Chapter 85: I Like You; Can We Be Together? / Husband, I Was Just a Little Scared Earlier

Yu Qing was somewhat drunk but still clear-headed. She got into Xu Xu’s car and buckled her seatbelt. Xu Xu’s phone lay casually on the console. It rang a few times, and Yu Qing instinctively glanced at it.

Since they cleared the air last time, their relationship had returned to that of friends. But sometimes when Yu Qing was with him, she couldn’t help but pay extra attention to his other activities.

Like the messages on his phone.

She turned her face away and looked out the window.

The window reflected his profile.

Xu Xu held the steering wheel, turning it as he said, “After the news about Wen Yang marrying Fu went out, Liu Yu must be panicking. She’ll come to you. No surprise—you’ve already suffered once. You still let it affect you?”

Yu Qing pursed her lips, feeling dizzy. She said, “She talks about feelings. How could I not be affected? I’m the one she brought up.”

“You’re still not confident enough.”

Xu Xu said.

Yu Qing pressed her lips tighter. “I am.”

Xu Xu listened and noticed she didn’t retort as usual. He glanced at her. Her short hair framed her face. Now, looking out the window with half her face hidden, her long lashes curled with mascara. Xu Xu said, “If you realize that, then accept it. Otherwise, you’ll fall into the same trap again.”

Yu Qing made a soft snort.

At last, she spoke back.

The car arrived at Tianyue. Xu Xu had the best gaming setup there. Recently, a company called Mobsters released a cyber boxing game playable on a projector; it was still in testing.

The game was mainly for stressed office workers to relax. It could be played solo or online. Yu Qing had seen it in Xu Xu’s social media before. After she sat on the sofa, Xu Xu opened a window, lit a cigarette, and walked over to pour her some water.

Yu Qing held the cup and sipped it, then picked up the remote to turn on the game.

Xu Xu sat beside her, moved the ashtray, bit his cigarette, and grabbed another remote. Yu Qing picked a female boxer in short shorts; Xu Xu casually chose a muscular male. Their characters stood facing each other.

Yu Qing instinctively glanced at Xu Xu.

He wore a short-sleeve shirt, his arm muscles and veins visible. Yu Qing gripped the remote and said, “Start.”

Xu Xu put down his cigarette on the ashtray and said, “Come on.”

They entered the game. Xu Xu was more skilled. Yu Qing’s tactic was to cheat and run—if she couldn’t win, she’d run away; but if cornered, she’d fight to the death.

Xu Xu slowed his fingers, not wanting to bother with her. Let her lose.

When Yu Qing won, she laughed triumphantly, took a sip of water. Xu Xu saw the pride in her eyes, picked up his remote, and said, “Again.”

This time he chose a mobster in a suit.

Yu Qing chose a woman in a red long dress. They faced each other, ready to fight. Yu Qing gripped her remote and was about to start when the two characters stood still, facing off, their clothes fluttering in the wind like a scene from a story.

The mobster raised his long leg and attacked the woman. Yu Qing immediately focused and tried to block the move.

The woman in red kept retreating.

The mobster’s attacks were brutal.

Yu Qing’s character’s health dropped quickly. She bit her teeth, staring at the screen, watching the two characters. For some reason, it felt like she was watching her relationship with Xu Xu.

Meanwhile,

Xu Xu’s phone rang several times again. It was WeChat messages coming in and hadn’t stopped since they got in the car.

Yu Qing gripped the remote and said, “Aren’t you going to reply? They keep messaging.”

Xu Xu glanced at the phone, deleted the chat, and put it down. Yu Qing caught a glimpse of the avatar—it was a glamorous woman. She asked, “Is she chasing you?”

Xu Xu was still playing, replying, “A client’s daughter. She wants to test the beta.”

“Is that all? Sounds like more than just beta testing, right?”

Yu Qing asked softly.

Xu Xu’s character trapped Yu Qing’s in a corner; the screen showed he won. He put down the remote and looked at her, asking, “So what?”

Yu Qing watched her character lose miserably. She turned to look at Xu Xu, meeting his eyes, and was silent for a moment.

After a while, she smiled, “Nothing. Just asking. Can’t even ask?”

Xu Xu reached for a cigarette and said, “Alright.”

The cigarette was lit, smoke curling around him. His side profile was sharp and defined. Yu Qing looked at him for a few seconds, and for some reason, a surge of impulse rose in her again—especially since his phone rang once more, another message from that person.

