Chapter 61 Pregnancy Hormones Demand More

Chapter 61: Heightened Libido Due to Pregnancy Hormones

At first, when the man began relaxing his restraint, he would still ask, “Is this okay, honey?” But by the time he reached eight months pregnant, he stopped asking altogether. Whenever he noticed Shi Zai wasn’t too busy, he’d pull him close. They engaged at least twice daily—yet each time felt as though he’d been holding back for ages: urgent, intense, leaving Shi Zai breathless and dazed. Shi Zai wondered how he’d suddenly developed such an insatiable craving.

He knew Shu Yangkuo had always possessed a high libido but had been extraordinarily self-controlled—especially early in their relationship, when the man would clench his teeth, eyes bloodshot, suppressing his urges with visible effort. Lately, however, he seemed transformed in this regard—completely unmoored from self-restraint. Encouraged further by Shi Zai’s indulgence, he grew perpetually demanding. He could still exercise *some* restraint—never interrupting Shi Zai’s work—but once Shi Zai was free, their time was no longer spent cuddling or chatting happily as before. It was consumed entirely by this. Once, Shi Zai couldn’t help wrapping his arms around the man’s neck and whispering, “Ge, I’m scared.” The man paused momentarily, then—eyes rimmed red—asked only if Shi Zai could handle it. Of course, Shi Zai nodded, and they continued.

They had to return to the city to buy another box of condoms.

Gradually, bittersweet complications emerged. First, Shi Zai’s back ached; second, his energy plummeted; third, even with medicinal tonics, he struggled to keep pace with the man’s relentless demands; and fourth, he couldn’t help worrying about Shu Yangkuo’s health—and the baby growing inside him. Yet regarding that fourth concern, Shi Zai sometimes found himself staring blankly at Shu Yangkuo, baffled: how could the man—with his increasingly pronounced belly—seem more energetic than *him*, vigorous as a dragon or tiger? Shi Zai no longer had the stamina to manage chores around their small courtyard, while Shu Yangkuo not only ran the household but also planted rows of green pompoms and large puffballs along the stream. Despite his tall, sturdy frame and unusually large baby bump, his movements showed no clumsiness—in fact, he appeared far more energetic than Shi Zai.

As for the baby, it remained unaffected. Check-ups were normal—though the baby was larger than average, explaining the dramatic curve of the man’s belly. As summer’s peak heat arrived, the coolness by the stream sometimes carried a subtle warmth. Shu Yangkuo often left his shirt unbuttoned, making his baby bump even more prominent—taut, sharply defined, increasingly resembling a majestic mountain. Occasionally, they could even see the baby stretching tiny feet within.

Well, father and child alike were exceptionally robust.

Yet Shi Zai also noticed Shu Yangkuo’s emotional state had regressed to how it had been during early pregnancy—shutting everything inside, saying nothing at all.

No—it was even worse.

But Shi Zai refused to wait passively for the man to erupt and then scramble to contain the fallout, as he’d done during the third month. He simply couldn’t bear it. Sometimes he thought: *If I were carrying such a huge belly, I’d probably want to lie in bed all day.* Aside from emotional volatility and increased physical demands, Shu Yangkuo was, in fact, taking care of *him*.

The emotional instability mainly manifested as unexplained *wei qu*—a deep, wordless sadness or hurt. Shi Zai was often left bewildered: sometimes he’d say just one thing, and Shu Yangkuo would lower his eyes, fall silent, his gaze reddening. Shi Zai would rush to comfort him, only for the man to insist, “It’s nothing.” Pressed further, Shu Yangkuo would hold him tightly, kiss him apologetically, and murmur that he didn’t know why he felt that way—one moment fine, the next overwhelmed by inexplicable sorrow.

It was likely tied to the hormonal surge of late pregnancy, triggering sudden lows or anxiety in Shu Yangkuo.

He even grew more irritable at times.

After consulting Yan Wei and Zheng Yuan, Shi Zai learned this was normal—just offer comfort and stay close; there was no other remedy.

One evening, Shi Zai was carried into the side room again—but this time things escalated too far. When the man lost control, it genuinely frightened Shi Zai. Still, as always, Shi Zai teased gently, “Bro, don’t be mad at me.” Unexpectedly, the man grew even more forceful. Shi Zai pushed lightly and said, “Ouch—so you’ve grown some nerve, huh? Daring to get rough with your wife? Just wait till later—I’ll teach you a lesson.” Shu Yangkuo froze.

