Chapter 223 Hes Dead... (2/2)
None of them bothered Xin Qing for the rest of the afternoon. By dinner time, both Chen Huan and Zhang Mi were hesitating over their next move.
”I think we should just bring the food up to her!” Chen Huan said after a long moment of hesitation. Zhang Mi was just about to nod when her eyes suddenly turned to the staircase with her mouth opening. ”Xin... Xin Qing!”
Xin Qing was standing at the top of the staircase, staring back at them with a calm expression.
Chen Huan's head turned around as she screamed in delight. ”Are you coming down?” she asked.
This was the first time Xin Qing had come downstairs on her own ever since what happened. Just then, both Boss Wan and Young Master Shen ran out from the dining hall. Young Master Shen smiled. ”Come on, then! Come have some dinner!”
At the dining table, everyone was shooting furtive glances at Xin Qing. Xin Qing set down her chopsticks. ”How am I supposed to eat with all of you staring at me?”
”Ah!” Chen Huan reacted quickly by ladling another bowl of soup for Xin Qing. ”Come, come. Have another bowl of soup. It's good for the baby!”
Xin Qing finished the soup and set the bowl down on the table. ”Where's Ah Sha, by the way?”
Zhang Mi smiled. ”The girl had gone out to eat with Xunxun. Ah Che is with them.” Xunxun had been bringing Ah Sha out for meals for the past few days. Xin Qing would just ignore Ah Sha if they stayed home, anyway. Everyone had concerns that a young child might not be able to handle the emotional consequences of being ignored by a parent. After a moment of thought, Xin Qing understood all that. Her gaze swept across everyone in the room, after which she spoke out in a decisive tone:
”I'm so sorry, guys. I've made everyone worried for the past month. But don't you worry, though. I won't go on like this. I will pull myself together and deliver the baby. I'll take good care of Ah Sha and learn how to run the company. I'll keep everything running smoothly until Ah Cang's return. And when he does, I'll show him how great I am!”
Zhang Mi pressed a hand to her lips and nodded relentlessly. Young Master Shen squeezed Zhang Mi's hand and gave Xin Qing a contented look. Only Chen Huan had kept her head low. Xin Qing's gaze lingered on Chen Huan. ”Huanhuan,” she said, ”I'm sorry!”
Chen Huan glanced up at Xin Qing in surprise. Then, Xin Qing walked over and embraced her. ”I knew how tough things must have been for you. I know that you've been suffering,” Xin Qing said, her words coming out slowly. ”And yet I've been selfish, thinking only of myself and my own problems. Please stop blaming yourself, okay? None of this is your fault!”
”Oh, Xin Qing! Xin Qing, I'm so sorry!” Chen Huan sobbed into Xin Qing's chest, unleashing an entire month of pent-up emotions.
Xin Qing patted the other woman's head. ”Oh, silly. It's not your fault, okay?”
Boss Wan yanked Chen Huan into his arms. ”See? I told you Xin Qing wouldn't blame you. Just let it all out okay? Cry to your heart's content. After that, you must let it go!”
”Oh, yeah! Where's Xiao Rui?” Xin Qing suddenly remembered that Xiao Rui had followed them home as well.
”He's staying at our place at the moment,” Zhang Mi answered hurriedly. ”He said he was worried that his sudden appearance might scare Ah Sha. That's why he's been staying away.”
”Bring him here tomorrow, then!” Xin Qing said guiltily. ”Boss Wan, are there still no leads on Xiao Rui's family?”
Just when Boss Wan was about to answer, Chen Huan suddenly pushed her bowl away and let out a dry heave.
”What's the matter?” Startled, Boss Wan jumped to his feet. Chen Huan's body had always been in good condition. She rarely even had colds.
”You guys help her upstairs. I'll call a doctor,” Xin Qing said. Then, with a hand on her belly, Xin Qing walked into the living room to make the call.
The doctor left as quickly as he came. Right now, Boss Wan was standing at the head of Chen Huan's bed as if he were about to march into a war. ”Are you thirsty? Hungry? Is the blanket too thin? What about the air conditioner? Is the room's temperature too low?”
Meanwhile, the actual patient was leaning against the headboard, looking as if nothing major had happened. ”I'm just pregnant,” Chen Huan said. ”Why are you so anxious?”
Zhang Mi looked at Boss Wan strangely. ”You guys already have a son together, right? Why is he so excited like this?”
”Chen Huan never actually told him when she was pregnant with Xunxun. This is the dude's first time experiencing something like this,” Young Master Shen answer with a slightly surly tone. He and Zhang Mi had been trying hard for a long time. How come there was still nothing yet!
Chen Huan's pregnancy had triggered something inside Xin Qing, prompting her to pull herself together. Boss Wan decided to bring Chen Huan back to his own place to take care of the baby. Before leaving, Boss Wan told Xin Qing that the likelihood of successfully tracking down Xiao Rui's family was slim, and that she might as well just adopt the kid while he was still young.
Xin Qing thought over Boss Wan's suggestion and decided it was best to take Xiao Rui's opinion into account. Although the kid was only six years old, he was already very mature. Things like this should never be kept from the boy. The next day, Zhang Mi brought Xiao Rui back. Xin Qing was apologizing to Ah Sha when they arrived.
”Baby, I'm so sorry! Mommy hasn't been brave enough before. Will Ah Sha forgive mommy?”
It had been a while since Ah Sha had the chance to be wrapped up in Xin Qing's embrace. Ah Sha hung on tightly to Xin Qing's neck as tears streaked down her whole face.
”Mommy! Don't be afraid, mommy. Brother Xunxun and I will protect you. We'll always protect you! When daddy comes back, Ah Sha will tell him that Ah Sha is the one who has been protecting mommy!” Xin Qing kept holding on to Ah Sha, peppering the child with endless kisses. The pair hugged each other as they cried their hearts out.
When she saw Xiao Rui walking over, Xin Qing dried her tears. Xunxun already had a towel at the ready, which he used to clean up Ah Sha's face.
”Come!” Xin Qing waved at Xiao Rui. ”Ah Sha, this is your little brother, Xiao Rui!” Xiao Rui was a year younger than Ah Sha, so it goes without saying that he would be the youngest in the family.
”Xiao Rui, are you willing to be my son?” Xin Qing looked at the six-year-old child. Xiao Rui bit his lip and nodded. ”I'll protect you.”