Chapter 5

A wedding ring gleamed on his finger.

I knew that ring.

I'd chosen it myself.

Mingyuan's.

Trembling, I zoomed in further.

But the man's face was cropped out.

Just then, the ward door opened.

"Qinghe!"

Mingyuan hurried in, his face full of concern.

"How are you?"

I turned my phone facedown at once.

"I'm fine."

"Mom said you had stomach pains. I was terrified."

He took my hand.

His palm was warm.

Just as always.

Yet somehow, I felt cold.

"What did the doctor say?"

"The baby's fine."

"Thank goodness."

He sighed in relief.

Then, as though casually, he asked, "Mom said you didn't drink the soup?"

I looked at him.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I felt sick."

He was silent.

Then he smiled.

"If you don't like it, don't drink it."

He stroked my hair.

"I'll ask her to make something else."

Once, that would have touched me.

Now every word put me on guard.

"Mingyuan."

"Hm?"

"Do you believe in reincarnation?"

His hand stopped in my hair.

Only for an instant.

Then he laughed.

"Where did that come from?"

"I had a dream."

"What about?"

"I dreamed our child had died seventeen times."

His smile disappeared.

I looked straight into his eyes.

"In the dream, she said I killed her every time."

He said nothing.

"Don't you think that's strange?"

One second.

Two.

Three.

At last, he gripped my hand.

"Qinghe."

"You need rest."

I gave a thin smile.

"Doesn't it frighten you?"

"What's there to be frightened of?"

"She said I killed her seventeen times."

He looked at me for a long time.

Then he said, "But this time will be different."

I went still.

So did he.

The room fell silent.

I could hear the air conditioner.

Quiet.

Steady.

Slowly, I asked, "What did you say?"

He looked at me.

After a while, he smiled.

"I said we'll take good care of her this time."

I watched him.

"You said 'this time.'"

"So?"

"Why not just say we'll take good care of her?"

He fell silent.

My heart sank, little by little.

"Mingyuan."

"Do you know something?"

No answer.

I saw his throat move.

Then he stood abruptly.

"I'll ask the doctor when you can go home."

He walked quickly.

Almost fleeing.

The door closed.

I grabbed my phone.

The messages from the unknown number were still there.

I typed:

【He knows, doesn't he?】

No reply.

I tried again.

【Does he remember the last seventeen times too?】

The phone vibrated immediately.

【No.】

I exhaled.

Then the next message turned me cold.

【He doesn't have to remember.】

【He's the one whose memories remain intact whenever it starts again.】

I stared at the screen.

Impossible.

If Mingyuan remembered everything, why had he never told me?

Why pretend he knew nothing?

My fingers shook as I typed:

【What does he want?】

A long silence.

Finally, a brief answer.

【The eighteenth child.】

Before I could ask more, my phone rang.

Mom.

I answered quickly.

"Qinghe!"

She sounded panicked.

"Where are you?"

"Hospital."

"Is Mingyuan there?"

I looked at the door.

"He just stepped out."

Her voice dropped at once.

"Listen to me."

"Leave the hospital. Right now."

I froze.

"Why?"

"Don't ask!"

"Mom, what's happening?"

I heard her panting.

As though she were running.

Then a loud crash.

Bang!

"Mom?"

No answer.

I sprang to my feet.

"Mom!"

An unfamiliar man's voice suddenly came through.

"She's all right."

I went rigid.

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer.

"Ms. Chen Qinghe."

"This isn't the first time the child in your womb has come into this world."

I held my breath.

"What do you know?"

"If you want the truth, go to your grandmother's old house."

I frowned.

"My grandmother died more than twenty years ago."

"Yes."

He gave a quiet laugh.

"But she's still waiting for you."

The call ended.

I called back immediately.

No answer.

I stood in the middle of the ward, cold to the bone.