Wu Lina's mother was at home with her the entire day. She was pampering her like a baby. Wu Lina was fed up of the two elderly ladies in the house. First it was Mrs. Jiao, and now to add to her woes it was her mother. All the servants of the house, which were now twenty-five in number, were on toes. Wu Lina was not allowed to even put her foot on the floor. Whatever she wanted was presented to her on the bed.

That day life became dreary for her and she longed for Yang Xinyu. Was becoming pregnant such a huge thing? Wenqian had prepared so many different types of rice cakes for her and Mrs. Jiao was kind of competing with her mother in making dishes after dishes. What the hell did they think Wu Lina of? Wu Lina shook her head out of exasperation. The two women were only interested in making her as fat as possible even if it wasn't required.

She was watching TV when the text arrived. She saw that it was a message from Pān Shīshī. Wu Lina was alerted because she had never received a message from her. When she opened the message, she was horrified. All she could see was that half of Pān Shīshī's boobs were protruding out and Yang Xinyu was working on his table.

Wu Lina became anxious. She was pained to see that picture and almost felt like crying. But Wenqian had entered the room so she instantly closed the picture and stashed the phone away. Wenqian noticed that Wu Lina had become sad. She went near her and stroked her hair affectionately, "What happened Wu Lina? You don't have to eat so much. I just want to present you with something you can eat considering you have been vomiting all day."

"It's nothing mother. I am so happy you are here," she said circling her mother around the waist. A tear that had revolted came out. But Wu Lina quickly wiped it away.

Wenqian leave her to go to the kitchen again with a pat on her head. When she left, Wu Lina picked her phone again and called Yang Xinyu but the call went unanswered. Half an hour later she called him again. This time she heard a female's voice. She sounded as if she was panting, "Ah! Slowly…" she said. Then she giggled and said softly on phone, "Whoever it is, sorry Yang Xinyu is not available." She giggled again and disconnected the phone.

Wu Lina pursed her lips in frustration. She decided to go to the office. However when she said that to her mother she met with the expected resistance. How could she tell her mother what was happening? Meekly she agreed to her mother but her agitation and tension were at highest level.

Moments later all that she had eaten was vomited out of the system. Wenqian and Mrs. Jiao saw her with desperation visible on their faces. "What do I make that will stay in your stomach Wu Lina?" asked Wenqian with teary eyes.

Wu Lina just rushed to her and holding her tightly, she started crying. Wenqian thought that Wu Lina was perhaps agonized about her food intake, so she said, "Don't worry Lina, we will make something tastier for you." But Wu Lina was inconsolable.

Wu Lina thought she would ask all her question from Yang Xinyu in the evening. She thought she would throw a huge tantrum.

As the evening fell, Wenqian left to go back home and the house became quieter. Wu Lina waited for Yang Xinyu. She went outside as the evening turned into night and she checked that the time was 8pm but Yang Xinyu hadn't come. She became worried.

An hour later Yang Xinyu called her, "Wu Lina, how are you feeling baby?"

He talked to her as if nothing had happened and she was burning with rage. "I am good. When are you going to be back home?" she asked yearning to see him.

"Baby, I have to go on an important business trip to City B. I will be back in three days. I am sending the driver to collect my suitcase," he informed her with a melancholic tone. "When I come we will go to visit the doctor, okay?"

Wu Lina asked, "Who all are going with you?"

"There are four managers and Pān Shīshī. Why do you ask darling? Are you so bothered about me?" he asked her lovingly.

When Wu Lina heard Pān Shīshī's name, she felt as if someone had stabbed her heart. She didn't know how to breach the subject.

She heard that someone was calling him in the background. "Lina, I have to go for dinner now. I am sending the driver. Bye darling."

Before Wu Lina could say anything else, he disconnected the line. She was left wondering if there was a connection between the trip and the picture Pān Shīshī had sent. That female voice kept bouncing in her head, "Was that Pān Shīshī?"

The driver came to collect the bags after sometime.

That night Wu Lina couldn't sleep well. She dreamt of getting trapped in haze around her. She would call for Yang Xinyu, but a black figure appeared in front of her. She shouted loudly and her sleep broke. She got up with sweat beads on her forehead. When she looked at the clock on the wall, it was 5am in the morning. Wrapped in a light shawl she stepped out of the house into the garden on the east side. She sat and waited on a bench under a willow tree for the sun to rise. The pleasant breeze and the slight chill in the air calmed her nerves. She looked at the river in front of her, the tranquil water and the birds that were flying over it. It was breathtaking scenery. She was captivated in its spell and kept gazing until the sun rose to announce the breaking of dawn.

She felt better and went inside. She checked her phone but there was no call or message from Yang Xinyu.