Jiahui paced about the room after waking in the morning.
For someone long reliant on the computer for entertainment, having free usage severely limited with only expecting his return at night to take out the laptop from the locked cabinet…
“Dear…” This year he was fortunately home so she merely snuggled over flatteringly, rubbing her bulging stomach. “Your son’s mother might get antenatal depression.”
Both his hands held open two laptops before him. She swept a covetous look at the familiar Microsoft Office software – the Word document. Simply tapping some keys could produce so many words. How advanced… She successfully realized she truly felt depressed.
Yi Wenze casually closed the laptop. “Tell me what you want to do. I’ll accompany you.”
She contemplated very long. Go out? Risk of the public catching her inelegant waddling state at any time. Definitely front page headlines with the added huge caption – Yi Wenze’s New Bride Goes Out Looking Swollen, Figure Ruined… But not going out, their cramped home had long been tread to death by her.
In the end, she could only lightly sigh and resignedly sit on the balcony swing. “Read to me. I bawled watching ‘The Reader’. The male lead reading books to the woman left an especially deep impression.”
She was easily moved by love stories. An old couple in The Reader[1], the young man continuously reading all sorts of books to the middle-aged woman. Their secret meetings in a very shabby room quietly birthed feelings that touched everyone. But the young man’s cowardice ultimately led the woman to die full of regrets…
[1] Der Vorleser, 1995 German novel by Bernhard Schlink, also filmed in 2008.
Sitting in the rocking chair, she felt extremely satisfied watching Yi Wenze.
If not for him, she would definitely still cower in hesitation and inaction.
He walked over holding a few books, pulling out an English script of The Lion King and sitting beside her. Very faint voice accompanying the summer sunlight. She practically basked in the sunshine and air conditioning, leaning against his arm. Truly extravagantly blissful… His voice was gentle, the refined London accent[1] soon lulled her into dozing off unknowingly.
[1] In the Chinese original, this is written as?????to describe his accent when speaking English, but translated more literally to avoid confusion.
Waking up, he still sat beside her. The arm she had used as a pillow remained stationary while his other hand turned book pages.
This scene reminded her of their absolute beginning, drinking that first cup of coffee. The morning rays outside the window and suitable angles with the man before her retaining poster-like quality. But now it was not only infatuation, but happiness.
“Awake?” Yi Wenze sensed her shifting her head.
Jiahui mmm-ed, both hands looped around his arm. “I was thinking how blissful this is. Very blissful.”
He smiled helplessly and pecked her nose. “Wife, don’t look at me like this.”
She oh-ed. Blinked her eyes with reddening face.
“Not going to see them?” Jiahui fished for conversation.
“They’re sleeping,” Yi Wenze sat on the sofa and beckoned her over. “I should spend my limited time looking at those awake.”
Jiahui slowly ambled over and steadily settled down. “Have you guys started casting for new shows already?” He indifferently mmm-ed as if suddenly recalling something. Chuckling at her, “Ah Lun asked about the one month celebration.”
Jiahui oh-ed. She pondered very long before responding, “Time really flies. They used to be in my tummy but now it’s already their one month celebration.” Speaking to this point, she suddenly thought of a conversational opening. “Pregnancy was still best. You could stay home everyday making lots of delicious food for me.” Yi Wenze saw the flickering in her eyes and tranquilly said, “In another two years, I’ll free up most of my schedule to accompany you.”
Won’t I truly be a precious hidden away then?
Very satisfied, Jiahui nodded and continued baiting him. “Actually I was just thinking, giving birth wasn’t bad either. Maybe more smooth the second time. In another couple years, let’s have two more?”
She watched his thoughtful mien under the lamplight after she spoke. Yi Wenze’s pondering expression greatly frustrated her. Could he still be bothered by that little temper flare right after she gave birth? But thinking about it, ever since they got together, no real fights at all. So that could be considered her harshest time against him…
As she wildly imagined, she suddenly felt him embrace her and very calmly ask, “Did Qiao Qiao[1] come today and say something again?”
[1] Name of a character
Oh no. Qiao Qiao, I’m sorry.
He drank some water and was silent for quite a while before speaking, “I don’t want to wait that long anymore, wife.”
Jiahui continued her efforts, “Just a few months without doing that…”
“It’s not wanting to wait those few hours,” he smiled and flicked her nose. “Trust me, extremely agonizing.”
She oh-ed. Happily crawled onto the bed.
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