Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Where to Spend the New Year.

This was currently the most pressing matter on Jiang Jining's mind.

"I'm going back to my grandparents' place to spend New Year's Eve."

Jiang Jining answered without a second thought, flipping another page of his book. Seeing Fu Yuze remain quiet, he knew he was feeling down. He put the book down and said, "Once we're married, I'll have to spend every New Year with your family. But this is the first New Year I'll spend with A-Han. If Ya'er and I aren't home, she'll be sad."

"Okay." Fu Yuze rested his chin on Jiang Jining's shoulder.

Jiang Jining reached up to stroke his ear.

Fu Yuze had just returned home half an hour ago after finishing a group meeting. Walking through the door and seeing Jiang Jining sitting in the living room reading, he felt a sense of peaceful contentment. He took a deep breath of the scent from his partner's collar, promptly scheduled tomorrow's check-up with the doctor, and a message popped up on his screen.

Bian Han: 「I still have two busy days ahead.」

「I might not make it to Ning Zai's check-up tomorrow. Contact me immediately if anything comes up. My thing here wraps up at 2 PM the day after tomorrow. Please bring him directly to my parents' house.」

Fu Yuze promptly replied: 「Got it.」

Bian Han: 「Solid.」

Her message came and went in a flash.

Fu Yuze filled him in on all the details. Hearing this, Jiang Jining grew concerned, put down his book, and called Bian Jiacheng to ask if Bian Han had been swamped with work lately.

"I'll go ask for you."

After resolving the conflict with his family, Bian Jiacheng hadn't continued his wild ways. Like Xi Wang, he had settled down to work steadily. Now, the two of them had more topics to talk about and were more driven.

He got the info back fast—

She hadn't just been working in Jingzhou; she had been flying back and forth across the country. Midway, she even had an appendicitis attack, spending five days in a hospital out of town for an appendectomy.

Jiang Jining realized he had been completely unaware.

During this period, Bian Han had rarely even missed his prenatal check-ups.

"Where are the events for these two days?"

Fu Yuze, holding Jiang Jining's hand, spoke into the phone: "Can you ask the person at the publishing house in charge of the event venue."

Bian Jiacheng managed to get the details too.

Tomorrow happened to be the Jingzhou event, lasting two consecutive days with morning and afternoon sessions. "The event ends at 7 PM. Normally, my sister shouldn't need to be present for the entire book signing. She must be quite close with them."

Otherwise, there really wouldn't be a need to accompany the signing tour for two months.

They must be really good friends.

Jiang Jining thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go pick up A-Han from work tomorrow."

After figuring out Bian Han's work schedule, Bian Jiacheng was also genuinely worried her body couldn't handle it. "Alright. Old Fu, shall I pick him up tomorrow?"

"Sure." Fu Yuze stroked Jiang Jining's hair. "Just you two go."

Jiang Jining would go and surprise her.

A whole carload of people would only tire Bian Han out more.

Fu Yuze didn't want to intrude on them at this time.

*

The next morning.

Jiang Jining went for his check-up first.

At nearly five months, Dou Ya'er was even rounder, her features were clear, and she had a cute, perky little nose. Both fathers were over the moon looking at her from every angle. They printed an extra copy for keepsakes, as usual.

5 PM.

In the kitchen, Fu Yuze packaged and divided the prepared dishes into portions, packing them into insulated containers. He also slipped Dou Ya'er's ultrasound photo into the top compartment. Then, he took Jiang Jining to the entrance to wait for the car.

Bian Jiacheng pulled up right away.

"Oh, great minds think alike."

Fu Yuze's eyes went straight to the passenger seat: an insulated lunch box from the same brand but a different model, paired with a glass bottle of fresh juice. The person who had been in the back seat opened the door and got out, greeting him warmly: "A Ning."

Xi Wang then straightened up and said to Fu Yuze, "Hey, Chef."

It was true that Shishu was on its New Year break.

Fu Yuze nodded slightly, and placed his bag right next to the other one without a second thought.