He bit the cigarette, picked up his phone, stared at it for a few seconds, then deleted the message. He really didn’t want to reply to those questions.

Yu Qing said, “Aren’t you afraid of offending others?”

Xu Xu: “Hmm, if I offend them, then so be it. Can they sue me?”

The next second,

the other party called directly.

Xu Xu took a sip of coffee. This time he couldn’t avoid it, so he picked up the phone and went toward the balcony. Yu Qing’s heart skipped a beat as she saw him answer. She touched her cup and drank absentmindedly.

He spoke harshly, “You send so many WeChat messages in one breath. How do you expect me to reply?”

“I told you, beta testing spots are limited. Just wait a bit. What’s the rush? Trying to reincarnate or something?”

The other party said something Yu Qing couldn’t hear clearly.

But obviously, it was friendly talk.

Yu Qing saw Xu Xu stop being harsh and said, “Then just wait, okay? Miss.”

Yu Qing put the cup down on the table.

Her mood was inexplicably restless.

Later, that girl called two more times, and Yu Qing, using the excuse that she was drunk, left Xu Xu’s house. That night, Yu Qing was sleepless. The next day she had dark circles under her eyes and sat in a chair sketching.

She absentmindedly picked up her phone and tapped on Wen Yang’s profile picture.

Wen Yang was going to Hong Kong with Fu Xingzhou today. Yu Qing typed and deleted messages in the chat box, finally erasing every last word.

After a while, she asked her assistant to pour her a cup of coffee. After drinking it and feeling more clear-headed, she picked up the phone again and sent a message to Wen Yang.

Yu Qing: Yang Bao, have you arrived in Hong Kong?

Wen Yang: Just got here.

Yu Qing: Last night I asked you to come out and drink with me.

Wen Yang: It’s okay. Are you feeling better today?

Yu Qing: Mm, better.

Wen Yang: That’s good.

Yu Qing hesitated a moment, then edited her message: Yang Bao, I want to confess to Xu Xu.

Wen Yang was stunned for a moment, then immediately asked: Do you still like him? Want to try?

Yu Qing nodded: Yes, I want to try.

Yu Qing: Just want to try again. I failed last time, but I still want to try.

Wen Yang: If you want to try, then go for it. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Yu Qing: Mm.

But after telling Wen Yang, Yu Qing lost her courage again. Time dragged on until at Wen Yang’s wedding, hearing Aunt Qiu sing “For You,” seeing Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou exchange rings, and unexpectedly receiving the butterfly knot herself, Yu Qing faced Wen Yang’s encouraging glance, verbally protesting “No, no, no,”

but instinctively glanced sideways at Xu Xu down below.

During the banquet, they sat at two different tables. Yu Qing carried a wine glass over to help Wen Yang fend off some drinks, then ended up sitting next to Xu Xu. He was drinking with Fu Yan, smiling faintly. Smoking wasn’t allowed here, and he pressed his elbow on his cigarette pack. Yu Qing noticed and helped pull it out, making a bit of a noise that made Xu Xu glance back. Yu Qing felt her ears flush.

She smiled and said, “Your cigarette pack is all squashed.”

Xu Xu glanced at the pack and said, “I thought it was the tablecloth falling, you pulled so hard.”

“Who pulled hard? I was very gentle, okay?”

Yu Qing, dressed in a bridesmaid’s dress, picked up the wine glass and took a sip. Xu Xu smiled, poured her some wine, then resumed drinking with Fu Yan. Up front, Wen Yang, in her formal toasting dress, stood with Fu Xingzhou by her mother-in-law’s table. Fu Xingzhou gently held Wen Yang’s waist. Wen Yang drank and looked back at Fu Xingzhou, saying something quietly. Fu Xingzhou lowered his eyes and listened.

Yu Qing raised the glass Xu Xu poured and drank, listening to his conversation with Fu Yan, her heart pounding.

Later she heard him say he planned to travel for three months. After the cyber boxing game launched, he’d be free. Yu Qing put down her glass, feeling relieved.

She muttered, “Being a boss is nice. You can just go out whenever you want.”

Xu Xu picked up some food and glanced at her: “You can do that too.”

Yu Qing looked at him: “I’m not as free as you are.”

Xu Xu hummed and said, “Right. Weren’t you planning to go to France? Didn’t go in the end?”