Afterward, Shu Yangkuo cooked dinner for Shi Zai—but ate nothing himself and went straight to bed.

Shi Zai spent the entire evening soothing him before his mood improved slightly—though he still couldn’t explain what had upset him. In the middle of the night, Shi Zai woke to find the man kneeling beside him, head bowed as if lost in thought. When Shi Zai switched on the small lamp, he saw Shu Yangkuo’s eyes were red and swollen—as if he’d been crying silently for hours.

That night, under Shi Zai’s gentle prompting, Shu Yangkuo haltingly opened up. One spoke; the other listened—slowly untangling emotions the man had long suppressed. The root cause was the hormonal surge driving his heightened physical demands. Shu Yangkuo had always been fiercely disciplined—but this was the first time he’d felt the terror of being overtaken by his own biology. According to him, sometimes he only realized afterward that they’d been too frequent—even if *his* body could cope, Shi Zai’s couldn’t. Seeing Shi Zai listless every day filled him with profound regret—but the next time desire surged, he’d lose control again. This cycle repeated, worsened by summer’s sweltering heat and his elevated body temperature in late pregnancy, making emotional regulation nearly impossible.

Anxiety. Self-directed anger. *Xin teng*—a piercing, helpless ache for Shi Zai. Random, irrational worries. Unexplained sorrow. These uncontrollable negative emotions—combined with suddenly intensified desires and eroding self-control—left Shu Yangkuo in constant inner turmoil, as if thousands of straws were scraping raw against his heart.

Shi Zai cried quietly for a long time, feeling utterly powerless. All he could do was comfort and indulge the man even more. Yet sometimes, he knew he hadn’t said anything wrong—and Shu Yangkuo would still grow upset. For instance, when Shi Zai remarked, “The wild dates are almost ripe—they smell so nice,” the man would suddenly look stricken… Shi Zai knew Shu Yangkuo wouldn’t even recall *why* he’d been upset moments later—so he quickly pressed, pleading tearfully for an explanation. Shu Yangkuo then struggled to say, “Why did you have to mention wild dates, honey? They’re dates no one wants.” Shi Zai blinked, baffled—the wild dates on the back hill *were* indeed unwanted! After a moment’s pause, it suddenly struck him as he glanced at the man’s belly: *Ah! He’s projecting the wild dates onto the baby inside him!*

Ah—pregnancy hormones truly *were* terrifying. Being completely ruled by emotion was no easy trial.

When Shu Yangkuo’s mood lifted, Shi Zai took him to the back hill to pick “baby dates.” Even Shi Zai found the term embarrassingly cheesy—but the man raised an eyebrow, looking thoroughly pleased. Shi Zai nearly burst out laughing, but quickly stifled it when Shu Yangkuo shot him a look—neither warm nor cold—a silent warning not to mock the “baby dates.” Hahahahaha!

Tch. And here he’d thought he’d come first in the man’s eyes—before the baby. Turns out, *everything* now revolved around the baby.

Shi Zai felt doomed—once the baby was born, the man would undoubtedly prioritize the child above all else. But there was nothing to be done. The baby in utero was clever, ensuring its own health and securing greater love by manipulating pregnancy hormones to steer the carrier’s focus inward.

They’d simply have to take things one step at a time. For now, they needed to find joy amid this grueling late-pregnancy stretch.

In the wild date grove on the back hill, the oppressive breeze filtered through the leaves—suddenly refreshing, a perfect spot to cool off.

Beneath the tree, the tall, imposing man stood atop a stone mound, reaching for dates on high branches. His thin shirt hung open, fluttering in the wind—revealing glimpses of his narrow waist and prominently rounded belly. The high, sweeping arc of his pregnancy glowed vibrantly in the setting sun.

Shi Zai returned from the stream carrying a watermelon—and spotting him from afar, immediately shouted:

“Honey, be careful! Don’t fall!”

“…”

Shu Yangkuo turned around, paused, lowered his gaze, and stared for a long time at the jujubes he had picked for his wife.

Panting heavily as he approached, Shi Zai suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Aww, the silly man was looking pitiful again. He quickly tried to soothe him:

“Hubby, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have been harsh with you. Don’t be sad—I love you, I love you!” Shi Zai said.

“…Big brother is useless now.”

