Chapter 13 Flashback Three

At six o’clock in the morning, the alarm clock rang on time. At the first sound of the alarm, Wen Lan Sheng quickly pressed the alarm and habitually looked at Fan Xia.

Her messy, soft long hair was spread out on the soft pillow, her gentle face sunk into the down pillow, sleepy and lazy, seemingly undisturbed by the alarm.

Wen Lan Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, brushed away the stray hair on her forehead, lightly kissed her forehead, then got up and went to the kitchen to prepare food.

Xie Cen, being older, was already up early. Seeing Wen Lan Sheng get up so early and enter the kitchen to prepare food, he asked, “Are you making breakfast or lunch?”

While cutting tomatoes, Wen Lan Sheng said, “Both. The dishes in the employee cafeteria are always the same few styles, Xia Xia might not like them, and she’s used to my cooking, she definitely won’t be accustomed to others’ cooking.”

Seeing his own son being so considerate for Fan Xia, Xie Cen couldn’t help but sigh, “Sons are just not good, not even married to Fan Xia yet, and already completely devoted to her, getting up at six o’clock to prepare breakfast and lunch, even your own parents don’t get this treatment.”

Wen Lan Sheng gave a reproachful look and laughed, “Dad, stop teasing me.”

“Alright, alright, no more jokes, let’s talk seriously.” Xie Cen leaned in close to Wen Lan Sheng’s ear earnestly: “Last night, you two…”

Wen Lan Sheng’s face instantly turned red, nearly dropping the knife in his hand, shocked and shy: “You, you all heard?”

“We couldn’t hear inside the room, but last night I woke up halfway through sleep feeling thirsty, so I came out to get a glass of water, you two… your relationship is really good, even your mom and I weren’t that passionate when we were newlyweds.” Xie Cen had an ambiguous look of someone who’s been there.

Wen Lan Sheng covered his ears, shouting in embarrassment: “Dad, stop talking.”

“Still shy in front of your own father.” Xie Cen pulled down Wen Lan Sheng’s hands and said: “It’s good that your relationship is strong, you don’t know how many couples fail at the seven-year itch, if that aspect isn’t good, no matter how good the relationship is, it can’t last, women will eventually cheat.”

Wen Lan Sheng carelessly poured the tomatoes into the soup and said, “Xia Xia and I have been together for more than seven years, don’t compare us to those ordinary couples.”

“Not seven years? Didn’t you get together in college?” Xie Cen asked.

Wen Lan Sheng stirred the seafood soup in the pot nonchalantly, saying, “About that, we confessed our feelings to each other before the college entrance exam, and naturally got together after the exam.”

“I see, childhood sweethearts indeed have a stronger relationship than ordinary couples,” Xie Cen said.

Seeing that he had successfully deceived Xie Cen, Wen Lan Sheng let out a small sigh of relief.

They did indeed confess their feelings before the college entrance exam, but wasn’t the second year of high school also before the exam?

Ever since Fan Xia’s parents had an accident, only he had wholeheartedly stayed by Fan Xia’s side, devoting himself to her, giving her warmth. At first, Fan Xia was still somewhat guarded towards him, but as time passed, Wen Lan Sheng clearly felt that the way Fan Xia looked at him was different from how she looked at other male classmates, and everything that followed came naturally.

Wen Lan Sheng never dreamed that one day he would completely possess Fan Xia, becoming Fan Xia’s boyfriend.

He was ecstatic, happy beyond control.

At the end of the second year of high school, in that hot summer, he gave himself completely to her.

The dense smoke gathered before his eyes, Wen Lan Sheng’s thoughts gradually drifted away, as if returning to that summer night of first tasting the forbidden fruit, thoroughly and passionately. He curled up in Fan Xia’s arms, excited and overjoyed to be Fan Xia’s first man, especially when Fan Xia leaned down to his ear, her hoarse and lingering voice rubbing against his ear, saying she loved him, Wen Lan Sheng’s soul convulsed with happiness.

He hugged Fan Xia and cried heartily.

Fan Xia kissed his tears incomprehensibly, asking, “Lan Sheng, why are you crying? Did I hurt you?”

Wen Lan Sheng shook his head, hugging Fan Xia tightly. He cried because he was happy, but also because he felt guilty. He would atone for his mother’s sins, he would replace Fan Zhu Ren and Jie Uncle to love her for a lifetime. No one in this world would love Fan Xia more than him, he was willing to give everything for Fan Xia.

The young and innocent, once touched by lust, become insatiable.

He developed a taste for it and would cling to Fan Xia for it at every opportunity, but also due to youthful ignorance, they didn’t take any contraceptive measures. By the time they realized, he was already three months pregnant.

At that time, he was only seventeen, about to sprint for the college entrance exam, but he didn’t panic because of the arrival of this child. He even found direction in life because of this child’s arrival.

He wanted to give birth to this child.

It was his and Fan Xia’s child, he couldn’t give it up.

Wen Lan Sheng naturally knew that premarital pregnancy was shameful. If his parents found out, even if they didn’t beat him to death, they would disown him. The school would expel him, his future, his everything would be ruined.

But just thinking about nurturing a child belonging to Fan Xia in his belly, he felt that everything he was about to face was no longer a nightmare, it was just a test of becoming the father of Fan Xia’s child. Being able to become the father of Fan Xia’s child was an honor to him, he was willing to do anything for Fan Xia.

