I stared quietly at the Sound Transmission Talisman, not knowing what I was waiting for.
My fingertips curled slightly at my side.
The floral quilt lay scattered to one side.
Suddenly, a little movement came from beside me. Yangyang rolled over, her eyelashes fluttering a few times before her eyelids finally lifted. Her dark eyes quickly fixed on their target, gazing unblinkingly at the sight of Mommy hugging her knees.
"Mommy."
Hearing that her daughter had woken up, I forgot all about the Sound Transmission Talisman and immediately picked her up. "What's wrong? Can't you sleep?"
"No." Yangyang gave a little shake of her head. "Who were you talking to just now?"
I froze for a second, then answered, "Mommy's only friend."
Yangyang looked a little confused.
Only friend.
Then—what was Ye Qingxian?
Meeting my daughter's bewildered gaze, I explained, "Ye Qingxian is my Senior Sister, and she's your mother too. That doesn't contradict me having only one friend..."
I'd almost instinctively used Ye Qingxian's own line.
Well, she said that all the time.
It wasn't too much to borrow it once or twice.
"Oh." Children never knew when to hold their tongues. "Will this only friend eventually become Yangyang's mommy too?"
"..."
My cheeks flushed even redder, and I instinctively glanced out the window.
"Y-you're talking nonsense."
"Don't say that outside, or what will we do if someone hears you?"
"I know." Yangyang agreed, clutching the front of my robe before drifting back to sleep.
Time seemed to pass faster and faster.
Perhaps I was carrying two eggs. I was already four and a half months along, yet there were still no particularly obvious signs of pregnancy.
My belly was quiet, too.
It was as though the movement I'd sensed last time had only been my imagination.
I shook