Chapter 64:

Shen Qingzhou’s newly purchased house in Beijing was not only located in a prime area but was also a spacious two-story villa, naturally priced at a level that left most people in awe. With this house, the issue of buying a home for their marriage no longer existed. However, some furniture suitable for a woman’s tastes still needed to be acquired.

Speaking of furniture, a nursery for the baby also needed to be arranged. Lin Qiao was already pregnant, and nearly a third of the ten-month pregnancy had passed. Her belly had begun to swell, and childbirth was no longer a distant event. While preparing for their wedding necessities, it made sense to simultaneously set up the baby’s room.

Shen Qingzhou contacted a familiar renovation company and had them convert a small room adjacent to their bedroom. He personally sketched out the design details, giving countless instructions before finally taking Lin Qiao to the supermarket to shop.

Lin Qiao was now more than four months pregnant. Compared to other expectant mothers, her belly showed more prominently, and she had already begun wearing loose clothing. Shen Qingzhou held her hand as she wore a chiffon dress with an elastic waistband just beneath her chest, ensuring comfort without pressing on her stomach. As the weather had gotten colder, she also wore stretchy leggings underneath. Although she wasn’t quite as fashionably striking as before, she willingly sacrificed style for the baby’s well-being.

With a visibly pregnant woman by his side, Shen Qingzhou—who usually drew attention wherever he went—was now far less conspicuous. Previously, when Lin Qiao wasn’t pregnant, people could still imagine that he might be available. But now, with her belly clearly showing, it was obvious they were newlyweds soon to become parents. No girl wanted to play the role of a stepmother, at least not among those with normal values.

As for those with questionable values, they were simply outside the realm of consideration.

Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou first headed to the baby products section. After walking around for a bit, Lin Qiao realized that baby-related items were often more expensive than adult products. However, this was understandable—babies had delicate skin, so everything needed to be of high quality, unlike adult products where corners could be cut. With the rising cost of living, the higher prices were justifiable.

Shen Qingzhou’s house in Beijing was newly purchased. With its prime location and being a two-story villa, the price was naturally beyond the reach of most people. Owning such a property meant there was no issue about buying a house for marriage, but they still needed to furnish it with some furniture suited for a woman.

Speaking of furnishing, the nursery for after the wedding also needed to be prepared. Lin Qiao was already pregnant, and one-third of the ten-month pregnancy had passed. Her belly had begun to swell, and childbirth was no longer a distant event. While preparing wedding necessities, the nursery also had to be set up.

Shen Qingzhou enlisted a familiar renovation company to tidy up a small room adjacent to their bedroom. He provided detailed instructions on how it should be decorated, emphasizing his requirements repeatedly before finally taking Lin Qiao to the supermarket to shop.

Lin Qiao was about four months pregnant. Compared to other expectant mothers, her belly had grown more noticeably, and she already needed to wear loose clothing.

Shen Qingzhou held her arm as they walked. She wore a loose chiffon dress with an elastic waistline just below her chest, ensuring it didn’t press on her belly. As the weather grew colder, she also wore stretchy leggings. Though not as stylish as before, she was willing to make the sacrifice for the baby’s sake.

With his pregnant wife by his side, Shen Qingzhou, who usually attracted attention wherever he went, was no longer the center of attention. Before Lin Qiao’s pregnancy, others might have assumed he was unmarried, leaving room for hope. But now, with her visibly pregnant belly, it was clear they were a married couple soon to become parents. No sensible woman would want to be a stepmother, at least not those with sound values.

As for those with questionable values, they were not worth considering.

Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou first headed to the baby products section. After browsing for a while, Lin Qiao realized that children’s items were far more expensive than adults’. But it made sense—children had delicate skin and required high-quality materials, unlike adults who could make do with less. With rising prices, the cost was understandable.

Lin Qiao carefully selected clothes, hats, toys, and other essentials for the baby. Meanwhile, Shen Qingzhou stood idly by, scrolling through his phone. When Lin Qiao noticed, she pinched him lightly, eliciting a soft laugh from the store assistant.

Lin Qiao smiled apologetically at the assistant before pulling Shen Qingzhou aside and whispering, “Are you annoyed about shopping with me?”

Shen Qingzhou had grown even more handsome. His eyebrows were finely shaped, accentuating his sharp brow bones. His face was always clean-shaven, smooth and radiant like the bright moon in the night sky. His dark, narrow eyes were deep and captivating, sparkling like stars when he looked at you, making it impossible to look away.

In response to Lin Qiao’s accusation, Shen Qingzhou chuckled briefly, put away his phone, and explained, “Not at all.”

Watching him slip his phone back into his Zhongshan suit pocket, Lin Qiao smiled faintly. She didn’t call out his impatience, understanding men’s general aversion to shopping. She simply picked up the pace, selected what she needed, and urged him to pay before moving on to choose a dressing table.