By the time Fan Xia found out about this, it was almost four months.

His lower abdomen was slightly protruding, he could hide it from his parents, but not from her.

Fan Xia gently stroked his belly, more tenderly than touching herself. Wen Lan Sheng could feel her love for this child, after all, this child in his belly was the only person in this world who truly had a blood relationship with her.

This was also another private reason for Wen Lan Sheng to love this unborn child, besides his own love for it.

With this child, his relationship with Fan Xia would advance further. After being with Fan Xia, he was always anxious, living in constant fear of Fan Xia changing her heart. If they had a child, this child would become an eternal bond between them. No matter how Fan Xia might change her heart in the future, for the sake of this child, she would definitely look back at him.

But this tenderness didn’t last long. Fan Xia stroked his face with pity: “Lan Sheng, let’s get rid of it.”

Wen Lan Sheng covered his belly and stepped back two steps, shaking his head desperately: “I don’t want to, this is our child.”

“Lan Sheng, you can’t give birth to this child. You should study, you should go to college, not become a father at an underage age.”

“But I don’t necessarily have to study, I don’t necessarily have to go to college. Xia Xia, I want this child, I really want to keep it, this is our child.” Wen Lan Sheng held her hand, tears spreading: “Xia Xia, I will be a good father, believe me.”

“I believe you.” Fan Xia hugged him, kissing his tear stains: “But Lan Sheng, we will have children in the future, this child, it’s not the right time, let’s get rid of it. After we get married in the future, we can have many, many children, okay?”

In the end, Wen Lan Sheng compromised.

He was willing to do anything for Fan Xia, including getting rid of this child.

He chose to take a day off on the monthly exam day, not letting Fan Xia accompany him, because he heard that seeing blood during an abortion was unlucky for women.

Because he was underage, he couldn’t go to a regular hospital, he could only choose a small clinic. He remembers the later events vaguely. He only remembers that the smell of disinfectant was very unpleasant, he was in a lot of pain, he bled a lot, his child disappeared before he even had a chance to name it.

“Lan Sheng? Lan Sheng?” Fan Xia’s voice sounded in his ear, Wen Lan Sheng suddenly snapped back to reality.

Fan Xia turned off the gas stove, her warm fingertips gently pinched his face, smiling: “If you keep cooking, the seafood soup will turn into seafood mush.” Wen Lan Sheng laughed, hiding the sadness in his eyes: “You’re up so early? Why didn’t you sleep a bit more?”

“I couldn’t sleep anymore, I came to help you.” Fan Xia picked up the kitchen knife, ready to assist him.

“No, you just changed into these clothes, don’t get them smelling like the kitchen. Breakfast is already in the dining room, you go eat first, I’ll be done here soon.” Wen Lan Sheng shooed Fan Xia out of the kitchen.

Xie Cen laughed: “Our Lan Sheng, really raised for nothing, completely devoted to you.”

Fan Xia took a sip of milk, smiling faintly: “Then many thanks to uncle and auntie for raising such a good husband for me.”

Xie Cen was amused into loud laughter: “You’re just sweet-mouthed, not as sweet as our Jing Jing though.”

Mentioning Wen Jing, Xie Cen suddenly changed from his previous relaxed manner, saying with slight worry: “Speaking of Jing Jing, she’s all alone in Europe, it’s really pitiful. She finally found a hobby in skiing, but because she doesn’t have money, she can’t afford ski equipment.”

Wen Lan Sheng was just putting the seafood soup into a thermos. Hearing Xie Cen say this, he frowned deeply and was about to speak when Fan Xia spoke up.

“Having a hobby is a good thing. I just got paid today, I’ll transfer a few tens of thousands to Jing Jing later.”

“Oh my, how could we?” Xie Cen smiled so much he couldn’t close his mouth.

“Just consider it as some support from her future sister-in-law,” Fan Xia said with a smile.

Wen Lan Sheng tightened the thermos unhappily, packed the lunch box, and walked out of the kitchen.

“I’m done eating, uncle, take your time.” Fan Xia stood up and took the things from Wen Lan Sheng’s hands, preparing to leave.

Wen Lan Sheng saw Fan Xia to the door, reluctantly smoothing her slightly upturned collar, his tone slightly reproachful: “Why give Jing Jing so much money, she’s not going skiing, she’s clearly just fooling around. You give her so much money, she’ll definitely be overjoyed and pay even less attention to her studies. Well, that school she bribed her way into is just a diploma mill anyway, what studies are there to speak of.”

“Don’t say that, we’re all family. Besides, uncle said that in front of me, how could I not give money?” Fan Xia said softly.

“Actually, he wouldn’t have given you a hard time if you didn’t give money.” Wen Lan Sheng tugged at her sleeve, his eyes alluringly charming: “It’s me marrying you, not my dad marrying you.”

Fan Xia burst into low laughter.

“Don’t laugh.” Wen Lan Sheng pinched her palm: “Anyway, don’t casually give Jing Jing money in the future, understand?”

“Mm, understood.” Fan Xia was still laughing, covering her mouth.

“Alright, go to work then, drive carefully.” Wen Lan Sheng kissed her face, watching Fan Xia enter the elevator, took a deep breath, and returned to the house.