Extra 2: Pregnancy (6)

Even at seven months pregnant, Wen Jiu had not experienced any severe physical reactions. Her belly remained smooth and fair, without a single stretch mark—a result, in part, of Gu Zehuai’s insistence on applying preventative oil every single day.

Wen Jiu gently stroked her belly and smiled, saying, "Baby, why are you so well-behaved?"

From the moment she conceived until now, Wen Jiu had barely suffered any discomfort.

The baby in her womb seemed to understand the praise, moving its tiny hands and feet in response. Wen Jiu felt it, and Gu Zehuai, standing right beside her, saw it too.

"Did the baby understand what Mommy said?" Gu Zehuai asked tenderly. No sooner had he spoken than Wen Jiu’s belly was given another soft kick.

Overjoyed, Gu Zehuai pressed his face against her abdomen once more. He simply could not wait to meet their little one.

—

The next day, Wen Jiu invited Shen Mengxia, Yu Keyan, and Lin Lehan over to her home.

Lin Lehan had since graduated and started working at her family’s company. Because she was so busy, she hadn’t been able to hang out much lately, so when she saw Wen Jiu’s belly, she was curious about what it felt like.

"Sister Jiu, this is so amazing! Can I touch it?" Lin Lehan asked, staring intently at Wen Jiu’s midsection.

"Of course! Who knows, maybe the baby will give you a response, too."

Lin Lehan, filled with anticipation, carefully placed her hand on Wen Jiu’s belly. It felt firm.

Just as she was about to pull her hand away, she suddenly felt a kick against her palm. Lin Lehan froze in surprise, but Wen Jiu just smiled and explained, "That’s normal fetal movement. The baby probably felt you teasing her."

It was Lin Lehan’s first time experiencing such a thing, and she was awestruck. "This is truly magical. So, this is what it feels like to interact with a baby still in the womb."

Lin Lehan showered her with praise. Yu Keyan and Shen Mengxia, who were also inexperienced, took turns trying as well, though the baby did not offer them any response.

"Looks like a cold and aloof little baby!" Yu Keyan joked. But just then, Wen Jiu felt the baby move again, the skin of her belly rippling with a gentle kick.

Seeing this, everyone burst into laughter. It seemed the baby really could understand them.

"Xiaxia, have you and Senior Ye made any plans yet?" Wen Jiu asked out of curiosity.

To be honest, Shen Mengxia loved children, but she was terrified of the prospect of giving birth—much like how she had once been afraid of marriage.

Shen Mengxia shook her head. "No plans yet. We want to enjoy our life as a couple for a while longer."

They had been married for less than a year, and Shen Mengxia was keen on savoring their time together. She had mentioned this to Ye Chen before, and he respected her wishes completely.

Wen Jiu nodded. Indeed, there was no need to rush.

Since Wen Jiu was no longer as mobile, their gatherings were no longer about shopping or visiting trendy cafes; instead, they met at each other’s homes—either at Wen Jiu’s or Shen Mengxia’s.

Yu Keyan agreed, "Exactly, enjoying a few more years of couple-time sounds great. Just wait for me, though!"

"Hahaha!" The group couldn't help but laugh at her comment.

Seeing Lin Lehan laughing along, Shen Mengxia asked with a smile, "And what about you, Hanhan? Anything going on in your life?"

Shen Mengxia suddenly recalled asking Lin Lehan this same question two years prior, and she couldn't resist a bit of gossip.

She had expected another denial, but this time, Lin Lehan blushed and nodded in response.

Seeing her reaction, Yu Keyan found it amusing and teased, "Which young master has managed to make our Hanhan so shy?"

Yu Keyan had gotten to know Lin Lehan over the last two years through their frequent gatherings with Wen Jiu. Despite Yu Keyan’s slight princess tendencies, she had a good heart and was sincere toward her friends.

Lin Lehan only shook her head. "We’ve only just started seeing each other, and I haven't told my brother or my parents yet."

Lin Lehan wanted to wait until things were more stable before going public. For some reason, the thought of telling her brother felt like confessing to a secret high school romance, even though she was already twenty-four or twenty-five.

The three of them, seeing her bashful state, asked about the general situation and offered some advice before moving on to other topics.

—

Wen Jiu’s pregnancy life was colorful and vibrant. Gu Zehuai had hired professionals to manage her studio, so she didn’t have to worry about the operations. She only worked on her drawings occasionally and made rounds at the studio to ensure everything was in order, leaving her quite free.

Mother Wen stopped traveling, coming over every few days to look after her, and Mother Gu did the same.

Whenever Wen Jiu suggested she come home to visit them instead, they would wave her off. "It’s fine. It’s too much trouble for you to travel back and forth; we’ll just come to see you."

So, Wen Jiu stayed home obediently.

However, whenever she felt restless, she would text Gu Zehuai to let him know she wanted to head to the old family estate or the Wen residence.

Gu Zehuai, never quite at ease, would always insist on accompanying her personally, even if Wen Jiu had already called for the family driver.

In the end, Wen Jiu could only wait for him to go together.

After becoming pregnant, Wen Jiu developed the habit of taking a walk after dinner to aid digestion, which helped prevent that uncomfortable, stuffed feeling.

Gu Zehuai, too, savored these peaceful, cozy moments.