"Your son has secrets from me," Fu Wenwen said, looking at Lu Chengsen. Lu Chengsen chuckled. "It must be that new friend he made. I've seen the two boys playing together a few times."
"An An said it was a girl, not a boy," Fu Wenwen reminded him, though she was curious. Everyone knew Lu Ze An had a mysterious friend, but they had never had a chance to meet her.
They had been living here for almost half a month, and she still hadn't encountered her. Lu Chengsen had seen her several times, but she had never met her.
"Respect An An. When he's ready, he'll definitely bring her to meet you," Lu Chengsen said, smiling as he led Fu Wenwen back to their room.
Fu Wenwen sat on the bed. Lu Chengsen looked at her belly, took a deep breath, and carefully pressed himself against it.
"Are you being silly? It's only as big as a fingernail," Fu Wenwen teased, watching Lu Chengsen's foolishness.
"But it's already inside you..." Lu Chengsen looked at Fu Wenwen with tears in his eyes. "I never thought I'd have this day."
He had always believed he would die in battle, time and again, using his own body to shield his comrades so they could live. Lu Chengsen had always thought that even if he died, no one would miss him, because his own family had abandoned him. Who else would need him? Now he had Fu Wenwen, An An, and the child he and she were expecting. It all felt like a dream, yet it was so real.
Fu Wenwen heard Lu Chengsen's words and gently stroked his head, indicating the baby's position. "It's here."
"Can you see it?" Lu Chengsen asked curiously.
Fu Wenwen chuckled and nodded. "I can feel its presence, see its little heart beating."
"It's healthy."
Lu Chengsen hugged Fu Wenwen. Fu Wenwen felt the wetness at her neck and hugged him back, her heart aching.
"Mom! Mom, help!" Suddenly, Lu Ze An's cry for help echoed in Fu Wenwen's ears. Fu Wenwen immediately stood up and rushed towards the garden.
Lu Chengsen followed closely behind her. As soon as Fu Wenwen arrived in the garden, she saw Lu Ze An shouting anxiously. Upon seeing Fu Wenwen, he immediately pointed at the pond.
"Mom, Xiao Xiao has sunk!"
Before Fu Wenwen could react, Lu Chengsen leaped into the water. He saw a small figure at the bottom of the water. As Lu Chengsen swam towards her, the surrounding plants suddenly came alive and pushed the girl at the bottom of the lake towards him. Lu Chengsen knew Fu Wenwen was helping him. He immediately grabbed the girl and swam towards the surface. The plants at the bottom of the water pushed Lu Chengsen upwards, propelling him out of the water.
"Dad!" Lu Ze An shouted excitedly.
"I'm fine," Lu Chengsen said, smiling at Lu Ze An, and handed the child in his arms to Fu Wenwen.
Fu Wenwen took the child and then reached out to Fang Chen, pulling him out of the water.
"Mom, Xiao Xiao isn't breathing," Lu Ze An whimpered, burying his face in Lu Chengsen's chest. Seeing that his father was alright, he then looked at Fang Xiao Xiao in Fu Wenwen's arms.
"She is breathing," Fu Wenwen said, pressing acupoints on Fang Xiao Xiao's body and using her abilities to expel the water from her.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Fang Xiao Xiao coughed weakly, water gushing from her mouth.
"Waaah." Feeling that she was safe, the frightened Fang Xiao Xiao burst into tears.
"It's okay, it's okay," Fu Wenwen said, hugging her comfortingly.
"Xiao Xiao, you're alright now. My mom and dad saved you," Lu Ze An said happily. He knew that as soon as he called out, his parents would come running.
"Thank you, auntie," Fang Xiao Xiao said, looking at Fu Wenwen. Her face flushed as Fu Wenwen's gentle gaze fell upon her.
"Thank you... uncle," Fang Xiao Xiao said, looking at Lu Chengsen. She seemed afraid of him.
"Let me hold her!" Fu Wenwen was about to pick up Fang Xiao Xiao when Lu Chengsen immediately took the child from Fu Wenwen's arms. Feeling the child's body stiffen instantly, Lu Chengsen bent down and picked up Lu Ze An.
Seeing her companion also being held, Fang Xiao Xiao relaxed slightly. Lu Ze An comforted her, "Don't worry, my dad is different from your dad. He won't hit you."
"Hit?" Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen both heard Lu Ze An's words and looked seriously at Fang Xiao Xiao in Lu Chengsen's arms. Fang Xiao Xiao was wearing thin clothes that clung to her small body after being drenched. Through the fabric, they could see bruises all over her body. Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen exchanged a look.
When Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen returned from the garden, the housekeeper saw the children, all wet, and immediately ordered hot water to be prepared.
"Xiao Xiao, we're both girls. Would you like to take a bath with auntie?" Fu Wenwen said, holding Fang Xiao Xiao.
"Okay," Fang Xiao Xiao replied obediently after looking at Fu Wenwen.
When Fu Wenwen removed Fang Xiao Xiao's soaked clothes, revealing her small frame, Fu Wenwen's eyes darkened, and her heart burned with anger. Fang Xiao Xiao's body was covered in whip marks of various sizes, cigarette burns, large scalds from boiling water, and bruises from being pinched. There were no injuries on Fang Xiao Xiao's face, only on her body. No wonder she always wore so many clothes; she was hiding her scars.
"Xiao Xiao, who did this to you?" Fu Wenwen asked, holding Fang Xiao Xiao close, her heart aching.
"...It was my new mom and dad," Fang Xiao Xiao choked out, leaning into Fu Wenwen's embrace. It was the first time she had received care from an adult.
"Why would they hurt you like this?" Fu Wenwen asked softly, carefully washing Fang Xiao Xiao.
"My new mom was pregnant with a younger brother. Dad said I was useless, a money-loser, and couldn't even cook, just wasting food," Fang Xiao Xiao lowered her head, her eyes dim.
"Was Dad like this before?" Fu Wenwen was taken aback.
"Mom died giving birth to my brother. Dad never liked Mom, and he didn't like me either," Fang Xiao Xiao looked at Fu Wenwen with a wronged expression. She didn't know what she had done wrong to make her father dislike her so much. Since her stepmother arrived, her life had become even more difficult. But as long as she didn't appear before them, she would be fine, and her father wouldn't hit her. That's why she had learned to climb over the wall and hid outside during the day, only coming home to eat when she was hungry.
"Besides your mother, do you have any other relatives?" Fu Wenwen asked Fang Xiao Xiao.
"Yes, but they don't like me either..." Fang Xiao Xiao's voice grew even lower. "They all prefer boys."