Cheng Zhanya felt as though she had slept for an extraordinarily long time.
She had a dream.
In the dream, there was a little girl.
The child was exquisitely lovely, her hair tied into twin ponytails with cute princess curls cascading down. She wore a pink princess dress, her big expressive eyes sparkling above chubby, rosy cheeks so tender they melted the heart at first sight.
Cheng Zhanya approached slowly, scarcely daring to breathe.
She was afraid of startling the Little One.
The little girl was playing with dolls, carefully dressing them in tiny outfits. Her serious little face was utterly adorable, her brows furrowing now and then as if deep in thought over the designs.
The closer Cheng Zhanya drew, the more familiar the child seemed.
She halted in her tracks.
As if sensing her presence, the little girl lifted her head, her expression bewildered. In the next instant, Cheng Zhanya heard her call out.
“Mommy~”
She looked exactly like Lin Hanbing.
A pint-sized version of Lin Hanbing.
No wonder she had seemed so familiar. Was this Lin Hanbing as a child? But why was she calling Cheng Zhanya “Mommy”?
Cheng Zhanya’s mind went blank for a moment. She stood stunned before realization dawned: this was her daughter.
Her daughter with Lin Hanbing.
But she was only six months along. How could the baby already be born?
Premature birth?!
Six months was far too early.
Cheng Zhanya prayed fervently for the child not to arrive so soon.
Terror gripped her. She reached out to embrace her daughter, but the Little One dissolved like a soap bubble, fading away like a wisp of smoke.
She vanished in moments.
All around stretched an endless white void, devoid of any soul.
Cheng Zhanya remained alone, searching frantically.
She felt utterly helpless, gripped by fear.
She called her daughter’s name over and over, yearning for her to reappear and call her “Mommy” once more.
“Chengcheng—”
Cheng Zhanya cried out, jolting awake from the dream.
A sharp pain stabbed the back of her hand. She glanced down and saw blood backflowing from the IV needle, staining half the tube crimson.
Her child!
Cheng Zhanya looked down at her belly.
It was still rounded and full.
The Little One was growing steadily inside her. Recalling the earlier agony, Cheng Zhanya felt a chill of lingering dread.
Lin Hanbing clasped the hand without the needle, her face etched with exhaustion, as if she hadn’t slept in days—ten days and nights of defeat weighing on her.
Sensing Cheng Zhanya’s awakening, she swiftly pressed the call bell.
The doctors arrived promptly.
Two female physicians gave Cheng Zhanya a quick examination and nodded. The intern doctor behind them scribbled notes, the scratch of pen on paper echoing sharply in the quiet room.
“The patient is out of immediate danger. She just needs plenty of rest.”
“We’ll keep her for observation a few more days. Avoid any more stress if possible—pregnant women are especially sensitive. Please take this seriously.”
As the doctor spoke, she adjusted the IV drip rate and said gently, “Try not to move. Backflow like that hurts a lot.”
“Understood,” Lin Hanbing replied.
At those words, Cheng Zhanya’s pain sharpened.
Perhaps some residual ache lingered in her belly, a dull throb that somewhat overshadowed the sting in her hand.
Remembering her dream, her breath hitched.
Then she let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
Dreams were the opposite of reality. Her child would be born safe and sound, growing up surrounded by love.
She would become a beautifully refined girl just like the one in the dream.
Sweetly calling her “Mommy.”
“Was it a nightmare?”
Cheng Zhanya hadn’t concealed her distress; she nodded.
Assured that the baby was fine, she relaxed.
She turned slowly toward Lin Hanbing and noticed that Hanbing was still in her thin pajamas, her face gaunt with fatigue. A dried stain marred the hem of her shirt.
Blood?
Cheng Zhanya couldn’t be sure.
“Aren’t you cold?” she asked.
Gazing at Lin Hanbing’s disheveled state filled Cheng Zhanya with heartache and a touch of irritation.
She had never seen Lin Hanbing so undone.
It simply didn’t suit her.
In Cheng Zhanya’s eyes, Lin Hanbing was always impeccably neat and elegant, never allowing herself to appear so vulnerable before others.
She must have been frightened too.
But Lin Hanbing was only human. It was perfectly normal to be scared in a situation like this.
Cheng Zhanya shifted bit by bit, trying to make room for Lin Hanbing to join her. But the moment she moved, Lin Hanbing’s voice cut in sharply. “Don’t move.”
Pretending not to hear, Cheng Zhanya cleared a space and patted the bed. “Come on up and get some sleep.”
The bed was plenty large for both of them.
Lin Hanbing’s heart softened, but she shook her head. “No need.”
She was afraid of accidentally hurting Cheng Zhanya.
“What was the dream about?” Lin Hanbing asked.
Cheng Zhanya didn’t press the issue and didn’t slide back to her original spot. After a pause, she said softly, “I dreamed about Chengcheng.”
“She’s so beautiful.”
“She looks just like you.”
Cheng Zhanya smiled as she spoke, her hand never ceasing its gentle strokes over her belly. “What am I going to do? I can’t wait for her to be born.”
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
Silence fell between them. With perfect understanding, neither mentioned the events of the previous night.
A bit of color returned to Cheng Zhanya’s cheeks as she fondly caressed her belly.
