Chapter 58.1

The next day, both of them got up late.

Xu Zhao had actually been awake for about half an hour, but today, he felt like staying in bed a little longer. So, he didn’t get up. He continue lying on his side and watching Jiang Suihan sleep. He didn’t find it boring at all and was even amused as he carefully counted her slightly curled eyelashes, one by one. When he lost count, he patiently started over again.

“Why aren’t you going to the military base today?” Jiang Suihan asked, still groggy and not fully awake.

“I just got back from a mission, and the political commissar gave me two days off. Do you want to get up now?” Xu Zhao ran his hand through her long, silky hair. It was so smooth and soft that he didn’t want to stop.

“I don’t want to get up, I still want to sleep,” Jiang Suihan murmured as she snuggled deeper into his embrace, her voice soft and sultry.

Lately, she had been extremely sleepy. Feeling that ten hours of sleep each day wasn’t enough and still feeling drowsy.

“It’s not good for your stomach to skip breakfast. Let’s get up, have something to eat, and then you can go back to sleep,” Xu Zhao coaxed her gently, almost giving in.

“I’m hungry, but I don’t want to get up,” Jiang Suihan replied in a muffled voice, becoming more spoiled with someone pampering and comforting her.

Before Xu Zhao was around, she would wake up and get out of bed on her own, and if she was hungry, she would go eat without needing anyone to coax her.

Xu Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle, reaching out to lift her up by the waist.

The sudden departure from the warm and cozy bed startled Jiang Suihan, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

His strong arms provided a reassuring sense of security, and Jiang Suihan settled comfortably in his embrace, listening to the steady beat of his heart, which calmed her.

Jiang Leyun, who had stayed home today, turned his head when he heard footsteps, his eyes widening in surprise as his mouth dropped open. “Oh! Brother-in-law, you are back!”

He cried out in surprise, jumped in front of Xu Zhao, and looked at him happily.

Seeing this, Jiang Suihan maintained a composed expression but glanced at Xu Zhao, signaling him to put her down.

Jiang Leyun then noticed the position between his sister and brother-in-law and immediately turned his back, pretending he hadn’t seen anything. “I didn’t see anything.”

The child inwardly groaned, wondering why he had to deal with so much at his young age.

Jiang Suihan’s attempt to appear calm began to crack at this moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she looked at Xu Zhao, who remained composed, displaying his solid military mental discipline.

Xu Zhao ruffled Jiang Leyun’s hair. “I brought some treats for you and your sister. Ask her to get them for you.”

Jiang Leyun’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly followed Jiang Suihan, holding two pieces of beef jerky in his right hand and a handful of milk candies in his left, stuffing his mouth.

“What would you like for breakfast?” Xu Zhao asked. It was already ten o’clock, and they could have something light before lunch. “How about some scallion pancakes?”

“Sure,” Jiang Suihan replied. Since she wasn’t the one cooking, she had no objections.

Xu Zhao worked quickly. In less than half an hour, fresh and fragrant scallion pancakes were ready, looking delicious with a golden color and appealing appearance.

Jiang Suihan suddenly felt hungry. She grabbed a piece of the pancake, despite it being hot, and took a bite, mumbling, “It’s good.”

The pancake was thin and slightly golden, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a delightful scallion aroma.

Jiang Suihan ate two pieces before stopping. Jiang Leyun looked at her in surprise and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, are you feeling better now? No more vomiting?”

Better? Vomiting?

Xu Zhao picked up on the key word in Jiang Leyun’s question and frowned slightly. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Jiang Suihan was momentarily stunned and asked, “Didn’t I tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Xu Zhao was puzzled. He didn’t recall her mentioning anything since he returned last night.

“I’ve got a goldfish memory, it’s hopeless.” Jiang Suihan said, tapping her head in frustration, realizing she had thought she’d told him when she hadn’t.

“It’s not a big deal, but we’re going to have a new member in our family soon.”

She said this casually, taking a sip from her enamel mug while casting a sideways glance at Xu Zhao, curious about his reaction to the news.

Xu Zhao didn’t immediately grasp the implication. “A new member in our family?”

Could it be that his mother was coming over?

“You’re so clueless,” Jiang Suihan replied with a dismissive look, deciding to tease him a little. “I wasn’t feeling well the past couple of weeks and went to the hospital for a check-up…”

Before she could finish, Xu Zhao hurriedly interrupted, looking anxious. “Where are you feeling unwell? Is it serious?”

Jiang Suihan glared at him and slowly said, “Let me finish. After going to the hospital and following the doctor’s instructions, the doctor said…”

She paused deliberately, seeing Xu Zhao’s anxious but restrained demeanor. Feeling a bit guilty for teasing him, she continued, “I’m pregnant.”

Pregnant!?

Xu Zhao’s eyes widened in shock. A mix of surprise, joy, and excitement flashed across his face. “I’m going to be a dad!?”

