Even though at times, he had acted childishly or shamelessly, he had never actually put his full emotions on display. Deep down, he was still an awkward and introverted man.
Song Yu buried her face into his chest and snuggled closer. The rubbing made Qi Chengzhi’s chest itch.
Seeing her head in his chest made him feel happy. His hand subconsciously moved to her belly. His thin lips traveled down her face, peppering kisses. “How long?”
“The test said thirty-seven days.” Song Yu understood his question. “My appetite this week was bad. Every time I smelled food, I felt like puking. It happened today at Grandmother Han’s place as well. Also, I’ve never suffered from motion sickness but when Grandma was sending me back to Viewpark Residences, I felt like puking in the car. I didn’t want her to worry so I kept quiet. I came to the hospital after she left.”
“Did the doctor say anything about the constant nausea?” Qi Chengzhi asked.
Song Yu blushed and muttered, “I forgot to ask. When I got the results, I was too excited and wanted to tell you about it. I sort of forgot about—”
Qi Chengzhi smiled at her reddening face. She was sometimes a blur case, a cute one at least. He kissed her lips and took out his phone. “I’ll call Lao Chu to ask the doctor about it.”
“Wait.” Song Yu stopped him. “The doctor said the first trimester is a period of uncertainty. The report says there’s still a likelihood of miscarriage and that I’ll need to really take care of myself and the baby. Let’s not be hasty and keep this news under covers for now, especially for Grandma and the family. I don’t want them to get upset if anything happens.”
Qi Chengzhi nodded. “I’ll take a number then. We’ll see the doctor and ask in person.”
As he finished his sentence, he heard someone shouting, “Whose car is this?”
Qi Chengzhi turned around and saw his brashly-parked Range Rover blocking another car.
“Just wait here for a moment while I find a parking spot,” Qi Chengzhi said.
Song Yu nodded and Qi Chengzhi left for his car. She walked back to the bench and placed the two books into her bag.
When the Range Rover sped into the hospital area, a frightened Song Yu abandoned her books to run over to Qi Chengzhi.
After parking the car, Qi Chengzhi brought Song Yu to get another queue number.
When the doctor saw Song Yu in her office again, she was surprised.
“That… Doctor.” Song Yu blushed and said sheepishly, “After getting the results, I was too excited and forgot to ask some questions.”
The doctor smiled and nodded knowingly. She gestured at the chair and said, “Sit.”
The doctor turned to address the solemn Qi Chengzhi. “Are you her husband?”
Qi Chengzhi nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Can you let me see the report again?” the doctor asked.
Song Yu retrieved the report from her bag and passed it to her. The doctor scanned through the report and said, “There are minor signs of a miscarriage but it is common during the first trimester, especially for first pregnancies. Usually, they wouldn’t even know about the pregnancy so it happens. Just pay a bit more attention now, no need to worry too much.
“Just some basic miscarriage prevention like avoiding rigorous exercise. In the first trimester, I would recommend no sexual activity.”
Song Yu’s face turned red—they just did it this morning.
“Other than that, don’t overwork or overstress yourself, especially for working women. Stress will affect the baby so try to relax whenever you can. Use less electronic devices to reduce radiation exposure. It doesn’t have a large impact so no need to totally cut off. Mainly for those who are addicted to scrolling their phones. If it’s just normal usage for work, then it’s fine.”
The doctor continued on about certain things to watch out for. As she spoke, she scribbled into the medical chart. She also wrote down some of the food that were beneficial for pregnant women.
“Any more questions?” the doctor asked after she was done with her pregnancy precautions and tips.
Song Yu was about to say no when Qi Chengzhi wordlessly pulled out his phone and opened up his calendar. He muttered under his breath, “Thirty-seven days pregnant which means a month and a week. Another month plus three weeks and it’ll be back to normal, right?”
Qi Chengzhi counted the days and pulled up the calendar for a month and three weeks after. He then set a reminder on that day and said, “No more questions.”
“…”
…
…
Finally, a red-faced Song Yu dragged Qi Chengzhi out of the hospital.
“I don’t feel pregnant at all. It’s so weird,” Song Yu said as she tugged on Qi Chengzhi’s arm.
Qi Chengzhi looked at her, then at her abdomen. He gently placed his hand on her belly and said regretfully, “It’s great that you’re pregnant but three months of abstinence, how problematic.”
The pink tinge bloomed on her face and she squirmed into his embrace. “Actually, I didn’t think that I would get pregnant so quickly.”
At the end of her sentence, Qi Chengzhi’s phone rang.
He read the caller ID on the phone and answered. It was Cheng Dongge.
From the content of the call, Song Yu figured it was work-related and asked when Qi Chengzhi had hung up the phone. “You came over midway through something?”
“It wasn’t anything important. The important parts of the meeting were managed by Chenglin. I was only needed for my presence,” Qi Chengzhi mentioned casually as he pocketed the phone.
They both got into the Range Rover. Song Yu knew that even if Qi Chengzhi was busy, he would not let her know, so she dropped that line of questioning.
Guan Xiaolin came into her mind and she said, “When I was in the hospital, I ran into Guan Xiaolin.”
