Tan Mo felt a tickle on her palm, followed by the man’s low, deep voice, deliberately provocative and teasing, reaching her ears. A small flame spread through her body, making her heart race like an arrow loosed from a bow, pounding loudly, while her face flushed pink.
It was like a master dangling a fish in front of a little kitten and shaking it gently.
She knew full well that she couldn’t possibly resist.
Xie Qichen appeared mature and composed, always serious and meticulous in his daily life, but Tan Mo knew that in certain aspects, the man was definitely not a conventional conservative.
He was mischievous at his core.
Back in their student days, he had been free-spirited and exuded masculinity, attracting many girls who wanted to be close to him.
Combined with his long-term dedication to exercise, his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and defined muscles spoke for themselves, not to mention his natural prowess.
Naturally, Tan Mo had gradually been corrupted by him.
On the dining table, the study desk, in the bathroom, the stairwell, the backyard—they had left memories in every place.
Although their garage was invisible to outsiders, like a hidden sanctuary, for the young girl, an unfamiliar setting still felt brand new.
Feeling the air grow warmer and thinner, Tan Mo lacked the strength to push open the car door, her face flushed with embarrassment:
“Xie Qichen…”
The man leaned forward, meeting her clear, bright cat-like eyes, a slight smile on his lips: “What’s wrong?”
The hunter wanted to wait for the prey to come willingly.
Sure enough, Tan Mo’s gaze fell on his sharp brows and bright eyes, her heart fluttering uncontrollably, and she couldn’t help but lift her chin to offer her red lips.
In the past, Xie Qichen would immediately take control, as if he wanted to crush her in his arms, prying open her teeth for a deep kiss, but today he remained indifferent, even deliberately pulling back.
The little kitten, unable to get her treat and nearly ready to pin him against the seat, looked on the verge of tears, her watery eyes reddening, pitifully:
“Xie Qichen, I won’t be with you anymore…”
Seeing this, the man instantly reached out and pulled her into his lap.
Facing him, he had a hidden smile on his lips, kissing her forehead gently:
“Don’t cry, why are you so sensitive?”
“I hate you…”
“Hate me? Wasn’t it you who provoked me first in the car? Why are you shy now?”
“…”
Tan Mo blushed, “I was just kidding with you…”
“Still playing hard to get?”
Caught in her little game, Tan Mo shyly lowered her gaze, only to have her chin captured. She winced and instinctively pulled back, but Xie Qichen’s kiss became more aggressive, once again capturing her sweet breath in a stormy embrace, swirling and entwining with fierce intensity.
Completely different from his calm and dormant demeanor just moments ago.
He completely shed his disguise, his heart now solely focused on her.
Tan Mo was entranced, wrapping her arms loosely around Xie Qichen’s shoulders, wanting to be even closer to him: “Xie Qichen…”
Her waist was gripped even tighter as he bit her earlobe: “Didn’t get enough at lunch?”
In the end, Tan Mo’s ears burned red as she collapsed against the steering wheel. The man’s Adam’s apple moved, his hot, urgent breath pressing close:
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll keep feeding you.”
–
Only one light illuminated the garage.
The dim lighting attracted swarms of fireflies fluttering inside.
The surroundings were quiet and peaceful, and at this moment, the enclosed space concealed the two of them in their own little world.
It was even more soundproof than the bedroom.
On this winter night, the outdoor temperature was nearly freezing, cold and desolate, while inside the car, it felt like spring blossoms were in full bloom, radiating a warm heat that seeped into their bones.
Because it was too hot, Xie Qichen even turned off the heater midway.
Their closeness intensified, their love continuously concentrating and heating up.
Considering Tan Mo’s pregnancy, Xie Qichen held back his strength and changed tactics to please her. The young girl, pampered by him, called him “older brother,” sinking into the soft clouds, dreamlike and surreal.
The front seats were too cramped, so after a while, he carried her to the back.
In the end, Tan Mo clung to the back of the front seat, her face as red as a persimmon, the man’s heavy breaths hot against her ear, relentless despite her pleas.
Minutes later, she leaned back against his chest, like a broken doll, and Xie Qichen pulled her into his arms, his dark eyes tightly shut, his voice hoarse beyond recognition:
“Baby, I love you so much.”
