Yu An Tong slept soundly until half-past three in the afternoon. After dressing up, he saw Xing Li Xuan engrossed in his work.

Xing Li Xuan glanced up, "Awake?"

"Mmm," Yu An Tong, still groggy from sleep, replied sluggishly, "I should head home."

Checking the time, Xing Li Xuan suggested, "Why not hang around here a bit longer, and we can leave together after my work?"

"Do what? There's nothing interesting here," Yu An Tong started, his spirit returning, before cheekily adding, "How about an office role-play? Me as your close secretary?"

Raising an eyebrow, Xing Li Xuan inquired playfully, "Close secretary? How close?"

Yu Antong circled around to the expansive desk, gracefully seating himself in Xing Lixuan's embrace, his hands around Xing's neck. His gaze was a bewitching blend of allure and innocence as he whispered, "This close. Is this alright, Mr. Xing?"

The way Yu Antong pronounced "Mr. Xing" at the end was faint, with a playful lilt, like a tiny hook capturing Xing Lixuan's heart.

With his head tilted back, Xing Lixuan's lips met the slender nape of Yu Antong's neck. He placed a tender kiss, his voice filled with restraint, "It's not enough."

"Stop it," Yu Antong chuckled, slightly shifting away. "It tickles."

Xing Lixuan cupped his chin, "Is this how Secretary Yu operates?"

Covering his neck, Yu Antong playfully replied, "Mr. Xing, don't leave a mark. My husband will notice."

Xing Lixuan: "…"

Suddenly throwing in this twist, is he pretending to be jealous of himself?

Xing Lixuan asked calmly, "How would your husband react if he found out?"

"Mm," Yu Antong contemplated, "It would be fine even if he knew. After all, he never touches me. He's pretty useless... Ah!"

Xing Lixuan playfully slapped Yu Antong's behind, teeth gritted, "Am I useless?"

The slap was light, not hurting Yu Antong in the slightest. Grinning, he begged off, "I was just teasing. My husband is the best."

After some playful banter, Yu Antong remarked, "I should head back to work on my thesis."

He wanted to take advantage of his current free time, knowing that in a few months, he'd be too preoccupied.

A sudden realization hit Yu Antong, "I just thought of something important. Although I won't be attending school for the next six months, what about my thesis defense? I've calculated the timing - I'll be heavily pregnant around May or June."

Frowning, he placed a hand on his stomach, quite troubled. Though he wasn't planning to hide his unique condition, the idea of appearing pregnant in school, being a man, felt bizarre.

Curse this unpredictable child, arriving without any prior notice, leaving him utterly unprepared.

Xing Lixuan, having thought of the same issue, reassured, "Don't worry. Focus on your thesis, and I'll handle the defense details."

——

Yu Antong had gathered most of his research materials, but writing proved excruciating. The stringent plagiarism rules at their institution drove him nearly mad, but he was thankful for the academic prowess of Xing Lixuan.

Time, as it often does, moved in peculiar ways. Soon, it was time for another medical check-up. Once all the tests were done, Yu Antong voiced the question on his mind.

"Dr. Kong, it's been over three months now. Can we engage in couple's... activities?"

Xing Lixuan chided, "Aren't you embarrassed?"

"What's there to be embarrassed about? The doctor's seen it all," Yu Antong replied, "Don't pretend you're not curious."

Dr. Kong responded with a smile, "Given the current stability of the fetus, you can engage in intimate relations, but ensure they're not too intense."

"Thank you, doctor," Yu Antong exclaimed, visibly pleased upon receiving the desired answer.

On the way home, Yu Antong reminded Xing Lixuan, "Darling, let's get some condoms."

Tonight, he's determined to have some fun!

Passing by a 24-hour vending shop, Xing Lixuan pulled over to buy some supplies. Yu Antong also got out, saying, "I'll come too."

They hadn’t used condoms before. Not long ago, Yu Antong read on his phone that a particular ribbed brand offers a unique experience. Eager to try, today seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Both entered the seemingly small store to discover a surprising array of vending machines, dispensing everything from safety products to intimate toys.

The intimate toy machine was especially eye-catching, with items like furry handcuffs, fox tails, and thongs...

"Wow!" exclaimed Yu Antong, his eyes widening. He turned to Xing Lixuan, "Honey, let's get some!"

Xing Lixuan gave him a deep, stormy look and warned, "Don't regret it."

Yu Antong, feeling emboldened by their soon-to-be-born child, teased, "Even if I do, what can you possibly do to me now?"

In the end, they picked up ribbed, dotted, and ultra-thin condoms, along with some intriguing novelties.

After dinner, an unusually enthusiastic Yu Antong headed to shower, igniting the flames of passion in Xing Lixuan.

There wasn't even a need for pajamas as Xing Lixuan swept him straight to bed...

Half an hour later, an insatiable Yu Antong whispered, "Darling, one more time?"

Xing Lixuan pulled him close, murmuring, "Quiet. Sleep now."

It took all his restraint to keep from succumbing to Yu Antong's provocations. That mischievous man better be careful, or he might just end up regretting it.

