Pei Jing deliberately walked around to stand in front of her. Pretending not to know, she asked, "Why do you want to change? These are my pajamas, it will be more comfortable to sleep in them."
Looking at the innocent-looking Zhi Xia, Pei Jing let out a long sigh. His gaze also shifted left and right as he said, "Do as you wish. I just feel it's not convenient to go out like this. Go to sleep first, I'll go out and wash up."
He didn't know if Zhi Xia really didn't understand or was just pretending, but now that she was pregnant, she shouldn't be so ignorant of the ways of the world.
Dressed like that, how could she not know how tempting it would be for a man?
But he really couldn't argue, because at the moment, they were already married.
Perhaps his mindset hadn't changed yet, so he still felt very awkward.
Anyway, they were leaving tomorrow, he would just have to get through tonight.
Pei Jing usually slept wearing a vest and long pants. Maybe because he was afraid of offending Zhi Xia, today he deliberately wore short sleeves and autumn pants.
After all his dilly-dallying, by the time he came back, Zhi Xia was already lying in bed.
He hesitated for a moment, then lifted the quilt and lay on the outside.
Although they were sleeping in the same quilt, there was still a gap between them and no contact at all.
Pei Jing turned off the light and heard Zhi Xia ask him in the darkness, "Do you dislike me?"
Pei Jing was taken aback and frowned. "No, why would you think that?"
"Because you've been avoiding me all day," Zhi Xia said sadly. "Actually I also know that I've wronged you a lot. For you, this must all be very confusing. Getting injured and then running into such misfortune. At first I didn't admit it because I didn't want to disturb you, so my attitude towards you wasn't very good either. But then I got pregnant and needed you to take responsibility. So I'm also very sorry. But I feel that since things have become like this, we have to face life with hope in order to be happy. I'm trying to get close to you, so please don't keep pushing me away, okay?"
Pei Jing sighed. "I'm not rejecting you, don't overthink it. I just haven't adapted to married life yet, I should be the one apologizing."
"So you don't dislike me?" There was a hint of slyness in Zhi Xia's eyes.
"I don't dislike you. I got a beautiful wife for free, I should be happy." Pei Jing couldn't help but laugh as he remembered when his companion had found him afterwards and he told him what happened, but his companion had just laughed at him.
Zhi Xia turned her body and pushed her luck. "Then hug me."
In the darkness of the night, Pei Jing's face turned red as he said, "Zhi Xia, you're still pregnant, it's not appropriate."
"I just want you to hug me, not do anything else. No one has hugged me before, so how is it inappropriate?" Zhi Xia nudged his arm. "You're not thinking something naughty, are you?"
After she finished speaking, she deliberately moved closer and reached for his hands folded over his stomach.
Pei Jing's body was noticeably stiff, she could feel how tense his muscles were, but he endured without jerking away.
Zhi Xia placed his hand on her small belly and asked him, "Our baby is in here, don't you want to touch him? Hey, would you favor boys over girls? Do you want a son or a daughter? If I give birth to a girl, will you dislike her?"
For a long time, Zhi Xia kept making small talk.
From Pei Jing's initial tension to eventual relaxation, he also started imagining what it would be like when the child was born.
As a first time dad, it was impossible not to be curious. He didn't touch her belly because he didn't dare, and was restraining himself from giving in to the urge.
But Zhi Xia's enthusiasm still put him at ease. At the very least, he could feel that she was being genuine and didn't dislike his touch.
Pei Jing's hands were big, just the right size resting on her small belly. The warm feeling also made Zhi Xia feel warm and a little comfortable.
Pei Jing wiggled his fingers, also finding it hard to imagine that a child was actually living inside here.
With the child as a topic, both of them relaxed and Pei Jing also turned on his side, which was a good position to touch her belly.
"I don't favor boys over girls. Whether it's a son or daughter doesn't matter, but I do hope it will be a boy, because it's very tough being the oldest daughter in the family." Pei Jing's mother was the eldest daughter in her family. When he was little, it was just the two of them relying on each other. He often heard her talk about her childhood.
Because she was the eldest daughter and not doted on, plus having to take care of her younger siblings, she was always busy since she was young.
Of the siblings, she did the most work, had the roughest hands, and was scolded the most. She was also married off last. His father's reason for marrying his mother was that the family was poor and wanted to marry a capable daughter-in-law.
Pei Jing's mother really suffered her whole life. Even when things got better, her health couldn't keep up and she passed away, still saying on her deathbed that she was never fated for a good life.
If Pei Jing had a daughter, he would definitely not let her be like his mother. He would cherish and love her well.
But still, as he said, he would often not be home. Whether it was the eldest son or daughter, they would share the responsibility of helping to take care of the family, rather than leaving everything to Zhi Xia alone.
Pei Jing thought it would be best to have a son first, then have a daughter later when the son is older. That way it wouldn't be too tiring to take care of them.
But in their current state where they weren't too familiar with each other yet, it wasn't appropriate for him to discuss his inner thoughts with Zhi Xia.
"Don't think too much about it. Go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow to leave," Pei Jing patted Zhi Xia's shoulder and straightened his own body to sleep.
The faint fragrance emanating from her side kept wafting into his nose. He felt an unrestrained urge threatening to erupt.
When Zhi Xia woke up, she reflexively reached out beside her, only to find that the warmth was gone and he was no longer by her side.
She sat up, got dressed and got out of bed. Pei Jing was indeed no longer in the room.
Opening the door, she saw Wang Yue washing up in the yard. Zhi Xia called out, "Sister-in-law."
Wang Yue nodded slightly, but was clearly not enthusiastic towards her.
Second sister-in-law Jiang Su walked over to comfort her, "Sister-in-law is just like that. After giving birth to a son she acts high and mighty, looking down on everyone. Let's not bother with her."
Zhi Xia smiled. "I know, thanks Second Sister-in-law."
Jiang Su was clearly worried that she would feel bad and said, "Hurry and wash up, breakfast will be ready soon. You and Third Brother are taking the afternoon train, you should go back and see your parents before you leave right? That place you're going is a bit remote, make sure you prepare everything you need, in case you can't buy it when you get there."
Zhi Xia thanked her again before Jiang Su left to get busy.
Pei JianGuo's room was next to hers. Maybe he had learned his lesson after being scolded by Pei Jing last time. When he saw Zhi Xia, he politely called her Auntie.
Zhi Xia didn't make things difficult for him and readily acknowledged him.
After breakfast, Grandpa had the maid prepare things for them to bring back. They were originally going to stay for three more days, but now could only leave early.
Pei Jing asked her, "Are we going to maternal Grandpa and Grandma's place or your parents' place first?"
Logically, they should go to her parents' home after getting married, and Grandpa and Grandma should also go there today to receive them. But since her parents lived right next door, Pei Jing really wasn't sure what Zhi Xia was thinking.
