I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 76

The atmosphere at the dining table was somewhat peculiar.

Under Rong Huiying’s repeated cold stares, Zhou Zhishan seemed to finally realize that inviting Fu Xunzhou over for dinner was a very wrong decision.

Yet Zhou Zhishan felt it was hard to justify not doing so, after all, it was Fu Xunzhou who saved his precious daughter that morning, and he ought to express his gratitude.

However, due to past events, the Zhou Family held some prejudice against Fu Xunzhou, so the gratitude that should have been profound was diminished to mere obligation.

It shouldn’t be calculated this way.

Zhou Zhishan picked some dishes that Fu Xunzhou used to like and reminded him, “Don’t be restrained, just treat it like your own home.”

This statement almost made Rong Huiying, sitting nearby, explode.

But Rong Huiying still gave Fu Xunzhou face, she put her chopsticks down on the table and said to Zhou Zhishan, “Come to the kitchen with me, let’s get some condiments.”

Zhou Zhishan didn’t want to go, knowing that after decades of marriage with Rong Huiying, going to the kitchen meant getting scolded, but under the pressure of his wife’s authority, he still got up with his tail between his legs.

Once in the kitchen, Rong Huiying closed the door and pointed at Zhou Zhishan, “What exactly are you doing? Isn’t there enough chaos already? What do you mean by inviting Fu Xunzhou over for dinner now? What’s the point of us moving the whole family to B City?”

Zhou Zhishan looked helpless and sighed, “Sorry, I didn’t think that far.”

Rong Huiying, hands on her hips, retorted, “Then what are you thinking about all day? You know I can’t stand the Fu Family, yet you rush to invite him over!”

Zhou Zhishan weakly replied, “I just wanted to thank Xunzhou, after all, he saved our daughter this morning.”

Rong Huiying snapped, “Who asked him to save her! There were so many police officers there, I don’t believe they couldn’t save our daughter. I think Fu Xunzhou had planned this early on.”

Zhou Zhishan argued, “You can’t say that, let’s be reasonable, who knew such a thing would happen today? And without Fu Xunzhou there, the outcome is really hard to say.”

Rong Huiying was somewhat swayed by Zhou Zhishan’s words, unable to refute for a moment.

Thinking back, the incident indeed frightened Rong Huiying a bit; with that man holding a knife, it was hard to say what could have happened.

Zhou Zhishan, gaining the upper hand, immediately continued, “Let’s put everything else aside. If it wasn’t Fu Xunzhou who saved our daughter today, wouldn’t we have to thank the person with a grand gesture?”

Indeed, the Zhou Family had always been courteous, especially in such situations.

If a stranger had saved Zhou Youling today, the Zhou Family would not only invite them to a hotel for a meal but also prepare a generous gift to express their gratitude.

But because it was Fu Xunzhou, everything seemed to change in nature.

At the dining table.

Zhou Youling lowered her head, quietly eating.

In the late stage of pregnancy, her appetite was nearly two to three times what it used to be. But to control her weight, she always ate with restraint. Today, perhaps to entertain Fu Xunzhou, the dishes were much better than usual, making Zhou Youling want to eat but afraid to eat too much.

Rong Duanjing, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but give her some dishes, saying, “I say, just eat to your heart’s content, one meal won’t make you a big fatty, besides, you’re really not fat.”

Zhou Youling was somewhat tempted and began to devour the sweet and sour pork ribs that Rong Duanjing had given her.

Fu Xunzhou, sitting opposite Zhou Youling, seeing her eat happily, couldn’t help but give her a piece of rib as well.

When the rib was placed in Zhou Youling’s bowl, the three people at the table paused for a moment.

Rong Duanjing looked at Zhou Youling, then at Fu Xunzhou, blushing, finally saying to Xingxing beside her, “Baby, mom will feed you a piece of sweet and sour pork rib. This sweet and sour pork rib is really delicious, sweet and sour, tender and smooth.”

Zhou Youling frowned at the piece of sweet and sour pork rib Fu Xunzhou placed in her bowl, almost without thinking, she picked it up and put it back in Fu Xunzhou’s bowl, “I don’t need you to pick it for me, I can do it myself.”

Fu Xunzhou was not annoyed, smiling slightly at Zhou Youling, “You’re not fat.”

Zhou Youling rolled her eyes at Fu Xunzhou and continued eating her sweet and sour pork ribs.

She certainly knew she wasn’t fat, she didn’t need him to say it.

After this lunch, Fu Xunzhou was supposed to leave.

In fact, Fu Xunzhou didn’t stay longer, he thanked Zhou’s parents and prepared to take his leave.

Before leaving, Zhou Zhishan couldn’t help but say, “Let me see you off.”

Fu Xunzhou shook his head, “No need, thank you for the lunch invitation.”

He hadn’t eaten Zhou Family’s dishes for a long time, and the feeling really made him nostalgic.

