Seven weeks.
‘Jiao Wu, this is our baby,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Do you want to have this child?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Tan Yuan, if you want to have this child then you can,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know if she could go through another difficult pregnancy and childbirth, but she didn’t want to lose hers and Gu Jiao Wu’s child either.
An hour later, at the hospital.
‘Jiao Wu, it’s your fault,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘What do we do now?’
The doctor examined Qiao Tan Yuan, she was seven weeks pregnant.
On the drive back home, Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know what to do. Gu Ting Ding was a little older than a year old. They felt guilty they didn’t spend enough time with Gu Ting Ding, and they didn’t know how they would cope with a second child.
At Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan’s apartment, they sat on the sofa.
‘Tan Yuan, I didn’t think I would get you pregnant,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘It was only one time.’
‘What one time?’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It was many times. It would be strange if I wasn’t pregnant.’
‘On our wedding night you looked too beautiful,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Too beautiful?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘The curtains were closed.’
‘Yes, yes,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘You can hit me how many times you want. But not while you’re pregnant. If you want this child, I’ll support your decision.’
‘It’s easy for you to say to have our baby,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘When I was pregnant with Xiao Bao. I was bedridden the first two months. I had bad morning sickness, I couldn’t eat anything without throwing up and I couldn’t sleep.’
Gu Jiao Wu remembered Shen Cheng once asked him where he was when Qiao Tan Yuan was bedridden and suffered while she was pregnant with Gu Ting Ding. He regretted he wasn’t by Qiao Tan Yuan’s side when she was pregnant with Gu Ting Ding.
Gu Jiao Wu hugged Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Tan Yuan, let’s abort this child,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I don’t want you to suffer. I’ll book a hospital appointment for tomorrow to abort this child.’
‘But…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘No but,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Didn’t you hear the doctor say if we want to about this child then we need to do it soon otherwise your life is at risk.’
Gu Jiao Wu supported Qiao Tan Yuan upstairs to their master bedroom to let her take a nap.
When Qiao Tan Yuan woke up, Gu Jiao Wu brought a dinner tray for her to eat in bed.
‘Jiao Wu, didn’t you say we’ll abort our baby?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Why do I have to eat nutritious meals, and drink herbal tonics?’
‘Your body needs nourishment to recover after an abortion,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan drank a sip of the herbal tonic, and she ran to the toilet to vomit. Gu Jiao Wu followed her, and he held her hair up while she vomited.
‘Tan Yuan, it’s settled,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tomorrow I’m taking you to the hospital to abort this child.’
The following morning, Gu Jiao Wu held Qiao Tan Yuan’s sweaty hand at the maternity ward while they sat waiting for her appointment.
‘Tan Yuan, the procedure will be quick,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan nodded. But she had cold feet about going through with aborting hers and Gu Jiao Wu’s child.
‘Mrs Gu,’ a nurse called.
Gu Jiao Wu squeezed Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand, and she followed the nurse to the operating room.
‘Big brother, what are you doing here?’ Du Lei Xin asked.
‘What are you and Jiao Mai doing here?’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan decided not to tell their families that she was pregnant. So he was surprised to see Du Lei Xin and Gu Jiao Mai at the maternity ward.
‘Jiao Mai’s pregnant,’ Du Lei Xin said and smiled. ‘I took her here for the doctor to confirm she’s pregnant.’
‘Really?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘That’s good news. Congratulations to both of you.’
‘Thank you big brother,’ Du Lei Xin said.
‘Jiao Mai have you told your mum the good news yet?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Not yet,’ Gu Jiao Mai said. ‘We’re waiting for the doctor to confirm my pregnancy before we tell our families. Big brother, why are you here?’
End of Chapter 153