Each tease from Yu Antong added another tally to Xing Lixuan's mental scoreboard. Once their child was born, they'd settle the score.

Six months later, with the baby on the way, Yu Antong was starting to second-guess his bold moves.

"Antong, you're glowing today," remarked Xing's mother one morning, admiring his radiant skin. "Youth really is wonderful. No matter how much I take care of my skin, it's never like yours. I envy you young ones."

Yu Antong blinked in surprise. Had just one night of fun brought about such a noticeable change?

From Xing's mother's words, it seemed she hadn't overheard their antics the previous night. Relief washed over him.

He might be shamelessly playful with Xing Lixuan, but in front of the elders, he still valued his dignity.

"When you're happy, you naturally glow," Yu Antong replied with a smile. "Your skin is beautiful. If I look even half as good when I'm your age, I'd be thrilled."

"Such a charmer," Xing's mother chuckled. Even though Yu Antong was a man, she found him delightful. Unlike her friends' strained family dynamics, their household was harmonious.

Switching topics, she inquired, "I heard you have an interview today. What time will they arrive? Your father and I can retreat to our room then."

"We've scheduled it for nine," responded Yu Antong.

The reason Yu Antong had risen early that day was for an exclusive interview with a gourmet magazine.

"Today's Cuisine" is a renowned culinary magazine in Jiang City. After its chief editor dined at the Celestial Feast, he was full of praises for their dishes. Since the beginning of the year, he had been intending to interview Yu Antong. However, due to Yu's busy schedule, it was postponed. By the time Yu was available, it was already the festive season.

Now, the magazine reached out to him again. Yu Antong arranged the interview. There would be two shooting locations: his own residence and at the Celestial Feast. He suggested starting at his home first.

With ample time, Yu Antong went upstairs to change. He wore a relaxed pair of linen-colored trousers, paired with a beige knit sweater, exuding a gentle and serene demeanor.

The chief editor had informed him in advance about the photoshoot, so Yu Antong applied a light everyday makeup. He owns an array of skincare and cosmetics. It wasn't just for show when people said he paid attention to details; however, after his partner became pregnant, he seldom used them, sticking mostly to basic moisturizers.

After getting ready, Yu Antong headed to the kitchen to prepare refreshments for the guests. He cracked two eggs into a glass bowl, added a pack of pure milk and some cream, then mixed in fine sugar. Using a mixer, he blended everything evenly, then strained the milk-egg mixture twice to remove any froth.

Once ready, he retrieved the pre-made tart shells. He poured the custard filling until each was two-thirds full, and then placed them into the preheated oven, setting the timer.

At nine o'clock sharp, Wang Rui, the chief editor of "Today's Cuisine," arrived at Yu's residence with a photographer.

"Please, take a seat." Yu gestured for the housekeeper to serve the brewed black tea.

They had barely started their conversation when the oven timer went off, indicating the egg tarts were ready.

A porcelain plate was set on the tea table, holding six perfectly golden egg tarts. One in the center with five surrounding it, resembling a delicate yellow flower.

The subtle sweet aroma filled the air. Yu Antong flipped his hand invitingly, suggesting to the guests, "Please, have a taste."

"Well, we won't hold back then," Wang Rui and the photographer each took one. Wang Rui joked, "One of the perks of our job is getting to sample delicious dishes under the guise of work."

The photographer added with a grin, "Wang and I are quite the duo when it comes to enjoying meals on the company's dime."

Yu Antong replied, "Do you have any openings at your workplace? You're making me want to join!"

"Hahaha, always welcome, Mr. Yu."

The warmth of the egg tart seeped through the foil. It was the perfect temperature to savor.

Wang Rui gently peeled back the foil, taking a bite of the custard tart with a slightly caramelized top. The crunchy sound of the crispy crust followed by the creamy, smooth filling made for an exquisite taste experience. A gentle smacking of the lips released a full-bodied milky flavor.

Paired with the mellow black tea, one could indulge without ever feeling overwhelmed.

After finishing one tart, Wang Rui was left craving more. However, they were there for an interview, not solely for indulgence.

This was the bittersweet aspect of their job. While they got to taste dishes made by renowned chefs, they often couldn't savor them to their heart's content.

Sighing with a hint of regret, Wang Rui turned to Yu Antong, "I didn't expect you to be so adept at making desserts, Mr. Yu. Do you plan to venture into the world of sweets?"

Yu Antong responded, "I haven't given it much thought. Running Celestial Feast already requires a lot of my energy. However, it's not impossible that I might venture into desserts in the future. Everything is possible. If I ever open a dessert shop, I'll have to thank Editor Wang for suggesting a new path and reminder to me."

aiyueshuxiang.com

Author's Note:

TongTong: Stay joyful!

Mr. Xing: Note it down!

Many thanks to the lovely angels who gave me special votes or nourishment between 2020-01-17 20:47:53 and 2020-01-18 22:09:18~

Special thanks to these angels for their nourishment: 柨白 with 20 bottles; 小肥啾 with 12 bottles; 哇咔咔咔 with 5 bottles; and both 花玖柒秋 and 陌影じ with 1 bottle each.

I'm deeply grateful for all your support. I promise to keep giving it my all!

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