Hao Yan Che laid back on the bed, and hugged Yuan Gun Gun. She covered his eyes, and he gently bit her wrist.

‘You played dirty by changing into a big dog,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘You should compensate me for taking advantage of me,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Hao Yan Che held Yuan Gun Gun’s hands, rubbed his face on her palms and kissed her neck.

‘You’re hateful,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Hao Yan Che kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s nose.

‘Let’s call a truce,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘In the future you’re not allowed to say hurtful things to me,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Not allowed?’ Hao Yan Che asked. ‘Since when are you allowed to make rules?’

‘If you don’t want to have a truce then forget it,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘I promise,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘You’re not allowed to hit Hao Hao anymore,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Don’t test my limits,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Mmm… then you’re not allowed to hit Hao Hao’s face or use force to hit him if he misbehaves,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘I promise,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yuan Gun Gun hugged Hao Yan Che.

‘Are you feeling smug?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

‘The truth is I do love big brother Du but only as a big brother,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘It’s not the same as how I feel about you. So don’t accuse me of things I didn’t do.’

Hao Yan Che regretted the hurtful things he said to Yuan Gun Gun. She slept in the same bed with Na Liu Ting Du for two years, but he knew nothing happened between them. It was him who she gave her body and heart to. He should let go of the past, and make a fresh start with her.

‘I want to see Hao Hao,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘It’s late,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘Our son is sleeping right now. You should sleep too.’

‘I’m not sleepy,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Hao Yan Che stroked Yuan Gun Gun’s back.

‘You need to sleep even if you’re not sleepy because our baby needs sleep,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yuan Gun Gun rubbed her stomach and smiled.

‘I’m going to be a mummy again,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘Sleep,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Um,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Hao Yan Che closed his eyes, and stroked Yuan Gun Gun’s back.

‘I want to have twins,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Hao Yan Che laughed, opened his eyes and kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s forehead.

‘I want us to have a daughter,’ Hao Yan Che said.

Yuan Gun Gun fell asleep before she could answer Hao Yan Che.

Hao Yan Che closed his eyes again. An image of his and Yuan Gun Gun’s daughter popped in his head, ‘Daddy, I want candy.’

Hao Yan Che smiled. He wanted an adorable daughter who looked exactly like Yuan Gun Gun.

Several days past. Since Hao Yan Che found out Yuan Gun Gun was pregnant, every day he fed her nutritious meals, he took her for walks to capture planes and their son was like a small bodyguard protecting her.

‘Hao Hao, do you want a little brother or a little sister?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘A little sister,’ Na Liu Hao said.

Yuan Gun Gun was surprised Na Liu Hao agreed with his daddy.

‘What’s wrong with having a little brother?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Son, are you scared your little brother would be stinky like you?’ Hao Yan Che asked. ‘So you want an adorable little sister to bully?’

‘No,’ Na Liu Hao said.

‘Why?’ Yuan Gun Gun asked.

‘Because I don’t want my little brother to be stinky like old man,’ Na Liu Hao said.

Hao Yan Che picked up his son, and pinched his son’s chubby cheeks.

‘Little stinky boy, do you think you look like daddy?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Na Liu Hao’s small hands pinched Hao Yan Che’s cheeks.

‘It’s daddy who looks like me,’ Na Liu Hao said.

Yuan Gun Gun smiled at the identical father and son pinching each other’s cheeks.

Yuan Gun Gun heard a plane. She turned around and ran to capture her thousandth plane. Suddenly a Mercedes-Benz zoomed past her, and memories flashed through her mind.

Hao Yan Che leapt with his son in one arm to pull Yuan Gun Gun away from the Mercedes-Benz.

‘Why are you so careless?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun looked blankly at Hao Yan Che. He hugged her with his free arm.

‘Do you know how scared you made me?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun was lost in deep thought.

‘Don’t be scared,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘I’m taking you and our son home.’

Hao Yan Che held Yuan Gun Gun’s hand, and carried their son to the parking lot.

A while later Hao Yan Che took his son and Yuan Gun Gun to the master bedroom. He let his son lie on the bed. His son was still scared about the Mercedes-Benz nearly hitting Yuan Gun Gun.

Hao Yan Che laid next to Yuan Gun Gun and caressed her face.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hao Yan Che asked.

Yuan Gun Gun burst into tears.

‘Why are you crying?’ Hao Yan Che asked. He pinched Yuan Gun Gun’s nose. ‘No one is cursing you.’

Yuan Gun Gun hugged Hao Yan Che and cried.

‘Che,’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

Hao Yan Che stroked Yuan Gun Gun’s back.

‘I’m here,’ Hao Yan Che said. ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you.’

Na Liu Hao squeezed in between his parents’ bodies, and hugged his crying mummy too.

‘Ugly mummy,’ Na Liu Hao said.

Yuan Gun Gun laughed and cried at the same time.

Hao Yan Che held his son and his wife in his arms.

‘It’s time for an afternoon nap,’ Hao Yan Che said.

‘Um,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Na Liu Hao looked at his parents hugging him. For the first time he felt happy being together with his parents.

***

End of Chapter 208