Forced by fate – Destined to be his Wife

“What are you doing, where are we going?” TangShi resisted as YuZhi came to her side of the jeep, took her hand and slid her out beside him onto the path of the car park that seemed familiar. It was a pretty day and the sun was peeking out from behind grey clouds with a promise of sunshine by noon. A gentle breeze pushing around them and giving a sense of tranquility to this already emotional day.

“Distracting you and reliving a happier memory. We both need a time out and figured this would be a nice change before we go home and face this head on. Processing time.” YuZhi coaxed her with him, aware of how sensitive today’s appointment was and the fact they both now knew she was pregnant. He didn’t want to dwell on the what if’s for at least a few hours and aimed for some head space to dodge reality for a little longer. TangShi had been quiet and pensive since leaving and hadn’t even noticed the route he took out here instead of heading home.

“Don’t you have work? You already keep taking time off to accompany me. I feel like lately you rarely go and that can’t be good for Leng group.” TangShi tried to object knowing ZhengLi had been left to cope alone again today but YuZhi didn’t seem to care. He had chosen time with her to make sure he was where she needed him at any time of the day.

“This is more important. Tang, our future, our relationship, is my priority right now. Even grandfather understands that and knows I need some time off. Let me worry about work and you focus on yourself.” He reminded her of the old man’s suggestion to go on a long vacation, with a raised brow and small half smile that etched out his left dimple and she relented. Always weak when those dimples came out to change his whole face into a youthful boy.

“Okay but today only. You can’t ignore work and leave ZhengLi to take your place. Linlin will never see him if he’s doing the work of two of you. She’ll disown me for ruining her love life.”

“Shhhh… let me worry about that. I can handle Linlin. Come on.” YuZhi quieted her with a thumb pressed to her lips while his other fingers were hooked under her chin and led her away from the car, pulling her behind him with linked hands and expelling his demons and woes while out walking with her. They both needed some normalcy brought back after the trauma of these past weeks and that’s what he was aiming for.

The Bund was busy today with a street carnival and renaissance themed fair and TangShi broke into a bright smile when she saw the pop-up carts and booths ahead on the two-kilometer walkway. The little temporary seating areas scattered conveniently and the music swaying gently this way on the breeze. Glancing at YuZhi’s back and strong shoulders as he forged a path for her and filled with a sudden warmth at why he brought her here. She wondered if he was reliving the night they kissed for the first time and how perfect it had been up until that point. Her stomach fluttered with a woosh of butterflies taking off and she stopped fighting this and let him lead the way, touched that he would think of bringing her here today.

Unlike that night when the carnival was low key, relatively peaceful, and spread out, this was a crammed and vibrant space and planned event that seemed to be teaming already in the early hour of the day. A makeshift market set up in the middle who were selling a huge array of goods and foods. A ton of foreign tourists because of the great weather and a busy children’s entertainment area complete with characters in costume.

“This is crazy busy.” TangShi called out as they mingled into the crowd and made their way through red roofed stalls and ducked under low hanging bunting and fairy lights. TangShi’s inner sunshine mood starting to uncurl and look out at all the awesome things to see and experience and she started to forget her woes. Her dark mood lifting and her eyes grew wide at everything around her. Returning to the girl who had shared the fun with him here last time.

“Tang, come here.” YuZhi pulled her into him and slid his arm around her shoulder in a protective manner, turning his body slightly to cocoon her with his own and keep her shielded as they managed through the densest part of the crowd. “It’s a Jianbing truck, that’s why it’s so crowded here. You want some? Are you hungry yet?” YuZhi knew TangShi loved the Chinese breakfast crepes and it was not noon yet so the perfect time to order. She had skipped eating with him earlier because of her nausea and now he knew that keeping her fed was more important than before.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Yes, please.” TangShi beamed with excitement, stretching on her toes to peer over the nearest customers and could only make out a tall blue food truck about ten meters away. The smell filling the air and pointing out to her she was starving as her stomach rumble din protest of being empty.

The reminder of being sick this morning as why she hadn’t eaten hit her like a slap in the face as the memory of the test earlier came at her all at once. It was the weirdest and minorist thought that triggered it, even though she hadn’t forgotten. Her mood nosediving once again and she became foolishly tearful and swallowed down a clogging lump in her throat from rising. Her heart aching with the stupid reaction to something so nothing but it felt like it opened the floodgates.

“YuZhi…” She tugged at his sleeve, stopping their progress, turning her face away so passerby’s wouldn’t see the instant tears as they began to roll down her face. Unable to hold it in to stop it as the thoughts tumbled out and she felt instantly fragile and vulnerable and lost. Her emotions hitting her like a slam for no obvious reason and YuZhi glanced down expecting her to be telling him how she wanted her crepe, only to find her sobbing.

“Hey… are you crying? Tang, baby, what is it?” YuZhi cradled her inside his jacket, pulling the side over her face so she could hide and guided her out of the crowd towards the inner edge of the Bund that was quitter than the river railing side. Concern rising and becoming instinctively protective over her. “Tang, talk to me? You were fine a second ago.” He pleaded, checking he rover in case she was hurt and confused at the change.

“I’m sorry. It’s just…” She couldn’t’ say the words ‘it hit me hard that I really am pregnant’ without thinking of the ‘and it might not be yours’ and choking up again. Her mind back to that scrambled mess she was driving here and pulling inwards once more to hide her guilt and shame from him. Her eyes glazing over as she sniffed it back and clawed to reel it down again. She truly never thought she would be a woman in this situation where she might be carrying the child of a man she wasn’t married to.

“Maybe this was a mistake. I’m sorry. I thought it would cheer you up and give us a time out from reality for a little while longer. I’ll take you home. I didn’t mean to upset you.” YuZhi deflated, feeling stupid for forcing her here right after learning the news but he hadn’t known how else to deal with it. Scared of his own feeling when he sat down to fully process sit and needing to be around her in a setting where they couldn’t think about it just yet.

“No, wait. Don’t. I don’t want to leave.” TangShi cried as he tugged her sideways, still shielding her from prying eyes and she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest. Inhaling his scent deeply and looking for the calm and safety he always brought her before. Needing that now and trying to pull herself back to calm.

YuZhi hugged her tight, walking her backwards with careful steps to get them out of the pedestrian traffic and rested his chin on top of her head once he had her in a quieter spot. Making her invisible to people walking by and pulling his jacket around her fully so he looked like a hugely pregnant man with four feet.

“I’ll be okay in a minute. We can go for a walk. It’s just everything catching up and so much I have to unpack mentally. It doesn’t feel real.” She mumbled into the safe haven he had created around her with his arms and jacket, cocooning her face in a little tent area and he ducked his head down to beside hers to join her in there.

“I shouldn’t have brought you somewhere so busy. I’m sorry.” He nuzzled his cheek against hers and closed his eyes savoring the intimacy she was allowing and missing this more than anything. His own chest aching with this closeness. He longed for the days when he could touch her anytime he wanted, hold her close and kiss her and desperately wanted that all back. The baby was a hurdle but not impossible to get over and being like this drove home just how much he needed her. In time he knew it wouldn’t hurt either of them anymore and he could lay it to rest as long as he had her.