Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty-Eight

Li Yuanxi, now calmer, stood on the beach for a long time. The cold sea breeze didn’t move her. Her gaze was fixed on the blazing bonfire.

From a higher vantage point, one could see the SOS symbol burning brightly, the black smoke billowing high into the sky, trying to attract attention.

After adding more fuel to the fire, Li Yuanxi slowly began her walk back home. Her frantic heart had finally settled.

Now, she had to think about how to ensure Shu Shu had a safe pregnancy. She had to make sure Shu Shu got enough nutrition and stayed healthy, so that when the time came to give birth… maybe there was no maybe.

They would definitely have this child safely. Li Yuanxi looked up at the dazzling sun. Her head spun for a moment, but she steadied herself. This was no time for her to falter.

Walking on the hillside, Li Yuanxi’s gaze wandered over the forest. In the withered woods, she spotted a flash of green. She froze, and her body moved of its own accord towards it.

A small sapling was trembling in the wind, its tender green leaves just emerging. Looking at it, Li Yuanxi finally smiled. Spring is almost here.

“The most important thing now… is that I haven’t proposed to Shu Shu yet,” Li Yuanxi thought, looking at the patch of green, her mind turning to the marriage proposal.

She couldn’t let Shu Shu carry her child without being married. She wanted to give Shu Shu a complete love story, a promise of her love. Maybe Shu Shu didn’t care, but she did!

When Li Yuanxi returned to the clearing by the cave, Wei Shu was sitting in the sun, wrapped in Li Yuanxi’s coat. Her eyes were closed, her face turned towards the sun. The golden light fell on her face, making her look so beautiful and sacred.

Li Yuanxi was completely captivated. She walked up to Wei Shu. Wei Shu didn’t open her eyes. She just said, “You’re blocking my sun. Move over.”

Li Yuanxi bent down and kissed her eyes. Wei Shu’s eyelids fluttered, her breath hitching. Li Yuanxi kissed her brow, then slowly kissed downwards, her soft lips leaving a trail of tingling warmth.

Wei Shu couldn’t help but open her eyes. Li Yuanxi kissed her lips. Her soft tongue easily parted Wei Shu’s lips, and their breaths mingled once more.

The gentle, lingering kiss slowly ended. Wei Shu opened her eyes and looked at Li Yuanxi, who was looking back at her. Li Yuanxi’s face was filled with contentment, her eyes deep with love. It made Wei Shu’s heart race.

“What is it?” Wei Shu asked softly, reaching out to caress Li Yuanxi’s cheek. Li Yuanxi rubbed against her palm obediently. “Nothing. I just wanted to kiss you. It feels like I can never get enough of you.”

“Hmph. You’re just saying sweet things.” Wei Shu poked her nose with a doting smile. Li Yuanxi opened her arms and hugged her. They sat together, basking in the sun.

The days passed one by one. The weather slowly warmed up. Wei Shu’s morning sickness subsided, and her appetite began to grow considerably.

“Chuyi, I’m hungry.” Wei Shu woke up in the middle of the night, smacking her lips. She nudged Li Yuanxi with her foot. Li Yuanxi, who had been half-hugging her, immediately opened her eyes. “What is it?” she asked, a little dazed.

“I’m hungry,” Wei Shu said, pinching Li Yuanxi’s cheek to wake her up properly.

“Oh, okay. Wait a minute.” Li Yuanxi quickly rolled out of bed. She first heated up some cold boiled water on the stove, then crouched down to add more wood to the fire.

“Dinner will be a while. Have some water first.” Li Yuanxi brought over a cup of warm water and slowly fed it to Wei Shu. Wei Shu leaned against her and drank in small sips, the warm water soothing her throat.

Li Yuanxi had saved some meat porridge and cassava from dinner. She specially mashed them together so that Shu Shu wouldn’t have trouble digesting it at night.

“Not the mush again. I don’t want mush.” Wei Shu turned her head away to avoid the spoon Li Yuanxi was offering. She pouted. “I want something spicy.”

Li Yuanxi scratched her head. She had no choice but to get up and cut a few slices of sand ginger, fry them in some porcupine fat, and then pour the meat mash in to add some flavor.

Wei Shu looked at the dark mush, then up at Li Yuanxi, who was smiling apologetically. She sighed and ate it anyway.

Li Yuanxi knew that this kind of food was unfair to Shu Shu. Watching her eat it bite by bite made her feel terrible. Her eyes stung, and she wanted to cry.

