Song Menghwa had single-handedly turned the chaos at the anniversary around. Regardless, it had taken a great toll on him. The moment they entered the room, Song Menghwa slumped weakly into the sofa. With his hand on his heart and his eyes closed, he breathed in and out for a long time before his breathing stabilized. He moved his arms little by little before using the sofa arms as support to sit up in the chair.
Song Menghwa opened his eyes to see the empty space before him. He was confused before turning his eyes to look around the room. Eventually, he spotted Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian, who stood by each other at the door. The two of them hadn’t come out of their petrified state. They stood there looking blankly ahead, completely immobile.
“What are you two standing there for?” Song Menghwa frowned before ordering, “Come in and take a seat!”
His words seemed to have landed on deaf ears because Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian stood where they were—their eyelids barely even twitched. Song Menghwa frowned even deeper. He urged them again. Since they still didn’t seem to hear him, he grabbed his staff to knock heavily on the leg of the coffee table.
Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian’s bodies shook slightly before they both turned their blank gazes toward Song Menghwa. Song Menghwa, after getting their attention, placed the staff next to the coffee table and demanded, “Come here!”
Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian moved robotically toward him. Song Menghwa pointed at the sofa across from him, to signal for them to sit. Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian were like two puppets, sitting awkwardly at the edge of the sofa, not unlike a primary school students who were frozen after being summoned into the headmaster’s office.
Song Menghwa leaned forward. Before he got into the heart of the matter, he asked Song Qingchun with concern, “Qingchun, how are you feeling? Do you feel uncomfortable in any way?”
Song Qingchun shook her head mechanically as if someone had pulled the string above her.
Song Menghwa then sighed in relief. He proceeded to explain his plan for the future, “This is what I think. Since Qingchun is currently two months pregnant, and the first trimester is too dangerous for too much movement, so I don’t suggest having the wedding so soon. Qingchun needs all the rest she can get. What do the both of you think?”
Wedding? Song Qingchun and Su Zhinian still hadn’t recovered from their daze. The word swirled in their minds for a long time, but there was barely any expression on their faces.
“Can you even hear me?” Song Menghwa raised his voice.
Su Zhinian, who until now hadn’t really grasped what Song Menghwa was saying, nodded immediately. Song Qingchun saw Su Zhinian nod, so she mimicked him.
Song Menghwa then continued. “In three months, Qingchun might not look pretty in her dress with the stomach, so I suggest we have the wedding after the birth of the child.”
This time, Song Menghwa didn’t wait for them to nod before continuing. “The main mission for Qingchun now is to rest well to prepare for childbirth. Su Zhinian, I don’t care how busy your work is because from now on, your main job is to take care of your wife and child.”
After giving all of his opinions, Song Menghwa suddenly leaned inquisitively forward to ask with a big smile, “Have you figured out a name for the child?”
Su Zhinian and Song Qingchun were like two idiots staring at Song Menghwa, giving him zero response.
Song Menghwa frowned and leaned back to focus on selecting a name for his grandchild when Su Zhinian suddenly opened his lips to say, “Did you just say… have a wedding?”