Zhou Zhishan didn’t bother with formalities, directly guiding Fu Xunzhou to the elevator.

While waiting for the elevator, Zhou Zhishan said, “I know what you’ve done.”

Zhou Zhishan was referring to the anonymous gifts delivered to their home at regular intervals.

Fu Xunzhou felt slightly embarrassed, thinking he had been discreet enough.

Zhou Zhishan said, “I’ve always understood your intentions. Unlike your aunt, who is completely against you and Lingling having any further involvement, I actually like you very much.”

“Uncle…” Fu Xunzhou never expected it to be this way.

Zhou Zhishan waved his hand, “But in my house, my words don’t count; it’s your aunt who has the final say.”

Fu Xunzhou smiled slightly and nodded.

At least, it gave him some confidence.

Zhou Zhishan continued, “I know you were busy with the Fu Group before and couldn’t always pay attention to family matters. I also know you’ve now resigned from Fu Group. If I’m not mistaken, you’re following our Lingling every day now, aren’t you?”

Caught by an elder like a student cheating on a test, Fu Xunzhou couldn’t defend himself.

Zhou Zhishan didn’t want to make it too hard for Fu Xunzhou. He patted him on the shoulder and said, “It’s alright, life is long, take it slow. As long as you have the heart.”

There’s a saying, ‘After the storm, the sun will shine.’

The elevator doors opened, and Zhou Zhishan gestured for Fu Xunzhou to enter.

Before stepping into the elevator, Fu Xunzhou turned and bowed slightly to Zhou Zhishan, “Thank you, uncle.”

Zhou Zhishan nodded with a smile and gestured with his chin, “Go on.”

…

This was the last week before Zhou Youling’s due date, and she weighed only 125 jin.

In the blink of an eye, there was only a week left until Zhou Youling’s due date.

For most expectant mothers, the week before the due date is a time of heightened attention.

Zhou Youling ultimately chose a painless natural birth. Nowadays, conditions are favorable, and getting an epidural is no longer a rare thing. So, Zhou Youling wasn’t afraid of childbirth; instead, she was more expectant.

Currently, with hospital beds in short supply, doctors didn’t recommend early admission, so Zhou Youling had to wait. Once there were signs of labor, she could apply for admission.

During her last prenatal check-up, Zhou Youling saw Fu Xunzhou at the hospital.

Zhou Youling knew that Fu Xunzhou had been accompanying her during her check-ups, although he kept his promise not to appear before her. So, he silently stayed by her side, watching her from afar.

Today, Fu Xunzhou was bold enough to appear directly in front of Zhou Youling.

Perhaps because it was a special day, her last prenatal check-up, he dared to muster the courage. Knowing that Rong Huiying usually waited outside at this time, Fu Xunzhou approached Zhou Youling.

Fu Xunzhou didn’t say anything, quietly following by her side.

Fu Xunzhou was familiar with the check-up process, knowing what to help with without Zhou Youling having to say anything.

A nearby pregnant woman couldn’t help but comment on Fu Xunzhou’s attentive behavior, “Her husband is really great, not only handsome but also so considerate. Ah!”

Hearing this, Zhou Youling glared at Fu Xunzhou, signaling him to stop fussing around. She knew perfectly well what to do.

She had been through many check-ups, and his presence was unnecessary.

Fu Xunzhou seemed oblivious to Zhou Youling’s gaze, reaching out to help her onto the electronic scale.

This was the last week before Zhou Youling’s due date, and she weighed only 125 jin.

Fu Xunzhou knew this weight was normal, but seeing Zhou Youling’s thin face, he still felt distressed.

Finally unable to bear it, Zhou Youling said with disdain, “Go away! I don’t need your help!”

Fu Xunzhou obediently stood aside, watching Zhou Youling go to the nurse to check her blood pressure.

The pregnant woman beside Zhou Youling had been observing her and Fu Xunzhou for a while and couldn’t help but say, “Your husband is really nice, don’t always give him a hard time.”

Zhou Youling: “???”

The pregnant woman continued, “Nowadays, men are busy with work, with so many worries. Even though we’re pregnant, we should understand them a bit. I can see your husband is always so attentive to you; it’s clear he really cares about you.”

Zhou Youling couldn’t help but retort, “How can you tell he cares about me?”

After speaking, she regretted it a little, as there was no point in arguing with a stranger.

After measuring her blood pressure, Zhou Youling took the form to do a fetal heart monitoring but didn’t want Fu Xunzhou to follow, so she quickened her pace. However, she never expected that at this moment, her lower abdomen suddenly cramped, causing her pain.

Zhou Youling swayed slightly, and immediately a pair of large hands supported her from behind, “What’s wrong?”

The pain didn’t last long, but Zhou Youling seemed to have a premonition. She looked up at Fu Xunzhou, a bit nervous, “I think I’m going into labor.”