Pei Jinchuan was momentarily stunned.
He didn't need to look to know just how ugly Li Tingshen's expression must be at that moment.
Pei Jinchuan seriously said, "Niannian, you can't be rude to your elders... let's eat first, okay?"
"I want Daddy to feed me."
"Okay."
Pei Jinchuan took the bowl from Gu Mian's hand and sat down to feed Niannian.
Li Tingshen stood up and strode out of the hospital room.
Pei Jinchuan glanced at Gu Mian. "Go check on him."
"He's very strong inside, no need."
"Go have a look," Pei Jinchuan urged, "I would also find it unacceptable if my child didn't recognize me."
Gu Mian hesitated for a moment but still went out.
She found Li Tingshen in the smoking area, smoking.
Gu Mian approached him, "Niannian doesn't know any better, you don't need to take it to heart."
"It's my fault." Li Tingshen took a deep drag on his cigarette, "I failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a father, it's normal for her not to want me."
A dull pain spread through Gu Mian's heart.
It turned out, no matter how she restrained her feelings for Li Tingshen, she couldn't deceive herself.
Seeing him so upset, she still felt pain.
Li Tingshen looked at her, suddenly threw away his cigarette, took two steps forward, and hugged her tightly.
"Wife," the man's voice was suppressed and pained, "I can't bear to live without you if our daughter doesn't want me... without you, life would be worse than death..."
Gu Mian closed her eyes in anguish, letting tears slide down.
Reason told her she should push him away at this moment.
Yet emotionally, she found she simply couldn't do it.
...
When dawn was about to break, Niannian finally fell asleep again.
Pei Jinchuan stayed by the bedside. "I'll keep watch here. You two go rest. If you keep pushing yourselves like this, how will you take care of Niannian?"
Gu Mian looked towards Li Tingshen, "You go rest."
"I'm not tired, you sleep."
"I won't stop you from seeing Niannian, but you have to sleep."
Only then did Li Tingshen concede, "Then you should sleep too."
"I'll sleep on the sofa over there. You go to the resting room."
After Li Tingshen had left, Pei Jinchuan finally spoke, "Gu Mian, he is Niannian's biological father. Once Niannian's health is a bit better, I'll slowly explain this matter to her."
"I haven't known Niannian long, and she'll soon accept the fact that I'm not her father."
Gu Mian moved to sit beside him, "Jinchuan, we are the real family."
"We can be family, but we definitely cannot be husband and wife," Pei Jinchuan looked at her, "It's because I got sick and begged you to help take care of Xiaobao that you came to my side."
"We've never been intimate, and you've never had any romantic feelings for me. You agreed to help out of pity for Xiaobao and me."
"I heard Liu Yunxi was taken away by Li Tingshen. I don't know what will become of her, but she's definitely not going to have an easy time. Even if they have children together, Li Tingshen could never have the slightest bit of affection for her; his heart only has room for you."
"Gu Mian, go back to Li Tingshen's side, if only for Niannian."
"The situation between him and me isn't as simple as you think, and it's not just because of Liu Yunxi and that child." Gu Mian tugged at the corner of her lips, "I'm tired, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?"
"Okay, then go get some rest."
...
Gu Mian dozed off for a couple of hours and when she woke up, Niannian was still asleep.
Just as she finished washing up and came out, Old Madam Li arrived, bringing a sumptuous breakfast.
"Young Mistress, all these are your favorites. Old Madam went back last night and repeatedly instructed the chef to prepare them according to your taste. Please eat while it's warm."
Gu Mian looked toward Old Madam Li, "Thank you, Grandma."
"There, there, eat up, eat more," Old Madam Li called out, "Jinchuan, you eat too. I just don't know if it suits your taste."
Pei Jinchuan sat down with a smile, "I've never been picky with food, thanks Old Madam."
"It's me who should be thanking you, for looking after Mian and Niannian."
"It's nothing," he replied.
Pei Jinchuan glanced at Li Tingshen as he entered and spoke, "President Li, could you please take Gu Mian back later to get some change of clothes and also pick up some toys that Niannian likes? We need to bring some over."
Li Tingshen looked at Gu Mian, "Okay."
Gu Mian quietly sipped her porridge.
She knew Pei Jinchuan was trying to give her and Li Tingshen a chance to be alone together.
But he didn't understand, doing so was pointless.
...
After breakfast, Li Tingshen drove Gu Mian away from the hospital.
Gu Mian, exhausted, closed her eyes and fell asleep directly.
When she woke up, the car had already stopped at Yunyue Bay.
"Weren't we supposed to go back to the Pei Family's house? Why are we here?"
"You're too tired, go inside and take a shower, sleep well," he said.
"Niannian is in the hospital, I won't possibly be able to sleep."
"Then take a shower, it'll feel better."
"I can go back and shower at the Pei Family's house."
"Gu Mian, this is your home," Li Tingshen turned his head to look at her, "Don't make me say it a second time."
Gu Mian didn't say another word and got out of the car right away.
She hadn't bathed last night and indeed felt uncomfortable.
Gu Mian went to the master bedroom on the second floor.
Everything here remained unchanged, just like when she left three years ago.
Gu Mian grabbed some clothes from the walk-in closet, took a shower in the bathroom, and felt much better.
When she came out in fresh clothes, Li Tingshen had also changed into new clothes, probably having bathed in the next room.
"Let's go."
"Gu Mian," Li Tingshen grabbed her arm, "when Niannian is discharged, would you move back here to live with us, please?"
Gu Mian didn't turn to look at him, only lowering her gaze, staring at some void spot on the floor.
"Tingshen, Jinchuan and I are family."
"I don't believe it," Li Tingshen said in a deep voice, "I don't believe you truly love him."
"Why not?" Gu Mian responded indifferently, "If it weren't for the fact we're not divorced, I'd already have registered to marry him by now and become Mrs. Pei."
"You said it yourself, 'if'," Li Tingshen scoffed, "between you two, there's only worth of an 'if'."
"If you could fall for another man so easily, you wouldn't have given birth to Niannian, and you wouldn't have let her take the Li surname."
"Li Nian'an, that name wasn't chosen at random. 'An' comes from your grandmother's surname. You love our child and you love me, right?"
"Niannian has the surname Li because my grandmother wished most for me to live in harmony with you and have our own child before she passed away."
"I think if my grandmother were still alive, she would want the child to take your surname too. Besides, Niannian taking your surname is also because of my reluctance to part with Grandma."
Li Tingshen's voice was rough, "It's just because of my grandmother and Old Madam, you didn't consider me at all?"
Gu Mian said softly, "You have your own child, Li Bao will naturally take your surname."
"Don't bring him up to me again!" Li Tingshen's voice suddenly rose, "He's harmed our daughter, I won't forgive him... I wouldn't go so far as to lay a hand on a child, but Liu Yunxi, she won't get away with it..."
Gu Mian gently pushed his hand away, "If you can obtain justice for Niannian, that would be great... Of course, if you don't take action, I definitely won't let her off either!"
"Of course, I will seek justice for you, but even if Niannian wasn't my daughter, I wouldn't side with Liu Yunxi and her son because I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt you."
Li Tingshen took hold of her shoulders, "Gu Mian, look at me."