Chapter 25 : Holding Hands and Going Home

Once Jiang Yunshu’s emotions had calmed down, her eyes were slightly red and swollen.

Fu Chengze went downstairs to ask the housekeeper for an ice pack, wrapped it in a towel, and gently applied it to her eyes for a few minutes.

Feeling emotionally drained, and with no nap that afternoon, Jiang Yunshu quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Outside, the moonlight was like water, softly casting a cool glow on the floor.

With the moonlight as his guide, Fu Chengze quietly gazed at Jiang Yunshu’s peaceful sleeping face. The corner of his mouth seemed to curve into a small smile. It appeared that the feeling of the baby moving last night had truly made her happy.

Earlier, he had been focused on Jiang Yunshu’s emotional state, giving all his energy to comforting her. Now, with the night deepening and the world quiet, a thousand emotions slowly began to spread in him.

Since Jiang Yunshu became pregnant, this was the first time he had truly felt the presence of the child.

At first, it was all about responsibility, but tonight, the baby’s movement had truly touched the softest part of his heart.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then gently rubbed her belly, looking at her until the early hours of the morning before he finally fell asleep.

—

The next morning, Jiang Yunshu woke up and found that Fu Chengze was still fast asleep.

She no longer felt sleepy, so she quietly got out of bed.

When Aunt saw Jiang Yunshu downstairs, she asked, “Xiao Shu, why are you up so early today?”

“I went to bed early last night, so I’m not tired anymore.”

Actually, Jiang Yunshu couldn’t remember when exactly she had fallen asleep the previous night.

She only remembered that Fu Chengze had applied the ice pack to her eyes, and she had found it cool and soothing, eventually drifting off to sleep.

“Where’s Chengze? Is he still asleep?” Aunt asked again.

Jiang Yunshu nodded and happily shared with Aunt and Grandma the joy of feeling the baby move the night before.

“Since the early pregnancy phase, I haven’t had morning sickness, and my belly hasn’t shown much, for a while I thought I couldn’t really feel the baby’s presence. Yesterday, it kicked me several times, and it felt both magical and happy.”

Aunt joked, “Maybe the baby’s dad was so excited last night that he couldn’t sleep, which is why he’s still asleep now?”

Jiang Yunshu recalled Fu Chengze’s calm reaction from last night. He didn’t seem too excited, definitely not to the point of losing sleep.

“When your mother was pregnant with you, she first felt you move at night,” Grandma said. “She was watching TV with me, and your dad was sitting nearby, and he was so excited. Your mom didn’t even cry yet, but your dad started crying first.”

Jiang Yunshu was surprised. “My dad cried?”

Grandma nodded. “Of course. Everyone in the family dotes on you, but your dad loves you the most. When you were little and scraped your knee, it broke your dad’s heart.”

Jiang Yunshu held her glass and sipped warm water, her eyelashes lowering.

Although she didn’t want to compare Fu Chengze to her dad, there was an inevitable feeling of longing in her heart.

This emotion was subtle but lingering, and it stayed with her until the evening.

Fu Chengze noticed that Jiang Yunshu seemed a bit down. After dinner, he casually asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling upset?”

Jiang Yunshu only then realized, like a frog in slowly boiling water, that she had been in a low mood almost the entire day.

She smiled at Fu Chengze. “I’m not upset.”

Just then, Big Brother and Sister-in-law were about to take Jiang Yuchen out for a walk with the dog. Fu Chengze asked Jiang Yunshu, “Do you want to go for a walk?”

Before she could respond, Sister-in-law invited her, “Let’s all go for a walk. Xiao Shu, you’re pregnant, you should walk more and stay active.”

Jiang Yunshu agreed, saying to Fu Chengze, “Let’s go.”

Outside, Jiang Yunshu walked ahead with Sister-in-law and little nephew.

Jiang Jingzhou held the dog and walked behind with Fu Chengze.

When they reached the square, Jiang Yuchen saw a street vendor selling glowing swords. He tugged at his mother’s sleeve and looked up at her, asking, “Mom, can you buy me a glowing sword?”

“No, how many toys have I bought you this week already? Didn’t we agree that you can only buy two toys a week?”

Jiang Yunshu watched as her little nephew’s face fell, then patted his head. “Aunt will buy it for you.”

Jiang Yuchen, surprisingly principled for his age, shook his head. “I don’t want it.”

The little guy sulked for a couple of steps, then suddenly ran back and hugged Jiang Jingzhou’s leg.

“Dad, I want to buy a glowing sword.”

Jiang Jingzhou lifted him with one hand. “Didn’t your mom say no?”

The little one, very serious, said in his sweet voice, “Can I buy three toys this week and not buy any next week?”

“You little brat, you’re quite clever,” Jiang Jingzhou said. “What Dad says doesn’t count. You should ask your mom if she agrees.”

The little guy’s eyes sparkled. “Mom, can I?”

After receiving an affirmative answer, the little one raised his arm and cheered, “Yay!”

Jiang Jingzhou laughed and passed on his experience to Fu Chengze, “Raising kids is an art, and the husband and wife must be on the same page. When you’re a dad, you’ll understand.”

He then took the little guy to buy the glowing sword, saying, “Son, call your mom over.”

The little guy, seeing his mom talking to Aunt, innocently asked, “Why?”

Jiang Jingzhou replied, “Because your uncle wants to hold hands with Aunt.”

Jiang Yuchen nodded, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted, “Mom, come here! Uncle wants to hold hands with Aunt.”

Jiang Jingzhou couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Watching his brother and sister-in-law picking out glowing swords at the street vendor, Jiang Yunshu suddenly felt her hand being taken. Looking down at their hands intertwined, she smiled slightly.

They walked ahead hand in hand. As they passed a street stall, a little girl’s bright voice called out to Jiang Yunshu.

“Miss, do you want to buy a hairpin? There are so many pretty ones here!”

Jiang Yunshu walked over to the stall. The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she said, “Wow, Miss, you’re as beautiful as a fairy.”

“Thank you, you’re beautiful too, you’re a little fairy as well.”

Jiang Yunshu looked at the various hairpins displayed at the stall and chose a small white bear wool felt hairpin.

“Miss, you can try it on,” the little girl pointed to the mirror. “There’s a mirror here.”

Fu Chengze took the hairpin from her hand. “Let me put it on for you.”

He raised his hand and pinned the hairpin in her hair, nodding. “It looks good.”

Jiang Yunshu smiled and glanced at herself in the mirror. “Mm, let’s get this one.”

Fu Chengze then picked out a crocheted lily of the valley keychain and paid for both items.

On the way back, her brother, sister-in-law, and little nephew walked ahead.

Jiang Jingzhou was holding his son with one hand and holding his wife’s hand with the other. The family of three chatted and laughed as they walked forward.

The scene struck Jiang Yunshu deeply, filling her heart with an incredible softness.

Suddenly, the man beside her stopped in his tracks. Jiang Yunshu looked at Fu Chengze and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Fu Chengze’s voice was low and rich. “Did the walk make you feel happier?”

Jiang Yunshu’s eyes curved into a smile as she nodded.

Fu Chengze lowered his gaze to her, suddenly bent down, and gently kissed her soft lips. Then he continued holding her hand. “Let’s go.”

The cool evening breeze brushed her face, and Jiang Yunshu felt the warmth of his palm. She smiled faintly and walked alongside him, heading home.