No Longer Escaping (ABO) - Chapter 58

Only when her body was submerged in the warm water could Wan Niang cast those troubling thoughts to the back of her mind. Beneath the steam, she felt her entire body relax, and she slowly closed her eyes, savoring the gentle caress of the warm water.

“Do you need more hot water?” Yang Lulong walked in at that moment. The room was so thick with mist that she could barely see anything. She immediately set down the bucket of hot water, opened the window, and waved her arms—sleeves rolled up to reveal her forearms—to drive the steam outside.

The commotion caused Wan Niang to open her eyes. She shifted her body, sending ripples through the water, and leaned against the edge of the tub. She didn’t answer Yang Lulong’s question; she simply stared at her, lost in thought.

“If… if we had a child…”

“Huh?” Yang Lulong didn’t hear Wan Niang clearly; it seemed only the word “child” made it into her ears. “Really?!” She immediately rushed to Wan Niang’s side, the joy on her face completely impossible to hide.

“I said if.” Seeing how happy she looked, the worries Wan Niang felt because of Qiao Lan and the others diminished quite a bit. “I’m not…”

“Oh, okay…” A trace of disappointment flickered across Yang Lulong’s face. “But… if we had a child, I would obviously be very happy. Why did you ask so suddenly?”

Looking at Yang Lulong’s joyful, thickheaded expression, Wan Niang couldn’t help but smile too. She reached out and pinched her silly cheek. “I just thought of it and wanted to ask.”

Thinking carefully, it made sense. Although Yang Lulong and Ma Zhifeng were both Qian Yuan, Yang Lulong was Yang Lulong and Ma Zhifeng was Ma Zhifeng. They were two completely different people, so how could they think the same way? Besides, she didn’t really know Ma Zhifeng. The one who spent day and night with her was Qiao Lan, and the one who understood her was also Qiao Lan.

But… was it really right not to tell Ma Zhifeng about this?

Thinking again of the task Qiao Lan had entrusted her with, Wan Niang couldn’t stop her brow from furrowing tightly.

Yang Lulong noticed her wife’s preoccupation. “What happened?”

“Did Qiao Lan say something to you?”

She hadn’t expected Yang Lulong to be so sharp. Wan Niang was a bit surprised. She pursed her lips, struggling with whether or not to tell Yang Lulong about Qiao Lan’s situation.

Gazing into Yang Lulong’s worried eyes and then thinking of Qiao Lan’s instructions… if she only told Yang Lulong… surely there wouldn’t be a problem…

“I’ll tell you… but don’t you go telling Ma Zhifeng, you hear me?” Her voice suddenly became very soft, forcing Yang Lulong to press her ear close to her to hear.

“What on earth is it?” Yang Lulong didn’t know why her own voice had become so small.

“It’s Qiao Lan… she…” Wan Niang stammered, driving Yang Lulong crazy with anticipation.

“What’s wrong with her?” she urged.

“She’s with child…”

“What?!” Yang Lulong’s voice jumped a few octaves in shock. Wan Niang immediately shushed her, telling her to be quieter.

At the shush, Yang Lulong immediately lowered her voice and whispered, “But this should be a happy thing…” She didn’t understand why they had to speak like this, as if it were some shameful secret.

“The situation is a bit complicated. Besides, Qiao Lan asked me to help her abort the child. I don’t know what to do.”

“Huh? Why?” Yang Lulong was bewildered.

“How should I know… She said if she tells Ma Zhifeng, she’ll definitely want to have the baby, and Qiao Lan doesn’t want to tie her down…”

“…” After hearing Wan Niang finish, Yang Lulong sat on the floor and began to sink into thought. Suddenly, she recalled the words Ma Zhifeng had said to her before. “Aha!”

Wan Niang was startled by the sudden outburst and gave her shoulder a light, annoyed smack. “Why are you always so jumpy?”

“Ma Zhifeng told me before that she wanted to find a comfortable place to settle down, and she warned me not to tell Qiao Lan because she wanted to give her a surprise. If she’s already thinking like that, isn’t having a child just a matter of time?”

“When did she tell you that?”

“On the road when we went hunting. I saw the way she smiled when she said it; she didn’t look like she felt burdened at all. If she knew Qiao Lan was pregnant, she’d definitely be happy too.”

