347—Life During Pregnancy

Doctor Xu beamed, "Congratulations." He was a middle-aged man with a chubby figure, and his smile reminded Pei Yueran of the Santa Claus that used to visit the orphanage with gifts for the children.

Of course, it was one of the orphanage workers in disguise, though most children didn't know that until they were slightly older.

Doctor Xu was speaking, "You would need to come to the hospital for an ultrasound, just to check how far along you are exactly and be sure the baby is growing well, as well as for further care."

Li Chuanmo nodded seriously, "We'll be there first thing tomorrow morning." Pei Yueran nodded along.

Doctor Xu soon bid them goodbye and left. Li Chuanmo led her carefully to the bed and laid her down gently.

Pei Yueran could already see in her mind's eye how the next few months of her life would be. Hopefully, being treated like an egg would be bearable.

He looked into her eyes before kissing her reverently. The light in his eyes mirrored the one in hers.

He proceeded to pick his phone, saying, "They need to know."

Pei Yueran decided to dissuade him, "Won't it be better to tell them after the ultrasound? We can't exactly take the test kit to them, can we?"

"Why can't we?"

Pei Yueran looked at him and shook her head, "Anyway, it won't be too late to tell them tomorrow, after our appointment."

Li Chuanmo reluctantly nodded. Left to him alone, he wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but since she said he should wait, he would.

This baby was very special to him, and although he loved the boys very much, this baby gave him a different feeling, as though he or she was a crystalization of his love for her.

He only belatedly realized how much he actually wanted a baby, one that he made with Pei Yueran.

When Xie Weiwan got pregnant with Li Yuchen, he was unbelievably happy as well. He even thought that with the coming of their baby, the cracks that had begun to appear in their marriage back then would heal all on its own. How wrong he was.

When she began threatening him, asking for money and generally making his life miserable in spite of the pregnancy, his hope began to wane. The pregnancy, if anything, made things even worse. He held out, hoping that when she saw their child, she would be happy again with him, but still, nothing.

His real regret was that he missed a big part of Li Yuchen's childhood. He was on yet another business trip when the housekeeper called to say that Li Yuchen had just spoken his first words. His first steps were also witnessed by their housekeeper alone, though Xie Weiwan said she was sleeping when it happened.

Even his first day at daycare and kindergarten were overseen by the teachers who came to pick him up. It was as though both parents didn't care about him. Making it up to him was never and could never be enough, in Li Chuanmo's opinion.

So this pregnancy was like his redemption. He vowed silently to be there for this child every step of the way

That night, Li Chuanmo was happy to sleep with his hands around Pei Yueran's abdomen. It felt like he was hugging his world.

*****

Just a couple of days had passed and Pei Yueran had already been tested to the limits of her patience. When she feared that he would treat her like some fragile item that could break at any moment, she actually guessed right. It was driving her crazy already.

"Chuan, if you don't put me down now, I'll go back to bed and sleep," she threatened him.

"Would that be better? Should I call and tell them we're no longer coming? Are you feeling discomfort anywhere?" he asked worriedly.

It was Pei Yueran herself that suggested this outing, but they hadn't even left the house yet before she started regretting it.

Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Which of his questions should she answer first?

She finally said in exasperation, "The only discomfort I'm feeling is from you! I'm only pregnant, not dying!"

Li Chuanmo frowned at her inauspicious choice of words, "Of course you're not dying. I just don't want you to stress yourself. Doctor Xu said we should be careful."

"But he didn't say I cannot even take a step by myself. Chuan, I wanted to go out so that I could feel like myself again. Stop hovering around me." Pei Yueran said, exasperated.

"But we need to be extra careful. They are twins, two children. It means we should be doubly careful."

"You didn't say that when you were busy working on me the other day." Pei Yueran said with a deadpan expression.

Li Chuanmo: "..."

"That was when I didn't know you were pregnant," Li Chuanmo said sheepishly, his ears slightly pink. "And don't say such things, they'll hear."

Pei Yueran was speechless at his reasoning. It seemed that their situations had now reversed. Months ago, she would have been blushing fiercely at his words. Now he was the one feeling shy.

Besides, the pregnancy had just passed the three-month mark, so how could they hear anything? Even if they could hear, would they understand?

Li Chuanmo was still speaking, "Besides, it's not my fault, you're so sweet that I could lose myself for hours inside—"

"So this is good conversation for them to hear?" Pei Yueran asked, cutting him off.

Never mind, a leopard could never change his spots, no matter what. It had only been less than a minute, but he was already back to using obscene words.

"Oh!" Li Chuanmo covered his mouth, making Pei Yueran laugh. There was something hilarious about watching such a big man panic.

She shook her head as she said, "Talking to you is stressing me out, I want to get some sleep. Let's go visit them in the evening. And don't try to carry me!" She warned as he moved closer.

Giving up, he watched her climb into bed herself before climbing in himself and covering them with the blanket.

"With you like this, I don't see how we can attend Kexin's wedding. If you're going to coddle me like this, I'd rather not go. It'd be too embarrassing." Pei Yueran grumbled.

Xu Kexin's wedding with her arranged marriage partner was set to hold in a few weeks after quite a few twists and turns, and Pei Yueran had earlier promised to be there.

"Isn't that better? Let's stay at home and rest together, okay? I've bought some books for prenatal education. We could read and sing to them."

Pei Yueran shook her head in mock annoyance, "I didn't know you were so keen on prenatal education."

Stretching delicately, she added, " Shouldn't you start by massaging their mother's shoulders first? You can sing and even dance for them later."