Chapter 68:

Tan Mo lay on the thin blanket, her long black hair flowing like algae over her shoulders.

The dark satin bedding made her skin appear as smooth and translucent as untouched snow, her red lips full and inviting, her eyes glistening with moisture. She had shed some of her girlish innocence, gaining a more mature and radiant charm.

She was so beautiful it was hard to look away.

Hearing Xie Qichen’s words, Tan Mo, using the dim light filtering through the curtain slits, lifted her gaze to meet his deep, emotionally charged eyes. Her face flushed as she softly muttered,

“You were the one who said we should wait just a while ago…”

Xie Qichen looked at her, smirking, “I intended to wait, but I just realized that someone couldn’t wait anymore. What should I do?”

Hearing this, Tan Mo felt as though she was the only one being proactive and pouted, “Fine then…”

Xie Qichen feigned confusion, “Hmm?”

Tan Mo lowered her eyelids. When Xie saw her suddenly look so pitiful, he pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and gently coaxed, “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy?”

A few seconds later, Tan Mo met his gaze and whimpered, “Is it because I’m pregnant… that you’re not as interested in me anymore?”

Hearing her question, Xie Qichen suddenly smiled, “Who told you that? Why would you suddenly think this?”

“Isn’t it true? The doctor said we couldn’t do it during the first three months of pregnancy, but now it’s the fourth month and you still don’t want to… it’s just…” Tan Mo blushed and bit her lip, “You’re completely different from before. It’s hard not to suspect…”

Xie Qichen had never known she thought this way and was both annoyed and amused, “Tan Mo, who let you think like this?”

He pulled her closer into his arms and whispered fiercely into her ear,

“This is called losing interest, huh?”

His words sent her heart racing. She softly called out as she met his dark gaze:

“Do you know how hard it’s been for me lately?”

Her heart trembled as he huskily continued, “It’s often unbearable just holding you.”

His voice, filled with intense desire, fell against her ear, “Know this—if you weren’t pregnant, you wouldn’t be getting out of bed today.”

“…”

Tan Mo’s ears turned red from his hot breath. Xie Qichen explained, “The reason I said to wait was because I was afraid of hurting you. But I just looked it up online, and as long as we’re careful, it should be fine. So, if you feel uncomfortable later, tell me, okay?”

Tan Mo softly agreed, then hesitated, “But the aunts have already made breakfast downstairs. What if they come up and find us?”

“Would they even be surprised if they did?”

Back at home, sometimes when Xie was overcome with passion, he would pull her into the study or the rooftop garden, and occasionally the aunts would find out. But they never commented, pretending not to notice so as not to disturb them. After all, it was perfectly normal. Plus, the bedroom was soundproofed.

Xie teased, “Later, I’ll tell them we’ve already had breakfast in the room today.”

Tan Mo shyly hit him, then playfully murmured, “Actually, it’s not just the two of us who know…”

“Hmm?”

She smiled, “There’s also a little nightlight.”

A smile flickered in Xie’s eyes as he rained down little kisses, “That’s fine. Then let him see how his dad got him made.”

“Ugh…”

Tan Mo blushed furiously at his words, and then Xie’s hot kiss captured her lips, capturing all her attention.

A few seconds later, Tan Mo closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him.

Xie rolled over, and Tan Mo was drawn into their private world…

Outside the window, a gentle breeze blew, swaying the locust tree branches outside the villa.

Sunlight filtered through, and time seemed to stretch lazily.

An hour later, the bedroom finally returned to calm.

A faint, sweet, and languid fragrance drifted through the air. The dim light made it feel like a secret, intimate night.

At that moment, Tan Mo lay still in Xie’s strong embrace, as if she had just finished a marathon.

More blissful than a brief separation.

Tan Mo felt as though she had just emerged from a warm spring, closing her eyes instinctively lifting her chin to meet Xie Qichen’s tender kisses.

After satisfying a craving that had lasted over four months, she was in a great mood but too exhausted to move even a finger.