The room was a private suite, containing only the two of them.
The afternoon sun was stunning, its orange-red light filtering through clouds layered like fluffy, delectable cotton candy across the sky.
It was a sight to soothe the soul.
“Beautiful,” Cheng Zhanya murmured, gazing out the window.
“Mm.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
Lin Hanbing echoed her agreement, though her eyes remained fixed on Cheng Zhanya.
She cared little for anything beyond that.
Ruffling Cheng Zhanya’s hair, she added, “You haven’t eaten all day. Hungry?”
Cheng Zhanya was restricted to liquids for now.
Lin Hanbing’s heart ached unbearably.
Why did she have to endure such torment? No more pregnancies after this.
She resolved silently in her mind.
“I’m starving!” Cheng Zhanya said, her voice tinged with grievance.
Of course she was.
She felt like she might faint from hunger.
“I want your cooking.”
“I want… the soup you simmer.”
“I want to go home.”
“Not yet.”
Lin Hanbing leaned in to kiss her chapped lips. “Be good and have some water.”
Cheng Zhanya bit her lip. “I don’t want to be good.”
“I really want to go home.”
“Just a little longer.” Lin Hanbing knew she couldn’t indulge her now and coaxed gently to steady her emotions. “The baby’s still so fragile.”
“Let’s hang in there, okay? You’re not ready to move around yet.”
“But…” Cheng Zhanya’s head drooped weakly.
She seemed utterly deflated, limp and lifeless, as if her spirit had fled.
Lin Hanbing’s phone rang suddenly. An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen, its cheerful melody lightening the tense air just a fraction.
Another unknown caller.
This was Lin Hanbing’s private phone.
Why were there so many strangers calling? Cheng Zhanya couldn’t fathom it.
Recalling the previous incident, and feeling a bit willful, she asked outright without holding back. “Who is it?”
“How do they have your private number?”
Lin Hanbing glanced at her, smiled, and answered right there in front of Cheng Zhanya, putting it on speaker.
“Hello, your delivery has arrived downstairs. Shall I send it up?”
“Yes, room 416. Thank you.”
The call ended.
Lin Hanbing’s eyes still held a smile as she explained unhurriedly, “It’s the delivery.”
“What is it?” Cheng Zhanya persisted.
She was being a touch unreasonable, but she couldn’t help it.
“You’ll see when it gets here,” Lin Hanbing said mysteriously.
“…”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a knock sounded at the door.
They exchanged a glance. Lin Hanbing chuckled and rose to answer it.
The delivery was elegantly packaged, brought by a dedicated courier.
Though Lin Hanbing shut the door quickly, Cheng Zhanya caught sight of the label.
Youxin Egg Yolk Crisps.
From the shop they had passed last night.
Cheng Zhanya’s eyes lit up with surprise. “How did you know about this place?”
They had driven right by it last night; Lin Hanbing couldn’t possibly have seen it.
How had she ordered?
“Is this the egg yolk crisps you wanted last night?” Lin Hanbing asked.
Cheng Zhanya nodded eagerly, her whole face brightening. “Yes! The rabbit-shaped ones.”
“The rabbit design is their signature item.”
Lin Hanbing delivered the harsh truth. “But you still can’t have any.”
“Why not?!”
“No particular reason—your condition won’t allow it right now. Liquids only.”
“So you knew I couldn’t eat solids. Why order them anyway?”
Cheng Zhanya was at a loss for words.
She scowled, a hint of resentment creeping in toward Lin Hanbing.
“Are you doing this out of spite? Getting back at me for putting you through hell lately?”
Lin Hanbing burst out laughing and admitted frankly, “Yes.”
“You—”
It was too much.
Faced with Lin Hanbing’s perfectly justified expression, Cheng Zhanya itched with fury.
She glared at her, grinding her teeth.
Yet she was powerless against her.
Fine.
Cheng Zhanya laughed in exasperation, already plotting her revenge for next time.
She licked her lips, her hunger gnawing anew.
Lin Hanbing had placed the Rabbit Egg Yolk Crisps right on the bedside table. A faint milky fragrance wafted through the air, utterly tantalizing, and all Cheng Zhanya could do was stare and swallow hard.
“Be good, Yaya. You can have some soon.”
“You’re sick!” Cheng Zhanya snapped, nearly cursing.
Lin Hanbing knew full well she couldn’t eat them.
She had bought them anyway.
And set them in the most prominent spot.
Cheng Zhanya couldn’t comprehend it. She decided Lin Hanbing was deranged.
She was thoroughly incensed.
But her hunger forced submission. On the verge of tears from grievance, she whimpered, “I’m so hungry.”
“The porridge will be here any second.”
What perfect timing.
Just as she spoke, another knock came at the door.
Lin Hanbing gazed at her with a smile and announced calmly, “It’s here.”
Cheng Zhanya stared daggers at the door, as if she could bore a hole through it.
She swallowed hard.
Her hunger only grew.
She let Lin Hanbing feed her without protest, soon feeling full and satisfied.
Even so, her eyes kept drifting toward the Rabbit Egg Yolk Crisps.
Stuffed as she was, she still craved them.
She tried negotiating. “Just one bite?”
