Chapter 216: How are you doing?
*WARNING. SOME MATURE VIOLENCE. PLEASE SKIP IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.*
The next day at the breakfast table, Jing excitedly asked Nana. “Sister-in-law, have you thought about any names for my nephew or niece?”
Liu Hai nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! I also want to know.”
Nana’s face bloomed into a big smile. “En. Actually, I did.”
Jinhai looked surprised. “Didn’t you say it’s quite early?”
She looked embarrassed. “Yeah…but then I thought about some adorable names.”
Jing raised his hand. “First me! How about Qiang for a boy and Xiu if it’s a girl? Qiang means strong and powerful, and Xiu means beautiful and elegant.”
Yukito raised his eyebrows.
He does have a good naming sense.
Liu Hai whined. “No! I also have thought of good names. Lixue for a girl and Sheng for a boy. Lixue meaning beautiful snow and Sheng, meaning victory.”
Jing sneered. “When did you get the time to think about names since you are always so busy in making out with Mom?”
The twin’s mouth twitched.
Nana coughed.
Jinhai gave no reaction.
Grandma Liu cleared her throat.
“Jing!!!” Liu Chunhua was horrified. Her ears had turned beet red. “Stop talking nonsense! Where did you learn to say such shameless things?”
Jing shrugged. “Well, if this old man is our father, then shamelessness is pretty much in our blood. In fact, I wonder…” Jing smirked. “With Dad’s stamina and frequency, how is it that we don’t have any more brothers or sisters?”
Liu Chunhua wanted to dig a hole and bury herself deep inside.
Liu Hai snorted. “I never wanted any child after Jinhai. This bast*rd had hogged all of my wife’s time and love. I felt so jealous! Then she wanted to have another child six years later. I straight away refused, but she kept on being adamant. She even refused to talk to me! Only because of you!”
He sneered. “You are unwanted, Jing.”
Chunhua hit him hard. “Now, stop your nonsense, Hai.”
Jing widened his eyes, looking pitiful and heartbroken. “Mom…Dad, he is saying I’m unwanted.”
Liu Chunhua opened her arms and said, “Stupid, come here. Don’t listen to him.”
Jing ran into her arms and sniffled. “Mom, if I’m unwanted, then I better leave this villa. I don’t want to make you suffer because of my presence. It will be hard, but I will try to forget that I ever had a family.”
She hugged him tightly. “Don’t bother with your father. Mom loves you a lot.” She glared at him. “Hai! You can have your good night’s sleep in the living room tonight!”
He panicked. “Hehe~~ I was just joking, Chunhua. He is such an idiot to take it seriously.” He looked at his son in disdain.
Jing sneered at him victoriously.
You are no match for me, Dad.
Liu Hai scoffed.
Liu Chunhua finally remembered. “Nana, didn’t you say that you have thought of the baby’s names? What are they?” She was curious.
Nana sheepishly smiled. “They are not as deep and meaningful as Dad and Jing suggested. But they are cute. How about Jiaozi or Chunjuan?”
This time Jinhai couldn’t help but cough hard.
The twins – “…”
Liu Chunhua – “…”
Liu Hai – “…”
Jing – “…”
Even Grandma Liu – “…”
Everybody stared at her, and Nana had, like a very silly smile on her face. It absolutely didn’t look like she was joking at all.
Jiaozi was the Chinese name for dumplings, and Chunjuan meant spring rolls.
…Name of the baby relating to food? Aren’t you taking your job as a chef a little too seriously?
“Aren’t they cute?” She was excited to know their opinion.
So, you are actually serious about it!?
Liu Chunhua chose to remain quiet.
Jing awkwardly smiled. “…Haha..hahaha…They are really n-nice.”
Liu Hai cleared his throat. “Very unique, I must say…”
The twins speechlessly looked at her.
Nee-chan, we never knew you had such a lousy naming sense! Do you feel nothing wrong about naming your child after food?
They suddenly felt terrible for their nephew or niece.
Jinhai managed not to crack his gentle smile. He tried hard to make his voice sound like he had absolutely no problem with those names. He put forth every word really very cautiously.
