Chi Yao stared at Xue Zhongming. He wasn’t someone who would betray him. It must have been Fu Rong who discovered everything on his own. The matter at the hospital was something that even Xue Zhongming and Chang Feng didn’t know about.

Therefore, Chi Yao wasn’t particularly upset. After all, since he had lied to Fu Rong from the beginning, he had mentally prepared himself for the truth to come out eventually.

As for Xue Zhongming, Chi Yao didn’t fully trust him. Their relationship was more of a mutual benefit kind of thing. Still, the fact that Xue Zhongming came forward to apologize was a good sign. Compared to the previous life, Xue Zhongming seemed to be a bit more genuine this time.

Chi Yao accepted his apology without saying much else.

He asked Xue Zhongming to get out of the car, as there was no need for him to accompany him to his house. Xue Zhongming likely had many things to deal with himself.

When Chi Yao returned home, it was quiet. This kind of silence was comforting to him. If, in the future, there was going to be someone else in the house—someone other than the baby, like another adult—Chi Yao thought he might not adapt well.

His past life had left him with little desire to trust others. Love, too, no longer interested him. He just wanted to focus on raising his baby.

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“Do You Want My Help?” (An Imposing Gesture)

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Chi Yao had expected Fu Rong to come to his house, especially now that he had learned so much. But by the second and third days, things were still quiet, with nothing happening.

Would Fu Rong really be so obedient and not show up again? Chi Yao doubted it. The way Fu Rong had looked at him in the car, with that obsessive gaze, made it clear that things wouldn’t remain peaceful.

Chi Yao even considered moving back to his grandfather’s house. No matter how bold Fu Rong was, he wouldn’t dare to bother his grandfather.

Chi Yao had thought about it, but quickly dismissed the idea. This was a mess he had created, and he would resolve it himself. There was no need to disturb his grandfather, who was content with gardening.

He’d visit after the baby was born.

While Chi Yao was waiting for Fu Rong to show up, Fu Rong didn’t come. However, he did start sending things—many packages, full of baby products and supplements for pregnancy. He even sent a housekeeper to assist Chi Yao.

Fu Rong wasn’t distrustful of Chi Yao’s current staff, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. So, he hired someone with experience to take care of Chi Yao’s meals and wellbeing.

Chi Yao hadn’t planned on keeping this new housekeeper around. His household already had enough people: a cook, a cleaner, and someone to tend to the garden. Too many people felt like too much noise, and Chi Yao wasn’t fond of that.

However, the cook had just informed him that she needed to take a three-to-four-month leave due to a family matter. Her explanation made sense, and Chi Yao couldn’t force her to stay. He even gave her an extra month’s salary as she left, acknowledging that her cooking had suited his tastes well. Recently, his appetite had been poor due to nausea, but it wasn’t the cook’s fault—it was his own condition.

With the cook gone, finding a replacement would be difficult. Conveniently, Fu Rong’s new housekeeper was already there. Chi Yao figured he might as well give her a try. The new housekeeper prepared a meal, and Chi Yao was impressed—he ate two bowls of rice and even overindulged.

The new housekeeper could also bake. After some time in the kitchen, she brought out a batch of milk-scented pastries, and their appearance was on par with anything sold in a bakery.

Chi Yao tried one, and it melted in his mouth.

He inquired further, and the housekeeper explained that she couldn’t sit still and always enjoyed learning to make new things.

Chi Yao could ask for any dish, and she would prepare it for him.

Her cooking skills amazed Chi Yao. Anything he requested, she could make, and it tasted just as good as the food in high-end restaurants.

While eating one of her meals, Chi Yao couldn’t help but marvel at her talents. “With skills like this, you’d do just fine in a restaurant,” he commented.

The housekeeper laughed and said, “Working at a restaurant is too much hassle. I prefer having fewer people to deal with.”

That’s why she preferred working in private households. Although the pay was lower, the job was more peaceful.

But, to her surprise, the pay here was actually higher than anywhere else she had worked, even though she hadn’t asked for such a high salary. When she first heard the amount, she was amazed.

“Housekeeper, if I invite some friends over for a barbecue, can you handle that too?” Chi Yao asked. With the weather turning colder, he liked staying indoors more often than not.

“Barbecue? No problem. How many people are you expecting?” she asked, so she could prepare accordingly.

“About ten people, maybe twenty, just in case someone brings extra guests.”

“Sure. When?”

“The day after tomorrow. Will that be enough time?” Chi Yao asked, his tone respectful.

“Tomorrow would be fine if needed.”

The housekeeper smiled kindly. She already knew Chi Yao was pregnant—her employer had told her. At first, she thought her employer was joking, but after seeing Chi Yao in person, she realized it was true.

As for how a man could be pregnant, the housekeeper figured it was just one of those strange things in life. She kept the secret to herself and focused on doing her job well.

“Could you contact your employer and let him know to come over the day after tomorrow?” Chi Yao said, deciding not to contact Fu Rong himself.

Considering how much Fu Rong had sent over, filling the once-empty house with items—whole truckloads of them—Chi Yao figured inviting him for a barbecue was the least he could do.

Beyond that, he wouldn’t offer anything more.