With such a major incident unfolding, everyone forgot to eat lunch. They worked tirelessly until evening fell.
Only after descending the stairs did Ye Mingxuan learn that Ye Xiangkai’s family had departed. While everyone bustled about attending to Ye Mingxuan that afternoon, the family of three had quietly packed their belongings and slipped away—no one knew how many of the Tan family’s possessions they’d taken with them.
Old Master Tan was in high spirits, instructing Uncle Ma to open a bottle of fine wine for a few sips. But then he learned Tan Sizhe wouldn’t be joining them for dinner.
“…Why?” Old Master Tan frowned. “With such joyous news today, why won’t he come down to celebrate?”
Uncle Ma explained, “The company is busy. Mr. Tan has no choice.”
Old Master Tan sighed. “Even if he’s busy, he could have done it tomorrow. It’s not like it was urgent… Never mind. Never mind. Uncle Ma, sit down. Let’s eat.”
Uncle Ma nodded. “Alright.”
The maid served Ye Mingxuan another helping of rice. He thanked her, then glanced toward the quiet staircase before placing a hand on his lower abdomen.
How would he… view this child?
As dusk fell, the fiery sunset hung low on the horizon, casting the woods in shadow. Ah Jin, carrying a plush toy in his mouth, trotted into the study on all fours.
Tan Sizhe lifted his gaze from the computer screen and patted Ah Jin’s head. “Go play by yourself.”
Ah Jin tossed the stuffed toy into his hands and let out two sneezes.
Tan Sizhe lifted his gaze from the computer, patting A Jin’s head. “Go play by yourself.”
A Jin tossed the stuffed toy into his hands, sneezed twice, then scampered off.
Tan Sizhe placed the saliva-stained toy on the edge of the desk, lifted a cup to his lips for a sip, and blinked his dry eyes.
Two hours earlier, he’d been sitting here reviewing literature on male childbirth—much as Dr. Zhang had described.
Childbirth carries risks, and the pregnancy period itself is agonizing.
Moreover, a man’s reproductive tract was extremely fragile, capable of carrying only one child. This meant a man who could conceive could have only one child in his lifetime. If that child was lost, he might never be able to have another.
The thought that such a probability—as rare as being struck by a meteor—had fallen upon them made Tan Sizhe’s temples throb again.
Once the dryness in his eyes subsided, he tapped the keyboard twice more and opened the next document.
As dusk fell, Ye Mingxuan had barely lain down after washing up when Tan Sizhe opened the door and entered.
Ye Mingxuan sat up. “Sir.”
Tan Sizhe gave a low hum in acknowledgment. Fresh from his own shower, he carried the clean, fragrant scent of body wash, dressed in expensive silk pajamas. He lifted the covers and sat down beside him.
Ye Mingxuan could smell the faint perfume and felt the warmth of Tan Sizhe’s body so close to his own, which calmed him considerably.
He lay back down, tugging the edge of the quilt up to cover his jaw as his thoughts churned restlessly.
Tan Sizhe hadn’t spoken a word since entering, nor had he mentioned the child growing inside him.
Did he dislike it? Was it because he didn’t want this child that he refused to speak?
It made sense, after all. The child’s arrival was truly unexpected. He hadn’t been prepared, let alone Tan Sizhe.
Who would have thought a man could get pregnant?
Ye Mingxuan blinked slowly, suddenly plunged into darkness as Tan Sizhe switched off the light.
Only the steady rhythm of their breathing filled the air. Ye Mingxuan’s clear eyes, like a moonlit pool in the night, blinked twice with a glistening wetness before drifting off to sleep.
Tan Sizhe closed his eyes for a few minutes before opening them again. He switched on the dim bedside lamp, adjusted it to its faintest setting, and turned to gaze at Ye Mingxuan’s sleeping face.
The other slept restlessly, his lashes fluttering occasionally. Both arms stretched beneath the covers, his hands resting protectively over his abdomen.
Tan Sizhe’s gaze grew dark, like an indelible ink stain in the night. After a long moment, he tucked Ye Mingxuan under the covers, smoothed them out, turned off the light, and lay down.
…
After staying at the Tan residence for two more days, Tan Sizhe and Ye Mingxuan returned home, where Aunt Fu had also come back from her vacation.
