Another midsummer arrived.

Green trees cast their shade while cicadas chirped endlessly.

Since that competition years ago, Zhou Wan has participated in several prestigious events, and her reputation in the industry has grown steadily. At the end of last year, she was even seconded to work at a government agency, keeping her exceptionally busy for several months.

“Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Wan had recently taken on an apprentice, a fourth-year university student doing an internship. “I’ve sent all the materials I organized to your email. Please take a look when you have time.”

“Alright,” Zhou Wan glanced at her watch – it was almost time to leave work. “I’ll look at it tonight and get back to you tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you, Teacher Zhou.”

“You’re welcome,” Zhou Wan smiled.

She packed her bag and headed out, “I’m leaving now, you should head home early too.”

“Mm.”

Zhou Wan had bought a car two years ago, though most of the time Lu Xikou still drove her to and from work. Only occasionally, when he was too busy, would she drive herself.

Today was one of those “occasional” times.

Lu Xikou was away on a business trip and would return today.

Zhou Wan got in her car, calculating the timing – if she left now, she should arrive at the airport just in time to pick him up.

It was rush hour, traffic was heavy, and the sun was blazing. Driving westward, the setting sun shone directly in her eyes, making it almost impossible to keep them open.

Zhou Wan felt stifled by the heat, her chest uncomfortable. During a red light, she reached out to lower the air conditioning by a few degrees.

An hour later, she finally reached the airport.

She didn’t wait long before seeing Lu Xikou walking with the crowd.

Zhou Wan raised her hand and called out: “Lu Xikou.”

After marriage, she still preferred calling him by name, though he had forced her to call him “husband” several times. But in public, Zhou Wan still wasn’t comfortable with such intimate terms.

Lu Xikou looked up, smiling the moment he saw her, quickening his pace.

After marriage, he rarely went on business trips, only going this time because it couldn’t be avoided.

Though it was just a week, they hadn’t been apart for so many days in all these years, and he had missed her terribly.

Lu Xikou strode to her, let go of his suitcase, bent down, and kissed her lips.

Both were strikingly good-looking, kissing at the bustling airport in the sunset’s warm glow – it was like a scene from a romantic drama, causing many people to turn and look.

After a while, Lu Xikou finally released her, raising his hand to chuck her chin: “Did you miss me?”

Zhou Wan nodded obediently: “I did.”

He chuckled, taking her hand: “Then let’s go home.”

At the parking lot, Lu Xikou put the suitcase in the trunk and didn’t let Zhou Wan drive, instead taking the driver’s seat himself to head home.

“Did the contract negotiations go well?” Zhou Wan asked.

“Mm, very smoothly.”

“That’s good.” Zhou Wan smiled, “You can rest properly for a few days now.”

They chatted about various matters they’d encountered during their week apart.

After talking for a while, Zhou Wan yawned, and Lu Xikou glanced at her: “What time did you sleep last night?”

“Midnight.” Zhou Wan pressed her brow, “Been a bit busy lately.”

Lu Xikou frowned. It was a red light, so he leaned over to recline the passenger seat slightly and pulled a thin blanket from the back seat to cover her: “Take a nap first.”

Zhou Wan couldn’t sleep, but lying down to rest was good too.

However, whether from the sun’s glare earlier making her dizzy or something else, she felt unwell, her chest felt stuffed with cotton, and she was somewhat nauseous.

Zhou Wan rolled down the window.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Xikou asked.

“Might be a bit carsick.”

Lu Xikou frowned slightly: “Want to rest for a while?”

“It’s fine.” Zhou Wan shook her head, “Not too uncomfortable, just need some fresh air.”

“We’ll be home in about ten minutes. I’ll drive steadily, tell me if you feel unwell.”

“Mm.”

The wind-dispersed some of the nausea in her chest, and Zhou Wan grew increasingly drowsy in the warm breeze.

At home, she had no appetite for dinner and went straight to the bedroom to sleep. Soon after, Lu Xikou came in with a bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi water he’d bought at the pharmacy earlier.

“Drink this before sleeping.” Lu Xikou brushed away the stray hair on her cheek, “If you’re uncomfortable, we’ll go to the hospital. Don’t endure it.”

“Mm.” Zhou Wan took the medicine bottle.

“I’ll get you some water.”

As Lu Xikou left the bedroom again, Zhou Wan picked up the medicine bottle, about to drink, then paused, suddenly thinking of something.

