Aoife answered the question that had been puzzling Ethan all along.
Why did Aoife choose the stage name “Elisa” only to say that she didn’t deserve to have that name.
It turns out that “Elisa” belonged to someone else, she was just a stand-in for Finn, who had already let her go, before… for some reason, he lost his mind and tied Aoife back.
In Aoife’s words, Elisa was like a vibrant rose, outstanding in every way, something she, a roadside wildflower, could never compare to.
She was just a stand-in, how could she compare to the real thing? Of course, Aoife never thought of comparing herself.
Ethan rubbed her head, saying, “Who cares about being a rose or not? You’re not a stand-in for anyone, you are just you, unique and incomparable. Being a roadside flower isn’t a bad thing, looking up at the wide sky isn’t more rewarding?”
Yes, as long as she wishes, she can be a sunflower, be full of stars, as long as she is happy.
Ethan went to get a cup of warm water, watched Aoife drink it, and then cuddled her to sleep. This time, Aoife slept soundly without any nightmares.
In the morning at seven o’clock, Ethan woke up to make breakfast. He called Aoife to eat as if he were coaxing a child.
He gave his heart and soul to Aoife, giving her all his patience and waiting for a lifetime.
He loved Aoife more than anyone or anything else.
Why did he love Aoife so much? Ethan couldn’t say why, it was like he always loved the stars, and suddenly there was a brightest star in his world, taking away all the light from the other stars, making it hard for him to look away.
After breakfast, Ethan took the car keys. In five months, they not only bought a house but also a car, making it convenient to go anywhere, especially since Aoife was now pregnant and couldn’t walk easily.
The March weather still carried a chill, Aoife was still wearing a down jacket, while Ethan had switched to a coat. He touched his pocket, where a red box was placed. Confirming it was there, he smiled slightly, his dark eyes sparkling with anticipation of the future.
After getting in the car, Ethan reached over to buckle Aoife’s seatbelt.
Driving smoothly, they headed to the town’s hospital. There was no good hospital in the town, so every month, Ethan took her for her prenatal check-ups.
The baby was safe and healthy, but it seemed a bit smaller in development, not looking like a six-month-old fetus.
Aoife’s poor nutrition affected the baby, making it smaller too.
“You need to pay more attention to your nutrition. Otherwise, everything is fine. The baby is healthy. Do you have any discomfort recently?” the doctor asked.
Aoife sat in front of the doctor, looking back at Ethan standing behind her.
Ethan had always been standing behind Aoife, his hand on her shoulder. When the doctor asked, he answered for Aoife.
“Just like before, severe morning sickness, no appetite, everything makes her vomit. Recently, her legs have been swollen a lot…”
The doctor, after so many years of working, was seeing for the first time a man so concerned about his pregnant wife’s health. His worry couldn’t be hidden in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but want to comfort them: “These are all normal, you don’t need to worry too much. You can use essential oils to massage the swollen legs…”
The doctor explained while Ethan listened carefully, memorizing the massage techniques so he could go buy them at the pregnancy store later.
He had bought stretch mark cream for Aoife before. Stretch marks were inevitable after giving birth, but prevention was better than none. It also had a psychological effect. However, Aoife was shy and didn’t want him to apply it.
Aoife sat quietly, understanding only half of their conversation, relieved to know that her baby was healthy.
Before leaving, Ethan took out his phone and showed two baby strollers to the doctor, subtly asking, “Doctor, which one do you think looks better?”
The doctor glanced at the strollers and then at Ethan meaningfully, pointing to one of them, “That pink one looks quite nice.”
“Thank you, doctor. Then I’ll buy that one.”
Aoife was puzzled at the side, only asking Ethan what he had said to the doctor after leaving the hospital.
“It’s nothing. Just asking for advice. Don’t worry, both you and the baby are safe and healthy.”
“Are we going straight home?” Aoife asked. It was still early, not even noon.
Ethan shook his head, now very familiar with the county. He pointed in a direction, saying, “Let’s go to the pregnancy and baby store first to buy some things.”
“What are we buying?”
“Your skincare products are almost finished, right? And the essential oils the doctor mentioned for your swollen legs. Regular massages will make them less sore. I’ve also picked out a baby stroller. Let me show you.” Ethan showed Aoife his phone, proudly saying, “The doctor suggested this pink one. So now I’m a hundred percent sure it’s a girl. No need to worry about a boy’s name anymore. Let’s call her Neixiang.”
Ethan was always able to handle things well, not letting Aoife worry at all. Wherever Aoife went, he followed, his eyes always on her, afraid she might trip and fall.
How good Ethan was…
There was a nutrition porridge shop in the county that made especially good porridge. It had a secret recipe, and Aoife couldn’t replicate it. Every morning, there would be a line of people waiting, and the shop would close before nine o’clock.
During Aoife’s severe morning sickness, only that porridge helped her not to vomit. Even if she didn’t say it, Ethan could see how much she liked it.
So, in those coldest months, in the dead of winter, he braved the snow to go to the county town. At that time, he didn’t have a car, so he rode his motorcycle, leaving before five every day, riding forty minutes to queue up for the porridge. He would put it in a thermos, bring it home while it was hot, and urge Aoife to eat.
Perhaps touched by Ethan’s perseverance, the shop owner, seeing he was an outsider, eventually gave him the recipe.
Ethan spent ten days or so experimenting at home until he could replicate the taste almost perfectly.
This was what Ethan told Aoife, but she knew it wasn’t that simple. How could the shop owner give away his money-making recipe so easily?
Ethan had begged for it.
Besides all this, whenever Aoife felt slightly uncomfortable, at any time of the day, Ethan would take her to the hospital for a check-up. The medicine prescribed was bitter, and Aoife didn’t mind taking it, but Ethan always had candy ready to sweeten it for her.
She had a weak body and was always prone to minor illnesses. Ethan would carry a hot pack wherever he went, and if the weather turned cold when they were out, he would give her his scarf, his clothes, carry her if she couldn’t walk…