Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Fu Yuze waited until Jiang Jining was sound asleep, tucked him in, and then changed his clothes to go downstairs to accompany the excited elders in staying up late.

Time was short, and there was a lot to cover.

They talked about Jiang Jining's health, how Dou Ya'er was discovered, prenatal care and postpartum recovery, preparations before the baby's arrival, then moved on to auspicious dates and the details of the wedding and banquet.

Both families were night owls, each outlasting the other.

A few suggestions Fu Yuze offered were dismissed as coming from a clueless rookie. He could only discuss tips on being a dad with Fu Huaisheng, who was holding his son.

Xingxing had accidentally woken up about ten minutes ago.

The little chubby bundle had messy bedhead and didn't see any adults around.

Hugging his blanket, he sat on the bed in a daze, rubbed his eyes, then walked barefoot in his sleep sack to the top of the stairs, where Uncle Lu found him. After that, he refused to go back to his bed to sleep.

Fu Huaisheng carried his son downstairs, patted his bottom, and he was asleep in seconds.

"It'll be nice for Xingxing to have a little brother or sister to play with next year," Fu Huaisheng said. From hearing his wife say Jiang Jining was pregnant to seeing the evidence, he couldn't help but be happy for his brother. "Never saw this coming, did you?"

"If I'd imagined it, I wouldn't have rushed to call you all over."

Fu Yuze switched his tea for wine and clinked glasses with him. "A Ning wants a daughter."

"Do you know for sure?"

The little one in Fu Huaisheng's arms, Xingxing, stirred.

Ji Huan patted her son with one hand, continuing to soothe him back to sleep. "It's probably too early to tell at this stage. A Ning likes daughters? I thought given his unique physiology, the likelihood of having a boy might be higher."

Fu Yuze had emphasized that Jiang Jining was a typical male.

"We don't know yet."

Fu Yuze heard Bian Zeming over there mention that the child would probably look like Jiang Jining, pretty like a little girl, which made Zhou Yeying and Fu Sichuan laugh. He said to his brother and sister-in-law, "We'll find out when the baby's born."

He didn't plan to find out in advance.

When Xingxing was five months along, Fu Huaisheng and Ji Huan had everything planned for their expected baby. They agreed to go to Hong Kong for a new prenatal check-up. The baby's gender was sent by the doctor via email to the butler, who then organized a gender reveal party, inviting relatives, friends, and every member of the extended family. During the recorded vote at the time, Fu Yuze had guessed correctly.

But for his own child, he didn't want that.

Fu Yuze's perceptions had been shattered and rebuilt, broken and mended time and again. He knew deeply that he had already been blessed enough. At present, he hoped Jiang Jining's pregnancy would be more peaceful and tranquil. He only prayed for his safety and health, deciding to discuss and arrange everything after the baby was born.

After all, there was plenty of time ahead.

*

*

Jiang Jining's days after discovering the pregnancy were very pleasant.

Fu Yuze's foresight was evident everywhere: he had stated in the family group chat that Jiang Jining usually didn't use his phone. This warning was equally effective and strictly enforced for family members.

Ever since Jiang Jining became pregnant with Dou Ya'er, invitations and activities from various elders never stopped.

Fortunately, the most persistent ones, the Fu family, were now stabilized. However, Fang Wenjun and Bian Zeming began their efforts, coordinating with Bian Han on daily plans to get him to come home for prenatal rest.

Short stays of three to five days, longer ones up to half a month.

Fu Yuze rarely refused these two elders.

During pregnancy, Jiang Jining's perception of details became more sensitive and delicate. He felt sorry for Fu Yuze running between Shishu and the Fu Group every day, leaving work after the lunch and dinner rushes, and still having to take care of his pregnant self. Normally, he would suggest going back to Xieting after staying less than a week at his grandparents' place.

After having the baby—

Jiang Jining's dependence on Fu Yuze skyrocketed.

Fu Yuze was now slowly learning not to tie them together too tightly. When he provided enough habits, rich and varied, Jiang Jining always made things easy for him.

The little cat could truly understand his emotional needs deeply. Every time they were separated for a relatively long time, Jiang Jining would kiss him after getting in the car, study his face carefully, and ask earnestly, "Have you been sleeping well lately?"

Fu Yuze's answers were always honest.

"Didn't sleep well last night. Usually, it's fine. I sleep longer when you're around."

