Chapter 014: In Just a Few Days, Have You Fallen for Him Already?

"By the way, Grandpa, Grandma, what brings you here so late at night?" Shi Runrun was equally puzzled as she looked at her grandparents.

Grandmother Xiao patted her granddaughter-in-law's hand and smiled, "Xuezheng, now that you've married, you have your own family! Normally, we ought to give you and your wife enough space to nurture your relationship as a couple. But now that our granddaughter-in-law is pregnant, this is the most important matter for the Xiao family! To take care of her and our precious great-grandchild, your grandfather and I have decided to move in with you for a while. Once her health stabilizes, we'll move out again."

When these words fell, the two young people's reactions were completely different.

Shi Runrun was overjoyed. With the two elders here, she wouldn't have to worry about Xiao Xuezheng bullying her in the future!

But Xiao Xuezheng's expression darkened. He didn't mind the elders moving in, but... their married life... Although the first three months meant abstinence, he could at least expect some small benefits. Now, with his grandparents around, this silly girl would surely behave herself!

Just as he was about to refuse, Grandfather Xiao shot him a warning glare. "Xuezheng, we've already brought our things. It's settled."

The man could only remain silent.

That night, after her bath, Shi Runrun came out of the bathroom and didn’t see Xiao Xuezheng anywhere. She glanced around the room and noticed him sitting on the balcony outside, his tall, imposing figure stretched out on a lounge chair, elongated by the pale moonlight.

They’d already returned home late after a movie, and now it was past one in the morning. Why was he sitting outside in the cold at this hour?

Shi Runrun wanted to call him inside for a bath and to go to bed, but as soon as she pushed open the balcony door, a gust of cold wind hit her. She gasped softly, and before she could react, the man on the lounge chair, eyes half-closed, seized her wrist.

Startled, Shi Runrun tried to call his name, but the words that came from his lips in the next moment stunned her to the core.

"Zaozao, I’m married now. If you know this in the afterlife, will you blame me...?"

Shi Runrun shuddered violently, frozen in the biting night wind.

Zaozao—who was she?

It was a girl’s name; Shi Runrun could tell at once. What sort of person was she, to make him speak with such sadness in the middle of the night?

Only now did Shi Runrun realize there was a forbidden place in his heart that she could never reach.

She wanted to call his name again, but her lips and trembling body refused to obey.

Suddenly, she realized that, without even noticing it, she had grown so dependent on this man during these past two days together. Hearing another woman’s name from his lips actually made her heart ache.

But then she thought—so what?

He was so far above her, as untouchable as the moon in the sky. Even if there were other women around him, what did it matter?

Who was she, really?

She was merely a university student who, after a single night’s mistake, found herself pregnant with his child. The only reason she married him was because he cared about the baby.

He had never once said he liked her.

So, Shi Runrun, stop your foolish dreams. Whether he has another woman in his heart has nothing to do with you!

Tuck away your girlish feelings, and from now on, just be yourself. Once you give birth, your task will be complete.

Did you really think you could remain the young mistress of the Xiao family all your life?

And yet... and yet...

And yet, for reasons she couldn't understand, Shi Runrun found her heart aching unbearably in that moment.

It truly hurt.

—

At dawn, Xiao Xuezheng woke early. He glanced at the clock—it was only five in the morning.

He reached out to the other side of the bed, but the little woman was already gone.

He frowned, rubbing his brow as he got up and went downstairs, where he found his grandfather practicing tai chi. His grandmother and Mrs. Lin were busy in the kitchen.

He asked Mrs. Lin, who replied, "Young madam left for school very early. She said something important was going on, so she had the driver take her."

He frowned again. Hadn't he told her she must let him drive her to and from school every day?

Perhaps it was the early hour, but his brow furrowed deeply, his handsome features shadowed with gloom.

He lost his appetite for breakfast, gave a brief word to his grandparents, and had the family driver take him to Guangzheng Group.

—

Shi Runrun arrived at school early, wandering aimlessly through the empty campus.

She was still haunted by the words he’d spoken last night:

I’m married now. If you know this in the afterlife, will you blame me...?

Just how important was this Zaozao to him, to make him ask such a question with such sorrow?

Shi Runrun couldn’t make sense of it.

She lowered her head, gazing at her belly and gently touching it.

At just over a month, her belly had yet to show, but inside, a small life was already connected to her by blood.

It struck her then that she knew almost nothing about Xiao Xuezheng. All she knew was that he was wealthy, powerful, the president of Guangzheng Group, the heir to the Xiao family, with his grandparents above him.

But what about his parents? Before marrying her, had he ever had a girlfriend? Or how many women were there in his life now?

She knew nothing, had never asked, and somehow ended up married to him in a daze.

Her eyes reddened at the thought. Squatting down, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly, "Baby, I’m sorry. I’m afraid that even after you’re born, Mama will have to leave you..."

—

All day, Shi Runrun couldn’t focus in class. She was called on by teachers several times, failed to answer, and was scolded repeatedly.

Her best friend Cen Huan, worried about her, got her leave for the last class in the afternoon and accompanied her back to the dorm to rest.

Back in their room, Shi Runrun couldn’t help but tell her what had happened last night.

She asked, "If a man still has another woman in his heart, does that mean he can’t love anyone else?"

Cen Huan looked at her and sighed directly, "Oh, Runrun, it's only been a few days—have you already fallen for your newlywed husband?"

Shi Runrun was stunned, sitting motionless on the edge of her bed.

Wide-eyed, she stammered in disbelief.

Seeing her stubbornness, Cen Huan pressed further, "If you don’t like him, why are you asking this? The man you mean—isn’t it Xiao Xuezheng?"