“Wow—the jujube baby you picked for me! I love it so much! The one who shouted loudly earlier wasn’t me—it was the puppy at home. Please forgive me, hubby!”

After a round of incredibly childish coaxing, Shu Yangkuo’s expression finally softened, and he handed the jujubes to Shi Zai. But as soon as Shi Zai took a bite, the man stared at him coldly, silent but intense. Shi Zai took the jujube out of his mouth, now bearing teeth marks. Shu Yangkuo turned away, facing the tree, upset.

Shi Zai was starting to understand the way of thinking of a man tormented by late-pregnancy hormones. He chuckled quietly behind his back:

“Jujube baby, Papa wasn’t trying to eat you just now—he was giving you a kiss! Are you happy?” he said.

“…”

“Jujube baby… Hahahahaha! Hubby, I can’t take it anymore!”

And just like that, Shi Zai managed to lift the man’s unexplained low mood for the day.

In Shi Zai’s diary, alongside entries about Wang Wang, there were now entries like these with Shu Yangkuo. He’d show them to him someday—hahaha!

As for the growing urges he couldn't control, Shu Yangkuo was doing his best to hold back.

One evening, Shi Zai was unusually not carried into the room by the man. Peeking inside, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Just as he was about to undress and join in, he frowned—the steam seeping from under the door was wrong. It was a cold shower! Shi Zai was particularly sensitive to the man taking cold showers. Back when they first got together, Shu Yangkuo would take cold showers morning and night. At the time, Shi Zai didn’t understand, but later he realized Shu Yangkuo had already had feelings for him back then.

Before, Shi Zai hadn’t understood why the man wouldn't be intimate. What was going on now? Shi Zai knew his emotions well—most likely, he was struggling to hold back but didn’t want to wear Shi Zai out all day long, worried about his well-being.

Shi Zai rushed in, quickly turned off the cold water, and clung to him, insisting they be intimate. But Shu Yangkuo pushed him away and turned the cold water back on. Shi Zai, splashed by the icy water, shivered. Raising his voice over the sound of the water, he said, “Hubby, don’t do this. We’ve talked about it—I can handle it. I’ll tell you if it’s too much.” Suddenly, the water stopped, but the man remained facing the wall, head bowed, lost in thought.

Shi Zai quickly wrapped his arms around him from the front, coaxing:

“Hubby, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have been harsh with you. Be good, my dear…”

Shi Zai stood on his tiptoes and planted several kisses before leading him back to the bedroom and pushing him onto the bed. Shu Yangkuo lay with his chest exposed, his prominently rounded belly impossible to ignore, along with the obvious arousal below… Shi Zai kissed each part gently before mustering his courage and climbing on.

His belly swayed slightly, and Shi Zai reached out to steady it. Unexpectedly, the baby inside pushed back, making Shi Zai blush crimson.

That evening, Yan Wei called to check on them. Shi Zai once again brought up the issue of pregnancy hormones and Shu Yangkuo’s increasingly intense desires. If this continued, Shi Zai was genuinely worried about harm coming to either Shu Yangkuo or the baby, especially since the man could be pretty intense during intimacy.

Yan Wei rolled his eyes, though Shi Zai couldn’t see it:

“I already told you last time—spend more time with him, soothe him, make Yang Kuo feel better.”

“…I have been spending time with him and soothing him, but he’s still like this. Even right after we’re intimate, he gets restless again.”

“Is intimacy the only thing that makes him happy? If you can’t handle it, he feels guilty, frustrated, and loses control. Both of you end up stressed, which can’t be good for your health. You can’t keep going like this. Did he enjoy picking jujubes with you? Did he enjoy evening walks with you? Keep doing those things—distract him. Let these little joys add up. When he’s mentally relaxed, he won’t just focus on letting off steam.”

After hearing this, Shi Zai had a sudden realization. When he first brought Shu Yangkuo here, he had considered this very approach.

But the pregnancy hormones had thrown them off, making them focus only on immediate needs. Trapped in that cycle, both had grown increasingly anxious.

From that night on, Shi Zai became a complete country wild child, becoming so mischievous that Shu Yangkuo was constantly exasperated, leaving no room for other worries.

In the afternoon, the small courtyard was quiet. The tall man slept soundly in a recliner under the shade of a tree, surrounded by a few fluffy chicks and a young man stifling giggles behind his hand. Despite being about to become a father himself, he still acted like a mischievous country boy.

