jdhmnovel Chapter 104 Being Loved
Chapter 104 Being Loved
"As for the rumors, I don't have any good solutions, but if you and Uncle are willing, I can marry Yueyue immediately."
"You don't need to worry about the property. I can sign a prenuptial agreement. I won't touch a single penny of Yueyue's property. I also have some assets under my name that can be transferred to Yueyue!"
"Also, after the baby is born, I will go back to work. I can earn money to support the family, although it won't be much, but it will be enough to ensure that Yueyue and the baby have enough to eat and wear." He had thought about how to support his family in the future. After he finished speaking, he kept staring at Zhu's mother.
Whether or not Zhu's mother believed him, she showed no expression in response to his reply, and Shen Yanqiu couldn't discern her attitude either.
Time ticked by, and Shen Yanqiu was anxious, but she remained calm on the surface. She just kept clutching the hem of her clothes and stood carefully in place, waiting for Zhu's mother's answer.
Zhu's mother remained silent for a long time, only telling him that she would think about it, and then said no more.
Shen Yanqiu did not receive a definite answer, and her heart was filled with anxiety. When she walked out, she looked dejected.
Just then, Zhu Tingyue came in and, seeing him like this, assumed that his mother had scolded him.
He rushed over, hugged her, and gently comforted her, "Don't be sad, I'll handle it. Mom's just angry with me, don't take it to heart!"
Shen Yanqiu buried his head in her arms, his voice muffled: "Yeah, I'm fine."
Zhu Tingyue gently patted his back. She had previously thought that Shen Yanqiu was proud and concerned about his image, but now it seemed that he was actually quite fragile.
After coaxing her upstairs, Zhu Tingyue went downstairs to find her mother.
The moment Zhu's mother saw her, her face immediately turned long.
After just a fleeting glance, Zhu's mother quickly turned her head away, refusing to look at her again.
However, Zhu Tingyue remained remarkably calm and composed in the face of her mother's cold and unfriendly attitude.
She knew very well that she was there to solve the problem.
Therefore, no matter how coldly her mother treated her, Zhu Tingyue firmly told herself that she could not be controlled by these emotions, and that she must remain calm and rational in order to deal with everything that might happen next in the best possible condition.
Sitting down next to her mother without ceremony, Zhu Tingyue abandoned her usual act of whining and said in a formal tone, "Mom, I know you're angry, but it takes two to tango when it comes to children. If I don't want to, how can Shen Yanqiu get close to me?"
"Besides, I'm already this old, isn't it normal to have a child? The country is encouraging two or three children now, and I only have one! Moreover, experts say that you should have children when you're young, and I'm in my early twenties, which is perfect!"
Hearing this, Zhu's mother became furious and yelled at her, "The experts say we should have more children? Why doesn't he have any himself? Let him have them! I don't care if he has ten or eight! Zhu Tingyue, do you even know what I'm angry about?"
Zhu Tingyue gazed silently at her emotionally charged mother, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her, as if a million ants were gnawing at her heart.
She opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something to comfort her mother, but her throat felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and she could only utter a soft murmur: "Mom."
The sound was as faint as a flickering candle flame in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.
However, despite its faintness, the emotions it contained were so deep and complex, including heartache for his mother, guilt, and unspeakable helplessness.
Zhu Tingyue calmed herself down and continued, "Mom, I know why you're angry."
“You’re angry that I’m immature. I’m still a child myself, and now I have to take on the responsibility of raising a child.”
"You're angry that I don't love myself properly and that I don't think about the consequences of my actions."
"You say you're angry, but in reality, you just feel sorry for me and worry about me! You're afraid I'll suffer, afraid I'll have to endure the pain of pregnancy and childbirth!"
“You’re not upset that I had a child. You’re worried that if I had a child so early, I wouldn’t be the bright and flamboyant Zhu Tingyue anymore, and I wouldn’t be able to do whatever I wanted!”
“Parents love their children, so they plan far ahead for them. I know you love me. But now that we have a child, I can’t just abandon him, can I?”
“I grew up under your and Dad’s care and love, and I also want to give my child a warm and loving home! Isn’t this what you and Dad have always taught me? To love and to be loved are not contradictory things!”
She spoke softly, and it was as if Zhu's mother saw her daughter as she used to be. The difference was that now she was not only loved, but she had also learned to continue to love.
While touched, Zhu's mother still asked her, "But can you accept Shen Yanqiu's identity? Including the outside world's evaluation of him, won't you mind the gossip when you attend various occasions in the future?"
Zhu Tingyue smiled, unconcerned about the issue: "Mom, the person I love, Shen Yanqiu, isn't defined by his status or position. To me, it doesn't matter what his identity is, as long as he's Shen Yanqiu, that's enough!"
“I love his youthful present, and I love his future. As long as he doesn’t change, he will always be Shen Yanqiu. As for what others say, I can’t control that. Everyone has a mouth, and I can’t stop others from saying what they want.”
“You and Dad have such a good relationship, didn’t you hear any rumors when you were young? Even now, aren’t those people still jealous of your relationship and making sarcastic remarks from time to time? I haven’t seen you separate from Dad because of this!”
She was logical and well-reasoned, and she could give her reasons for every question her mother asked.
Knowing that her daughter had made up her mind, Zhu's mother asked one last question: "You've said so much, considering everything, so is Shen Yanqiu willing to have this child?"
This question stumped Zhu Tingyue, who hesitated before speaking. Zhu's mother pressed on, "He's still essentially a man. How can he accept having a child?"
"Besides, even if he's willing to have children now, the physical damage from childbirth is permanent. If you switch back later, won't you still have to bear the consequences?"
Zhu Tingyue had never learned about this kind of knowledge. It seemed that everyone thought that women getting pregnant and giving birth was a natural thing, but no one told them about the risks and pain of childbirth.
Zhu Tingyue didn't know if Shen Yanqiu would still be willing to keep the child if he knew all this.
Seeing her confusion, Zhu's mother said gently, "You are both young, think about this carefully! You can keep the child on a whim, but what about the future? Your situation is so special, it's hard to say whether you can switch back later. Making this decision now is too impulsive."
Zhu Tingyue could hear the disapproval in her mother's tone, but she remained firm in her decision: "Mom, I really want to keep this child, even if I have to give birth myself!"