After remarrying Sebastian, I called out the wrong name in bed again. He paused, not raging like the previous times. He just finished with a dark face. I thought he didn't care. Until my old friend Elias returned, and I dressed up beautifully to pick him up. On the way, Sebastian called me. He asked: "If I died right now, would you turn back to collect my body, or would you still choose to go see him?" I laughed. Six years ago, I asked him the same question. Back then, Sebastian’s answer was: "Baby, I'll go see her first, and then come back to collect your body." 1 Now my answer was the same as Sebastian's back then. He was silent for a few seconds, then hung up. I arrived at the airport on time. Reunited after a long separation, Elias and I hugged each other. He is a second-generation overseas Chinese who has longed for the taste of home for a long time. I drove Elias to an old neighborhood to eat the most authentic local cuisine. Smoke swirled, voices clamored. The atmosphere was thick with life. The small restaurant was cramped, so we could only sit close together outside. Old friends meeting, endless topics to chat about. Until my phone on the table buzzed. Three words, Sebastian, fell into our eyes. My expression didn't change as I hung up. The other side persisted, redialing repeatedly. After three consecutive rejections, the other side finally gave up. Elias hesitated for a long time but still asked, "How is your life now?" I took a sip of Coke: "It's okay. I have a husband and a child, living a stable life." A slight disappointment flashed in his eyes, fleeting: "That's good." "When I learned you were going to remarry Sebastian, I actually didn't quite agree, worried he would repeat the same mistakes and treat you badly." "Don't worry, he doesn't dare now." Elias smiled faintly: "Jude would be at peace knowing this in heaven. Before he left, his only wish was for you to be happy." My grip on the food slipped, and it rolled off the table edge. A striking red oil stain appeared on my light-colored pants. 2 At 11 PM, I returned to Jade Garden. Pushing open the door, the house was pitch black, with only a faint light coming through the window. Just as I was reaching to turn on the light, I suddenly heard someone ask in a low voice from the darkness. "You're back?" My heart skipped a beat, and I hurriedly pressed the switch. The moment the light turned on. I saw Sebastian sitting on the soft stool by the door like a silent statue. Stung by the light, he instinctively turned his head, frowning slightly. He closed his eyes for a few seconds to adapt before turning his face to look at me. When he raised his eyelids, there was still a lingering daze in his eyes. I breathed a sigh of relief, unable to help complaining: "Are you sick? Sitting here scaring people." His voice was a bit hoarse: "Thinking about things, forgot to turn on the light." I bent down to change my shoes. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sebastian naturally reaching out, taking my handbag, and hanging it up. "Have you eaten?" Sebastian asked knowingly. "I ate." He paused, his gaze falling on my face, his tone softening: "I haven't eaten yet." "Can you accompany me to eat a little?" I walked past him inside: "Can't eat anymore." But my wrist was gently pulled. I turned back and saw Sebastian looking at me. His voice was lighter than before: "Today is my birthday... sit with me for a while?" A table full of home-cooked dishes. Because they had been sitting for a while and reheated repeatedly, the color and aroma were compromised. Sebastian placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of me, and ladled a full bowl of soup pushing it over. I frowned almost imperceptibly. Seeing this, he immediately lowered his voice: "Just taste a couple of bites, don't force yourself." I picked up the spoon and forced a mouthful. Sebastian's gaze followed my movements. As soon as I put down the spoon, he couldn't help leaning forward, a hint of expectation in his tone: "How does it taste?" "I remember every winter before, this was your favorite soup." I lowered my eyes looking at the soup surface: "Average." His eyes dimmed: "I cooked all the dishes tonight myself." "Oh, your cooking skills aren't what they used to be." He didn't refute, picking up his chopsticks: "Then I'll work harder in the future to restore my previous level." I mocked him: "Threatening to die on the phone, but actually had the leisure to cook a table full of dishes at home?" Sebastian was thick-skinned: "It's my birthday, can we not talk about this today?" He put a piece of sweet and sour ribs on my plate: "Did you have a pleasant chat with your friend today?" I was too lazy to act with Sebastian, pushing the bowl away and standing up: "Tired, going back to my room first." After showering, I came out to get water. I found the dining room light still on lonely, the food on the table barely touched. Just about to turn around, suppressed vomiting sounds came from the bathroom, muffled and intermittent. A moment later, the door opened. Sebastian walked out holding the door frame, his face looking somewhat pale under the light. Seeing me standing in the living room, he was stunned. I looked at him carefully in the light and found he seemed to have lost a lot of weight recently. His jawline was sharper, collar button loose, revealing the shadow of a distinct collarbone. He avoided my gaze, pulling a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth: "Stomach's been uncomfortable lately." I didn't reply, nor did I ask further. Holding the water glass, I looked at him quietly for two seconds, then turned back to my room. 3 Waking up the next day, the other side of the pillow was neat. Sebastian hadn't returned all night. A knock on the door, followed by a child's crisp and cheerful shout: "Mommy!" I opened the door, and a small figure immediately threw herself into my arms. She hugged my neck tightly, her cheek pressing softly against my neck. "Mommy Mommy! I missed you so much!" I picked her up, smelling the milky scent on the child, my heart softening