Yu Qing: “Too busy, had to participate in competitions. No time to go.”

Xu Xu: “Well, next time then.”

Yu Qing glanced at his phone, messages still coming in one after another. It seemed her courage was used up at this moment. Then she won the Flower Room competition, taking first prize. The city planned to hand the Flower Room project to their team. Yu Qing held the blueprints, thinking to keep busy so the three months would fly by.

But who knew?

Later, on social media, she saw him traveling northwest, flying back from Iceland, then going northwest again. His trip lasted more than three months, and he was set to leave again for another month. Yu Qing rolled her eyes at the posts.

When she finished work, she wanted to travel farther herself.

Maybe she had summoned too much courage. When Xu Xu finally returned to Nancheng—his main company was in Licheng, but he liked living in Nancheng—after his travels, he first went to Licheng, then back to Nancheng. Yu Qing didn’t rush to meet him. They often messaged, but she never mentioned a word.

Until that spring.

Yu Qing got off work late, bought some liquor, and drove to Tianyue.

She sat by the flower bed and called him. Ten minutes later, Xu Xu came down, dressed all in black. He sat beside her, glanced at her, and asked, “Done with work?”

Yu Qing opened a bottle of baijiu and handed it to him.

Xu Xu raised his eyebrows and took it, “Work giving you trouble again?”

Yu Qing’s own bottle was small, also baijiu. She opened it, took a sip, and looked at him, saying, “Time flies fast, doesn’t it?”

Xu Xu looked at her, “Yeah, it does.”

Yu Qing looked up at the sky, “Yang Yang’s already pregnant. Thinking back to that year when she and I were still high school students.”

Xu Xu drank and listened, “And then?”

“Then time just flies by,”

Yu Qing smiled and took another sip of the drink, turning to look at him.

Xu Xu lowered his head to light a cigarette, smoke curling up to his eyebrows. When he didn’t speak, he looked very handsome; but once he opened his mouth, it was annoying. Yu Qing thought for a moment and said, “I like you. Can we be together?”

Xu Xu’s fingertips paused—perhaps a little sudden.

Yu Qing looked at his face for a long time.

A long time passed before Xu Xu finally looked up. He met Yu Qing’s eyes. Her hair had grown a bit, reaching her shoulders. Today she wasn’t wearing makeup—her bare face was still beautiful.

Xu Xu looked at her for a few seconds and said, “Sorry.”

“I’m still not ready.”

This time he directly rejected her.

Yu Qing stared at him in shock for a long, long time before she smiled and said, “I guessed the outcome. You don’t like me.”

“That’s not it.”

“I do have feelings, but it’s not enough to be together.”

Xu Xu picked up his drink and took a sip.

Yu Qing stared at him for a while. Some people can be so cruel even when they reject someone. She forced a smile and said, “Even if you don’t say it, I know why.”

Xu Xu didn’t say a word.

They both knew why.

They just never mentioned it to each other.

They drank quite a bit, and Yu Qing got drunk. She stayed in good spirits, but only when she got into the car with the designated driver heading home did tears begin to fall.

As the car neared her residence,

Yu Qing asked the driver to change location and drove on to Huafu.

Huafu was very quiet at night. The café softly played pleasant music. Yu Qing, still smelling of alcohol, sat down at the café’s entrance and called Wen Yang.

Wen Yang was working on sketches. Hearing something was wrong with Yu Qing’s voice, she put down her computer, put on a coat, went downstairs, and immediately saw Yu Qing sitting by the café door. She hurried over.

Yu Qing was still crying. When she saw Wen Yang coming, she pulled out a chair. Wen Yang sat down, supporting her belly, looked at her, and tugged her hand, “What’s wrong?”

Yu Qing looked at her, tears still streaming. Wen Yang waved to the waiter to bring some tissues. She tore off a few and wiped Yu Qing’s face, “Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Yu Qing let Wen Yang wipe her tears, holding her hand and sobbing, “I told him. He rejected me.”

Wen Yang’s fingers paused, then she continued wiping. “Did you ask why?”

Yu Qing bit her lip: “No. He said it wasn’t at the stage to be together.”

Wen Yang listened.

Wen Yang didn’t really know Xu Xu well. She rarely spent time alone with him. Her knowledge of him came mostly from Yu Qing and Cheng Yanyu. Yu Qing’s interactions with him increased gradually after that house design project. But last time, when Yu Qing said she wasn’t ready, that was a mutual decision between them.

