Chapter Two: My Beloved Is Right Before Me

The sins of the predecessors bring misfortune to the descendants.

Shen Jin’an smiled awkwardly, then formed a heart shape with her fingers. “How could that be, darling? I love you so much. What I meant earlier was that there are many people outside who want to harm you, so you have to be careful—someone might sneak into the hospital and pull out your oxygen tube.”

“I was wondering why Li Li suddenly got so angry just now. Did I hear it wrong?”

Little Glutinous Rice Cake was young and couldn’t fully grasp such harsh terms as “harm you” and “pull out your oxygen tube.” Still shaken from the earlier fear, he blinked his big, moist eyes, vaguely nodding in understanding after hearing Shen Jin’an’s explanation.

Shen Jin’an was utterly charmed by this human cub and ruffled his hair.

Ah, the texture’s so good—one more ruffle.

One ruffle led to another, and she lost all restraint.

Gu Li stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She never expected her stepmother to dare bully him like this in front of Dad!

The television said that being patted on the head would stunt your growth.

And Shen Jin’an hadn’t stopped; was she trying to make Li Li a lifelong shorty?

The little cub stubbornly moved his head to the side, only to be met with even more relentless ruffling and an evil, chuckling “hee hee hee.”

“I remember your resume said you’re pretty good at cooking. Make me something to eat.”

Still savoring the sensation, Shen Jin’an withdrew her hand, glanced at Gu Yichao’s portable monitor and the electrodes on his chest, then noticed the doctor behind her hesitating to speak, and felt a bit speechless.

Seriously, his body is in this state, yet he’s still thinking about food. Gu Yichao really is a big glutton.

Despite her complaints, Shen Jin’an went to the kitchen and prepared a small bowl of baby-style, colorful and fragrant Four Happiness meatballs for the little one, along with a bowl of noodles.

At the dining table, Gu Yichao didn’t pick up his chopsticks. A faint, barely perceptible confusion stirred deep in his eyes.

In his dreams, Shen Jin’an was a hopeless klutz—someone who didn’t even touch water with her ten fingers, and who could burn down the kitchen just boiling instant noodles.

Could it really have been nothing but a nightmare?

That fleeting thought was soon overshadowed by another possibility.

Since he could dream of it, perhaps Shen Jin’an had other means—maybe this was all a disguise to lull him into false security.

Meanwhile, Gu Li’s eyes sparkled with desire as he saw the plump, round little meatballs in the bowl. His lips couldn’t help but smack, as if he was already tasting something delicious.

But he hadn’t forgotten these meatballs were made by his stepmother, nor had he forgotten that she used to say he was too fat and shouldn’t eat his fill. So he shyly asked, “Can I really eat this?”

“Of course you can, all of this is for Li Li.”

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Jin’an pinched the little one’s baby fat.

Hee hee hee, just as soft as they say.

Pinch again!

Focused solely on the meatballs, the little cub didn’t notice his cheeks being attacked. “Can Li Li really, really eat it?”

“Really, really can.”

“Li Li really, really, really can... uh.”

Not knowing how many more times the little glutinous rice dumpling would ask, Shen Jin’an decided to take matters into her own hands, picking up a small meatball and gently feeding it to Gu Li.

He chewed half a meatball, his cheeks puffed like a little squirrel’s, then excitedly exclaimed, “So tasty!”

Shen Jin’an brought over a baby seat and placed it beside Gu Yichao, slipping a small spoon into his hand and winking at him. “Honey, you handle the rest of the feeding.”

Of course, Gu Yichao had rushed back from the hospital in such a hurry because he was worried about the little one at home.

Instead of lingering here awkwardly, he might as well enjoy the luxurious bed awaiting him!

A wife with such insight was truly rare.

Thinking this, Shen Jin’an gave herself a mental thumbs-up, feeling no guilt about having a patient just out of intensive care and still in a critical observation period feed the child.

After all, in the original story, Gu Yichao would live a while longer and wouldn’t have any problems feeding a child.

But others unaware of the plot didn’t see it that way. Moreover, when Gu Yichao heard Shen Jin’an call him “husband,” he suddenly coughed several times, looking extremely weak.

One doctor couldn’t help but speak up: “Mrs. Gu, this isn’t really appropriate. After all, your husband…”

“That’s true,” Shen Jin’an suddenly realized, concerned about Gu Yichao’s medical team. “I just had a bad fall and my head still hurts. Could someone please check me out?”

Everyone was speechless at Shen Jin’an’s words except for Gu Li, who paid no mind to the outside world, his full attention on the Four Happiness meatballs, eating with his head nodding and little feet kicking happily.

Just then, the phone Shen Jin’an had left on the table rang. On the screen, in bold pink letters deliberately set to be flirtatious, flashed the word “Darling.”

In this moment, it was painfully ironic.

Shen Jin’an froze. Damn it, why did that scumbag who was hanging over the original owner have to call now?

Gu Yichao noticed Shen Jin’an’s hesitation and nervousness. Looking at the familiar phone number on the screen, he sneered, “Why not answer it?”

Shen Jin’an looked embarrassed. “My darling is right here. This must be a phishing scam.”

“... Answer the call.”

“All right, husband.”

Gu Yichao was unyielding, so Shen Jin’an steeled herself and picked up.

“Darling” didn’t necessarily mean lover, right? She refused to admit it—maybe it was a close female friend, that excuse might do.

But misfortune compounded: in her rush, Shen Jin’an’s ear brushed the phone, accidentally activating the speaker.

The next second, a deliberately husky, oily voice filled the entire dining room: “Baby, when are you planning to pull Gu Yichao’s oxygen tube? Big brother can’t wait to be with you.”

Hearing this, Shen Jin’an felt darkness descend before her eyes.

She curled her toes in embarrassment, wishing she could immediately dig out a spacious three-bedroom apartment and bury herself inside forever.

But cruel reality still loomed. She blurted a careless reply: “Everything is predestined. Gu Yichao’s life is decided by heaven, not you. You’d better give up struggling.”

Having dealt with it, Shen Jin’an quickly moved to hang up.

But she was too slow. The man’s voice came again from the other end, this time higher pitched and full of displeasure.

“Shen Jin’an, you didn’t say that just now. You’re not suddenly interested in Gu Yichao and changed your mind, are you?”

“Of course not, my heart belongs only to you~” How ridiculous...

“Hmph, that’s more like it. I’ll be waiting for good news from you, baby.”

Ugh.

Shen Jin’an was utterly disgusted.

Nobody knew how much pain she had endured to keep from throwing the phone across the room!

At this point, Gu Yichao’s face went icy, his oppressive presence undeniable. “This is a misunderstanding too?”