Chapter 21

***

Yu Dong held Ren Xinxin as they got off the bus.

“It’s fine, I’m only 5 months in, you don’t need to be so careful.” Ren Xinxin said.

“Look at how big your stomach is.” If Yu Dong hadn’t know Xinxin would have a daughter, Yu Dong would have long suspected that she carried twins.

“The child is a little big!”

“I heard that big children are often greedy, don’t think Xiaoyue doesn’t tell me what you’ve been doing. She says that when she’s asleep you’d sneak downstairs and eat.” Yu Dong said, “The last time we went to a check up didn’t the doctor say that the child is becoming too big to be safely born, you have to control yourself ah.”

“It’s fine, no big deal.” Ren Xinxin was indifferent.

“Didn’t the doctor say that natural childbirth is the best when it comes to the child’s health?” If Xiang Xiaoyue was here she would definitely agree with Yu Dong, saying that cesarean section would leave scars.

“Then…I’ll eat less in the future!” Ren Xinxin hesitantly said.

They continued their conversation? as they entered the elevator and rode up to the 5th floor of the shopping mall – to the baby goods store.

They strolled around as Ren Xinxin commented, “Why are things so expensive for children?”

“Children really are more expensive!” Even Yu Dong was a little surprised at how high the prices were.

“Then I’d better but less!” Ren Xinxin hesitated, then said, “Let’s buy baby bottles first.”

Ren Xinxin chose a relatively expensive baby bottle and took out an item from their shopping cart to replace it with.

Yu Dong put the item back and scolded, “You’ve been putting things in and taking things out all day.”

“But everything’s so expensive. When the baby’s born there will be even more things to buy.” Ren Xinxin explained.

“These can be my presents to the baby.” After saying this, Yu Dong took over the cart and pushed it towards the counter to pay.

“How can I let you do that?” Ren Xinxin directly refused.

“You’re still saying this when Xiang Xiaoyue already gifted you so much baby milk powder.” Yu Dong lifted a hand to stop Ren Xinxin’s refusal and said, “I thought we agreed to raise the child together, all 3 of us.”

“But…”

“Learning to accept help from your friends is a testament to how close you are to the other, ah.”

After that, Ren Xinxin no longer insisted.

At the checkout counter, Ren Xinxin kept glancing at the elephant-shaped bottle in Yu Dong’s hands, and couldn’t help but say with amusement: “If you like children so much, just wait for Xia Feng to get back and and attack him, ah.”

“Maybe.” Yu Dong replied.

“What? Does Xia Feng not want children?” Ren Xinxin was surprised.

“It’s not that. We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms, let alone having children, that’s too far of a goal.” Yu Dong said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“True, Xia Feng had to go to America soon after your marriage. Speaking of which, is he coming back soon?” Ren Xinxin remembered Shao Yifan saying that Xia Feng would be back around Christmastime.

“He should be back next week, but the exact day hasn’t been decided yet.”

As they spoke, they passed by a men’s store. Yu Dong glanced at the windows, hesitating.

“You want to buy a present for Xia Feng?” Xinxin guessed.

“Un.” Yu Dong admitted.

“Then let’s go in!” Xinxin said, “Xia Feng sent you a bunch of things last time, you should also give him something.”

After thinking about it, Yu Dong felt that Ren Xinxin was right, so they entered.

Ren Xinxin sat on a chair to rest while Yu Dong walked around the store, pondering. After a while, she finally picked out 2 men’s wallets.

“Which one do you think looks better?” Yu Dong presented the wallets to Xinxin to peruse.

Ren Xinxin looked at the wallets for a while, then finally pointed to one and said, “This one looks a little bit more impressive.”

“It’s not too ordinary?” The wallet was simple and generous, but it felt a little ordinary.

“Don’t all men’s wallets look like that?” Ren Xinxin said.

“Hello Miss!”A clerk had heard their conversation and inserted herself in, saying with a smile, “All our wallets can be customized. If you think the style is too simple, you can design and add accents to that wallet.”

“Additions? Like what?” Yu Dong asked, interested.

“We can change the color and shape of the wallet, or we can do some patterns on the leather accents.” The clerk replied.

Yu Dong looked at the wallet in her hands. It was pure black, without any patterns. She thought for a moment then decided, “The can you help me add a dark accent line here.”

“Certainly, what pattern would you like?”

“Fish, fish on both sides!” Yu Dong said.

“Of course, please come with me to the counter.”

“Not fish, but Fish’s!”

(T/N As in not normal fish, but MINE because she’s a fish.)