“I love you too…”
Tan Mo turned her head, her red lips captured by him once again in a stormy kiss.
After a long while, the two slowly calmed down. Xie Qichen’s fingertip brushed her lips, looking at her with a smile, he asked huskily: “Full? Want more?”
Thinking of something, Tan Mo blushed furiously, “Xie Qichen, enough already…”
This guy really doesn’t fear death, right?
Xie Qichen chuckled, grabbing a bottle of mineral water from the nearby seat, feeding her a few sips, then dressing her slightly, and finally kissing her nose:
“I’ll carry you back.”
Xie Qichen said he would clean the car the next day.
He opened the car door, stepped out first, then picked her up, disregarding her skirt, and directly took the elevator to the second floor of the villa.
Fortunately, the villa was empty at the moment. Although shy, Tan Mo was too exhausted to curl up in his arms.
They were just too wild; who would have thought they would end up playing like this.
Upon reaching the second floor, Xie Qichen immediately carried her to the bathroom for a shower. Seeing the marks on her body, Tan Mo puffed her cheeks indignantly accusing him: “Xie Qichen, are you a dog?”
The key was her fair skin, where every mark stood out clearly. In winter, when she wore more clothes, he became even more unrestrained.
Upon hearing this, the man pulled her into his arms, dragging his tone as he asked her:
“What about certain people? Aren’t they cats?”
Tan Mo looked at him: “…”
Well, his body was covered in scratches and bite marks too…
Feeling guilty, Tan Mo hummed, and after finishing the shower, lying back in the room, Xie Qichen gently touched her stomach, “Was the little one well-behaved tonight?”
Tan Mo glanced at him, “With you acting like that, how could he stay calm?”
Xie Qichen laughed, clearly enjoying himself. The young girl lifted her foot, wanting to kick him off the bed: “They say you should take care of the elderly, the weak, the sick, and pregnant women, but all you know is to ‘bully’ a pregnant woman.”
The man’s smile deepened; he whispered soothing words to her. Finally, Tan Mo nestled in his arms, closing her eyes:
“Exercising before sleep really helps with sleeping, I’m so sleepy now…”
He laughed, stroking her head, “Sleep then.”
Tan Mo’s eyes were closed, her lips curling, “Actually, I can also listen to a bedtime story.”
Xie Qichen hugged her, indulging her little childishness: “What bedtime story do you want to hear? I’ll tell you.”
“Hehe, anything is fine…”
The bedside lamp in the room was turned off, and the soft moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making everything gentle and lingering…
–
The end of the year quickly passed, and a new year arrived.
January marked the official arrival of winter in Licheng. With the freezing cold, several small snowfalls brought the temperature to a shivering zero degrees.
This year, the Spring Festival came early. Xie Qichen started getting busy with the year-end affairs at Aochuang, as well as his overseas companies and investment projects, often traveling around.
This busy rhythm had been the norm for him before, but now, things were different.
He now had Tan Mo and their unborn child; they and the family had become his greatest concern.
He worried about Tan Mo’s health, fearing she might get sick or have another accident. Every time he traveled, he would remind her repeatedly. While working hard away from home, he also tried his best to spare time to video call the young girl.
Initially, Xie Qichen was worried she would feel sad from not seeing him for several days. But as it turned out—
It was completely his overthinking.
The fetus was stable, and Tan Mo’s physical and mental condition was well taken care of. So when Xie Qichen wasn’t home, she was like the Monkey King ruling over Flower and Fruit Mountain, often meeting up with friends like Ji Shu to go shopping, eat out, and watch movies, living happily as if immersed in honey. In contrast, it was the man who missed her more.
Moreover, Tan Mo often playfully sent him messages to tease him, saying she had seen many handsome men on the street, making the man thousands of miles away spill countless jars of vinegar.
Once, Xie Qichen was on a business trip for a whole week. One afternoon, he asked what she was doing. Tan Mo had just woken up from her nap, lazily lying on the chaise lounge, and happily typed a few words with a smile:
[I’m looking at handsome guys on my phone, waaah they’re so handsome, I really like them.]
The man, who was about to attend a meeting, turned his face dark: [I’m out here earning money to support the family, and you’re looking at handsome guys at home every day?]
