Children (4)
After his conversation with Zhu Yanghong, Xie Xuanchen had been very silent for the rest of the journey, and his expression didnât improve even after coming back home.
Mu Mingtang felt Xie Xuanchenâs change at a glance, so she leaned close to him and inquired, âWhatâs wrong with you? And why do you look unhappy?â
Xie Xuanchen glanced at Mu Mingtang, âWhy do you say so? Am I the kind of person who would get upset?â
Mu Mingtang hesitated to answer. After living with Xie Xuanchen for a while, Mu Mingtang had come to understand that, although Xie Xuanchen was a strong individual with outstanding martial arts skills and Mu Mingtang was just a weak woman, Xie Xuanchen was actually the one who gave things a lot of thought.
Mu Mingtang, who knew Xie Xuanchen was prone to overthinking, was wondering what had touched her husbandâs fragile glass heart and made him depressed all the way.
Mu Mingtang couldnât guess what Xie Xuanchen was thinking, so she asked directly: âYou have been in a bad mood after coming from the Buddhist temple. Why? What did Zhu Yanghong tell you?â
Xie Xuanchen raised his eyebrows and asked, âDo you really want to know?â
âOf course.â
âOkay. He asked when we were going to have a child, so that he could give you a big gift for your help regarding the young ladies of the Zhu family,â Xie Xuanchen told her, as he nodded like it was a matter of fact and looked at her.
Mu Mingtang was stunned, and completely dumbfounded, unable to produce any response for a good while.
Xie Xuanchenâs eyes lit up with a smile, and he gave her a languid look. After staying quiet for a while, Mu Mingtang noticed that Xie Xuanchen was grinning at her. âAre you messing with me again?â
âWhat? Who is messing around with whom?â Xie Xuanchen denied without batting an eyelid.
âYouâre definitely lying to me. That, for sure, is clear.â Mu Mingtang repeated her previous accusation after taking a breath. âYou are not someone who usually lies. So tell me the truth, is it real or fake?â
The anxiousness was evidently visible in Mu Mingtangâs eyes. Looking at her reaction, Xie Xuanchen quietly murmured, âOf course I lied.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Just as Mu Mingtang started to relax, Xie Xuanchen continued: âHe wasnât planning on giving our future kid a red envelope. I used the word gift myself.â
Mu Mingtang was surprised. Feeling flustered and furious, she swung her fist at Xie Xuanchen while saying, âYouâre really impossible!â
Mu Mingtangâs fist was easily caught by Xie Xuanchen as he gently leaned back. âItâs the truth. Ask Zhu Yanghong if you donât trust me. Iâm telling you I didnât lie to you, and I mean it.â
Mu Mingtangâs heart was beating rapidly as her thoughts were thrown in disarray. She wondered how Xie Xuanchen could remain so calm and collected as he gazed directly into her eyes while discussing such an embarrassing topic.
Mu Mingtang also wanted to pretend to be calm, but her voice betrayed her as the moment her mouth opened, it cracked, âThen w-what did you⦠say?â
âI can only tell the truth.â Xie Xuanchen held back his smile and looked at Mu Mingtang solemnly. âAfter all, I canât give birth to a child by myself. It depends on you, too.â
As Xie Xuanchen had expected, Mu Mingtangâs neck began to flush red once he finished speaking. Seeing Mu Mingtang blushing so hard, Xie Xuanchen stopped teasing and tried to save her from the embarrassment. âI didnât tell him anything. I was merely making fun of you. I know you are going to scold me, but donât be angry, and speak slowly.â
Mu Mingtangâs eyes slowly widened, from doubt to disbelief to anger, and finally, faintly, on the verge of explosion. Xie Xuanchen was afraid that she would say something like sleeping in separate rooms again out of anger, so he swiftly held one of her hands, and put his other hand on Mu Mingtangâs shoulder, and immediately changed the subject, âItâs going to be your birthday soon. How do you want to celebrate it?â