“What happened?” Qi Chengzhi started the car and pulled out of the car park.
“We bumped into each other and I accidentally saw her pregnancy test result. She’s forty-day pregnant.” Song Yu frowned—there was a suspicion growing in her mind. “Do you think… Jian Yi and her…”
“Chenglin investigated her relationship with Jian Yi. According to the timeline, it might be.” Qi Chengzhi delivered the news in an impartial manner without any hint of anger.
“Then—” Song Yu wanted to ask about Qi Chengyue. With something like this, her marriage to Jian Yi might be deemed unsalvageable.
Was she supposed to tell Qi Chengyue about this?
Qi Chengzhi took her hand and said, “Even so, it’s still just an educated guess. This thing is between Chengyue and Jian Yi, let us not interfere. If Guan Xiaolin wants to show her cards, sooner or later, we will have to deal with it.”
“Shouldn’t we give Chengyue a heads-up?” Song Yu was mildly worried.
Qi Chengzhi’s thumb massaged the back of her hand softly. “She knew about Jian Yi and Guan Xiaolin, do you think this scenario has not crossed her mind? Perhaps she did not think too much about it, but the thought most definitely has occurred to her.”
Song Yu was still thinking about his words when he changed the topic. “Are you tired?”
“No. Why?” Song Yu asked as Qi Chengzhi changed their route. They were heading to a mall.
“Let’s buy you some comfortable flats.” Qi Chengzhi guided her to the sofa. “You wear mostly high heels during work. You only wear flat shoes when you have site visits. You need more flats.”
Song Yu sat on the sofa. She watched Qi Chengzhi pick out shoe designs while the storekeeper went to retrieve the correct size for Song Yu to try them on.
The shoes were piling up on the floor and Song Yu felt like things were going overboard.
Her emotions these days were fickle. She felt extra sensitive as if the slightest thing could trigger her anger.
She stared at her own flats. Other than her work attire that called for high heels, she had always loved wearing flats.
To be honest, while she did not have a huge collection of flats, she had a good amount to last her two feet. Normally, Qi Chengzhi never paid any heed to her shoes. Yet, once he knew she was pregnant, he immediately wanted to buy her new shoes.
Song Yu looked at the tall man in front of her. He had his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent and remarkable—he commanded people’s attention just by standing there.
Sitting down on the sofa, Song Yu only reached his thigh. While the storekeeper went to get the shoes, she poked at his thigh gloomily—her finger was met with solid resistance.
Qi Chengzhi lowered his head and saw Song Yu pouting unhappily. His slender hand covered hers and he said in an amused tone, “What’s wrong?”
“You’ve never so eagerly brought me to buy shoes before. Right after the news, you immediately brought me here. Wouldn’t you say this baby has made me more valuable?” Song Yu said darkly. Her black eyes pierced him with a look of accusation.
“Nonsense.” Qi Chengzhi glanced at her and chuckled.
“But I feel as if the baby is more important to you now.” Song Yu was still in a negative mood. She wanted to shake off his hand but his grip was too strong.
Qi Chengzhi’s soulful eyes stared at her. There was a slight tease in his voice when he said, “Well it’s attached to you so who do you think I care for more? If it was growing on anyone else, I wouldn’t even care.”
Song Yu glared at him and bared her teeth. “I dare you to try growing it on someone else.”
Qi Chengzhi bent down suddenly. Song Yu was treated with a close-up of his handsome face. A faint smile was on his face as he said, “Be careful, you’re becoming a tiger mom.”
Song Yu’s face reddened and snatched her hand out from his. She said in a vexed tone, “Then, go ahead and find a gentle one.”
She was about to stand up but Qi Chengzhi hugged her around the waist. He sat down by her side and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “Come on, why’s your temper flaring with the pregnancy? Where will I go? And if I did, you would surely castrate me.”
Song Yu wrestled against the embrace but she could not escape. Although Qi Chengzhi was usually a cold person, he was using his gentlest voice to coax her. All his swagger evaporated in front of her.
Her mood improved slightly. She shot him a glance. “Then, the baby or me, who’s more important?”
“You,” Qi Chengzhi said without hesitation.
Song Yu’s anger dissipated. She rested her forehead on his shoulder. “Last time, I knew you treated me well because I was me. I’m just unsure if you’re treating me better now because of the pregnancy.”
“I am treating you better now but it’s not because of the pregnancy.” Qi Chengzhi spoke softly, “It’s because you’re doing it for me, you’re giving me a child. I’m spoiling you because you’re doing all this for me. If I didn’t treat you better, how can I call myself your husband?
“And even after you’ve had our child, I will treat you even better—better than now. I want to spend my whole life being better for you,” Qi Chengzhi whispered into her ear.
Song Yu blushed and started to regret her pettiness.
The shopkeeper came back with the shoes and witnessed the intimacy between the couple. Qi Chengzhi had Song Yu tight in his arms. The shopkeeper was slightly embarrassed but also envious.
Song Yu tried to get out of the embrace but Qi Chengzhi would not budge. He never did care about the opinions of others.
At the end of the day, Qi Chengzhi walked out of the shop with shopping bags in each hand filled with shoes while Song Yu followed behind.
