The thing they’d tried so hard to keep hidden had been exposed so abruptly. Even though the Xia parents had lived for over fifty years, they were still completely caught off guard.
The two of them stood at the doorway. One person stood in the living room, holding a glass of water. The silence stretched on for nearly a full minute.
It was Xia’s mother who finally broke the ice. She stepped forward a little awkwardly, tucking her hair behind her ear and slightly bending forward to hide her pregnant belly. “Yeah, well… I haven’t been feeling great these past few days. Turns out I’m pregnant, so I decided not to go. Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back?”
Qingli gave a faint smile. “I wasn’t planning to, but I got homesick. Nothing much going on at school, so I didn’t cancel the ticket.”
After she said that, Xia’s mother felt even more ashamed. She glanced at her husband.
Xia’s father, on the other hand, was much more composed. He took two steps forward and said, “You’re back; that’s all that matters. Go get some sleep. Your mom and I almost thought we were being robbed.”
Qingli didn’t respond. She just stared at her mother’s belly like a girl who couldn’t accept reality, her gaze locked on it as if searching for an answer. “Mom, this belly… you didn’t just find out recently, did you?”
Xia’s mother stiffened. After all, this was the daughter she’d loved for over twenty years. Even though she wanted a son, it didn’t mean her daughter wasn’t important. She softly said, “Well…”
Sensing her wife’s hesitation, Xia’s father stepped in, supporting her and speaking righteously. “That’s right. We’ve been planning to have a second child from the start. We were going to keep it from you, but now that you know—so what? We’re having this baby, and it’s not up to you.”
Qingli’s smile faded. She set down her glass and looked at them expressionlessly. “Mom, Dad… you’re not young anymore. I get that you want another child. But Mom, you’re at an age where having a baby could be dangerous. What if something goes wrong?”
“Pfft!” her father spat, like he could ward off bad luck just by doing that. “What nonsense! Your mom’s perfectly healthy!”
“Oh, sure,” Qingli sneered. “Like spitting can magically make everything go smoothly.”
Xia’s father’s face darkened. He glared at her.
Qingli turned to her mother. “Mom, do you think your body’s in good enough shape to handle a pregnancy without issues?”
Her mother looked away, unable to meet her daughter’s clear, penetrating gaze. She frowned slightly. “Qingli, I’m already pregnant…”
“Then terminate it. You’re only four months in. It’s far less harmful to your body than carrying to term.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! That’s a life!” Xia’s father snapped, furious.
Her mother didn’t agree either. She clutched her belly, looking at her daughter like she didn’t recognize her. How could her child suggest aborting a baby?
Qingli’s tone hardened. “It’s a four-month-old fetus. It’s not a fully formed person yet. I know you want a son, but what if it’s another girl? Or what if this pregnancy hurts Mom’s body? Or is the child born unhealthy? High-risk pregnancies multiply the dangers!”
Her mother went pale. She knew these things deep down—just didn’t want to admit them. Other women her age had babies just fine, so why not her?
Her father wasn’t listening at all. He barked, “Look at you! You come home and immediately start lecturing us! I’m telling you now—this is between me and your mom. It has nothing to do with you!”
Qingli raised her voice, too. “Nothing to do with me? Are you seriously telling me that no matter what happens to this kid, I won’t have to pay a single cent? If that’s how you feel, I’ll record it right now—if something goes wrong, I’m staying out of it!”
Her father hadn’t expected her to say that. His eyes widened in shock and anger, his face turning green as he pointed at her.
Qingli calmly raised her phone, revealing the recording screen. She tilted her chin slightly. “Go ahead. Say it. I’m recording.”
“You’re sick in the head!” her father exploded after a long pause. His face was dark as he growled, “We’re your parents. That child will be your blood sibling. If you abandon them, you’re heartless!”
“So what you’re saying is, you expect me to be responsible, but I don’t get a say? I’m just your tool now, is that it?” she fired back.
Her father’s face twitched, and he glared at her without answering.
Even though that’s exactly what he was thinking, he didn’t believe the burden would be too much. It’s just a kid—how expensive could it be? It’s not like they expected her to raise it alone.
Seeing the situation spiraling, Xia’s mother quickly tried to ease the tension. “Qingli, it’s so late. Get some rest, okay? We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Qingli glanced at her. Seeing her mother force a placating smile, her heart ached. Despite everything they had done in her past life, right now, they were treating the original her with kindness. How could the original not feel anything?
She nodded. “Fine. I’ll go to my room.”
As she turned and walked away, her mother tugged gently at her father’s sleeve.
He snorted coldly and led her to their bedroom. Once the door was closed, he grumbled, “We raised that girl for nothing. She’s so selfish! Wants you to get rid of the baby, unbelievable!”
His wife, still shaken by everything Qingli had said, asked anxiously, “But… what if she’s right? I haven’t felt well this whole pregnancy. What if something’s wrong with the baby when it’s born?”
“Nothing will happen!” her husband snapped. “Plenty of people have second kids, and lots of them are older than you. They’re fine!”
His wife relaxed a bit.
“And when the time comes, we won’t give birth at home—we’ll go to a top hospital. If there’s a problem, they’ll take care of it. No big deal.”
“You’re right,” she smiled. Her heart finally settled.
Meanwhile, Qingli had overheard parts of the conversation in their bedroom.
She let out a silent sigh. Her goal this time… had probably failed.
She’d spent a lot of money on the flight, hoping that while it was still early in the pregnancy, she could persuade them to terminate it. A minor procedure might be hard on the body, but compared to childbirth, it was nothing.
Children shouldn’t be brought into the world on a whim.
Even if accidents are sometimes unavoidable, the birth of a child should come with at least some sort of future planning.
