Side Story 8: Unexpected Pregnancy

 

By the time the three children were about to graduate from middle school, nearly five or six years had passed, and Lin Chuxia still hadn’t conceived another child. She never actively avoided pregnancy, but she assumed something was wrong with her body and didn’t think much of it.

 

After all, the original owner’s health hadn’t been the best due to the tough life she had led, especially growing up. In winter, she had been forced to wash clothes in freezing river water, which surely had taken its toll.

 

Xie Jingming, however, didn’t have any particular concerns about having more children. They had discussed the matter before, and Lin Chuxia had expressed that children were a matter of fate. Given the passage of time and the fact that they were raising three children already, she thought that was enough.

 

But one morning, as their eldest was approaching graduation, Lin Chuxia suddenly felt nauseous and began vomiting without reason. Xie Jingming, worried she might have eaten something bad, immediately scooped her up in his arms and rushed her downstairs to the military hospital.

 

His strong arms carrying her so effortlessly drew the attention of onlookers.

 

Lin Chuxia, cradled in Xie Jingming’s arms in a princess carry, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. In this rather conservative and modest environment, such public displays of affection were rare. She buried her face into Xie Jingming’s chest, hoping to avoid the gazes of curious neighbors, pretending as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

 

Residents of the military compound who witnessed the scene were surprised. “Commander Xie, what happened? Is Chuxia alright?” someone asked with concern.

 

Everyone in the compound had grown fond of Lin Chuxia over the years. Not only was she warm and gentle, but she had shared tips on how to help their children excel in school. The study methods she passed on had worked wonders for many families, leading to improved grades across the board.

 

Though some of the kids complained about the extra work, feeling like they were being overburdened compared to Xie’s kids, their parents admired Lin Chuxia greatly.

 

When they saw her being carried off like this, naturally, they became worried.

 

“No need to worry; I’m taking her to the hospital,” Xie Jingming replied curtly, his face set in seriousness. After thanking everyone briefly, he quickly got into the car with Lin Chuxia and headed toward the military hospital.

 

Sitting in the passenger seat, Lin Chuxia crossed her arms and playfully glared at Xie Jingming. “You! Carrying me like that in front of everyone—how embarrassing!”

 

Xie Jingming chuckled but didn’t respond right away. He knew better than to engage in an argument over something trivial, especially when Lin Chuxia seemed better than she had earlier. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.

 

Upon reaching the hospital, however, Lin Chuxia’s nausea flared up again the moment she smelled the disinfectant in the air. She clutched Xie Jingming’s shirt, tears forming in her eyes as she fought back another wave of vomiting. Alarmed, Xie Jingming rushed to get a doctor, his worry palpable.

 

The doctor, thinking something serious had happened based on Xie Jingming’s urgency, hurried over. But after a brief examination, the doctor smiled.

 

“Congratulations, you’re pregnant!” the doctor announced.

 

Lin Chuxia and Xie Jingming both froze in shock. They exchanged glances, their wide-eyed expressions reflecting mutual disbelief.

 

“Pregnant?” Lin Chuxia echoed in surprise. “Are you sure, doctor?”

 

She hadn’t expected this at all. After so many years of nothing happening, she had assumed pregnancy was out of the question. She even thought they should use modern medical equipment to confirm the diagnosis, just to be sure.

 

“Yes, about six weeks along,” the doctor confirmed. “Haven’t you noticed any changes in your cycle?”

 

Lin Chuxia blinked, realization dawning on her. She hadn’t kept track as closely as she should have. After all, she had stopped expecting anything to happen years ago. Being a mother to three kids already, she never felt like she was missing out.

 

The doctor glanced between the couple, sensing their shock. “And by the way, you might want to ease up on… physical activity,” he added, implying the need for caution in their relationship during the early stages of pregnancy.

 

Both Lin Chuxia and Xie Jingming turned beet red, avoiding each other’s gaze as embarrassment washed over them. Even though they had been married for years, the doctor’s straightforwardness still caught them off guard.

 

Seeing their reaction, the doctor suppressed a smile. “Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

 

“Uh, yes, Doctor,” Xie Jingming said after clearing his throat. “My wife… she’s not exactly young anymore. Are there any precautions we should take?”

 

Lin Chuxia’s eyes shot daggers at Xie Jingming, her face flushed with indignation. “Not young? I’m not even thirty yet!” she snapped.

 

Sensing danger, Xie Jingming wisely changed his tune. “Yes, you’re right, you’re still young! Doctor, what should we watch out for?”

 

The doctor chuckled internally but maintained his professional demeanor as he offered some guidelines and suggestions for ensuring a healthy pregnancy. Though the conversation moved on, Xie Jingming and Lin Chuxia were still trying to shake off the earlier embarrassment.

 

As they left the hospital, Lin Chuxia was still somewhat dazed by the news. She looked up at Xie Jingming with wide, glistening eyes, her voice soft with uncertainty. “I’m really pregnant…?”

 

“Yes, you’re really pregnant,” Xie Jingming confirmed, smiling gently as he wrapped an arm around her.

 

Though the news had brought a whirlwind of emotions, Lin Chuxia began to feel a mix of excitement and worry. This was her first time truly experiencing pregnancy, and without any experienced relatives around to help guide her, she felt a bit overwhelmed. Plus, she had heard that childbirth was incredibly painful.

 

Looking into Xie Jingming’s eyes, her voice came out in a pout, “What if I can’t handle it? What if it’s too hard?”

 

Xie Jingming, sensing her distress, comforted her with a reassuring smile. “You’re strong. I’ll be with you every step of the way. We’ve got this.”

 

Still feeling a bit fragile, Lin Chuxia leaned into his embrace, nodding slightly. “Well… you better pamper me a lot during this pregnancy!” she declared.

 

“Of course,” Xie Jingming agreed easily, leading her back to the car.

 

But as they drove home, Lin Chuxia suddenly turned serious again. “I want to eat an orange.”

 

Xie Jingming blinked. “It’s summer; oranges aren’t in season. How about watermelon instead?”

 

Lin Chuxia pouted, her frustration returning. “You mean to tell me I’m carrying your child and you can’t even get me an orange?”

 

“Oranges are winter fruits,” Xie Jingming patiently explained, trying to reason with her. But then he realized something important: reasoning with a pregnant woman was a lost cause.

 

Finally, to appease her, he offered, “Alright, I’ll get you a watermelon.”

 

Lin Chuxia begrudgingly agreed, though her earlier excitement over the pregnancy had somewhat waned. Still, as they walked hand-in-hand back home, with a watermelon in tow, both knew their lives were about to change in ways they hadn’t expected.

 

—

 

As the weeks passed, Xie Jingming became more accustomed to Lin Chuxia’s unpredictable cravings and moods. Though her once calm and gentle demeanor had transformed into something more… demanding, he adjusted. After all, with her pregnant, it was his duty to make sure she was happy.

 

When Lin Chuxia wasn’t craving strange foods, she was planning for the arrival of their child. Though it had come as a surprise, they soon found joy in preparing for the next chapter in their lives—one that neither had anticipated but both were ready to embrace.