…
…
After some discussion, they decided to fill Aunt Yang in on Song Yu’s pregnancy. She was in charge of their meals and had to know about Song Yu’s diet restrictions.
Aunt Yang would also need to cook some of the tonic soups for Song Yu.
When Song Yu told Aunt Yang about the good news, she made her swear to secrecy. Aunt Yang gladly obliged. As she cooked, she hummed in good spirits—she was happy to be in the know of such wonderful news.
After retiring to their bedroom at night, Song Yu thought about surfing the web on the tablet but stopped herself when she recalled the doctor’s advice. Instead, she took out the books she had bought in the afternoon.
Qi Chengzhi walked out of the bathroom. He thoughtlessly threw the towel on his head aside and asked, “How was the house visit today with Grandma?”
His question reminded her of what Grandmother Qi had said.
Song Yu raised her eyebrows and looked up from her book. She asked casually, “I overheard today from Grandma, you went to a lot of matchmaking sessions?”
“A lot? No. Just a few and always, it was because I was tricked into going.” Qi Chengzhi pulled the covers back and nestled in. He picked the book out from her hands and his deft fingers started unbuttoning her pajamas.
Song Yu did not stop him. She just huffed and gave him the stink-eye. “And I thought you were keeping yourself pure and innocent, saving yourself for me. Turns out you’ve already gone on matchmaking dates.”
“Who thinks men are pure and innocent?” Qi Chengzhi settled his weight over her and unbuttoned the remaining buttons.
He traced random patterns across her chest. “You’re getting jealous so easily these days.”
As his voice quieted down, the warm hand palmed against her breast.
Song Yu flushed a crimson red. Her body seemed to be extra sensitive now that she was pregnant. Qi Chengzhi’s light touch made her squirm and she whispered, “The thought of other women looking at you infuriates me.”
“They saw nothing.” Qi Chengzhi said with a smirk on his face, “Once I sensed that it was a set-up, I left immediately.”
“And that time with Yu Keyao?” Song Yu raised an eyebrow at him.
“…” Qi Chengzhi stayed silent. He gave her a teasing smile and let his hands wander over her body.
“Explain yourself…” Song Yu’s breath hitched and her voice struggled to carry across as it trembled. Her body was unknowingly coiling itself tight in his embrace.
“I did it on purpose for you,” Qi Chengzhi finally answered.
Song Yu looked up. Her clear eyes darkened with passion.
Qi Chengzhi just came out of the showers, topless with only a pair of loose pants on him. She could only hold onto his waist.
“Back then, you weren’t as committed to me. So, I wanted to make you jealous.”
“…” Song Yu was speechless. She was oblivious as to how transparent she had been to Qi Chengzhi.
In the span of the silence, Qi Chengzhi cupped her breasts suddenly, followed by some prodding at her waist. “No wonder your breasts felt heavier this morning.”
“…” Song Yu squirmed in his arms, trying to avoid his groping hands. “Stop it.”
Qi Chengzhi lowered his head and looked at the blushing face pressed against his chest. He could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks.
Her fair skin was tinged pink from embarrassment—it was very attractive to Qi Chengzhi. His heart rate quickened. He leaned in and peppered kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and the bridge of her nose.
The faint, flowery scent from her skin drove him crazy and his hands fondled her soft flesh.
Song Yu trembled in his arms. He pressed his lips against her forehead and asked with mirth in his tone, “Can’t stand it anymore?”
Speechless, Song Yu tucked her blushing face into his chest and hugged him tighter. Her body shivered uncontrollably.
She felt his hands move around her body with no plans of stopping. They inched further down south. Song Yu caught his wrist and said, “The doctor said we shouldn’t.”
“We’ll improvise.” He pressed her down and kissed the side of her mouth. Slowly, they were engaged in a heavy makeout session. “I can’t stand cuddling you but not touching you every night.”
Song Yu was feeling troubled as well. She bit her lip—she could not let him fill the emptiness within her. She tightened her arms around him. Sweat was forming on Qi Chengzhi’s forehead as he kissed his way down her lower abdomen. He reached her nether regions and prompted a sharp gasp from Song Yu. She wanted to pull him back up. “Qi Chengzhi!”
“Hush, don’t fret. It’ll feel good in a bit.” His low voice rumbled, unclear from all the activity below. “Let me help you first.”
Only after she had come down from her high did he rub himself against her entrance. The beads of sweat dripped from his forehead and onto her. It took a significant effort to relieve himself and decided that this was one of the most tedious ways by far. He hugged Song Yu and kissed her face.
“If this is how we need to do it from now on, I might just go crazy.” Qi Chengzhi gritted his teeth and pulled her buttocks against his body.
His voice was rough and unlike his usual calm baritone. It sounded like a chord wounded so tautly it would break at any moment.
Their sweat-coated bodies pressed together. Song Yu’s arm hooked around his neck and pulled his head down.
Soft lips pressed against the chin that was starting to show a five-o’clock shadow. Qi Chengzhi could feel the gentleness of her kiss, like cotton candy. It was a comforting sensation that made his heart swell.
“I’ll help you out next time,” Song Yu said shyly. Her body trembled and her face which was previously red from passion grew warmer.
