Extra Story 2: Pregnancy (3)

When Wen Jiu woke up, Gu Zehuai was already gone. The slightly cool sensation of the sheets beside her revealed that he had been up for quite some time.

Checking the alarm clock, Wen Jiu realized it was already four-thirty; she had essentially slept the entire afternoon. No wonder Gu Zehuai wasn't in the room. With this thought, she got up to freshen up. Just as she sat on the edge of the bed, ready to put on her slippers, Gu Zehuai pushed the door open and walked in.

"How did you know I was awake?" Wen Jiu asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Perhaps we are kindred spirits," Gu Zehuai teased. In reality, he had only slept for about half an hour before waking up. Seeing that Wen Jiu was sound asleep, he hadn't wanted to disturb her, so he would check on her every so often. Sensing that she should be waking up soon, he had come in to check. Wen Jiu, assuming it was just a coincidence, waited for him to walk over and carry her to the bathroom. Whenever she felt lazy at home, she would cling to him to be carried, so as soon as she reached out her hand, he knew exactly what she wanted. With a light lift, she was swept into his arms and carried into the bathroom.

As she squeezed out toothpaste, Wen Jiu suddenly asked, "Are Mom and Dad back yet?" She immediately realized it wasn't even five o'clock yet; it was far too early for them to be back from work. She sighed, wondering if the old saying about pregnancy making one foolish for three years was actually true.

Gu Zehuai didn't think much of it and simply replied, "Not yet, but Yuyu is home."

In her younger years, Mother Gu had worked alongside Father Gu, becoming a renowned businesswoman in the corporate world with exceptional ability. It was only in recent years that she had begun to step back, spending her time shopping or playing cards with other wealthy socialites. Occasionally, she would still accompany Father Gu to the company to oversee operations or handle some business.

Wen Jiu nodded in understanding, but just as she was about to speak, a wave of nausea hit her. She couldn't help but retch. Gu Zehuai reacted instantly, patting her back gently. Once she had caught her breath, he held the rinsing cup to her lips. After rinsing her mouth, Wen Jiu felt a bit better. She found it strange; she hadn't felt a single symptom before finding out she was pregnant, yet now that it was confirmed, the reactions had begun.

Once she was sure she was fine, she went downstairs with Gu Zehuai. As they reached the stairs, Gu Yulin turned his head from the sofa and called out, "Little Aunt."

Wen Jiu sat down beside him and responded with a smile, "School's out? How was your day? Did you have fun?"

Gu Yulin was already eight years old, a second-grader in elementary school. He no longer looked as childish as he once had, and there were faint traces of Gu Zeqian’s features in his face. At his aunt’s question, the boy pondered earnestly for a moment before his eyes lit up. "It was fun! Today, Xiaoran gave me a notebook with drawings she made herself. They're super pretty!"

Gu Zehuai, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. *This kid, at such a young age...*

Oblivious to his uncle’s amused expression, Gu Yulin excitedly took the notebook out of his schoolbag to show Wen Jiu.

Wen Jiu flipped through a few pages. Each drawing was delicate and detailed; it wasn't hard to see the care the young girl had put into them. Wen Jiu found it interesting. She knew the girl was likely just a classmate, but given their age, she felt it appropriate to offer some subtle guidance. Calmly, she asked, "These are really beautiful. I'm curious, who is Xiaoran?"

"Xiaoran is the girl who sits next to me," Gu Yulin answered innocently. "We're best friends! She lives near us, and Mom and Dad have even taken me to visit her house before!"

Hearing this, Wen Jiu gained some understanding of the girl's background and their situation, so she didn't say anything more.

It was only then that Gu Yulin noticed Gu Zehuai’s expression. He arched his eyebrows at his uncle, his tone filled with boastfulness. "Little Uncle, you didn't have this when you were little, did you? Hehe, I do!"

Watching the little brat’s smug expression, Gu Zehuai couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't have that when I was a kid, but I have a wife now. Do you?"

Gu Yulin’s little face immediately fell. His uncle was right—he really didn't have a wife. He felt quite dejected.

Wen Jiu looked at Gu Yulin’s childish retort and shot a playful glare at Gu Zehuai. *Why are you saying things like that to a child?*

Gu Zehuai caught her meaning but simply smiled back at her. If one wanted to win a wife, one had to be thick-skinned.