Chapter 48 Marrying While Carrying a Baby

Chapter 48: Marrying While Pregnant

Even if it pained him, he was young and felt entirely at ease enjoying the man's care and relying on him—this comforted Shu Yangkuo far more than seeing him suffer. There was a touch of male chauvinism in not wanting his wife to endure hardship... and Shi Zai enjoyed indulging him. It wasn’t just in this aspect; it had started long ago. When it came to Shu Yangkuo’s possessiveness, Shi Zai always humored him.

But by the eighth week of pregnancy, Shi Zai’s swelling persisted without relief. Fortunately, this was almost the only adverse reaction he had. Someone stayed up all night holding and rocking him to sleep, and the man varied his meals with creative dishes. On the day of the winter solstice, Shi Zai ate fruit jelly for two days straight. Later, worried it might be hard to digest, Shu Yangkuo learned to make other things, often watching cooking videos on his computer... So gradually, Shi Zai felt less discomfort, except for his chest... He even felt like he might lactate if this continued.

That night, he asked the man to use his tongue to provide warm relief again.

After soothing him above and comforting him below, Shi Zai nestled comfortably in the man’s arms:

"Ge, are you sure you don’t want to? This opportunity won't come again, you know. My belly’s a little round now—doesn’t that excite you, mmm?"

Before he could finish, Shu Yangkuo, ears flushed red, covered his mouth.

Shi Zai pulled his hand away and hmphed. Obviously, it did—what was the big deal? Couples enjoying intimacy at night, why overthink it? Shi Zai lay backwards on top of the man, slightly lifting his pregnant belly, opening his mouth here and pulling Shu Yangkuo’s hand to his side there.

A long time later, after nearly choking, then almost suffocating, it was finally over.

But, feeling his chest, a large area remained that hadn't been consumed. He blinked:

"Ge, doesn’t it look like—"

"......"

Shu Yangkuo abruptly pulled the covers over his flushing face. The part below, beyond his control, was slapped by a small hand but remained unresponsive, as if he were asleep.

Soon, Shi Zai grew bored and muttered, "I don’t want to be necrophiliac," kicking him lightly. "Ge, aren’t you going to hold me to wash up? It’s all over my belly—who told you to make so much?" As soon as he spoke, Shu Yangkuo stiffly got up from under the covers, enduring the complaint that he’d made a mess. What could he do? It had been almost a month... He carried his beloved to wash, changed the sheets, and as usual, coaxed him to sleep.

Finally, New Year’s Day arrived!

Marrying while carrying their baby!

They chose an outdoor wedding. Whether in Fengwai Town or Chengzhou City before, it almost never snowed. But since coming to Zhen’an, after the day of the heavy snowfall, Shi Zai was utterly delighted—flakes falling densely like love, gently enveloping them, turning the cold into warmth, even making their hearts swell with emotion like hot currents under solid ice.

By the lake, beside ancient cypress forests, in the wilderness where souls find peace, warmth surges amid wind and snow.

The open ground was crowded with guests gathered in great numbers: besides Ji Qianxi’s family, Yan Wei’s family, Jiang Ziqing, Bai Jixiang, Qin Xihan, there were also friends Shi Zai had met at school. Except for Ji Qianxi, whom he’d brought home, he hadn't introduced the others—only Ji Qianxi and Tan Xun. Those rascals had caused such a stir that Shi Zai had to pretend he wasn't close to anyone at school, though they actually got along well. Since finding his ge and little brother, Shi Zai had become more optimistic and outgoing, loving the feeling of being liked in a crowd... Many came today, and he pretended they were all brought by Ji Qianxi, hehe. There were also employees from Shu Yangkuo’s shop, business partners, and a few friendly shop owners from Yang Yun’s street... Some Shi Zai didn’t know well, probably friends of friends. The prepared tables and chairs weren’t enough, so they added two more last minute.

Though he had no family, Shi Zai didn’t dwell on it—everyone here today was better than family.

It had snowed for an hour the night before, and flakes still drifted lightly in the morning wind, from the ancient cypress woods to the lake, from the lake to everyone’s shoulders and eyes—gentle and soft, carrying the new year’s blessings, bringing joy and praying for health. Everyone drank freely and cheered heartily.

On the 288th day since they met and fell in love, their hearts drew closer.

The couple wore Tang-style round-collar Hanfu robes. Shi Zai was in bright red with golden dragon patterns, a gold-winged, gold-topped red zhuangyuan hat (traditional scholar's hat)—truly a "dashing young man in splendid attire," holding a folding fan slightly raised as if about to gallop away on horseback.

Shu Yangkuo wore deep blue-black with dark red coiled dragon patterns at the hem and chest, a blue-winged red hat, sleeves tightly cuffed. Nearly two meters tall, in this dignified and elegant attire, he looked even more solemn and noble. There was also a hint of sharpness and unrestrainedness, like a tall steed paving the way for the youth beside him—face clear and bright, posture upright, leading the youth toward endless splendid vistas.

The wedding was warm and grand but simple in form, unconventional.

Regardless of past or present, in each other’s eyes, they had already walked a thousand years. Joining hands now was just fate’s favor once more.

Amid the crowd’s cheers, they exchanged wedding cups and shared a deep kiss. Shi Zai was lifted high by strong arms—just like their first meeting and every day after. To Shu Yangkuo, the one in his palms and arms was always someone to look up to. He raised his head to meet his beloved’s laughing eyes and passionate kiss. His beloved was his sky, his god, Shu Yangkuo’s devotion for this life and all others.

The crowd below roared and cheered, some asking their own men to lift them too, but no one below was as tall as Shu Yangkuo. At 1.97m and 1.72m, not only did Shi Zai feel they fit together perfectly, but everyone agreed they were a perfect match.

