Chapter 174: New Year
Zhu Rui listened, and his facial expression changed drastically. “Doctor, is this operation dangerous?” The doctor nodded his head and said, “Young Master Lu, I will be honest with you, based on the standards of medical care in the country now, if we were to do this operation, there would be a 70% risk factor compared to overseas medical technologies where they are more advanced. I suggest that you try exploring overseas medical treatment.” Lu Shaoming listened and did not speak. He walked out of the ward. Zhu Rui followed him and said, “President, let’s go overseas to do the operation as quickly as possible. This cannot drag on any longer…” Zhu Rui still wanted to speak, but at this moment: “Shaoming!” Ning Qing had arrived.
She went home to change into a new outfit. It was a light blue short winter jacket paired together with a white scarf. She put on white earm.u.f.fs that had come together with the scarf. The earm.u.f.fs were furry. It was what small girls wore. It made her small face look extra young and beautiful. She used one hand to hold onto a thermos cup, and another was hidden secretly behind her back. Lu Shaoming looked at Zhu Rui meaning – Don’t let Madam know. Zhu Rui hesitantly nodded his head.
Lu Shaoming walked forward, standing beside the girl. He stretched out his hand to touch the girl’s pale and clean face. Smiling, he said, “What are you hiding in your hands? Let me see.” Ning Qing shyly behaved coy and took her little hand out. “Shaoming, look! I made this for you myself!” Ning Qing’s small hand had a peanut made out of white snow. The peanut looked lifelike. It was made very accurate. Lu Shaoming’s eyes were full of gentleness. He looked at her frozen red hands and felt sorry for her. “This is for me?” He asked. “Yeah, that’s right. I hope the peanut can protect you and ensure that live a long and healthy life, without sickness or incident,” she said while blinking her eyes, smiling innocently. Zhu Rui, who was standing behind them, saw the scene play out in front of him. He lifted his gaze and controlled the tears welling in his eyes. He turned his body to leave.
Lu Shaoming did not show any expression on his face. He was a man who did not easily show his emotions. He placed the peanut onto his palm. He cupped her shoulders and brought into the ward. “Thank you, Wifey.”
“No need to thank me, haha.” Lu Shaoming placed the peanut on the bed stand. He went on the bed and used his hands to hold onto the cold and wet hands of the girl and rubbed them to give her warmth. He then brought them to his cheeks.
Feeling the warmth of his face, Ning Qing immediately smiled brightly like a flower. She withdrew her small hand. She got close to his handsome face and gave him a loud kiss on his cheek. “Hubby, you are a patient now. I should be the one taking care of you. I am not cold. You must be hungry, I will feed you some porridge.”
“Okay.” Lu Shaoming kissed her mesmerizing red lips.
Ning Qing opened the thermos. It was full of thickened millet porridge, and there was also a plate of a refres.h.i.+ng side dish. Lu Shaoming saw this and frowned. “This was what you personally cooked for me?” Was he complaining that porridge was unsavoury? Ning Qing used a small spoon to bring it to his lips and with a gentle tone, she comforted him. “Hubby, Mum said that you are sick and only can have some plain porridge. Be good. After you are well and out of the hospital, I will prepare a table full of dishes to help you regain your strength. For now, be good and eat your porridge.” Lu Shaoming opened his mouth to have a bite of the porridge. He leaned toward her white tiny earlobes and said in a low voice, “Will you prepare bullwhip soup?”
“What?” Ning Qing blushed and gave him a stare. “Acting so improper!”
Lu Shaoming looked at her and smiled gently. Sometimes, he was really jealous of that gentleness that she brought to him. If he chose to go overseas for surgery and brought her along, she would definitely care for him delicately and to the best of her abilities. He also needed her. From the time she became his weakness, the gentleness in his life, he started to have concerns. He was reduced to an ordinary man in the world, afraid of death. He had become weak. He was afraid that heaven would not give him enough time to love her properly.
Should he let her know about his illness? He craved her accompaniment for the entire process. With her beside him when he enters the operating room, the first thing he sees after he exits the operating theatre would be her smiling face…
She was his wife. But, forget about that. The surgery had its risks. He did not want to see her waiting alone, and he did not want to see her shed tears because of him. It was okay just being like this.
…
Lu Shaoming was discharged from the hospital, it was the 30th day of the last lunar month. Lu Shaoming drove to fetch the family of 3 to go to the supermarket to purchase New Years’ goods. Ning Zhenguo and Yue Wanqing went to select ingredients. Lu Shaoming pushed the cart and brought Ning Qing to shop around. Ning Qing picked a large “Good Fortune” character and showed it to Lu Shaoming. “Shaoming, shall we buy a ‘Good Fortune’ to paste it on our door?”
“Sure, anything that Wifey wants, we’ll get.” While speaking, Lu Shaoming stretched out his hand to help Ning Qing turn the word around. Ning Qing burst into laughter and said, “Hubby, you should always turn the ‘Good Fortune’ character around, then good fortune would come around to us. Hubby, haven’t you celebrated Spring Festival, and pasted ‘Good Fortune’ on your door before?”
