Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The one who arrived later?

Xi Wang didn't know much about these kinds of events, but it was easy enough to guess: "She's probably the author holding this book signing. Bian Jiacheng mentioned she might be a friend of A-Han's."

Jiang Jining finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from.

A friend of A-Han's?

No wonder it felt vaguely familiar.

Even though their styles were completely different, he still felt a kinship. He sensed that the lady approached not just to care for a fan, but more like she was helping him out of a tight spot.

When she left, did she seem to glance toward the car?

Jiang Jining regretted it a little. "Then I forgot to greet her just now."

But she was gone too fast. Nothing to be done.

After comforting Jiang Jining, Xi Wang received a call from Bian Jiacheng at the same time, asking, "Is it cold in the car?"

"No, we're fine." Xi Wang directly asked him, "Have you picked up A-Han yet?"

"Just finished work, almost there."

Bian Jiacheng didn't say he'd gone to the restroom and had his assistant tell Bian Han to go find Jiang Jining and Xi Wang first. When he came out, they told him she was gone, and now she wasn't answering her phone either.

After hanging up, Bian Jiacheng quickly asked the coordinator about the vehicle arranged to take Bian Han home and went to find it. He discovered it was a van. As he strode closer, he saw Bian Han emerge, wearing a windproof down jacket and leather boots, with long, straight black hair, a fresh face without makeup, looking as young as a recent college graduate.

"Going for such a pure and innocent look at a work event today?"

Bian Jiacheng walked over to help her out, took off his own cashmere scarf, and wrapped it around her. "Why didn't you say anything when you had that emergency appendectomy surgery during your business trip before?"

Bian Han saw him and didn't bother with formalities. Such a big guy was a waste if not used as a windbreak. She linked arms with him and hurried along. "Come on, let's go."

Jiang Jining and Xi Wang had been waiting for a while.

"Who told you to tell Ning Zai?" Bian Han had tried to hide it three or four times, but it was useless now. She gave him an earful on the ride over: "He's expecting and shouldn't be upset. Don't you know that?"

"You were hospitalized alone in another city and didn't tell us, and you think you're in the right?"

Bian Jiacheng gave as good as he got.

He lifted the hood of her jacket and put it over her head.

Seeing the car parked not too far away, Bian Han opened the door. The warm air inside immediately dispelled the chill. She bent down and smiled, saying, "Little one, why did you suddenly want to pick me up from work today?"

Jiang Jining assessed her complexion from her makeup-free face and lips. It was much better than he had imagined, which immediately put his mind at ease. He handed over two insulated bags. "Wangwang and Fu Yuze made all of these."

"Thanks, kiddo."

Bian Han took off her coat, smiling as she accepted them.

Seeing Xi Wang, she also asked with concern: "Shishu is on his annual leave too now, right?"

Xi Wang nodded honestly. After thinking for a moment, he decided to announce in front of everyone: "I'm still working at Mr. Bian's place every day now, but I'll stop going after New Year's Eve."

Bian Jiacheng's head snapped toward him.

Jiang Jining also couldn't help but ask curiously: "Why?"

Bian Jiacheng's house had a whole staff of housekeepers. He lived alone, sometimes not even needing breakfast made. When he actually ate meals, aside from white radish, he wasn't picky at all.

Being his chef should be quite easy.

Bian Han patted Bian Jiacheng, who clearly had just been informed, signaling him not to speak carelessly. She opened the nearest full bento box and gave it to him, tied up her hair, and was then comforted by the steaming hot food after a busy day.

Xi Wang's kimchi beef was absolutely amazing!

"Does he dock your pay whenever he's unhappy?"

Bian Han's question was light and natural.

Xi Wang quickly gave everyone the prepared reason: "No, it's not that. Mr. Bian usually takes very good care of me. It's just that my father's health has improved a lot recently. He likes to move around and keeps asking the caregiver when I'm coming to see him. I plan to bring him home to take care of him. Hiring a home health aide would actually be more cost-effective for me."

Jiang Jining understood immediately.