Xi Wang felt like he was competing with his idol. Once in the car, he whispered to Bian Jiacheng, "Maybe you should just eat my portion?"

Bian Jiacheng, before even turning the key, turned and kissed him on the lips. "You said it."

Xi Wang: "?!!"

Fu Yuze, still outside the window: "..."

Jiang Jining's eyes went wide and he covered his belly, shielding Dou Ya'er. The little one didn't need to be exposed to that sort of thing just yet.

"He's deaf." Fu Yuze said to Xi Wang, who had frozen stiff in his seat. Then, turning to Jiang Jining, he instructed, "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

Jiang Jining fastened his seatbelt and waved goodbye.

Only then did Bian Jiacheng realize he had misheard. No wonder Xi Wang had suddenly become so bold, even telling him to eat him. But he didn't regret the kiss.

Tsk.

His hands felt rough, but his lips were so soft?

And incredibly sweet.

He knew Xi Wang had sneaked a drink while juicing.

"Let's ignore him."

Jiang Jining comforted Xi Wang softly, noticing his odd state.

Remembering something, he took the photo from the insulated bag's compartment and handed it over. "Look, here's Dou Ya'er."

Xi Wang finally snapped out of it and took it.

He looked at the miraculous Dou Ya'er through the plastic sleeve. "Is this from today?"

Jiang Jining nodded.

He was bundled up for today's outing, so his belly wasn't as obvious. Having a photo was convenient.

When Xi Wang first learned the news, Jiang Jining was already four and a half months pregnant. He never expected he had the right to know, and in that moment, the fear in his heart finally eased.

Jiang Jining was seriously trying to be his friend.

Yet he had turned down invitation after invitation, feeling out of place in their world.

Love me, love my dog, Xi Wang also sincerely liked the unborn Dou Ya'er. Putting aside Bian Jiacheng's earlier move for a moment, he took a good look at the photo—was the baby in the womb already this cute?

He had seen his cousin's son.

All wrinkly and red when he was born, even his little balls were dark, like a tiny monkey.

Dou Ya'er's ultrasound photo was already in a league of its own.

Bian Jiacheng, hearing them, reached for the photo. "Today's? Let me have a look too."

"Focus on driving."

Xi Wang thought that was dangerous.

With Jiang Jining pregnant in the car, they couldn't risk any carelessness.

Bian Jiacheng actually liked it when he took charge, pulling his hand back and putting it on the wheel. "Alright."

Xi Wang didn't say anything else.

Bian Jiacheng had confessed to him a month ago and he'd refused. Once he knew what Bian Jiacheng was after, he came right out and said he had a heart condition—no dating, and he couldn't sell his body either.

Bian Jiacheng, hard in his pants, said they could have a platonic relationship.

Xi Wang fled home that day.

The next day, he still acted as if nothing had happened and went to work.

Day after day, Bian Jiacheng treated him better and better. He knew how shameless it looked—knowing his boss had a crush on him but sticking around for the fat paycheck—but he genuinely needed this job.

Since then, Bian Jiacheng hadn't made any physical advances.

Xi Wang was swayed by gentle persuasion, not force. He was grateful for all the kindness and the high salary over these months, planning to resign after the New Year and completely sever their relationship. Once he made up his mind, he felt much better.

That kiss just now...

Xi Wang could only pretend it never happened.

It wasn't like he'd never been in a relationship or intended to remain chaste for someone he liked. So what if they kissed? Bian Jiacheng was more than a little handsomer than his ex-boyfriend; he wasn't losing out.

The sky gradually darkened.

Clearly, none of them had experience with this kind of comic convention signing event, nor had anyone planned ahead. Following the main road, they had to endure the unusually congested traffic leading to Bian Han's event venue.

Bian Jiacheng knew the venue was large.

But he didn't expect the crowd to far exceed its capacity.

Many people just wanted to experience the off-site activities or catch a glimpse of their beloved author after work.

Was the main attraction that huge?

Bian Jiacheng contacted a familiar event coordinator and, under guidance, changed routes, entering a small section of road that was originally closed off.

This area was the back lot of the event hall.

