Chapter 38
Chang Zhiyuan even deliberately dragged it out when helping Zhengzheng take off his pants, buying as much time as possible, thinking maybe Xu Xiuhe and Shen Yin would come back soon.
"Want to find Mom," Zhengzheng seemed to realize that stepdad Chang Zhiyuan was deliberately dragging things out and looked at him sadly with a bitter face. Chang Zhiyuan's conscience kicked in and he took out his phone to call Xu Xiuhe.
"Hello, Xiuhe, when are you coming back? I can't stand my stepson's pitiful gaze anymore."
"On our way," Xu Xiuhe replied. "Is Zhengzheng there?" Chang Zhiyuan handed the phone to Zhengzheng.
"Zhengzheng, be good. Mom and Dad will be home soon. Can you wait a little longer for Mom and Dad?" Hearing Xu Xiuhe's voice, Zhengzheng quieted down and said, "Okay, Dad, come quickly."
Shen Yin, sitting in the passenger seat, heard this through the phone and smiled slightly. It hadn't been that long since they last saw each other, but she was already missing Zhengzheng.
Xu Xiuhe drove very steadily. Soon they arrived at Ziyue Courtyard. Xu Xiuhe parked the car neatly in the basement garage, pushed open the driver's side door with his left hand, while Shen Yin also tried to open her door only to hear Xu Xiuhe say directly, "Don't move."
After getting out of the car, Xu Xiuhe walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, bent down, reached in, and lifted Shen Yin out princess style.
Shen Yin's eyes widened in surprise again. What the hell? Her fever was already gone thanks to the IV drip. Medical standards were so much more advanced in this era. The medicine worked fast. She could totally walk by herself now.
Xu Xiuhe carried Shen Yin very naturally. There was a slope leading up from the underground garage. He held her as if walking on flat ground, not even short of breath.
Why was this man so strong? She wasn't heavy at 168cm and 98 jin.
When Xu Xiuhe carried Shen Yin to the door, he shifted her to hold her like he held Zhengzheng, extending one hand to touch the fingerprint lock, the door opened.
In the living room, Xu Yunzheng sat obediently on the carpet. Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan looked at each other, not understanding how such a young child knew so much and kept asking if Mom was okay. After getting confirmation, he just sat there silently, without any other movement, blinking his eyes.
Probably hearing Xu Xiuhe open the door, Zhengzheng crawled up and ran to the entrance.
"Mom!" Zhengzheng called out.
Still held in Xu Xiuhe's arms, Shen Yin saw Zhengzheng come over and immediately struggled free and staggered. Xu Xiuhe reached out to steady her. Zhengzheng hurried over and hugged her legs.
Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan also came out from the living room. This was unexpected for Shen Yin, who only knew Chang Zhiyuan was watching Zhengzheng.
Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan had actually been sitting in the living room earlier and saw Xu Xiuhe carrying Shen Yin when he came in. Shu Yi felt it was normal for a husband to carry his sick wife. But Chang Zhiyuan knew about Shen Yin and Xu Xiuhe's past!
At that moment, Chang Zhiyuan felt abandoned. Shu Yi went into the kitchen, cooked up the remaining dumplings and brought them to the table, calling for Xu Xiuhe and Shen Yin to eat. The millet porridge was also done after she finished washing the bowls and chopsticks, and she figured the sick person should eat millet porridge.
"Really thanks for your trouble," Shen Yin thanked Shu Yi.
Zhengzheng actually wanted Shen Yin to hold him but Shen Yin could tell and was afraid of passing the illness to the child. Children had weaker immune systems. If he caught it, the child would suffer and she didn't want that.
"Zhengzheng, Mom is tired. Let Dad hold you, okay?"
Hearing this, Xu Xiuhe actually thought Shen Yin was tired, so he carried up Zhengzheng and sat down at the table.
That night, Shu Yi left first while Chang Zhiyuan stayed. After eating some millet porridge, Shen Yin went upstairs, quite sleepy. She simply washed up and fell asleep.
Xu Xiuhe still had some work to take care of and took Zhengzheng to the study, explaining to him that Mom was sleeping and to let her rest while Zhengzheng sat quietly on the sofa looking through picture books.
When Chang Zhiyuan came up he directly asked, "Do you have feelings for Shen Yin?" Although his words were phrased as a question, his tone carried certainty.
Chang Zhiyuan grew up with Xu Xiuhe since childhood and knew him too well. Popular with girls since young, Xu Xiuhe never paid those girls any attention, always rejecting them decisively. Chang Zhiyuan didn't know how Qi Yan managed to catch his attention after so much effort.
And Chang Zhiyuan clearly remembered that when Xu Xiuhe was with Qi Yan, other than trying to keep her once at the end, he never took initiative. In over a year together, the most intimate thing they did was hold hands.
Yet now, he actually saw Xu Xiuhe carrying Shen Yin so intimately. To say Xu Xiuhe had no feelings for Shen Yin seemed unlikely.
Xu Xiuhe looked up. He had been considering Chang Zhiyuan's question these past few days.
At first he only felt they were an arranged marriage. Later he grew annoyed and even wanted a divorce. And now, he would think of Shen Yin from time to time, unconsciously worrying over and caring for her. Just knowing she was sick, he wished he could fly directly to her side.
After Shen Yin recovered, she seemed to exude an indescribable temperament that made one subconsciously want to get to know her better. It was an aloof yet cold feeling. But when facing Zhengzheng, that feeling became warm. In the kitchen she was gentle and feminine, excellent cooking skills. Coming home at night and seeing her gave a sense of family.
He was probably attracted to and had fallen for Shen Yin after all.
"What if I do have feelings for Shen Yin? What should I do?"
This question left Chang Zhiyuan speechless. What did he mean what should he do if he had feelings for her? How would he know? It was Xu Xiuhe's own business, plus the woman he had feelings for was already his wife and they had a child together. Meanwhile, the woman he liked, Shu Yi, actively avoided him whenever they met, leaving him more and more upset the more he thought about it.
"Why ask me? How would I know? The one I like hasn't even accepted me yet. Yours has given birth to your child and you're still not satisfied? Brother, seize the opportunity in front of you!" Chang Zhiyuan patted Xu Xiuhe's shoulder.
"Alright, I should get going. You rest early too." Chang Zhiyuan headed for the door.
Reaching the door, he turned back again. "Zhengzheng, say bye to stepdad."
Zhengzheng put down his picture book, lifted his head, waved his little hand, and said in a milk voice, "Bye bye."
Satisfied, Chang Zhiyuan left for real this time.
"Zhengzheng, Dad will give you a bath then you can sleep with me tonight, okay?"
"What about Mom?"
"Mom needs to rest. Let's not disturb her. When she's rested up, we'll look for her, okay?"
Xu Yunzheng nodded.