"Then don't leave your father alone in the nursing home anymore. He must be so lonely."

With a reason like that, no one had much to persuade him otherwise.

Xi Wang was always a filial and responsible kid.

Today, they dropped Xi Wang off at the nursing home on the way. From a distance, they could see the caregiver supporting Xi's father, who was wearing a hat and scarf, waiting for his son at the main entrance. The stubborn old man was standing out in the wind and snow, but when Xi Wang walked up to him and called out, he only glanced at him and then continued waiting eagerly.

Did he not recognize him?

Xi Wang patiently began his daily routine of introducing himself once again.

Bian Jiacheng casually said they'd stop for a few minutes, got out of the car, and walked over with practiced ease. He bent down to exchange greetings, supported him, and waited for the caregiver to run inside and fetch the wheelchair.

Seeing this, Jiang Jining said, "I'll go say hello to your father too."

Bian Han noticed both of them seemed to have been here before. She accompanied Jiang Jining as he got out and walked to Xi's father's side. The latter was clean and neatly dressed, looking at him with a kind and amiable smile: "Xiao Ning, you're Xiao Ning. Have you come to play with Wangwang?"

Jiang Jining held his slightly cold, dry hand and smiled. "Yes."

Xi's father had only met Jiang Jining twice, and both impressions were particularly good. Xi Wang didn't want to take up too much of everyone's time and tried to help his father, who was unsteady after standing so long, sit down in the wheelchair—

But Bian Jiacheng was quicker.

The group entered the spacious, bright lobby of the nursing home, which was nice and warm.

"Good boy." Xi's father held Bian Jiacheng's hand and patted it. "Xiao Xu, you don't need to come do these things every day. It's too hard on you. You two kids have it tough out there. In a couple of years when I'm gone, things will be easier for you and Wangwang. That child gives his all to people, but his personality is too soft and easy-going. Don't you bully him..."

"Dad!"

Xi Wang instinctively interrupted.

He stepped forward to separate Bian Jiacheng's hand from his father's, deliberately avoiding the former's gaze. After reassuring his father, he handed the wheelchair to the caregiver. "It's already very late. A Ning, you shouldn't stay outside too long and get cold. Let me walk you out."

"It's just to the entrance."

Bian Han insisted that Xi Wang not walk that short distance with them.

She took Jiang Jining back to the car first. After finishing an impromptu work call, she casually asked: "Ning Zai, did Wangwang have a boyfriend before with whom he had a pretty good relationship?"

Otherwise, even Xi Wang's dad would have it all figured out.

It's practically no different from being married.

"Yes." Jiang Jining had only heard Xi Wang mention it once but remembered: "Wangwang said they were together for several years, so Uncle Xi always forgets that they broke up."

But this should be the first time he mistook Bian Jiacheng for him, right?

As soon as he finished, the car door opened.

Bian Jiacheng got into the driver's seat with a frosty expression.

Seeing him like this, Bian Han asked, "You didn't give Xi Wang the cold shoulder, did you? He hasn't done anything wrong."

"Why would I chase after him when he's ignoring me?"

As he spoke, Bian Jiacheng started the car and pulled out.

Still unable to hold back, he glanced in the rearview mirror at Xi Wang's retreating figure and his face darkened even more. "He never has a kind word for me, that ungrateful little..."

He never refuses his ex-boyfriend's advances, no matter what!

To be outdone by a man who's as ordinary as they come—not to mention Xi Wang was once so crazy about him, and even knowing his own physical limitations, he still softened and agreed to sleep with him. Now even Xi Wang's father has that guy who bullied his son pegged as the one...

Damn it!

Bian Jiacheng felt like he was about to have a heart attack from anger.

"Then you must remember to pay Wangwang." Jiang Jining leaned forward from the back seat. As the purest heir of capitalist blood, he firmly stood on the side of the working class. "You have to pay him even when you're angry."

Bian Jiacheng: "..."

Bian Han covered her mouth, trying not to laugh out loud.

That evening, back at home, after Jiang Jining finished his shower and changed into his pajamas, he remembered he hadn't shown Bian Han the new 4D scan of Dou Ya'er yet, so he took it and went to the study.

