574. Sensitive and Fragile
“Mom! Go home already!”
“Why do you hang around my house every day? I’m pregnant, but I’m not bedridden with no hands or feet!”
Ning Chu had never been angry with her mother, even back when her mom hoped she would marry someone from a good family instead of Wen Yang. She’d only argued back with a firm, “I won’t marry anyone but Wen Yang.”
But today, she boldly lost her temper at her mother.
Her mother turned to look at her in shock, a fleeting look of disappointment in her eyes, quickly replaced by a gentle smile. “Okay, okay, I’ll finish cleaning and then leave?”
The sudden anger came and went as quickly as a flash; when Ning Chu saw her mother’s brief sadness, her anger evaporated, replaced by a thick wave of guilt.
She opened her mouth but couldn’t utter an apology, instead, she slumped on the sofa, curling up into a ball.
Morning sickness had hit her hard since week six of her pregnancy, and its power exceeded her imagination.
Her emotions were like a rollercoaster; one moment she was playfully laughing, and the next she was sulking with a dark cloud over her head. She felt mentally exhausted—more than ten hours of sleep a day didn’t seem to offer any true rest.
Nausea and gagging became her norm. Facing sumptuous meals every day made them impossible to swallow, forcing her to choke down as much as she could.
The meticulous care and strict rules at home not only made it hard for her to adapt but also piled on the pressure.
“Mom…”
When she spoke again, her voice trembled with a sob.
She rarely cried, but these days the tears just wouldn’t stop, and she felt like a melodramatic mess no one could bear to watch.
“What’s wrong? Don’t stress so much; just talk to me if you have something on your mind.”
Her mother set the mop down and sat beside her, gently wrapping her arms around her skinny shoulders for comfort.
“I feel so tired…”
“How about letting Wen Yang take a day off to come back?”
“That would interfere too much with his work.”
Ning Chu collapsed into her mother’s embrace. Once a strong woman, she now felt as fragile as a porcelain doll, her hair a tangled mess against her cheek, exuding an aura that made one want to protect her.
“Am I getting annoying?”
Without hesitation, she replied, “No.”
Her mother could see right through her insincerity, but didn’t press the issue. She calmly helped to smooth out the messy hair, tying it up into a ponytail with a hair tie.
It seemed her hair wasn’t as smooth as before.
“I’ve finished cleaning, and now I’m going to book your wedding banquet at the hotel. How does 2,600 per table sound? We’re expecting about seven or eight tables of guests.”
“Uh-huh…”
“Don’t think about so much stuff; play some games instead. Wasn’t your bedroom revamped just for gaming?”
“No way, it’s for the baby.”
For the first time, her mother suggested Ning Chu unwind with some gaming, a stark contrast to her usual disdain for it.
Once her mom left, the house fell silent.
Ning Chu stared blankly at the movie playing on the projector, her mood stabilizing a bit compared to earlier.
She began habitually stroking her belly, lifting her shirt to look at the silvery stretch marks on her abdomen, as if she could see a life growing inside her.
Her mother hadn’t been gone long when a sound at the front door interrupted her thoughts.
With a beep, the electronic lock clicked, and Wen Yang stepped into the living room carrying a three-layer cheeseburger.
“Wifey! Come eat this burger! It’s a triple cheeser!”
Ning Chu lifted her head in a daze.
Her eyes were red-rimmed and glistening, her skin looked dull, and a new pimple had popped up on her otherwise fair forehead, making her look like a wilted flower.
Wen Yang felt a pang in his heart.
Still sporting his usual cheerful grin, he trotted over. “Aren’t you craving a burger? I specially bought this for you.”
“Not hungry, too greasy.”
Ning Chu mumbled and glanced at the wall clock.
“It’s only five; did you take a day off?”
Because her mother said her mood had worsened, Wen Yang had taken a last-minute leave and rushed back.
It was said that rising pregnancy hormones and imbalances could affect emotional stability, and combined with anxiety about the baby, it could easily lead to a pregnant woman spiraling into depression.
But Wen Yang shook his head. “Nah, the company was dead today, nothing to do, so I thought I’d come home early to keep you company.”
“Want to try a bite of the burger? It’s from a new American burger joint.”
“Sure.”
He held the burger to her lips, and Ning Chu couldn’t refuse any longer, taking a small bite.
The rich, calorie-laden goodness actually brightened her mood. After one bite, she squinted her eyes with a smile. “So good!”
“Another bite? But don’t eat too much; this one’s enough calories for your whole day.”
“Ah~”
She tried to open her mouth wide, and Wen Yang squished the burger so she could stuff her cheeks full like a hamster.
After some effort to chew and swallow, she shook her head. “You finish it; I’m a bit full now.”
“I’m full too.”
That said, Wen Yang polished off the burger in under two minutes.
Like a magician, he pulled a can of cola from his briefcase, taking big gulps to wash down the greasiness.
Seeing the cola made Ning Chu’s eyes light up; she wanted to sneak a sip but held back her pregnant self from asking.
“I’m going to the bathroom and shower; I’ll change my clothes,” he said, setting down the half-finished cola. “It’s getting hotter; I’m sweating just from walking a few steps outside.”
“Exactly, go wash up already.”
Ning Chu couldn’t take her eyes off the cola, practically glued to it.
She hadn’t had any drinks for months! Since starting to prepare for pregnancy, her most “unhealthy” drink had been some almost sugar-free homemade milk tea, which she had to sneak.
Wen Yang stepped into the bathroom to shower. The moment she heard the door close, Ning Chu couldn’t wait any longer. She grabbed the cola and cautiously took a couple of sips.
The bubbly fizz tickled her tongue, the cold refreshment sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh.
She didn’t dare drink too much and quickly placed the cola back down. If she overdid it, she might get caught.
Just a taste is fine~
When Wen Yang returned, his little ploy quickly lifted Ning Chu’s spirits. She stopped spacing out like a dazed fish and happily switched to a comedic movie.
“Wen Yang, are we going shopping tonight?”
From the living room, Ning Chu called out from the sofa.
Wen Yang’s voice came back quickly from the bathroom. “Aren’t you worried it’ll be hot? Where are we even going?”
“It won’t be hot by eight or nine! Just a little walk~”
“Alright!”
A quick shower took no time at all. Wen Yang emerged shortly after with damp hair, dressed in a short-sleeve shirt and shorts.
He glanced over at the cola on the coffee table and teased, “Did you steal a sip?”
“No,” Ning Chu blurted, pouting and shaking her head. “How could I steal a sip?”
Even though the can hadn’t moved, Wen Yang saw right through her little trick, but he didn’t mind, casually tossing the towel aside and asking, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
“Weren’t we just eating?”
Ning Chu pursed her lips and mumbled, “Honey, I kind of snapped at Mom earlier…”
She was still overly concerned about what had happened before.
“Mom won’t mind; I can apologize for you next time.”
“Better if I handle it myself…”