She lifted her head to look at this good-looking man whom she would do anything for. He was perfect.
His facial features were sharp and handsome. His Adam’s apple stood out on his neck, oozing masculinity. The muscles on his body were toned and powerful. Even the member between his thighs was a thing of marvel because it was attached to Qi Chengzhi. Although she was frightened initially, she had grown to like it and wanted to make the effort to please it.
Qi Chengzhi hugged her like she was a prized doll. His heart was truly bursting with love for the woman in his arms.
…
…
The next morning, Aunt Yang made soup for Song Yu to pack to the company. She could heat it up in the company and have it with her lunch.
Qi Chengzhi carried the thermos and went to work with Song Yu. In his mind, he wanted to get Song Yu to take leave and rest at home. The doctor’s mention of miscarriage worried him.
However, Song Yu never brought up the idea of taking leave so he kept silent. He did not want her to think that he was putting the baby first and her second.
In the elevator, Song Yu took Qi Chengzhi’s hand and linked her other hand around his arm. “Currently in my hands, there’s only the hotel project by your company. Usually, I don’t have much to do and with you as boss, I take it you won’t let them give me too much work?”
Qi Chengzhi raised an eyebrow at her. “And, because of you, Director Zhao doesn’t dare to give me any other projects, he wants me to only focus on the Qilin hotel. These days, I feel like I don’t even need to clock in. Seems like I can just leave anytime I want. So, work won’t tire me.”
“Did I say anything?” Qi Chengzhi asked with one eyebrow cocked in amusement. He gripped her hand tightly.
“I’m just giving you an out front explanation.” Song Yu looked up and smiled brightly.
Qi Chengzhi could not help but smile. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Come back home if you feel tired.”
Once they got into the car, Qi Chengzhi put on some lovely light music. Song Yu turned to him in surprise. “When did you have this type of music?”
“Yesterday, after you fell asleep, I went and downloaded them.” Qi Chengzhi started the car. “I read on the internet that listening to this type of music is beneficial for pregnant women.”
The car rolled into Chengshi’s lobby and Song Yu gave him a quick peck. She said her goodbye and was about to leave when Qi Chengzhi stopped her. “I’ll pick you up for lunch. I’m unsure about the restaurants around this area. We’ll go to Dynasty.”
Song Yu rolled her eyes. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes and mocked, “And he says it’s not because of the baby. I didn’t see you coming over to pick me up for lunch every day before this?”
Qi Chengzhi knew that she was not truly mad. She was just pulling his leg, unlike yesterday.
He pulled on her arm. His lips collided with hers. “Don’t argue.”
Song Yu left the car with a smile on her face.
…
…
In the consecutive days, Qi Chengzhi came to pick her up for lunch. If he had business to attend to, he would get Chang Lai to fetch her to Qilin and they would have Dynasty take-out in his office.
On the days when he had to entertain clients during lunch, Song Yu would eat alone in his office. Since Chang Lai would be busy with Qi Chengzhi, Cheng Dongge was responsible for fetching Song Yu.
Qi Chengzhi was adamant about lunch, even when it inconvenienced multiple parties.
This afternoon, Qi Chengzhi was occupied with a luncheon. Cheng Dongge drove the Mercedes-Benz to pick Song Yu up.
Once she was seated in the car, her phone rang. It was Qi Chengyue.
“Song Yu, are you… Are you free?” There was a hint of lingering doubt in Qi Chengyue’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” Song Yu heard the hitch in her voice.
“Guan Xiaolin called me. She asked to meet and I…” She heard Qi Chengyue take a deep breath, then a pause. “I’m a bit nervous. Can you join me for this? I’m worried in my current state, my weakness will be exposed to her.”
Back then, Qi Chengyue could strut and boast in Song Yu’s face because she knew Jian Yi could not afford to leave her. He needed her and the Qi family.
Between Song Yu and her, she knew clearly who Jian Yi would pick.
All her bravado was not brought on by her belief in Jian Yi’s love for her.
Now, she was no longer fooling herself. Comparing Guan Xiaolin and her, she had no clear advantage other than her official status as Jian Yi’s wife.
Since Jian Yi could not gain anything from Qi Chengyue, she no longer had any hold over him.
What Jian Yi wanted, Guan Xiaolin was able to give.
Even though Qi Chengyue was disappointed in him and her love bled dry, Jian Yi was still the man that she had once fallen deeply in love with. While it might be that she was unwilling to lose in any way, it was also possible that she had grown used to their symbiotic relationship through the years.
To this day, her heart was still empty and barren. It was unbearable.
Meeting Guan Xiaolin was equivalent to confronting Jian Yi’s betrayal. It was not Guan Xiaolin that scared her, but the immutable evidence of Jian Yi’s infidelity.
Hearing stories from Song Yu and Qi Chenglin was one thing. Meeting the person was a whole new ball game.
“Where are you now?” Song Yu asked.
“Still in the company. I just came back from T City and got the call from Guan Xiaolin. I called you right after,” Qi Chengyue said.
“I’m going over to Qilin.” Song Yu gazed out the car window. “I’ll call you again when I arrive. We’ll go together.”