Jiang Jining took the insulated bottle he handed over and sipped the thick soy milk. Feeling sorry for him, he proactively offered the exclusive baby-touching service, telling Fu Yuze that he had been eating well these past few days and his belly had gotten rounder again.

The young couple couldn't stay apart for long.

Luckily, the pressure from Bian Han's side was relatively lighter.

As the New Year approached, her publishing company was handling a major book signing tour for a big-name author, a solo tour requiring coordination with various parties and on-site inspections throughout. She would only come to see Jiang Jining in person after work every few days. Each time she checked on the little one, he was in perfect condition.

She had to admit Fu Yuze was better at this than she was.

Jiang Jining also never showed favoritism.

His situation was special. The chief physician required him to come to the hospital every other week to observe Dou Ya'er's condition. On these days, he had learned to proactively call Zhou Yeying, inviting her to see the latest update on the little one. Occasionally, he even got a companion surprise.

Sometimes it was Ji Huan.

Once or twice, it even turned out to be Fu Sichuan.

Whenever Jiang Jining saw Fu Sichuan, he was reminded of when he first met Fu Yuze—reserved, but his heart was in the right place. For example, the first time he appeared at the hospital with Zhou Yeying, he was carrying a small insulated lunch box the whole time.

After the specific examination,

Fu Yuze and Zhou Yeying started discussing with the doctor.

Jiang Jining thought Fu Sichuan should come in to listen too. After opening the door to notify him, he found a box of sweet taro ball and mochi in fresh milk placed in his palm.

Fu Sichuan had also arranged a separate rest area for him.

Accompanied by Chairman Fu, Jiang Jining quietly and comfortably ate the entire bowl of sweet dessert. That evening, Fu Yuze asked him about the interaction. He said, "The mochi was delicious, a big improvement over the soup I stewed for you last time."

Fu Yuze kissed him on the dimple. "You didn't talk?"

"Your father was busy handling work."

Jiang Jining categorized anyone besides Bian Jiacheng looking at their phone as being busy with work. He had observed that everyone valued their own careers and to-do lists highly. "I was afraid of disturbing him. But after I finished eating, I said to him, 'Thank you, it was very delicious.'"

Fu Yuze thought that must have been unbearably sweet.

Before going to sleep that day, Chairman Fu, feeling sentimental from the sweetness, sent a separate WeChat message to his son: 「Your mother is asking if Jining has any dietary restrictions or preferences, especially regarding sweets.」

Fu Yuze specifically checked the message from his dear mother—

Ms. Zhou: 「Did the doctor mention today that Ning'er is a bit underweight? Take a picture of his weight tomorrow morning and send it to me. I'll note it down and ask the nutritionist.」

Can you make up for weight gain by eating little cakes and sugary drinks?

The couple isn't getting their stories straight.

Fu Yuze still sent the detailed taste preferences and preparation methods to his father, along with a brief explanation of the dangers and complications of gestational diabetes. Then he turned off the light, held Jiang Jining—who had grown even more fragrant since getting pregnant—and fell peacefully asleep.

He slept soundly and dreamlessly all night.

By late January, Jiang Jining had officially entered the second trimester. His weight inched up slowly, like a snail, and no matter how many meals he ate, nothing could change that pattern. His four-month belly was about the same size as it was at three and a half months, like the perfectly risen soft dough Fu Yuze made in the kitchen each morning.

Fluffy, white, and soft.

Although Jiang Jining was underweight, the scans showed a chubby baby, acing every checkup as perfectly healthy.

The doctor emphasized many times that Jiang Jining was in great shape. Although he was on the thinner side, he had no health problems. Seeing that he was under twenty, didn't smoke, drink, or stay up late, and had pregnancy numbers that were textbook-perfect, it was hard not to praise him.

When asked about pregnancy symptoms, he said he hardly had any.

Aside from vomiting once on New Year's Eve, Jiang Jining hadn't felt nauseous at all since confirming the pregnancy. His sleep was good too, and he spent most days like a ripe, pink-white peach, often forgetting he was carrying a baby.

Dou Ya'er was super quiet.

Movement only started at four and a half months.

After New Year's, Shishu's operations continued to thrive.

Fu Yuze hardly ever stayed late at the restaurant. By the end of January, Shishu closed reservations for the chef's tasting menu for the entire month of February, giving employees a week off early for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Lunar New Year was just around the corner.

