The evening sky was painted in hues of orange and pink as Chen Xiang and Ruoxuan sat quietly on the steps outside his house. The faint hum of the city in the distance created a comforting rhythm, but the weight of their earlier conversation lingered between them. Chen Xiang glanced at Ruoxuan, her hands resting on her lap, fingers occasionally fidgeting as though mirroring her thoughts.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently, breaking the silence.
She looked up at him, her expression soft yet conflicted. "About what?"
"Everything," he said, his voice steady. "The baby, your program, what happens next… us."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I've been thinking about it nonstop," she admitted. "It's overwhelming, trying to figure out how to balance everything. I don't want to give up on my dreams, but I also don't want to lose this… lose us."
"You don't have to choose," Chen Xiang said firmly. "We'll find a way to make it work."
Ruoxuan shook her head slightly, her ponytail swaying. "It's not that simple, Chen Xiang. The program is in another country. If I go, I'll be thousands of miles away for two years. And with the baby…"
"Then we'll make it work long-distance," he interrupted. "I'll support you from here, and when you come back, we'll figure out the rest. You don't have to give up on your dream, Ruoxuan. And I don't plan on giving up on us."
Her breath hitched, and she turned to face him fully, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "Do you really mean that? Because this won't be easy."
"Since when has anything in my life been easy?" he said with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. His expression grew serious again. "I mean it, Ruoxuan. You've always been there for me when I needed it most. Now it's my turn. I'll be here for you and the baby, no matter how hard it gets."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "You're too good to be true, you know that?"
Chen Xiang smiled, his hand reaching out to cover hers. "I'm just trying to be the man you deserve."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the connection between them stronger than words. The sound of the front door opening broke the moment, and Chen Xiang's mother stepped outside, her expression soft as she took in the scene.
"Everything okay out here?" Xin Di asked, her voice laced with concern.
Chen Xiang nodded, gesturing for her to join them. "Yeah, Mom. We were just talking."
Ruoxuan offered a polite smile, but her nervousness was evident. Xin Di noticed, her perceptive gaze shifting between the two of them. "What's going on?"
Chen Xiang took a deep breath, deciding there was no point in delaying the inevitable. "Mom, we have something to tell you."
His mother's brow furrowed slightly, but she waited patiently. Ruoxuan glanced at Chen Xiang, and he gave her a reassuring nod before she spoke.
"I'm pregnant," Ruoxuan said softly, her voice steady despite the nerves. "And it's Chen Xiang's."
The silence that followed was deafening, but it didn't last long. Xin Di's expression shifted from surprise to something softer, a mixture of concern and understanding. "Well," she said after a moment, her voice even, "this is unexpected."
Chen Xiang braced himself for a lecture, but instead, his mother stepped closer, placing a hand on Ruoxuan's shoulder. "You're both young, and this won't be easy. But if there's one thing I know about my son, it's that he doesn't back down from a challenge."
Ruoxuan's shoulders relaxed, and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Thank you, Mrs. Chen."
"Call me Mom," Xin Di said warmly. "You're family now."
Chen Xiang couldn't help but smile, the weight on his chest easing slightly. His mother's support meant more than he could put into words. As they sat together under the darkening sky, a sense of unity settled over them.
That night, after Ruoxuan had gone home, Chen Xiang stood by the window, gazing out at the city lights. The future felt uncertain, but for the first time in weeks, it didn't feel insurmountable. With Ruoxuan by his side and his family's support, he knew they could face whatever challenges came their way.