Now, a long time had passed.

Wen Yang kept wiping Yu Qing’s tears and softly said, “If he clearly rejected you, then shall we just give up? Is that okay?”

Yu Qing looked into Wen Yang’s gentle eyes, nodded with tears falling, “Okay. But it still hurts. Actually, when he said he wasn’t ready last time, there were already signs, right?”

Wen Yang said, “You weren’t ready either. You were the same. Only now you’ve mustered the courage, but he hasn’t thought about these things again.”

Yu Qing nodded: “Exactly. After all this time, he hasn’t fallen for me. He doesn’t want to spend his life with me.”

Wen Yang felt genuine pain hearing that and reached out to hug Yu Qing.

Yu Qing leaned in, but felt the baby moving inside Wen Yang’s belly—kicking her once. Yu Qing looked down at Wen Yang’s belly and said, “Is the little one kicking you a lot?”

Wen Yang followed her gaze and said, “Yes, it’s been pretty active lately.”

Yu Qing touched Wen Yang’s belly: “So amazing.”

Wen Yang wiped away Yu Qing’s tears, held her, and said, “Let’s keep moving forward.”

Yu Qing looked into Wen Yang’s eyes and nodded.

“Okay.”

She could only keep moving forward.

Just then Fu Xingzhou returned. Yu Qing had been drinking and couldn’t drive, so Jiang Yue gave her a ride home. Watching the black car leave, Fu Xingzhou gently wrapped his arm around Wen Yang’s waist as they walked into the residential complex.

Wen Yang looked up at him and said, “Yu Qing confessed to Xu Xu. Xu Xu rejected her.”

Fu Xingzhou listened and said, “Still young. No need to be fixated on one person.”

Wen Yang said, “That’s what I told her too.”

Going upstairs, Fu Xingzhou poured Wen Yang some milk. Wen Yang held it, sipping gently. Fu Xingzhou pulled her into his arms. Wen Yang sat on his lap and slowly drank the milk. She looked at Fu Xingzhou, “Honey, if you know anyone good, introduce them to Yu Qing.”

Fu Xingzhou stroked her hair and nodded, “Okay, I’ll ask Jiang Yue to keep an eye out.”

Wen Yang drank her milk.

Fu Xingzhou rubbed her waist—she’d been having soreness lately. His palm rested on her belly, and the baby kicked his hand. Wen Yang smiled and hugged his neck, “He’s kicking you.”

Fu Xingzhou’s lips curved slightly, “Mm.”

He looked up and kissed her lips.

Wen Yang was more sensitive in late pregnancy, so intimacy was more frequent. She enjoyed this feeling. The doctor said it was okay to do so moderately, though Fu Xingzhou couldn’t fully indulge; mostly, he pleased her.

As they kissed,

Wen Yang’s whole body grew warm. She hooked her arms around his neck, clearly showing her desire.

Fu Xingzhou held her and gradually pleased her.

—

A couple of days later,

Wen Yang was about to give birth. The contractions became obvious, and Fu Xingzhou immediately took her to the hospital. They had already booked a suite, fully equipped. Soon after checking in, several chief physicians and professors came to assess the situation. Because her water had broken, a C-section was necessary. When entering the operating room, Fu Xingzhou took off his coat.

Jiang Yue parked the car and came up as well.

The elderly lady, Qiu Pei, hurried over. Yu Qing also rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news. Tao Li, Zhu Yun, and Wen Li were on the high-speed train. Knowing Wen Yang’s due date was in two days, they had already bought tickets. Unexpectedly, Wen Yang went into labor early. They dropped their luggage and hurried to the hospital, where the waiting room outside the OR was packed.

Fu Xingzhou donned sterile clothing and entered to accompany Wen Yang.

Wen Yang didn’t expect him to come and was stunned for a second. Fu Xingzhou took her hand and bent down to kiss her forehead.

Wen Yang held his hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm.

She whispered, “Honey, I was a little scared just now.”

Fu Xingzhou replied softly, “I know.”

Wen Yang said, “Luckily you came.”

Fu Xingzhou kissed her forehead again.

The couple waited. Wen Yang’s thoughts were scattered—so husbands can come in during surgery after all. She wondered what it would feel like to have your flesh cut without anesthesia. Had the baby come out yet?