"Let me see—"

Bian Han sprang up from her office chair and pulled Jiang Jining to sit beside her. Through his thin pajamas, she felt the nearly five-month-old Dou Ya'er baby, soft and round.

A kick—

The moment Bian Han touched him, she felt the baby respond. Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into a large cloud of cotton candy. Even after the little one stopped moving, she was still cupping her face, savoring the wonderful experience.

Too cute.

Jiang Jining's baby bump wasn't as pronounced as a woman's typically is. At around five months, it hadn't grown too much. The doctor had said that if conditions were suitable for a natural birth, Dou Ya'er would likely be delivered smoothly.

Jiang Jining discussed the morning's prenatal check-up with her in detail. His eyes happened to fall on a particular spot on the bookshelf and suddenly remembered something: "I saw this book earlier today."

Bian Han followed his gaze and paused, then opened the bookshelf, took the book down, and handed it to Jiang Jining. "This one?"

"Yes."

As Jiang Jining flipped through it, he explained the reason.

Bian Han watched his slender fingers turning the pages from start to finish.

Afraid of damaging Bian Han's treasured novel, Jiang Jining didn't read it carefully. After casually flipping through a few pages, he closed the book and said, "If I had known earlier, I would have greeted her tonight."

Bian Han raised an eyebrow slightly. "You know her?"

"No." Jiang Jining was certain he had never seen that pretty, sweet-looking girl before, especially since she was wearing a mask, revealing only her eyes. "But she's as beautiful as you."

Bian Han smiled, resting her chin on her hand, and tapped the book with her fingertip. "This is the book from her signing today."

Jiang Jining held the exquisitely crafted book, which looked like a work of art, and grew fonder of it the more he looked. However, it seemed Bian Han's study only had this one copy, and there was no signature on the title page. It might be a collector's edition, so he naturally wouldn't take something she cherished.

"Many people came for her today."

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Jining said, "They must all love the stories she writes."

"Yes." Bian Han looked at Jiang Jining's beautiful eyes, which seemed to hold endless admiration, and explained, "This is her newly finished book. It was published this year and has already been reprinted three times. It's still hard to get a copy now."

Jiang Jining wanted to study it but was already sleepy. He handed the book back with both hands.

"Has Fu Yuze not called yet?" Bian Han took the book back and teased him. "Then why not stay a few more days? Otherwise, once Dou Ya'er is born, you won't come back at all."

After a moment's thought, Jiang Jining said, "But I would miss him."

Although the two of them were deeply in love now, whenever Jiang Jining decided to go out alone, Fu Yuze would only call before bedtime, expressing his longing through WeChat messages the rest of the time.

Jiang Jining hardly felt burdened by phone calls anymore.

What a clever tactic of playing hard to get!

Bian Han had long known that one day, her grown-up child would no longer stay. "Do you want to go back tonight too?"

Jiang Jining realized it wasn't yet time for his bedtime call with Fu Yuze. "Is that okay?"

Bian Han: "..." She wished she hadn't asked.

But remembering she had to leave early the next morning, she reluctantly made the sacrifice. "Should I ask him to come pick you up now?"

"I can tell him myself."

After receiving the instruction, Jiang Jining returned to his room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he cradled his belly and called Dou Ya'er's father. "I've talked to A-Han. I still want to come back and sleep with you tonight."

Upon hearing this, Fu Yuze chuckled softly. "I'll be right there."

"Why are you always laughing?" Jiang Jining hugged the custom-made Dou Ya doll by the bedside, gave it a tug, his face flushed pink. He lifted a strand of hair and brushed it over the doll and the identical Dou Ya in his belly, pretending to be angry. "If you keep laughing, I won't talk to you anymore."

"You've become really clingy since you got pregnant with Ya'er."

On the other end, there was the rustling sound of Fu Yuze putting on clothes and grabbing his car keys. "A Ning, I'm very happy."

Jiang Jining's face heated up again.

But why did he feel so sweet inside?