[We're setting off too!]
Shen Yin posted a photo of their RV in the small group chat, along with a travel-themed emoji.
[I'm heading to Tibet.]
Shu Yi shared a photo of herself on the train.
Qi Ji expressed how envious she was, wondering why everyone was going on trips. Had they secretly planned this behind her back?
[Sister Shu Yi, you're actually taking the train?]
Qi Ji was shocked. After all, Sister Shu Yi was a well-known actress now. Walking down the street, 8 out of 10 people would recognize her. Of the other two, one would be an elderly person and the other a child.
[Yes, I am.]
[Aren't you afraid of being recognized? Sister, what about your image as an idol?]
[What's this 'idol image' thing?]
Shen Yin asked.
[Sister Shen Yin, 'idol image' is internet slang. It basically means that beautiful people, especially in your industry, care a lot about their appearance.]
[I see. If Shu Yi dares to take the train now, she must have made herself completely unrecognizable.]
Shen Yin remarked.
Shu Yi sat on the train. She might have looked ordinary earlier, but now she had an image to maintain. The train to Tibet had private compartments. When boarding, she wore a very plain coat, a large hat, and a face mask. Without looking closely, no one would realize she was a celebrity.
Indeed, who would imagine that a glamorous superstar would choose to travel by train?
Ever since Ye Rong learned about Qi Ji's pregnancy, she had neglected the company, spending all day at home researching various foods for pregnant women.
Qi Ji felt like she had already gained weight.
"What's wrong? You're pouting. Did I upset you? You look unhappy," Xue Jingrui asked, lying on the bed.
"It's not that, Brother Jingrui. Do you think I've gotten fat? I feel like I've become so round."
Xue Jingrui looked at Qi Ji carefully and said, "Where are you round? You're not just yourself anymore, so of course there are changes."
"If I get fat, I won't look good," Qi Ji said.
"How could you not look good? A little plump is cute."
"Brother Jingrui, I feel like my identity has changed again," Qi Ji said, walking over to Xue Jingrui.
"How has it changed?" Xue Jingrui wanted to add that no matter how she changed, she was still his wife.
"Don't you think I'm a bit like a panda now?"
"Hm?"
"Like, at home, Dad doesn't dare speak loudly anymore, afraid of startling me. Mom spends all day in the kitchen researching what I should eat."
"Isn't that good? It shows they care about you."
Qi Ji thought about it and realized he was right. If they didn't care, they wouldn't be so attentive. Especially Ye Rong – she could feel that Ye Rong treated her like her own daughter. Anyone who didn't know better might think Ye Rong was her birth mother.
"Why do you still look unhappy?" Xue Jingrui asked.
"Do you really want me to say it?"
"Go ahead."
"Sister Shu Yi and Sister Shen Yin have both gone traveling, and I'm so envious. I wasn't like this before. I used to prefer staying at home, but now I've changed. Seeing them go out, I really want to travel too."
"Let me see if I can take some annual leave and accompany you on a trip for a few days, okay?"
"Is that possible?"
"It should be."
That evening at dinner, when Xue Jingrui brought up the idea of taking Qi Ji on a trip, Ye Rong immediately vetoed it.
"No way!"
"Why not?" Xue Jingrui asked.
"You're a man, you don't understand. Young women are delicate. Qi Ji's pregnancy is still in the early stages, not stable yet. The journey would be tiring, and tourist spots are crowded. What if something unexpected happens?"
Xue Jingrui thought about it and realized it indeed wasn't safe. Qi Ji looked too thin, still like a child, so fragile. If anything unexpected happened, the consequences were unthinkable.
"Then when can we go on a trip?"
"Normally, the first three months of pregnancy are when the fetus is unstable and prone to issues. After three months, it's generally okay. But it also depends on your own body. Some people, after three months, as the pregnancy progresses and they get heavier, don't have the energy to think about traveling. It varies from person to person. Let's wait a few months and see. If it's possible, I'll accompany you."
Ye Rong, having been through this herself, understood more. Hearing that the fetus was unstable in the first three months and prone to accidents, Qi Ji didn't dare think about traveling anymore.
The baby in her belly was something she had worked so hard to have.
Of course, Xue Jingrui didn't know about this thought. If he did, he would certainly say, wasn't it because he had worked hard too?
"Mom, are you really not going to the company anymore?"
"My daughter-in-law is more important."
Ye Rong's company was neither very large nor small. As the only child in her family, she had inherited the family business.
When she married Xue Kai, his status wasn't what it is now. His career took off after their marriage.
Over the years, Ye Rong had been managing the company alone. She was a career-driven woman, both tough and gentle.
So the employees were quite good, and the company had its own unique operating system. After all, as a woman, Ye Rong needed not only a career but also to be there for her family.
There are always more solutions than problems. Because of her family and Xue Jingrui, she couldn't always stay at the company without going home. Plus, being by Xue Kai's side, she had learned by osmosis how to use people, what kind of people to use, and how to balance relationships between different levels.
Their company had systems of responsibility, supervision, election, and voting. Often, documents didn't even need her signature. In recent years, with the advancement of the internet, she frequently worked from home online.
So when she said these things, she meant it. She could keep an eye on the company, but her daughter-in-law and granddaughter were the priority.
"Here, Qi Ji, drink more fish soup."
Ye Rong served Qi Ji several dishes.
"Thank you, Mom."
"Don't be polite, Qi Ji. Don't worry about eating too much and gaining weight. You're not eating for one now, but for two. You need to eat enough for proper nutrition. You won't get too fat. The meals I prepare for you are all pregnancy-friendly. You won't gain too much weight."
Ye Rong was still concerned.
"Okay."
"Jingrui, don't just focus on yourself. Remove the bones for Qi Ji. Eating some fish is good for pregnant women too."
"Alright."
Xue Jingrui picked up a piece of fish, put it on his own plate, and carefully removed the bones.
After dinner, Xue Jingrui took Qi Ji out for a walk.
Qi Ji patted his belly and said, "The baby is so lucky to have so many people loving her."
"You're very lucky too," came the reply.
"Yes, Qi Ji is very happy too. Mom has been so good to me, I don't even know how to thank her," Qi Ji said, taking small steps and stretching his arms.
"Taking care of you is probably what makes her happy right now. If you try to thank her, she might think you're being too formal."
"Alright then. Let's wait and see how things are in three months. If possible, we'll go on a trip. If not, we'll wait until after the baby is born and take her along."
The moon appeared. Qi Ji took out his phone and snapped a photo.