When it came to selecting a dressing table, Shen Qingzhou was noticeably more engaged. He bent slightly, carefully examining each piece Lin Qiao showed interest in. After rejecting several options, he finally nodded just as she was about to lose patience.

“This one is acceptable,” he said calmly, pointing to a white European-style dressing table. “Don’t rush. Something like this requires careful consideration. It has a mirror, so its placement needs to be well thought out. I need to visualize its position and orientation, which takes time. Otherwise, it could cause complications.”

The store assistant looked somewhat confused after Shen Qingzhou’s lengthy explanation, turning to Lin Qiao for clarification. Lin Qiao awkwardly said, “Please don’t mind him. My husband is very particular about feng shui. We’ll take this one. Please deliver it to this address.” She handed the assistant a pre-written address and asked, “Where can we pay?”

The mention of payment snapped the assistant back to attention. The young woman promptly replied, “Right this way. I’ll take you. Ma’am, please watch your step.”

Lin Qiao thanked her and followed to make the payment. Shen Qingzhou had already given her his bank card, so he didn’t need to be involved in the transaction. He stayed behind to examine the unfinished details.

He never used credit cards. In his words, he had enough savings and saw no need to deal with monthly bank repayments. His mind was occupied with more important matters, and bills were never a concern.

After buying the dressing table, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou purchased some bedding and clothes. Pregnancy progressed quickly, and though her belly wasn’t very noticeable yet, it would change significantly by the fifth or sixth month. Her current waistline-fitting clothes would soon become unwearable, so maternity wear needed to be prepared early.

Once they had everything they needed, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou returned home. When they arrived, Lin Huiming and Xie Jiayi were already there, busy with something at the table.

Notably, Du Xinling and Xiao Ning were also present. Xiao Ning had been in good health lately, so Du Xinling brought him home for a few days. Staying in the hospital for too long would make any child feel stifled.

Hearing the door open, Xiao Ning was the first to run over, eager to give Lin Qiao a hug. Unfortunately, his father stopped him.

“No,” Shen Qingzhou said sternly, frowning. “Xiao Ning, you can’t hug her like that from now on.”

Xiao Ning looked up and asked, “Why? She’s almost my mom. Can’t I even hug her?”

Lin Qiao felt a bit awkward and tugged at Shen Qingzhou’s sleeve. Shen Qingzhou held her hand and explained to Xiao Ning, “Because Aunt Lin is pregnant. She can’t handle such rough hugs.”

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment before finally understanding. “Oh,” he said,恍然大悟, “so that’s why Dad asked me last time if I wanted a little sister…” He looked thoughtfully at Lin Qiao’s belly and murmured, “So Aunt Lin is pregnant.”

Du Xinling sauntered over to the doorway, leaning against the staircase as he watched Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou. Seeing Shen Qingzhou carrying bags of shopping, he couldn’t help but laugh, remarking with a hint of schadenfreude, “So you’ve finally met your match.”

Shen Qingzhou shot him a sidelong glance and silently carried the bags inside.

Xiao Ning, still standing there, was as puzzled as Lin Qiao by Du Xinling’s comment. Being straightforward, he asked, “Uncle Du, why did you say Dad has finally met his match?”

Du Xinling smiled at the child and said, “Xiao Ning, your dad never used to carry things when we went out. He’d always make excuses—either it didn’t match his outfit or the color was unlucky. He had all sorts of reasons to avoid carrying anything.”

Xiao Ning blinked, taking a moment to process this. He turned to Lin Qiao and asked, “Aunt Lin, did Dad refuse to carry things today?”

Lin Qiao thought for a moment and said, “No.” She recalled carefully and added, “He was quite proactive. He didn’t even let me carry anything.”

Xiao Ning sighed and walked over to Du Xinling, speaking in a consoling tone, “Uncle Du, I think it all boils down to one reason.”

“What reason?” Du Xinling asked, confused by the child’s words.

“Because you’re a man,” Xiao Ning said matter-of-factly. “And a grown man at that. Dad never makes me carry my own things. Whenever he takes me to school, he carries my backpack.”

Du Xinling’s expression turned bittersweet. He patted Xiao Ning’s head and sighed. “Alright, enough joking. Come inside and rest. Aunt Lin must be tired after walking all day.”

Lin Qiao smiled and nodded. After changing her shoes, she entered the house. Xiao Ning walked slowly, as if waiting for her. When they were side by side, he took her hand and whispered, “Aunt Lin, after you have your baby, will you still like me?”

Lin Qiao had been worried he might overthink this. She immediately replied, “Of course I will. I’ll treat you and the baby equally.”

“Really?” Xiao Ning looked up, his brows furrowed and lips pursed, his expression pitiful.

Lin Qiao bent down with difficulty and gently stroked his head. “Of course it’s true. You’re such a good boy. How could I not treat you well? The baby will really like having you as a big brother.”

