Volume One, Chapter Five: I Am Not His Wife

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Shen Sisi sneezed.

She had sneezed several times along the way, not knowing who might be muttering about her.

Niuniu saw the frown forming on her mother’s brow and pressed her small hand against it, trying to smooth it out.

“Pretty mommy, don’t be sad. Niuniu’s very good.”

Shen Sisi affectionately rubbed her soft little face, her heart melting completely. “Niuniu is good. Mommy isn’t unhappy because of you—I’m just thinking about what Uncle said…”

If what Gu Chengfeng said was true, then indeed it would be very difficult for him to find a wife. Perhaps he might even be mocked by some thoughtless people.

She couldn’t promise how others would treat senior Gu, but she could guarantee that she would be grateful for life and treat him well.

If… they really got married, they could continue to get along like brother and sister as they did now.

That way, senior Gu wouldn’t feel awkward, and she would be spared the hardships of marriage, childbirth, and raising children.

No matter what, they still had Niuniu, their daughter.

Of course, that was secondary. The most important thing was the phrase that moved her deeply—military district hospitals had far better resources and conditions than county hospitals!

There would definitely be top domestic experts to cure Niuniu’s tuberculosis.

She felt a stirring in her heart.

But on second thought, her disgraced reputation and poor family background were like two mountains, as impenetrable as a bronze wall and iron fortress, standing between them.

Enough, she decided. Let’s go back first.

Halfway there, Niuniu leaned on Shen Sisi’s shoulder and fell asleep.

Even asleep, those little hands clutched tightly onto Shen Sisi’s clothes, not daring to loosen for even a moment.

When Shen Sisi reached her aunt’s door and was about to knock, she heard her aunt crying inside, accompanied by her uncle’s scolding voice.

“Cry, cry, cry, all you do is cry. Isn’t this your niece’s fault? Carrying a child around to every blind date. Now look, the whole county knows. You’re shameless, but I still have a reputation to keep.”

Zhao Shilan cried even harder, feeling very wronged.

“I told you to set her up before, but you refused, saying you couldn’t lower your face. Now you’re complaining it’s shameful?”

“I… I thought she’d just stay a day or two, get the medicine, and leave. Who knew she was serious? Marry if you want, but bringing a burden like that? This is nonsense.”

“Now the neighbors all know our family has an unmarried young woman with a child. How do you expect our Tingting to get married?”

“She and Huaidong are about to get engaged. Huaidong is a university student, and his father is the director of the paper mill. If this big happy event is ruined, I swear I won’t forgive you…”

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Uncle Chen Jianguo’s dislike for her was not a recent thing.

Every time she came to stay at her aunt’s, she faced Chen Jianguo’s cold stares.

Thinking that she visited only a few times a year, stayed only a day or two to get medicine for Niuniu, Shen Sisi had endured it quietly, pretending it didn’t matter.

She hadn’t expected her blind dates to cause so much trouble for her aunt’s family, even affecting her cousin Chen Ting’s reputation and marriage prospects.

Clutching Niuniu tighter, Shen Sisi hesitated about knocking when she heard Chen Jianguo sigh.

“Tingting called this morning crying, saying Huaidong’s parents postponed their meeting. Judging by her tone, they must have heard about this. Hurry up and get that Shen Sisi out of here. Don’t have anything to do with her ever again!”

Aunt cried almost to the point of fainting: “Don’t have anything to do with her? Chen Jianguo, don’t forget our jobs and this house were all arranged by my little sister and Sisi’s mother. Don’t forget where you came from.”

“That’s ancient history. Why bring it up now? Your little sister has been dead for so many years. We’ve taken care of Shen Sisi for several years, but it’s her own fault for being reckless and ruining her reputation. That’s not my problem. Why don’t you think about me, about your own daughter?”

The argument went on. Shen Sisi, hand hovering over the door, slowly withdrew it.

She turned, clutching Niuniu, and walked away, the quarrel fading behind her…

Over the years, her aunt had taken good care of her, but her aunt had her own family, children, and many difficulties. She couldn’t burden her aunt any longer.

It seemed she had to make a decision soon.

As she stepped outside, a cold wind blew fiercely. Niuniu suddenly gasped in cold air and began coughing violently.

Shen Sisi quickly found a sheltered spot and gave Niuniu two pills, only to realize the medicine was running low—barely enough for today.

She had registered for the medicine at the hospital a few days ago and planned to pick it up soon. The timing was just right.

Niuniu coughed without stopping until her little face turned red, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Only then did she finally stop coughing.

“Mommy… Niuniu hurts…”

Shen Sisi tucked Niuniu’s scarf tighter, took out a metal water bottle from her bag, and fed her two sips of warm water.

“It’s okay. Mommy will go buy your medicine… Our Niuniu will be good, take the medicine, eat well, and get better quickly…”

Niuniu gave a soft sound. She also wanted to get better quickly so Mommy wouldn’t be so tired.

After soothing Niuniu, Shen Sisi searched every pocket for loose change, then stood up and headed straight toward the hospital…

Inside the hospital, Gu Chengfeng and Feng Yanzhou had bought a fruit basket and stopped by to visit an old comrade.

Just as they came downstairs, Gu Chengfeng’s eyes caught a familiar figure.

“Doctor, I registered a few days ago. How come there’s no medicine? My child is seriously ill and really needs this medicine. Please help me find a way…”

The doctor looked troubled. “Sorry, comrade, the medicine supply is tight. Even if you registered, there’s nothing we can do. Please wait a bit longer; it should arrive from the provincial city in two or three days.”

“Two or three days? We only have enough medicine for today. We can’t hold on that long…” Shen Sisi was on the verge of tears. Without medicine, how could Niuniu survive?

The doctor sighed and was about to dismiss her when a tall man leaning against the doorway walked directly behind Shen Sisi.

“Sisi!” Gu Chengfeng’s voice gently struck the back of her head.

Her heart tightened. She had met him again!

The second time, in just as awkward a situation.

“Senior Gu, Commissioner Feng.” Shen Sisi forced a bitter smile and greeted them, her eyes brimming with tears.

Gu Chengfeng lowered his head and saw her flushed face filled with anxiety. Without reason, a pang of sympathy struck him.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing…” Shen Sisi smiled as if nothing was wrong. She didn’t want to reveal her embarrassment or make Gu Chengfeng worry.

She was reluctant to speak, but Gu Chengfeng had no intention of letting it go.

He turned to the doctor. His gentle face instantly hardened, filled with coldness and hostility. “Doctor, what’s going on?”

The doctor shivered under Gu’s piercing gaze. Seeing how gentle he was with Shen Sisi, he assumed they were a couple.

“Comrade, your wife came to buy rifampicin, but there’s no medicine. The provincial city hasn’t delivered it yet, so there’s nothing we can do…”

Wife...

Shen Sisi and Gu Chengfeng both froze, their faces flushing crimson.

Gu Chengfeng silently thought the doctor seemed much more agreeable now, but his happiness lasted less than three seconds before he heard her hurried, repressed voice.

“Doctor, don’t say that. I’m not his wife…”

Shen Sisi hurriedly explained, worried it would affect his reputation.

Gu Chengfeng’s face darkened. Was she really that bothered?