Even though at times, he had acted childishly or shamelessly, he had never actually put his full emotions on display. Deep down, he was still an awkward and introverted man.
Song Yu buried her face into his chest and snuggled closer. The rubbing made Qi Chengzhi’s chest itch.
Seeing her head in his chest made him feel happy. His hand subconsciously moved to her belly. His thin lips traveled down her face, peppering kisses. “How long?”
“The test said thirty-seven days.” Song Yu understood his question. “My appetite this week was bad. Every time I smelled food, I felt like puking. It happened today at Grandmother Han’s place as well. Also, I’ve never suffered from motion sickness but when Grandma was sending me back to Viewpark Residences, I felt like puking in the car. I didn’t want her to worry so I kept quiet. I came to the hospital after she left.”
“Did the doctor say anything about the constant nausea?” Qi Chengzhi asked.
Song Yu blushed and muttered, “I forgot to ask. When I got the results, I was too excited and wanted to tell you about it. I sort of forgot about—”
Qi Chengzhi smiled at her reddening face. She was sometimes a blur case, a cute one at least. He kissed her lips and took out his phone. “I’ll call Lao Chu to ask the doctor about it.”
“Wait.” Song Yu stopped him. “The doctor said the first trimester is a period of uncertainty. The report says there’s still a likelihood of miscarriage and that I’ll need to really take care of myself and the baby. Let’s not be hasty and keep this news under covers for now, especially for Grandma and the family. I don’t want them to get upset if anything happens.”
Qi Chengzhi nodded. “I’ll take a number then. We’ll see the doctor and ask in person.”
As he finished his sentence, he heard someone shouting, “Whose car is this?”
Qi Chengzhi turned around and saw his brashly-parked Range Rover blocking another car.
“Just wait here for a moment while I find a parking spot,” Qi Chengzhi said.
Song Yu nodded and Qi Chengzhi left for his car. She walked back to the bench and placed the two books into her bag.
When the Range Rover sped into the hospital area, a frightened Song Yu abandoned her books to run over to Qi Chengzhi.
After parking the car, Qi Chengzhi brought Song Yu to get another queue number.
When the doctor saw Song Yu in her office again, she was surprised.
“That… Doctor.” Song Yu blushed and said sheepishly, “After getting the results, I was too excited and forgot to ask some questions.”
The doctor smiled and nodded knowingly. She gestured at the chair and said, “Sit.”
The doctor turned to address the solemn Qi Chengzhi. “Are you her husband?”
Qi Chengzhi nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Can you let me see the report again?” the doctor asked.
Song Yu retrieved the report from her bag and passed it to her. The doctor scanned through the report and said, “There are minor signs of a miscarriage but it is common during the first trimester, especially for first pregnancies. Usually, they wouldn’t even know about the pregnancy so it happens. Just pay a bit more attention now, no need to worry too much.
“Just some basic miscarriage prevention like avoiding rigorous exercise. In the first trimester, I would recommend no sexual activity.”
Song Yu’s face turned red—they just did it this morning.
“Other than that, don’t overwork or overstress yourself, especially for working women. Stress will affect the baby so try to relax whenever you can. Use less electronic devices to reduce radiation exposure. It doesn’t have a large impact so no need to totally cut off. Mainly for those who are addicted to scrolling their phones. If it’s just normal usage for work, then it’s fine.”
The doctor continued on about certain things to watch out for. As she spoke, she scribbled into the medical chart. She also wrote down some of the food that were beneficial for pregnant women.
“Any more questions?” the doctor asked after she was done with her pregnancy precautions and tips.
Song Yu was about to say no when Qi Chengzhi wordlessly pulled out his phone and opened up his calendar. He muttered under his breath, “Thirty-seven days pregnant which means a month and a week. Another month plus three weeks and it’ll be back to normal, right?”
Qi Chengzhi counted the days and pulled up the calendar for a month and three weeks after. He then set a reminder on that day and said, “No more questions.”
“…”
…
…
Finally, a red-faced Song Yu dragged Qi Chengzhi out of the hospital.
“I don’t feel pregnant at all. It’s so weird,” Song Yu said as she tugged on Qi Chengzhi’s arm.
Qi Chengzhi looked at her, then at her abdomen. He gently placed his hand on her belly and said regretfully, “It’s great that you’re pregnant but three months of abstinence, how problematic.”
The pink tinge bloomed on her face and she squirmed into his embrace. “Actually, I didn’t think that I would get pregnant so quickly.”
At the end of her sentence, Qi Chengzhi’s phone rang.
He read the caller ID on the phone and answered. It was Cheng Dongge.
From the content of the call, Song Yu figured it was work-related and asked when Qi Chengzhi had hung up the phone. “You came over midway through something?”
“It wasn’t anything important. The important parts of the meeting were managed by Chenglin. I was only needed for my presence,” Qi Chengzhi mentioned casually as he pocketed the phone.
They both got into the Range Rover. Song Yu knew that even if Qi Chengzhi was busy, he would not let her know, so she dropped that line of questioning.
Guan Xiaolin came into her mind and she said, “When I was in the hospital, I ran into Guan Xiaolin.”
“What happened?” Qi Chengzhi started the car and pulled out of the car park.