After the peak of summer heat, the weather remained hot, yet the mountain forest and farmhouse had grown significantly cooler. In just two days, it would be the Beginning of Autumn. A gentle breeze rippled in from the streamside, making a long afternoon nap utterly delightful. Shi Zai had been awake for some time. The pregnant man on the lounger had slept poorly for a while—his rest disturbed by emotional fluctuations and the summer heat—but lately, he’d been growing calmer day by day and had resumed longer naps, dozing for at least two to three hours each afternoon. After accompanying Shu Yangkuo to sleep, Shi Zai would quietly busy himself in the main room with the door left open. When he estimated the man was about to wake, he’d hurry back outside so that the moment Shu Yangkuo opened his eyes, Shi Zai would be there.

The chicks had been newly purchased by him. The ones that had grown larger were no longer as endearing, so he’d given them to several neighbors living farther away. From past interactions, Shi Zai had noticed Shu Yangkuo’s fondness for small, adorable creatures—so he’d bought a few more from the market. Teehee.

Five or six fluffy chicks huddled beneath the lounger, chirping and pecking at their food. Once full, they grew mischievous. Two teamed up to tease a puppy gnawing on a melon rind. The puppy pawed forward, startling the chicks into hopping backward—yet moments later, they darted forward again to peck at the much larger pup. Baring its teeth, the puppy yielded the rind to them—even though the chicks couldn’t possibly pierce it with their tiny beaks. Another chick mimicked the pregnant man on the lounger, sprawling belly-up beside the chair leg, occasionally scratching its feet before suddenly flipping over—and startling itself.

The two most mischievous chicks attempted to fly onto the lounger, chirping incessantly, convinced they were fledgling birds capable of flight.

Fly, fly, fly—Shi Zai gave them a little boost.

The immensely large pregnant man lay slightly on his side, his belly prominently rounded, nearly at full term, rising and falling with each breath. Inside, the baby occasionally stretched its legs, as if eager to make its entrance. Shu Yangkuo shifted slightly, making his pregnant belly appear even more pronounced—strikingly contrasted against his powerful frame.

Two tiny chicks steadied themselves atop his belly and began bouncing around as if it were a trampoline. Suddenly, the man’s large hand swiped at them. The two fluffballs darted away and froze, waiting until he stilled again before cautiously strutting about—like miniature sentinels patrolling their domain. One lost its footing, slipped, and flapped its tiny wings frantically to scramble back up—only to be playfully nudged down by the other. As the two fluffballs continued their antics, the “ground” beneath them trembled—the tall, rounded belly turned sideways once more. Unable to dodge in time, the chicks chirped shrilly as they slid down.

Just as Shi Zai reached out to catch them, he paused, swiftly withdrew his hand—and burst into laughter, collapsing onto the ground.

Startled awake, Shu Yangkuo opened his eyes and instinctively reached down to help the mischievous chick that had tumbled to the ground. Midway, he frowned, glanced downward—and his expression twisted. He took a breath and called out—still laughing—the person sprawled on the ground, using his full name:

“Shi Zai!”

“Hahahahahaha… This time it wasn’t me being mischievous, Ge! It was the chicks!”

It was the first time the man had addressed him by his full name—and paired with that hilariously exasperated expression, Shi Zai laughed even harder, rolling on the ground.

On the man’s belly—a huge chick dropping! Hahahaha!

It was slowly sliding down now, and the baby inside seemed to sense it, delivering a rapid series of kicks—the “Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms”—spreading the mess into an even larger one. Seeing that Shu Yangkuo was genuinely about to get up and teach him a lesson, Shi Zai laughed, grabbed a damp towel, and hurried over to wipe it off.

Shu Yangkuo sighed helplessly. He shook the back of the head of the person nestled in his arms—this one was growing more and more mischievous, always stirring up trouble while he slept:

“Brat!”

“Hahaha, then what is Wang Wang?”

“…Lovely baby.”

“Hmph! Who’s lovely?! Believe it or not, I’ll have the chicks poop on you again!”

“…”

Despite ending up with a bellyful of chicken droppings, the man’s eyes crinkled upward, his brows lifted. Shu Yangkuo lowered his head and kissed the big, gleaming eyes of the person in his arms:

“Wife is the loveliest. Ge truly loves it—loves it deeply. These recent days make Ge never want to go back.”

