Ru Feng’s heart ached as she touched her lower abdomen, where a small crystallization of their love resided. Was this tiny being already bearing the pain meant for his father?
“Feng’er, Feng’er?” Qifeng called, noticing her silence.
Ru Feng sniffed and tried to sound normal, “That’s great. Maybe the episodes will decrease. These things are mysterious and can’t be clearly explained.”
Qifeng smiled, “I think it might be because we got married. Heaven sees you as too cute and doesn’t want to torture your man anymore, right?”
“Right. Are you afraid it will act up again?”
“Of course. It’s better if there’s no pain. I don’t want you to worry about me all night. But after suffering for so long, I’ve gotten used to it. It’s really not a big deal.”
“Mm! Goodnight, second brother.”
“Goodnight!” Qifeng frowned slightly, sensing her mood was off. Was she too tired? He needed to finish his work quickly and return home. She was truly a sweet burden.
“Dad!”
She pushed open the study door and poked her head in.
Situ Jin glanced at her. “Come in. I’m studying a new bottle of wine, supposedly a limited edition from a vineyard.”
He poured her a bit and pushed it in front of her.
Ru Feng smiled and was about to drink but then put it back. “I’m too tired to drink today. You have it.”
Situ Jin laughed, “Is the cake shop doing well? You look pale. Don’t tire yourself out, or your second brother will come to settle accounts.”
“What does this have to do with big brother?”
“He’ll say it’s because he sent your second brother away, leaving no one to look after you.”
Ru Feng moved to sit next to Situ Jin and hugged his arm. “It’s fine. He’ll be the one scolded, not me!”
Situ Jin laughed and sighed, “You’re almost a mother, yet still so clingy. What will your second brother do?”
Ru Feng was silent for a long time before softly asking, “Dad, what was your mood like when you found out about me?”
Situ Jin patted her hand. “Sit properly. I’ll show you something.”
He retrieved a thick album from a locked box in the bookshelf, wrapped carefully in red velvet. Ru Feng leaned over, curious, as a photo centered on the first page came into view.
She looked at it from various angles but couldn’t make it out. “What’s this dark thing?”
Situ Jin pointed to the lines below, which Ru Feng recognized as her father’s handwriting: “Today we learned about the baby’s existence. One month old; the doctor says the heart has already formed.”
Situ Jin caressed the photo. “At this time, you were just a tiny embryo. I couldn’t find you in the photo, but I knew our baby was already here. Your mother said she could feel your heartbeat.”
He showed Ru Feng an album documenting her development from conception to birth, filled with his loving thoughts and anticipation.
The passage ends with a deeply emotional moment between Ru Feng and her father, exploring the unconditional love of parents, while hinting at a potentially tragic situation with Ru Feng’s pregnancy.
She had never felt the hospital so cold, so cold that her heart trembled. Even when on the brink of death, she had never felt suffocated like this, wishing for wings to escape quickly.
Sitting outside the operating room, she suddenly heard a baby crying. She looked around in panic, as if she could hear the tender voice crying, “Mommy, Mommy!”
She stood up, wanting to walk out, her hands tightly covering her belly, as if comforting the crying baby. She could feel that he must be crying very sadly.
She was reluctant to let go.
She wanted this child, knowing it would be particularly cute.
“Qiu Rufeng, where is Qiu Rufeng?” the nurse called out, waving a form. “It’s your turn, come in.”
Her heart was in turmoil as she hesitated.
“Hurry up, there are people waiting!” the nurse urged, grabbing her arm and taking her into the operating room.
Baby, I can’t let you suffer; thankfully, you don’t know pain right now.
On the cold operating table, she closed her eyes.
Around her, instruments clattered as someone lifted her clothes. She bit her lip, clenching her fist tightly.
Suddenly, a door burst open, and she was shaken violently. “You want to kill our child?”
She opened her eyes to find Qi Feng, his face desperate, like a demon from hell.
“Second Brother!” she called softly.
Qi Feng collapsed to his knees, looking up at her. “You want to kill him?” His expression was void of tears, filled with unbearable grief.
What I don’t want to hear,” Situ Jin interrupted her, “is that you cannot deprive a child of the right to survive, even if you are his mother. It is precisely because you are his mother that life has many tribulations. He can choose to give up or be hurt by others, but you cannot be the one to do so. You are his only protector, and your heartbeats are in sync.”
Ru Feng cried silently, “Dad.”
Situ Jin clenched his fist, his nails digging into his flesh. “You should know that Qi Feng suffered severe trauma in his youth. No one knows the aftereffects that experience left on him. I once thought he would never have children. Now, after you’ve finally conceived, you want to give up? By not wanting this child, how is it not a denial for Qi Feng, who loves you more than life itself? By rejecting his flesh and blood, how can you expect him to accept this?”
Each word struck her heart, causing blood and tears.
Ru Feng slowly squatted on the ground, hugging herself.
As a mother, she does not want her child destined for suffering. Is this wrong?
Seeing his daughter’s helplessness, Situ Jin’s hand moved slightly, but he looked away. This time, she was truly wrong.
Ying Feng returned home to see Ru Feng in distress and rushed to support her arms. “Feng’er, what happened?”
Ru Feng looked up, tears welling in her eyes. “Big Brother!” she sobbed uncontrollably.
Ying Feng half-carried her to the sofa, wiping her tears as he turned to Situ Jin. “What happened?”
Situ Jin replied, “Let her tell you herself.”
“Feng’er?” Ying Feng asked softly.
Ru Feng bit her lip. “I don’t want the child in my belly.”
Ying Feng’s hand stiffened in shock. After a moment, he felt her forehead. “Feng’er, do you have a fever?”
She shook her head vigorously as new tears fell.
Ying Feng held her, gently stroking her back. “Are you afraid you can’t take care of the child? Don’t worry, Dad and Brother are here!”
“No.”
“Then why?” He was puzzled. “Don’t you like your own child?”
Situ Jin’s gaze turned cold. Ru Feng lowered her eyes and said after a long pause, “I saw a book in the main house. I was reborn only because my second brother cast a forbidden spell. This punishment will fall on our bloodline. Any child of ours is not supposed to appear in the fate book. They will replace my second brother, suffering eternal torment.”
“She looked up at Situ Jin, “It’s because I’m the mother that I cannot let him come into this world to suffer!”
Situ Jin squatted in front of her, “Feng’er, isn’t this just your imagination? How can you decide life and death for him? Being born destined to suffer is indeed tragic, but who says such a life cannot have wonderful moments? Denying life because of its painful parts is unwise. Moreover, his existence is a miracle. How can you erase this gift?”
“Dad, I’m sorry, I just felt heartache, so I…” She paused, “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“You’re not apologizing to me, but to yourself. If you give up on him today, you will forever carry regret about this child and never have a chance to make amends.”
“Enough,” Ying Feng interjected, “stop crying, or your future child will be a crybaby.”
Ru Feng sniffled, “I won’t cry, I’m not crying.” She placed her hand on her belly and whispered, “I’m sorry, baby.”
Ying Feng shook his head, “Why didn’t you explain clearly earlier? Dad, did you have to get so worked up?”