Children are inherently simple-hearted. With this reassurance, Xiao Ning stopped worrying and smiled happily. It was a testament to his upbringing—he was kind-hearted, selfless, and obedient. Otherwise, it could have been a real challenge.

“Aunt Lin,” Xiao Ning suddenly said, “why are you and Dad so sure it’s a sister? It could be a brother.”

By now, they had entered the living room where everyone was gathered. His question caught everyone’s attention.

Lin Qiao looked at Shen Qingzhou, who was standing beside Lin Huiming, watching him practice calligraphy. Lin Huiming intended to personally write the couplets and “喜” (double happiness) characters for their wedding. Xie Jiayi was also there, helping fold paper. The family atmosphere was joyful and lively—it had been a long time since they’d all gathered like this.

“Actually, I never really thought about whether it’s a boy or a girl,” Lin Qiao said, squinting. “Your dad says it’s a girl, so I just go along with it. But whether it’s a sister or a brother, you’ll still like them and protect them, right?” She looked at Xiao Ning, her expression earnest and hopeful, making it impossible for the child to refuse.

“Right,” Xiao Ning nodded firmly. He picked up a cushion and sat on the sofa, patting the spot beside him. “Aunt Lin, come sit down. You’ve been standing too long—the baby must be tired.”

Lin Qiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled warmly. She walked to the sofa and sat down slowly. When she glanced at Shen Qingzhou, she noticed he also looked relieved.

Their biggest concern had always been the children’s feelings. They worried about hurting Xiao Ning or the unborn baby, which had been a lingering worry in their hearts.

Now that everything was out in the open, the knot in their hearts had loosened. Looking around at their family, they felt much more at ease.

Lin Qiao offered the clerk an apologetic smile before pulling Shen Qingzhou aside and quietly asking, “Are you really that impatient about shopping with me?”

Shen Qingzhou had grown even more handsome over time. His long, well-shaped eyebrows were delicately embedded in his brow bone, giving his face a refined look. His face was always cleanly shaven, as radiant as the bright moon in the night sky. His eyes were dark and narrow, deep and captivating, filled with a starry gaze that made it hard for anyone to look away when he fixed his attention on them.

In response to Lin Qiao’s accusation, Shen Qingzhou gave a short laugh before tucking his phone away and explaining, “No.”

Watching him stuff the phone into the pocket of his Zhongshan suit, Lin Qiao smirked slightly but didn’t call him out on his impatience. She understood men’s aversion to shopping and silently sped up her selection process, urging him to pay before moving on to choose a vanity.

This time, Shen Qingzhou was clearly more attentive. He bent slightly to examine each vanity Lin Qiao looked at more than once, rejecting one after another. Finally, just as she was about to lose her patience, he nodded.

“This one is acceptable,” he said indifferently, pointing at a white European-style vanity. “Don’t rush. This kind of furniture needs careful selection. It comes with a mirror, so its placement must be carefully considered. I need time to visualize its position and orientation in our room; otherwise, it could cause trouble.”

The store clerk looked slightly confused after hearing Shen Qingzhou’s lengthy explanation and turned to Lin Qiao with a dazed expression. Lin Qiao, trying to maintain composure, said, “Please don’t mind. My husband pays particular attention to Feng Shui. We’ll take this one and don’t need to look further. Please deliver it to this address.” She handed the clerk a piece of paper with the address already written on it and casually asked, “Where do I pay?”

The word “payment” snapped the clerk back to attention, and the young girl quickly replied, “This way, this way. Please follow me, madam. Watch your step, the floor is slippery.”

Lin Qiao thanked her and followed to make the payment. Shen Qingzhou had already handed her his bank card, so he didn’t need to participate in the payment process and stayed behind to continue inspecting the unfinished details.

He was someone who never used credit cards. In his own words, he had plenty of savings and didn’t need to rely on credit cards that required monthly repayments. His mind was filled with practical matters, and anything as tedious as bills was simply beyond his consideration.

After purchasing the vanity, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou added some bedding and clothes to their list. Pregnancy progressed quickly, and although Lin Qiao’s belly wasn’t yet very noticeable, by the fifth or sixth month, the changes would be significant. Her current wardrobe, designed for a slim figure, wouldn’t fit anymore, so maternity clothes needed to be prepared in advance.

After buying everything they needed, Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou returned home together. Upon arrival, they found Lin Weiming and Xie Jiayi already there, busily working on something at the table.

Notably, Du Xinling and Xiao Ning were also present. Xiao Ning had been in good health lately, so Du Xinling brought him home for a couple of days. It wasn’t healthy for the child to stay in the hospital all the time.

Hearing the door open, Xiao Ning was the first to run over, eager to give Lin Qiao a warm hug, but he was stopped by his father.