She got up and dug out a pregnancy test from the drawer – she’d bought it six months ago when her period was irregular. That time she had a cold and needed medicine, so she bought a box just to be safe. One test remained.

…

Lu Xikou came back with water and didn’t see her on the bed. Turning his head, he saw her standing at the bathroom vanity, looking somewhat dazed.

“What’s wrong?”

Zhou Wan slowly turned her head, not speaking.

Lu Xikou looked over, pausing when he saw the two lines: “What’s this?”

“A pregnancy test.” Zhou Wan blinked, saying softly, “I think… I’m pregnant.”

They had been using contraception since getting married.

But after three years of marriage, Zhou Wan had mentioned having a child, considering it the next stage of their life together.

But Lu Xikou seemed uninterested in children. Zhou Wan knew he didn’t particularly like kids and didn’t have any strong feelings about it, so they let nature take its course and didn’t try for a baby.

Only during that vacation in early May when they traveled together did they have one time when they weren’t careful with protection.

But Zhou Wan had just finished her period then, supposedly during the “safe period,” so she hadn’t worried about it.

Thinking it through, it could only have been that time.

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?” Lu Xikou asked quickly after his momentary shock.

Zhou Wan shook her head.

“Let’s go to the hospital first.” He pulled out a light jacket from the closet and helped her put it on.

…

Two hours later, the results came back.

She was… pregnant.

Almost two months along.

Fortunately, all the examinations showed that everything was normal.

On the way home, Lu Xikou drove in silence, not speaking.

Zhou Wan looked at his profile and asked softly: “Lu Xikou, do you not want the baby?”

“No.” His voice was somewhat hoarse.

Perhaps because he was tired from the business trip and all this rushing around, Zhou Wan didn’t say more, lowering her head to gently touch her belly. It was really hard to imagine… that a life had been growing here for nearly two months.

It was her and Lu Xikou’s child.

Back home.

As soon as they entered, Lu Xikou suddenly hugged her from behind, not daring to squeeze too hard, only burying his face deeply in her shoulder to express a fraction of what he felt inside.

Zhou Wan paused, holding his hands: “What’s wrong?”

“Wan Wan.” His voice trembled, “It’s not that I don’t want it, I just… can’t bear to see you suffer.”

“It’s not suffering.”

Zhou Wan smiled softly, “Having a child with you makes me very happy.”

Lu Xikou lowered his eyes, saying deeply: “I’ll be good to you.”

“Mm.” Zhou Wan smiled, “You’ve already been very good to me.”

So good that these three years have felt like a dream.

Even in my dreams, I never imagined such a beautiful, happy life.

And now, we have a child too.

Carrying both our blood, nurtured by us together, they might look like you, or perhaps like me – they’ll be our most precious existence in this world besides each other. Just thinking about it feels magical.

*

Because of the pregnancy, Zhou Wan ended her secondment early.

Each prenatal check-up was normal, but her morning sickness was severe. She often threw up whatever she ate, losing several pounds during that period.

When she couldn’t eat well, Lu Xikou couldn’t eat well either.

If he had known the pregnancy symptoms would be so severe, he would rather she hadn’t gotten pregnant at all. He even felt somewhat resentful towards the little one in her belly.

In the evening, they cuddled on the sofa watching TV.

Lu Xikou gently patted Zhou Wan’s belly, saying: “I spent years finally putting some meat on your mom’s bones, and in just a few months, you’ve wasted it all away.”

Zhou Wan laughed, grabbing his hand: “Why are you picking on them?”

“Isn’t it their fault?”

“My colleague said it’s normal to lose some weight in the first few months. You gain quite a bit in late pregnancy.”

“You should gain some weight.”

“I’m fine like this,” Zhou Wan said, “Too fat wouldn’t look good.”

“A bit fatter is good.”

Zhou Wan smiled, and couldn’t help tilting her head up to kiss him again.

Lu Xikou bit her hard, raising his eyebrows and playfully patting her bottom: “Deliberately torturing me?”

“…”

Fortunately, after four months, the morning sickness eased considerably. She stopped throwing up after eating, and the weight came back.

Zhou Wan didn’t take pregnancy too seriously, just paying attention to rest and diet, and going to regular check-ups. But Lu Xikou was nervous, getting more anxious as the months progressed, making a big deal out of everything.

