Chapter 080

On the return journey, Jing Ran accompanied Jing Li on a plane back to Hong Kong, then proceeded alone to return to G City. Jing Li had originally planned to work in Hong Kong for six months, and her work was scheduled to end around the end of May. However, she concluded her work in Hong Kong a month early to prepare for her graduation thesis defense and returned to work at the Haiyue Hotel in G City. Having spent several months as a training specialist in Hong Kong, she was now assigned to the Human Resources department at Haiyue to continue her role as a training specialist.

The happiest person was undoubtedly Jing Ran, as his girlfriend was back, signifying that there would be meat to eat every day. However, upon returning home, his girlfriend’s health was not in the best condition, and she showed little interest in intimate matters. Jing Ran thought it might be due to the fatigue from work and thesis preparations, so he did not bother her.

Jing Li noticed something unusual about her body, so she took the afternoon off and secretly went to the pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. When she got home and took the test, two lines appeared!

Jing Li had just returned to G City about two weeks ago, and the two of them had not engaged in intimate activities yet. The last time was on the eve of returning from the United States, which was likely when conception occurred.

Jing Li held the pregnancy test stick, feeling nervous and excited, not knowing what to do. She really wanted to call her boyfriend right away to tell him, but she also wanted to keep it a secret and tell him when he got home, to see the happy expression on his face.

As usual, Jing Ran finished work, went to the market to buy groceries, and returned home. When he got home, he saw Jing Li in pajamas holding a teddy bear pillow, sitting on the sofa watching TV, thinking she took the afternoon off due to menstrual pain.

After entering the house, Jing Ran placed the groceries on the dining table in the living room and asked, “Lili, are you feeling better?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll make you some brown sugar ginger tea.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you take the afternoon off because of your period?”

Jing Li’s menstrual cycle was not very stable, and Jing Ran didn’t keep track of such things, but every time Jing Li had her period, she would take a day off and rest at home.

“Oh… come here, I have something to tell you.” Jing Li waved him over, signaling him to come.

Jing Ran walked over and sat beside her, asking, “What’s up?”

Jing Li was in a particularly good mood and said with a smile, “Give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you.”

“Mwah!”

Jing Ran gave her a kiss on the forehead and curiously asked, “Why are you so happy? What’s the good news?”

Jing Li leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “There’s a little monkey coming.”

“Where is there a monkey?” Jing Ran couldn’t catch up.

“Right here!” Jing Li pointed to her own belly.

Jing Ran couldn’t believe it, “Really?”

Jing Li nodded affirmatively, “Really!”

Jing Ran, excited and caught in the moment, blurted out, “Is it really mine?”

Jing Li gave him a disdainful look and said without giving face, “It’s next door, Lao Wang’s.”

“It’s not Lao Wang’s, it’s mine!” Jing Ran declared his sovereignty like a child. He bent down, hugged Jing Li’s waist, and pressed his face against her belly, saying earnestly, “Little monkey, I am your dad.”

Jing Li leaned her head against his and looked at his head resting on her belly. She said, “Silly dad.”

The next morning, Jing Ran accompanied Jing Li for a check-up. She was already ten weeks pregnant. They immediately informed both sets of parents about the confirmed result. On that day, the elders from Jing Ran’s family arranged a meeting with Jing Li’s parents to discuss the wedding date. Jing Li’s parents were both happy and worried upon hearing the news of their daughter’s pregnancy. They took time off from work and hurriedly came to G City. It had been a long time since there was a new member in the family. Jing Li and Jing Ran arrived at Jing Ran’s family house, and the elder women had a lot to say to Jing Li. They were all experienced mothers and shared with her the things to pay attention to during pregnancy. Jing Ran listened attentively by the side and even made notes on his phone.

Jing Ran and Jing Li didn’t have any special requirements for the wedding. Jing Li’s only request was to hold the wedding as soon as possible.

During the Lunar New Year’s Eve, Jing Li saw the families dining together in the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, enjoying a reunion dinner. She felt a bit lonely thinking about spending the New Year’s Eve alone. That night, Jing Ran unexpectedly appeared in her small apartment, which deeply moved her. Suddenly, she had the idea of wanting a baby.

Although she wanted a baby, she didn’t expect it to come so soon.

Although there were many young people nowadays proudly showing off their pregnant bellies and having weddings, Jing Li’s conservative nature made her reluctant to let others know that she was unmarried and pregnant. At the same time, she also wanted to look beautiful on her wedding day and felt that it would be a bit unsightly to have a big belly.

