"You've been in here for a long time, why don't you go out"Huo Shaoting looked at her, with a hint of mature man's flirtatiousness in his eyes. He asked her, "How can I go out like this Wen Man, tell...From that day on, Huo Xi no longer communicated with him.

During the day, she was practically inseparable from Mianmian. At night, she had to face Zhang Chongguang, no matter how much she avoided it... He knew she was angry and he was afraid she would resent him, afraid of pushing her too hard, so he didn't force her. Occasionally, he would still want to hold her, but Huo Xi reacted very strongly; she completely rejected his closeness.

Her eyes gazed at him, devoid of any warmth.

That look made Zhang Chongguang feel like he was wrong, but when he was alone again, he felt like he was right. Otherwise, how would Huo Xi still be by his side

He was eagerly looking forward to the child's birth.

He thought, the birth of a new life would always bring joy to a woman.

Next month, they moved again. He took Ho Xi and Mian Mian to Melbourne, still a luxurious and magnificent villa, equipped with security personnel and professional doctors.

Zhang Chongguang seems to intend to just stay here and await the birth.

In the evening, the setting sun painted the sky in fiery hues as flocks of black birds flew south.

Huo Xi stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling window. The evening breeze blew past, lifting her long skirt. The scene was beautiful and picturesque. Her dress, as well as all her food and lodging, were arranged by Zhang Chongguang. Mianmian was the same… This place was like a golden cage he had meticulously crafted. Though she had everything she needed, it was suffocating.

Ho Xi often reminisces about the past.

Sometimes she would think of Zhang Chongguang, but she would rather remember the good times and not want to recall what happened later... She sometimes wondered, if he had married someone else or directly married Shen Qinglian back then, would there have been no subsequent events Would she still be living well, like her old self, Huo Xi

The sound of a small car came from outside.

Zhang Chongguang brought Mianmian back, this time he took Mianmian to the hospital and he was worried about Huo Xi's body so she didn't follow, considerate and touching.

Ho Xi listened to the footsteps in the hallway, and after a moment, Mianmian came over.

The little one rushed into her arms.

In just half a day, the little girl missed her.

Huo Xi knelt down, even though she was in a bad mood, she still gently accompanied her for a while. Mianmian was also sensible. She guessed that there was a baby in her mother's belly. Although she wasn't as excited as before, she cared about her mother's body very much. After talking for a while, she went back to her room to do her homework.

The door closed, and then opened again after a moment. Zhang Chongguang walked in from outside.

He came to the front of the sofa, knelt halfway down in front of her, and reached out to touch her stomach.

Hosei dodged.

Zhang Chongguang waved his hand dismissively and said in a low voice, "Today Mianmian went for a check-up. The doctor here said there's hope for her to recover. Don't worry!"

"What did the doctor say" Ho Xi finally said, looking at him.

Zhang Chongguang smiled bitterly: “Now, besides Mianmian’s affairs, you don't care about anything else, is that right You don’t even want or love the child in your belly, do you”

Ho Xi did not answer his words.

She refused to communicate. Though Zhang Chongguang felt disappointed, he never wanted to argue with her. He repeated what the doctor had said and finally whispered, "We may have to stay here for a long time."

Actually, it's dangerous and could be found at any time.

But despite the lingering pessimism in his ears, Zhang Chongguang was still unwilling to give up.

Huo Xi's wrist drooped.

She watched quietly in that direction, without another sound. Zhang Chongguang spoke softly, “I had the maid stew your favorite pigeon eggs. Come downstairs and eat a little, hmm”

Since her pregnancy, Huo Xi has been eating very little.

She hadn't been vomiting, just had no appetite. Zhang Chongguang always tried to find ways to get her to eat something.

After he finished speaking, he stood up and reached for her. Suddenly, his hand was caught by hers. The delicate touch left him stunned. Zhang Chongguang's body stiffened slightly. After a long moment, he slowly turned around to look at her.

< As soon as he spoke, his voice was hoarse: "Hoxi" >

She hadn't taken the initiative to touch him for a very, very long time. At that moment, Zhang Chongguang's eyes were moist.

Ho Xi did not let go of him.

She even tightened her grip, the contact of skin and flesh making her head swim, as if she were back in time… The little dog downstairs barked, pulling her back to reality.

Ho Xi looked up at him and said softly, "Zhang Chongguang, you've kept me trapped with this child for a year or two. Do you think you can keep me trapped forever You know deep down that I will eventually leave you, don't you"

Zhang Chongguang listened to her words, feeling as if he were in a different world.

Yes, he always knew that. He couldn't keep Hoxi captive; she would eventually leave.

But...

Zhang Chongguang gave a wry smile and took a few steps back. He gently touched her cheek, and she didn't move away. This scene was probably the most tender moment they had shared in the past year.

His voice was hoarse, almost unrecognizable: "A year of captivity is a year, two years is two years, Huo Xi... I think he's gotten used to it. I can't imagine a life without you. Tell me, if you hadn't taken me home that year, maybe your life wouldn't have been so unhappy, you would have been freer. But what about Huo Xi You took me home, whether good or bad...I don't want to let you go!"

After Zhang Chongguang finished speaking, his eyes gleamed with a hint of light.

He didn't let Hoshi see clearly, suddenly turned around, and walked outside.

Huo Xi knew he was crying…

*

Because of this child, Zhang Chongguang never touched Huo Xi again. Huo Xi refused to give birth and wouldn't cooperate. Her appetite grew worse and worse, and she became thinner and thinner. She would always sit by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring into the distance.

She still refused to speak to Zhang Chongguang after that day.

Mianmian said that Mama misses home...

Melbourne's weather in December remains pleasantly cool.

That day, Zhang Chongguang took Mianmian to the countryside to collect maple leaves. There were no maple leaves here, so he wanted to make a book for Huo Xi...

The black RV returned to the villa at 3:30 in the afternoon. Mianmian carried a small bag filled with red maple leaves, hopping upstairs excitedly to show her mother. She also caught two butterflies for her mother.

The villa was quiet.

The maid must be slacking off. There was no one around. In the vast space, only the soft, light footsteps could be heard. Before she reached the upstairs, she softly called out: "Mama... Mama..."

There was no response on the second floor.

Mianmian thought Mama was just like usual, staring out the window. She tiptoed to the master bedroom door and carefully opened it. Then she quietly snuck up behind Mama and gave her a hug.

As she walked through the living room and into the bedroom, she stopped short. She lowered her head to look at the small leather shoes on her feet. The soles were still stained with a bit of dirt from the countryside, but now there was also a touch of crimson blood marring the mud.

Lively stared blankly for a few seconds.

After a while, she raised her eyes to look at the white bed...

The bag of maple leaves she held tumbled to the ground. The butterfly she'd caught to cheer up her mother had flown away too. She saw her mother lying quietly in bed, a deep gash on her wrist, dripping blood.

One drop, two drops... falling onto the dark carpet.

Mianmian called out unconsciously, "Daddy... Daddy..." Her voice grew louder and louder, laced with sobs.

When Zhang Chongguang hurried in, his face paled.

He forgot to breathe……ogether they savored the taste of madness.The night is as cool as water.He leaned in close to her, their breaths mingling and warm against each other.Wen Man leaned against his shoulder, her voice tre...