"That family is my sister’s in-laws," Ning Songyun said, her voice trembling slightly.
"After my sister got pregnant, her husband brought his mother to live with them. At first, things were fine. But two weeks ago, when her husband went away on business, that vile old woman brought her youngest son and his pregnant wife to live there too. At first, my sister thought they were just staying for a short while.
"But the day before yesterday, when my sister finished cooking and went to call them for dinner, she overheard them talking inside the room. They said that my sister’s due date is within two days of the younger daughter-in-law’s, and they were planning to secretly swap my sister’s baby with theirs. When my sister heard that, she pushed the door open to confront them, but her mother-in-law shoved her to the ground. The baby was nearly lost.
"At the hospital, when my father and brother asked what happened, they flat-out denied it. They claimed they never said such a thing and that my sister was just trying to frame them because she didn't want them living off her for free."
By the end, Ning Songyun was sobbing. "My sister is so kind, so gentle—how could they plot to bully her like this while her husband and mother were away?"
Zhao Yu patted Ning Songyun’s back to soothe her. "Don’t worry, don’t worry. Calm down. Your father, your brother, and even the regiment commander won't let this happen. A baby isn't an ear of corn that they can just swap whenever they feel like it. I’ll help you think of a solution... How about this: until the regiment commander gets back, we’ll take turns asking for leave. As long as it doesn't interfere with training, one of us will keep watch by your sister's side every day."
"Yuyu, you’re so wonderful!" Ning Songyun couldn't stop crying.
"What are friends for?" Zhao Yu stroked Ning Songyun’s head, feeling her calm down. "However, just watching over her isn't enough. There’s something else you need to do."
Zhao Yu whispered a few words in Ning Songyun’s ear. As she listened, Ning Songyun’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. Finally, she jumped right off the bed. "Yuyu, that’s a brilliant move! I’m going to do it right now!"
"Don’t be so hasty!" Zhao Yu held her back. "It’s already dark out. Wait until tomorrow."
The next day, Ning Songyun took another half-day off. When she returned in the afternoon, she was in incredibly high spirits.
"Did you get it all sorted out?"
"Mhm!" Ning Songyun nodded, her tone excited. "After my brother heard about it, he even helped out personally. There's no way that family will ever figure it out."
"He actually allowed us to do this?" Zhao Yu was surprised. Ning Songyi had always looked down on these kinds of underhanded tactics and never allowed anyone else to use them.
"My brother said that a gentleman knows what to do and what not to do, but for the sake of his own sister, doing it once in a while is perfectly fine."
"That’s good. Starting tomorrow, we’ll take turns keeping watch over Sister Ning."
Perhaps because of the beating Ning Songyi had given her before, the mother-in-law, Madam Liang, didn't show up at the hospital at all during the week Ning Songxu was there awaiting delivery. Instead, with the company of her sister and Zhao Yu, Ning Songxu’s mood gradually improved, and the baby in her womb was slowly out of danger.
"Yuyu, thank you for all your hard work these past few days." Ning Songxu took Zhao Yu’s hand and pulled her to her side, her eyes darting toward Ning Songyi, who had just hurried in with some fruit. "I have you to thank that I, as a sister, get to see a certain someone so often."
Zhao Yu froze slightly at those words. She glanced at Ning Songyi out of the corner of her eye, and seeing that he was looking at her, she quickly and flusteredly shifted her gaze. Ning Songxu’s eyes were brimming with laughter at the sight.
She stood up, bracing her belly, and shuffled over to the hospital bed. "Oh, Song Yun will be here in a moment. Songyi, why don't you take Yuyu back first?"
"I’ll wait for Songyun. I’m not at ease with you here alone while she’s not here."
"What could possibly happen in such a short time? You’ve been tired all day, go back and rest."
"Let's go." Ning Songyi reached out, grabbed Zhao Yu’s coat, and waited for her at the door.
Seeing this, Zhao Yu had no choice but to say goodbye to Ning Songxu and leave with Ning Songyi. The two walked back in silence. Just as Zhao Yu was about to enter her dormitory building, Ning Songyi finally spoke. "Yuyu, thank you."
"It was nothing." Zhao Yu chuckled softly. "You’re like an older brother to me, and Songyun is my best friend. Regardless of the connection, it was only right for me to help look after Sister Ning."
"An older brother?" Ning Songyi repeated, then muttered to himself, "Just an older brother?"
"What was that?" Zhao Yu hadn't heard him clearly.
"Nothing. Go on in."
Even though Zhao Yu wanted to ask, she saw that Ning Songyi had no intention of saying anything else, and she figured it couldn't be anything important, so she turned and walked into the building.
But before she had taken two steps, someone grabbed her hard.
"Zhao Yu!"
Zhao Yu was jerked back, nearly stumbling to the ground. When she regained her balance, she realized the person holding her was Lu Jing.
"What are you doing here?" Zhao Yu hadn't expected Lu Jing to have time to appear before her. Had Lin Shu and her difficult mother-in-law been dealt with already?
"I’m asking you, who were you with just now? Did you call Jianguo’s mother here?"
"Are you sick? What makes you think I did it? Do you have any proof?" Zhao Yu honestly hadn't expected Lu Jing to blame his mother-in-law's drama on her. His accusation made her laugh out of pure anger.
"I know you found out I was going to marry Lin Shu, and you weren't happy about it, so you found someone to bring Jianguo’s mother here to stop us from getting married, right?" Lu Jing grew more excited as he spoke, gripping Zhao Yu’s shoulders tightly. "You even brought Ning Songyi here just now on purpose to make me jealous, didn't you! I understand everything. Don't worry. I’ve already made it clear to Lin Shu that she should go back and live a good life with her mother-in-law. I owe her and Jianguo, and I will compensate them in the future. Ayu, as long as we compensate Lin Shu together, she will definitely forgive us!"
"What kind of dream are you living in? Let go!" Zhao Yu struggled, but couldn't break free.
"Ayu, I understand what you mean, we..."
Before Lu Jing could finish his sentence, someone grabbed him by the back of his collar and hauled him away, followed immediately by a punch to the face.
"Brother Stone!" Zhao Yu grabbed Ning Songyi, who was raining punches down on Lu Jing. "Stop! If you keep hitting him, you’ll be disciplined!"
Ning Songyi was pulled back two steps by Zhao Yu, and Lu Jing scrambled up from the ground.
"Who the hell do you think you are! What happens between Ayu and me is none of your business! Get lost!"
Ning Songyi gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tight. Hearing this, he wanted to rush back in and land another few hits. It was only when Ning Songyun ran over, breathless, that the impending brawl was stopped.
"Brother! Yuyu! Come to the hospital quickly, my sister is going into labor!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu and Ning Songyi both forgot all about Lu Jing. They ran toward the hospital one after the other.
"Zhao Yu! Are you really going to go with him!"