After the meal, the elders brought out a book on auspicious dates and made a decision. They decided to go and register their marriage on Jing Ran’s birthday, which was ten days later, and planned the wedding for early July.

After the meal, Jing Li’s parents accompanied Jing Ran and Jing Li back to Yujing. Jing Ran had originally set up a room in his house as a resting room for his parents-in-law, and now it finally came in handy.

After returning to Yujing, Jing Li’s father and Jing Ran played chess while drinking tea and chatting. The main topic was for Jing Ran to take good care of Jing Li. Jing Ran earnestly assured his father-in-law that he would take good care of Jing Li and make her happy.

In the evening, Jing Ran and Jing Li lay on the bed, and Jing Li, with some concerns about the chosen wedding date, decided to bring it up.

“Ranran, have you slept?” In the darkness, Jing Li asked.

“No.” Jing Ran, probably energized from a night of tea with his father-in-law, responded.

“Ranran, I want to discuss something with you.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Can we postpone the day we go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for the marriage certificate by one day?”

Jing Ran, puzzled, what’s the difference in postponing for a day? And asked, “Why?”

“I feel it’s not good to get our marriage certificate on your birthday.”

“I don’t understand.”

“If, in the future, our relationship falls apart and we get divorced, won’t it be awkward for you every year on your birthday?”

Jing Ran: “…”

Jing Ran initially wanted to tease Jing Li a bit, but considering her current status as a mother-to-be, he was afraid of causing any stress. He pulled her into his arms, sighed, and said, “Lili, who talks about divorce before even getting married? Let me tell you, I won’t get a divorce. You better not have such thoughts, or else I…”

“What will you do?” Jing Li was curious about Jing Ran’s response.

“I’ll go wherever you go, not letting you marry any other little scoundrel.”

“Silly.” Jing Li touched his cheek, gave him a kiss, and gently said, “Monkey Dad, good night.”

Jing Ran reciprocated by kissing her forehead and responded, “Monkey Mom, good night.”

*

As the day of the thesis defense approached, Jing Li needed to gather some materials. After work, she would study for a few hours at home. Being pregnant, she shouldn’t strain herself, so Jing Ran offered to help her with research and writing the thesis.

Jing Li: “Is this even possible?”

Jing Ran nodded, “Of course, you’re my wife, and this is our shared intellectual property.”

Jing Li: “…”

Jing Li: “I think I’ve gained a lot of insights after working. I can handle my thesis and defense on my own.”

Jing Ran felt that Jing Li had become more independent after starting her job. She no longer sought his help for every problem, recalling the admiration she had for him when she asked him to teach her math for a makeup exam last year.

Jing Ran sat aside and asked unhappily, “Lili, do you not need me anymore?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and go do the laundry.”

Jing Ran: “…”

On Jing Ran’s birthday, after obtaining their marriage certificate from the Civil Affairs Bureau, the day of the thesis defense also passed. Although the elders took care of most wedding preparations, there were still some things they had to handle themselves.

For example, going to try on wedding dresses and taking wedding photos.

The wedding dress for the wedding was chosen by Jing Li herself. They wanted to maintain a sense of mystery, so the couple tried on their dresses separately. Since Jing Li was pregnant and couldn’t go too far to find breathtaking scenery for the wedding photos, they decided to shoot them in a famous flower field in City G. Jing Ran had promised that after Jing Li recovered from giving birth, they would go to the Mediterranean to take a set of high-end wedding photos. However, after a simple photo shoot in a garden, Jing Li felt quite exhausted and decided not to take any more wedding photos.

On the day of the graduation ceremony, Chen Wenbin and Fang Zhenzhen came to congratulate Jing Ran and Jing Li on their graduation.

Chen Wenbin handed Jing Ran a bouquet of flowers and said, “Congratulations on your graduation.”

“Thank you.” Jing Ran took the flowers and remembered something. He reached into the small backpack on Jing Li’s back and took out two wedding invitations, handing them to Chen Wenbin and Fang Zhenzhen, saying, “Oh, I forgot to tell you, you’re going to be my groomsman.”

“Oh my, you’re getting married!” Chen Wenbin didn’t expect Jing Ran to hand out wedding invitations at the graduation ceremony. He opened the invitation and saw that the date was the first Saturday in early July. He furrowed his brow and said with some distress, “I have an exam that day, I can’t be your groomsman!”

Chen Wenbin was in the architecture department, which had a 5-year program. His peers had already graduated from university, but he still had one more year of coursework.

Jing Ran said, “Then just skip the exam. I only get married once in a lifetime. If you miss it, you’ll miss it.”

