Chapter 62

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October—He Xiu and Jian Yan held a wedding ceremony, and though the invited guests weren’t many, every single one had influential weight. After the ceremony, the two of them finally moved into their new house. Previously, Jian Yan was afraid that she would get pregnant while wearing her wedding dress, so He Xiu wore a condom every time. Now, however, the wedding was over, so he no longer had misgivings.

Jian Yan didn’t feel strongly about children. She had previously heard people say that if there was no pregnancy during the first year of marriage, then later on it would be even harder to conceive. Although she felt this statement had no scientific basis, since He Xiu wanted a little darling, she also matched his desire.

One time when she went with Lin Zhen to buy skincare products, she offhandedly asked the cabinet lady, “Can pregnant women use this?”

To the side, Lin Zhen was shocked. She subconsciously glanced at Jian Yan’s stomach. “You’re with child?”

“No, but this skincare product will be used for several months; who knows when I’ll get pregnant?”

Lin Zhen: “…”

Jian Yan not only rushed to get married, she was now preparing to give birth to a baby… She suddenly felt she was falling further and further behind.

The cabinet lady explained to Jian Yan, “This skincare product is very natural and gentle; pregnant women can use this too. There’s no need to worry.”

Jian Yan nodded and bought an entire set.

Shortly after this incident—Lin Zhen calculated it to be at most a month later—Jian Yan suddenly announced in their small group chat: 「Greetings, everyone, I have risen in seniority. :)」

You You: 「You’re pregnant?」

Tang Zhi: 「Yes, I just went to the hospital today to check『Victory Sign』」

Lin Zhen: 「……」

Lin Zhen: 「I think you’re overspeeding on the highway of life.」

Tang Zhi: 「…」

You You: 「Hahaha Chief Lin doesn’t dare to face herself suddenly becoming an auntie?」

Tang Zhi: 「Several years ago when we went shopping, someone already called her auntie.」

Lin Zhen: 「……『goodbye』」

Tang Zhi: 「『red pocket』1 Congratulations, aunties」

Lin Zhen: 「…」

Even though she felt insulted, her hand automatically clicked on the red pocket.

Lin Zhen: 「Already being called auntie, yet you only give me two yuan?」

You You: 「Hahahaha Chief Lin’s luck is no good. I got thirteen yuan『Victory Sign』」

Guang Ming de Ming Ming: 「Twenty-two yuan here『cackling』」 2

Guang Ming de Ming Ming: 「 Teacher Tang Zhi is naturally calling you stupid;3 by the way, congratulations, Teacher Tang Zhi, on ascending to motherhood~」

Tang Zhi: 「Thanks ^_^」

Lin Zhen: 「Then let’s go out and eat tomorrow」

Tang Zhi: 「I don’t know. I have to ask Head He if it’s okay first.」

Lin Zhen: 「………Isn’t the wife generally strict? Head He has the final say in your household?」

Tang Zhi: 「Before my pregnancy, I had the final say, but now it’s different『smile』」

Lin Zhen: 「…』

Five minutes later.

Tang Zhi: 「I asked. Head He disagrees. He says that prior to giving birth, I cannot eat outside『smile』」

You You: 「You really should be careful the first trimester. I had a friend who fearlessly ate anything in the first trimester and miscarried because of it.」

Tang Zhi: 「…… Don’t scare me.」

You You: 「O(∩_∩)O」

Lin Zhen: 「Then you can come and watch us eat.」

Tang Zhi: 「…」

To see if you look beautiful?

However, she still failed to live up to expectations and went. Prior to leaving, He Xiu prepared dinner at home for her, making her eat it before letting her go. When he dropped her off at the restaurant, He Xiu only left uneasily after giving her several warnings.

Lin Zhen originally wanted to eat hotpot to deliberately annoy Jian Yan, but she was ultimately stopped by the kindhearted You You and chose a Chinese restaurant. Jian Yan truly did only watch them eat from beginning to end. She felt she must be crazy to intentionally come.

Lin Zhen teased, “If you eat, He Xiu won’t know. We’ll absolutely keep it a secret for you.”

