After The Sickly O Was Forced Into Marriage Chapter 4

Chapter 4 The Previous Question

“How long has it been.” Jiang Xusheng leaned back against the chair, turning to ask him directly.

“I’m sorry…” Wang Shu pursed his lips, holding the bowl and chopsticks, looking somewhat pitiful.

It was fortunate that his lower abdomen only had a slight curve; if it were truly large, this moment would be truly embarrassing.

“Did I ask you to apologize?” Jiang Xusheng narrowed his eyes, spread his legs, and gripped Wang Shu’s wrist, making him stand between his knees.

Wang Shu didn’t dare look at him, his eyes couldn’t help but turn red, and the dimples were very pretty when he pursed his lips.

The midday sun shone through the glass onto Wang Shu’s light brown short hair, turning it golden amber, making him look like a doll.

Jiang Xusheng watched him for a moment. “Wang Shu, I’m asking you a question.”

The man’s tone was stern, much like a father’s.

Wang Shu sniffed his nose and murmured, “No, you didn’t ask me to apologize.”

“The previous question,” Jiang Xusheng reminded him.

“Not long, only a few days.” As Wang Shu said it, he felt wronged, the tips of his fingers holding the rim of the bowl turning slightly red.

Jiang Xusheng was satisfied with his obedient answer, taking the bowl and chopsticks from his hands and placing them on the table.

Then, Jiang Xusheng lifted him by the armpits and placed him on his lap.

He was astonishingly thin. Jiang Xusheng could even feel that he seemed lighter than last night. The record sheet next to the scale in the living room was clearly falsified.

“Is that true?” Jiang Xusheng leaned closer, his voice low. “Lying will result in standing punishment.”

“I didn’t lie,” Wang Shu said very quietly, yet sincerely.

The omega’s eyes were moist and watery, his wronged nose felt sore, and he tightly bit his lower lip, hoping not to be seen crying weakly.

Wang Shu sat on Jiang Xusheng’s lap, his toes touching the marble floor. Jiang Xusheng’s arm seemed as thick as the omega’s calf.

He felt miserable, especially when he looked at the leftover rice grains in the bowl during his standing punishment. Wang Shu felt like he had committed a grave sin.

The hard-grown grain, the meal prepared by Mr. Jiang—he had poured it away just to hide his discomfort.

“If you feel unwell, you should address it, not conceal it,” Jiang Xusheng lectured him, his expression still serious. “Especially with your husband, there must be no lies. Do you understand?”

“You are pregnant, and your health is the most important thing. There’s no need to play clever tricks just to hide something.”

“Mhm.” Wang Shu nodded.

As he nodded, tears splattered and broke on the back of his hand. “I will try hard to eat. I won’t throw up, and I won’t pour it away… I’m sorry.”

“There, there.” Jiang Xusheng patted his wife’s back. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry…” Wang Shu’s tears dropped continuously, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

He should have known long ago that Mr. Jiang had witnessed many schemes and intrigues; such small tricks could never be hidden from him.

Jiang Xusheng wrapped his arm around his waist, pulling him into an embrace. “I like honest children.”

“Will Wang Shu be a good child from now on?”

Wang Shu blinked, his expression serious. Jiang Xusheng lowered his head and kissed his tears. Before he could reply, the man’s thumb pressed against his soft cheek, and he smiled approvingly. “I believe you will be.”

No one had ever taught Wang Shu to be honest since he was a child.

In the laboratory during his childhood, both his father and the researchers disliked experimental subjects who cried out in pain. Only by saying he wasn’t hurting would he get a milk candy.

In his perception, only not hurting meant being a good child.

But Mr. Jiang didn’t like that kind of good child.

Jiang Xusheng wiped his tears and produced a milk candy from seemingly nowhere, peeling it and placing it in his mouth.

Wang Shu sucked on it, his left cheek puffing out. The sweet taste melted in his heart.

“From now on, say whatever you feel. If I find out you’re lying, there will be a punishment.” He used both kindness and severity, making Wang Shu genuinely feel that Mr. Jiang was a very good person.

As a husband, he was truly gentle.

“So, can you try hard to eat a little more porridge?” Jiang Xusheng pinched his cheek and asked.