“We never did. Our family immigrated to the United States long ago. there is no Spring Festival in America. There is only Halloween. Furthermore, in the business sector, everyone was busy. Our family had little time to gather as a whole, so we didn’t celebrate festivals,” Lu Shaoming replied patiently.
Ning Qing listened and placed the word in the shopping cart. She intimately held onto Lu Shaoming’s elbow and used her small face to nudge his wool sweater. Feeling sorry for him, she said, “Hubby is so pitiful. If, if I knew all along that you would be my husband, I would definitely give you everything delicious that I had to share it with you. And I’d have spent every Spring Festival with you.”
“Ha.” Lu Shaoming laughed and didn’t reply. Actually there was not much to pity him for. A person that endures such great honour should take on such loneliness; there was not much warmth in the Lu family, and he was used to it after all these years.
But now, he had little wifey by his side. Because of a “Good Fortune” sign, she looked upon him with such gentleness, as if he had been so wrong. She was really comforting him like one would a child. “If I knew all along that you’d be my wife, then I would not have gone to America. I will buy a house near your family. I will look at you grow up and accompany you as you grow old.” Ning Qing’s lips curled up into a sweet smile. This man is becoming more and more fluent in the language of love.
It was all because of her teachings.
Hehe.
The two walked one round around the supermarket. Lu Shaoming asked Ning Qing, “Wifey, do you have anything that you want to buy?” Ning Qing had snuck a glance at the rack at the front of the store. Her face was red. Her two pale hands were in front of her, twisted into fists. She stuttered as she said, “Hubby, I…I am in the dangerous period…” Lu Shaoming understood her meaning in a second. These few days he did not touch her. When they were alone, he could not help but keep thinking about it. But she was not willing, and always asked him to hold off a little longer. Lu Shaoming raised his eyebrows and scanned the rack. He said in a low voice, “Then you go quickly, seeing that there is n.o.body there now. Go, pick one that you like.”
Ning Qing scanned her surroundings, there was no one in sight. “Okay.” She cupped her small face and ran over. When she started to look through them, she realized something was wrong. What was this? Shouldn’t a man come to over to pick these items? How come he gave her the indication, and she was here sneakily coming to purchase it instead? She had been wronged. Oh. Ning Qing picked one and turned her body. Lu Shaoming was still situated a few steps away from her. Both of his hands were inside his pockets. She could see his figure from the side. She bit her lip to look at him. A grey coat with khaki pants. His figure was healthy and upright, tall and handsome. The bright lights of the supermarket shone on his face and highlighted his sculpture like features well. He was mesmerizing and charming.
As if she had been hit on a pressure point, she hugged the embarra.s.sing item in her embrace and looked at him in a blur. It was only then she knew she was also attracted to appearance. She was attracted to his delicate exterior.
At that moment, a young boy dashed into her vision. He was dressed in a checkered s.h.i.+rt with overalls. He appeared to be around one and a half years old, and it looks like he had barely learned how to walk. He was swaying from side to side and walked up to Lu Shaoming. Lu Shaoming was looking at an item in his hand. He felt something tug his pants. When he looked down, a small boy, soft and fair, was using his small finger to pinch his trousers. “Big Bro!” From Ning Qing’s angle, she saw the boy raise his head and open his mouth to reveal four little teeth as he smiled at Lu Shaoming with a silly grin. That man gave the boy a rough look, and used his two fingers to play with the boy’s chubby little chin. It was like he was petting a small Pekingese dog. The boy was even happier after that.
Ning Qing found this scene heartwarming; she was moved. The shadows of the adult and small child reflected on the floor. Maybe this is what he would look like as a dad. A young mum came forward to grab the boy. Lu Shaoming withdrew his gaze and looked sideways. He found his little wife looking at him with tears in her eyes. “What are you standing there for? Are you done shopping?” Lu Shaoming stood up and waved at her. “I am done.” Ning Qing blushed and walked over. Lu Shaoming embraced her and kissed her small face intimately. The two walked away. This scene was seen by Yue Wanqing. Ning Zhenguo said softly, “Wanqing, it seems like Young Master Lu likes kids very much.”
…
The last day of the lunar year was the reunion dinner. Ning Qing was in the kitchen helping her mum with some ch.o.r.es. Yue Wanqing looked at her daughter’s happy face and started to probe. “Qing qing, you have been married to Shaoming for so long. When do you plan to have a kid?” Ning Qing’s hands froze and she said embarra.s.sedly, “Mum, I am still young. I have talked to Shaoming and we have agreed that we would only consider it after 2 years.”
“What’s the difference between two years in the future and now? Qingqing, Mum knows that you are busy with your career, but you are young, Shao Ming isn’t. After the New Year, he will 31 already. When you plan on having kids, then prepare for pregnancy, then bear the kids for another 10 months, it’ll take another 2 to 3 years. Are you planning to give birth when Shao Ming is 35 or 36? Each person in a relations.h.i.+p should consider the other. Today at the supermarket, Mum could tell that Shaoming likes kids very much. He is only making a concession for you, but you also should appreciate how lucky you are. Having kids is a big event in life.”
