Chapter 530 One of them is right in front of you The next day, Shuang woke up quite early. She stretched her arms and legs and headed for a quick, all while thinking about Jack.
'You dare click pictures of the woman I love.'
Shuang had to admit she felt a chill with the way he possessively declared his love and the threat to the pervert. The way he coldly smiled and smashed the phone. He always emanated such a relaxed demeanor that his delinquent side came as a shock to her.
She wondered how many more secrets his bluish-grey eyes held?
She fiddled with her coffee mug, deep in thought.
Ever since Yunru and her parted ways, her friendship with Jack had provided her comfort. But she was afraid if she was going along the same path again?
The coffee mug in her hands trembled as her fingers did so too. It was similar to before. When she knew she had lost Xiaosi forever, Yunru stepped up to fill the void in her life. He provided her with a way to escape her grief.
Am I treating Jack the same way too? She shook.
Am I using Jack just like I used Yunru?
She already had lost Yunru by her insensitive side. For seven long years, she did nothing but trample on Yunru's feelings.
She was deathly afraid to repeat the history with Jack. She didn't have the courage to bear hurting another man because of her.
This was the question that stopped her from accepting Jack's hand.
What if she unconsciously treated Jack the same way as Yunru?
—
Since yesterday, Jack took care of the breakfast for her, she decided to bring him lunch today.
She waited outside Jack's office as he was busy with a patient.
A while later, a familiar figure stepped out and Shuang slightly widened her eyes. "Xiaosi. Caihong."
"Aunt Shuang!" Chyou beamed and hopped into her lap.
"Hey, my cutie pumpkin!" Shuang brightened and kissed her cheek. She hugged and squished Chyou, making her giggle.
Caihong shone. "What a pleasant surprise, Shuang. What are you…oh…"
She raised her brow with mischief. "I see things have quite progressed between you and Jack."
Xiaosi smiled. "Indeed. A birdie told me that Jack spent his off day with Shuang yesterday. And now you are here too."
Shuang cleared her throat. "Forget about me. Is this about Xiaosi's checkup?"
Caihong nodded. "Yup. And the reports are all good! There is no threat to his life anymore."
She sighed in relief. "That's great. Hehe, so you must be here to check on Caihong's pregnancy too, won't you?"
She sheepishly grinned.
Xiaosi furiously bobbed his head. "Yes. Her pregnancy had problems during Chyou's time, so we are being extra cautious now."
It was a double celebration after Zizi and Yunru's wedding ceremony when everybody learned that Caihong was pregnant. After Shui and Yuhan, another sweet dumpling was on his or her way. The happiness everybody felt was immeasurable.
Shuang looked down at Chyou and asked, "So does my cute pumpkin want a brother or a sister?"
Chyou seriously gave it a thought. Then she pursed her lips in defeat. "I cannot decide…" she whined.
They laughed at the troubled expression she made. Shuang poked her cheek and chuckled. "Don't worry. You will be a great sister no matter if it's a brother or a sister."
Her small figure straightened with pride. "I will be a good sister!"
Jack stepped out and grabbed Xiaosi by his neck. "Yo, buddy. What is this secret discussion without me?" His gaze fell on Shuang, and he beamed. "Shuang. Oh is that my lunch?"
He grabbed the lunch box and grinned. Xiaosi rolled his eyes. He looked at Caihong and said, "Let's go. We shouldn't disturb two lovebirds."
Caihong giggled. "Sure."
Chyou hopped in between them and held Xiaosi's hand on one side and Caihong's on the other side.
Shuang watched them leave like a family with a smile on her lips. For a long time, seeing Xiaosi and Caihong together had brought sadness in her heart. But now whenever she saw them, her heart would flutter with warmth and joy.
Xiaosi was happy. Caihong was happy and so was Chyou now too. Their family was complete like how it was always meant to be.
There was no trace of despair over her lost love. Instead, she genuinely wished them happiness.
Jack stared at her in silence for several long moments. "It feels nice, right?"
Her stupor broke, and she smiled. "Yeah. They have got this happiness after eight, long painful years. It feels wonderful. I hope Caihong's pregnancy goes smoothly too…" her voice was filled with anxiety and worry.
Jack patted her head. "No worries. I have called the same doctor who had taken care of Caihong during her first pregnancy. She is extremely talented and experienced. As long as she is there, her second pregnancy will also be just fine."
She sighed in relief. "That's good to hear."
"Come on! Let's go outside and have our lunch," he grinned. "I am super hungry!"
"Yup, let's go."
—
In a local restaurant near the hospital, Shuang and Jack took their seats. From a distance, another Asian-American man watched them together and brightened.
"Jack!"
Startled, Jack looked at the approaching man and smiled widely. "Michael. Yo, man. What's up? Long time no see."
He looked at Shuang and said, "He is Michael. We used to go to the same high school together."
Shuang raised her brow with interest and nodded. "Nice to meet you."
Michael stared at her up and down and nodded in appreciation. "Jack's girlfriend is really pretty!"
Shuang coughed.
Jack hit him. "She is not my girlfriend. Yet," he winked at Shuang. "She is Shuang. I met her through another friend of mine."
"Cool!"
"So how are you here?"
"Vacation! Hahaha! I came to eat some delicious and authentic Chinese cuisine! Woah, Jack. What's up with you, huh? Don't you look too much like a proper citizen now?"
"I was always a proper citizen," he pointed out.
"Bah!" Michael snorted. "Good joke. Did you forget our glorious days of spreading terror through the New York streets? Even though we were half Asians, nobody dared to bully us~ Ah, the golden days~"
"Well-"
Jack got a call from the hospital and he excused himself. "Give Shuang company."
Michael sat on Jack's seat after he left. "I apologize for barging in on your date. I got too excited seeing Jack after a long time."
Shuang shook her head. "No probs."
"So, so!" Michael leaned in and curiously asked, "How did you two meet? It's such a surprise to know that Jack is interested in you."
She blinked. "Why so?"
He chuckled. "You would know once you meet his exes."
Shuang got curious. "Oh? How were his exes? What were they like?"
Michael's eyes twinkled. "Well, one of the exes is sitting right in front of you."