Love is a mistake that cannot be escaped

The woman in the photo has bright eyes and white teeth, and a charming smile. She is affectionately holding Gu Yichen's arm, and the two of them stand together like a perfect couple.

I zoomed in on the photo again and again, trying to find a flaw, an unnaturalness, a hint of... guilt on Gu Yichen's face. But there was nothing. The tenderness in his eyes, the smile on his lips, were like sharp blades, piercing my eyes and my heart.

"Yan Yan, what's wrong?" Lu Mingxuan's anxious voice pulled me back from my daze. I hurriedly turned off my phone, took a deep breath, and tried to calm my turbulent emotions. "Nothing, just some things at the company."

Lu Mingxuan clearly didn't believe my explanation. He looked at me with concern, hesitant to speak.

I forced a smile, not wanting him to worry.

Just then, the phone screen lit up; it was a call from Gu Yichen!

My heart skipped a beat, and I pressed the answer button with almost trembling hands.

"Yan Yan, I'm sorry, I've been busy with an urgent project at the company these past few days. How are you? Are you alright?"

His voice was as gentle as ever, as if the scene in the photo was just an illusion.

I took a deep breath and tried to make my voice sound calm: "I'm fine. How about you? Is the project going well?"

"Everything is going well, you don't need to worry."

His tone was tinged with weariness. "Oh, right, there's something I wanted to tell you. Get ready, I'll come back to pick you up tomorrow, and we'll go on a... trip together."

My fingers tightened slightly around my phone. A trip? Was it with her? "Okay, I understand."

The next day, Gu Yichen rushed back, looking travel-worn. I pretended to be relaxed and exchanged pleasantries with him, asking about his work. He responded gently, as if nothing had happened.

However, a shadow always loomed over my heart. The scene in the photo was like a boulder, weighing heavily on my heart and making it hard for me to breathe.

After dinner, I made an excuse to go for a walk and went to the garden alone.

A gentle night breeze dispelled the heat in the air, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in my heart.

Just then, a small figure ran over; it was an adorable child.

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

The adorable child looked up at her with concern and asked.

I knelt down, hugged him, and gently stroked his hair. "Mom's fine, she's just thinking about some things."

Are you thinking about your father?

The adorable child blinked her big eyes and asked innocently.

My heart skipped a beat, and I forced a smile and nodded.

"Mom, Dad will be back soon, and then the three of us can go to the amusement park together!"

The adorable child said excitedly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"A family of three?" I was taken aback for a moment, then realized that he meant our family of three, plus the baby in my belly.

"Yes, Daddy said that there's a little baby in Mommy's tummy, and I'll be the big brother from now on. I'll protect Mommy and the little baby!"

The adorable child patted his little chest and said with a serious expression.

My heart warmed, and I patted his head gently, saying, "Yes, little one is going to be a big brother, are you happy?"

"I'm so happy!" The little boy jumped up excitedly. "I will definitely be a good older brother and take good care of my younger brothers and sisters!"

Looking at the adorable child's innocent smile, I felt a mix of emotions. If...

If he had no secrets, if... we could really be a happy family of three, how wonderful that would be...

The child's words were like a ray of sunshine, briefly dispelling the gloom in my heart.

Yes, I'm pregnant, and I can't let those unfounded accusations defeat me. I need to be strong for my child.

The next day, I received a call from Lu Mingxuan. He mysteriously said that he had prepared a surprise for me, and then hung up the phone.

Not long after, he appeared at my door with a large suitcase.

"You are..." I looked at him in surprise.

"Just open it and you'll see," Lu Mingxuan said with a smile.

Curious, I opened my suitcase and found it filled with all sorts of maternity supplies, from anti-radiation clothing to pregnancy pillows, from maternity supplements to baby clothes—everything imaginable.

"You... how did you come up with the idea of ​​buying these?" I looked at him, touched.

"Silly girl, you're a priority for protection now, so of course I, as your older brother, have to take good care of you and the baby."

Lu Mingxuan ruffled my hair, his eyes full of affection.

