Chu Ri Huaizhu put down the clothes, adjusted her state of mind, and walked out of the door as if nothing had happened. First, she handed the clothes to the maid.
Then she walked step by step towards the pond where she had fallen last time. People passing by just bowed slightly when they saw her, and Chu Ri Huaizhu nodded with a smile. But when her back was turned to them, her eyes were gloomy.
When she arrived at the pond, Chu Ri Huaizhu looked at the familiar place. Suddenly, she heard someone talking nearby. The voice was not very loud, but it was extremely clear and stood out in the silence.
"That time was really scary. When she was rescued, there was still blood on the hem of her skirt. It was really terrifying."
Chu Ri Huaizhu didn't say a word. She just quietly analyzed the words "with blood" in her heart. She gently stroked her abdomen where the fetus of her and Wang Quan Baye was conceived.
"Indeed. I don't know what the family head was thinking. He didn't say a word. She still thinks her child is still there. It's really pitiful." Although the person said "pitiful", there was a hint of smile in the voice.
Chu Ri Huaizhu clenched her hands tightly. Her fingernails dug into her palms, and drops of blood fell on the stone slabs beside the pond. She turned around and left the pond without seeing the figure that appeared after she left.
When Wang Quan Baye woke up, he had a splitting headache. He slowly sat up and saw Chu Ri Huaizhu sitting expressionlessly on a stool, constantly stroking her abdomen.
"What's wrong with you? You seem to be in a bad mood." Wang Quan Baye was wearing a white inner garment. He got out of bed, picked up a teacup, and took a sip of tea. His voice was hoarse because of the hangover.
"Why didn't you tell me? The child is already gone..." There was sadness in the calm words. Chu Ri Huaizhu looked into Wang Quan Baye's eyes, hoping to find something, but only saw her own reflection.
Wang Quan Baye was stunned. He slowly put down the teacup and let out a bitter laugh. "You know."
"Do you think you can hide this from me forever?" Chu Ri Huaizhu's eyes were red, and tears welled up in her eyes.
The hand that was stroking her abdomen tightly grasped her clothes, as if trying to confirm that the fetus was still there, but it was in vain.
When Chu Ri Huaizhu fell into the pond, because the fetus was still in the early stage and due to the impact of the water, it had already turned into blood in the pond and left Chu Ri Huaizhu.
At that time, Wang Quan Baye already knew the news. But when he saw Chu Ri Huaizhu protecting her abdomen even in a coma, he told the doctor not to tell her the truth and just say that there was a little fetal movement.
"At that time, when you were lying pale beside me, I thought about telling you the news, but I couldn't." Wang Quan Baye tightly grasped Chu Ri Huaizhu's hand. The cold touch added more pain to his heart.
He didn't want to see Chu Ri Huaizhu sad. He originally wanted to find a suitable opportunity to tell her, but unexpectedly, she discovered the truth by herself.
"So, you just hid it from me? Husband, do you know that it makes me even more painful to know now than to know at that time." Chu Ri Huaizhu pointed to her chest and said word by word.
Wang Quan Baye lowered his head. How could he not know? But at that time, Chu Ri Huaizhu's pale face really scared him.
"Husband, thank you. I know you didn't want me to be shocked." Chu Ri Huaizhu squatted beside Wang Quan Baye's knees. Her tear - stained cheeks gently rubbed against his hands.
Wang Quan Baye was a little surprised. He stroked Chu Ri Huaizhu's hair. The warm and delicate touch made his uneasiness fade a little.
"Hurry up and wash up. You smell of alcohol. It's so unpleasant." Chu Ri Huaizhu looked up, wrinkled her nose, and made a disgusted face, teasing Wang Quan Baye.
Wang Quan Baye didn't believe it. He sniffed his clothes but didn't smell anything. When he looked up, he saw Chu Ri Huaizhu's teasing face. He suddenly understood and laughed as he played around with her.
"Huai Zhu, we will have many, many children in the future. He will reappear in our lives." Holding Chu Ri Huaizhu in his arms, Wang Quan Baye whispered in her ear.
Chu Ri Huaizhu nodded. She buried her head in Wang Quan Baye's arms. Her tears wet his clothes. Wang Quan Baye gently patted her back, tenderly comforting her.
The next day, Chu Ri Huaizhu adjusted her mood. When she was sitting in the garden, she heard Mei Sanniang's voice.
"How have you been recently?" Chu Ri Huaizhu stood up and smiled at Mei Sanniang. The faint sadness between her eyebrows disappeared at that moment.
Mei Sanniang sat down opposite Chu Ri Huaizhu. Looking at Chu Ri Huaizhu's somewhat thin appearance, she frowned.
"I've been okay recently. How about Dongfang Qinlan?" Chu Ri Huaizhu poured a cup of hot tea for Mei Sanniang and asked softly.
When Mei Sanniang thought of Dongfang Qinlan, she couldn't help shaking her head. She looked at Chu Ri Huaizhu helplessly. "You didn't see that little girl. Usually she's fine, but once your name is mentioned, she cries and makes a fuss to come and see you."
Chu Ri Huaizhu seemed to see Dongfang Qinlan pestering Mei Sanniang and crying in front of her eyes. She couldn't help laughing, but then the longing made her sigh.
Mei Sanniang picked up the teacup and drank all the tea in one gulp. She stared seriously at Chu Ri Huaizhu, and there was solemnity in her eyes.
"Seriously, you should go and see her. Her mood has been a bit off recently. Maybe it will be better if you go and see her."
Chu Ri Huaizhu nodded. She was considering what Mei Sanniang said. However, she was always worried that if she went to visit Dongfang Qinlan, it might bring some trouble to them, which she didn't want to see.
She calculated in her mind and made up her mind. She decided to go back with Mei Sanniang today to see Dongfang Qinlan while Mei Sanniang was here.
"Better late than never. I'll go and see Qinlan today. You go first. I'll go and tell my husband."
After Chu Ri Huaizhu told Wang Quan Baye, she changed into a bright - colored long dress to cover up the paleness on her face. She applied lipstick and blush and then left the Wang Quan Villa.
On the way, Chu Ri Huaizhu also bought a few strings of candied haws for Dongfang Qinlan. The big, red hawthorns were covered with sugar icing, making people drool at the sight.
"Sister!" As soon as Chu Ri Huaizhu walked into the courtyard, Dongfang Qinlan threw herself into her arms.
Dongfang Qinlan coquettishly refused to get up in Chu Ri Huaizhu's arms until Chu Ri Huaizhu took out the candied haws. Then she reluctantly got up, but still held on to Chu Ri Huaizhu's sleeve.
"Sister, do you miss me? By the way, why didn't Sister Zui come? I haven't seen her for a long time. How is she recently?"
While eating the candied haws, Dongfang Qinlan asked about Wang Quan Zui's situation. Chu Ri Huaizhu concealed the news of Wang Quan Zui's disappearance and only told Dongfang Qinlan that Wang Quan Zui was fine but just a bit busy recently.
Soon, Chu Ri Huaizhu had to return to the villa. Dongfang Qinlan stood at the courtyard gate, looking at Chu Ri Huaizhu's departing back with a hint of loneliness in her eyes.