nana shook her head. âNo, no. Iâm fine.â Suddenly from the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar silhouette standing at a distance.
She slightly stiffened.
Is thatâ¦Jinhai? What is he doing here? Shouldnât he be in Liu Corps?
She didnât know why, but she was feeling guilty about being here.
Jianyu gently patted her shoulders. âNana?â
âHuh?â
âIs everything alright?â
âAhâ¦yes.â Nana stood up. âI should leave now.â
Jianyu nodded. He, too, didnât want Serena and Nana to run into each other. At least not before he admits everything to Serena.
Nana faintly smiled and turned to leave.
âCan we be friends like before?â Jianyuâs voice suddenly came out.
Nana stopped in her steps.
As soon as those words came out, Jianyu wished to bite his tongue off.
Stupid! Stupid me!
In an imaginary space, he was banging his head on the wall. He didnât realize that he was thinking out loud.
Nanaâs friendship was very precious to him. Sometimes, he missed those days that they spent together. So, he couldnât help but think how nice it would be if they started over again.
Jianyu quickly tried to salvage the situation. âS-sorry, I-I didnât mean that. No! I mean, I mean it, but I donât.â
What is happening to me!? Iâm spouting nonsense!
âJust forget about it ââ
âOkay.â
âItâs okay, you donât have to-â Jianyu stopped. âWhat? What did you say?â
Nana smiled. âI said okay, we can be friends again.â
She understood how genuinely sorry he was for his mistakes. Jianyu and Jinhai were cousins. He was not a villain with whom she had to cut off all her relations. He never wanted anything wrong happen to her, nor was he intentional in hurting her. They were now family. So, there was no point in lengthening their differences.
Jianyu had a hard time believing Nanaâs words.
âReally?â He was still in disbelief.
âYes.â
Jianyu raised his hand and pinched himself hard. âOw!â
Nana giggled. She looked at him silently for a few seconds and held out her hand.
âHi. Iâm Liu Nana, Liu Jinhaiâs wife, and also your cousin-in-law. Can we be friends?â
Jianyu absent-mindedly held out his hand too. Then a big smile lit on his face. His eyes turned a little misty. âNice to meet you, cousin-in-law. Iâm Chen Jianyu.â
They shook their hands and then laughed out.
She smiled. âLetâs forget the past and look forward, okay?â
Jianyuâs voice croaked. âThank youâ¦â
Jianyu seemed to think about something as he went silent. He looked at her and said, âThere is one thing that you need to know.â
Nana asked, âWhat?â
âIt will surely come as a shock to you, but Iâmâ¦dating Serena.â
Nana blinked her eyes. Her mind was unable to process what he said.
âWho?â
âSerena, your best friend, Serena. Yes, the one and only Serena, you know.â
She looked at him, dumbfounded. The expressions on her face were changing from confusion to questions to shock and disbelief. She was finding it hard to find her voice. But when it came out, it did as a shriek.
âWhat!?â She loudly said. The people roaming around shot her an annoyed stare.
âThis is a public place.â One murmured.
âCanât they find some other place to talk?â
âIs it a breakup?â
Nana awkwardly smiled. âS-sorryâ¦â
Jianyu shook his head. He had expected this reaction.
Now that he had regained Nanaâs friendship back, he didnât want any secrets between them. He had already paid a heavy price doing that before. He didnât want to disappoint her once again. So, he decided to tell everything to Nana about his relationship with Serena.
Nana looked at him inquisitively. She had no idea that Serena and Jianyu knew each other.
Wait.
â!!!â
So the boyfriend Serena was talking about was Jianyu!?
Soâ¦
â!!!â
Serena is pregnant with Jianyuâs child!?
Nana wanted some time to digest everything. Her best friend and her friend, aka ex-fiance, were now in a relationship.
âThis world is a really small place!â She couldnât help but exclaim.
âNo kidding.â Jianyu smiled helplessly. âYou can say that again.â
She tremblingly pointed her finger at him. âYou and Serenaâ¦Serena and youâ¦Oh, God!!!â
A bright smile lit on her face as she wished to jump around in excitement.
Jianyu said, âCalm down. Donât let me remind you that you are pregnant.â
But Nana was on top of the moon. âAhh!!! How can I calm down? My two dear friends are together. How can I not be excited!?â
Jianyu felt like nothing changed between them. Things went back to normal. They were already talking just like before, as very good friends. Itâs as if the banquet night seemed to be just a dream.
âThank youâ¦â He said softly.
But then the light in his eyes started to fade away. âSerena still doesnât know about us.â
Nana looked at him, surprised. âShe doesnât know you are Chen Jianyu?â
But now it made sense to her. Otherwise, Serena would have definitely mentioned it to her that she is dating Jianyu, whom she was engaged to.
âEn. She is still in the dark. Even I came to know about your friendship just a few days ago. And Iâ¦â
Nana understood his dilemma. Serena might get angry with him for hurting her.
She patted his shoulder. âDonât worry. I will talk to her.â
âNo, you donât have to.â He was thankful that Nana wanted to help him. âI have committed the mistakes. And I will do anything to get her back.â
Nana nodded.
âEn. Donât give up. She looks rough and tough, but her heart is a softy. She wonât be able to stay angry with you for long. But! Get ready to bear her punches, okay?â She laughed. âShe will surely forgive you, but she wonât let you go unharmed. She will beat you up black and blue.â
Jianyu chuckled. âI know. I have seen her temper, and Iâm ready for it. She can hit and punch and beat me as much as she wants. I deserve it. I will gladly take all the beating. As long she doesnât leave meâ¦â
âShe wonât.â Nana reassured.
Jianyu felt a lot lighter after talking to Nana. âOh, and congratulations, for getting married and for the little champ too who will be joining us.â
Nana gave a wide grin. âThank you, and congratulations to you too. After all, you are also going to be a father. Our children will grow up together!â
He smiled sheepishly.
Nanaâs phone buzzed, and she saw the same number. She stiffened a bit.
âI-I should leave now. There is a lot of work in Natsukashi.â
Jianyu nodded. Serena must also be coming back anytime.
âAlright.â
They parted ways, and as she walked a little further away, Nana got a message.
âHow sweet to rekindle your friendship with your ex-fiance. But are you sure that your husband would understand the same?â