The man’s high nose brushed against his cheek, which Wang Shu found slightly ticklish. He broke into a smile through his tears, his tone softer than cotton candy, letting out a cute hum. “Okay.”

“Such a good boy.” Jiang Xusheng rewarded him by stroking his head, like petting a puppy.

But Wang Shu distinctly felt the satisfaction of being acknowledged as a ‘good child’.

He had been confined in a cage for far too long since childhood, filled with confusion about life and the future. He happened to need a guide to teach him the book called life.

Jiang Xusheng hadn’t just noticed his abnormality today.

The house was covered with surveillance cameras. No matter how busy he was with work, he would watch Wang Shu’s daily routine, noticing that he spent increasingly longer periods in the bathroom. There were even a few times when the servants had to call him before he would open the door, which was highly abnormal.

A male omega’s gestational sac is shallow. If the person is too thin, a slight bulge can be seen before four months.

During the last prenatal checkup, he had seen Wang Shu’s scans. The gestational sac was indeed positioned low. If he didn’t take good care of his body, the discomfort might become very severe in the later stages.

The baby’s living space was compressing his organs, which would cause Wang Shu to eat less and less.

This was too bad…

Wang Shu’s waist was very slender, with two lines like a mermaid’s on his taut waist. The growing gestational sac was slowly stretching this skin…

Jiang Xusheng felt extremely distressed just imagining that scene. His wife was so fond of lying; if he wasn’t careful with him in the future, who knew what might happen.

Jiang Xusheng fed him a few spoonfuls of porridge. After half a bowl went down, Wang Shu frowned.

As he ate, Wang Shu would occasionally still sob.

Jiang Xusheng didn’t force him to eat, releasing him and giving him free time to rest in the bedroom.

Initially, Wang Shu was a little afraid of being around Mr. Jiang, but after resting for a while in the bedroom, he saw Jiang Xusheng sitting on the sofa on the second-floor railing, working on computer files.

The servants were off today, and he suddenly realized that Mr. Jiang might have come back specifically to accompany him.

So, Wang Shu hugged a blanket and went downstairs, sitting obediently on the other side of the sofa, covering himself and basking in the sun.

Jiang Xusheng tacitly accepted his presence. The sun felt warm on his body, and before long, Wang Shu fell asleep.

In his dream, someone seemed to be stroking his cheek—a fleeting, light dream.

When he woke up again, it was evening, and Aunt Wang, who had been on vacation, had returned.

Wang Shu propped himself up and searched for Mr. Jiang in the living room.

Aunt Wang told him that Mr. Jiang had left in the afternoon. She heard he was going on a business trip and wouldn’t be back for quite some time.

Wang Shu said ‘Oh,’ lowering his head with a hint of disappointment, and murmured, “So busy…”

Aunt Wang clearly didn’t hear what he said. As she brought Wang Shu’s slippers over, she said, “Mr. Jiang has been making such a big move lately! I heard the National Standard certification came through. Did you know about this?”

Wang Shu shook his head. He was always clueless about these matters.

But he occasionally heard the uncles mention that National Standard certification was very difficult to obtain. Only three pharmaceutical companies in Shen City held it, and fewer than a thousand brands nationwide.

National Standard certification meant that the Inhibitor could be mass-produced with national approval, allowing cooperation with hospitals nationwide for supply, and even enabling exports.

Since Jiang Xusheng came to Shen City to do business, many pharmaceutical companies were acquired, and those unwilling to yield went bankrupt one after another.

The Wang Family was one of those unwilling to be acquired, which was why they sent Wang Shu to Jiang Xusheng.

With the National Standard, it meant Xieshu Pharmaceutical could expand into areas it couldn’t previously handle.

The next morning, Wang Shu’s eyes were still swollen.

He didn’t see Mr. Jiang often, yet it seemed he cried every time he did.

Aunt Wang noticed his low spirits and specially prepared a cup of ginseng water for him to replenish his vital energy and blood.

The driver dropped him off at the school gate, where Shen Xiao had already arrived.

Shen Xiao was an omega slightly taller than him, with shoulder-length pink hair, dressed in trendy brands, exuding an air of wealth and pride from head to toe. He was a very vibrant and youthful person.

