Chapter 4: Ten Months of Pregnancy
“What should we do then? When Ru Meng comes back, are we really going to let Jiujiu move out? She’s only in her second year of high school, she’s so young, what can she do? How can she live alone?”
“But we don’t have a choice. Do you want Jiujiu, or do you want Ru Meng?”
“I…” Lin’s mother fell into a painful dilemma — one was her biological daughter who had been lost for many years, the other was the daughter she had raised all these years.
Maybe because of blood ties, or maybe because Lin’s mother had gone through the pain of childbirth to bring that child into the world — though she didn’t want to admit it — deep down, she instinctively chose Lin Ru Meng.
“What are you doing?”
A voice suddenly sounded from behind. Lin Yuejiu flinched slightly and turned around — it was Lin Yimo.
“Brother, why are you here?”
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you already be asleep?”
Lin Yuejiu pointed to the fruit platter in her hand. “I was going to bring you guys some fruit, since everyone looked a bit upset after we came back from Grandpa’s house.”
“Were you in your room just now? I didn’t see you.”
“I was showering. You probably just glanced in and left, right?”
Lin Yuejiu chuckled sheepishly.
Lin Yimo took the fruit platter from her hands and patted her head. “I’ll take this to Dad and Mom. You should go to bed early — you still have class tomorrow.”
“Okay. Good night, brother.”
“Mm, good night, Jiujiu.”
He watched her go into her room, then looked down at the fruit platter — all of it was fruit they liked.
He knocked on the door.
“Who is it?!” Lin Father and Lin’s mother were startled.
“It’s me.”
Lin Yimo pushed the door open and went in.
“You scared me,” Lin’s mother patted her chest.
Lin Yimo set the fruit platter on the desk and explained, “Jiujiu was bringing you this fruit just now.”
“Did she come looking for us in our rooms?”
“Mm, she checked all of them and finally came to the study.”
Lin’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. “Did she hear everything?”
Lin Yimo shook his head. “Probably not. If she had, she wouldn’t have been able to smile and say goodnight to me.”
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
“So,” Lin Yimo said, “what’s your choice?”
Lin Father stayed silent.
Lin’s mother sighed. “After all, she’s the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to.”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence — Lin Yimo already understood.
All three of them looked at the fruit platter at the same time, but no one moved to take any.
In her room, Lin Yuejiu sat at her desk, rubbing the little card between her fingers.
She slept without dreams that night.
The next morning, Lin Yuejiu got up as usual. During breakfast, no one spoke, but Lin’s mother still poured her a glass of hot milk.
Lin Yuejiu drank quietly, then set the cup down and said, “Dad, Mom, Brother — I want to live at school.”
The three of them froze mid-action and looked at her at the same time. “Why?!”
Realizing she had overreacted, Lin’s mother softened her voice. “Jiujiu, why do you suddenly want to stay in the dorms?”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head. “It’s not sudden — I’ve mentioned it several times before, but you all said it was better to live at home.”
“But we’ve already told you that — why bring it up again?”
“Because it’s the second semester of my second year now, and the workload is getting heavier. By the time I’m in my third year, commuting home will waste too much time. I want to adapt in advance.”
Lin’s mother was torn.
Lin Yimo asked, “Do you really want to live at school?”
Lin Yuejiu nodded. “I do. I’ve brought it up many times before — living at school makes studying easier. You all know I like studying.”
“Then how about this — you go to school first, and I’ll discuss it with Mom and Dad, okay?”
“Okay.” Lin Yuejiu nodded, picked up her schoolbag, and headed out the door.
Standing by the window watching the car leave, Lin Yimo folded his arms on the dining table.
“What do you two think?”
Father Lin had originally planned to find a villa or apartment for Lin Yuejiu to live in, keeping it from the old master so they could still take care of her daily. He hadn’t had the chance to say it yet when unexpectedly, she herself proposed living at school.
Father Lin asked Mother Lin, “What do you think?”
Mother Lin fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuejiu arrived at school and walked into her classroom.
“Morning, Jiujiu,” Lan Qingqing greeted her.
“Morning.” Lin Yuejiu smiled, sat down at her seat, and took out a book to read.
Class was about to start when a knock sounded at the door. Lin Yuejiu looked up—it was Lin Yimo.
“Brother?” Lin Yimo nodded, then looked at the teacher. “Sorry to bother you, I need to talk to Jiujiu about something. I’ve already gotten permission from her homeroom teacher.”
The teacher waved a hand. “It’s fine, take her.”
Lin Yuejiu put down her pen and ran to the door. As usual, Lin Yimo patted her head. “Let’s go.”
The two walked downstairs.
“Brother, why are you here today? Did something happen at home?”
“Mm. Mom and Dad have agreed to let you stay in the dorms.”
“Really?!” Lin Yuejiu’s eyes lit up with surprise.
Lin Yimo smiled. “Just staying in the dorms makes you this happy?”
Lin Yuejiu grinned. “I’ve always heard people say dorm life is fun. I’ve never tried living in the same room with others before.”
“Mom and Dad discussed it—they’ll let you board, but it has to be a double room. You can’t live in somewhere too small or crowded. They can’t bear it.”
Lin Yuejiu immediately made an OK gesture.
When they got home, they saw that Mother Lin had already helped her pack.
“Mom.”
“Oh, Jiujiu’s back? Come see if there’s anything else you want to bring. I’ve already packed lots of clothes, shoes, and accessories for you.”
Lin Yuejiu laughed at the two big suitcases. “Mom, that’s too much stuff.”
Mother Lin looked at her disapprovingly. “It’s only two suitcases, how is that a lot?”
“I won’t be able to carry them when the time comes.”
“You won’t need to carry them yourself—your brother and the bodyguards will help.”
Lin Yuejiu just smiled without replying.
“Here, do you want to bring the photo album? Just in case you miss Mom?”
Lin Yimo rubbed his forehead helplessly. “Mom, she’s not moving away forever. She can still come home on weekends.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Lin Yuejiu also agreed. “Yeah, Mom, no need. I’ll just come home during breaks.”
“Alright, then.”
Lin Yuejiu quietly packed some of her own small things into her schoolbag.
Lin Yimo picked up a small card from her desk. “Jiujiu, don’t you want this?”
Lin Yuejiu froze for a moment—it was the card she had written numbers on. “Yes, I do.”
She reached out to take it. “Thanks, Brother.”
“You’re welcome.”
Lin Yimo smiled, his eyes carrying a hint of thought.
Once everything was packed, Mother Lin said she would go with her, but Lin Yuejiu refused. “Mom, I’m just moving into a dorm. If everyone comes, it’ll be too much trouble. Besides, everyone still has work and school.”
“Then… alright. Yimo, you’ll make sure everything is arranged for your sister?”
“Got it, definitely.”
Lin Yimo helped carry the luggage out. Lin Yuejiu glanced back once, then turned and left.
