Chapter 444 - 439: What to do?
After Gu’er finished her chicken soup, Dingzi and Marina arrived.
Dingzi’s family had been out all day and only came home after eating dinner out. As soon as they got back, Grandma Dingzi cheerfully went over to the Sun family’s home. She couldn’t sleep soundly without exchanging a few words with Grandma Sun.
As soon as they got there and heard what happened to Gu’er, Dingzi and Marina rushed to the hospital. Grandma Dingzi had wanted to come too, but she worried that at her age, she wouldn’t be able to handle the stress, so she stayed home to keep Grandma Sun company.
After exchanging a few words with Marina, a look of exhaustion appeared on Gu’er’s face, and she grew drowsy.
Nearby, Dingzi was talking with Sun Jiaming. Every so often, Dingzi would glance at the little one in Cao Qiu’s arms, a gentle look in his eyes. ’He couldn’t imagine how to hold a child so small.’ But he knew that having a child gave a person boundless strength to do everything possible for them.
He glanced at Marina, wondering when she might get pregnant. ’Would their child look more like him or like her?’ No matter who the baby resembled, it would be theirs, and he would love it dearly.
"Alright, I’ll have to count on you to handle the mall for a while, then. Li Zhi and I don’t have time to go. Once Gu’er is through her postpartum month, I’ll take over for you."
Sun Jiaming nodded at Dingzi. He had to take care of Gu’er, and Li Zhi had to look after Feng Ling, so they had no choice but to leave any business at the mall to Dingzi.
"Don’t worry."
Dingzi nodded. Then he and Marina left so Gu’er could rest.
"Mom, you and Dad should go home and rest. You must be exhausted today. Go home and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll stay here tonight."
Sun Jiaming looked at Cao Qiu, who was holding the baby. He knew she was thrilled, but someone had to go home and rest so they could take turns. It was Gu’er’s first night after giving birth, and he wanted to stay by her side.
"I’m not tired. I’ll stay tonight. You’re a man; you don’t know the first thing about this. I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you here."
Cao Qiu didn’t want to let go of the baby.
"Mom, you and Dad can go rest at our place. Let Grandma know how things are so she doesn’t worry. You can come back and relieve me tomorrow. Don’t worry, I know how to change diapers, and Gu’er can handle the feeding. When you get home, could you call my mother-in-law? Tell her Gu’er gave birth—share the good news. It’s too late tonight, so just tell her she can come over tomorrow."
Sun Jiaming explained to Cao Qiu. They had all been so busy this afternoon that they’d forgotten to call Chen Fengjiao.
"Alright, then."
Cao Qiu reluctantly put the baby down. After giving Sun Jiaming another round of instructions, she followed Sun Zhuzi out, glancing back every few steps.
Gu’er was already asleep. Sun Jiaming looked at the baby sleeping soundly beside her, its eyes shut tight. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. He leaned over and kissed both Gu’er and the baby on the forehead before sitting down by the bed.
The baby cried a few times during the night. Gu’er was there for feedings and Sun Jiaming was there for diaper changes, so everything went smoothly.
Early the next morning, Cao Qiu arrived with food for Gu’er and Sun Jiaming. In addition to chicken soup, Gu’er also had millet porridge and eggs.
Gu’er’s spirits were much better than the day before. She could even get out of bed to use the toilet on her own, though it was a painful ordeal that took her over ten minutes.
After they had eaten and the baby had been fed, Chen Fengjiao arrived. She had also brought food for Gu’er, including some brown sugar, but Gu’er was too full to eat any more. She asked her to set it aside for later.
Chen Fengjiao wanted to hold the baby, but Cao Qiu seemed reluctant to hand the baby over. Seeing Chen Fengjiao waiting with her arms outstretched, she begrudgingly passed the baby to her. Then she hovered close to Chen Fengjiao, terrified she might not hold the baby properly.
Chen Fengjiao paid her no mind and cooed at the baby. Cao Qiu grew anxious beside her, repeatedly saying, "Alright, that’s long enough. It’s my turn to hold the baby."
Watching the two women bicker over the baby, Gu’er couldn’t help but grin. She glanced over at Sun Jiaming and saw that he was dozing off.
’It made sense.’ Sun Jiaming had barely slept all night, watching over her and the baby. He must have been terrified during the day, and his nerves were frayed. It would be a wonder if he wasn’t sleepy by now.
Gu’er sent Sun Jiaming home to rest. Chen Fengjiao stayed behind to help Cao Qiu take care of Gu’er and the baby.
When Sun Jiaming returned in the afternoon, Chen Fengjiao went home. She still had to cook dinner for Lin Sui’er and Lin Zheng. She said she would bring them to the Sun family’s home the next day to see Gu’er and the baby, since Gu’er was being discharged from the hospital.
Sun Jiaming was on duty that night. Around ten o’clock, as Gu’er was drifting in a hazy sleep, she thought she heard Li Zhi talking to Sun Jiaming.
"So what are you going to do?"
That was Sun Jiaming’s voice.
"I don’t know what to do either. I never would have thought it was Feng Ling who tricked Gu’er down there. I was completely stunned when she told me. I asked her why, and she said Zhou Mei had told her that she and you were engaged. She said Zhou Mei had slept with you several times and was just waiting for the wedding. Then, Gu’er was supposedly kicked out by the Zhou family for having an affair with another man and moved into your house. After that, she seduced you, you two slept together, and then you dumped Zhou Mei to marry Gu’er instead."
"Zhou Mei claimed she was pregnant and begged you and Gu’er for mercy, but your mind was made up. She even said Gu’er went behind your back and forced her to have an abortion—that Gu’er pushed her, causing her to fall and miscarry. She ended up in the hospital, and the doctor said her body was so damaged she could never have children again. Feng Ling had her doubts about Zhou Mei’s story, so she did some digging. She found out that you and Zhou Mei really had discussed marriage, that Gu’er had injured Zhou Mei with a knife, and that Gu’er had indeed moved into your house. So, she believed Zhou Mei’s lies. She felt sorry for Zhou Mei and thought Gu’er had been too cruel. She just wanted to confront Gu’er on Zhou Mei’s behalf and ask why she would do such a thing. She never imagined Zhou Mei and Zhou Fugui would pull a stunt like that."
Li Zhi sighed. "Feng Ling told me that when I chose my friends over her and walked away, she got angry. On impulse, she called the Zhou siblings and did this stupid thing. She said it wasn’t her place to get involved and she had no way to resolve the situation, but she meddled anyway and doesn’t deserve forgiveness. She knows she’s the one at fault and that no one will forgive her. She’s too ashamed to even ask. She’s already found a new place and plans to move there with Grandpa Guan as soon as she’s able to."
"So what about you?"
Sun Jiaming didn’t know what to think of Feng Ling.
"I don’t know. When I found out Feng Ling was the one who tricked Gu’er, causing all this trouble, I was furious. But seeing her in that state... I just felt awful. I told her to stay, that I would take good care of her, but she refused. She said her judgment is skewed, that she can’t tell right from wrong. She said she repaid kindness with cruelty and isn’t worthy of my affection. She’s too ashamed to stay here any longer and thinks leaving is the best choice. I could see she had made up her mind, so I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to stay."
Li Zhi’s spirits were low. ’He didn’t understand how things had come to this. If he hadn’t argued with Feng Ling that day, maybe none of this would have happened. Even though Gu’er and the baby were safe, it didn’t erase what Feng Ling had done. She may not have intended for it to go so far, and she may have risked her own life to save Gu’er afterward, but that didn’t change the fact that she had done it. And what was done could not be undone.’