“Sigh… those two. Neither will say what’s in their hearts to the other. There’s only a thin layer of window paper between them now, but we outsiders shouldn’t be the ones to poke through it.” Wan Niang was conflicted; she had promised Qiao Lan she wouldn’t tell Ma Zhifeng.

“True…” Yang Lulong felt the same way; after all, she had made a promise.

While these two were agonizing, Ma Zhifeng and Qiao Lan were still touring Lu Shu’s house.

Unlike Ma Zhifeng’s novel and excited appearance, Qiao Lan was heavy-hearted, though she had to pretend to be happy in front of her. In truth, she herself was wavering. If Wan Niang agreed, would she really abort this newly arrived little life? She gently stroked her lower abdomen, but before she could dwell on it, she was drawn away by Ma Zhifeng’s voice.

“Why is there a small bed here?” Ma Zhifeng touched the finely crafted little bed; it wasn’t a size meant for an adult. “Is this Mo Dou’s bed?” she asked Lu Shu, who was nearby.

Lu Shu smiled and stroked the little bed. “Of course not…”

Curious, Qiao Lan also came over to touch the small bed. It felt very comfortable, soft as if sinking into a sea of goose down.

“Is it for your child? But don’t you live alone?” Ma Zhifeng asked again.

Hearing the word “child,” Qiao Lan’s hand suddenly stiffened and her heart tightened. She somewhat frantically covered her lower abdomen. Fortunately, Ma Zhifeng and the others didn’t notice her abnormality.

“Before I was born, my father and his good friend arranged a betrothal. They said when I came of age, I would marry the child of my father’s friend. I reckon the date is approaching.”

“So this house is the bridal home you prepared?”

“Yes. My father and mother passed away early. Fortunately, I had my master to guide me. I learned this trade so I could have a livelihood. I thought the house should be built well. Although I’m not from a wealthy family, at the very least, I can make our living space decent.”

“Your skill is great; your future partner will surely be lucky,” Ma Zhifeng couldn’t help but praise. “Lan, what do you think of this house?”

Qiao Lan was still dazed and didn’t hear Ma Zhifeng calling her.

“Lan?” she called again.

“Huh?” Qiao Lan finally snapped out of it. “What?”

“Isn’t this house especially good?”

“Yes, especially good…” She forced a smile.

“Lan?”

“Yes?”

“You seem… are you feeling unwell?” She came to Qiao Lan’s side, looking worried.

“I… I’m just a bit tired…”

“If you’re tired, you should rest early,” Lu Shu said caringly.

Ma Zhifeng led Qiao Lan back to the room prepared for them.

The candle was extinguished, and the two lay in bed, embracing.

Qiao Lan leaned against Ma Zhifeng’s warm chest. She kept her eyes tightly closed, but she couldn’t fall asleep because of her troubled heart. She wanted to tell Ma Zhifeng that she was pregnant; she wanted to share this joy of becoming a mother for the first time. But she was afraid—afraid of Ma Zhifeng’s reaction upon finding out. Even a sliver of hesitation in her eyes would pierce her heart.

“What do you think… if we could have a house like this?” Ma Zhifeng’s words drifted into Qiao Lan’s ear in the darkness.

“Hmm?”

“Do you like this house?”

“I like it…”

“We have to continue our journey tomorrow.”

“Yes…”

“I quite like it here. Nestled against the mountains and water, the scenery is good too.”

“Mmm.”

Gradually, Ma Zhifeng’s talking ceased, replaced by a steady rhythm of breathing.

In her arms, Qiao Lan opened her eyes, staring at her sleeping face by the moonlight, her gaze slightly sorrowful. Her hand slowly stroked her lower abdomen before she closed her eyes to sleep once more…

A clamor of voices woke Qiao Lan. She opened her eyes with displeasure as a piercingly bright light streamed through the window onto her face.

She impatiently rubbed her sore eyes, only to find that Ma Zhifeng was already gone. She got out of bed and followed the noise.

Stepping out the front door, she saw a small group of people standing on the lawn outside. Among them were Ma Zhifeng, Yang Lulong, and the others, as well as a few unfamiliar faces.

