How did she end up pregnant so suddenly?
“Still feeling unwell? I’ll call the doctor.” Zhuang Qiting waved for Li Guanjia to fetch the family doctor, then handed her a cup of lime and preserved plum honey tea. “Take a sip, darling, it’ll help.”
Li Yaru shot Zhuang Qiting with a resentful glare. “It’s all your fault!”
“It’s all my fault.”
“Of course it is! The condom couldn’t even block the mess!”
Luckily, the servants had all left.
Zhuang Qiting barely managed to save face. “Ah Rou, it’s all my fault, I’m sorry. Take a sip, you’ll feel better.”
Li Yaru took a big gulp. The sweet and tangy taste barely eased her nausea.
She closed her eyes, pressed a hand to her chest, and slumped over the cushion, too drained to speak.
Worried she wasn’t comfortable, Zhuang Qiting took two more pillows and stuffed them behind her waist.
Li Yaru was always energetic, lively, and she never even had cramps during her period.
Since the pregnancy symptoms started, she’d had no energy—eating too much made her uncomfortable, eating too little was the same, moving or lying down didn’t help, and she’d lost three jin in just one week.
Zhuang Qiting was worried but helpless, letting her ride roughshod over him, just hoping she’d be a little happier.
He’d gone over everything in his mind countless times, but still couldn’t figure out which time it happened.
He could only guarantee he’d used condoms every single time without exception.
Maybe he’d just lingered too long a few times, leaving it in, and something had leaked out from the edges, sneaking in.
Who could say for sure?
But it was already done.
“You’re going to be a mother, darling.” Once Zhuang Qiting realized that, all his worries faded, leaving only endless tenderness.
His big hand caressed her soft, fair belly. There was no visible bump yet, but a strong seed belonging to him had already taken root inside.
She was now his in every way, about to give him a daughter. After becoming his wife, she’d also become the mother of his daughter.
Li Yaru’s face twisted in misery at the word “mommy”—as if it could get any worse.
She was still young and beautiful, in the prime of her life, and just as she was about to enjoy a Roman holiday—she got pregnant!!
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she got. Fuming, she knelt on the sofa, grabbed a cushion, and flung it at Zhuang Qiting without mercy.
She was no longer afraid of him at all.
“It’s all your fault! All your fault! Look what you’ve done! You ruined my holiday! How am I supposed to go to school now? Am I supposed to waddle around campus with a huge belly?”
Since getting pregnant, Li Yaru’s temper had grown even worse.
Zhuang Qiting didn’t dare act like the big boss he used to be—he couldn’t provoke her at all, only coax her like a living ancestor.
The more he coaxed, the more spoiled she became, completely domineering.
“Ah Rou… slow down.”
Zhuang Qiting didn’t dare snatch things from her by force. After taking a few hits, he waited for the right moment, then pulled her into his arms, disarming her and rubbing her back.
Once she finally quieted down, looking more comfortable, he carried her back to the bedroom.
After her bath and taking the supplements the doctor prescribed, he coaxed her into drinking half a bowl of milk and bird’s nest.
She refused to drink the rest, so Zhuang Qiting had to finish it himself.
Since getting married, he hadn’t stayed at the Zhuang Residence, but at the Shallow Water Bay Garden Villa with its Southeast Asian flair.
Now that Li Yaru was pregnant, Zhuang Qiting was considering moving back to the Zhuang Residence for peace of mind.
The villa was nice, but too small, with not enough staff—unsuitable for his wife to rest.
Mother was also urging him to bring Li Yaru over as soon as possible.
The Zhuang Residence already had an entire support team set up, including a chef, nutritionist, private doctor, experienced nannies, and nurses.
Zhuang Qiting kept all this to himself for now, afraid Li Yaru wouldn’t want to live under the same roof as his family, especially with his mother there.
Even though the house was enormous—so big everyone had their own villa and it took fifteen minutes to walk between bedrooms—if she wanted to avoid them, she could go a week without seeing anyone.
