Back Then, I Adored You

Even though it was already spring, the weather was still chilly. When Lu Bancheng saw Xu Wennuan wearing only a thin woolen coat, he could not help but approach her and ask, “Nuannuan, why didn’t you dress more warmly before going out? Aren’t you freezing?”

Xu Wennuan did not bother looking at Lu Bancheng. As always, he was invisible to her as she removed her shoes, changed into her slippers, and headed for the guest bedroom.

“Nuannuan, I want to talk to you…” Lu Bancheng reached out and gently grabbed Xu Wennuan’s elbow.

She acted as if electricity had jolted her. She aggressively flung away his hand and took a few steps away until there was a safe distance between the two of them.

Lu Bancheng stared at the empty space within his fingers for two seconds before he retracted them. When he talked to Xu Wennuan, he continued doing so in an indulgent manner, saying, “Nuannuan, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk to me now. Go and eat something. I cooked dinner. You can’t be going hungry anymore…”

Xu Wennuan turned around and headed for the guest bedroom again before Lu Bancheng could finish talking. He chased after her and, before she could close the door, he held it open. “Nuannuan, there’s really something I have to talk to you about.”

Xu Wennuan acted like he had not spoken. She tried exerting force and pushing the door shut but, as her body wasn’t feeling well, she couldn’t muster much strength. The door didn’t budge.

Changing her tactic, she stopped pushing, raised her head, and stared coldly at Lu Bancheng without any intention of speaking first. He knew she was waiting for him to keep talking, and he refused to continue being politely obtuse. Instead, he dug out the pregnancy test strip from his pocket and dangled it before Xu Wennuan’s eyes. He said directly, “Nuannuan, the cleaner found this in the bathroom this afternoon.”

Xu Wennuan frowned but did not say anything.

“You’re pregnant, right?” Even though Lu Bancheng had already known about this for a few hours, mentioning it again filled his chest with delight and surprise.

Xu Wennuan pursed her lips and maintained her silence.

“Nuannuan, I was really happy when I found out about this. I called you so many times this afternoon and sent you so many messages, but you ignored me. Where have you been?

“Nuannuan, I bought some great food for you on my way back. It’s all in the kitchen cabinet. And…” Lu Bancheng pointed at the pile of books on the coffee table. “I went to the bookstore and bought books on pregnancy and childcare. You don’t have to read them; I’ll read them.

“Oh, right, being pregnant you need to be careful. Quit your job so you can stay at home and take care of the baby. I’ve already asked my secretary to find a caretaker. If you think that one isn’t enough, I can ask her to find another one also.”

At this, Lu Bancheng realized that he had not expressed his feelings for her yet. He touched the ring box in his pocket and said, “Nuannuan, I know that you’re still mad at me now. I’m at fault for what happened that night; I did it in a moment of stupor. You can scold me and hit me, but can you give me a chance for the sake of the child? I really truly love you very much. I promise that I’ll be good to you my entire life—and to our child…”

As he said that, Lu Bancheng raised the brocade box. Before he could open it, Xu Wennuan, who had stood in front of him and heard him talk for so long without saying anything, finally said calmly, “You don’t have to trouble yourself.”