Tan Mo laughed out loud: [They’re really handsome, do you want to see them too?]
Xie Qichen: [No thanks.]
Tan Mo immediately sent over a photo: [What do you think? Isn’t he handsome? I really want to hug him.]
The man opened the photo and saw a Border Collie running against the wind.
Xie Qichen: “…”
Tan Mo knew she had successfully teased him and could already imagine his exasperated expression. She sent a voice message laughing: “Xie Qichen, I really like seeing you get jealous.”
She loved seeing Xie Qichen get jealous and then get proven wrong, laughing nonstop. Finally, the man replied: [Tan Mo, just wait for me.]
Tan Mo didn’t take his words seriously at all. Who knew that the same night, while she was watching a movie in the home theater, the door was pushed open, and the man who was supposed to fly back to Licheng the next day appeared directly in front of her.
He wore a long coat, bringing with him the cold from outside, standing tall and handsome.
He walked toward her, and Tan Mo, startled, dropped the popcorn she was holding:
“Xie Qichen—”
The man bent down and effortlessly picked up the pregnant girl. Startled, she quickly hugged his neck: “Why did you come back early…”
Xie Qichen carried her straight to the bedroom, his burning, deep gaze fixed on her face, a smirk tugging at his lips:
“Isn’t this what you like to see? Me getting jealous?”
“…”
“So now, let me show you what happens when I get jealous.”
The bedroom door slammed shut.
All the unspeakable things were locked inside.
That night, the playful girl was given a thorough lesson by Xie Qichen, making her deeply understand the consequences of teasing him.
“…”
Waaah, this petty and vengeful bad man T_T.
But aside from the scolding, Xie Qichen came back home mainly out of missing her.
When the two, who had been separated, met again, their hearts were filled with longing and joy, wishing to completely belong to each other.
In the end, when the night grew deep and everything was over, Xie Qichen held the young girl in his arms, kissing her gently, filled with tenderness.
Tan Mo opened her eyes, her moist almond-shaped eyes looking at Xie Qichen, her voice soft and delicate:
“Xie Qichen, do you think during the days you were away on business I kept going out to play, every day so happy, like I didn’t miss you at all?”
Meeting her gaze, Xie Qichen held her tightly, his nose slightly tingling: “No, actually, I missed you so, so much, and I was also really, really worried about you…”
It wasn’t just him worrying about her; she was equally concerned about him, tirelessly working overseas.
She worried whether he had eaten properly, whether his work was going smoothly, and whether his health and schedule were okay. She wanted to live every day happily, so he wouldn’t worry about her. She needed to keep herself busy so she wouldn’t feel sad when she was alone and thought about not seeing him…
Hearing this, Xie Qichen’s heart softened, and he kissed the top of her head: “It’s okay, I’m back now, I’ll stay with you.”
Tan Mo smiled gently, “Mm…”
They would be together, just like this…
…
In January, after finishing the year-end tasks, Xie Qichen finally had some free time.
During the holiday, since the girl loved snow and her belly wasn’t too big yet, Xie Qichen first took her to snowy tourist destinations abroad for a couple of days, and then returned to Licheng for New Year’s Eve.
On New Year’s Eve, they first went to Tan Mo’s family for the reunion dinner, and on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they returned to Xie’s house to celebrate with Xie Wenzong. Xie Siyuan and Zhen Mei were also there. The whole family had dinner together, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.
Xie Siyuan loved children. Upon hearing that his sister-in-law was pregnant, he happily brought many gifts for kids from his work abroad, saying they were for his future nephew.
Now, the relationship between the two brothers, Xie Siyuan and Xie Qichen, had improved a lot. As for Xie Wenzong, with his youngest son awake, the group under the management of his eldest son was thriving, and he was about to become a grandfather. He was so happy every day that his health and spirit had improved significantly.
A couple of days later, Xie Qichen’s mother, Yang Xialan, also returned from abroad to spend the New Year with them and visit her beloved daughter-in-law.
She stayed with the young couple in Jiayu Tiancheng for a week, personally cooking nourishing soups to take good care of the young girl. Tan Mo and Xie Qichen, as dutiful children, often took her out to play, fulfilling their filial duty of companionship.