“Hehe, how about we come here to live for a month or two every half year from now on?”

“Mm. Let Ge hold you for a while.”

Shi Zai laughed, scrambled onto the lounger, and snuggled into the man’s arms, lying beside him a while longer.

Since Yan Wei had passed on his “wisdom,” with less than a month until the due date, Shi Zai made extra time to take Shu Yangkuo out. He reserved his chores for mornings and afternoons—when Shu Yangkuo napped. The rest of the time, he held Shu Yangkuo’s hand for slow walks by the stream. Sometimes he climbed trees to pick wild fruit for him; sometimes he caught fireflies for Shu Yangkuo at night; sometimes he took him to the market. In short, he filled all of Shu Yangkuo’s waking hours with activity—using every kind of mischief to gradually lift the man’s spirits, ensuring Shu Yangkuo smiled the instant he opened his eyes.

From the very beginning, Shu Yangkuo had loved his lively, cheerful self—which was why Shi Zai had first gotten him a puppy for company. Later, when the puppy wasn’t enough, he’d taken matters into his own hands—hehe. He was still the best—even just swinging through the woods could make Shu Yangkuo happy.

Shi Zai felt immense satisfaction from this. Shu Yangkuo was protective, and Shi Zai felt the same way toward him. Seeing Shu Yangkuo no longer agitated or uncomfortable from pregnancy hormones and cravings—but instead having his happiness dictated by Shi Zai’s playful antics—made Shi Zai profoundly happy.

The two lay together a while longer. Just after they went inside to bathe, a commotion erupted outside.

Hehe—this joyful day also marked Shu Yangkuo and Yang Yun’s shared birthday. Shi Zai had invited them for mid-afternoon so Shu Yangkuo could sleep longer.

After today, nine days remained until the due date. Shu Yangkuo showed no signs of discomfort, and aside from occasional mischief, the baby inside remained calm and peaceful—probably enjoying these serene days too. Shi Zai wasn’t in a rush to return; they’d celebrate the birthday here and stay a few more days.

As for the two sharing a birthday, Shi Zai was slightly puzzled. “Ge, was the day Yun Bao came to you your birthday? What a coincidence!” Shu Yangkuo knew exactly what Shi Zai was thinking and replied, “That day was when Yang Yun arrived—but it wasn’t Ge’s birthday.” Meaning: Shu Yangkuo chose to celebrate his birthday alongside Yang Yun. Shi Zai paused, then hugged the man tighter. What a wonderful big brother—he’d wanted separate birthdays for each of them, but Shu Yangkuo had declined, choosing instead to share the celebration with Yang Yun. After persistent questioning, Shi Zai learned Shu Yangkuo’s actual birthday fell in June.

August it is, then. He could be eight years older than him by two months—hahaha!

Amid the laughter, Yang Yun pushed the door open. Tsk—even though they’d seen each other weekly over the past three months, it hadn’t been daily. Yun Bao now stood about six feet tall. Though tall, he increasingly carried Shu Yangkuo’s imposing presence—yet his personality mirrored Shi Zai’s: cheerful, innocent, and passionate. Bouncing over to his little brother, Yang Yun scooped Shi Zai up in a tight hug, then—under his big brother’s watchful gaze—hugged Shu Yangkuo too, before dashing off with a giggle.

In the evening, besides the three brothers, guests included Qin Xihan, Bai Jixiang, Yan Wei’s family, and Ji Qianxi’s family. Jiang Ziqing, tied up with work, called in: “Happy birthday to my godson’s dad and my godson’s silly little uncle!”—making everyone laugh. Yan Wei’s and Ji Qianxi’s families were also set to become godparents. Though Wang Wang hadn’t been born yet, he already received red envelopes on behalf of his daddy that night.

Shi Zai exclaimed they’d need to give even more red envelopes after the official birth. Tan Xun joked he might as well start collecting tuition fees up until age eighteen—sparking another round of laughter. Laughter echoed continuously along the streamside as everyone grilled and celebrated the birthdays of both the big brother and the little brother.

Shi Zai’s birthday gifts remained the most meaningful. For Shu Yangkuo, he presented a seal. Around its edge ran a stylized pattern formed from the initials “ZK,” representing their names, with “叔仰阔印” inscribed at the center—practical for the antique trade. Shi Zai hoped their names would remain bound together in this form for years to come. He’d also secretly gifted an armband embroidered with his name—to be worn after the birth, hehe.