Earlier, to be careful with Tan Mo’s condition, Xie had been especially cautious, letting her take the lead. But twenty minutes ago, the young girl had heartlessly declared she’d had enough. The half-satisfied man couldn’t just give up, so he carefully continued to tease her a little longer.

But in the end, Tan Mo was enjoying it too, wanting to be even closer to him from the bottom of her heart.

It wasn’t just about pleasure—it was more about love.

In their loving, private moments, they were each other’s perfect match.

After a while, Tan Mo slowly recovered. Xie leaned over to look at her, gently brushing the sweat-dampened hair from her face, “Does your body feel uncomfortable?”

“No…”

Tan Mo shook her head. Xie fixed his gaze on her, his voice low and enticing,

“Now can you still say I’m not interested in you?”

“…”

Wuwuwu… He’s still such a rogue…

Months have passed, so why does this person still not have a period of awkwardness, but instead become even better? QAQ.

Thinking about the high-quality hour she had just experienced, Tan Mo accused him, “Xie Qichen, not many people can handle you like this…”

Xie chuckled, “As long as you can handle it.”

After some teasing and banter, Xie finally soothed her and got up, lifting Tan Mo into his arms to go clean up.

He placed her in the bathroom first, then went out to get a towel and clean clothes. But when he returned, the bathroom was filled with misty steam, like a fairyland.

The young girl stood under the shower, her slender figure reflected on the glass door covered with water droplets. Her milk-white skin was tinged with faint pink spots, barely visible through the mist, like clouds and fog.

Such a beautiful sight in a man’s eyes—how could it not be a deadly poison?

Xie walked in, pulled her into his arms, lowered his face, his Adam’s apple rolling, his thin lips breathing hot air into her ear:

“Momomo, I’m hungry again.”

After all, he still had to consider that the young girl was pregnant. Xie only indulged a little before finally giving her a fierce kiss and stopping himself.

Tan Mo’s soft red lips were swollen from his kisses. Blushing and pushing against his chest, she complained,

“Xie Qichen, you’re acting like you can’t get enough…”

Xie smiled silently, “If I don’t eat enough, what if I get hungry again later?”

Four whole months, and she still couldn’t satisfy him even if she collapsed from exhaustion…

Finally, Xie became serious, carefully rinsed her off, changed her into a nightgown, and carried her out.

Walking out of the room, Tan Mo was placed on a chaise lounge. She lazily sat there, watching Xie open the curtains, tidy up the room, change the sheets, and finally come over to carry her out of the bedroom.

Going downstairs, the aunts were tidying the living room. Xie calmly said,

“Madam Zhao, please take the sheets from the washing machine and put them out to dry later.”

Madam Zhao turned to look at the man and the Tan Mo in his arms, instantly understanding, and quickly responded,

“Okay, sir. Then… should I heat up breakfast?”

Breakfast had been prepared an hour and a half ago…

Tan Mo blushed and buried her face in Xie Qichen’s shoulder, pretending to be dead. Seeing this, the man calmly said, “No need. We slept too late, so we’ll just have lunch later.”

“Okay.”

Madam Zhao agreed, and then Tan Mo was carried by Xie Qichen to the dining room. Sitting on the chair, she gave him a shy glare, “You have the nerve to say it’s because we slept too late!”

As if no one else knows!

Xie raised his eyebrows, “It was sleeping. Any problem with that?”

“…”

Tan Mo didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

She gave him a cold shoulder and half-lay on the table, drinking soy milk.

“Do you want some toast first? Lunch is still being prepared.”

She grumbled, “I’ve been busy all morning. If I don’t eat something soon, I’ll starve to death.”

Xie smiled, “Wait a moment. I’ll get it.”

Xie took the toast to the microwave to heat it up, then returned and sat beside her. He wiped the soy milk residue from the corner of her mouth with a napkin and fed her the hungry girl, speaking gently, “Eat slowly.”

Tan Mo bit into the toast, leisurely swinging her feet, being pampered like a child as always.