In the last three months, he didn’t even want to let Zhou Wan go to work.

But Zhou Wan wasn’t delicate and wasn’t used to being treated delicately. She didn’t want to stay at home all day and still wanted to work.

Lu Xikou had no choice. Previously, he had rejected many interview requests from magazines and newspapers, but this time he actively proposed doing interviews, even long-term in-depth ones.

Using public means for private ends, he had Zhou Wan work directly under his watchful eye.

Though it was called work, she was being pampered.

Food, drinks, and massages from the CEO himself – Zhou Wan felt embarrassed taking that salary.

Even the work group chat was full of teasing during that time.

I just saw Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu in the elevator, Mr. Lu was sticking close like a big puppy!!! Who understands this gap more!!!]

[I used to think no woman could completely possess Mr. Lu until I saw him being cute today!]

[Why do I have to eat dog food at work!?]

[The boss’s wife is so pretty! Caught them in the parking garage with her scolding Mr. Lu, so cute so cute so cute!]

[Their baby must be so gorgeous, I already want to squish them!]

…

*

Zhou Wan’s due date was in late February of the following year, after the Spring Festival.

Before the New Year, Gu Meng arranged a classmate reunion, which Zhou Wan attended.

In the afternoon when Lu Xikou came to pick her up, she suddenly started having stomach pains as soon as she got in the car, more than half a month before her due date.

“Lu Xikou.” Zhou Wan endured the pain, “Don’t panic, drive slowly.”

Most of the time, Lu Xikou was as calm as could be.

Only when it came to her would he easily panic.

Racing all the way, they finally reached the hospital, and Zhou Wan was immediately taken for examination.

The results showed she needed immediate delivery, and due to the baby’s position changing, she needed a cesarean section.

Lu Xikou had never been so panicked in his life, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He had always thought it would be a natural birth, and he was prepared to accompany her, but suddenly they needed a C-section.

Zhou Wan held his hand, saying gently: “Don’t be afraid, Lu Xikou, it will be over soon, you’ll see our baby soon.”

A nearby nurse couldn’t help laughing: “Usually it’s the husband comforting the wife, how come with you two it’s the other way around.”

Lu Xikou’s eyes were red.

He was terrified there might be even the slightest risk or accident in the surgery.

“I’ll be right outside.” Lu Xikou knelt halfway down, kissing Zhou Wan’s forehead, saying softly, “I love you, Wan Wan.”

“Mm.”

Zhou Wan smiled: “In a little while, there will be one more person in this world who loves you.”

Both I and the baby will love you.

…

Zhou Wan was someone most skilled at enduring pain.

But when it came to actual childbirth, she couldn’t help crying from the pain.

Perhaps because of her special constitution, the anesthesia didn’t fully take effect, making the entire process especially painful.

And those sharp pains made her think of the knife that had pierced Lu Xikou’s chest.

Because of this, these pains somehow gave her a sense of atonement.

Soon after, a clear baby’s cry broke through the air in the operating room.

The nurse said it was a boy, fair and chubby, especially handsome.

After the wound was sutured, Zhou Wan was wheeled out of the operating room.

Lu Xikou immediately came over, holding her hand. Seeing the sweat covering her forehead, his heart ached unbearably: “Why so much sweat, didn’t they give you anesthesia?”

Zhou Wan had no strength to speak. The nurse beside them said: “She has a special constitution, and doesn’t respond well to anesthesia.”

For a moment, Lu Xikou could barely speak.

What did it mean to not respond well to anesthesia?

He could hardly imagine how Zhou Wan had endured through that surgery.

“Lu Xikou.” Her voice was weak.

“I’m here.” He bent down, bringing his ear close to her.

“Back then… did it hurt this much for you too.”

Lu Xikou froze.

For the first half minute, he hadn’t understood what Zhou Wan meant, until he saw her red eyes, not for herself, but for him.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, his nose stinging: “No.”

He pressed his lips together hard, comforting her softly, “It didn’t hurt, Wan Wan, it’s not the same.”

“Now I’ve felt the pain too, A’Xiao.” Zhou Wan smiled and said, “I feel like I’ve made up to you a little more.”

We have a child now.

We have the same tattoos and the same scars.

Those dark years, the path you walked alone, the pain you endured, the blood you shed – I’m willing to walk it all again for you.

And our life will now open a new chapter.

A family of three.

Hand in hand, towards the light, running forward together.