Yan Huan didn’t feel much about it. She had, of course, in the attempt to nurse her delicate health, sought out doctors and eaten an array of Chinese and Western medicines. None showed significant effects, just like how things were during her previous life. Illnesses would follow her for a long time, and she could not say when it will end.
She gave Little Lei’s chubby hand a squeeze, to which Little Lei answered with a curious squeeze and a huge grin. A baby’s smile is the purest and most innocent thing in this world, a short-lived innocence that would eventually wear off as time passes, when cognizance comes into the picture.
Like her. Like Lu Yi.
No one is born evil.
She picked up Little Lei and cradled him in her arms. Little Lei scratched at her clothes. It seemed as though he liked the fragrance on her aunt. Soon, he was rubbing at his eyes with his chubby hands sleepily.
“Isn’t he a little too trusting?” she commented as she passed him back to her.
“Only because it’s you,” said Yi Ling as she took him in her arms. “He’s a smart kid, and he usually throws a tantrum whenever a stranger carry him.”
Yan Huan put her hand beside Little Lei’s chubby feet to get an idea of its size. The kid was growing fast. It felt as though he was only born the day before, yet he was already this big and capable of simple speech and walking. Even his feet were chubby now.
Yi Ling put Little Lei in Yan Huan’s bedroom to let him sleep, then sat down across Yan Huan. She had something to discuss with her.
“Huanhuan, I know that your career is on the rise, but aren’t you considering a child at all?” said Yi Ling cautiously as she studied Yan Huan’s expression. When she sensed no discomfort, she went on. “Back then, Lei Qingyi wasn’t keen on having a child either. We both felt it best to enjoy life as a couple. Why would I want a baby when I’m a big baby myself, I used to think. A baby would only rob away a part of his affection.”
“Yet Lei Qingyi changed completely when Little Lei came to this world unannounced. The first thing he does nowadays when he gets home is to check on his son. Pictures of food has vanished from his social media, replaced by snapshots of his son. Lu Yi might turn out to be the same.” She grasped Yan Huan’s hand.
“You have put Linlang Entertainment on the right track, and won so many awards. Childbirth would only take away a year, no, less than a year of your time. You will still be able to take on advertisement and acting offers even after that. A child would make your life, as a woman, complete.”
“I’ll think about it,” replied Yan Huan with a smile. Yet, deep down inside, her heart was stone cold.
Before long, Lei Qingyi came to fetch his wife and son. He couldn’t help but dote on his chubby son when he took the sleeping baby in his arms.
“Come here, baby, let daddy give you a kiss. Daddy missed you so much,” he gave Little Lei a big kiss. That woke Little Lei up. At the recognition of his father, he did not cry and returned a sloppy kiss instead. Lei Qingyi grinned like an idiot throughout their interaction.
Watching from the side, Lei Qingyi’s face suddenly turned into Lu Yi’s in Yan Huan’s eyes. Deep down, he wants a child too, doesn’t he? He’s already thirty. Yet he might never have his own child. Ever.
Her hand went to her tummy. She still remembered the feeling of being connected blood and veins to a life, the tiny life that grew and tumbled and moved within her.
Would that still be possible in this life?
Yan Huan was left alone after Lei Qingyi brought Yi Ling and Little Lei back.
“Please have some soup, Miss Yan,” said the nanny, putting a large bowl of soup before Yan Huan.
Yan Huan lifted the bowl and took a few big gulps. The taste was so strong it made her tear up.
“Slowly,” said the nanny, rushing to pat her back.
“What a strong taste,” smiled Yan Huan. Tears rolled out of her eyes.
“I know how hard it is to swallow,” said the nanny. She knew that the strong-flavored soup was hard to swallow from personal experience, but it didn’t make her cry. Maybe Miss Yan’s taste buds are more sensitive, she thought. “But it’s good for you, so please bear with it.”
There was nothing the nanny could do about the taste either. She had called upon herself for not taking care of her body in the past, so she had to endure the bitter medicine if she wanted to recuperate.
“I understand,” said Yan Huan, drinking from the bowl again. “Don’t worry, Aunty. I’ll drink it properly.”
Yes, she will do that. Maybe a miracle will happen when she recovers. Even though Lu Yi was the one that needed a miracle, she will work hard. That she will.
It was almost ten when Lu Yi returned. Yan Huan was huddled up on the sofa. Lu Yi walked to her and touched her tummy. “Why aren’t you using a hot-water bottle?”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” said Yan Huan as she grabbed his large hands. This was good. She doesn’t need any hot-water bottle as long as she had him.
On the television, it was still the new Demi-gods and Semi-devils, playing a scene of a bucolic Wang Yuyan pretending to be fairy like and a dancing Duan Yu. They never failed to make Yan Huan giggle.
Giving leading roles to bad actors like Lu Qin and Su Muran was clearly a bad deal, but what choice did Yan Hua have? Even if they couldn’t act, they had money and strong backings.
With the sheer amount of films they acted in, becoming popular was only a matter of time.
She finally knew the secret to Su Muran’s popularity during her previous life.
“How are the preparations going?” asked Yan Huan as she laid down on Lu Yi’s laps. This was her favorite position. Lu Yi’s warm lap pillows were very comfy.
“The old dams have already been fortified, but I can’t say if it’s enough to defend against the flood. When the time comes, Lei Qingyi will evacuate everyone from the danger zones you mentioned, under the pretext of safety concerns.”
“No one can say for sure if there will be casualties, but we have already done what we could. Beyond that, whatever happens is destiny.”
“That’s good,” said Yan Huan, her arms tightening around Lu Yi’s legs. She looked at what was on the television again. Wang Yuyan was calling out to her cousin with a straight face. Has Wang Yuyan always been so serious? Or was it Su Muran’s interpretation of the character that made her so dreary?
“Have you drank the soup today?” asked Lu Yi, worried that she might throw the soup away or leave it undrunk due to its bad taste. She had done that before.
