Chapter 25

Jiang Zhe sent a message: [Wait for me. I’m coming over now.]

He then immediately drove over.

Seeing Jiang Yu waiting for Jiang Zhe, Mother Jiang yawned and said, “Are you waiting here for him? Mom is going to bed.”

Knowing someone would make her food, Jiang Yu was in a great mood. Seeing her mother struggling to keep her eyes open, she cheerfully waved, “Goodnight, Mom. Sleep well.”

Mother Jiang then went to bed. Jiang Zhe didn’t make Jiang Yu wait long and arrived quickly.

The moment the doorbell rang, Jiang Yu felt so excited she could almost jump up. She hurried to open the door.

Jiang Zhe hadn’t seen Jiang Yu for a few days, and when the door opened to reveal her smiling face, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him.

He was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, which was a change from his usual white attire. Jiang Yu always felt a little dazzled whenever she saw him in black.

“You’re here!” she exclaimed, stepping outside to link her arm through his. “Let’s go!”

Jiang Zhe didn’t speak, his gaze lingering on her.

Jiang Yu, puzzled, glanced at her outfit and chuckled, “Oh, I forgot!”

She added, “It’s probably the pregnancy making me forgetful. Hmph.”

Jiang Zhe gently pushed her back inside, saying softly, “It’s okay. I can wait. Just grab another piece of clothing, and I’ll wait for you.”

“Okay!”

Jiang Yu quickly changed, and when she came out, she saw him leaning against the door, focused on his phone. His side profile was incredibly handsome, with long, narrow eyes and lashes like little brushes, exuding a quiet charm in his black shirt.

Sneaking up behind him, Jiang Yu tiptoed and covered his eyes with her hands. “Guess who I am?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “I can’t guess.”

She giggled as she released her hands, then remembered, “I forgot my jacket!”

She rushed back to grab it.

Once they were in the car and Jiang Yu had fastened her seatbelt, she asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Jiang Zhe replied with a question, “Aren’t you the one who wants something?”

After thinking for a moment, she suggested, “How about some skewers? I haven’t had them in ages.”

Even though she had just eaten some recently, Jiang Zhe didn’t call her out on it. He decided to take her wherever she wanted.

He drove her to a busy area near the university. Although it was nearly midnight, there were still many people around. Jiang Yu, feeling hungry, looked at all the food options with eyes sparkling like a predator. After ordering the barbecue and waiting for it to be ready, she saw something she wanted and directed him to buy it. When Jiang Zhe returned with the food, she took a bite of the beef pancake and mischievously asked, “Does this count as sneaking out to eat behind our parents’ backs?”

Even though they were both in their twenties, eating such things at home would certainly lead to a lecture from their families.

Seeing her joyful expression, Jiang Zhe played along with her joke, saying, “I suppose so.”

“Though, my mom knows we’re out, so it’s a legitimate sneak out,” Jiang Yu laughed, continuing to savor her beef pancake before sampling something else.

By the time the barbecue was ready, she was already half full.

As she dug into the skewers, sprinkling chili powder over them, she exclaimed, “This is really delicious!”

Noticing Jiang Zhe hadn’t taken a bite yet, she urged him, “You should eat too.”

Jiang Zhe replied, “I’ll just watch you eat. If you can’t finish it, I’ll eat the leftovers.”

With food in her mouth, Jiang Yu replied muffled, “But it’ll get cold if you don’t eat now, and it won’t taste as good then.”

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Zhe picked up a skewer and took a bite.

Jiang Yu’s eyes lit up. “Is it good?”

Jiang Zhe nodded. “It’s okay.”

“Yay!” Jiang Yu cheered.

After finishing their meal, they took a stroll by the nearby lake to help digest. Jiang Zhe then walked her back home. At the entrance, Jiang Yu turned back and suggested, “Why don’t you stay the night? Otherwise, my mom will definitely give me a hard time.”

Seeing her proud expression made Jiang Zhe want to pat her head. She looked cute.

“Sure,” he replied.

As they reached home, Jiang Yu felt a little flustered. Would they really be sharing a room tonight?

Jiang Zhe, picking up on her thoughts, made to go to the spare room, but she pulled him back, saying, “If you sleep in the other room, my mom might wonder if we’re not getting along.”

Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“Let’s go to my room. And while we’re at it, can you give my legs a massage?”

“Oh, have you taken a shower?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Though she felt nervous, Jiang Yu thought it was better to get used to sleeping in the same room now that she was pregnant than to wait until things could get more complicated later. Once they were in her room, she quickly sat on the bed.

Her long hair spilled around her, straight and beautiful, making her look like a character from a comic book, her eyes sparkling like copper bells.

Jiang Yu was actually quite comfortable, but to ease the tension, she nervously said, “Just press a bit. It doesn’t need to be anything serious, just a few presses will do.”

Jiang Zhe, maintaining the same motions and pressure as usual, noticed her reluctance. After a couple of gentle presses, she laid back under the covers.

Jiang Zhe felt a bit tense too, but seeing her even more nervous made him chuckle.

After getting comfortable, Jiang Yu poked her head out from under the blanket, her eyes shining, and said, “I’m a bit sleepy. Goodnight.”

Jiang Zhe lay down beside her, responding, “Goodnight.”

Jiang Yu closed her eyes, and Jiang Zhe turned off the light beside them. They shared the same blanket.

Jiang Yu meant it when she said she was sleepy, she quickly drifted off. Her breath was shallow, and the moonlight slipped through the night, illuminating her serene appearance. She looked truly adorable as she slept.

Jiang Zhe dared not move, his breath irregular for a while before he slowly leaned closer to her head, listening to her rhythmic breathing as he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, when Mother Jiang woke up, she found Jiang Zhe in the kitchen making breakfast.

Seeing her come in, Jiang Zhe asked, “Mom, I made meat congee and dumplings, and I steamed some buns. Is there anything else you’d like?”

Mother Jiang replied, “You two came home so late last night. You should sleep in a bit longer. Why are you up so early?”

However, she felt satisfied deep down. A man who willingly enters the kitchen after marriage, just like when he was courting a girl, shows that he’s a good partner. His willingness to wake up early to cook for them indicated that Jiang Yu wouldn’t suffer by being with him.

Jiang Zhe said, “I’m used to waking up at this time.”

Mother Jiang replied, “Alright, I’ll handle the rest. You go wake up Xiao Yu so she can eat before going back to sleep.”

Jiang Zhe thought it best not to disturb her. “Let her continue sleeping. I can heat it up for her when she wakes up.”

“That works too.”

Mother Jiang and Father Jiang had things to do that day. After entrusting their daughter to Jiang Zhe, they left. When Jiang Yu finally woke up, rubbing her eyes, she saw Jiang Zhe busy working on his computer in the living room.

“Did you just get home?” she asked.

“No, I asked someone to bring my laptop over.”

“Oh, where are my parents?”

“They went out.”

Looking around, Jiang Yu realized that the house was empty except for the two of them.

She mumbled, “They went off to have fun without me.”

Jiang Zhe followed her into the kitchen, helping her take out the breakfast that was heating up. “Well, how about I take you out for some fun later?”

Jiang Yu shook her head. “Forget it, I’d rather just lie down.”

She sighed, “I used to love going out, but now all I want to do is stay home and rest.”

Jiang Zhe smiled slightly. “I was thinking, if you wanted to go out, I could take you to take some photos.”

Jiang Yu perked up immediately at the mention of a photoshoot. “What kind of photos?”

“Aren’t you the one who wanted to take pictures in Hanfu?” he replied.

Instantly energized, Jiang Yu nodded eagerly. “Let’s go do it!”

Seeing her excitement, Jiang Zhe’s eyes softened with affection. “Alright.”

But Jiang Yu looked a bit concerned. “But my belly is so obvious now, will I look good?”

Jiang Zhe reassured her, “Beauty comes in many forms. You’re still beautiful in your own way right now.”

Jiang Yu teased back, “So you’re saying I’m not beautiful enough right now?”

She hesitated for a moment, feeling a little self-conscious.

Jiang Zhe replied, “What I say doesn’t matter. The final photos will be the true test. You can judge them when they come out.”

Jiang Yu looked at him for a while before muttering, “You’re a sly man.”

Still, she was very happy to follow him out.

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