Chapter 5

At several meals after that, my husband brought up the subject again, sometimes casually, sometimes less so.

At first, Shen Zhiyan only listened in silence. Gradually, he began to agree with a point or two. If everyone was willing and it helped someone, he said, it could even count as a good deed.

My husband also asked me, as though joking, whether I would consent if someone asked him to father a child.

I said that if it could save a life, why not? Nothing mattered more than a life.

As I spoke, I instinctively glanced at Shen Zhiyan’s face.

His eyes happened to meet mine. He looked perfectly calm.

Pei Shuyuan, on the other hand, looked from my husband to me in bewilderment.

My husband told me he had caught Shen Zhiyan stealing looks at me several times. This one was certain, he said. Shen Zhiyan would definitely agree.

He told me to get ready. He was going to put the matter to Shen Zhiyan openly.

“All right,” I said.

“My darling, why did you agree so readily? You haven’t fallen for Shen Zhiyan, have you?”

“Husband, how could you think that of me? You’re the only man in my heart. Then let’s forget it. We won’t have a child. When we’ve lived long enough, we’ll hold each other and jump into the river, so no one can bully us in our old age.”

I had only been putting on an act, but the more I said, the more tragic it seemed, until I really began to cry.

My husband held me and cried too. “My darling, what are you saying? I’m only afraid you’ll fall for someone else and leave me. You’re so wonderful. What man could help loving you?”

“I admit I am very charming. But I’m a traditional woman. I’ve married you, so you’re the only one in my heart. I won’t fall for anyone else.”

We clung to each other on the bed and sobbed.

Neither of us noticed when Pei Shuyuan appeared beside us.

“You want Shen Zhiyan to father your child?”

His sudden voice made us jump.

While wiping my tears, my husband snapped, “What’s it to you?”

“I won’t allow it,” Pei Shuyuan said gravely.

My husband rolled his eyes at him.

“This is between me and my wife. We only need to agree with each other.”

Pei Shuyuan looked at me, his expression dark.

“Sister-in-law, do you really agree to this?”

I lowered my head in embarrassment. How could I answer such a question?

“You’ve got some nerve asking,” my husband said. “If you’d agreed, would we need to ask anyone else?”

“How do you know I wouldn’t agree?”

No sooner had Pei Shuyuan said it than his face turned scarlet. Unable to look at either of us, he stood beside the bed, rather dazed.

“Eh?” My husband sounded distinctly displeased. “What’s gotten into you? Don’t tell me you’ve taken improper thoughts into your head about my wife.”

He pulled me into his arms as though to shield me.

I stole a look at Pei Shuyuan.

His face reddened even further. He looked so flustered that he clearly had something to hide.

“I… I haven’t. No. It’s just that this whole business is absurd. I won’t agree to it.”

With that, he fled.

My husband watched him thoughtfully, then gave a cold snort.

Apparently, he was angry that Pei Shuyuan was unwilling to father a child for us.