“No,” Shen Qingzhou said sternly, frowning. “Xiao Ning, you can’t just hug people like that anymore.”

Xiao Ning looked up and asked, puzzled, “Why not? She’s almost my mom now. Can’t I even give her a hug?”

Lin Qiao felt a bit awkward and tugged at Shen Qingzhou’s sleeve. He gently held her hand and explained to Xiao Ning, “Because Auntie Lin is pregnant now, and she can’t handle you rushing at her like that.”

Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment before suddenly realizing, “Oh! That’s why Dad asked me the other day if I wanted a little sister…” He looked at Lin Qiao’s belly with a childish seriousness and muttered, “So Auntie Lin is pregnant.”

Du Xinling slowly approached the door in three unhurried steps, leaning against the staircase and watching Lin Qiao and Shen Qingzhou. Seeing Shen Qingzhou carrying all the shopping bags, he couldn’t help but laugh with a hint of schadenfreude. “So you’ve finally reached this day too.”

Shen Qingzhou gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing, walking into the house with the bags.

Xiao Ning remained where he was, just like Lin Qiao, puzzled by Du Xinling’s words. Being a child, he asked directly, “Uncle Du, why did you say Dad has finally reached this day?”

Du Xinling smiled at the boy and said, “Xiao Ning, your dad used to never carry anything when he went out. He always had excuses—saying it didn’t match his outfit or that carrying it would bring bad luck because of the color. He always had some reason not to carry anything.”

Xiao Ning blinked for a while before finally understanding. He turned to Lin Qiao and asked, “Then Auntie Lin, did Dad refuse to carry anything today?”

Lin Qiao thought for a moment and replied, “No. He was actually quite proactive. He didn’t even let me carry anything by myself.”

Xiao Ning sighed and walked over to Du Xinling, offering a comforting tone. “Uncle Du, I think the real reason is just one thing.”

“What reason?” Du Xinling was confused by the child’s comment.

“Because you’re a guy,” Xiao Ning said matter-of-factly. “And not just any guy, but a grown-up man. Dad never lets me carry anything by myself. Every time he drops me off at school, he carries my backpack for me.”

Du Xinling’s face fell into a wry smile as he ruffled Xiao Ning’s hair and sighed. “Alright, enough jokes. Come inside and rest. Auntie Lin must be tired after walking all day.”

Lin Qiao smiled and nodded, took off her shoes, and entered the house. Xiao Ning walked slowly, as if waiting for her. When she finally caught up, he took her hand and whispered, “Auntie Lin, when you have your little sister, will you like me less?”

Lin Qiao feared he might start worrying like this, so she immediately replied, “Of course not. Auntie Lin will love you just as much as the baby sister.”

“Really?” Xiao Ning looked up, his eyebrows furrowed and his little lips pursed, looking especially pitiful.

Lin Qiao bent down with some difficulty and gently patted his head, softly saying, “Of course it’s true. You’re such a good boy, Xiao Ning. Auntie Lin would never treat you any less lovingly. Your little sister will also adore you as her big brother.”

Children are naturally simple-minded. With this assurance, Xiao Ning stopped worrying and happily smiled. In fact, it was because Xiao Ning had been well-raised—kind-hearted, unselfish, and obedient—that he wasn’t a major concern.

“Auntie Lin,” Xiao Ning suddenly asked, “why are you and Dad so sure it’s going to be a girl? It could also be a little brother, right?”

By this time, Lin Qiao had already entered the living room with him, and everyone was there. Therefore, his question drew everyone’s attention.

Lin Qiao looked at Shen Qingzhou, who was next to Lin Weiming, watching him write. Lin Qiao’s father had come in person to write the couplets and “Xi” characters needed for their wedding. Xie Jiayi was also helping with the paper folding. The whole family was together, enjoying a warm and happy atmosphere. It had been a long time since they had been this lively.

“Actually, I haven’t really thought about whether it’s a boy or a girl,” Lin Qiao said, squinting slightly. “Your dad said it’s a girl, so I just went along with that. But whether it’s a sister or a brother, Xiao Ning will love and protect him or her just the same, right?” She looked at Xiao Ning, her eyes filled with sincerity and expectation. Such a gaze was impossible for a child to refuse.

“Right,” Xiao Ning nodded firmly, hugging a pillow and patting the seat next to him on the sofa. “Auntie Lin, come sit here quickly. Standing for too long must have tired the baby.”

Lin Qiao was momentarily taken aback, then smiled gently and slowly sat down on the sofa. Looking toward Shen Qingzhou, she noticed that his expression was also filled with contentment.

Their biggest challenge had always been the child’s heart. They were worried about hurting Xiao Ning and also about hurting the unborn child, so there had always been a knot in their hearts.

Now that everything had been spoken openly, the knot in their hearts was finally untied. Looking around at the joyful scene, their moods improved significantly.