In the softly lit living room of Sun Lixia's villa, Zhang Mei sat on the couch, cradling her swollen belly. Her hands instinctively moved over her stomach, as if to protect the life growing within her from the storm raging outside their world. She had been sitting there for hours, refusing to move, her mind fixed on one thought: *Li Chen will be with us soon.* Her lips moved in a constant murmur, barely audible, as she repeated the words over and over like a mantra, trying to will them into reality.
Sun Lixia watched her daughter-in-law closely, her heart aching at the sight. She walked over and placed a gentle hand on Zhang Mei's shoulder. "Mei, you should go and rest," she said softly, her voice a mixture of concern and motherly tenderness. "We will let you know the moment there are any changes with Li Chen."