No matter the position, he could bury himself in the man’s chest, enveloped tightly. Shu Yangkuo was his mountain, his vast sky, the gentle rain of the spring equinox when they met, the bright moonlight of midsummer, the pleasant breeze of late autumn, the warming stove in deep winter’s heavy snow.

Yang Yun presented the rings. Shi Zai lifted his sparkling big eyes:

"Ge, I’ve finally married you! Are you willing?"

Instantly, amid Yang Yun’s teasing, the crowd below chorused, "Marry Xiao Zai!"

The man’s smiles today came cheaply. He kissed from the corner of his beloved’s eye to his lips:

"Ge is willing. Willing to be cherished by my treasure all my life, willing to accompany my wife through all trials."

"Ge is willing. Willing to be with my treasure until white-haired old age, willing to follow my wife to see all the world’s beauty."

The last "willing" was whispered shyly in his beloved’s ear: "Ge’s little husband."

Shi Zai blinked, his face reddening before he could speak—tsk, this rascal was getting better at sweet talk.

The "little husband" wanted to hook his neck for another deep kiss, but Shu Yangkuo lifted him, only allowing a kiss by his lips. On stage under everyone’s gaze, he didn’t want to put on a show... It wasn’t just his beloved who was excited—he was too.

He’d never imagined such a day, never known being loved could be so joyful.

His beloved was not just his treasure, his wife, but from the start, the man who stood firm and reliable for him.

In a way, Shu Yangkuo deeply relied on and leaned on his beloved too. They completed each other. Shu Yangkuo’s male chauvinism only emerged when his beloved needed him—wanting to possess this person but never controlling his life or career. Just as Shi Zai set him free, Shu Yangkuo did the same. They intertwined yet each had their own bright sky—this was the best love.

In love, cooking for each other with devotion and rising high in each other’s eyes made it grow stronger and lasting.

Shu Yangkuo placed his beloved on his shoulders, no longer shy, and pointed:

"Wife, look—"

"...Wow! Wow wow..."

The little pup on his shoulders was so excited he nearly jumped. The crowd cheered too. Shu Yangkuo continued softly:

"Xiao Zai first recorded himself, then Ge and Yang Yun’s past and future."

"In Xiao Zai’s life and growth, there has always been such radiance and pride."

Shi Zai, almost standing on the man’s shoulders, lowered his head to plant several kisses, no longer pondering Shu Yangkuo’s words—he didn’t need to, for everything before his eyes was Shu Yangkuo’s declaration.

When one walks toward fortune, everything favors—worried there’d be no wind today, but now it blew fiercely.

Three huge kites soared powerfully in the high wind.

The largest and most beautiful in the middle was a big red heart with green pompoms, with golden characters "Shi Zai," hanging two long silk ribbons. One read vertically, "The past long and distant, the present bright and clear," the other "Steadfast in the past, resolute in the new era."

—The past long and distant, the present bright and clear.

—Steadfast in the past, resolute in the new era.

Everyone was moved, everyone was deeply touched—it was Shi Zai’s journey himself, and himself finally meeting good times.

On the left was a half-moon, the full half given by the one on his shoulders, the unfinished half what Shu Yangkuo would continue to give Shi Zai in the future. In the middle was "Shu Yangkuo," below a floating ribbon: "My sky high and clouds vast, with you a promise for millennia."

—My sky high and clouds vast, with you a promise for millennia.

This also represented Shu Yangkuo’s path and bright today. And of course, their shared treasure.

On the right was a red-yellow bird with pure white wings. Whether to Shu Yangkuo or Shi Zai, Yang Yun always had his own wings, always striving for his own sky. Below was a line: "When clouds rise, look up to the clouds."

—When clouds rise, it's natural to look up to Yang Yun.

Yang Yun is also someone everyone looks up to, and is also supported and admired by Shi Zai and Shu Yangkuo.

But that wasn't all. While Shi Zai’s heart was still surging with emotion, balloons floated up in abundance from the distant sky, each inscribed with his own name: “Shi Zai,” “Shi Zai,” “Shi Zai”… Shi Zai’s eyes gradually blurred with tears. His brother and younger brother were telling him in this way that his name was the most wonderful in the world, that his name had long been remembered by everyone.

Yes, he was no longer the nameless “Ten Child.”

—The past stretches far; today is bright and clear.

—Steadfast in bygone days, bold in new times.

He would be. Shi Zai gripped the large hand extended to him, their fingers interlacing. In that scorching warmth, Shi Zai fully embraced his new life. From this day on, the occasional lingering emotions in his heart vanished entirely. Shi Zai was his own Shi Zai, and he was also the Shi Zai of his brother and younger brother.

When the singing began, Shi Zai was astonished once again. Glancing toward the edge of the woods, he saw his Yun Bao, his little pink dumpling, sitting on a swing and singing for him! It had only been about half a year, yet Shi Zai still remembered how his little pink dumpling was troubled by others calling him “introverted.” Now, here he was, standing before so many people, swaying his head and singing away… “Catching Loaches”?!

Shi Zai’s face flushed slightly. That silly little ball! He must have hummed it unconsciously at some point, and Yun Bao probably took it as their love song?

Well, it pretty much was, huh?

Hahahaha!

Actually, it truly was Shi Zai’s heartfelt sentiment since picking up his brother and younger brother.

—Before the line in the song, “Big brother, how about we go catch loaches?” there’s another line: “The little calf’s older brother takes him to catch loaches.” He learned this song in a scene much like this. There was no longer any need to envy others.

The three of them were, in fact, each other’s “big brothers.” Well, if we set aside the “catching loaches” bit, hehe.