They seemed to be arguing about something.

“But my father…” Lu Shu looked troubled as he spoke to the man leading the group.

“The old man has been gone for how many years now? How could an old jokingly made promise still count?” The man’s words were aggressive, and his tall frame was imposing in front of the relatively thin Lu Shu. “I didn’t come here to discuss it with you. I came to notify you: the marriage contract between you and my sister is void.”

“How can that be…” Lu Shu showed a pained expression, his gaze shifting to the girl behind the man as if asking for confirmation. But the girl avoided his eyes; it seemed she had tacitly agreed to the cancellation.

“A word once spoken cannot be taken back. You people have no integrity at all!” Ma Zhifeng couldn’t help but interject. “If you wanted to cancel, why didn’t you say so sooner? Why wait until the time was almost here to tell him?” Her excitement grew as she moved directly in front of the man. “Aren’t you just playing with him?!”

“And who the hell are you? What the fuck does our family business have to do with you? Everyone knows that kind of thing was just a casual remark. I didn’t expect this guy to actually take it seriously.” The man looked down at Ma Zhifeng’s fierce eyes. “And what are you to this orphan? Are you a relative or something?”

The man’s words were very ugly. If Yang Lulong hadn’t been holding Ma Zhifeng back, she would have already introduced her fists to the man’s face. The girl behind the man also pulled at her brother’s sleeve, asking him not to say such hurtful things.

“What are you pulling me for? Do you really want to marry this poor ghost?” the man said unpleasantly. “Look at that dog he keeps; it’s so thin it’s just skin and bones. He can’t even raise a dog well—” Mo Dou seemed to understand his words and barked at him angrily. The man continued to ramble, “What kind of life could you have if you married him?” He angrily threw off his sister’s hand; the force was uncontrolled, sending the girl falling to the ground.

“Why did you do that?!” Lu Shu was furious and roared at the man. He was about to go up and help the fallen girl.

The man suddenly grabbed him by the collar, and Ma Zhifeng immediately stepped forward to stop him.

The verbal argument suddenly turned into a physical scuffle. Ma Zhifeng wanted to hit the man, the man wanted to beat Lu Shu, and Lu Shu was dodging the man’s fists. Yang Lulong was busy holding Ma Zhifeng back while also trying to watch out for the man. Wan Niang was on the sidelines, wanting to help Yang Lulong but not knowing how to intervene. She could only watch helplessly as the group fell into chaos, shouting in vain, “Stop it, all of you!”

The chaotic scene was further punctuated by fierce barking.

The man suddenly struck Ma Zhifeng’s injured arm. The sharp pain forced her to stop, clutching her arm in the crowd while gritting her teeth in agony. Seeing this, Qiao Lan wanted to go up and help. Entering the vortex of the conflict, someone—it was unclear who—bumped into her, causing her to fall to the ground. She clutched her stomach in distress.

Ma Zhifeng endured the pain in her arm and struggled toward Qiao Lan. Wan Niang saw her get bumped and ran over anxiously to help her up, but Qiao Lan sat on the ground, clutching her stomach tightly in pain, unable to move.

“Stop it, all of you!” Wan Niang screamed. “STOP IT!!!”

This final shout was so loud it startled the birds in the forest into flight. The scuffling group all stopped simultaneously, staring at them.

“Lan! What’s wrong?” Ma Zhifeng ignored the pain and came to their side.

“It hurts so much…” Qiao Lan furrowed her brow, gripping Wan Niang’s hand.

“What’s wrong with her?” Ma Zhifeng looked at Wan Niang.

“She…” Wan Niang wanted to reveal everything, but looking at Qiao Lan’s resistant expression, she hesitated.

“What exactly is wrong?” Ma Zhifeng was frantic, but no one was telling her what had happened. “Aren’t you a doctor? Tell me what’s wrong with her!”

“What’s wrong? She’s pregnant!” Yang Lulong’s words immediately broke the stalemate.

“I didn’t mean to… it’s all because he provoked me…” The man, seeing that an innocent person was hurt, immediately tried to deflect responsibility.

“You’re pregnant?” Ma Zhifeng looked at Qiao Lan. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Qiao Lan looked at her with bloodshot eyes, appearing profoundly wronged.