Uncle Lu and Aunt Tao were busy selecting, sorting New Year's supplies, and decorating the compound. The house was large, and there were many things to prepare. With Jiang Jining and the baby arriving this year, Xieting needed to be decorated early to welcome the festivities.

It snowed all night.

Xieting was bright and sunny this morning.

The potted plants and trees in the courtyard were covered in a blanket of white snow, still untouched. Only the koi pond that Uncle Lu often tended remained active, with a few plump, fiery-red fish darting gracefully under the intelligent temperature control.

Inside, it was just as cozy.

Jiang Jining woke up a bit late.

He leisurely lay by the window for a while, admiring the snowy scenery.

When he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth carefully, someone touched the back of his head. Fu Yuze had appeared behind him at some point, skillfully combing and braiding his hair.

Jiang Jining blinked, put down his electric toothbrush, rinsed, and spat, without comment.

Fu Yuze's hands were very skilled.

Ever since Fu Yuze heard Jiang Jining say he could wear a woman's hairstyle to marry him, he realized the kitten truly didn't mind beautiful things at all. Moreover, whenever Fu Yuze learned a new braiding technique and tried it on him, Jiang Jining never got upset. If he liked it, it would make his day.

Jiang Jining said that in the future, Fu Yuze would be able to do their daughter's hair himself.

That reminded Fu Yuze.

So he practiced hair styling until it was as good as his cooking skills.

Today's side fishtail braid was loose but intricate, using so much hair that it was very fluffy. It gathered Jiang Jining's waist-length hair only to below his shoulders, without using a single hair tie.

Fu Yuze produced a blue-green *diancui* hairpin, elegant and delicate, and pinned it behind Jiang Jining's ear.

Only after washing his face did Jiang Jining realize his hairstyle was done. He turned and kissed the corner of Fu Yuze's mouth as a reward, only to be held by the waist and kissed back deeply several times, as if it could never be enough.

"Step on the scale."

Fu Yuze reminded him of the daily routine.

Jiang Jining walked to the scale on his own, stood obediently without moving, and waited until Fu Yuze's phone automatically chimed, indicating the reading was recorded, before being led down. He leaned against Fu Yuze to look: "How is it?"

He ate quite a bit last night too.

Lately, Dou Ya'er had been eating more and more, often making him hungry.

"Lighter than yesterday morning." After checking all his weight and body data, Fu Yuze fudged the number to Zhou Yeying, then hugged Jiang Jining to reassure him: "Today's soup dumplings have thin skins and generous fillings."

Jiang Jining, who was hungry, perked up at this. Just as he was about to pull Fu Yuze's hand to go eat the fresh soup dumplings, he suddenly stopped, his hand instinctively going to his slightly rounded belly.

Hmm?

Fu Yuze covered it with his palm and felt along. "Hungry?"

"She moved!"

Jiang Jining leaned into his embrace, guiding Fu Yuze's hand to one curved side of his belly. "She swam past like a little fish."

Fu Yuze was grateful Jiang Jining acted quickly, allowing him to feel a tiny movement, as if Dou Ya'er had just bubbled up. He immediately held him quietly, feeling their little one, and soon asked, "Do you feel uncomfortable at all?"

Jiang Jining shook his head gently.

He hadn't felt any discomfort throughout his four and a half months of pregnancy. His body had accepted their daughter's presence incredibly quickly. If the doctor hadn't mentioned pregnancy symptoms, he would have almost forgotten—back in the Duke's residence, his sister-in-law had a very difficult time carrying twins, suffering from morning sickness endlessly, occasional backaches and fatigue that made it hard to stand for long, and poor sleep at night.

He seemed to have none of that.

Dou Ya'er only interacted with her two fathers for a little while.

After Fu Yuze felt for a bit, the little one settled down quietly, making his belly round and full without any small bumps, as if hugging her own short arms and legs tightly to save space and avoid stretching Jiang Jining uncomfortably.

Such a well-behaved baby.

"Ya'er is reminding you to eat something," Fu Yuze said to him.

Jiang Jining thought that made sense.

The biggest change during his pregnancy was in eating. Now, the feeling of hunger was completely different from before pregnancy—he had to eat, and if he didn't get something good, he'd feel a bit moody.

After eating, he'd quickly regain his energy and good mood.

Dou Ya'er is too greedy...

Jiang Jining thought this while patting his belly.

But then again, with her father being such a skilled chef?