Nana was surprised to find those colorful papers in the drawer.
“What are these papers doing here? What does Jinhai use them for?” She never saw them before, and she thought about it hard, but couldn’t guess where and why Jinhai would need them.
She was doubtful, but she found them really pretty. They were perfect for writing some small notes or something like a short letter. The texture was also soft and smooth to touch.
She looked at the floral design carefully. The more she looked at it, the more she thought that she had seen this design somewhere before.
She furrowed her beautiful brows, trying to recollect. It seemed like it was just at the back of her mind like she sees this design every day, her sight has fallen upon it numerous times but wasn’t able to put her finger on it.
Where? Where have I seen it before? She touched her forehead, trying to think. This really seemed like a memory game to her.
Then, she suddenly opened her eyes in realization.
She turned and looked at the four small photo frames hung above the bed. They were pictures of different flowers like lilies, tulips, roses, and chrysanthemums. But, the important part was the photo frames design.
They were not any plain, straight-line rectangle-shaped frames. They had a floral artwork. They were curvy, and its square shape was in the form of many small flowers connected by leaves and stems.
She remembered how she praised them when she moved into Jinhai’s room for the first time. It was the day when she learned she was pregnant the night before her marriage.
That design was exactly what printed on those colorful papers.
Nana alternatively looked between the frames and the papers.
“Is this a coincidence?”
—
Over at Yukito’s high school, the girl who had come forward to ask about Jing and his relationship was visibly stunned.
“F-future lover?”
How can it be possible?
Jing sneered. “Why? Did it prick you somewhere? Why can’t we be in a relationship?”
The girl, Su Daiyu, was taken aback.
Jing was furious with that girl. With just one look at her and noticing how Yukito stiffened on hearing her voice, he felt a strong hunch that Yukito and she know each other, and not only as simple acquaintances or friends.
Otherwise, why in this crowd of so many students, only she came forward to ask the question?
Su Daiyu clearly felt Jing’s hostility towards her. She pursed her lips. His taunt at her in front of the whole school embarrassed her.
Jing narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m warning you. Stay away from Yukito. I came here to declare that I’m pursuing him. So…” he shot a cold glance at everybody. The students internally gulped, sensing his terrifying aura.
He scoffed, thinking that none of them could possibly be his rival. “Any of you who may have any budding feelings for him, kill it off right now before it takes root in your heart. Otherwise, I don’t mind crushing it for you.”
Silence.
They didn’t know who he was to use such a domineering tone. But, they didn’t have the guts to pick a fight with him.
Yukito just quietly stared at him and said nothing.
Seriously, he just wanted to live a peaceful and low key life, but now Jing made him famous in the whole school. There would surely be gossips tomorrow. Not that he gave a f*ck about opinions on his orientation, but didn’t want everyone to hammer him with questions.
Su Daiyu watched Yukito leave with that man, and her mood turned downcast.
—
In the car, Yukito said, “Seriously, you are one piece of work. Are you that confident that I will fall in love with you that you announced it so openly?”
But, Jing was silent. He looked a little angry.
He immediately sensed it. “What’s wrong? You seem annoyed.”
“That’s because I am!”
Yukito looked at him, dumbfounded. “I should be angry at you for doing that stupidity over there. With your killer looks, every girl will now barrage non-stop questions at me. You just legit disrupted my peaceful life.”
Jing’s mood eased up a little bit after he complimented him, saying ‘killer looks.’
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to waste my energy on any worthless teenagers claiming to be my rivals. Clearly, they are not any match for me. So, I made it clear beforehand.” He looked in disdain.
Yukito’s eyebrow twitched.
Worthless?
He is one hell of a narcissistic man.
Jing puffed his cheeks and asked, aggrieved. “Who was that girl?”
Naturally, Yukito understood. Since he was pursuing him; there was no point in hiding. It was better to tell him.
“She was my ex-girlfriend.”
Jing pressed hard on the breaks, and the car stopped.
He felt angry and irritated to know that his gut feeling turned out to be true.