Most young women weren’t willing to live with their mothers-in-law.
“Ah Rou, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“Mm… go ahead.”
Li Yaru was absorbed in a popular new handheld game console.
Usually, he’d confiscate it and make her look at him while he spoke, but now he let her play, feeling like a subordinate reporting to a boss.
On the screen, a black-and-white Snake moved around, eating dots and growing longer with each one.
“Would you be willing to move back to the Zhuang Residence?”
“It’s pretty nice living here.” Li Yaru swung her legs, answering absentmindedly.
“It’s too small here, and there aren’t enough staff. You’d be better taken care of at the Zhuang Residence, and I’d feel more at ease.”
“Fine, we’ll move. All my clothes and shoes have to come too.”
Li Yaru didn’t care where she lived—as long as there was space for all her precious clothes, shoes, and jewelry, anywhere was fine.
Zhuang Qiting didn’t expect her to agree so easily. He paused, softening his tone even more.
“My mother also lives at the Zhuang Residence, you know? And my second and third brothers—they don’t always stay there, but they come back a few times a week.”
The fourth brother was at university in America and only returned during holidays.
Her game ended—her snake died. Li Yaru pouted, putting the console down. “Of course I’m willing. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I thought young women like you wouldn’t want to live with your husband’s family.”
Li Yaru laughed, tilting her head. “Your mom is great—her cookies are delicious, she often buys me things, and she gives me eight hundred thousand a month for pocket money.”
“Besides, if I can put up with living with you, of course I can live with your mom. She’s much gentler than you. Your brothers are all handsome and funny—way better than you.”
“………………”
Zhuang Qiting clenched his teeth, his eyes darkening, but kept his voice steady and pleasant. “So I’m not good? Not gentle? Not funny? Not… handsome?”
As for money, he’d never shortchanged her.
He’d even linked his private Shenghui Bank account to Li Yaru’s, letting her spend however she liked.
There was no such thing as pocket money—they were all hers.
Suddenly, Li Yaru threw a tantrum, tossing the console at him and pointing at her belly.
“Are you good to me? I don’t even know what to do now! Not only is my holiday ruined, but I can’t even go to school.”
Zhuang Qiting’s throat burned, all his worries vanishing at the thought of her pregnancy.
He couldn’t afford to let his frightening possessiveness show and scare her off.
“It’s my fault, Ah Rou.” He apologized softly, coaxing her.
“Don’t worry about school. I’ll help you apply for a gap year. Once the baby’s born, you can go back whenever you want. Just focus on being happy and healthy this year, okay?”
“I wanted to go on vacation.” Li Yaru was truly unwilling. How could her perfectly good holiday be ruined?
Zhuang Qiting looked at her angry little face, like a puffed-up hamster, and relented.
“Once our daughter is stable, we’ll go to Tokyo—Rome is too far. You wouldn’t be able to handle a long flight.”
Only then was Li Yaru satisfied, barely giving him a smile.
“No fooling around…”
Zhuang Qiting frowned tightly, feeling her completely chaotic and clueless teasing. It wasn’t even teasing—it was just torment.
She was truly so mischievous, playful. She knew he’d been holding back for a whole month, and yet still deliberately provoked him.
Li Yaru didn’t say anything, just let out the occasional soft giggle.
Her fair, delicate fingers kept squeezing and pinching, pressing down hard around the tip of the pillar, and when she felt him tremble, she giggled and withdrew her hand, not touching the burning iron again.
“Sleep now! Don’t try anything, or if you bother our daughter, I’ll complain to her.”
Snuggling comfortably into her pillow, she rolled over, closed her eyes, and went right to sleep, completely ignoring him.
Zhuang Qiting lay awake in the darkness, that part of him already swollen and hot, yet she only riled him up and left him hanging.
He swallowed dryly, his eyes sharp and deep, fixed on her slender neck.
Fine, let her do as she pleases, rule over him as much as she likes. Once she gives birth, he’ll settle the score, one lesson at a time.