Chapter 374: Chapter 358: The Male Protagonist in the Nightmare
"Hehe, since the check-up is done, shall we go back?" Leng Yan deliberately took a step forward, purposely avoiding that piece of paper, his eyes still gentle: "Is there anything you feel like eating? I can call Sister Ping to make it."
He wouldn’t look at it; he only wanted Wen Nuan’s child.
"Yan, can we eat out today?" Ji Wei still held the ultrasound image in her hand, her heart filled with disappointment. But seeing his eyes, so tender and watery, her dissatisfaction faded away, and she grabbed his hand: "I haven’t eaten out for a long time, and given my current state, no one will recognize me."
Every time she went out, she made sure to disguise herself well, afraid of being captured by paparazzi.
"I have to rush back to the office." Leng Yan frowned lightly and patted Ji Wei’s shoulder: "I didn’t finish explaining the work when I came here, and there are some documents I need to sign. Let Xiao Liu accompany you, eat more, you’ve lost weight recently."
"Well... okay."
Ji Wei’s eyes lowered, and she sighed deeply.
Leng Yan’s car drove far away, yet Ji Wei still stood at the door, her once beautiful face covered with a thin layer of sadness.
What exactly is the matter? Leng Yan felt so close, yet strangely distant.
She didn’t like this feeling, but Leng Yan’s tenderness was flawlessly perfect, making her hold back even when feeling uncomfortable.
Leng Ye hadn’t driven away either; he saw Leng Yan coming out hurriedly, expecting Ji Wei to follow, but he was disappointed again. Just as he was about to leave, Leng Yan noticed him and seemed to pause, then walked towards him.
"Yan, here to accompany Ji Wei for a check-up?" Leng Ye felt a surge of gloom in his heart, but he still smiled lightly and rolled down the car window: "I’m here to arrange a full check-up for Dad."
"Big brother is really filial." Leng Yan smiled faintly, stood by his car window, and after thinking for a moment, still said: "Dad asked me to persuade you to get married soon."
"Ha!" Leng Ye chuckled, shrugged: "Sending you as a lobbyist? The old man is really thoughtful, you should get the marriage certificate with Ji Wei soon, let him embrace a grandchild quickly, and he would be even happier."
"I’ll do it once the child is born." A trace of coldness flashed in Leng Yan’s drooping eyes, and when he raised his head, his expression was still calm: "I’m just following the old man’s words, mentioning this to you. Whether you get married or not, it’s none of my business, and I won’t interfere."
"Don’t worry, I will." Leng Ye chuckled, his eyes flashing with malice as he lowered his voice: "I’ll surely bring home a sister-in-law for you soon."
And it’ll certainly surprise you. Imagining Leng Yan’s reaction upon learning that Wen Nuan is his sister-in-law, Leng Ye’s eyes deepened with amusement: "I’ll tell Dad today so he won’t have to wait too long."
"If that’s the case, Dad would be at ease." Leng Yan spoke lightly, left Leng Ye, sat back in his car, gritted his teeth, and punched the steering wheel hard, looking at the slightly reddened area, a cold smile appeared on his lips.
Leng Ye, do you really think you can have Nuannuan?
What’s lost is lost, no one will wait for you in place. She is my wife, and she will only be mine.
Returning to the office, looking at the unsent message, Leng Yan envisioned Wen Nuan resting her cheeks, thinking of him, and he smiled, shook his head, and deleted the message.
He had a strong desire to hear Wen Nuan’s voice, to fly over and be with her.
"Nuannuan, your phone is ringing." Tong Xi looked at Wen Nuan, who was absentmindedly sitting on a large stone, gazing into the distance, and teased with a smile: "Thinking of your beloved? Hurry, see if it’s from your man."
"I..." Wen Nuan smiled awkwardly, the number on the phone sweeping away her earlier unhappiness, sweetly calling out: "Yan."
"Are you thinking of me?" Leng Yan’s gentle voice came through, Tong Xi leaned her ear closer, hearing the husky undertone, she chuckled softly: "Yes, Nuannuan misses you so much that she loses her appetite and can’t sleep well."
"Xixi." Wen Nuan playfully glared at her, cheeks flushed with two shades of red. Hearing Leng Yan’s joyful laughter on the other end, she blushed even more. Remembering Leng Ye’s call, she bit her lower lip and asked softly: "How was Ji Wei’s check-up result? It should be formed in three months, right? Did you see the baby’s image on the ultrasound?"
Her voice remained calm, but her heart felt sour. How wonderful it would be if he was accompanying her to her prenatal appointments. She’d be so happy she’d jump ecstatically despite being pregnant. She’d hug his neck and say: "Hubby, look, the baby is so cute."
"I didn’t look." Leng Yan said solemnly: "Nuannuan, no matter what happens, I won’t change my mind, trust me, okay?"
"I know." Wen Nuan’s lips curved into a smile, though melancholic, it was genuine.