Ning Qing thought of the scene at the supermarket. She felt that she didn’t even have the strength in her small hands to wash the vegetables; the scene was too cute.
If a man like him were a dad…
Ning Qing could not imagine. Mum was right to remind her. She didn’t consider it. Lu Shaoming was almost 31; in his heart, he probably wanted a kid. Yue Wanqing saw that Ning Qing had been won over and continued, “Qingqing, there are many young mothers nowadays. After the New Year, take the reins and have one with Shaoming. Mum also wants a grandkid. What’s more. A kid is so lonely by himself, so give Shao Ming one or two more.” Ning Qing was so embarra.s.sed that she couldn’t speak, but Mom was right.
…
At this moment, Lu Shaoming stood by the balcony to answer a call. On the other end was a warm male voice. “Shaoming, I have seen your brain scans. I have collaborated with my medical professor to come up with a plan. The risk factor is around 20%. When are you coming to Britain? I will arrange for surgery as soon as possible.” Lu Shaoming looked backwards to see a Ning Qing, who was busy with her ch.o.r.es, and replied, “I’ll be another two days. I will rush there as fast as I can.”
“Okay, Shaoming. I hope that you can come to England as soon as possible. If you drag this out too long, with your situation, your recovery would take very long.”
“Okay, I got it,” Lu Shaoming ended the call.
At this moment, Ning Qing who was smiling like a flower in full bloom, called out to him, “Shaoming, dinner’s ready.” The entire family sat at the dinner table to enjoy the reunion dinner. Yue Wanqing served a big bowl of sweet dumplings first. Ning Qing used the ladle to scoop two for Lu Shaoming then gave herself another two. She had a bite of the dumplings and Yue Wanqing, who was seated opposite her, asked, “Qingqing, what is the filling of the dumpling you ate?” Ning Qing did not answer but Yue Wanqing’s sharp eyes indicated that she knew, and she was excited about it. She smiled and said, “Qingqing, Mom prepared a dumpling filled with red date. It was eaten by you. See, this is a sign from heaven. Mom hereby wishes that you and Shaoming will give birth to a son soon.”
Ning Qing blushed, “Mum!” How could Mom say these things at the dinner table? It was so embarra.s.sing.
Ning Qing sneakily glanced at the man beside her. Lu Shaoming’s deep eyes were s.h.i.+ning brightly like obsidian. He curled his lips and was looking gently at her. Ning Qing’s heart skipped a beat and she quickly averted her gaze.
…
After the meal, Ning Zhenguo placed fireworks and firecrackers on the gra.s.s in the villa, then used a lighter to ignite them. The sound of firecrackers rang in the air. Colourful fireworks filled the sky, and the New Year was here. Ning Qing placed two hands on the stairs in the winding corridor to look. Lu Shaoming embraced her from the back and asked gently, “Like to look at fireworks?”
“Yes, I love them very much.” Ning Qing used one hand to point at the fireworks that resembled shooting stars. “Shao,ing, look there, it is really so beautiful.” As she spoke, Ning Qing turned her head to kiss his face and leaned towards his ear, “Shaoming, this year’s fireworks are the most beautiful fireworks that I have seen. They are also my favourite, because you are by my side.”
“Okay.”
Lu Shaoming looked at her abnormally bright face that was lit by the fireworks. He laughed and asked, “Ning Qing, do you have any New Years’ wishes?”
Ning Qing did not answer, and asked, “Shaoming, what is your New Years’ wish?” Lu Shaoming’s two muscular arms tightly held onto her 53cm waist, and he pinched her.
“I hope that Wifey would give me a Little Ning Qing.” Aiya, he finally said it. At the dinner table just now, his gentle gaze had bright glimpse of hope. He hoped that she would give him a child.
Ning Qing’s heart was smothered by a layer of honey. She closed her eyes then opened them again to look at the fireworks in the sky. Okay, her New Years’ wish was…his New Years’ wish. Give him either a little Ning Qing or a little Lu Shaoming.
Give birth to one first, then after a few years, she would give birth to another one for him. She wanted to give birth to two kids for him.
…
After watching the fireworks, Lu Shaoming and Ning Qing went back into the room. Ning Qing went to the bathroom to bathe, then lay on the bed to see the work schedule that Xiao Zhou pa.s.sed to her. After the New Year, she would officially return to the entertainment industry! After looking for a while, there was a dip in the bed. Lu Shaoming had finished showering and came to bed. He had a hairdryer in his hand and helped Ning Qing dry her damp hair. The warm wind blowing behind her neck made Ning Qing feel extra comfortable. She threw her work schedule aside. She was just like a little squirrel moving her little head into his strong chest, and she began to drift comfortably. She had the urge to sleep.