“We bumped into each other and I accidentally saw her pregnancy test result. She’s forty-day pregnant.” Song Yu frowned—there was a suspicion growing in her mind. “Do you think… Jian Yi and her…”
“Chenglin investigated her relationship with Jian Yi. According to the timeline, it might be.” Qi Chengzhi delivered the news in an impartial manner without any hint of anger.
“Then—” Song Yu wanted to ask about Qi Chengyue. With something like this, her marriage to Jian Yi might be deemed unsalvageable.
Was she supposed to tell Qi Chengyue about this?
Qi Chengzhi took her hand and said, “Even so, it’s still just an educated guess. This thing is between Chengyue and Jian Yi, let us not interfere. If Guan Xiaolin wants to show her cards, sooner or later, we will have to deal with it.”
“Shouldn’t we give Chengyue a heads-up?” Song Yu was mildly worried.
Qi Chengzhi’s thumb massaged the back of her hand softly. “She knew about Jian Yi and Guan Xiaolin, do you think this scenario has not crossed her mind? Perhaps she did not think too much about it, but the thought most definitely has occurred to her.”
Song Yu was still thinking about his words when he changed the topic. “Are you tired?”
“No. Why?” Song Yu asked as Qi Chengzhi changed their route. They were heading to a mall.
“Let’s buy you some comfortable flats.” Qi Chengzhi guided her to the sofa. “You wear mostly high heels during work. You only wear flat shoes when you have site visits. You need more flats.”
Song Yu sat on the sofa. She watched Qi Chengzhi pick out shoe designs while the storekeeper went to retrieve the correct size for Song Yu to try them on.
The shoes were piling up on the floor and Song Yu felt like things were going overboard.
Her emotions these days were fickle. She felt extra sensitive as if the slightest thing could trigger her anger.
She stared at her own flats. Other than her work attire that called for high heels, she had always loved wearing flats.
To be honest, while she did not have a huge collection of flats, she had a good amount to last her two feet. Normally, Qi Chengzhi never paid any heed to her shoes. Yet, once he knew she was pregnant, he immediately wanted to buy her new shoes.
Song Yu looked at the tall man in front of her. He had his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent and remarkable—he commanded people’s attention just by standing there.
Sitting down on the sofa, Song Yu only reached his thigh. While the storekeeper went to get the shoes, she poked at his thigh gloomily—her finger was met with solid resistance.
Qi Chengzhi lowered his head and saw Song Yu pouting unhappily. His slender hand covered hers and he said in an amused tone, “What’s wrong?”
“You’ve never so eagerly brought me to buy shoes before. Right after the news, you immediately brought me here. Wouldn’t you say this baby has made me more valuable?” Song Yu said darkly. Her black eyes pierced him with a look of accusation.
“Nonsense.” Qi Chengzhi glanced at her and chuckled.
“But I feel as if the baby is more important to you now.” Song Yu was still in a negative mood. She wanted to shake off his hand but his grip was too strong.
Qi Chengzhi’s soulful eyes stared at her. There was a slight tease in his voice when he said, “Well it’s attached to you so who do you think I care for more? If it was growing on anyone else, I wouldn’t even care.”
Song Yu glared at him and bared her teeth. “I dare you to try growing it on someone else.”
Qi Chengzhi bent down suddenly. Song Yu was treated with a close-up of his handsome face. A faint smile was on his face as he said, “Be careful, you’re becoming a tiger mom.”
Song Yu’s face reddened and snatched her hand out from his. She said in a vexed tone, “Then, go ahead and find a gentle one.”
She was about to stand up but Qi Chengzhi hugged her around the waist. He sat down by her side and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “Come on, why’s your temper flaring with the pregnancy? Where will I go? And if I did, you would surely castrate me.”
Song Yu wrestled against the embrace but she could not escape. Although Qi Chengzhi was usually a cold person, he was using his gentlest voice to coax her. All his swagger evaporated in front of her.
Her mood improved slightly. She shot him a glance. “Then, the baby or me, who’s more important?”
“You,” Qi Chengzhi said without hesitation.
Song Yu’s anger dissipated. She rested her forehead on his shoulder. “Last time, I knew you treated me well because I was me. I’m just unsure if you’re treating me better now because of the pregnancy.”
“I am treating you better now but it’s not because of the pregnancy.” Qi Chengzhi spoke softly, “It’s because you’re doing it for me, you’re giving me a child. I’m spoiling you because you’re doing all this for me. If I didn’t treat you better, how can I call myself your husband?
“And even after you’ve had our child, I will treat you even better—better than now. I want to spend my whole life being better for you,” Qi Chengzhi whispered into her ear.
Song Yu blushed and started to regret her pettiness.
The shopkeeper came back with the shoes and witnessed the intimacy between the couple. Qi Chengzhi had Song Yu tight in his arms. The shopkeeper was slightly embarrassed but also envious.
Song Yu tried to get out of the embrace but Qi Chengzhi would not budge. He never did care about the opinions of others.
At the end of the day, Qi Chengzhi walked out of the shop with shopping bags in each hand filled with shoes while Song Yu followed behind.
