The nanny answered all of Lu Yiâs inquiries on Yan Huan accordingly, but there was something she had to ask.
âWhy do you insist on aborting Miss Yanâs child? Thatâs your child too.â
Lu Yi massaged his forehead, feeling wearier than ever. The redness in his eyes betokened his lack of good sleep.
âShe had an ovarian injury in the past and was diagnosed as infertile. We had given up all hopes when the unexpected pregnancy came.â
âHowever, due to her past injury, sheâs frailer than most women, so even one child is pushing it, not to mention two. Giving birth to the twins could put both her and the children in great danger.â
The nanny was visibly shocked by the information. That was something Miss Yan never told her. Though now she knew her reason for running away; if she didnât, one of her babies would be taken away from her.
That was something no woman would accept or agree to.
âIs there no other way?â
Even the nanny felt anguished. The babies were five month old and almost fully formed. Who could bear to abort one of them?
âWonât you look for another way, Mr. Lu? Some children can be delivered at 7 months. Even two more months would give them a chance at survival. And look at how fast they are growing! I think an early birth could even be possible in one monthâs time.â
âIs that so?â Lu Yi didnât know that, since he couldnât get a clear look at Yan Huanâs belly from where he was standing.
âYes,â said the nanny, downcast. Having twins was hard work; Yan Huan was using her life to protect her babies. If she had to part with one, would she have the strength to carry on?
Lu Yi had not expected Yan Huan to be stubborn enough to run away without bringing anything. She didnât even hear their whole conversation.
He Yibin recommended aborting one of the two. Otherwise, they would have to proceed with extreme caution. He had already gathered a few professional obstetricians to work out a way to save the twins. It would be a lot harder, but not impossible, and that was enough to convince Lu Yi to keep both babies.
Lu Yi rose and walked to the door.
He knocked.
âOpen up, Huanhuan. We need to talk.â
Yan Huan turned away and pulled the blanket up. She didnât want to talk, or open the door, or see him. She had to move, to get away from him.
Soon, she dozed off involuntarily. When she woke up, Lu Yi was sitting beside her with his head leaned against the wall. He was asleep, with a weary look on his face.
It didnât take long for Yan Huan to snap out of her grogginess. She slipped out of her blanket, put on her shoes and rushed for the door.
âWhere are you going, Miss Yan?â asked Lu Yi, opening his eyes. Sheâs shunning me as though Iâm the devil, he thought wearily. Am I that scary?
âItâs none of your business,â said Yan Huan with a pause. She clasped her clothes and strode out of the room.
The nanny had prepared dinner, and a small pot of medicinal broth simmered above the stove. Yan Huan recognized the familiar scent; she had been drinking two bowls of the soup a day for more than a month.
âPlease take a seat, Miss Yan. The soup is almost ready.â
Yan Huan stopped in her tracks.
The thought of skipping the soup was scarier, but not as much as the man inside the room.
âDonât worry, Miss Yan,â soothed the nanny. âMr. Lu isnât here to harm your babies. He never intended on opting for selective reduction.â
âThatâs not what he told He Yibin,â pouted Yan Huan. She sat down by the table and began sipping the soup. Even if she had to run, she had to finish her soup. She also had to bring the nanny along; she would never survive alone, and the two babies in her stomach required proper nutrition. They would never have grown this big without the nannyâs meals.
Lu Yi soon walked out of the room. Yan Huan paid him no mind. Even if she couldnât fight back in her state, she was sure the nanny wouldnât let Lu Yi carry her off against her will.
She picked up her chopsticks and began eating. She was starving, she realized.
Lu Yi sat beside her, looking at her upending bowls of rice, without eating himself. The calm look on his face began fading away.
âArenât you eating too much, Huanhuan?â asked Lu Yi, afraid that Yan Huanâs belly would burst apart if she continued eating.
When Yan Huan asked for another bowl of rice, Lu Yi snatched it off. Yan Huan looked up blankly, indignant, as tears began rolling off her face.
âWhat are you doing, Mr. Lu?â cried the nanny, aghast.
Being a woman, the nanny easily took Yan Huanâs side. How could a man bully a woman, and pregnant at that, to tears? It was bad enough that he hadnât been around to take care of his pregnant wife, but to bully her to tears at their first reunion? What kind of husband was he?
Lu Yi withered under the nannyâs criticism. There was no way to reason with her, whether he was in the right or not.
âSheâs eating too much,â frowned Lu Yi.
Yan Huan usually ate very little, and would declare herself full after eating less than half a bowl of rice. She had already eaten four bowls. Wouldnât her belly burst apart if she continued eating?
âItâs normal for women to eat more when they are pregnant,â said the nanny, giving him a look reserved for idiots. As the old saying goes, pregnancy leaves a woman stupid for three years. Yan Huanâs senseless actions had proved the truth in those words, but why was Lu Yi affected as well?