Chapter 5

Chapter 5

My mother-in-law’s diabetic foot had worsened, and the doctor said two of her toes would have to be amputated.

It wasn’t a major surgery, but it happened to coincide with Lu Mingyu saying he had to go on a business trip for further training. So during the day, I stayed at the hospital to take care of my mother-in-law, and at night, I went home to be with Ningning.

My mother-in-law felt terribly bad about it. “Lin Xiao, I’m making you work hard again.”

I smiled gently and told her it was what I should do.

That afternoon, I was sitting by the bed peeling an apple when my mother-in-law rubbed her temples and said to me, “I keep feeling cold in this hospital. It’s giving me a headache. Go home and bring me a jacket, would you?”

When I got downstairs, I remembered there was a jacket in the trunk that my mother-in-law had used before, so I took that one and headed back up.

I had just reached the ward door when I heard a woman’s voice inside. I thought it was one of my mother-in-law’s friends visiting her, but then I heard the woman call out, “Mom!”

I stopped in my tracks.

Then my mother-in-law’s warm, affectionate voice rang out.

“Xiaoying, you’re so busy with work. How could I let you go out of your way to visit me?”

In that instant, I understood who the woman was.

Lu Mingyu was there too. He answered in a lazy voice, “We’ll all be family from now on. It’s only right for Xia Ying to come see you.”

My mother-in-law’s tone turned reproachful. “Mingyu, this is where you’re wrong! Xiaoying is pregnant, after all. You need to take good care of her. Your mother doesn’t need the two of you worrying over me.”

“Mom, Mingyu treats me very well. This time, he saw how bad my morning sickness was, so he specially took me to a villa resort to rest for a few days.”

Xia Ying answered with a laugh, her voice deliberately soft and sweet.

Inside the ward, they were the very picture of a happy family.

Outside the ward, I turned my head and looked at the window at the end of the corridor.

The sunlight was a little glaring.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Xia Ying came out of the ward to take a call, then walked away with her back to me.

Inside, Lu Mingyu sighed, his voice lowering a little.

“I still feel a little reluctant to let Lin Xiao go-”

My mother-in-law cut him off. “Then squeeze everything you can out of her before the divorce. Your father and that old bitch are living the high life now. You have to make something of yourself and surpass that bastard son!”

“Mom, I know that. It’s just that if Lin Xiao leaves after the divorce, I’m afraid we won’t be able to find anyone who can serve you to your satisfaction.”

My mother-in-law gave a low snort. “Then make sure she can’t leave. Lin Xiao has no temper. She’s soft and easy to push around. I’ve had her under my thumb all these years. Once we keep Ningning in our hands too, maybe she’ll end up begging to be my free nanny.”

Lu Mingyu was silent for a while before he said, “Xia Ying said she wants Ningning to stay with her. She’s carrying a boy, but she wants a girl by her side to take care of her when she’s old. When Ningning gets a little older, she can help look after her younger brother too.”

My mother-in-law laughed.

“Tell her not to rush. Let Ningning learn more from her mother first. Girls have to learn how to work from a young age, little by little…”

Over there, Xia Ying seemed to have finished her call.

I turned and walked back.

As a mother holding a child’s hand brushed past me, the thermos in her hand slipped, tipping sideways.

I reached out and shielded the child’s head at once.

Scalding hot water steamed on the back of my hand.

The mother and child were so frightened that they thanked me again and again.

The child asked me, “Auntie, does it hurt?”

I smiled and shook my head.

It didn’t really hurt.

Not compared to that day.

Not compared to the pain when I willingly reached my hand into the noodle press.