“Oh, stop pretending. The fish isn’t so much for you but to remind its owner of you every time they take out their wallet.” Ren Xinxin quipped.

“Fine, but so what?” Yu Dong kept her chin up.

“I’m in awe!” Ren Xinxin gave her a thumbs up.

“Ren Xinxin?” When they left the store, a male voice called out to them.

Yu Dong frowned and took Xinxin’s arm straight away, intending to leave.

“You didn’t abort the baby?”

“I noticed that your mother hasn’t visited these days. I guess she was waiting for your big reveal.” Lu Xuan sneered. “Why don’t you stop this, I’m never marrying you….”

Yu Dong had enough. She dumped the shopping bags in her hands and strode towards Lu Xuan, sneering: “Hey scum man, why don’t we go to the police station again?”

“If you want to call the police then you better hurry up!” Yu Dong crouched and growled at Lu Xuan’s face: “Otherwise this slow grandma will just get away!”

With a hum, Yu Dong coldly turned back to gather the shopping bags and led Ren Xinxin away.

New York!

Xia Feng and his colleague We Qiguang were shopping in a mall together.

Wu Qiguang had a bitter face as he said: “I’ve been in the United Stated for 3 months but every single day off was spent in shopping malls.”

“But you’ve bought so many? How did your girlfriend go through the products so fast?” Xia Feng

“So many? Did your girlfriend run out? Xia Feng knew that Wu Qiguang had bought a lot of cosmetics based on the many bags back at the apartment.

“She isn’t the only one, her colleagues, girlfriends and relatives are all included.” Wu Qiguang took out 2 pieces of A4 papers and waved them around, saying: “As soon as she heard I was soon going back, another list was sent.”

Xia Feng laughed at this.

“You’re girlfriend is pretty great, not making you get things for her girlfriends.” Wu Qiguang was envious.

Xia Feng nodded, but then remembered what Shao Yifan told him last time.

Yu Dong’s friends wanted to meet him, does that mean he would have to bring presents?

Yu Dong had 2 good friends. One was Xiang Xiaoyue, who he met when she was hospitalized for appendicitis. The other was a university classmate, who Yu Dong said was pregnant.

Just then, his phone rang.

Xia Feng took out his phone and saw that it was An An calling. He hesitated for a while, but ultimately answered the call.

“You’re going back soon?” An An asked.

“Yes!”

“When’s your departure?”

“The 23rd!” Xia Feng answered.

“You….you can’t stay here with me for Christmas?” An An’s voice sounded a little lonely. “I don’t want to spend Christmas alone….you always used to accompany me!”

“An An, you know-”

“That we’ve broken up? But can’t you even spare Christmas for me as friends? I don’t think that’s a particularly excessive request.” An An persisted.

Xia Feng was quiet for a few moments, then looked down at the facial mask in his hands. With bright eyes, he declared: “Sorry, but I want to go back and spend Christmas with my wife!”

“Xia Feng! Why must you do this to me?” An An felt wronged.

“An An, our paths no longer cross, please just move on!” Xia Feng said.

“What, you’re just going to move on and throw me away?”

“You were the one who let go of me!” Xia Feng said seriously, “Someone else just picked me back up.”

“Why did she pick up my things?” An An said angrily.

“An An, I’m not a thing!”

“……”

Back at the apartment Xia Feng looked at his watch, it was almost time for Yu Dong to arrive home from work.

Xia Feng turned on his computer and sure enough, his QQ flashed.

[ I’m home! ]

[ Sleep early! ]

[ Have you booked your ticket yet? ]

[ Yes, we’re leaving on the 23rd. We’ll arrive at Shanghai on the morning of the 24th. ]

[ What time should I pick you up? I’ve got my driver’s license. ]

[ No, we’re arriving pretty early in the morning. You should sleep more instead ]

[ It’s alright, I can take a day off on the 23rd. ]

[ Alright ]

Xia Feng couldn’t help but smile.

[ It’s been rainy in Shanghai recently but the forecast says that it’ll be sunny on the 22nd. I’ll wash your sheets so you can use them when you get back. ]

[ Is it going to be troublesome for you? ]

[ No, I just need to throw things into the washing machine! ]

[ Yu Dong… ]

[ ? ? ? ]

[ When I get back… ]

[ Yes? ]

[ I want us to try and see how far our relationship can go! ]

Crash!

Yu Dong accidentally knocked her tea cup in her excitement.

Finally, after 10 years a man wants to fall in love with me!

Yu Dong jumped up on the sofa in glee!

[ Then come back quickly! ]

Haha….As usual, she isn’t holding back at all. Xia Feng smiled and shook his head.

***