"Child?" Madam Xiang chuckled, "I'm afraid our good daughter-in-law can't have children."
Shu Nian's face turned pale.
The old lady was shocked. “What’s going on?”
After saying that, he felt that his question was too abrupt and forced out an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, I asked too much. This is all private. I'm an outsider and shouldn't ask about it."
In fact, I felt like there were ants crawling in my heart. I was extremely curious, extremely curious.
If she really couldn't get an answer today, she would definitely suffer from insomnia when she returned home.
However, Mrs. Xiang did not feel offended at all. Instead, she smiled and tried to answer the old lady's question. Unexpectedly, another calm voice spoke first: "Mrs. Xiang is right. There is a high probability that I will not be able to have children in the future. When I was 18, I had an ectopic pregnancy. The rescue was not timely, and half of my fallopian tube was cut off."
As soon as Shu Nian said this, not only Madam Xiang, but even the old man and the old lady's expressions changed to varying degrees.
When the old lady heard her say that she couldn't have children, she felt very sympathetic. As a woman herself, she knew how painful it was for a woman to not have children. But after hearing the following sentence...
The old man asked coldly, "18 years old, you were still in high school then, right?"
"That's right. So, she was persuaded to drop out of school, and now she doesn't even have a high school diploma!" Mrs. Xiang's tone was full of ridicule. This woman would not be a member of their Xiang family anyway, but she couldn't run away with Ye Yan. Once she had any relationship with the Bai and Ye families, sooner or later she would be suppressed by them, how could that be!
The old man's face looked even worse. He didn't say a word and just drank some water.
Shu Nian sat there, looking a little dazed.
She felt as if she had returned to five years ago, back to the stage with more than 3,000 judges. She had done nothing wrong, but she had to accept everyone's criticism.
After a while, she finally stood up and said calmly: "There are still many sheets waiting for me to wash in the hospital, so I won't accompany you for dinner."
His tone remained calm throughout. He picked up the bag, bowed slightly to the two elders opposite him, and without paying any attention to what they said, he walked out.
Before the door of the box was completely closed, Madam Xiang said, "Madam, I advise you to go back and persuade Young Master Ye. Don't be seduced by her! Our Mu Yang was deceived by her appearance at the beginning, and he only saw through her after they got married."
"It's our Ye Yan who is too ignorant. Madam Xiang, we should apologize to you."
"No, no. Master Ye is just playing around. How could he really like a woman like this?"
The old lady sighed. This girl was not the kind of child who looked ignorant.
Neither of the two old men said anything else. Shu Nian could feel that there were inquiring eyes cast at her back. She straightened her back stubbornly, closed the door, and never looked back.
———
The weather is great.
The afternoon sun is somewhat dazzling.
Shu Nian carried her bag and walked aimlessly on the street like a wandering soul. Before her wounds were torn open and salt was rubbed in her heart, she cruelly exposed all her pain, thinking that it would hurt less and that she would no longer have any weaknesses that could be attacked by others.
But, until now, she found...
It won't get any better.
Even after five years, the painful area not only did not heal, but also became ulcerated and festered...
She had been so optimistic before that she would let go of everything and embrace someone with an open heart if they were willing to give her warmth. However, at this moment, she realized that this world is not a straight line. There are too many entanglements and bumps in life.
The more warmth Ye Yan can give her, the more ties he will bring to her.
He may not care about her past, but he can never erase it in front of his family.
——
After work, Shu Nian went home as usual. As soon as he got home, he helped Aunt Gui in the kitchen.
"Shu Nian, Nian Nian?"
Aunt Gui called out twice before she came back to her senses, "Huh?"
"What happened to you? Look, the water is overflowing." Aunt Gui quickly turned off the faucet. Shu Nian looked and saw a puddle of water on the ground. She sighed. Aunt Gui muttered, "This water pipe has been blocked for two days. The plumber said he would come, but he didn't come. If it continues to be blocked, there will be no way to wash it."
"I'll go get the mop." Shu Nian said, and took the mop to mop the floor.
Aunt Gui looked at her twice, a little worried, "Are you worried about something? I noticed you've been distracted since you came back."
Shu Nian smiled softly and shook his head, "... No."
Aunt Gui knew what kind of personality she had. Ever since her mother left them, she had always been used to bearing all the bitterness and pain in her heart alone. She had suffered more than anyone else in the past few years.
Aunt Gui looked outside and said in a low voice, "Your father babbled to me for a long time today. I understood what he said."
"What did you say?"
"Ask me when you will return to Xiang's home! Don't say your dad is sensitive, he will see problems sooner or later. It's been so long, and Mu Yang hasn't come to see your dad. It's not appropriate to say he's busy."
Shu Nian's hand holding the mop tightened a little, and looked at Aunt Gui, "Xiang Muyang and I are discussing divorce."
Aunt Gui was shocked.
Cover her mouth quickly.
He looked outside carefully again, "Just tell me this, don't tell your dad! You know, ever since your mom passed away, your dad hates divorces the most. If he knew, he would be so angry that he would pass out again."
"I know." Shu Nian's expression was gloomy. "I will keep it a secret from my dad. When he gets better, I will move out. He won't find out."
"Where are you moving to?"
"I'll find a small house to live in when the time comes. It's just for emergency use. But I have to wait until I finish my exams before I can decide on this."
Aunt Gui was worried and looked at Shu Nian for a long time. "Is there nothing left for you two to talk about? Do you really have to get a divorce?"
Shu Nian shook his head, "There's nothing to talk about."
The tone was decisive and firm, leaving no room for maneuver.
Aunt Gui didn't say anything else, just sighed.
———
During this period, Ye Yan and Xiang Muyang both called her. The two of them, as if they had discussed it beforehand, kept calling each other happily.
Shu Nian didn't answer any of them.
She knew that the two of them must be fighting to the death in the business world.
She didn't want to know what Xiang Muyang was like. She already felt a little disgusted by Madam Xiang's expression in front of the two elders of the Bai family that day.
As for Ye Yan...
She knew that with his personality, he would never let himself lose.