"Something's not right!" Xu Bin exclaimed, his emotions running high. "My wife isn't alone; she has me. Why would she go to her first prenatal check-up by herself?"
"I was furious. I should have been there with her. That's the first thing. Second, money isn't an issue, but I should be there supporting her. Your sister would probably go for the cheapest option, but I'd spend thousands on the best 4D color ultrasound if I were there."
Xu Bin slammed his beer cup on the table, "Big Sister, I'm not stingy. I'm afraid she won't spend the money she needs to."
"I was so mad that she didn't tell me about the check-up! I should have been there with her."
Xu Bin continued, his voice filled with emotion, "The thing that upset me the most was that she didn't tell me. Does she even consider me her husband anymore?"
His reasons for being upset made Yao Xin jealous. Many women, when pregnant, find their husbands too busy to accompany them, and some even work away from home and aren't there at all.
Compared to Yao Xin's father, Yao Baichuan, who was a traditional patriarch and wouldn't accompany his wife even if he had the time, Xu Bin's reasons seemed almost too good to be true. They highlighted his sense of responsibility and dedication, which made people envy Yao Nan's situation.
Yao Xin thought for a moment and then said, "But even if she has the baby, it won't be your surname."
She was trying to maintain a sense of superiority, given that Xu Bin was, after all, a son-in-law.
Xu Bin didn't hesitate, "It doesn't matter. Whether the baby takes my surname or not doesn't matter. It's our love child, and that's what's important. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I just want the baby to be healthy."
Yao Xin sighed and took a sip of her drink, seeming to want to say something but holding back.
Xu Bin acted as if he didn't notice and said, "Big Sister, I should get going."
"Stay," Yao Xin insisted, grabbing his arm. Just then, her phone lit up with a message.
Yao Xin checked it and her expression changed, "Mom's on her way back. She wants to know if we want any night snacks."
The message was sent to Yao Xin, indicating that Shen Ruyu was feeling guilty and trying to gauge if Xu Bin was still awake, essentially testing the waters.
"No need," Xu Bin replied. "Tell Mom to come back and rest. Those old friends of hers will probably have had a few drinks."
Xu Bin stood up, but Yao Xin held onto his arm, "Stay a while longer. Have another drink with me."
"At least turn on the TV," Xu Bin suggested. "If Mom sees us like this, she might get the wrong idea."
Yao Xin blushed and quickly turned on the TV. Having some noise in the living room made the situation seem more normal. Otherwise, a man and a woman drinking alone could be misinterpreted, especially if their mother saw them.
"Also," Xu Bin added, "you're drinking on an empty stomach, which can make you drunk faster and is bad for your health. Let me make us some snacks and a soup for Mom to sober up."
When Shen Ruyu returned, her face was flushed from drinking, and she moved quietly, unlike her usual confident self.
"Did they go to sleep?" Shen Ruyu asked softly, noticing Yao Xin in the living room.
Yao Xin pointed towards the kitchen, where Xu Bin was humming a tune while preparing food. Shen Ruyu looked in and saw Xu Bin, who greeted her with a smile, "Mom, you're back. Go wash up; I made some soup to help you sober up."
"Oh, okay," Shen Ruyu replied, her voice trembling slightly as she hurried back to her room, flustered from the encounter.
Yao Xin watched Xu Bin in the kitchen, her emotions a mix of complexity and jealousy. She hadn't drunk much and wasn't actually drunk. Seeing Xu Bin move so comfortably in the kitchen, she realized he did this often and wasn't just putting on a show for her.
Compared to her ex-husband, Zhang Xinda, who was clueless even about simple tasks like picking up a fallen bottle of soy sauce, Xu Bin was a model of domestic competence. He earned money, took care of his wife, and was attentive and detail-oriented.
Yao Xin felt a pang of jealousy. Her younger sister, who was considered the plain one in the family, had landed such a gem. She wondered if Yao Nan was hiding her good fortune out of fear that others might covet her husband.
The four women in the Yao family—Yao Xin, Yao Nan, and their mother, Shen Ruyu—were all stunningly beautiful, each in their own way. Only Yao Nan was considered the less attractive one. Even Yao Baichuan, their father, had doubted Yao Nan's paternity and made her take a paternity test, which had strained his marriage.
Why did the plain sister get such an amazing husband? Yao Xin, a former school beauty, felt cheated by her ex-husband, Zhang Xinda, a fake rich second-generation son who mooched off his parents.
Yao Xin's jealousy and anger grew as she compared her situation to her sister's. She felt a deep sense of injustice and resentment.
Shen Ruyu came out of the bathroom, her face red and her deep cleavage visible in her strapless nightie. She walked with a confident sway, her breasts moving provocatively. It was hard not to notice her ample assets.
"Mom, why aren't you wearing a bra?" Yao Xin asked, surprised.
"It's too hot," Shen Ruyu replied, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Even a light bra feels uncomfortable in this weather."
As the family's matriarch and a formidable figure, Shen Ruyu wasn't one to show weakness, especially not in front of her daughter. She snapped, "You're just lazy, sitting there while your brother-in-law does all the work. You've gotten used to being waited on, haven't you? You have no womanly virtues at all."
Yao Xin felt a pang of guilt, wondering if her mother was right. She had always been confident in her femininity, but now she felt a sense of inadequacy.
"Mom, don't be too hard on Big Sister," Xu Bin interjected, bringing over the food. "I told her not to help. Her nails are so pretty; I didn't want her to ruin them."