“Does it bother you?”
Jing hesitated. “…A little.”
“Why? We have broken up. There is nothing more to it now.”
“I know, but…” Jing looked at him as if he suffered a grave injustice. “I don’t like it that I’m not your first lover.”
Yukito blinked his eyes. “Eh? Do you mean you have never dated before?” He refused to believe this.
“No!”
Yukito said. “Alright, I’m sorry I cannot change this fact, but if it makes you feel any better, then I tell you that I had never liked her.”
He frowned. “Then why were you dating her in the first place?”
“Because she confessed to me. Not once, but many times. I rejected because I wasn’t interested, but she would stubbornly chase after me, so in the end, I just decided to give it a try. That’s all.”
Yukito gave an amusing smile. “In that way, you both are very similar.”
Jing gave a disgusting look. “Please don’t compare me to her. You will make me puke.” Then he asked, “Why did you break up?”
Yukito went silent.
Jing cursed himself.
Damn, I made my Yukito sad. I didn’t know it was a sensitive topic.
“It’s alright. You can tell me whenever you are ready.”
Yukito paused and slowly nodded. He looked away, and his smile held a faint sadness in it.
—
It was late in the evening when Jianyu came back. Serena rushed into his arms as soon as she saw him.
“You! Where did you suddenly run off to? I really need to discipline you as your girlfriend.”
Jianyu somehow managed to smile. “I am sorry.” He tightly hugged her back as if she will disappear at any moment.
“J-Jianyu, not to make you feel bad, but it’s a little suffocating.” She was having difficulty breathing.
“S-sorry, I didn’t notice.” He quickly stepped back.
“I…”
“I…”
Once again, they spoke at the same time.
They looked at each other and chuckled.
Jianyu said, “This time, you go first. I got my chance in the morning.”
He was nervous and afraid, to tell the truth. So, even if a little, he wanted to stall for some time. Once it’s out, there is no going back. He knew the answer himself, but after Mother Chen also advised him, he decided to tell her about his past.
His palms were sweating, and his heart was beating like crazy. He knew he wished for the impossible, but he wanted her to give him another chance. He didn’t want to see her turning her back to him.
Serena nodded. “Alright.”
She was excited until morning, but now she was fidgeting with her dress.
What will be his reaction? Suddenly I do not feel so sure anymore if he will be happy. What if he doesn’t want to be a father? What will I do?
Jianyu saw her distressed. He got concerned and asked, “Are you okay? Here, sit down and have some water.”
They settled down, and he waited.
“Jianyu.”
“Yes, I’m here. Tell me.”
“I…, I am pregnant.”
Jianyu thought he didn’t hear it right.
“What?”
“I’m pregnant. You are going to be a father.” She said, her voice traced with anticipation.
He was astounded.
“R-really?”
“En. I realized that I missed my periods this month. And then I remembered that the first time…we had unprotected sex. So, I bought a pregnancy test kit, and it showed positive.”
It was hard to describe his feelings at the moment.
He felt happy. He felt really, very happy. He was going to be a father. Surely, it came as completely unexpected, but he felt immense joy wash over him. It’s like all his worries and anxiety disappeared in an instant with this news.
He held her shoulders. “Is this really true?”
Serena was relieved. She could see the joy and surprise in his eyes.
She took out a file and said, “Look for yourself.”
“I went to the hospital this morning to get a check-up, just to confirm.”
His hands trembled, reading it. It confirmed that she tested positive for pregnancy.
Jianyu took her in his arms and softly whispered. “Thank you. You…you have no idea how happy I am.” He cupped her face and kissed her hard.
They parted whole five minutes later, breathless.
Serena hung her arms around his neck. “I really thought for a moment that you wouldn’t like it.”
He bumped his forehead on hers. “Idiot. How can I not be happy about our child? How could you think that even for a moment that I won’t want this child?”
She smiled. “Ah, what were you going to tell me?”
He froze.
“I…I…”
This was such a happy moment for them. He couldn’t bear to destroy her smile.
“I…”
