After a while, Wen Yi and Qiao En returned. Zhuang Yue offered to take Qiao En home, while Qin Nanshan and Wen Yi went together.

Once home, Qin Nanshan carried the bags and packages Wen Yi had bought up to their apartment. After changing, Wen Yi emerged to enjoy the thrill of unboxing her shopping haul.

Qin Nanshan, meanwhile, was preparing dog food for their pet, Summer. Wen Yi pulled out her first item—a pink princess dress—and held it up for him. “How does it look?”

Qin Nanshan glanced over. “It’s nice.”

“Be serious.”

“…It’s beautiful. The baby will probably like it; you have great taste.”

Good enough—she let him off the hook. Then she pulled out a blue floral dress. “And this one?”

“Also nice, very fresh.”

Fresh… Wen Yi went on to unpack another bag, pulling out a pair of lace shoes. “How about the shoes?”

Qin Nanshan, putting the dog food in Summer’s bowl, chuckled. “What if it’s a boy?”

“Who said boys can’t wear these? These are for the first three years anyway. At that age, they don’t care about things like that.”

Qin Nanshan responded, “Children start developing a sense of gender around three. If we dress him in more feminine clothing and people start calling him ‘girl,’ it could affect his gender identity.”

“…” Wen Yi’s excitement was slightly dampened, but she knew he wasn’t wrong. She pouted. “Fine, I won’t put them on him.”

Qin Nanshan sat on a single-seater sofa, picked up the tiny shoes, which were so small they barely reached the length of his fingers. The lace butterfly on the toes looked as if it would flutter away at any moment. A wave of tenderness washed over him. “If you like them, keep them. There’s a fifty percent chance it’ll be a girl.”

“Then I’ll buy some boys’ clothes next time.”

“Good idea.”

“We’ll need so many things, like formula, bottles, diapers, and a stroller.” Wen Yi looked around the apartment. “I don’t think there’s enough room here.”

“In two months, we can move downtown.”

Before their wedding, Qin Nanshan had taken Wen Yi to see the apartment in the city center. It was a well-maintained complex, a spacious four-bedroom, likely around 200 square meters.

The place was close to her office but far from A University. Still, some sacrifices were necessary, and typically, by the time she woke up around seven or eight, he’d already be gone. He was disciplined and an early riser, so his commute wasn’t a concern.

Touching her belly under her sweater, Wen Yi mused, “Baby, you’re quite the little prince or princess, living the high life even before you’re born. And now, you’re still cozily residing in my belly. When you grow up, you’ll have to pay me rent.”

She calculated out loud, “Three hundred per night, so for more than nine months…”

Before she could finish, a voice beside her chimed in, “84,000. Calculated for a 280-day pregnancy.”

In less than two seconds, she marveled at the calculator he seemed to have in his head.

Clicking her tongue, she continued patting her belly. “Did you hear that, 84,000? Only one-time payment accepted—no installments or loans allowed.”

Qin Nanshan laughed at her talking to herself and went to the kitchen to bring her a glass of water.

After drinking, Wen Yi continued unpacking her bags and started chatting. “Do you know how Zhuang Yue broke up with his last few girlfriends?”

“No.” Qin Nanshan thought for a moment. “You should tell Qiao En to be cautious and not to rush things.”

Wen Yi stopped unpacking and looked up. “Why?”

He didn’t go into detail. “Qiao En seems straightforward, and I’m worried she might get hurt.”

“She does seem like she wouldn’t stand a chance against your sly fox of a friend. This visit was worth it, or else, based on your descriptions, I’d have thought he was a good person. If my friend actually gets deceived, I’ll hold you responsible.”

Qin Nanshan laughed silently, tossing the tags she had cut off into the trash.

As she folded a little belly warmer, a thought struck her. She looked up and asked, “Has he ever lied to you?”

Qin Nanshan paused briefly, which Wen Yi immediately noticed. “Let me tell you, if he asks to borrow money, you’re not allowed to lend him any. All your money belongs to our daughter L, and since she’s not yet aware of it, her landlord is in charge.”

Recalling their earlier conversation, Qin Nanshan clarified after a slight hesitation, “No lies, but he did mention joining my research team this afternoon.”

“Isn’t he in administration? Why would he join your research team?”

“Administrative work also requires projects for title promotions.”

“So he’s just trying to hitch a ride,” Wen Yi said seriously. She didn’t fully understand academia, but when it came to her daughter L’s best interests, she had to take it personally. “Is this project important to you?”

Qin Nanshan nodded. “Getting this project this year will help me prepare for the Four Young Scholars program later on.”

“Then you definitely can’t let him mess it up. Even if he’s just there in name, it’s risky. I may not know much about research, but hospitals have been cracking down on corruption, and even a minor slip-up can ruin a promising doctor’s career.”

“Getting him in through connections could be serious if someone files a complaint later. Who would get into trouble? The person in charge, which would be you, right?”

“Don’t be naive. This is no time for friendship.”

Qin Nanshan had hesitated earlier because of Zhuang Yue’s lack of academic proficiency. Adding him would not help and might even slow the team down. Wen Yi’s perspective gave him more to think about, and he fell into deep thought.

Seeing him lost in thought, Wen Yi didn’t push him. She put the baby clothes in the laundry bucket; baby items shouldn’t go in the washing machine and are better washed by hand.

She came back after soaking them in detergent. “Have you thought it over?”

“I’ll talk to Professor Chen again after the Spring Festival.”

“Just keep thinking it over.”

Wen Yi tidied up the bags scattered around, eventually noticing a gaze following her. She turned around. “What are you staring at?”

Qin Nanshan chuckled. “You didn’t use to be like this.”

The Wen Yi he remembered was impulsive and scattered, with little connection to the word “careful.” In their second year of high school, he’d sat behind her and overheard her saying things like, “Oh no, I forgot my homework,” or, “Oops, I forgot to write my name on the test.” His ears had barely known peace that term.

Yet, despite the mishaps, she was vibrant and upbeat, her confidence unwavering. Sometimes, when he was tired from calculations, he’d look at her, contemplating human diversity.

He struggled to find a perfect metaphor for her. She was like a spinning top, never stopping; like a dandelion blown by the wind, rooting wherever she landed with remarkable vitality. She was as bold as a rose, yet as sunny as a sunflower—a marvel of human complexity.

Thinking about it, he realized that having a daughter L with her personality wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Wen Yi huffed, “It’s not me who’s changed. It’s you who’s too naive and doesn’t know how to turn people down. Do you know what you’d get for helping him today?”

“What?”

“A good guy card.”

Qin Nanshan laughed.

Before bed that night, Wen Yi glanced at her phone and saw a message from him on her lock screen.

Turning to him, she asked, “What’s this? Why are you texting me from so close?”

He didn’t answer.

Wen Yi opened it and was startled: **[Qin Nanshan has transferred 84,000.00 to you]**

“You…”

“It’s my daughter L’s rent—I’m paying it on her behalf.”

Her surprise turned to delight. She absolutely loved this kind of communication!