Chapter 1 : Pregnancy

The main bedroom on the second floor of the villa is dominated by cool tones, and the luxurious lighting casts a cold, harsh glow that makes the large room feel somewhat oppressive. The only thing that adds a touch of life is a pot of gardenias on the floating table, brightening up the space.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Jiang Yunshu furrows her brow, her expression a bit complicated.

Just a minute ago, a pregnancy test with two lines had been thrown into the bathroom trash can.

This should have been a cause for celebration, but there was no joy on Jiang Yunshu’s face.

Before the marriage, she had discussed having children with Fu Chengze, and his attitude had been very clear he didn’t want children.

The reason was simple: he didn’t like children.

It’s been more than a year since they got married, and they had both implicitly agreed to take precautions.

It was only that one night when things got a bit out of control…

She sat down on the edge of the bed, letting out a soft, shallow breath.

She picked up her phone from the nightstand and glanced at the time, it was nearly eleven p.m.

Just as she was about to call Fu Chengze, she heard the squeak of the bedroom door handle turning. She looked up and met the man’s gaze.

Fu Chengze walked in, his black suit hanging on his arm.

Jiang Yunshu met his eyes for a few seconds, but the words “I might be pregnant” wouldn’t come out.

“Still not asleep?”

His voice was deep and pleasant, rising slightly at the end, but always lacking in warmth.

“Mm.” Jiang Yunshu lowered her eyes and absent-mindedly nodded, answering, “Just finished taking a shower.”

Fu Chengze set his watch down on the table, then glanced at her. Seeing her somewhat listless expression, he assumed she was just feeling sleepy.

He walked over to the wardrobe, pulled out a set of men’s pajamas, and then went to turn off the brightest light in the bedroom.

“It’s late. You should go to sleep,” he said.

“Mm.”

The room dimmed, and Jiang Yunshu watched as Fu Chengze entered the bathroom with the pajamas. She swallowed the words she had been holding back.

She placed her hand on her stomach, deciding to go to the hospital in the next few days to confirm whether she was really pregnant, and then discuss with Fu Chengze what to do next, to avoid causing any unnecessary confusion.

After all, he was busy with work, and she didn’t want to bother him with something uncertain.

—

Lying under the blanket, Jiang Yunshu stared at the ceiling for a while, her mind filled with the images from that night when their bodies intertwined, consumed by each other’s passion.

She remembered it clearly, it had been Fu Chengze’s birthday.

Even though she had learned from Old Lady Fu that he no longer celebrated his birthday, she had still prepared a cake and waited for him to come home.

She wasn’t sure how long she waited, but eventually, sleep overtook her, and she fell asleep on the living room sofa.

Late at night, she was awakened by a soft kiss on her forehead.

When she opened her eyes again, Fu Chengze was carrying her upstairs.

She was a little dazed, feeling like she was dreaming.

Only when he placed her gently on the bed did she come to her senses and ask, “There’s cake downstairs. Would you like a piece?”

Fu Chengze carefully laid her down on the bed and looked into her eyes, but didn’t respond.

“I forgot. You don’t like sweets.” She lowered her gaze, a faint smile on her lips, and whispered softly, “Happy birthday. It’s late. You should get some rest.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a large hand cupped her cheek, and Fu Chengze leaned down to kiss her.

In the dim light, their skin met, hearts pounding in their chests, both of them more passionate than ever.

But when Fu Chengze reached for the nightstand, everything came to a halt.

“It’s finished from last time…” Her breath was heavy as she bit her lip, looking up into the man’s eyes.

His eyes clearly reflected a strong desire, but he closed them briefly and pulled away as if to get up.

She instantly understood.

But it was precisely his self-control that made a surge of unspoken impulse and grievance rise within her.

She suddenly reached up to hook her arm around his neck, preventing him from leaving.

Fu Chengze seemed to sense her reluctance, furrowing his brow and speaking in a hoarse voice, “Don’t be reckless.”

The sense of grievance and frustration was amplified by his words, and she almost wanted to ask him after all, they were a legal couple. So what if she were pregnant? Everyone in the Fu family, except for him, had been eagerly waiting for the arrival of a new life.

That night, she had been unusually proactive, deliberately breaking down his self-control.

Once everything quieted down, she calmly said, “I’ll take the pill.”

—

After Fu Chengze finished his shower and came out of the bathroom, he saw that Jiang Yunshu had already closed her eyes.

He pulled the blanket aside and climbed into bed, turning off the last few dim lights.

The room fell silent, and their soft breathing gradually synced to the same rhythm.

Because she was preoccupied with her thoughts, Jiang Yunshu wasn’t feeling very sleepy. She unconsciously let out a soft sigh.

Her husband seemed to notice, turning his head in the dark. “Still not asleep?”

“Mm.” Jiang Yunshu snapped out of her thoughts.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing. I drank a few cups of strong tea this afternoon. A little insomnia,” she gave a casual excuse to brush it off.

The night was dark, and when the visual senses were diminished, other senses were heightened.

Jiang Yunshu shifted her position, but suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of invasion from behind. The next moment, Fu Chengze’s strong arms wrapped around her, and his hot breath landed on her neck.

Jiang Yunshu bit her lip, awkwardly calling his name, “Chengze…”

Her voice was soft and lingering, but Fu Chengze didn’t seem to notice her subtle refusal.

His kisses came slowly, but his breathing grew heavier.

As his hand slid up her waist, Jiang Yunshu used some force to push him away. “Not tonight…”

Fu Chengze froze for a moment before quickly releasing her, then raised his hand to adjust the blanket around her. “Sorry, I’ll go to the bathroom.”

Jiang Yunshu turned her head to watch him walk into the bathroom, her mood heavy.

In their married life, the two of them had always been in sync, and everything happened naturally.

Fu Chengze had always respected her and never pressured her. Just like on their wedding night, when he noticed her nervousness, they shared the same bed but nothing happened.

But she also knew—

The other side of their respectful relationship was the clear distance between them.

—

When Fu Chengze walked out of the bathroom, the phone on the nightstand rang. He picked it up and went out to the balcony to answer.

“Chengze, sorry to disturb you so late,” a woman’s voice came from the other end.

Fu Chengze replied, “It’s fine. What’s the matter?”

“I just returned to the country. I just got off the plane and I’m at the airport. Can you come pick me up?”

“Sure.”

“Great, I’ll wait for you. Don’t forget to buy a bouquet of fresh red roses at the 24-hour flower shop.”

“Mm.”

As she watched Fu Chengze hurriedly change his clothes, Jiang Yunshu felt her palms tighten involuntarily, and she couldn’t help but ask, “It’s so late. Are you going out?”

Fu Chengze glanced at her, picking up his coat. “Something came up. I need to go out for a bit. You sleep first.”

The room was too quiet, and the sound of the door closing was very clear.

Jiang Yunshu sat up and walked to the balcony. She watched Fu Chengze’s car slowly drive out of the villa, a feeling of bitterness and unease silently spreading in her heart.