Mu Wan knew exactly why Aunt Wu asked her such a question. After all, her mother had also been pregnant before marriage and later spent many years as a single mother.
While there were many ways in which she resembled her mother, Aunt Wu didn’t want her to follow in this particular aspect.
However, Mu Wan knew she was different from her mother in this regard, something she had discussed with Lin Wei before. For her, marriage and having children were natural progressions in life.
She didn’t explain further; instead, she placed her hand in front of Aunt Wu and said cheerfully, “Ta-da! He just proposed a few days ago. Let’s take it slow.”
The ring on her finger was stunning—an elegant and beautiful piece, undoubtedly expensive, and it suited Mu Wan perfectly. Aunt Wu looked at it and felt reassured, thinking she had been overly worried. The young couple clearly had their own pace. Smiling, Aunt Wu said, “If you’re pregnant, you should rest. I’ll take care of the cooking.”
Mu Wan knew she couldn’t be of much help in the small kitchen, so she decided not to make things more crowded. She went to the living room to pass the time, and soon after, she heard a knock on the door. Delighted, she put down her phone and eagerly went to open the door.
As soon as she opened it, Liu Qianxiu stood outside, and the cool air from the living room rushed towards him, enveloping him as he stepped inside. He pulled her into his arms, a slight smile on his lips, and carried her through the door.
“Aunt Wu is cooking.” Mu Wan pointed towards the kitchen. “It’ll be ready soon.”
Perhaps out of politeness, Aunt Wu, who had heard the commotion, did not come out of the kitchen. Liu Qianxiu glanced briefly in the direction of the kitchen, then bent down to plant a gentle kiss on the corner of Mu Wan’s lips, his voice soft.
“I’ll go help.”
“Okay.” Mu Wan thought it would be a good idea for Liu Qianxiu to greet Aunt Wu since she was feeling shy about coming out. She released him from her embrace and accompanied him to the kitchen.
Aunt Wu had sensed the sweet atmosphere between the couple even without seeing them, making her feel a bit embarrassed. She hadn’t expected both of them to show up at the kitchen door together.
Aunt Wu had met Liu Qianxiu before when he had visited the Mu family looking for Mu Wan. But she had only seen him from a distance, noting his tall, slender figure and dignified aura—clearly someone of refined status.
Now, seeing him up close, she was surprised by his striking looks, almost like a celestial being from a painting, with eyes that seemed to hold distant mountains and mist. He stood there, tall and elegant, with not a trace of the mundane.
“Aunt Wu, this is Liu Qianxiu. Liu Qianxiu, this is Aunt Wu.” Mu Wan introduced them, hugging Liu Qianxiu’s shoulder, her fuzzy little head peeking out from behind him.
Liu Qianxiu greeted her politely, and Aunt Wu, flustered with her hands full, responded with a quick, “Oh, oh, hello!” She smiled awkwardly, “Why don’t you wait outside? The food will be ready soon.”
But before she could finish, Liu Qianxiu had already stepped into the kitchen. With his long, slender fingers, he rolled up his sleeves, his voice as cool and calm as his demeanour.
“Let me help.”
He took the lotus root from her hands, which she hadn’t finished cleaning. It was still covered in mud, and he began to scrape the surface with a knife, the water from the tap washing over the root, revealing its pale, tender flesh. His slender fingers, equally pale, seemed almost as pristine as the lotus root itself.
Even while doing such a mundane task, he exuded an aura untouched by the ordinary.
Aunt Wu tried to take over, but Mu Wan called out from the living room with a laugh, “It’s okay, he knows how to cook. He does all the cooking at home.”
Liu Qianxiu glanced up at her, their eyes meeting, and Mu Wan saw a glimmer in his gaze. Almost instinctively, she walked over, tugging at his sleeve and tilting her head to look at him, asking softly, “Isn’t that right?”
“Mm.” He nodded as he finished cleaning the lotus root and, with her still holding onto his sleeve, began slicing it.
Their interaction was warm and sweet, the love between them unmistakable. Watching them, Aunt Wu felt her heart gradually fill with relief and joy.
