“Speak your mind directly,” Pei Jing said. After getting along for a few years, they understood each other to some extent.
Pei Jing looked straight at her. In her eyes, there seemed to be a layer of mist, blurry, so that one could not see the bottom of her heart.
With just one glance, Pei Jing knew her heart knot was still not untied.
“I just feel she's not easy either. Look at the birth of these children, she was busy before and after every time, and I heard her health has not been good since that hospitalization...” The rest went unsaid but the meaning was clear.
Pei Jing did not force her either, just gave some advice and persuaded her.
After all, they were relatives. No matter how big the disagreements Zhou Nan and An Jingzhi had in the past, they have been trying their best these past few years.
Even if they were not by her side, they would often send things to the children.
He had never mentioned An Jia’s matters in front of her before. It was only this once, as he saw Zhou Nan’s haggard state and felt she was truly pitiful.
Zhi Xia fell silent.
She could see Zhou Nan’s dedication.
And her conscience would not let her say that it was all voluntary.
But she was also afraid. Afraid that after giving her true heart, what she would get in return was still harm.
Was it not good that everyone just got along plainly, with no one able to hurt anyone?
Pei Jing gave Zhi Xia time to think it over, knowing of her inner turmoil, and did not push her.
Because everyone knew Zhou Nan had it hard, but the biggest victim in this matter was still Zhi Xia.
The harm she had suffered in her childhood were pains that would stay with her for life.
There was a knock on the door. Pei Jing called out, "Come in."
Liu Jun and his colleagues pushed the door open with solemn looks, not a trace of familiarity on their faces.
Having learned from Pei Jing yesterday that they would be discharged today, Liu Jun had come over as soon as he started work.
Shen Hongmei’s rescue had failed. That made things much easier.
After all, it had only been Pei Jing and Shen Hongmei at that time. Wang Caixiang had already identified Shen Hongmei. The charges were confirmed. As for Shen Hongmei’s purpose of sacrificing her own child to replace Zhi Xia’s, as well as the grievances between Zhi Xia and Shen Hongmei, it depended on what the couple said.
Zhi Xia barely said anything, only answering a couple sentences when asked about herself. Pei Jing handled the rest.
Afterwards, Liu Jun and the others left.
The room fell quiet again.
"It's over now. Let's get ready and go home?" Pei Jing asked her.
"Mm," Zhi Xia nodded.
"Then you two wait here for a bit. I'll go pay the fees."
Zhi Xia nodded again.
After a long while, she felt a shadow fall over her face with her eyes closed. Opening them, she saw him standing silently at her bedside, gazing at her.
Zhi Xia was shocked. "What's wrong?"
Wasn't he going to pay the fees? Why wasn't he moving?
Pei Jing closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were completely clear.
He bent down, his lips gently touching her forehead and lingering for a moment. Then he said gently, "What I just said was careless. Don't feel burdened or overthink it. If you're unwilling, then forget it. Your own happiness is most important."
In his childhood, he had received much care from Old Master Pei. An Jingzhi was much older than him, so their relationship had always been quite good.
Back then life was difficult. It could be said that without An Jia’s help, he simply would not have survived.
But that was his own business and should not shackle Zhi Xia.
"It's not that I'm unwilling." Zhi Xia sighed. From an outsider’s perspective, although Zhou Nan and An Jingzhi were at fault before, it was not to an unforgivable extent. As for the tragedies in her past life, those were ultimately only her experiences.
"Pei Jing, when I first found out I wasn't Gao Jia’s child, I also hopefully thought of finding my biological parents. But you know what, when my biological father first saw me and named me An Meixia, I knew they might not be able to love me as I wished, just as I couldn't give them the peace they wanted..."
So she could accept Third Brother naming Wan Qing, but firmly said the name was already picked when Zhou Nan asked her about their child’s name.
Pei Jing was taken aback.
Because of the child swap, they had forgotten about An Meixia and Zhao Runze.
The sudden mention made him recall that Zhi Xia had gotten angry at him for looking for Zhao Runze before she gave birth.
His stance grew awkward as he unconsciously avoided her gaze. "You’re the children’s mother. No one has more say than you regarding them. I’ll go pay first and come get you two later."
Zhi Xia noticed the fleeting panic in his eyes the moment she said "An Meixia".
Not only did Pei Jing recall the matter, so did she.
Zhi Xia secretly clenched her fist. This matter was not over yet. She would see how he explained himself. For now she wouldn’t fuss over it with him.
The child gave a soft moan. Zhi Xia reached out and upon contact—as expected, he had peed again.
She could only helplessly get up and change his diaper, grumbling with irritation all the while, "Stinky brat, you don’t cherish your mother one bit. Do you know how much pain I went through birthing you? Next time you want to pee when your dad is around, so he can change your diaper. Got it?"
An ZhiXian couldn’t help letting out a muffled laugh from the doorway.
Seeing him, Zhi Xia felt no shame, only mischief as she blithely ordered, "Third Brother is just in time. Go change your nephew’s diaper."
She was in better spirits than yesterday, but her body was still very weak.
Giving birth itself took a toll, let alone multiples. Even snow fruit could not instantly restore her.
"On it." An ZhiXian’s face flashed with helplessness, but his eyes were full of mirth.
Resigned, he took the diaper from Zhi Xia and laid out the padding before wrapping up the child again and placing him next to Zhi Xia—task complete.
When Pei Jing returned, he saw An ZhiXian was also there and asked Zhi Xia, "Second Brother is also hospitalized. Shall we drop by him on the way out?"
Zhi Xia nodded. Pei Jing carried the child while An ZhiXian held their luggage, and together they left the room.
Seeing An Zhiren, he still had an IV hooked up while holding a pen and occasionally jotting things down.
Noticing their entry, he put his things away. "Going already? School starts the day after tomorrow, right? Can Second Brother make it? Don't force yourself. Take time off if need be and focus on recovering first." Seeing his complexion, Zhi Xia felt that besides looking paler, he seemed fine otherwise.
Moreover, he had the energy to organize teaching materials. It appeared his injuries were not too severe.
