Wanning sat, hands on his lap as he wait. He feels his hands shake.
The doors open, madam Wang walks in. She gives Wanning a smile. He gives her a nod. She joins him at the table. "How are you feeling?" she asks. She gives a look over to Wanning, the other seems fine physically but mentally there seems to be something on his mind. That can't be good for the baby.
"I'm tired but I feel better than yesterday." Wanning says. "I've been staying hydrated." Wanning shows her the cup of water he's poured himself as he wait.
"How's your morning sickness?" She asks.
"Morning sickness?" Wanning asks visibly confused. Eyes narrow in confused. Madam Wang lets out a soft chuckle. Of course Wanning wouldn't have heard about pregnancy symptoms considering his circumstances.
"Morning sickness is when you feel nauseous and are throwing up. Your body is making more space for the baby. It's natural." She explains with a smile.
"I understand. Though I seem to be sick in the evenings more." Wanning tells her, worried something may be wrong already.
"It's called that because most women have it in the morning but not everyone does. Some get it at night, or the afternoon. Some are lucky enough to not get it at all." Wanning nods his head. So there's nothing wrong with him or the baby. He lets out a relieved breath.
"Have you decided what you are going to do with the baby?" She asks, a bit nervous to be intruding on the elders personal life but at the moment she's his doctor. They need to talk.
"I'm keeping the baby." Wanning announces sternly, looking straight into madam Wang eyes.
"Okay. If you have any questions let me know. I'll answer to my best ability."
"I'm curious about everything." Wanning states. He's absolutely clueless.
"Let's start from the beginning. Your pregnancy will last forty two weeks. They are split into thirds. Since you aren't showing we have to assume you are still in the first trimester. Which means you have to be careful. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester." She explains, Wanning listens carefully. "I'd like to check to see how far along you are." she waits for the elder to connect.
"Go ahead." Wanning consents. He'd like to know too. Of course he hasn't had his menstrual cycle yet. To be fair he hasn't been keeping track.
Chuqing goes around the table to sit next to Wanning. She takes his wrist. Checking on him. "You are healthy. I wouldn't strain yourself. It goes without saying to not go on mission anymore. Rest as much as you can." she makes small talk as she searches what she's looking for. "Ah, you are about ten weeks along. Congratulations." Chuqing smiles brightly at Yuheng.
"Thank you." He says with a small grin on his face, cheeks dusting pink. Ten weeks ago? How can he forget? That's around the time they went as husband and wife. The night he got drunk seems possible. If not then, the following day as they stayed at the Inn must have helped. And any other time they are alone. They definitely have worked together to make this baby.
"Yuheng... this baby, do you know it's father?" Chuqing asks. There she goes again thinking the worst. Wanning can see it in her eyes, her expression. She thinks something horrible again.
"I-" the door slamming open cuts Wanning off. The two turn their heads towards the door. Mo Ran stands there panting. He must have ran here. They wanted to come together but Mo Ran got busy with helping some elders. There are many elders who have too many disciples they can't help them all. It's also hard to judge them all. Mo Ran continues to fill the gapes. As much as he can.
He joins them. Closing the door behind him. "Sorry I'm late. I didn't think it would take that long." Mo Ran flashes a grin. Chuqing can only raise an eyebrow, she's confused. Not aware they had scheduled a meeting together. "I didn't miss anything did I?" Mo Ran wonders taking a seat next to Wanning. Chuqing continues to stare stunned.
"You're still early. We just began to talk." Wanning says evenly. His attention then goes to the madam. "Is there anything else I should expect in this first trimester?" Wanning asks. Mo Ran also turns his attention to his aunt.
"Well..." she begins but looks between both Mo Ran and Wanning. She doesn't want to answer the question in front of her nephew. Especially for Wanning privacy. Talk about bad timing. "Ran-er can you wait outside?" She wonders. Mo Ran blinks.
"Why?" He wonders.
"Yuheng and I are discussing something... between woman." she says hoping that would work. Young men are often screamsish when it comes to things about woman. Even some grown adult men. Will this scare him?
Mo Ran takes a look at Wanning, who is looking at auntie unclear about what she's talking about. Whatisshe talking about? Are they not talking about the pregnancy? But even Wanning has no clue what she's talking about. So auntie said that for a reason. Why?
To scare him off? Could be. He's seen his cousin scream when talking about woman body. His auntie is kind enough to try to scare someone off rather than outright tell them to leave.
If she is trying to scare him then does that mean she doesn't know. How long have they been talking?
"Auntie... do you not know?" Mo Ran asks looking at his aunt.
"I haven't informed her yet." Wanning answers looking at his lover. Mo Ran looks back at Wanning.
"Informed me of what?" Chuqing asks looking between the two. She's about to demand answers with how these two seem to know something, she doesn't want to be kept in the dark. Not with Wanning being with a child. She's all Wanning has, no way will he go to Tanlang elder for help. She knows him enough for that.
"Auntie," Mo Ran starts giving her a look, then taking another look at Wanning who gives him a nod. Permission to go ahead. He looks back at his aunt, "I know Wanning is pregnant..." Mo Ran takes a deep breath "... because I'm the father." Chuqing eyes widen as she sucks in a breath.
"You asked if I knew the father, I was going to tell but Mo Ran showed himself." Wanning tells her, unsure why he needed to but it felt important to let her know he wasn't going to lie or hide the truth from her.
The three sit in silence.
They sit in silence for a long time.
"I was unaware... you both were in a relationship." She stares at them both, no emotion in her voice or eyes.
"We didn't want anyone to know so we kept it hidden." Mo Ran answers.
"Does husband know?" She wonders but they can't read her.
"No. At the moment you are the only who does." Wanning tells her.
"I..." she starts but doesn't finish. She does get to her feet. Leaving the room. The couple left alone in the room. The couple look at each other when it's apparent she's not coming back.
It wasn't a rejection.
But it wasn't acceptance.