My nose tingled, and my eyes welled up with tears. Apart from my family, it had been a long time since anyone had cared for me like this.

Not long after Lu Mingxuan left, Gu Yichen's younger brother, Gu Yichen, also arrived, pushing a wheelchair filled with all sorts of nutritional supplements and books for pregnant women.

"Sister-in-law, I specially picked these out for you. I hope you like them."

Gu Yichen spoke with gentle elegance, always wearing a faint smile on his face.

"Thank you..." I looked at him gratefully, but my heart was filled with mixed feelings. I had always felt that Gu Yichen's kindness to me was somewhat deliberate, as if he was trying his best to make up for something.

“We’re family, no need to be so polite.” Gu Yichen smiled. “My brother is busy with work, so leave the taking care of you to me. Just let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded, but felt even more uneasy. The nicer they were to me, the more I felt like an outsider, a fool kept in the dark.

A few days later, Gu's father suddenly called and said he wanted to take us on a trip so that I could relax and focus on my pregnancy. I wanted to refuse, but Gu Yichen insisted on going, and I couldn't persuade him otherwise, so I had to agree.

Sunlight shone on the sea, making it sparkle. The sea breeze ruffled my hair. I took a deep breath; the salty sea breeze carried a hint of sweetness, which was refreshing and invigorating.

Gu Yichen hugged me from behind, gently rested his chin on my shoulder, and said softly, "Do you like it here?"

"Ah."

I closed my eyes, savoring the tranquility and beauty of this moment. "This place is truly beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here."

"Silly girl, why thank me? Whatever makes you happy."

He lowered his head and kissed my forehead, his tone full of doting affection.

These past few days, we've put aside all our worries and fully enjoyed this rare time together as a couple.

We strolled together on the beach, watching the sunset; we fished together by the sea, enjoying the joy of our catch; we snuggled together on the balcony of our room, talking about our dreams for the future…

I have never felt so relaxed, nor have I ever felt his love like this.

Every glance and every gesture of his was filled with love, making me unable to resist being captivated by it.

After our trip, we returned to the city and resumed our normal lives.

I started actively attending various prenatal classes to learn how to take care of myself and the baby in my belly.

From pregnancy diet to pregnancy exercise, from prenatal music to parenting knowledge, I absorbed all kinds of knowledge like a sponge.

Gu Yichen was very supportive of me. He turned down a lot of work to accompany me to classes, to do prenatal yoga with me, and to read prenatal stories to the baby with me.

Together we prepare for the upcoming new life, our hearts filled with anticipation and joy.

After returning home, I started organizing the travel photos to make an album so that my baby could see the sweet travel memories of mom and dad after the baby is born.

As I was browsing through my phone's photo album, one picture caught my eye.

In the photo, Gu Yichen stands in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling window, his back straight, with the azure sea outside the window, a beautiful view.

But that's not the point. The point is that in the photo, Gu Yichen is holding a cell phone, and I recognize that cell phone very well—it belongs to Lin Jiaojiao!

I suddenly felt a chill. How could Lin Jiaojiao be here?

Why did Gu Yichen have her phone?

Could it be... could it be that the figure I vaguely saw at the beach that day wasn't an illusion?

A flood of speculation overwhelmed me, making it hard to breathe. I tried to tell myself to stay calm; there must be some misunderstanding.

Just then, the doorbell rang. I took a deep breath and tried to appear calm as I went to open the door.

The deliveryman was standing outside the door. He handed me an envelope and said, "Ms. Fu, you have a package." I signed for it, closed the door, and eagerly tore open the envelope. Inside was only a thin piece of paper with a few lines of writing on it:

"Want to know Gu Yichen's secrets? Want to know why he approached you? Want to know who he truly loves? If you want to know all this, come to XXXXX Cafe, and I will tell you the whole truth."

The signature is an unfamiliar symbol, like some kind of totem, or like a random doodle.

The letter slipped from my hand, and my heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand. Fear, unease, and doubt intertwined, almost causing me to collapse.

Who sent this letter?

What is the secret mentioned in the letter?

Gu Yichen, what else are you hiding from me?