After everything they’ve been through, how could she not trust Leng Yan anymore? Her recent sadness stemmed from not having their child sooner and missing Leng Yan without being able to see him.
Taking a deep breath, Wen Nuan reported on the itinerary planned with Tong Xi, and finally couldn’t help asking: "Yan, I miss you, I want to see you, what should I do?"
She really, really wanted to, their sweet moments were too few. Though they talked every night to ease their longing, she still wanted to see the real him.
Leng Yan’s brows slightly knitted: "I’m accompanying Dad for a check-up in a few days, his health has been poor recently, his stomach often uncomfortable. Nuannuan, I heard your itinerary with Tong Xi, you’ll soon be near T City’s attractions, once we’re closer, I’ll surely come to find you."
"Okay, I’ll wait for you." Wen Nuan’s face finally lit up with a smile. According to their plan, it wouldn’t be long before they returned to the vicinity of T City.
Thinking about what he said about Leng Siyan’s stomach issues, Wen Nuan asked with concern: "And you? Yan, have you been eating well lately?"
"Yes, I’ve been eating well every day, just as you instructed. I’d scheduled a check-up with Dr. Wang before, but since he’s visiting relatives in the United States and there’s a situation there, it’s delayed a bit."
To allay her worries, Leng Yan assured repeatedly: "Once he’s back, I’ll definitely get a full check-up."
"Really?" Wen Nuan pouted slightly, a bit skeptical: "This time, you can’t break your promise, Yan, you shouldn’t lie to me."
"Rest assured, darling." Leng Yan smiled, a bit helpless, but mostly filled with happiness: "With you, how can I not take care of my health? I want to be a healthy husband for you, a healthy dad for our baby. How can I be at ease, leaving you and the baby when I’m unwell?"
"What do you mean by leaving us?" Wen Nuan felt a pang of sadness hearing his words, she quickly said: "Spit, spit, spit, Yan, I forbid you to say such things."
She’s always been attentive to his health and doesn’t want to hear anything like that. Even said unintentionally, she refuses to listen.
"Alright, I spit, spit, spit." Leng Yan laughed helplessly: "I curse this crow’s mouth of mine for saying such things."
He knew it was childish, but to reassure Wen Nuan, he didn’t mind at all. After hanging up, just as he was about to call Dr. Wang, he remembered the time difference in China and couldn’t help but smile wryly. He would wait a bit more and definitely get a full check-up to avoid worrying Nuannuan.
**
"Sister Ji, what’s wrong?" Ji Wei didn’t return for dinner, instead she sat in a private room waiting for her food, listening to the radio news through earbuds. Whatever the news was, it turned her face pale as a ghost, alarming Xiao Liu, who quickly handed her a cup of warm water, looking at her in surprise: "Sister Ji..."
"I’m fine." Ji Wei removed the earbuds, shook her head gently, but her lips remained pale, adding to her haggard appearance.
She clutched her phone tightly, though still warm, it felt chillingly cold to her as she put it in her bag.
The dishes served were all her favorites, yet she had no appetite at all. Her hands clutching her bag tensed and relaxed repeatedly, her gaze constantly scanning the surroundings, her whole being in a state of alert.
The radio talked about a rapist and drug trafficker from over three years ago who had escaped from prison. He was spotted in E City recently, but now his whereabouts are unknown. They gave a detailed description of his appearance, urging the public to be cautious and report any sightings promptly.
Over three years ago...
That shameful past resurfaced in her mind, her heart felt hollowed out, pierced by cold winds, chilling to the core. Even after three years, the scar of that night remained deep in her memory; she couldn’t forget that humiliating night. Whenever she thought of it, his lewd laughter and wicked dirty hands seemed to surround her...
"Sister Ji, are you cold? Your hands are shaking." Xiao Liu nervously approached, touched her forehead, frowning oddly: "No fever."
"I’m fine, just lost my appetite suddenly." Ji Wei steadied herself and said calmly: "Xiao Liu, let’s go home."
Except for home, nowhere felt safe to her. Now with this criminal on the loose, who could say he wasn’t in T City?
Anxiety gripped her heart, as if she could spot that man’s shadow at a glance in the crowd.
"Alright then." Glancing at the untouched dishes on the table, Xiao Liu patted her own grumbling stomach, reluctantly suppressing her hunger. Given Ji Wei’s national treasure status now, she dared not upset her by being greedy.
Moreover, Ji Wei would rather waste food than have it packed away out of pride.
On the road, while driving, Ji Wei, who used to prefer the back seat, insisted on sitting in the front with Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu didn’t understand: "Sister Ji, didn’t you say the back is safer?"
"I don’t want to sit there today." Ji Wei snapped, her eyes looking outside; passing by a telephone booth made her scalp tingle, cold sweat trickling down her back.
Amid traffic congestion, their car stopped beside the phone booth, where a man making a call resembled the scar-faced man described—her nightmare’s main character.