Hearing this, Xu Guimin came down from upstairs, his eyes fixed on Ge Xinxin.
"Honey, you've come down. Look, this is Xinxin, she's pregnant with Zhengyang's child," said Yang Cui, hurrying over to Xu Guimin and wrapping her arm around his.
Xu Guimin glanced at Yang Cui before turning his gaze back to Ge Xinxin.
"You're Ge Xinxin?"
"Yes, Mr. Xu. I'm Zhengyang's girlfriend."
"How far along is the pregnancy?"
Xu Guimin looked at Ge Xinxin's flat stomach, his face unreadable.
"One month," she replied.
Without saying anything more, Xu Guimin turned his attention to Xu Zhengyang.
"How are things going at the company?"
"Don't worry, Dad. The company's doing great. I've got everything under control."
"I'll be back at the office tomorrow. I'll see for myself then."
As Xu Guimin finished speaking, Xu Zhengyang seemed not to have fully processed the information. Yang Cui, however, began to grow anxious.
"Darling, you're not fully recovered yet. Why don't you rest at home a bit longer? We've been trying to bring you back home all this time, but we couldn't find you. You even missed spending the New Year with us."
Yang Cui's words stirred up hazy memories for Xu Guimin. When he had first regained consciousness, he only remembered Sun Wenting not allowing him to return in his dreams. He had been too scared and terrified to think about anything else.
Looking back now, he felt that Yang Cui and Xu Zhengyang's behavior at the time had been somewhat odd.
Xu Guimin sat down, and Yang Cui poured him a glass of water.
Meanwhile, at Yuelan Manor, Fang Yue was overjoyed to learn of Shen Yin's pregnancy.
"Are you happy, sweetie? Mommy's going to have another little baby," Fang Yue asked, picking up Zhengzheng.
"I'm happy! The little baby will play with me," Zhengzheng replied.
"That's right. Zhengzheng is going to be a big brother now. You're a big boy."
Xu Xiuhe's current behavior mirrored Xue Jingrui's when he first learned he was going to be a father - cautious and not letting Shen Yin touch anything.
At lunchtime, Xu Xiuhe nearly began feeding Shen Yin herself.
"Honey, open your mouth. Have a bite of fish. I've already removed the bones."
Xu Yunzheng, sitting nearby, felt a little dejected watching his father feed his mother, completely ignoring him.
"Come, Zhengzheng darling. Let grandma peel a shrimp for you. Would you like that?"
"Thank you, grandma."
"Oh, you're such a good boy. You don't need to thank grandma. When grandma gets old, will Zhengzheng buy candy for her?"
Xu Yunzheng chewed his shrimp, mulling over the repeated use of the word "old" in his grandmother's speech.
"Xiuhe, I'm pregnant, not disabled," Shen Yin said, feeling that Xu Xiuhe was making too much fuss.
"It's alright. Just consider it indulging my pleasure," Xu Xiuhe replied.
Shen Yin: ...
Shen Tian watched silently from the side. He knew his judgment hadn't been wrong - Xu Xiuhe was such a good man.
In the afternoon, the family returned to Ziyue Manor. Shu Yi had just returned from the film set for a few days of rest.
On the way, Shu Yi spotted Shen Yin but couldn't talk comfortably in the car, so she called Shen Yin directly.
"Yin Yin, is that you in the car ahead?"
Hearing this, Shen Yin turned and saw Shu Yi through the rear window.
"When did you come back? Weren't you filming a mystery drama?"
"Yes, I am. But we need breaks too, right? Can't keep filming non-stop."
"What about you? Where are you coming from? Why isn't your husband at work today?"
"Oh, he accompanied me to the hospital this morning."
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? What did the doctor say?"
"Why are you panicking? I'm not sick. I just went for a check-up, and the results are in. I'm pregnant."
"Wow! So much has happened while I've been away," Shu Yi exclaimed. She hadn't even been gone a month, and her two best friends were either having babies or getting pregnant. What had she missed?
"It's not that much. Qi Ji gave birth to two beautiful babies, and I just found out I'm pregnant today."
"If that's not big news, what is? I'll visit Qi Ji and the babies tonight."
As they spoke, Shu Yi parked in front of her house, and Xu Xiuhe pulled into their driveway.
"I won't come over now. When Qi Ji's finished her postpartum confinement, let's take her to Qingfan Tower for a nice meal. She hasn't been there yet."
"Sounds good!"
That evening, Shu Yi arrived at the Xue family's grand house. She had been there before but had never gone inside. It was home to the highest-ranking official in Rong City.
Shu Yi gathered her courage and knocked on the door. Someone promptly opened it. Shu Yi had informed Qi Ji of her visit, so Ye Rong was expecting her.
"You must be Shu Yi. I often see you on TV. You're even more beautiful in person."
Shu Yi had brought expensive nutritional supplements for Qi Ji, placing them by the door. She knew Qi Ji didn't lack such things, given her family's circumstances, but whether Qi Ji needed them or not was one thing, and whether Shu Yi should bring a gift was another.
Ye Rong was very welcoming, complimenting Shu Yi from the moment she entered.
"You didn't have to bring so many things."
"It's not much. But Mrs. Xue, you look incredibly young."
"Really? You girls always say such nice things," Ye Rong replied, immediately drawing comparisons. Her son Jingrui would never say such things to make her happy. Thankfully, he had married Qi Ji, otherwise, she would have been quite upset.
"How is Qi Ji doing?"
"Come, I'll take you upstairs. She's been wanting to go out and play with you all, but she can't right now. A woman must take proper care of herself after childbirth, or it could damage her health and lead to illness."
They reached the second floor as they talked.
"Qi Ji, Shu Yi is here."
Since returning from the hospital, Qi Ji had felt like she was in prison. Her range of activity was extremely limited. She had just gone out for a short walk when Ye Rong called her back, saying she shouldn't be out in the wind too long before her confinement period was over.
Qi Ji didn't complain at all. She knew Ye Rong meant well and cared for her even more than her own mother. Her mother had visited her in Rong City once after she gave birth, then returned to Yang City.
Ye Rong was different. She looked after Qi Ji every day, even neglecting her company.
So Qi Ji only hoped time would pass quickly, allowing her to "leave her cage" and taste the delights of the outside world again.
"Sister Shu Yi!"
"Did you miss me?" Shu Yi handed Qi Ji a small box.
"What's this?" Qi Ji asked as she took it.
The small wooden box wasn't large, but it looked very exquisite.