The crowd had mostly dispersed.

"It's too crowded; stay in the car." Worried that the pregnant Jiang Jining might get jostled, Bian Jiacheng stopped them from exiting in advance. "I'll go pick up my sister."

"I'll stay here with A Ning." Xi Wang proactively took on the task.

Jiang Jining was watching the swarming crowd not far away—even in winter, some wore short leather boots and tutu skirts. Large groups of girls came alone or in pairs, with a few men dressed in plain, windproof down jackets just for warmth, mostly helping their girlfriends carry bags or cameras.

It was his first time seeing a crowd this big in the modern era.

For this trip, Bian Jiacheng had been relatively low-key, choosing an all-black car, though the Bentley emblem was still quite eye-catching.

There weren't many people around.

But those who saw it would stop to take a couple of photos, guessing who was inside.

A security guard about a hundred meters away diligently reminded through a loudspeaker: "Don't come this way! The road is closed! To go left, please head left! The right side is not the exit from the event area!"

However, with so many people, one or two inevitably slipped through, only to find they had to circle back after coming this way.

Night fell.

Lights around the venue lit up.

Just then, a girl wrapped in a long white down jacket passed by. Seeming to find the wind weaker near the car, she stopped, bent down to set down her overstuffed handbag, and called a friend, her slender fingers red from the cold.

At that moment.

With a whirr—

The girl saw the Bentley's window beside her roll down, warm air rushing out, revealing the luxurious, dazzling starry sky roof and interior, along with a face of breathtaking, unadorned beauty. His eyes gathered the roadside light, their gaze shifting, his voice gentle as a spring stream: "Would you like to wait in the car?"

"..."

The atmosphere quieted for two seconds.

"No need... my friend will be here soon."

The girl almost thought the cold was making her hallucinate.

This... was a bit too considerate, wasn't it?

The wig's texture and effect were so good, not a trace of powder on the face. The organizers probably didn't hire Cosplayers to stand around today, right? Which incredibly beautiful protagonist shou from her goddess's books was this cosplaying?

Heavens, she couldn't recognize it at all!

"Were you invited by the organizers?" The girl temporarily hung up on her friend's slow call, asking her to text instead, and hugged her freshly signed novel, asking: "Could we 'collect a stamp'?"

Not just Jiang Jining, even Xi Wang with his five years of work experience at a young age didn't understand. He asked her: "'Collect a stamp' means..."

Another one with a gentle foundation and good looks, not in costume! The girl, driven away from all cold by the warmth and Jiang Jining's beauty, mimicked a camera shutter press: "Take a photo!"

Jiang Jining noticed the novel in her hand. The entire cover and obi were exquisite, the title page paper uniquely embossed, with a flowing signature faintly visible inside. He didn't quite understand what she was saying, but seeing her so happy despite the cold, he said: "Alright."

Oh my gosh!

Who knew such a stunning beauty would have such a sweet, adorable personality? So cute.

The girl was just about to pick up her phone for a selfie when she suddenly froze, having seen something, "Miss..."

"Are you lost?" A woman with long, wavy light brown hair walked over. She wore a V-shaped white mask, with her hands in her pockets, and a pair of glass-like, clear pupils peeking out from beneath her thin bangs. Though tall, she had a sweet, doll-like appearance. She took a hand warmer from her pocket and handed it to the girl. "It's getting late, head home soon. It's not safe to be out so late."

"Thank you, teacher!"

The girl was thrilled to run into her idol after the signing event.

Her phone buzzed with another urgent call from her friend, prompting her to hurriedly say goodbye and leave.

Clearly, the girl had eyes only for her idol. Xi Wang was worried the open window would chill Jiang Jining. Seeing the girl wasn't staying, he closed it. In the blink of an eye, both girls were gone.

"She seems familiar."

Jiang Jining gazed in the direction where one of the figures had disappeared, then turned to Xi Wang. "The one who came later... I feel like I've seen her somewhere before."

The night was vast and hazy. He hadn't clearly heard her voice, and he couldn't quite place who she was.