“Nana. You see…They are really brilliant names, no doubt about that. They are…different.”
Nana smiled brightly. “Really?”
Jinhai felt utterly guilty for lying to her.
“Yes. But…how about I choose the names? Don’t get me wrong. Actually…” He put on a pitiful expression. “I am really excited to name our child. You said it was quite early, so I gave up on searching for any names. But now I really want to do it.”
He pursed his lips. “Can I?”
Nana quickly said, “Of course, you can! It’s the same thing if you give a name or me.”
No, it’s really not the same thing; everybody silently thought.
Jinhai smiled. “Thank you. You are the best.”
Everybody heaved a huge sigh of relief.
The baby is saved!
Grandma Liu was watching all the banter from the sidelines. She lowered her head and silently continued to eat.
Jinhai’s phone buzzed, and he narrowed his eyes, looking at the incoming caller.
“Hm?”
“Boss, the woman is shouting and screaming, saying that she wants to meet you. She is violently protesting to let her go.”
“Hm. Coming.”
Jinhai said, “I have to leave for office. Nana, come I will drop you to Natsukashi.”
He really didn’t want her to work in this condition, but she assured that she would take care of herself. So, Jinhai assigned three bodyguards, two males for her protection, and one female for both her protection and to help her out so that she doesn’t tire herself.
Nana seemed to think for a second and said, “Uh…Today, I’m thinking of staying at home.”
He nodded. He quickly pecked her forehead and left.
—
Last night Jianyu couldn’t confess the truth after knowing about Serena’s pregnancy. Today, he had made up his mind.
Jianyu held her hand. “Serena…there is something about my past that you should know.”
Serena looked at him thoughtfully. She knew that there was an inexplicable sadness inside him. Sometimes, she would see him standing near the window at night, staring blankly at the night sky, lost in a trance. She had no idea what he was thinking about.
But, at that time, his back would seem so lonely and worn out that her heart ached as if a million needles have stabbed it. It felt like he had lost everything. He had nowhere to go. And the hurt and pain in his eyes reflected it.
She wanted to know, and she wanted to ask him. She wanted to help him.
But, what right did she have as a mere roommate to let him share his pain with her?
So, she would try to cheer him up by doing stupid antics like annoying him or flirting with him just to take his mind off it.
She softly asked, “Is this about your ex-girlfriend?”
Jianyu hesitated. “Yes, but not all of it.”
She slowly nodded.
“Tell me.”
“I want to tell you, Serena. I want to tell you so badly, but I know you would hate me.”
Serena was shocked.
What is it regarding his ex-girlfriend that will make her hate him? How is she connected?
“Do you have a child from her?”
“What?” He looked confused. “No!”
She sighed in relief. “That is good. Then why would your past hurt me?”
“Because I’m…”
—
In a dark underground cell, the whole place was echoing with a woman’s screams and cry.
She was tied on a cold, hard bed. Her wrists were locked above her head to the bed with chains. Her legs were also spread wide, and shackles similarly clasped her feet.
She was completely naked. Her body was covered in bruises and marks. Her hair was dirty and messed up.
A man was on top of her, fu*king her like crazy. He was roughly caressing her body, and ruthlessly thrusting his length inside her.
The woman was trying to struggle and protest but to no avail. She was tightly bound to the bed.
“Hahh…Hahh…”
“Ahnnn! So f*cking good. No matter how many times I do you, you always feel so tight and good.”
Suddenly, a man came inside.
“Hey, get aside all of you. Boss is coming.”
The woman’s eyes flew open. She was frantically staring at the entrance. She was desperate to meet this man who had trapped her in this hell. She didn’t even know who he was and what grudge he had against her. She only wanted to beg him to release her.
The door opened, and a man entered, carrying a cold and ruthless aura around him.
The woman slowly widened her eyes in horror. She was in disbelief to finally know the man behind her misery.
H-him?
Jinhai stared at the woman, lying in a pathetic state. He could see the shock on her face.
He slowly smiled.
“How are you doing, Tang Suyin?”