"A-Xu, you've worked hard these past few days. Thank you, sister-in-law…"
Lu Jia followed Thomas Xu as they walked slowly along the path covered with Marcus sand. The afterglow of the setting sun gradually spilled over, casting a pleasing golden Marcus hue around them. If it weren't for the desolate scenery, it would indeed be a unique sight!
"Sister-in-law, there's no need for such formalities in the future; it's only natural for family to support each other!" Thomas Xu smiled gently, turning to look at Lu Jia, who was still wearing the loose cream-colored long dress from yesterday. The lace-trimmed hem of the dress covered her knees, and she wore a pair of light blue flats in size 35, which still looked a bit large on her small feet.
"I just feel a bit burdensome for you, bringing along someone like me!" Perhaps due to the nourishing food that Thomas Xu had specially prepared for her over the past two days, Lu Jia's complexion had improved, showing a bit more color. Her belly, which had been barely noticeable for the past seven or eight months, seemed to have rounded out a little. She gently stroked her belly with both hands, sighed softly, and said, "Sigh~ If it weren't for this child, I would have chased after Gao Hai long ago. Living alone in this world, I feel no different from those living corpses; we are all just walking dead!"
"Sister-in-law, don't be so melancholic. They say that babies in the womb can sense their mother's emotions. If you want him to grow up healthy and happy, you should think of more joyful things!" Thomas Xu stopped and looked at Lu Jia seriously, noticing that she was already sweating slightly. He pointed to a fallen dead tree by the roadside and said, "Let's take a break over there!"
"Hmm!" Lu Jia nodded gently, and with Thomas Xu's help, she sat on the dead tree. After sitting down, Lu Jia took a deep breath to adjust her emotions and smiled at Thomas Xu, asking, "Ah Xu, are you really planning to keep Bing Bing by your side and marry her?"
"How could that be possible?" Thomas Xu quickly shook his head and said nonchalantly, "In this situation, who is thinking about marriage? Everyone is just fulfilling their own needs; it's not even about feelings. To be honest, it's just a way to relieve some pressure!"
"Hmm! I understand; there are too many such things in the gathering place, and I should have thought of that!" Lu Jia nodded thoughtfully, realizing that this was just a form of physiological release for men, unrelated to emotions. She tilted her head to look at Thomas Xu and asked with a smile, "Have you ever thought about finding a woman to accompany you for life? Just like Brother Lin said, continuing the family line is also a top priority!"
"I have thought about it; how could I not?" Thomas Xu nodded sincerely, habitually reaching into his pants pocket for a cigarette to light up. But as he brought it to his lips, he remembered that he was sitting next to a pregnant woman. He smiled apologetically and took the cigarette away from his mouth, but unexpectedly, Lu Jia reached out, took it, and put it back in his mouth, then picked up the lighter in his left hand and lit the cigarette for him.
"Uh... Sister-in-law, is it appropriate to smoke in front of you?" Thomas Xu quickly turned his head, holding the cigarette further away from Lu Jia.
"It's fine; we're not indoors, so go ahead and smoke if you want!" Lu Jia shrugged her shoulders, resting her chin on her left hand. The dazzling sapphire necklace around her delicate white neck swayed back and forth, slowly emitting a soft glow under the golden Marcus sunlight, making Lu Jia's oval face look extraordinarily beautiful.
Thomas Xu instinctively shook his head, a bit flustered as he shifted his gaze away from Lu Jia's face, only to inadvertently notice the slightly open collar of her shirt, where he caught a glimpse of her full breasts. Thomas Xu's eyes widened instinctively, as Lu Jia was not wearing a bra at all.
"A-Xu... Sister-in-law... You haven't finished answering her question yet!" Lu Jia straightened her body anxiously, probably noticing Thomas Xu's dazed gaze. As she was about to give birth, she was no longer suitable for wearing a bra, so she clearly knew what Thomas Xu had seen. Lu Jia's heart was pounding heavily, and she slightly lowered her head, her cheeks flushed.
"Ah... Yes, that's right..." Thomas Xu also realized he had made a fool of himself, feeling so embarrassed that he wished he could slap himself a few times. After all, he considered himself experienced with women, yet he was staring at a woman's chest like a naive boy, and this woman was his sister-in-law, whom he had been calling out to.
Thomas Xu's mind was a mess, and he couldn't remember what Lu Jia had just asked him. Whether his eyes were open or closed, all he could see were those two soft, motherly curves. Lu Jia's mind was also in a jumble; being peeked at by her nominal little brother-in-law left her unsure of how to feel. Perhaps aside from shyness, she felt flustered, and since she didn't hear Thomas Xu speak, she also lowered her head, unsure of what to say.
"Oh..."
Suddenly, Lu Jia clutched her stomach and cried out in pain, startling Thomas Xu beside her. He hurriedly grabbed Lu Jia's arm and asked in a panic, "What's wrong? What's wrong? Are you about to give birth?"
"Give birth? Not for at least another month!" Lu Jia shot Thomas Xu a reproachful glance, but seeing his anxious expression, she inexplicably blushed again and said with a hint of relief, "It's nothing; the baby just kicked me!"
"Haha~ Maybe it's a son? He's really strong!" Thomas Xu finally relaxed and smiled, curiously looking at Lu Jia's bulging belly. Hesitating, he asked, "Can... can I touch it?"
"Mm!" Lu Jia smiled gently and nodded, guiding Thomas Xu's carefully extended hand to rest on her belly, teasing, "Hehe~ It's not made of glass, so why are you being so careful? Just place your hand there; both you and he can feel it!"
"Hey, hey~ He moved! The baby moved!" The gentle pushing sensation quickly came from Lu Jia's belly under Thomas Xu's hand, and he immediately looked at Lu Jia in surprise, shouting with joy, his whole demeanor radiating happiness.
"Hehe~ Right? The baby is playing with you!" Lu Jia smiled tenderly, watching the childlike smile on Thomas Xu's face, while a hint of complex dimness flashed in her eyes.
"Sister-in-law, have you thought of a name for the baby?" Thomas Xu said excitedly as he patted Lu Jia's belly one last time before withdrawing his hand and looking at her.
"You know Gao Hai is a rough guy. He has been thinking about it since I got pregnant, and it's been over half a year without a clear idea!" Lu Jia said with a bitter smile, shaking her head. After a moment of contemplation, she tilted her head and suddenly looked at Thomas Xu with bright eyes, softly saying, "But I've decided, whether it's a boy or a girl, I will call him Gao Xu!"
"Gao... Gao Xu?" Thomas Xu was taken aback, asking with a somewhat strange expression.
"Yes, Gao Xu! Gao from Gao Hai, and Xu from Thomas Xu!" Lu Jia nodded firmly, looking at Thomas Xu and saying, "This child's life is given by his father, but without you, he wouldn't be able to come into this world smoothly. Moreover, in the many years of his adulthood, you will be the one who helps him the most, even more than I can!"
"Gao Xu... Gao Xu..." Thomas Xu repeated the name several times in a daze, a sense of pride welling up within him, but at the same time, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility weighing on his shoulders.
"Sister-in-law, there's nothing I can do to repay you, but this is the only way I can express the feelings of both me and my child!" Lu Jia said sincerely, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Hmm, thank you, sister-in-law. As long as I, Thomas Xu, have breath in me, I will ensure your safety and that of your child!" Thomas Xu nodded heavily, then thought for a moment and smiled at Lu Jia, saying, "But you must promise me one thing: when the child is born, I must be his godfather!"
"It's all yours!" Lu Jia smiled happily, and with Thomas Xu's support, the two slowly walked towards the camp.