…
…
After some discussion, they decided to fill Aunt Yang in on Song Yu’s pregnancy. She was in charge of their meals and had to know about Song Yu’s diet restrictions.
Aunt Yang would also need to cook some of the tonic soups for Song Yu.
When Song Yu told Aunt Yang about the good news, she made her swear to secrecy. Aunt Yang gladly obliged. As she cooked, she hummed in good spirits—she was happy to be in the know of such wonderful news.
After retiring to their bedroom at night, Song Yu thought about surfing the web on the tablet but stopped herself when she recalled the doctor’s advice. Instead, she took out the books she had bought in the afternoon.
Qi Chengzhi walked out of the bathroom. He thoughtlessly threw the towel on his head aside and asked, “How was the house visit today with Grandma?”
His question reminded her of what Grandmother Qi had said.
Song Yu raised her eyebrows and looked up from her book. She asked casually, “I overheard today from Grandma, you went to a lot of matchmaking sessions?”
“A lot? No. Just a few and always, it was because I was tricked into going.” Qi Chengzhi pulled the covers back and nestled in. He picked the book out from her hands and his deft fingers started unbuttoning her pajamas.
Song Yu did not stop him. She just huffed and gave him the stink-eye. “And I thought you were keeping yourself pure and innocent, saving yourself for me. Turns out you’ve already gone on matchmaking dates.”
“Who thinks men are pure and innocent?” Qi Chengzhi settled his weight over her and unbuttoned the remaining buttons.
He traced random patterns across her chest. “You’re getting jealous so easily these days.”
As his voice quieted down, the warm hand palmed against her breast.
Song Yu flushed a crimson red. Her body seemed to be extra sensitive now that she was pregnant. Qi Chengzhi’s light touch made her squirm and she whispered, “The thought of other women looking at you infuriates me.”
“They saw nothing.” Qi Chengzhi said with a smirk on his face, “Once I sensed that it was a set-up, I left immediately.”
“And that time with Yu Keyao?” Song Yu raised an eyebrow at him.
“…” Qi Chengzhi stayed silent. He gave her a teasing smile and let his hands wander over her body.
“Explain yourself…” Song Yu’s breath hitched and her voice struggled to carry across as it trembled. Her body was unknowingly coiling itself tight in his embrace.
“I did it on purpose for you,” Qi Chengzhi finally answered.
Song Yu looked up. Her clear eyes darkened with passion.
Qi Chengzhi just came out of the showers, topless with only a pair of loose pants on him. She could only hold onto his waist.
“Back then, you weren’t as committed to me. So, I wanted to make you jealous.”
“…” Song Yu was speechless. She was oblivious as to how transparent she had been to Qi Chengzhi.
In the span of the silence, Qi Chengzhi cupped her breasts suddenly, followed by some prodding at her waist. “No wonder your breasts felt heavier this morning.”
“…” Song Yu squirmed in his arms, trying to avoid his groping hands. “Stop it.”
Qi Chengzhi lowered his head and looked at the blushing face pressed against his chest. He could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks.
Her fair skin was tinged pink from embarrassment—it was very attractive to Qi Chengzhi. His heart rate quickened. He leaned in and peppered kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and the bridge of her nose.
The faint, flowery scent from her skin drove him crazy and his hands fondled her soft flesh.
Song Yu trembled in his arms. He pressed his lips against her forehead and asked with mirth in his tone, “Can’t stand it anymore?”
Speechless, Song Yu tucked her blushing face into his chest and hugged him tighter. Her body shivered uncontrollably.
She felt his hands move around her body with no plans of stopping. They inched further down south. Song Yu caught his wrist and said, “The doctor said we shouldn’t.”
“We’ll improvise.” He pressed her down and kissed the side of her mouth. Slowly, they were engaged in a heavy makeout session. “I can’t stand cuddling you but not touching you every night.”
Song Yu was feeling troubled as well. She bit her lip—she could not let him fill the emptiness within her. She tightened her arms around him. Sweat was forming on Qi Chengzhi’s forehead as he kissed his way down her lower abdomen. He reached her nether regions and prompted a sharp gasp from Song Yu. She wanted to pull him back up. “Qi Chengzhi!”
“Hush, don’t fret. It’ll feel good in a bit.” His low voice rumbled, unclear from all the activity below. “Let me help you first.”
Only after she had come down from her high did he rub himself against her entrance. The beads of sweat dripped from his forehead and onto her. It took a significant effort to relieve himself and decided that this was one of the most tedious ways by far. He hugged Song Yu and kissed her face.
“If this is how we need to do it from now on, I might just go crazy.” Qi Chengzhi gritted his teeth and pulled her buttocks against his body.
His voice was rough and unlike his usual calm baritone. It sounded like a chord wounded so tautly it would break at any moment.
Their sweat-coated bodies pressed together. Song Yu’s arm hooked around his neck and pulled his head down.
Soft lips pressed against the chin that was starting to show a five-o’clock shadow. Qi Chengzhi could feel the gentleness of her kiss, like cotton candy. It was a comforting sensation that made his heart swell.
“I’ll help you out next time,” Song Yu said shyly. Her body trembled and her face which was previously red from passion grew warmer.
