Chapter 24 : Fetal Movement

Jiang Yunshu and Fu Chengze had breakfast outside and wandered for quite a while. They didn’t return until the sun was high, and it was both hot and sunny.

When they entered the living room, Aunt looked up and called out, “You two are just getting back?”

Jiang Yunshu walked over, “We were out for a while.”

Aunt stopped her knitting and said, “These are little shoes and socks I’m knitting for the baby. What do you think, are they alright?”

“Your knitting skills are unmatched, Aunt. The scarf you made for me before was so comfortable, I still keep it. I take it out to wear every winter,” Jiang Yunshu said, touching the soft little socks. “They’re so cute, they’ll definitely be comfortable to wear.”

Aunt smiled happily. “I learned to knit when Chenchen was just born. I haven’t knitted in years, but it seems my skills haven’t regressed. The scarf I made for you must be quite old by now, hasn’t it gotten worn out? Let me knit you a new one.”

Jiang Yunshu smiled, “Thank you, Aunt.”

In the afternoon, Mr. Jiang sat at a stone table in the pavilion, teaching his great-grandson how to play chess.

“Start with a black piece. How many dots are next to the black piece?”

Jiang Yuchen leaned against Mr. Jiang’s chest, counting the dots on the chessboard, “1, 2, 3, 4. Great-grandpa, there are four!”

“That’s right, there are four. How many white pieces do you need to remove the black piece from the board?”

Jiang Yuchen reached out and grabbed six white pieces, surrounding the black pieces.

Mr. Jiang sighed and took two white pieces off the board.

“Didn’t you just count? You only need four. These two positions aren’t extensions of the black pieces. Understand?”

Jiang Yuchen nodded, a bit confused.

Mr. Jiang collected the white pieces again and placed a black piece on the board. “Now, how many white pieces do you need to remove this black piece?”

Just then, Aunt brought over bamboo tube ice cream. The little one didn’t know how to move next, staring at the ice cream, but too shy to speak up.

Aunt nudged her son and softly said, “Go play chess with Grandpa.”

“Grandpa, I haven’t played chess with you in a while. Let’s play a game,” Jiang Jingzhou said as he walked over, ruffling the little one’s hair. “Go eat your ice cream.”

Mr. Jiang watched as his great-grandson ran off and sighed.

“If I had to pick the smartest one, it would be Xiao Shu. When I taught her to play chess, she was this tall,” Mr. Jiang gestured to the height, continuing, “She would grab six white pieces and place them on the board with such cleverness.”

Grandmother Jiang laughed, “Did you hear that? The old man is bragging about his favorite student again.”

Everyone around laughed, and Jiang Yunshu said, “Grandpa, when Big Brother finishes this game with you, I’ll come play with you too.”

Grandmother Jiang teased, “The old man just loves teaching chess. No one in the family is exempt. When Xiao Shu has the baby, the little great-grandson will also get caught and taught to play chess.”

Aunt was handing out bamboo tube ice cream. She was about to give one to Jiang Yunshu, but before she could hand it to her, she pulled it back and gave it to Fu Chengze instead.

“It’s too cold, don’t eat it, you’re pregnant,” Aunt said.

Jiang Yunshu watched as her beloved matcha ice cream was taken away, feeling a bit wronged, and glanced at Fu Chengze.

Fu Chengze noticed the little expression on her face and smiled, then scooped a spoonful of ice cream and held it up to her mouth.

Jiang Yunshu looked at the ice cream near her mouth, then raised her eyes to look at Fu Chengze.

“It’s just one bite, it’s fine,” Fu Chengze said. “Hurry, it’s melting.”

Jiang Yunshu opened her mouth and ate the ice cream, feeling satisfied.

Maybe it was because the more she couldn’t eat it, the more delicious it seemed. The matcha and bamboo fragrance spread, and Jiang Yunshu thought it was the best ice cream she had ever tasted.

Fu Chengze watched her eyes narrow in contentment and asked, “Is it good?”

Jiang Yunshu nodded, “Yes, it’s good. You should try some.”

Fu Chengze took a spoonful and agreed, “It really is good.”

Jiang Yunshu watched him eat, then touched her belly and mumbled softly, “I envy you.”

Fu Chengze looked at her clear eyes, scooped another big spoonful, and said, “Take one last bite.”

Jiang Yunshu’s eyes lit up, and she opened her mouth to take the bite.

“Chengze, that’s enough, don’t let Xiao Shu eat anymore,” Aunt called out when she saw this, quickly stopping him. “You can’t spoil her like this.”

With Aunt’s words, everyone’s gaze turned toward them.

Jiang Yunshu felt a little embarrassed by the teasing, while Fu Chengze responded calmly, “Alright, this is the last bite for Xiao Shu.”

—

That evening, after Jiang Yunshu had finished her bath, she lay on the bed reading a book.

She received a call from Li Ran Yi in the middle of it. Li Ran Yi went on for a while about her romantic misfortunes, repeating the same thing over and over, the man she was pursuing was ungrateful.

After hanging up, Fu Chengze had also finished his shower.

As usual, he changed into his pajamas and walked over to help her apply some pregnancy oil.

In the beginning, Jiang Yunshu felt a bit shy about it, but now she had gotten used to his care. She lifted her shirt slightly and continued reading the book in her hands.

Fu Chengze’s hand gently brushed her belly, and suddenly, he felt a vibration in the palm of his hand. After pausing for two seconds, he looked up at Jiang Yunshu.

“Did you feel that?”

Jiang Yunshu was absorbed in her book and didn’t pay much attention. “What’s wrong?”

“It moved.” Fu Chengze’s face was calm, but his emotions were in turmoil inside.

“The baby?” Jiang Yunshu quickly put down her book and placed her hand on her belly.

They waited quietly for a few seconds, and then the baby moved again. The movements weren’t strong, but it kicked several times in succession.

Jiang Yunshu grabbed Fu Chengze’s hand, her eyes filling with tears. “I felt it, the baby is kicking me.”

Fu Chengze wiped his hands with a tissue, then hugged Jiang Yunshu and gently rubbed her head.

“Yesterday, you were telling Aunt that you couldn’t feel the baby move. Now you can rest assured.”

Fu Chengze’s gaze fell on her belly. “It… is growing well.”

Jiang Yunshu nodded and looked up at him. “Did we bring the fetal heart monitor?”

“Mm.” Fu Chengze released her and said, “It’s in the suitcase. I’ll go get it.”

Jiang Yunshu lowered her head and spoke softly to the baby in her belly. “Baby, I’m mommy. Mommy finally felt you move…”

Fu Chengze brought over the fetal heart monitor, placed the probe on her belly, and soon the sound of the baby’s strong heartbeat filled the room.

Jiang Yunshu was very emotional, and tears flowed uncontrollably down her face.

Fu Chengze grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears. “Alright, no more crying. Your eyes will be swollen.”

Perhaps the baby in her belly sensed her emotions, and it kicked a few more times.

Jiang Yunshu finally stopped crying and whispered to her belly, “Is the baby trying to comfort mommy? Mommy isn’t sad, mommy is happy…”

Fu Chengze stared at her, and his eyes also turned slightly red.

He stood at the edge of the bed, reached out, pulled her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head.