Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

Du Jingtang’s hand rubbed at his nape. He mumbled to himself, refusing to be put down by his cousin. “I have always been an expert at minding my own business.”

Chu Lui started driving. Both his hands were on the steering wheel. However, as he stared at the road ahead, he did not know where he should go.

He was sad, but in the end, he chose to go home. He had not forgotten that he had a wife at home, waiting for his consolation. It did not matter that he was extremely exhausted.

Li Manni quickly started patting her face when she saw Chu Lui’s car parked at the doorway. It was her attempt to make herself look better. After all, her mood had been so low for the past few days. It should be enough. If she went on like this, it would be frustrating for everyone, especially Chu Lui. She clearly knew his limits after being married to him for the past four years.

The door opened, and Chu Lui entered. A shadow ran and threw itself into his arms. Instinctively, he caught the person. There was no reprimanding because he was treating her well. Out of habit, he had doted on her, told her he loved her, and of course not blame her for anything.

“Lui, I’m sorry to have made you worry about me.” Li Manni held onto his waist. She was finally greeting him with a sincere smile. “Lui, let’s try again to have a baby. I miss him.”

Li Manni asked in anticipation. He rarely touched her since she became pregnant. She had wanted a child, a real one. Not someone made out of air and a bunch of lies.

“Sure. We’ll see when you are feeling better.” Chu Lui rested his hand on her head and caressed her hair. The two of them stood like this at the door in silence.

Li Manni’s expression was sweet while Chu Lui’s usual calm demeanor had a hint of indescribable exhaustion.

Occasionally, his hand would touch his chest where he kept the pieces of shredded paper that never left his side. His hands clenched up even more as they remained around Li Manni’s body.

This woman was his wife. She had just lost their baby. How could he think of another woman—one who he hated?

As he thought of her, he wondered if that hate was still the same. Was it even hatred?

“Lui, I’ll get someone to cook your favorite dishes. We can have dinner together.” Li Manni seldom had an appetite like now, and Chu Lui could see no reason to reject her. Then again, he hardly rejected her or said no to her.

When there was no baby between them to bind them together, the dynamic between them seemed to change. Was it got to do with him? Or was it her?

“Okay.” Chu Lui nodded and sat on the sofa. He watched as the woman shuffled in and out of the kitchen in her slender body as his hand went to his breast pocket, searching for a stick of cigarette to smoke. He came to the realization that he had stopped smoking ever since he found out that Li Manni was pregnant.

This was the first time he was giving some serious thought about his relationship between himself and Li Manni.

Alas, all he could tell himself was she was his wife.

Did he love her?

The answer was... he did not wish to think about it. There was no need to.

Their life appeared to be calm, but no one knew that the calmest thing they could have did not have to come from the world or another person. It was within themselves.

...

A child’s head with extremely short hair had her hands stretched out, trying to reach up for the doll which had been placed on a cabinet. She had a pair of bright and black eyes that were so full of spirits that they were beckoning for one to fall in love with her.

She was already standing on the tip of her toes, but still, the doll was out of her reach. She pouted and put both her hands on her waist.

“I’m telling you if you don’t come down to me now, I won’t be bothered to play with you again.” She turned her face away and started to look for something that she could stand on. There were many things that she could stand on. However, she found that she could not move a single thing.

Unwilling to admit defeat, she stretched her hands out again towards the doll. It remained on the cabinet, at the same place. This time, a huge hand grabbed the doll. Her eyes followed the doll as it moved down. She blinked and threw herself forward. A man caught her in one successful scoop.

“Uncle.” Her sweet voice called out. Gao Yi carried her tiny frame up. He had the doll, and he handed it over to her. Rainy promptly hugged it tightly.

Gao Yi held her as he sat on the sofa. He pinched her soft, tender cheeks. It had only been a few months, and the little imp had already gained so much weight. He bet Ruoxin could no longer carry her.

“Rainy, where is Mommy?” His huge hand was caressing her newly grown hair. It was so soft that he could not stop himself from touching it.

“Mommy has gone to the market. She wanted me to take care of the house when she is not around, and I must not open the door if a big gray wolf comes.” Rainy sat on Gao Yi’s lap while she repeated Xia Ruoxin’s instructions to her, word for word.

“I see. The big gray wolf did not come here. Instead, I came back.” Gao Yi smiled lightly as he held Rainy closer in his arms. He looked around his house. It looked like a home and felt like one, too. Xia Ruoxin had kept the place clean from clutter. There was even a pot of lucky bamboo on the table. It had a refreshing green and livened the house.

That woman never ceased to amaze him.

The doorbell rang. Gao Yi put Rainy down and walked towards the door. Xia Ruoxin had short hair, too. Her hair might have been short, but her naturally born beauty had not diminished. She looked equally good with a bald head or in short hair.

“I told you to let me do the marketing. I don’t want you to tire yourself out,” he said as he quickly took all the groceries that Xia Ruoxin was carrying. She had bought their daily necessities. Yesterday, he had come home late after he finished a surgery, and so he did not have the time to do the marketing. This was why it was up to Xia Ruoxin to do it.

“It’s okay. I am feeling great. I don’t feel tired at all.” She shook her head as she saw the disapproval in Gao Yi’s eyes. Her face had a very healthy blush from carrying so many things and walking for a long distance.

“You dare say. Have you forgotten that your arm is still weak? Are you wasting my efforts that I’ve put in for the past few months?” Gao Yi was helpless as he reprimanded her again. What was he going to say to make this woman understand?

He couldn’t bear to scold her, and he couldn’t possibly hit her. Only a worthless man would hit a woman. Even if she wanted him to beat her, he would be unwilling to do so.

He carried all the groceries into the kitchen while Xia Ruoxin followed from behind. With the fridge door opened, Gao Yi started to unpack, and Xia Ruoxin did the same. Both of them worked together in unison, matching each other as though this was something that they do frequently.