Jian Yan declined, “No, this dish doesn’t look especially good or as tasty as He Xiu’s cooking.”

Lin Zhen: “…”

They really should have gone to eat hotpot and chuan chuan! She didn’t believe Jian Yan would’ve been able to refrain from eating that!

“Then after we eat, let’s go sing. You can’t eat outside, but can you sing?”

Jian Yan glanced at the time and replied, “No, Head He stipulated that I need to go to bed before nine o’clock.”

Lin Zhen: “…”

She pursed her lips and sincerely asked, “Is your Head He raising a pig?”

Jian Yan also felt sad for herself. “Right, really is raising a pig…”

Lin Zhen: “…”

He Xiu came at eight o’clock to pick her up. Seeing the car approach from far away, Lin Zhen felt that possibly for a long while, they wouldn’t be able to meet up with Jian Yan.

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After returning home, He Xiu peeled fruit for Jian Yan to eat, carefully slicing them into small pieces.

If asked if there were any advantages after falling pregnant, then she would answer that it would be He Xiu waiting upon her in every way possible. He would even help wash her feet if she desired so.

Jian Yan soaked her feet while eating the cut fruit Little He’zi prepared, acting like the empress dowager.4

He Xiu sat beside her, switching the television to a quieter show. “Go to bed after you finish eating. It’s getting late.”

“…” Jian Yan suddenly went from empress dowager to a little servant girl and felt extremely wronged. “I want to draw my manuscript for a while. If I don’t draw, this month’s draft won’t be finished to turn in.”

He Xiu stated, “I don’t mind if you stop publishing for a few months.”

“…My editor cares.”

He Xiu tilted his head to glance at her and replied, “Then draw tomorrow. You didn’t finish drawing, yet you still go out and have fun with them?”

Jian Yan said, “If you think going out to watching a group of people eat is considered fun, then I think you are also very very smart.”

He Xiu couldn’t help but smile. “Not allowing you to eat outside is good for you. The doctor especially expressed that we must be careful during the first trimester.”

“I know, I know.” Seeing He Xiu shift culpability onto the doctor to pressure her, Jian Yan was forced to surrender, “The water’s cooling down. Little He’zi, get ai’jia more hot water.”5

He Xiu smiled and asked, “Do you also have research on ancient clothing? Are you intending to draw an ancient imperial court next?”

“Nope, this task is too grand. I estimate it will take over ten years to draw.”

He Xiu even sang her to sleep, kissing her forehead afterwards. “Good night.”

Jian Yan looked up at him and asked, “Have you recently not needed to make rounds?”

He Xiu knew she was referring to Starlight General Merchandise and flashed her a smile, replying, “A different director is making rounds for me. Don’t worry; these months while you’re pregnant, I will guard you as you sleep.”

Jian Yan: “…”

Indeed, not giving a person a way out.

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Despite such care, however, there was still a bit of an incident.

When Lin Zhen again got everyone in the group chat to agree to go out and eat, Jian Yan replied: 「This time I truly can’t go. I’m bleeding a bit today, have already been laying in bed all day『tears』」

You You: 「Is it serious?」

Tang Zhi: 「Not very serious, but Head He is very nervous, making me also nervous.」

You You: 「Is it because work is too tiring?」

Tang Zhi: 「No『facepalm』My recent workload is only half of what it used to be『facepalm』 The doctor said it’s quite easy to bleed during the first trimester, so I should get a lot of rest.」

Lin Zhen: 「…I feel sorry for you. We’ll go and eat hotpot then.」

Tang Zhi: 「… 『smile』『goodbye』」

“Still playing on your phone?” He Xiu entered the bedroom, taking away Jian Yan’s phone and stowing it away. “Cell phones have radiation, and it’s also a distraction. Close your eyes and sleep.”

Jian Yan turned her head to look outside—broad daylight. “It’s only six o’clock…”

“Mn, it’s late.”

Jian Yan: “…”

Then you go to sleep!

She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep for a moment. A few minutes later, she opened her eyes, and He Xiu was still sitting beside her.