Shi Zai's birthday gifts remained the most heartfelt. For Shu Yangkuo, he presented a seal. Its border bore an intricate motif woven from their initials "ZK," while the center was engraved with "Shu Yangkuo's Seal"—perfectly suited for the antique trade. Shi Zai wished their names to stay intertwined in this manner for years to come. He had also discreetly gifted an armband embroidered with his own name—to be worn after the child's arrival, hehe.

For Yang Yun, he orchestrated a magnificent fireworks spectacle. That evening, pyrotechnics painted the name "Yang Yun" across the dusky heavens, flanked by a pair of colossal wings—visible even from the distant city. Feng Lan called from campus, recounting how the entire school erupted in cheers and admiration.

Not long ago, they’d said Yun Bao was only seventeen, that things could wait until he turned eighteen or nineteen. Yet this day had arrived so quickly.

How could he possibly be jealous of Wang Wang? He’d already experienced all this before Wang Wang even existed.

He still tried to shrink himself like a pink dumpling, resting his head on his little brother’s shoulder:

“Little brother, can Wang Wang sleep with me in the future?”

“…We’ll see if you can wrestle him away from your big brother then.”

Hearing this, Yang Yun laughed heartily and whispered in his little brother’s ear:

“Hehe, big brother is totally baby-crazy now.”

“Mm, Yun Bao—whatever you do, don’t compete with Wang Wang for attention, or your big brother might feed you formula in the middle of the night—hahaha!”

The two laughed together. Yang Yun thought that if he really did grow jealous, his big brother would probably do exactly as his little brother predicted—especially since his birthday gift was an asymmetrical buttoned shirt identical to Wang Wang’s, embroidered with an adorably cute egret orchid! Heaven! He couldn’t imagine the six-foot-five man handling needle and thread. Pregnant men were terrifying—hehe.

Shi Zai thought the same. After Shu Yangkuo gave birth, he needed to mature quickly! Otherwise, he truly feared the man might feed all three of them formula! Too terrifying. He didn’t mind that Shu Yangkuo now valued the baby more than him—or Yang Yun. After all, he’d been pregnant for seven months, and under hormonal influence, his temperament had changed dramatically. After delivery, he’d still need plenty of pampering. Yan Wei had warned that postpartum depression was a real possibility.

The dozen or so guests partied late into the night before dispersing. Before leaving, the two doctors gave Shu Yangkuo a quick checkup, estimating he wouldn’t deliver early—and might even be a couple of days late—then departed reassured. After everyone had gone, Shi Zai and Shu Yangkuo weren’t tired yet. Hand in hand, they strolled to the edge of the farmland. It was corn harvest season—large, golden cobs hung heavy and fragrant, evoking deep relaxation.

As they walked, they chatted—Yang Yun had whispered something to each of them earlier.

To Shu Yangkuo, he’d said, “Big brother, I kind of dislike Qin Xihan.” Shu Yangkuo asked why. Yang Yun replied, “What’s with Qin Xihan’s sour face all day?” Shu Yangkuo curled his lip. “If you don’t want Xiao Qin to stay, say so properly. Dare to stir trouble and try to drive him away?” Yang Yun immediately pouted—he wasn’t that kind of villain!

Shi Zai knew Qin Xihan still lived at home. He’d visited a few times and seen them getting along well, so he hadn’t probed further. He hadn’t expected this—but it didn’t sound like they’d fallen out. They didn’t have time to deal with it now; they’d find out what the little rascal was up to after the birth.

However, what Yang Yun told Shi Zai was: “Little brother, I had a dream.” Shi Zai was baffled and asked for details. Yang Yun giggled, “Just like when little brother was nineteen.” Shi Zai instantly understood—but he trusted Qin Xihan and believed in his younger brother. Surely nothing had happened… As for the dream, it was more or less related to Qin Xihan. Tsk—after the little one was born, they’d need to focus on the big one.

All essentials for the birth had already been prepared in advance at Yan Wei and Zheng Yuan’s hospital. Even if something was missing, there was no cause for concern.

The two continued leisurely enjoying their idyllic rural life. But on the morning of August 8—the Beginning of Autumn—Shi Zai had barely blinked his eyes open, groggy and drowsy, when he saw Shu Yangkuo quietly watching him, speaking with utmost calm:

“Wife, Wang Wang can’t wait any longer.”