It’s Okay to Divorce - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Mu Mian felt that the baby in her belly was probably a Nezha, a freakish little monster.

To this, Zou Tingshen offered his explanation: “The baby can arrive in an instant without a sound, so of course it’s exceptionally gifted, different from ordinary fetuses. The checkups show everything’s normal, so there shouldn’t be any issues. Let’s keep monitoring.”

He paused for a moment before asking, “Do you have any engagements lined up in the next four months?”

Mu Mian shook her head. “After filming a project, I usually take four months to recharge, so I don’t have anything scheduled under normal circumstances. But I can’t rule out the company arranging something last minute. Also, the It’s Okay To Divorce crew might hold a press conference in the coming months, so we…”

“No need to overthink it. We’ll deal with things as they come,” Zou Tingshen interjected. “For the next few months, I’m clearing my schedule to stay with you until the baby is born.”

Every year, Zou Tingshen set aside time for self-improvement. As an actor, boss, and producer, he was now planning to step into directing, so he had reserved nearly six months for study. But now, that time would be devoted to the baby and the baby’s mother.

Life is long, and money is endless, but time with family is priceless. He was more than happy to spend it with the baby and Mu Mian.

***

On Friday evening, Zou Tingshen took Mu Mian to Fukadan Island. After a thirteen-hour flight, they landed in the United States. Considering Mu Mian’s pregnancy, they booked a room at an airport hotel to rest for the night before continuing their journey.

They traveled without assistants or agents. To ensure they could look out for each other, Zou Tingshen reserved a family suite with separate bedrooms.

The bellhop dropped off their luggage and left. Mu Mian, drenched in sweat and wanting a shower, struggled to bend over with her pregnant belly. She poked Zou Tingshen’s elbow with her finger. “Old Zou, can you help me open my suitcase?”

Zou Tingshen crouched down and unzipped her luggage, only to find a chaotic mess of clothes haphazardly stuffed inside. His brows furrowed.

This… was it a woman’s suitcase?

Mu Mian propped one hand on her hip to ease the pressure on her lower back and pointed to a hidden compartment. “There’s a red bra and pajamas in there. Can you grab them for me? Thanks, Old Zou.”

Before she finished speaking, Zou Tingshen had already reached in and pulled out the red bra, his palm awkwardly cupping the padded part, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Mu Mian, oblivious to his discomfort, treated him like an assistant. “Yes, yes, that’s the one! Hand it over—hey, Old Zou, why are you spacing out holding my bra?”

Zou Tingshen snapped back to reality, stood up, and handed her the clothes. “I’m going out to buy some things. I’ll make you some porridge tonight. We’ll head to Fukadan Island early tomorrow.”

Mu Mian clutched the clothes and put on a playful, cute expression. “Go on, go on.” She could only relax and shower once he was gone.

“…Ahem,” Zou Tingshen cleared his throat, reminding her, “Don’t open the door for anyone. Wait for me to come back.”

“Got it, got it.”

After seeing him off, Mu Mian turned on some music, kicked off her shoes, and poured herself a glass of red wine. She swirled it elegantly in her hand, slipped off her clothes with one hand, and hummed a tune as she sauntered into the bathroom.

By the time she reached the bathroom, she was nearly undressed.

She filled the bathtub, tossed in a handful of bath petals, and selected a nourishing face mask, applying it with care before slipping into the water. Only her head remained above the surface, the warm water gently steaming around her. Leaning back against the tub, Mu Mian closed her eyes in blissful comfort.

Exhausted from the flight, she drifted off to sleep.

The soothing water relaxed every nerve in her body, and in a half-awake, half-dreaming state, she had a nightmare. In it, her baby was born, and she was at home breastfeeding, day and night, until she turned into a haggard, yellow-faced woman. Meanwhile, her husband, Zou Tingshen, had a fiery temper and frequently abused her. The baby wailed incessantly, and when Zou Tingshen returned home exhausted from filming, his frustration boiled over. He grabbed the child by the neck, his face twisted in rage. “Keep crying, and I swear I’ll eat you!”

The baby cried louder. Zou Tingshen opened a monstrous maw and swallowed the child whole.

Mu Mian screamed, jolting awake from the nightmare, her cry echoing through the bathroom glass.

“…” She had a leg cramp.

Her leg seized up painfully, as if a thousand needles were stabbing her muscles. Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to lift her leg, only to feel excruciating pain.

“Li… Li Wen…” she called out instinctively before remembering she hadn’t brought her assistant on this trip. She cursed herself for trusting Zou Tingshen’s judgment. Without an assistant, how was she supposed to survive?

She couldn’t live like this!

***

Zou Tingshen returned to the hotel, setting out the rice and vegetables he’d bought on the dining table. Hearing noises from the bathroom, he paused, silencing the rustle of plastic bags to listen closely.

“Li… Li Wen… Save me…” The voice was tinged with sobs and desperation.

Zou Tingshen set down his things and hurried to the bathroom door, knocking. “Mu Mian, are you okay?”