Li Yuanxi made a mental note to try to find some wild vegetables elsewhere tomorrow. Maybe she could bring some back to give Shu Shu a treat.

Wei Shu ate a little over half the bowl of meat mush. She couldn’t finish the last few bites and handed them to Li Yuanxi. Li Yuanxi finished it in one gulp, then brought over some hot water for Wei Shu to rinse her mouth. Wei Shu swished the water around and spat it into the trash can.

Li Yuanxi picked up the trash can and placed it far away from the bed. She did all this so naturally. Watching her, Wei Shu felt a pang of guilt. Was she being too demanding?

Li Yuanxi got into bed and opened her arms. Wei Shu curled up in them. Looking at Li Yuanxi’s handsome, delicate profile, she voiced the doubt in her heart. “Don’t you get annoyed, taking care of me like this?”

Li Yuanxi turned her head in surprise. “Why would you think that?” She took Wei Shu’s hand and placed it over her own heart. “You’re my wife. You’re carrying our child. Doing these little things is the least I can do, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, a smile curled at the corners of Wei Shu’s mouth. She was in a good mood. She cast a playful, reproachful glance at Li Yuanxi. “Who’s your wife? At best, you’re my girlfriend.”

Li Yuanxi chuckled softly and kissed the corner of her mouth. She turned on her side and hugged Wei Shu. “Yes, my dear girlfriend. Can we go to sleep now?”

“Yes,” Wei Shu said, then bit Li Yuanxi’s nose. She closed her eyes and ignored her. She didn’t see the adoring look in Li Yuanxi’s eyes, as if she could be absorbed into them entirely.

The night passed. Wei Shu, well-rested, opened her eyes. The cave was empty again, only her. She slowly got out of bed, carefully minding her stomach.

She was only three months along. Other than the earlier morning sickness and mood swings, her main symptom now was an overwhelming desire to sleep. She would often wake up long after the sun had already risen.

Wei Shu slowly took her toothbrush and toothpaste, poured some hot water, and leisurely went about her morning routine. She had just finished when Li Yuanxi arrived home, carrying her backpack basket.

“How do you always manage to get home just as I wake up?” Wei Shu put down her towel and sat on the stool, waiting for breakfast. She was curious how Li Yuanxi could gauge the exact time she would wake up.

“That’s my secret. I’m not telling,” Li Yuanxi said, giving her a playful wink. She put down the basket and took out some tender wild greens. She washed them clean, sliced two pieces of sand ginger, and stir-fried them in the iron pot.

In no time, a fragrant plate of green wild vegetables was ready. She placed it on the table. Wei Shu couldn’t stop swallowing at the smell. “Where did you find these tender greens?”

“There’s a small patch behind the porcupine’s den, just sprouting. They’re very tender. Try some.” Li Yuanxi hadn’t even touched a single bite. She placed it all in front of Wei Shu.

Wei Shu took two bites before realizing Li Yuanxi was just munching on some cassava. She frowned and bit her chopstick. Her eyes stung a little. Lately, Li Yuanxi gave her all the good food, eating very little herself.

Wei Shu picked up a piece of the wild greens and put it in Li Yuanxi’s bowl. Li Yuanxi swallowed the cassava in her mouth and looked at Wei Shu. “Shu Shu, you eat. Don’t give it to me.”

She reached her chopsticks over to put it back, but Wei Shu blocked them with her own. Wei Shu glared at her, a little annoyed. “If you don’t eat, I won’t eat either.”

“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I’ll eat it now.” Li Yuanxi picked it up and ate it in big mouthfuls. After that, she only reached for the dish sparingly.

Wei Shu couldn’t stand it and piled a lot onto her plate. Li Yuanxi sighed helplessly. Under Wei Shu’s demanding gaze, she had no choice but to eat it all.

“Our little family needs to be healthy. You are not allowed to skip meals,” Wei Shu said sternly, pinching Li Yuanxi’s cheek. Li Yuanxi’s cheeks puffed out as she nodded vigorously.

After the meal, Li Yuanxi took Wei Shu’s hand and led her on a stroll around the cleared area. “I want to go for a walk on the beach,” Wei Shu said, tugging at Li Yuanxi’s hand, her dark eyes full of longing.

Seeing those beautiful, captivating eyes begging her, Li Yuanxi almost agreed. Finally, she turned her head away reluctantly. “No.”

“Ah, come on~” Wei Shu hugged Li Yuanxi and kissed her on the lips, continuing to act cute. Being begged by the aloof and elegant CEO like this melted Li Yuanxi’s heart.

