Regret

What happened next? The soft bed, the red curtains, the brocade quilt rolling... and then?

Shen Yi was so frustrated that he slapped his thigh. The beginning was so exciting, but just when it got to the crucial moment, the scene cut away.

Shen Yi couldn't control the scene's rewind; he could only guess that the memory was too vast, fearing it might overwhelm him.

The rewind continued.

[Your married life is blissful and harmonious, deeply in love, living like a pair of immortal lovers, envied by many.]

[Fu Nanzhi's family background is far superior to yours, yet her demeanor and attitude are never condescending; she always values your opinions.]

[Your Father-in-law is wise and reasonable, your Mother-in-law gentle and generous; neither of them looks down on you because of your background, only wishing for your happiness and harmony.]

[You are grateful for their support, taking care of Fu Nanzhi in life, doting on her, and working diligently and responsibly.]

[Moreover, you are no slouch; with your professional knowledge and a little help from your Father-in-law, you quickly achieve great success.]

[With both career and love flourishing, you are in high spirits and soon bring your parents to live in the city.]

[Your parents fully approve of Fu Nanzhi as their daughter-in-law, their eyes filled with satisfaction, making you feel like an outsider.]

[Time slowly passes, and you gradually enter middle age, except for declining physical strength, everything else is steadily improving.]

[The only regret is that you still do not have a child.]

[The eager expectations of both sets of parents make Fu Nanzhi feel suffocated.]

The rewind scene appeared again.

That night, the moon was bright, and the stars were sparse.

The silvery moonlight flowed into the room through the curtains, spreading a layer of frost on the floor, illuminating the room brightly.

The fragrance of the moon paled in comparison to the scent of the person beside you.

The rouge was in disarray, the water rippled, the spring thunder rumbled, and the rain dispersed.

On the soft bed, Shen Yi held Fu Nanzhi to rest, with only faint breaths in the room.

In middle age, the flesh grows back on the thighs, not as vigorous as in the honeymoon phase; a little exertion leaves him panting.

Yet, his wife's charm was irresistible, always stirring his passion.

Today, Fu Nanzhi was unusually silent, not asking for more, just resting on Shen Yi's chest.

Suddenly, droplets of moisture seeped into his skin. Shen Yi looked down in confusion and asked,

"Nanzhi, what's wrong?"

Fu Nanzhi's sobs were the only response.

"I'm thirty-five."

Fu Nanzhi was two years older than Shen Yi. Hearing her say this, he thought she was anxious and comforted her:

"Thirty-five is nothing. My wife is as beautiful as an eighteen-year-old girl."

Fu Nanzhi's tears kept falling like strings, just shaking her head,

"Last week, I tried again, but still didn't get pregnant."

This matter had weighed heavily on Fu Nanzhi's heart for a long time. After seven or eight years of marriage, her belly still showed no signs.

The two had undergone countless medical examinations, all results indicating good health.

Various methods to protect the fetus had been tried, but no child was conceived.

The longing of both sets of parents, coupled with Fu Nanzhi's own desire for a child, all these frustrations burst out on this late night.

Shen Yi immediately turned over, hugging Fu Nanzhi tightly from behind,

"It's not your fault; it's my body that's not up to par."

Fu Nanzhi continued to cry, choking out,

"It's not your problem; it's me..."

Shen Yi's sperm had strong vitality, confirmed by multiple examinations. Although Shen Yi always took the blame, how could Fu Nanzhi be fooled?

The human body is both marvelous and complex. The inability to find the cause kept Fu Nanzhi holding onto hope.

But now she was thirty-five, even with advanced technology, she was considered a high-risk pregnancy.

The prolonged inability to conceive, coupled with age anxiety, finally broke her.

Shen Yi knew she had a tendency towards depression and paid extra attention to her emotions, quickly saying,

"The examination also said you are healthy; do you think the doctor would lie to you?"

"I saw the report; it's my problem. I don't even dare to go home and see my mom..." Fu Nanzhi couldn't continue, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Shen Yi kissed her earlobe and whispered in her ear,

"I married you, not your parents. I've already talked to them; I don't like kids."

"It's okay; just blame it on me."

Shen Yi's words slightly warmed Fu Nanzhi, but she knew it was just a pretext; he didn't want her to be sad.

"But I like it; I want to give you a child..."

Shen Yi understood Fu Nanzhi's thoughts. Over the years, they had raised cats and dogs at home, but sometimes Fu Nanzhi would still gaze at other people's children while shopping.

Shen Yi didn't want Fu Nanzhi to sink into low spirits, playfully pinching her soft flesh,

"Alright, if you want a child, come and take it~"

With that, he dived under the covers to tease her.

But Fu Nanzhi, usually insatiable, stopped Shen Yi.

In the moonlight, Fu Nanzhi's face was as pure as a celestial being, only the two lines of tears marring its sanctity, making Shen Yi feel protective.

"Husband, why don't you find someone else?"

"What?" Shen Yi thought he had misheard.

"Find someone outside, have a child, and we'll raise it ourselves."

Fu Nanzhi's eyes were clear, her tone serious; this idea must have been brewing in her mind for a while.

Shen Yi incredulously said, "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"You can pay for it, or try IVF; I'll raise the child as my own."

Fu Nanzhi's voice was firm, as if possessed.

Shen Yi couldn't listen to her madness, shaking his head and hugging her tightly,

"No, I don't want a child that's not born from you."

With that, he stubbornly kissed her, silencing her next words.

The scene faded away.

Shen Yi let out an almost imperceptible sigh. Beneath the facade of happiness and harmony lay a little-known regret.

Fu Nanzhi's extreme nature had shown signs before in the simulations.

She was a natural perfectionist, previously only pursuing perfection in work, but after meeting Shen Yi, her life was perfect too, except for the inability to have a child, a flaw she couldn't tolerate.

Now, after long repression, she had come up with such an idea, indicating she was at her wit's end.

[Your comfort temporarily calmed Fu Nanzhi, but it was only superficial; her heart's knot remained.]

[Your Father-in-law, Fu Yuanyu, is aging and frail; most of Jinheng's affairs have gradually been handed over to you, and you have lived up to his expectations, running the firm successfully.]

[You are vigorous and strong, spending most of your time busy with work, while Fu Nanzhi secretly plans something without your knowledge.]

[Fortunately, your concern for Fu Nanzhi never waned; you soon noticed her abnormalities and, after questioning, discovered she had been secretly arranging introductions for you, her previous words not being mere talk.]

[You resolutely refused and forced her to give up; you would not do such a thing.]

[Fu Nanzhi didn't want to make you angry, so she severed all connections.]

[In the days that followed, you returned to normal, but her spirit gradually waned.]