Jian Yan: “…”

“Can’t sleep?” He Xiu asked.

Jian Yan wanted to cry. “It would be strange if I could sleep, okay…”

“Then I’ll cut more fruit for you?”

Jian Yan: “…”

How can your pig-raising skill be so powerful…

He Xiu really went to go cut fruit for her. Jian Yan sat up and stretched her hand out to grab her phone, stealthily playing it some more.

Tang Zhi: 「I think I’m going crazy. Head He just told me to go to sleep.」

Lin Zhen: 「Didn’t they say you cannot have sex during the first trimester?」

Tang Zhi: 「…」

Tang Zhi: 「You’re thinking too much. It’s purely sleeping :)」

You You: 「hahahahahahahaha」

Tang Zhi: 「If you’re bleeding, you really should lie down; there’s nothing you can do.」

Jian Yan had just sent that message when He Xiu came back, so she hurriedly hid her phone. He Xiu sat down next to her and pierced a cube of fruit with a small fork, bringing it up to Jian Yan’s mouth.

Jian Yan felt that since she had become pregnant, she had become a semi-handicapped person in He Xiu’s eyes.

After eating half a small fruit, she once again lay down to sleep. He Xiu left with the tray, casually stealing her phone hidden beneath the blanket on the way.

Jian Yan: “…”

No phone…she still had her tablet!

Using her tablet, she quietly watched TV dramas before glancing at the group chat again. Lin Zhen and the others had actually gone out to eat hotpot and had even sent several pictures to the chat. She could practically smell the aroma of hotpot from the tablet screen.

Jian Yan, laden with grief, set down her tablet and closed her eyes.

It was better for her to go to sleep.

?

After she stopped bleeding, Jian Yan was finally given more freedom. She was just in time for Lunar New Year as well; this time, Aunt Jiang and Jian Yan’s mother were both coming over to their place, and they were eating together for Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Jian Yan could eat all the dishes on the table. She stared at the packed table, nearly on the verge of tears with how moved she was. Because she couldn’t eat anything spicy, however, the dishes were all relatively light.

Once the meal was over, the two elders didn’t disturb the young married couple’s rest and left after cleaning up. Jian Yan was once again waited upon by He Xiu. After he finished her nighttime routine, he lifted her into his arms.

Jian Yan was really helpless. “…I can still walk.”

He Xiu said, “The doctor said you should walk less. It’s better if I carry you.”

After he set her down on the bed, He Xiu stroked her hair. “I know you have been working hard recently. After our child is born, I’ll take you to eat at Boss Xiao’s String of Fragrances.”

“Aaahhh~ don’t speak of it; you’re making me want to eat it!”

He Xiu chuckled and stooped to kiss her. His kiss was very gentle, and he lingered for quite while, kissing her slowly as his hands gently caressed and stroked Jian Yan’s body.

Jian Yan couldn’t help but moan and whimper. He Xiu’s movements paused as he slightly raised his gaze to look her in the eyes. “Are you doing that on purpose?”

The lust in his eyes was clearly visible, and Jian Yan knew what he desired to do right now. “It’s clearly you whose touch is naughty. The doctor said we can’t do it during the first trimester.”

He Xiu: “…”

He was silent for a moment and then stood up to leave, saying, “I’ll go take a shower; you can go to sleep first.”

Hua—hua—Hearing the sound of running water in the bathroom, Jian Yan giggled into the blankets. Finally using the doctor to pressure him for the first time was indeed too invigorating!

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Author’s Note:

Tomorrow, more Little Bun Side Story, even sweeter~

Notes:

1. Moonclipse’s comment: for those who don’t know, Wechat has a function where you can send money to other people, and it’s called a red pocket. ?

2. Moonclipse’s comment: there is also an option when sending red pockets where if you send a lump sum to a group, the amount each person gets is random ?

3. 二 (two) is also slang for stupid ?

4. Little He’zi is a diminutive nickname for HX ?

5. ai’jia is an imperial self-address, mainly used by a widowed empress… what are you implying here, JY??? ?