Seeing Ye Mingxuan, she had much to say. While slicing fruit for him, she remarked, ” ‘Vacation? I wasn’t on vacation at all! Back home, I had to cook for eight people, wash clothes, sweep the floors. The men played cards and drank after meals, while we women washed dishes until dark. Ugh, and then it was time to cook again.'”
“Working for you is what I call a vacation! If I told people back in the village what I did there, they’d be jealous!”
Aunt Fu said, “That’s why I came back early. Don’t mind me being a nuisance, Mr. Mingxuan.”
Ye Mingxuan shook his head, pinched a slice of orange into his mouth, and savored its tart-sweet flavor.
“Aunt Fu,” Tan Sizhe brought out a light jacket and reminded her, “Cook the vegetables a bit lighter lately.”
Aunt Fu looked up. “Ah, yes, sir.”
Tan Sizhe grabbed his car keys and headed out. Aunt Fu watched the door close and asked Ye Mingxuan, “Mr. Mingxuan, is your gastroenteritis still bothering you?”
Ye Mingxuan paused mid-bite. “Mm.”
He hadn’t told Aunt Fu it wasn’t gastroenteritis—it was pregnancy. But judging by her reaction, it seemed Mr. Tan hadn’t informed her either.
Ye Mingxuan didn’t know what Tan Sizhe was thinking or what he’d been up to lately. Tan Sizhe had barely spoken to him these past two days, always holed up alone in his room, smiling far less than before.
“Will Mr. Tan be back for dinner?” Aunt Fu wiped her hands on a dry cloth, pulled out her phone, and called Tan Sizhe. “Mr. Tan, will you be home for dinner tonight?”
“Not coming back? Got it.” Aunt Fu hung up and said to Ye Mingxuan, “Since Mr. Tan won’t be home for dinner, I’ll make less food.”
Ye Mingxuan pressed his lips together, swallowing the orange flesh awkwardly before uttering a soft “Mm-hmm.” Suddenly, a crucial thought struck him.
He dashed upstairs, dumping his backpack upside down onto the desk. Its contents spilled out, revealing the tickets Yu Sen had given him.
Ye Mingxuan set the backpack aside, picked up the tickets, and unfolded them. The performance was scheduled for tomorrow night.
He had intended to go, but after this incident, Ye Mingxuan’s mind was in turmoil. These past few days had been a haze; he hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of the pregnancy and simply couldn’t spare the distraction of attending Yu Sen’s concert.
Thinking of Yu Sen’s gentle, handsome smile, Ye Mingxuan hung his head in disappointment.
He raised his hand to touch his abdomen. Beneath the thin fabric, a slight bulge was visible, and his palm seemed to sense the faint flutter of life.
Ye Mingxuan dialed Yu Sen’s number.
The phone rang only a few seconds before being answered: “Mingxuan?”
“Brother Yu Sen.”
“Mingxuan, what’s up? I was just about to call you about tomorrow night’s concert…”
“I’m sorry, Brother Yu Sen. I might not be able to make it.”
Yu Sen paused, showing no anger, and asked what was wrong.
Ye Mingxuan felt deeply guilty: “I… I have something come up. I’m sorry, truly sorry. I just can’t make it.”
“It’s fine. It’s not like I only have one performance. I’ll invite you next time.”
“Thanks, Yu Sen.”
“No need to thank me. We’ve known each other for so many years.”
Yu Sen’s words pulled distant memories from Ye Mingxuan’s mind.
He recalled the day he first met Yu Sen. He was helping his mother hang laundry, but being short, he couldn’t reach the clothesline even on tiptoes. Just then, someone helped him place the clothes rack up. Ye Mingxuan turned to see a high school-aged older brother standing before him, smiling warmly: “Hi, I’m Yu Sen.”
Ye Mingxuan couldn’t recall what they had said to each other then, only that not long after Yu Sen spoke, Ye Yufan had rushed over, wrapped his arms around Yu Sen’s arm, and coaxed him away.
Ye Mingxuan lowered his eyes and hung up the phone.
……
Tan Sizhe hadn’t returned all night. It wasn’t the first time Ye Mingxuan had slept alone in the king-size bed, but tonight his heart pounded wildly, his eyelids twitching intensely, as if something was about to happen.
He curled up uneasily in the corner, tossing and turning until the dead of night before finally drifting off.