In her past life, the original host’s mother was seriously harmed by childbirth. If the original host hadn’t married into a well-off family that took care of her mother, she wouldn’t have lived longer than her daughter.
If Qingli had been this second child, to be honest, knowing she’d been born into this kind of family, she would rather not have been born at all.
Her parents would be 40 or 50 years older than her. By the time she was barely grown, they’d already be elderly. If the family’s finances weren’t good and she didn’t have some external help, life would be incredibly tough. She’d even have to worry about losing her parents as a teenager and being left alone in the world.
But the original host’s father was a classic straight man — borderline misogynist. If it hadn’t been for the one-child policy back then, as the first daughter, there would have been a string of younger brothers and sisters after her. Her life wouldn’t have been as smooth as it was for those first twenty years.
Now that the two-child policy was lifted, he had already made up his mind to have another kid. Nothing was going to change that.
After all — it’s just a kid, right?
Life was hard back then, and they still survived.
So how could it not work out now?
But without a son, he would never be able to lift his head around relatives and friends for the rest of his life.
So he figured — what’s the harm in taking the risk?
He wasn’t the one carrying the child.
He wouldn’t be the one raising it either.
All he had to do was spend a bit of money.
As long as it was a boy, with his current income — and once his wife returned to work after giving birth — their combined salaries would be enough to raise a child just fine.
And if it was a boy, he could even take on manual labor at a construction site — make 10,000 a month — save up 100,000 a year. When the boy grew up, that’d be enough for a down payment on a house.
As for what Summer Mom (Xia Mu) might sacrifice or suffer to have this child — that was nowhere in his mental calculus.
Qingli decided she’d have one last serious talk with her mother tomorrow.
If her parents still insisted on going through with this, she wouldn’t interfere anymore.
She would only fulfill the basic duties of a daughter — nothing more.
The next morning, because she’d returned home late the night before, Qingli didn’t wake up until around 10 AM.
After she had washed up, her mom brought out breakfast and called her over to eat.
Summer Dad had already left for work by then.
Qingli ate in silence while her mom sat across from her, visibly nervous.
“Qingli… are you still mad?”
Qingli looked at her and shook her head.
“No. I’m not mad.”
Summer Mom let out a breath of relief.
“That’s good.” She softened her tone. “Now that the baby is already here, don’t say things like that anymore. No matter what, you two will be the closest of family in the future — it’s only right to look out for each other.”
After a night to sleep on it, she’d calmed down and redoubled her resolve. She wasn’t about to waver just because her daughter got emotional in the middle of the night.
The baby was already growing inside her. She couldn’t bring herself to abort it — not this time. Sure, she’d terminated pregnancies twice before, but that was because of the one-child policy. This time, there was no need to worry about that anymore.
Qingli said softly.
“Mom, I agree that siblings should help each other out. But there should be limits. Are you sure all I’ll be doing is helping… and not raising this child like he’s my son?”
Summer’s Mom didn’t respond.
With a 20-year age gap, wouldn’t he practically be her son?
Qingli continued,
“But I’m going to get married too. I might have my own kids. In this kind of economy, can I afford to raise two children?”
She paused to let her mother speak, but when she saw her trying to interrupt, she raised a hand and continued:
“Our family isn’t that well-off. It’s not like we’re royalty with a throne to pass down. So why do you have to give Dad a son? Aren’t you afraid of pregnancy? Think about how painful childbirth is — are you really okay with going through that? Can you bear it?”
“But… your dad wants a child!” Summer Mom said in frustration.
“You think I want this? Do you think your grandparents ever treated me well all these years? It’s all because I didn’t give them a son!”
Qingli said,
“Then don’t treat them well either.”
Summer’s Mom had been seriously engaging in the conversation until that point. But hearing that, she couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head.
“That’s your grandparents you’re talking about.”
She stood up and shook her head.
Qingli was still a kid — too naive.
If women could be that heartless, they wouldn’t be women.
Women do have it the hardest in this world.
“Mom!” Qingli called out.
Summer’s Mom waved her off.
“I know, I know. But I’m having this baby. Once the child is born, I’ll finally be free.”
She sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV.
Qingli fell silent.
All that pressure from in-laws and relatives — was it enough to force someone to go against their own will and have a child?
And what if she refused? What if she stood her ground?
She had a job, her daughter was grown, and she had the guts to get pregnant again — she wasn’t afraid of struggling. So, why care about anyone else’s opinions? Even if she offended everyone, it wouldn’t kill her.
Qingli couldn’t understand this mindset.
Her last attempt had failed.
She quietly finished her breakfast, washed the dishes, cleaned the table, and went back to her room to check if there were any tickets left.
Before she came home yesterday, the family she’d been tutoring for a week had already paid her — said it was for her to enjoy her National Day holiday.
So now, she had enough money to buy a ticket back to school.
While watching TV, Summer’s Mom suddenly remembered the breakfast dishes. She got up and headed to the dining area — only to find the table spotless. Then she went into the kitchen and saw that the dishes were already washed. Even the pot was clean.
A smile instantly lit up her face as she looked toward her daughter’s closed bedroom door.
Girls are just soft-hearted.
No matter how harsh their words, when it comes down to it, they can’t help but show love.
Back in the day, her daughter would never have voluntarily washed the dishes or scrubbed the pot.
Summer’s Mom happily returned to her room and called her husband to tell him what happened.
The man, slacking off on his job as a security guard, chuckled when he heard the story. His tone was confident:
“I told you so. Qingli’s got a soft heart. Just coax her a little, and she’ll come around. I heard lawyers make good money too. Once she starts working, do you think she won’t help support her little brother or sister?”
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152