After a while, the phone on the table rang. Tan Mo picked it up and saw it was a call from her mother.

Tan Mo answered, “Hello, Mom—”

“Jiaojiao, I want to ask, are you and Qichen free next Saturday evening?”

“We don’t have any plans yet. What’s up?”

A few seconds later, her mother’s hesitant and inquiring voice came from the other end, “Do you have time… to come back for an engagement party?”

Her mother explained it was Tan Zhiwan and Ying Xiao’s engagement party.

Actually, the story between Tan Zhiwan and Ying Xiao was far from over.

Last year, after Ying Xiao found out about Tan Zhiwan’s situation, the two broke up. Tan Zhiwan had been desperately seeking forgiveness, but when she couldn’t win Ying Xiao back, she fell into despair and even attempted suicide by taking sleeping pills. Fortunately, she was saved in time.

The incident was huge, and eventually, Tan’s father couldn’t bear to see his daughter suffer and went to plead with Ying Xiao. Whether Ying Xiao gave in to public pressure or saw Tan Zhiwan’s sincerity, he eventually chose to reconcile with her, and the two got back together.

However, after such an incident, their relationship was destined to be bumpy. After getting back together, they often had conflicts and arguments, no longer as sweet as before.

Whether this hard-earned happiness was worth it, and whether Ying Xiao truly loved her, outsiders couldn’t tell. Only Tan Zhiwan herself probably knew.

But at least now, Tan Zhiwan no longer provoked Tan Mo.

Sometimes when Tan Mo and Xie Qichen returned to the Tan family for dinner, Tan Zhiwan would also be present, but she no longer acted as arrogantly and domineeringly as before. She mostly kept quiet and was rather reserved.

This time, for the engagement party, it was best for Tan Mo, as Tan Zhiwan’s nominal younger sister, to attend. Her mother said that Ying Xiao had also invited them.

However, Tan Mo’s mother knew that Tan Mo disliked Tan Zhiwan, so she didn’t force them, leaving the decision up to them.

After hanging up, Tan Mo told Xie Qichen about it and asked for his opinion, “What do you think? I want to hear your thoughts.”

The man put down his cutlery, crossed his long legs, and looked at her:

“Personally, I don’t want to go, but out of courtesy, I can accompany you.”

Humans are social creatures, and in society, there are various networks of relationships. Especially among relatives and friends, many things cannot be decided solely by personal wishes.

If Tan Mo didn’t go, the elderly matriarch of the Tan family and other relatives might gossip behind her back, calling her ungrateful for not attending her sister’s wedding banquet. Moreover, Tan Mo was an adopted daughter, and the rumors would certainly cause unnecessary trouble.

In short, whatever happens behind closed doors is fine, but publicly, we must maintain appearances.

Tan Mo thought the same way. To take care of her parents’ feelings, she finally sent a message to her mother, saying that she and Xie Qichen would attend.

After that, Tan Mo put the matter aside and continued having breakfast with Xie Qichen.

In the afternoon, the two had a light lunch and then Tan Mo stayed at home reading while Xie Qichen worked beside her. The next day was also spent leisurely in the same way.

…

The weekend passed, and it rained in Licheng, dropping the temperature below ten degrees.

As the weather grew colder, Tan Mo, who always had weak immunity, needed to be especially careful about keeping warm during pregnancy. Worried she would get cold, Xie Qichen had the heating turned on early at home, making it comfortable even to walk barefoot.

On Wednesday, it was Tan Mo’s scheduled prenatal checkup.

In the morning, Tan Mo originally planned to go alone, but Xie Qichen wouldn’t hear of it. He rescheduled his morning meeting to the afternoon and accompanied her to the hospital.

At the hospital, Tan Mo’s health indicators were all normal, and the fetus was developing well.

Through the color ultrasound, Tan Mo and Xie Qichen saw the baby’s image inside her belly. The outline was becoming increasingly clear, and both of them looked at the baby with eyes full of love.

After the checkup, Tan Mo returned to the villa to rest in the afternoon, while Xie Qichen went to the group company.