into a mess. "Baby! Mommy missed you too!" We were intimate for a while. While washing up, Lily clung to my side. Like a cheerful little bird, chattering sharing interesting things with her friends. The corners of my mouth raised couldn't come down, leading her hand to the dining room. Sebastian, who had disappeared all night, was standing by the island pouring milk. Fried eggs, bread, and fruits were on the table. Lily let go of my hand and ran over. Sebastian habitually bent down. The child stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Daddy!" Sebastian's eyes curved in a smile, full of doting. After taking seats, Sebastian pushed a cup of clear tea in front of me. He paused, suddenly speaking: "I went out last night." I didn't answer, picking up a slice of bread. Lily forked the biggest strawberry in her bowl to me: "Mommy eat?" I took it with a smile: "Eat." She forked another one to Sebastian: "Daddy!" Sebastian didn't respond; his gaze was locked on me. Lily's eyes darted between us, looking confused. I had to turn my head to the person beside me: "Lily is asking if you want a strawberry." Sebastian took the small fork from the child's hand: "Thank you baby." He pulled out a chair and sat next to me. I asked casually: "Where did you go last night?" "Hospital." Sebastian answered quickly. He deliberately placed his left hand on the table. On the pale back of his hand, a fresh needle mark was clearly visible, with a faint bruise around it. "Went to the emergency room." I just glanced at it, then withdrew my gaze, continuing to spread cheese for Lily. "Poisoned by your own cooking?" Sebastian laughed, tone deliberately relaxed: "Doctor said it's chronic gastritis, old problem." I didn't want to make the atmosphere too stiff in front of Lily, so I nodded: "Mm, take care of your health." Sebastian's dim eyes instantly lit up. A ding from the kitchen, he stood up. "You have a bad appetite in the morning, I stewed some porridge for you." Watching his thoughtful appearance, I suddenly remembered long ago. Just the roles were swapped. I was the one carefully making porridge for Sebastian. He was the one sick, and I was the one anxious and sleepless all night. And him? Always smiling with a bit of carelessness, looking down on my intentions. "You, instead of bothering with these time-wasting things, might as well use that free time to enrich yourself." At this moment, Sebastian brought out the hot porridge and placed it in front of me, carefully instructing: "Be careful it's hot." My gaze fell on the soft stewed porridge, hiding the mockery at the corner of my mouth. 4 In the remarriage agreement with Sebastian. He set every weekend as our fixed parent-child interaction time. Saturday morning, cloudless and sunny. Sebastian and I took Lily to the amusement park, playing crazily all morning. Coming out, Lily was held in Sebastian's arms. The child's cheeks were rosy, eyes watery and bright. She asked me: "Mommy! Can we go to the ocean park in the afternoon?" "Okay, let's have lunch first." Lily leaned over and kissed my cheek: "Thank you Mommy! Love Mommy the most!" Sebastian pretended to be jealous: "What about Daddy? Doesn't Daddy get one?" The kid twisted back in his arms and smacked a kiss on his cheek. Sebastian instantly beamed with joy. Walking out, Sebastian discussed with me where to eat. Lily's thin bangs were soaked with sweat, so I asked him to put the child down. I squatted down to wipe Lily's sweat, tidying her collar and hair messed up by the wind. At that moment, I heard a very slight "click". Looking up, I saw Sebastian's camera lens pointed at me. Seeing me look at him, Sebastian pressed the shutter again. Click. I instinctively raised my hand to cover, extremely averse to him photographing me: "Don't shoot!" Sebastian put down the camera: "Nina, we three, seem to haven't taken a formal family photo yet." "How about taking one today?" Lily immediately clapped her hands, looking up at me: "Mommy, photo! Take family photo!" Looking at my daughter's bright eyes, I couldn't say no in the end. "Okay." We stood together somewhat stiffly, asking a passerby for help. The moment the shutter pressed, Sebastian's arm very lightly, almost daring not use force, encircled behind me. "Done!" The passerby smiled and returned the camera. Sebastian checked the photo repeatedly, a satisfied smile on his lips. The driver brought the car around. Sebastian put Lily in the child seat and buckled the seatbelt. My phone rang, it was Elias. "Hello?" I walked aside. The voice on the other end was weak: "Nina, which hospital near the Second Ring Road is reliable?" I frowned tight: "What happened to you?" Elias was weak: "Probably acclimatization, started a high fever last night." "Are you at the hotel?" "Wait for me, I'll pick you up to the hospital." Hanging up, I walked back quickly, briefly explaining to Sebastian: "You take Lily to eat first, I have something to do." Turning around, my wrist was suddenly grabbed by a strong force. "Where are you going?" "Something up with Elias, I'm going over to see." Sebastian's good mood vanished instantly. His face turned gloomy, voice lowered, every word seemed squeezed out through teeth: "Not allowed to go. It's in the agreement, every weekend is time with Lily, you want to breach the contract?" I looked up, staring at him coldly: "The agreement also states, you are not allowed to interfere with my freedom for any reason. What, want to divorce early?" His pupils shrank, gripping my hand tighter, anger unbearable: "Is that Elias more important than Lily? You'd rather sacrifice time with the child to accompany him?" "He's sick alone in a strange city, as his only friend locally I must visit." I shook off his hand. "If nothing serious, I'll come back to accompany Lily." "Not allowed to go! I forbid you to go!" I was annoyed: "Sebastian, stop making trouble out of nothing!" He finally stopped acting virtuous, flustered and exasperated. Started calling my full name, tone grim, "Nina Lu, dare you try going?"
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