“Old… Zou…” Mu Mian was on the verge of tears. “I’m not okay. I think my leg’s broken.”

His heart clenched, fearing she’d slipped in the bathroom. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and rushed in, only to lock eyes with Mu Mian in the bathtub. Her long hair was wrapped in a towel, revealing a delicate, makeup-free face, pale and luminous, her eyes misty and glistening.

“Ahh!” Mu Mian froze for a moment before reacting, splashing water at him with both arms. “Pervert! Pervert! You filthy pervert!”

In her agitation, she tugged at her cramped leg, triggering another wave of searing pain. Her body slid uncontrollably, her face dipping into the water. She struggled but couldn’t sit up, choking on a couple of mouthfuls.

Flailing, she reached out a pale arm, desperately waving for Zou Tingshen’s help.

Seeing the emergency, Zou Tingshen grabbed a bath towel, spread it out, and plunged it into the water, wrapping it around her body by feel and pulling her out of the tub.

He placed her on the bed and pulled a blanket over her.

Mu Mian’s chest burned from choking, and as she caught her breath, she glared at him. “What did you see?”

Zou Tingshen thought carefully and answered honestly, “It was an emergency. I didn’t have time to see anything.”

“…So you were planning to look!” Mu Mian’s chest heaved with anger. “You jerk!”

The pain in her leg forced her to abandon her tirade. She pointed at him. “Go get my clothes.”

Zou Tingshen retrieved the red dress hanging in the bathroom, his ears inexplicably turning red. He handed it to her and asked casually, “Need help?”

“No way! Turn around!” Mu Mian snapped.

Zou Tingshen turned, standing ramrod straight like a steel plate, not moving an inch.

Mu Mian quickly slipped on the dress, tugging the hem to cover herself properly, then called, “You can turn back now.”

Zou Tingshen turned and was momentarily stunned by the sight of her in the red dress. The fabric accentuated her delicate, fair skin, her wet hair cascading over her shoulders, water pooling in the hollow of her collarbone.

He averted his gaze, his ears reddening slightly.

Mu Mian pointed at her left leg. “Old Zou, my leg’s cramping. Rub it for me.”

“Me?”

“What? You don’t want to?” Mu Mian huffed. “You’re the one who said no assistants, and now look at me! No one to unpack my suitcase, no one to run my bath, no one to scatter petals, and now not even a massage for my cramp. Zou Tingshen, I’m starting to think you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, preying on innocent girls like me.”

Did she have some misunderstanding about the word “girl”? And now she was ordering a man to give her a massage?

Did she even know what she was doing?

Mu Mian had no idea. She was used to her lazy, carefree lifestyle, utterly dependent on assistants. Without them, she felt like an idiot. She genuinely didn’t mind Zou Tingshen massaging her leg—massage therapists weren’t always women, after all. Plus, with him being so handsome, she figured it was like getting a massage from a hot young guy.

Zou Tingshen’s face darkened, as if a storm were brewing.

Mu Mian clutched a pillow, her lips trembling as tears suddenly spilled. “They say pregnancy makes you dumb for three years, but I’ve turned into a complete idiot. How could I trust someone like you? You’re not only eyeing my underwear and my beauty, but also my baby! You’re coveting everything about me, yet you won’t even do this one thing for me. Heaven help me, I must’ve blown up the galaxy in my past life for Zeus to punish me by sending me to you, Zou Tingshen…”

“Fine, I’ll do it,” Zou Tingshen interrupted, unable to stand her pitiful act.

He crouched down, gently kneading her leg, and glanced over. “Is this the spot?”

“Yes, yes… right there. Gently, it still hurts.”

Mu Mian instantly dropped her pitiful expression, wiping her tears on the pillow, her face dry in seconds.

As Zou Tingshen massaged her leg, he glanced at her belly. “Is the baby okay?”

“He’s got extraordinary talent. A couple of gulps of water won’t drown him. Ah—lighter, yes, that’s the pressure.” Mu Mian leaned back, clearly enjoying it.

***

After just one day of living with Mu Mian, Zou Tingshen, a man with a cleanliness obsession, was on the verge of a breakdown. This girl, who always looked so polished and put-together, had shockingly poor self-care skills, enough to give anyone a headache.

She was about to throw out a pair of worn underwear when Zou Tingshen stopped her. “This brand isn’t cheap. You make good money, but is it really okay to be this wasteful?”

“But… I don’t know how to wash them,” Mu Mian admitted, her voice barely audible, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Zou Tingshen stared at her, incredulous. “So how have you survived all these years?”

“I hire maids.”

He thought she was exaggerating to an absurd degree. Had she really been living like a helpless child all this time?

To his skepticism, Mu Mian defended herself. “Do you know how hard it was being a top student my whole life? Where would I find time to do things like laundry?” She paused, then crossed her arms, huffing. “Forget it, you wouldn’t understand. You’re not going to wash my underwear for me, so why am I even explaining this to you?”