She lifted her head to look at this good-looking man whom she would do anything for. He was perfect.
His facial features were sharp and handsome. His Adam’s apple stood out on his neck, oozing masculinity. The muscles on his body were toned and powerful. Even the member between his thighs was a thing of marvel because it was attached to Qi Chengzhi. Although she was frightened initially, she had grown to like it and wanted to make the effort to please it.
Qi Chengzhi hugged her like she was a prized doll. His heart was truly bursting with love for the woman in his arms.
…
…
The next morning, Aunt Yang made soup for Song Yu to pack to the company. She could heat it up in the company and have it with her lunch.
Qi Chengzhi carried the thermos and went to work with Song Yu. In his mind, he wanted to get Song Yu to take leave and rest at home. The doctor’s mention of miscarriage worried him.
However, Song Yu never brought up the idea of taking leave so he kept silent. He did not want her to think that he was putting the baby first and her second.
In the elevator, Song Yu took Qi Chengzhi’s hand and linked her other hand around his arm. “Currently in my hands, there’s only the hotel project by your company. Usually, I don’t have much to do and with you as boss, I take it you won’t let them give me too much work?”
Qi Chengzhi raised an eyebrow at her. “And, because of you, Director Zhao doesn’t dare to give me any other projects, he wants me to only focus on the Qilin hotel. These days, I feel like I don’t even need to clock in. Seems like I can just leave anytime I want. So, work won’t tire me.”
“Did I say anything?” Qi Chengzhi asked with one eyebrow cocked in amusement. He gripped her hand tightly.
“I’m just giving you an out front explanation.” Song Yu looked up and smiled brightly.
Qi Chengzhi could not help but smile. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Come back home if you feel tired.”
Once they got into the car, Qi Chengzhi put on some lovely light music. Song Yu turned to him in surprise. “When did you have this type of music?”
“Yesterday, after you fell asleep, I went and downloaded them.” Qi Chengzhi started the car. “I read on the internet that listening to this type of music is beneficial for pregnant women.”
The car rolled into Chengshi’s lobby and Song Yu gave him a quick peck. She said her goodbye and was about to leave when Qi Chengzhi stopped her. “I’ll pick you up for lunch. I’m unsure about the restaurants around this area. We’ll go to Dynasty.”
Song Yu rolled her eyes. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes and mocked, “And he says it’s not because of the baby. I didn’t see you coming over to pick me up for lunch every day before this?”
Qi Chengzhi knew that she was not truly mad. She was just pulling his leg, unlike yesterday.
He pulled on her arm. His lips collided with hers. “Don’t argue.”
Song Yu left the car with a smile on her face.
…
…
In the consecutive days, Qi Chengzhi came to pick her up for lunch. If he had business to attend to, he would get Chang Lai to fetch her to Qilin and they would have Dynasty take-out in his office.
On the days when he had to entertain clients during lunch, Song Yu would eat alone in his office. Since Chang Lai would be busy with Qi Chengzhi, Cheng Dongge was responsible for fetching Song Yu.
Qi Chengzhi was adamant about lunch, even when it inconvenienced multiple parties.
This afternoon, Qi Chengzhi was occupied with a luncheon. Cheng Dongge drove the Mercedes-Benz to pick Song Yu up.
Once she was seated in the car, her phone rang. It was Qi Chengyue.
“Song Yu, are you… Are you free?” There was a hint of lingering doubt in Qi Chengyue’s voice.
“What’s wrong?” Song Yu heard the hitch in her voice.
“Guan Xiaolin called me. She asked to meet and I…” She heard Qi Chengyue take a deep breath, then a pause. “I’m a bit nervous. Can you join me for this? I’m worried in my current state, my weakness will be exposed to her.”
Back then, Qi Chengyue could strut and boast in Song Yu’s face because she knew Jian Yi could not afford to leave her. He needed her and the Qi family.
Between Song Yu and her, she knew clearly who Jian Yi would pick.
All her bravado was not brought on by her belief in Jian Yi’s love for her.
Now, she was no longer fooling herself. Comparing Guan Xiaolin and her, she had no clear advantage other than her official status as Jian Yi’s wife.
Since Jian Yi could not gain anything from Qi Chengyue, she no longer had any hold over him.
What Jian Yi wanted, Guan Xiaolin was able to give.
Even though Qi Chengyue was disappointed in him and her love bled dry, Jian Yi was still the man that she had once fallen deeply in love with. While it might be that she was unwilling to lose in any way, it was also possible that she had grown used to their symbiotic relationship through the years.
To this day, her heart was still empty and barren. It was unbearable.
Meeting Guan Xiaolin was equivalent to confronting Jian Yi’s betrayal. It was not Guan Xiaolin that scared her, but the immutable evidence of Jian Yi’s infidelity.
Hearing stories from Song Yu and Qi Chenglin was one thing. Meeting the person was a whole new ball game.
“Where are you now?” Song Yu asked.
“Still in the company. I just came back from T City and got the call from Guan Xiaolin. I called you right after,” Qi Chengyue said.
“I’m going over to Qilin.” Song Yu gazed out the car window. “I’ll call you again when I arrive. We’ll go together.”
