He did not wait long, though, because after acknowledging his call, Xue Jinxu joined him in the car. 

After the grueling executive meeting during the day, the husband and wife went to the hospital where both of them were scheduled for a check-up.  Supposedly, only Chen Linyun had his check-up scheduled that day for a follow-up post-traumatic stress therapy; however, that very morning, the lady called the hospital and their family doctor for consultation and a general check-up to validate what their intuitions have been telling them.

They had lunch first before going to their respective check-ups.  The atmosphere was lively and hopeful, as they were ecstatic to validate their a.s.sumptions. 

While having lunch, the couple shared what had transpired in the morning when they were separated even just for hours, no matter how trivial their morning went.  Xue Jinxu imparted the biggest concern and the pro-active solution to address it at Xue s.h.i.+pping.

"Now that he's still alive, everything will work well, right?" Xue Jinxu deduced while taking a big healthy nosh of her Ceasar salad.

Chen Linyun took extra prudence before responding to the spirited wife.  Initially, he requested her to keep her tone down.  After all, her brother had not fully returned yet.  He's quite dubious, too, if things would be rather simple as Xue Jinxu would want to put it.

"Jinxu… Did you commit to your brother's attendance at the sports fest?"

"Hmmm… Not outrightly… I just told them I will look into it."

"He might not appear at the event.  He told me himself that it's not the right time yet to go back."

Xue Jinxu heaved a deep, deep sigh.  "What is the dilly-dallying for?  Everyone wants to see him, and meet him.  Just imagine how much of a hard time our parents had to spend thinking about him and mourning for him.  They still do up to the present day.  Well, if they only know that they shouldn't have because he's safe and sound and healthy somewhere."

"I pity my parents for not knowing.  He could simply inform them and live overseas if that's what he prefers, right?  At the very least they could put their worries and uneasiness to rest.  It's been seven years.  Seven long years, Chen Linyun!"

Chen Linyun's visage mellowed at the wife's blabberings.  "He must have his reasons for doing so.  For now, what we can do is respect his decision and not precede or spoil it."

"Meanwhile, let's do our best to live our lives to the fullest."

The wife shrieked a little bit and giggled in antic.i.p.ation of that afternoon's appointment.  Chen Linyun was excited too, but had his emotions in check, in case the results would turn out otherwise than what they had eagerly expected.  It would prove to be better that one of them would be rational and on-guard just in case they would be receiving unexpected results.

At the hospital, they went on their separate check-ups to save time.  Chen Linyun's consultation had gone shorter as the doctor found positive development from his condition after their trip. 

"Your vacation had helped leaps in your recuperation.  It might not wash away all the negative impact your body and mind incurred, but you are in a more relaxed, and stable emotional, physical and mental health."

"But I suggest that you till attend the remaining consultation schedules and complete the series."

"That is noted, doctor.  Thank you." Chen Linyun shook hands with the doctor and left in a haste, though he tried to control and hide it.

Along the whitewashed corridors, he resorted to an alternate brisk-walk-slash-run routine to where the wife was.  His heart went *thump* *thump* *thump* from the excitement, and from the physical activity too.  When he arrived in front of the laboratory hall, he was already panting, short on breath, and red in the face.

The wife was inside, but when she went out into the lobby, she chuckled a little bit as she called him with his famous nickname inside her head.  'My tomato-face is here.   How adorable.'

"How did your consultation go?" She asked as she seated at the vacant chair beside him.  She rubbed his back soothingly and pa.s.sed bottled water to him.  He took it and drank big gulps before answering, but nodded gingerly, signaling that it went well.  He explained thoroughly afterward.

"I'm also almost done here.  They took samples of my blood a while ago.  The results won't be out today, though.  It will be out tomorrow the earliest, but it not, certainly within the week.  You hurried coming here, didn't you?"

"Yes.  I want to be part of this journey with you."

"Well, honey, you are.  Who says you aren't?  Look at your sweat!  Did you run?  Haha.   Look at you!" She tended to the husband.  She retrieved her lilac, embroidered handkerchief from her Gucci bag and wiped his forehead with it.

Chen Linyun warmly smiled at her, face still flushed from the earlier act of haste.  Xue Jinxu moved on to wiping the sweat on her husband's face and neck indulgently.

It was such a dog food to the onlookers, but it was common in this area though, where expectant parents wait for the results they hope for.

The nurses and medical pract.i.tioners could not help but vouch for them in their journey.

Well, it was just a check-up for now, but Xue Jinxu could not imagine how her cute, adorable husband would act by the time that she would have to deliver their baby, if - and only if - she truly turned out to be pregnant, and in the future when it's already due.

Nowadays, pregnancy kits could be bought from convenience stores, but the couple preferred a confirmatory test that is clinically proven. 

"Dreaming happy thoughts truly ignite brighter, more positive momentum." She brushed her lips against his rosy cheek.

"Agree." Chen Linyun held her right hand and guided it around his left arm.  She took the hint and took it.  He caressed her hand and squeezed it gently.

After a while, she got called again for the physical examination.  Chen Linyun was not allowed to go in with her so he patiently waited outside.  He fidgeted in his seat, and all the more he did so as the grandfather clock's hands ticked and ticked its life away.

It was funny how uneasy he felt because it was just a simple physical examination nonetheless.  He could feel the trickling of sweat on his forehead and back, from shoulder down his spine.