She was nervous.

Fu Xingzhou was also a bit nervous, a feeling he hadn’t experienced for many years, indescribable in words. Then they heard the baby’s cry. A nurse was holding the baby nearby, handling things, and smilingly informed Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou, “Mr. Fu, Mrs. Fu, it’s a boy.”

Wen Yang tightened her grip.

Fu Xingzhou responded rationally to the nurse, “Thank you.”

He lowered his gaze toward Wen Yang.

Wen Yang smiled helplessly and said, “My mom was right.”

At four months, Zhu Yun had called, saying this baby was likely a boy. Wen Yang had prepared girl clothes and argued with her on the phone.

Fu Xingzhou quietly said, “Either way is fine.”

Wen Yang smiled, “Mm.”

She looked at him and tugged on his hand.

Fu Xingzhou bent down, and Wen Yang kissed his cheek. He was momentarily stunned; his heart sped up. Seeing the smile in her eyes, he bent down and gently sucked her lips once, not even caring that they were in the operating room.

“Wife, you’ve worked hard.”

Wen Yang softly replied, “Mm.”

The next period was long as well. After the couple saw the baby, he was taken away again. Wen Yang smelled the disinfectant in the air and held Fu Xingzhou’s hand tightly.

Fu Xingzhou tenderly touched her face. Witnessing everything she had gone through to give birth made him ache inside.

After a long time,

Wen Yang grew drowsy and finally recovered.

The baby was brought back, nestled by her side. Wen Yang’s fingertips gently touched the baby’s face. She glanced at Fu Xingzhou, who smiled faintly, looking both at the baby and her.

Then, they left the operating room together.

Outside, everyone rushed over anxiously when they saw them come out. Yu Qing stepped forward and said, “The baby is so cute! I want to be the godmother.”

Wen Yang smiled, “Sure.”

Yu Qing held the baby’s small hand. The elderly lady and others gathered around too. Fu Xingzhou turned to thank the chief doctor. Wen Yang watched Jiang Yue and Yu Qing standing close, both looking at the baby.

Yu Qing was happy and chatted with Jiang Yue, “Those eyes are so pretty.”

Jiang Yue nodded, “Yeah, just like the wife’s.”

“Oh my, how can there be such a beautiful baby?” Yu Qing said, “But Yang Bao is even cuter.”

Wen Yang listened as they talked quietly. She paused, reached out to hold Fu Xingzhou’s hand. Fu Xingzhou followed her gaze and understood. He bent down to listen as she spoke softly. Wen Yang asked, “Does Secretary Jiang have a girlfriend?”

Fu Xingzhou brushed her hair aside and said softly, “No. You rest well first. I know what you mean.”

Their eyes met, and Wen Yang blinked with a smile.

Fu Xingzhou really wanted to kiss her again.

But there were many people around.

After they were pushed into the suite, Zhu Yun and Elder Qiu Pei were giving instructions by the hospital bed. It was already nighttime. Wen Yang’s phone vibrated beside her. She reached for it and answered softly. On the other end, after hearing her voice, there was no reply. After a few seconds, the call was hung up. Fu Xingzhou looked at the phone in her hand.

He reached out and took it, asking, “Who was it?”

Wen Yang met his eyes and shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Fu Xingzhou glanced down; the number was from the Northwest region. He promptly blocked it.

—

At the same time,

On the grasslands in the Northwest, a group was drinking. Cheng Yanyu leaned back in his chair, holding his phone loosely at his side. The photographer, Luo Gan, sat next to him with a beer bottle in hand.

“Xiao Cheng’s drunk? You’re drinking a lot now that your stomach is better.”

Cheng Yanyu gave a soft “mm.”

His head was bowed, not looking up.

Luo Gan looked at his phone screen, “Who are you calling?”

Cheng Yanyu didn’t answer. Wearing his outdoor jacket, he kept his head down, heavily drunk, dialing the one number he most wanted to call—and unconsciously heard that voice on the other end.

Sansukini: Dear Readers, because I had to purchase the novel to access all the chapters, chapters 86 to 98 will only be available on Ko-fi via donations. You only need to donate once to access all the chapters. As I am still processing and translating them, the would not be available all at once yet. But, I think that if you have already donated on my ko-fi page before, you would be able to access the chapters already.

Chapter 86-98 on Ko-Fi