Midway through the day, Tan Mo received a call from Song Ranxia, asking if it was convenient for them to have dinner together. Tan Mo naturally welcomed them and told them to come over anytime.

In the evening, before Xie Qichen returned home, Song Ranxia and Xun Huo arrived.

Compared to Tan Mo, Song Ranxia’s belly had already started to show, her pregnancy more evident, though she was well taken care of by Xun Huo and looked radiant.

The two pregnant women naturally had endless topics to discuss. Later, Tan Mo showed Song Ranxia the ultrasound images from today.

Song Ranxia looked at the images and said, “Jiaojiao, I feel like you might be having a boy.”

Xun Huo, who was standing beside her, also leaned in, “Yeah, the outline does look a bit like a boy.”

Although the accuracy rate was only about 60 percent, after the fourth month of pregnancy, the baby’s gender could generally be determined by certain outlines. Xun Huo said that a doctor friend of his had mentioned this before.

Xun Huo and Song Ranxia felt that they were likely having a girl.

It wasn’t just about outlines; from various eating habits and physical conditions, people around them often said that Tan Mo was most likely having a boy.

Tan Mo asked Song Ranxia and Xun Huo, “Which do you prefer, a boy or a girl?”

Xun Huo smiled, “Now that we know it’s a girl, of course we prefer a girl.”

Song Ranxia smiled with her eyebrows arched, “Mainly because if it’s a boy, I’m afraid Xun Huo will spoil him. Xun Huo was quite rebellious when he was young, so it’s better if he’s as obedient as I was before.”

Tan Mo nodded with a smile, “Indeed, if it’s a beautiful little girl like Ranxia jie, that would be wonderful.”

Xun Huo: “I think so too, hahaha…”

The three chatted, and after a while, Xie Qichen also returned from the group company.

After dinner in the evening, the four of them went to the second-floor living room and had some tea. The two men talked about the feelings of being expectant fathers, while the two women discussed the sweet troubles of being pregnant, with many topics to share.

At around nine o’clock, when it was getting late, Xun Huo took Song Ranxia back home.

Later, Tan Mo went to take a shower. Half an hour later, she came out of the bathroom and saw Xie Qichen sitting on the sofa, resting a parenting book on his crossed long legs, casually flipping through it.

His eyes, long and narrow with a hint of peach blossom charm, were half-lowered, giving him a naturally cold demeanor even when he wasn’t smiling.

“Finished washing?” He glanced at her.

“Mm, what are you doing?”

Tan Mo sat beside him, and Xie Qichen half-hugged her, “Just finished work, planning to finish reading the rest of this book.”

Tan Mo dried her hair while chatting with him casually. She thought of something and told him, “Today I showed the ultrasound to Ranxia jie and Xun Huo ge. They said our baby might be a boy.”

She talked about their conversation tonight, smiling as she asked him,

“Mr. Xie, a quick interview—do you prefer a boy or a girl?”

“I like both. What’s the matter?”

“I heard that fathers usually prefer little girls. Someone even said in front of me before that if it’s a daughter, she would definitely be cute.”

Xie Qichen’s gaze remained on the book, “I like both sons and daughters. I don’t play favorites.”

“Oh…”

A few seconds later, the man spoke calmly, “A son is good too. He needs to be properly raised.”

“Him?”

“The child needs to start early—horseback riding, Olympiad math, piano, painting, all kinds of tutoring classes. He must excel academically from elementary school to university, be outstanding in everything, and eventually inherit the company early, taking over my position and fulfilling his responsibilities.”

After listening, Tan Mo fell into silence.

“…”

Wow, is it really that hard to be Xie Qichen’s son?

Tan Mo gently patted her belly to comfort the baby, hesitated a bit, and asked, “Then, if it’s a daughter?”

Xie Qichen looked at his book, thought for a while, and finally replied,

“My daughter can do whatever she wants. As long as she’s happy.”

Tan Mo: ………………?

This is called not playing favorites???