Seeing Wang Shu get out of the car, Shen Xiao shoved the stroller into the arms of the man beside him and waved at Wang Shu. “Over here!”

“Aren’t you sticking with your brother?” Wang Shu was walking into the school with Shen Xiao’s arm around his shoulder.

“He has class today,” Shen Xiao waved his hand. “He can take the kid too. I have an exhibition today, so I can’t worry about him.”

Wang Shu smiled. “That’s interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” Shen Xiao rubbed his face, yawning, and opened his phone to memorize things on Baidu Encyclopedia, preventing him from feeling nervous when the professor questioned him later.

“Your brother is actually your junior, and he brings the child to class. Is having a child fun?” Wang Shu asked sincerely.

Shen Xiao and his brother both came from poor backgrounds. Back then, his brother dropped out of school to work for several years just to support him. Now that their business was thriving, he finally had time to pursue his degree.

“It’s fun,” Shen Xiao thought of the chaotic life at home. “The big one and the small one stick to me like glue, clingier than malt candy. I can’t shake them off!”

Wang Shu envied his chaotic life.

“That’s wonderful.”

“Forget it, let’s not talk about that. I’m so excited about the exhibition in a few days!” He smiled, hugging Wang Shu. “Guess if Mr. L will buy your painting this time?”

“Probably not,” Wang Shu smiled helplessly. “It’s enough if I can graduate smoothly.”

The Oil Painting Department’s final exams each year were presented through artwork. Shen City Art Academy collaborated with the Provincial Exhibition Museum for a charity auction, and good works would be displayed in the exhibition hall.

Wang Shu’s works in his freshman and sophomore years were bought by someone pseudonymously named Mr. L. A price of twenty to thirty thousand was excellent for an unknown student.

However, Wang Shu didn’t participate in the two final exams during his junior year, and he spent his entire senior year on his graduation project. No collector would specifically stake out a student’s work.

Wang Shu followed Shen Xiao to meet their professor.

His painting, , was placed in a very corner spot.

Because of the sudden pregnancy, he had rushed to finish it just in time for the exhibition. Many parts were very rough. Wang Shu had initially thought the professor wouldn’t let him graduate.

The professor knew he had extenuating circumstances and allowed him to participate in the exhibition, passing him by the skin of his teeth, but it certainly couldn’t be displayed as an outstanding work in the provincial hall.

Many people were setting up the graduation exhibition hall in advance for the public opening day.

“Did you hear? The student making the biggest splash this time is Qiao Song. Apparently, several collectors have been privately bidding on his work.”

“But Qiao Song’s painting is going to the charity auction. It might appreciate in value.”

In the art world, speculation increases the collection value of artwork.

Wang Shu’s painting was very simple, even bordering on looking like a rushed graduation project.

It was a pure black oil base, outlined with gray lines. Up close, it looked like a cloud of smoke, but from a distance, it had the outline of a human face, in a half-human-height frame.

Shen Xiao’s graduation project, in contrast, used exaggerated colors, making Wang Shu’s work seem genuinely monotonous.

Shen Xiao put a mask on him to prevent him from feeling nauseous from the smell of oil paint, glancing behind them a few times. “I just can’t stand that Qiao Song. What’s he so smug about, hmph.”

“What’s wrong?” Wang Shu glanced behind him.

He saw a boy surrounded by several art managers who had come to scout early, exchanging contact information.

Shen Xiao pointed to the center of the exhibition hall. “Look at that painting. Whose does it look like?”

Wang Shu, wearing a mask, walked a few steps to the side, and a look of confusion appeared in his eyes when he clearly saw the artwork.

Shen Xiao: “Doesn’t it look exactly like the painting Mr. L bought from you in your freshman year?”

Wang Shu’s brushstrokes had shown his unique distinctiveness in his freshman year. His colors were usually muted gray and monochrome, using color blocks to outline the skeleton. The professor described his painting as a ‘white jasmine blooming from the darkness’.

The painting he sold in his freshman year was a framework of bright blue roses growing out of the eye sockets of a skull, titled .

A skull rotten to decay, with corruptly grown roses, yet named ‘Facing the Sun’.