Jing Li tapped Jing Ran’s shoulder, somewhat reproaching him for not understanding the situation, and said, “Why would you say that?” Then she put on a understanding expression and said to Chen Wenbin, “Wenbin, it’s okay if you can’t be the groomsman. Take your exam first, and after you’re done, come to the wedding banquet.”

Chen Wenbin smiled and said, “You’re such a considerate sister-in-law.”

“Um, I told Fang Zhenzhen before, asking her to be the bridesmaid. Later, I’ll find a handsome groomsman for them to accompany each other.”

Chen Wenbin: “No, I’ve already decided to be the groomsman!”

A few people nearby were taking pictures, and the photographer kept pushing back, accidentally bumping into Jing Li. Jing Li staggered, and Jing Ran was so frightened that his heart almost stopped. He quickly stabilized Jing Li and asked anxiously, “Are you okay? Do you feel uncomfortable? Should we go to the hospital?”

The classmate who bumped into them apologized sincerely, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Jing Ran ignored it, continuously expressing concern for Jing Li.

Chen Wenbin thought Jing Ran was a bit exaggerated. It was just a small collision, why react like this? He said somewhat frustrated, “Jing Ran, it’s just a little bump, why are you so nervous? It’s like Jing Li is pregnant or something.”

Because Jing Li was shy and didn’t want to reveal the pregnancy news before the wedding, accidentally disclosed by Chen Wenbin, she felt embarrassed and buried her face in Jing Ran’s chest.

“Hush, keep it down, Lili is shy,” Jing Ran reminded Chen Wenbin.

Chen Wenbin: Oh my, can you be a bit quicker, brother? Graduated and already have a wife and child!

*

Unbeknownst, the wedding day arrived. As Jing Li wasn’t a local, the bride pick-up ceremony took place in the hotel. The groom and his party went through various challenges before finally being allowed to enter the room to pick up the bride. Jing Ran, holding a bouquet of flowers, entered the room and saw Jing Li in an exquisite bridal makeup, sitting on the bed in a beautiful wedding dress, smiling at him.

Jing Ran, holding the flowers, covered his mouth, feeling emotional, tears welling up in his eyes.

Jing Li couldn’t help but laugh at him and asked, “Why are you crying?”

“Lili, you’re so beautiful. I can’t believe you’re my wife,” Jing Ran said with tears welling up, covering his mouth with the bouquet.

“Pfft…” Jing Li couldn’t hold back her laugh, and said in a gentle tone, “Silly.”

Jing Li and Jing Ran walked out of the hotel together and returned to the wedding car convoy.

The couple first went to the groom’s house for the traditional ceremony, serving tea to the elders, before heading to the hotel for the wedding ceremony.

The wedding took place in their own Haiyue Hotel, with a luxurious theme and a guest list of two hundred. When the sales department received the order, they only saw Jing Ran and Jing Li’s names, not knowing their background. A sales and human resources staff organizing a two hundred-table banquet in the hotel was quite surprising.

As the wedding approached, it was revealed from the chairman’s secretary that Jing Ran was the chairman’s grandson. Furthermore, the chairman intended to step down this year, and the current general manager would become the chairman, while Jing Ran would ascend to the position of general manager.

In the banquet hall, guests gathered, and as the time approached, the lights dimmed until complete darkness. Suddenly, a beam of white light illuminated the grand entrance of the banquet hall, the doors opened, and music began. Jing Li, arm in arm with her father, entered, walking down the red carpet. Jing Ran stood in the middle of the aisle, and Jing Li’s father entrusted her to him, saying, “Take good care of my daughter.”

Jing Ran nodded.

Jing Li took Jing Ran’s hand and continued walking down the red carpet, each step symbolizing a journey into a happy life. They stopped in front of the witnesses, listened to some introductory words, made their vows, and exchanged rings.

After Jing Li and Jing Ran exchanged rings, they looked at each other and smiled tacitly. The audience cheered, “Kiss”, “Kiss”…

Jing Ran knew that Jing Li was a bit shy, so he gently kissed her on the forehead. The guests, not satisfied, started urging for a “French kiss,” creating a lively atmosphere.

Jing Ran found himself in a tricky situation.

“Scaredy-cat!” After saying this, Jing Li raised her hands, cupped Jing Ran’s face, pulled him down, and gave him a direct French kiss.

“Wow… Ah…” The people below screamed, and applauded the bold bride.

After the passionate kiss, Jing Li’s face blushed, and with a hint of shyness, she confessed, “Husband, I love you!”

“Wife, I love you too!”