"The doctor says the pregnancy is stable, and you'll be fine after a few more days of rest," Zhao Wuyan said, sitting on the companion chair by the bed, her eyes full of affection. "As for you, being alone in Jiangnan, neither your elder brother nor I are at ease."
Tang Ziwei, standing behind her, his expression unreadable, glanced back and forth between Zhao Wuyan and Tang Si before silently turning and exiting the room, closing the door behind him.
Facing Zhao Wuyan, Tang Si felt a wave of annoyance. "Since you're pregnant, you should follow the doctor's orders and rest at home to protect the pregnancy."
He met Zhao Wuyan's tear-filled gaze, his own clear eyes holding a veiled threat. "You should know the importance of the child."
However, it was like trying to "wake someone who is pretending to be asleep."
Zhao Wuyan immersed herself in her own thoughts, repeatedly reassuring herself: Si Bing meant for her to take good care of the child, as it was the crystallization of their love. Si Bing must love the child. And by extension, he must love her too.
"I've been diligently taking folic acid and various supplements to condition my body."
Zhao Wuyan adjusted the white wool coat she was wearing, finding Jiangnan much colder than Lancheng and feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it. "The weather here is very cold; you need to take good care of yourself."
Tang Si responded with an "En."
"Chinese New Year is approaching. I asked the doctor, and they said you can go home before the New Year. Your elder brother, mother, and I will be waiting for you at home," she said.
Tang Si's gaze, fixed straight ahead, faltered, his brow furrowing slightly. Mother? Heh, she changed her address quite quickly.
"The doctor said I can only be out for a few hours. I'll stay with you for a while, then I have to return to Lancheng with your elder brother," Zhao Wuyan murmured, clasping her hands together, her fingernails digging restlessly into her palms. "Actually, I really want to stay here and accompany you, but Mother won't agree. She's worried about 'our' child."
As she spoke, Tang Si's expression grew increasingly grim, his brows conveying his impatience. He eventually reached a point where he no longer wished to engage with Zhao Wuyan. He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes as if dozing.
Zhao Wuyan's chatter continued in his ears, and shortly after, Tang Ziwei entered. Tang Si's feigned sleep then transitioned into genuine slumber.
When he awoke some time later, neither of them was in the room. He asked Qiao Yu, who was sitting on the sofa, "Did they leave?"
Qiao Yu, who was playing with her phone, looked up. "En, they just left a little while ago. They probably haven't left the hospital yet. Do you want me to call them back?"
"No need." Tang Si declined.
Lying on the bed, he felt utterly bored, scrolling through short videos on his phone, finding it all dull and uninteresting. He swiped back to the main screen, seeing dozens of messages on his primary WeChat account, but he couldn't be bothered to look at them. Instead, he opened his secondary WeChat, which he used for work. This account was solely for handling business related to his companies.
He tapped on the work account, checked the company group, and inquired about the company's status with the management. Once assured that everything was in order, he felt a sense of relief. Bored, he browsed through WeChat and inadvertently noticed the "Shake to Find People Nearby" feature. Perhaps out of sheer boredom, he inexplicably shook his phone.
*Kachak, kachak*—The phone emitted a distinctive sound, and then several nearby users appeared. The app automatically recommended female users. Seeing a row of beautiful profile pictures, Tang Si frowned in disgust and swiped upwards. A profile picture depicting a rosy sunset caught his eye.
Username: Shi Guang Ren Ran; Age: 99; Location: Jiangnan.
Perhaps it was the unique username that attracted his attention, or perhaps it was a deep-seated connection to certain people or events. He added the person's WeChat account.
Downstairs, on the obstetrics and gynecology ward floor, Shi Ran was passing the time by playing with her phone.