The next morning, Ye Mingxuan descended the stairs with puffy eyes only to find Bai Yu seated in the living room.
Upon seeing him, Bai Yu stood up. “Mingxuan, pack your things and come with me. Mr. Tan is waiting for you.”
“Sir?” Ye Mingxuan approached with concern. “Where is he?”
Bai Yu replied, “You’ll find out once you come with me.”
Ye Mingxuan pressed his lips together, nodded earnestly, and followed Bai Yu out to the car.
He sat restlessly in the backseat, staring out the window but lacking the heart to enjoy the scenery. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something important awaited him.
After about ten minutes, the car pulled up in front of a private hospital. Bai Yu helped Ye Mingxuan out. “This hospital is invested in by the Tan family. It offers excellent privacy and technical expertise. Dr. Zhang, who treated you last time, works here.”
Ye Mingxuan had no idea why Bai Yu had brought him here, and his gut feeling of unease only grew stronger.
Bai Yu led Ye Mingxuan inside. Immediately, Ye Mingxuan spotted Tan Sizhe conversing with a female doctor. She was dressed professionally, with subtle makeup and her hair neatly pulled back. In her early thirties, she spoke to Tan Sizhe without the slightest hesitation.
Bai Yu guided Ye Mingxuan over. “Mr. Tan, Mingxuan is here.”
The female doctor turned, saw Ye Mingxuan, and gave a faint smile. “Hello, Mr. Mingxuan. My name is Cai. I’m your attending physician.”
Ye Mingxuan met Tan Sizhe’s gaze blankly. Tan Sizhe nodded slightly: “Dr. Cai is highly skilled. Leave it to her.”
Bai Yu added: “Yes, Dr. Cai has handled cases like yours before. She has experience. Don’t worry, you’ll be given anesthesia.”
Ye Mingxuan remained completely oblivious to their conversation until Dr. Cai led him into the abortion procedure room.
The bright red sign on the door seemed like Ye Mingxuan’s own congealed blood.
“Family members wait outside.” Dr. Cai and a group of nurses entered, closing the door and drawing the curtain.
A nurse brought in a deep green bag, unfolding it beside him. It was filled with various silver metal forceps, gleaming sharply under the white overhead light.
Dr. Cai flashed Ye Mingxuan a reassuring smile: “Mr. Mingxuan, relax. After this procedure, come back for a follow-up at the hospital. Once your condition stabilizes, we’ll perform a hysterectomy. It’ll be a permanent solution.”
What permanent solution? What removal? Abort what?
Ye Mingxuan’s mind went blank. A consent form was handed to him, boldly stating “Artificial Abortion Surgery.”
Dr. Cai: “Mr. Mingxuan, please review the terms. If you have no objections, you may sign.”
…
Tan Sizhe sat in the waiting room. The air conditioning blasted so cold it made Bai Yu shiver, yet Tan Sizhe remained oblivious, his face dark and sullen as he stared at the floor, his spirit long since vanished.
Bai Yu observed Tan Sizhe’s deathly pallor: “After today, get some proper rest. You’ve been burning the midnight oil over Ye Mingxuan’s situation these past few days.”
“Looking at your face, anyone would think you’re the one going under the knife.”
“Shut up,” Tan Sizhe snapped coldly.
The restroom door suddenly swung open. Both turned as Dr. Cai, removing his surgical cap, stepped inside.
“Dr. Cai?” Bai Yu rose. “So soon?”
Dr. Cai shook his head. “We didn’t perform the surgery.”
Tan Sizhe froze.
Dr. Cai said, “Mr. Tan, please discuss it further with your wife.”
Tan Sizhe swallowed hard, then walked toward the abortion clinic. Ye Mingxuan sat curled up in a corner, hugging his knees, tears still wet at the corners of his eyes. The hospital bed wasn’t large, yet Ye Mingxuan occupied only a tiny space, utterly alone.
Catching Tan Sizhe’s entrance out of the corner of his eye, Ye Mingxuan sniffed twice and closed his eyes, refusing to look.
The sight struck Tan Sizhe like a whip across his head. He approached, his voice hoarse: “Mingxuan.”
Ye Mingxuan remained silent for a few seconds before opening his eyes, filled with hurt. His lashes were damp with moisture. “You don’t want it, but I do.”
