A Heartless Moon, an Endless Love

A week before our wedding, Fu Shangqi suddenly started dry-heaving at the sight of food.

I thought the wedding stress was getting to him.

I confided in my younger sister.

She looked at the stomach-soothing soup on the table. Then, out of nowhere, she spoke.

“I’ve heard morning sickness can transfer to someone else. He’s got another woman pregnant! I told you, the ones who look all proper are always the wildest behind closed doors!”

I handed her the bowl I’d made without scallions.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Your brother-in-law isn’t like that.”

“How would you know? His mistress could be standing right in front of you with a baby bump, and you’d still be smiling and offering her soup!”

All puffed up with indignation, she looked like a kitten baring its tiny claws.

I gave her an indulgent smile.

My sister was rebellious and mischievous; Fu Shangqi was traditional and steady.

They’d never liked each other and traded barbs whenever they met. I was used to it.

Three days later, I took time off work to decorate our wedding home, only to find the door hadn’t been properly shut.

Their familiar bickering reached me clearly, mingled with breathless, intimate gasps.

“Iced milk tea when you’re pregnant? Keep this up, and I’ll make sure you never get to go anywhere except my bed.”

Fu Shangqi’s voice was fierce.

My sister gave as good as she got, smiling sweetly as she rocked against him.

“Brother-in-law, instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself.”

“You’ve been having my morning sickness for so long, your darling wife is worried sick about you.”

The bright red double happiness cutout slipped from my fingers. I stood there, too dazed to react.

The two people who sniped at each other every time they met had been hiding how much they cared behind all that supposed dislike.

The boy who’d promised to love me until I was a hundred died in that moment.