But the moment her gaze fell on Wei Shu’s belly, she wanted to refuse again. Seeing what she was thinking, Wei Shu angrily bit her lips, not letting her say it.

Unable to resist Wei Shu’s combined attack of cajoling and threatening, Li Yuanxi had no choice but to carry her dear Shu Shu on her back to the beach.

Finally out of the cave’s vicinity, Wei Shu excitedly squirmed on Li Yuanxi’s back. She would straighten up to look at the newly sprouted green leaves, then tug at Li Yuanxi’s ears to make her look at the tiny purple flowers on the ground.

Seeing Li Yuanxi, who tolerated her, loved her, and fulfilled all her little whims, a sudden wave of sadness washed over Wei Shu.

“Chuyi, if…” Wei Shu started.

“There’s no if!” Li Yuanxi cut her off roughly.

Feeling Wei Shu’s pheromones turn melancholic, Li Yuanxi guessed that Shu Shu’s mood was swinging again. It was a normal hormonal change during pregnancy.

“Our little family of three will be just fine. I will take you home.” Li Yuanxi didn’t stop walking. She turned her head and said it to Wei Shu very seriously.

“Mm, okay.” Wei Shu kissed Li Yuanxi’s ear. Her mood improved again. She even hummed a rare tune, Homebound Clouds.

They reached the beach. Wei Shu stepped onto the sand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Li Yuanxi. The sea breeze blew her hair. Looking at Li Yuanxi against the light, the words slipped out. “Chuyi, I love you.”

Hearing Wei Shu express her love for the first time so directly, Li Yuanxi was overjoyed. She rushed in front of Wei Shu, picked her up, and kissed her deeply.

Wei Shu tilted her head back to kiss Li Yuanxi. Li Yuanxi secretly opened her eyes to watch Shu Shu, who was lost in the kiss. She took out the ring she had polished.

It was a wooden ring, ground from a lemon tree branch, engraved with some wavy lines. It fit Wei Shu’s finger perfectly.

When the kiss ended, Wei Shu opened her glistening eyes. Li Yuanxi held out the wooden ring.

Wei Shu looked at the little wooden circle in confusion. Just as she was about to reach out and ask what it was, Li Yuanxi suddenly dropped to one knee in the sand.

“Dear… Ms. Wei Shu… will you marry Li Yuanxi?”

“I will love you and dote on you forever. In my heart, nothing is more precious than you. No one and nothing will ever stop me from loving you.”

“Shu Shu, will you accept my proposal? This is a ring I made with my own hands. It’s not pretty, but it holds all my feelings for you. Will you?”

Li Yuanxi knelt there, her confession sincere and straightforward. Wei Shu was speechless. She really hadn’t expected Li Yuanxi to propose to her.

Under Li Yuanxi’s expectant gaze, Wei Shu slowly reached out and took the wooden ring Li Yuanxi was holding. She didn’t say yes or no. She just took the ring and slowly examined it.

Li Yuanxi remained on one knee on the white sand, watching Wei Shu nervously. She kept swallowing, her palms sweating. She was terrified Shu Shu would refuse.

Wei Shu examined the ring, then glanced at the nervous Li Yuanxi. She finally said slowly, “Mm… it’s a bit ugly.”

“Huh?” Li Yuanxi slumped her shoulders in disappointment, already starting to plan her next proposal. She had to make a prettier ring.

Seeing her pathetic look, Wei Shu burst out laughing. “But I like it. Now put it on me.”

She handed the ring back to Li Yuanxi and elegantly extended her hand for Li Yuanxi to put it on. It was her first time being proposed to. The turmoil in her heart was a far cry from the calm on her face.

Li Yuanxi hastily took the ring. Her hands were shaking so badly, but thankfully, the ring slid perfectly onto Wei Shu’s finger.

Wei Shu raised her hand and examined it closely. Her eyes started to get a little red. She had a fiancée now. But… thinking of ten months from now, if she couldn’t make it home…

Wei Shu took a deep breath and hugged Li Yuanxi, hiding her reddened eyes. Her voice was a little hoarse. “I’m very happy. Marrying you is my wish too.”

Hearing Wei Shu’s confession, Li Yuanxi was satisfied. She hugged her back tightly and whispered in her ear, “Having you in my life is all I need.”

“Mm.” Wei Shu hummed softly. She basked in Li Yuanxi’s love and returned it in kind.

They strolled slowly along the beach. The sea breeze was gentle today. The sun was warm. Even the waves seemed to know to behave.