After the seven-day holiday ended, everyone returned to their respective routines.
As Tan Mo moved from the middle to the later stages of pregnancy, her belly grew bigger and bigger.
Surprisingly, although Tan Mo initially had severe morning sickness and had even been hospitalized once after falling, her body had not experienced any severe discomfort throughout the pregnancy. Her diet, sleep, and mental state were all manageable, not suffering too much.
This was not only because her body had been well taken care of, but also because of Xie Qichen’s love and companionship, which gave her a great sense of security.
Tan Mo discovered that since becoming pregnant, she had become even more attached to him.
She didn’t know if he liked her being this way and even asked him. However, the man tapped her head, looked at her helplessly, and said, “We’ve already missed at least four years of loving each other. Do you have any problem being more attached to me?”
Tan Mo couldn’t help but smile. Finally, Xie Qichen hugged her and softly told her, “Being attached to me is the legal right of Mrs. Xie, and I’m more than happy.”
Before, she had been too insecure to be confident in front of him, but now, things were different.
Tan Mo, upon hearing his words, became utterly unrestrained and began to emulate certain people.
After all, Xie Qichen’s clingy image had long been deeply ingrained.
However, Tan Mo never expected that she would eventually crash and burn just like him—
One evening, after taking a shower, Tan Mo was watching TV in the living room, waiting for the man to finish his work. But past ten o’clock, he still hadn’t emerged from the study.
Feeling drowsy, Tan Mo walked to the study and knocked on the door, leaning against the doorframe and poking her little head inside, puffing her cheeks in protest:
“Xie Qichen, when will you be done? I’m so sleepy, but I don’t want to sleep without your kisses and hugs.”
The man lifted his gaze from his laptop, hesitated for a moment, lightly coughed, and softly said, “You go back first. I’ll be done in five minutes.”
“Huh?”
He pressed down the corners of his mouth and indifferently said, “I’m in a meeting.”
Realizing her voice might have been heard inside, Tan Mo: …???
That evening, after finishing his meeting, Xie Qichen returned to the room, where Tan Mo was already curled up in bed like a despondent little ball, tearfully asking him, “Did everyone in the meeting hear my voice?”
Xie Qichen chuckled, “Hmm, probably tomorrow the whole company will know I have a little wife who needs kisses and hugs.”
Tan Mo: “…”
She would rather die than endure the embarrassment. Waaah QAQ.
In short, Tan Mo felt quite embarrassed, but Xie Qichen was delighted, unexpectedly showing off their affection publicly.
Time flew by quickly, grass grew and orioles flew, and spring lingered.
By March, Tan Mo’s belly had grown to eight months large.
With a little one inside, as he continued to grow, Tan Mo’s burden naturally became heavier. Now, going out became inconvenient for her, mainly due to fatigue, and she often experienced fetal movement throughout the night, making it hard for her to rest well.
Tan Mo sighed, guessing the baby inside must really be a boy, too mischievous.
Usually, when Tan Mo couldn’t rest well, Xie Qichen would accompany her all night.
How could a ten-month pregnancy not be difficult? Tan Mo transitioned from a young girl to a mother. He witnessed firsthand the hardships and sacrifices she endured, feeling deeply distressed in his heart, and wished to comfort and care for her as much as possible.
During Tan Mo’s third trimester, Xie Qichen handed over part of the group’s affairs to trustworthy people and spent more time by Tan Mo’s side.
Days passed, the sun rose and set.
Time slowly moved from March to May, finally reaching the due date.
In mid-May, a week before the due date, Tan Mo was admitted to one of the best private maternity hospitals in Licheng.
Needless to say, she felt nervous.
But amidst the nerves, Tan Mo also felt a sense of happiness and relief—
A celebration for all, she was finally going to deliver this baby!
This “annoying” little one would finally stop troubling her!
Moreover, she would finally get to see the child she had eagerly anticipated for months—their child, born into this world.
On the day of delivery, after enduring eight hours of labor pains, Tan Mo was finally wheeled into the delivery room.
Her parents, Xie Wenzong, and Tan Yuanzhou and Ji Shu arrived midway, joining Xie Qichen in waiting for the baby’s birth.