His excitement was tinged with a bit of uncertainty, and if anyone looked at his hands at this moment, they would see them trembling slightly.

“Yes, you’re going to be a dad,” Jiang Suihan said with a smile, her tone very gentle.

“And you’re going to be a mom?” Xu Zhao seemed not entirely sure yet, his voice a bit dreamy.

“Yes, you’re going to be a dad, and I’m going to be a mom,” Jiang Suihan answered patiently, suppressing a laugh.

She found his rare dazed expression so amusing that she wanted to capture it with a camera, imagining how fun it would be to look back at it in the future.

“I’m going to be an uncle too, the best uncle!” Jiang Leyun suddenly piped up, reminding everyone of his presence.

“I’m going to be a dad, and you’re going to be a mom. We’re going to have a baby!” Xu Zhao grasped Jiang Suihan’s hands, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jiang Suihan’s hands hurt a bit from his grip, but she smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and gently rubbed her belly, silently telling the baby, “Look, Daddy is being so silly.”

After a while, Xu Zhao finally calmed down and asked nervously, “Is there anywhere else you’re not feeling well? Should I accompany you to the hospital? The military hospital’s doctors specialize in surgery, not obstetrics. The county hospital isn’t suitable either. We should go to a big city hospital.”

“Well, I’ll go to the logistics department to borrow a car, and we’ll go directly to the city hospital. You go pack your things first, and we’ll stay in the city for one night and come back the next day. Forget it, just sit still, I’ll go borrow a car first, and I’ll pack your things when I come back.”

As he spoke, Xu Zhao stood up in a hurry, not waiting for Jiang Suihan’s response. He walked briskly toward the door, his mind solely focused on quickly taking her to the hospital for a thorough check-up. He couldn’t be at ease otherwise.

Not giving Jiang Suihan any time to react, he was almost at the door when she hurriedly called out to him, “Come back here.”

Xu Zhao turned around and sat back down, looking at her expectantly.

“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry,” Jiang Suihan said with a sigh, feeling a premonition that such situations would become frequent in the coming months.

“Are you really okay?” Xu Zhao asked with some skepticism. She had lost weight recently, her face looked gaunt, and her lips were a bit pale. How could he not be worried?

“I’m really fine and I’m not lying to you. Dr. Zhong said that nausea is a normal reaction during pregnancy, and there’s no need to be overly concerned. It will get better after this period. See, I didn’t vomit just now.” Jiang Suihan quoted Dr. Zhong’s exact words, hoping to alleviate Xu Zhao’s excessive worry.

If it hadn’t been for her younger brother’s reminder, she wouldn’t have noticed that she hadn’t vomited earlier.

Jiang Suihan rubbed her belly, thinking, Could the baby really tell that this is the pancake made by Daddy?

“Alright, if you’re feeling unwell, you must tell me. Don’t just endure it,” Xu Zhao said gently, his mind racing with thoughts about how to care for her.

With a pregnant woman in the house, there were many considerations. He was busy with his military duties and didn’t have much time. Jiang Leyun was just a child, so he couldn’t rely on him for much help. He couldn’t leave Jiang Suihan alone at home. He couldn’t rest easy.

Also, as they were new to this, they had no experience in caring for pregnant women, including what foods to eat or avoid, and the various taboos during pregnancy. They needed someone with experience.

“I’ll call home later to share this good news and see if my mom can take a few months off from her job. You can’t be left alone without care,” Xu Zhao said, tapping the table absentmindedly, planning to inform his family.

His mother wouldn’t retire until next year, and she was a career-oriented person who might be reluctant to give up her job. If necessary, he would ask his family to find a suitable alternative.

“No need. I’m doing fine now. I can eat and sleep well, and the baby is also doing well. There’s no need to trouble the family.” Jiang Suihan thought it was unnecessary for now.

She felt a bit guilty about her mother-in-law taking time off work to come from the capital just for her. Besides, she hadn’t spent much time with Xu Zhao’s mother, having only had a couple of phone calls and exchanged a few letters. She worried that she might not get along well with her mother-in-law and cause conflicts.

“No way. If I’m away on a mission for several months like this time, I can’t leave you alone at home. There must be an adult at home. I’ll call my family and discuss it with them to figure out a solution. This matter is settled. Don’t make me worry, okay?”

Xu Zhao refused to agree to any alternative. Jiang Suihan was young and it was her first pregnancy; there were many things she didn’t understand. He couldn’t possibly rest easy. If his negligence led to any accidents for his wife and child, he wouldn’t have a place to cry.

To prevent any mishaps and for his own peace of mind, they needed to find someone to help.

“Alright then, if you’re going to make the call, I’ll go with you,” Jiang Suihan agreed after seeing Xu Zhao’s determined attitude and no room for negotiation.