654 A Million Times for You 16 (1/2)

”How are you adapting to life here?”

”Not too bad. I've lived under harsh living conditions for a long period of time before, so I don't have any trouble adapting to life here,” Xu Baizhi answered, appearing much more gentle and warm, as opposed to the aloof attitude she had when they met in the Autumn Palace back then.

An Xiaoning chucked her hands inside her pocket and said, ”That's good. I can't accompany Teacher every day. But with you around, I'm much less worried. Note down my mobile number. Contact me whenever Teacher is not feeling well during the times that I'm not around.”

”Sure.” Xu Baizhi saved An Xiaoning's number in her own mobile phone and sent her number to the latter as well.

An Xiaoning saved Xu Baizhi's number in her contacts.

”I'll be taking my leave now then.”

Xu Baizhi nodded and stared at An Xiaoning's silhouette from behind. If it weren't for the latter's facial features, Xu Baizhi would have really suspected her to be Mu Ning.

However, they looked far too different from each other to be the same person.

Apart from their voices, stature, and figure, they did not resemble each other at all. Besides, how could An Xiaoning, a person of status, possibly become a bodyguard in the Autumn Palace?

Bai Zhi looked away and continued to do the laundry.

——

Upon hearing footsteps approaching the dead-silent ancestral hall, Mo Li looked up to see a figure appearing at the door, which was opened.

It was none other than Ye Xiaotian.

She looked down at the ground, her eyes swollen and sore.

Ye Xiaotian walked toward her and said with a sigh, ”Come home with me.”

Mo Li remained still and asked, ”Are you going to make me give birth to the child?”

”Mo Li, Mother will hit the roof and go mad if you abort the child. You can tell just from the fact that she's locked you up in here. I'm stuck in a difficult position, like how I was when she threatened me against marrying you back then. She's been feeling ashamed about the fact that she doesn't have a single grandson at all. Years ago, my mother was diagnosed with uremia and had to have a kidney transplant. Her body seems to be experiencing tissue rejection now; her health is deteriorating, and so is her emotional health. I'm really afraid that she'll take her life because of this matter. If that happens, I'll have to live the rest of my life in regret. So, I'd like to fulfill her wishes now,” said Ye Xiaotian.

His words were like daggers to Mo Li's heart.

”You've chosen to abide by your mother's wishes, but what's going to happen to me? I thought we could finally live a peaceful life after we got married. In hindsight, we did have a blissful honeymoon phase, but that's about it. Things just went downhill afterward. If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to come back and marry you,” Mo Li retorted.

Ye Xiaotian's heart wrenched in misery. ”Are you regretting it now?”

”You force me to give in to you every single time. Am I allowed the rights to regret at all?”

”Come home with me,” he repeated.

As soon as he finished speaking, Mrs. Ye showed up at the door. She entered and said, ”Xiaotian, let her stay here until the child is born. I'll feed her and provide her with everything she needs. What's going to happen if you bring her home and she tries to abort the child?”

”Mother… I'll talk to Mo Li about it properly.”

”That won't do either! That's not as safe as keeping her here with my guards watching her round the clock,” Mrs. Ye objected vehemently.

Mo Li remained silent since there was nothing she could say.

In the end, she continued to be locked up in the ancestral hall while Ye Xiaotian left.

”You'd better be good and stay here to nurse your pregnancy. I won't force you against your will anymore once you give birth to the child,” said Mrs. Ye, trying to placate Mo Li's feelings.

Mrs. Ye took her silence for consent.

She then instructed the bodyguards to watch Mo Li closely before leaving.

Mo Li sat on the bed and stared blankly into space. Why were my blissful days so short-lived? she wondered.

Peace was bliss to her.

Don't all normal families lead a peaceful life?