Walking up to Xie Qichen, Tan Yuanzhou smiled and asked, “How are you feeling? The baby is about to be born. Are you excited?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Qichen curled his lips, “I don’t really care about anything else—I just hope that Mo Mo is safe.”
While others were more excited, Xie Qichen was more worried.
He couldn’t forget the moment before she was wheeled into the delivery room—how the little girl’s face had turned pale with pain, sweat beading on her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes, as she held his hand and said how much it hurt.
At that moment, he truly regretted making her a mother.
He feared her pain, hated seeing her cry, and was even more terrified of her facing the same risks he’d seen in news stories about childbirth complications.
Leaning against the wall, Xie Qichen lowered his eyes and gave a self-deprecating smile:
“Suddenly, I remembered that night when I rushed from Licheng to Xicheng, and Tan Mo was in the operating room.”
It was a feeling of helplessness and heart-wrenching pain at its peak.
Hearing this, Tan Yuanzhou patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Don’t worry. Mo Mo and the baby will definitely be safe and sound. Don’t scare yourself.”
Time passed minute by minute.
The sky gradually shifted from daylight to darkness. After several hours, a baby’s cry came from inside, causing everyone’s hearts to leap:
“Is it born?! Has the baby been born?!”
“I heard the crying—it sounds like it!”
Soon after, the delivery room door finally opened.
Xie Qichen rushed forward immediately.
A nurse holding a baby walked up to him with a beaming smile, “Congratulations, Mr. Xie. Mrs. Xie has given birth to a 6.2-pound boy. Both mother and child are safe.”
The surrounding group, including Tan Mo’s parents, rejoiced and celebrated. Xie Qichen glanced at the baby before rushing into the delivery room to see Tan Mo.
Approaching Tan Mo, Xie Qichen took her hand, looking at her with red-rimmed eyes:
“Ten hours, Mo Mo. You’ve worked so hard.”
Sweat still clung to Tan Mo’s nose; she was almost completely exhausted, but she faintly curved her lips toward him and softly asked, “Have you seen the baby yet…”
“Just a quick glance. I could already tell it was a boy, so it wasn’t that surprising.”
Xie Qichen focused solely on her: “Right now, I care more about my wife.”
Tan Mo’s eyes moistened slightly as she smiled.
Exhausted, she soon fell asleep.
She was wheeled back to her recovery room, and the little one was brought over, placed in the small crib beside her.
The others had been worried all day, so Xie Qichen sent everyone to eat. Both families, along with Ji Shu and Tan Yuanzhou, went to have dinner first, while Xie Qichen stayed in the room with Tan Mo.
Outside the window, the sun had completely set, and night had fallen.
Sitting beside the bed, Xie Qichen gently wiped the sweat from Tan Mo’s forehead and quietly kept her company.
After a while, with nothing else to do, his gaze finally shifted from Tan Mo to the small crib beside him—
The little one lay quietly, skin red and wrinkled, arms crossed over his chest, tiny fists clenched, a small bundle.
Xie Qichen looked at him: …
For a moment, he doubted whether this baby’s looks were really his.
But having read parenting books, he knew newborns often weren’t pretty and would improve after some time.
The man gazed at the little one.
The baby also opened his eyes, seemingly looking in his direction.
Suddenly, they stared at each other in silence.
The atmosphere became oddly awkward.
Ever since the baby was born, Xie Qichen hadn’t really interacted much with him: …
Isn’t it a bit impolite not to hold him at all?
A few seconds later, he stood up and walked toward the crib.
Looking down at the little one he had imagined countless times but was now truly before him, he hesitated, unsure how to proceed.
Even though he had studied from books, the actual practice was entirely different.
Standing beside the crib, Xie Qichen tried to extend his hand but feared hurting the baby.
At that moment, the ward door was pushed open.
A nurse entered to check on them and, seeing Xie Qichen’s hesitant expression, smiled and asked:
“Mr. Xie, you must really like the baby and want to hold him now, right? Would you like me to help?”
The man coughed lightly twice, calmly withdrew his hand after a few seconds, and unexpectedly said:
“No, it’s okay. I don’t need help.”
“…We’re not really that familiar yet.”
Nurse: ??
Are you even the real father??
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