After dinner, Aunt Wu prepared to leave. It wasn’t dark yet, and she planned to take the bus home. Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu accompanied her downstairs, and Liu Qianxiu arranged for Uncle Li to drive her home.
Aunt Wu politely declined many times, but eventually, Mu Wan helped her into the car, closing the door and waving her goodbye. Uncle Li rolled down the window, and as Aunt Wu looked out at the couple standing together, her heart brimmed with happiness and satisfaction.
As the car drove away from the community, Mu Wan watched until it disappeared from view. The sky was darkening, and the street vendors had started setting up, filling the air with the warmth of everyday life.
Beside her, Liu Qianxiu seemed out of place amidst the lively scene. Mu Wan walked over to him, and he took her hand, his palm cool and dry.
“Let’s go home.” Mu Wan said with a smile.
The night air in September was still humid and warm. By the time they walked back from the community gate, Mu Wan was already sweating. As soon as they got home, she undressed and headed straight for the shower. After she finished, Liu Qianxiu took his turn.
He had clothes at her place, and she had some at his. After showering, since there was no separate reading area in her home, they went straight to the bedroom.
Once inside, Mu Wan rolled over and nestled into Liu Qianxiu’s arms. He held her close, their bodies cool and smooth from the shower. Mu Wan loved the feel of his skin, snuggling deeper into his embrace, her breath tickling his chest.
She did it on purpose, and Liu Qianxiu could tell. Her hand clung to his waist, her body cool but her palms hot, like a flame burning its way into his heart.
Instead of pressing her down, he pulled her into his arms, lifting her slightly. She giggled as she settled back against his chest, but her laughter was soon silenced by his lips, which moved lightly at first, teasing her, before growing deeper and more passionate.
As their breathing quickened, Mu Wan found herself beneath him, her dark eyes glistening like wet obsidian. Though her mind was hazy, she could clearly see the expression on his face.
He remained calm and composed, but beneath his inky eyes, she could see the familiar stirrings of desire. Mu Wan reached out to touch his cheek, and he took her fingers into his mouth, kissing them gently. She sighed softly, a smile curving her lips.
“I’m a bad student.” Mu Wan whispered hoarsely, her fingertips tingling under his kisses.
“Oh? How so?” Liu Qianxiu murmured against her lips, his voice husky.
“You were supposed to be abstaining.” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck, breathing in the faint scent of sandalwood from his skin, and returned his kiss. “But I, this bad student, tempted you.”
He chuckled, a deep sound that seemed to come from the depths of the ocean, carrying with it a primal allure that made her head spin.
“Dual cultivation is also a form of practice.” he replied.
Mu Wan laughed, but then she remembered something. She grabbed his hand and asked softly, “Should we… be more restrained during the early stages of pregnancy?”
Liu Qianxiu took her hand in his, looking down at her with dark eyes. “I’m a doctor. I’ll take care of it.”
His voice was low and serious, and after he finished speaking, he kissed her again, from her lips to her cheeks, eventually trailing down to her ear. All she could hear was his breath and the moist air around her as he whispered, “And I’m a man. I know how to make you feel good.”
Mu Wan moaned softly, losing herself in their shared practice.
By the time their practice ended, Mu Wan was so exhausted that she couldn’t even lift a finger. Liu Qianxiu carried her to the bathroom, her body still responding to his touch. He washed her gently before cleaning up himself. When he returned to bed, she was lying there, lazily holding his vibrating phone, her voice drowsy.
“Mei Yaozhi is calling you.”
Liu Qianxiu kissed her forehead, took the phone from her, and pulled her into his arms. Their bodies pressed together as Mei Yaozhi’s voice echoed clearly through the dark bedroom.
“Have you asked Mu Wan about the style she prefers for the engagement banquet?”
Hearing the question, Mu Wan, who had been dozing off, stirred and looked up at him with her clear, dark eyes.
The engagement banquet had been on Liu Qianxiu’s mind ever since he proposed to her. Mei Yaozhi, who had friends in this line of work, had taken the initiative to help out. He had called earlier in the afternoon, but they had been too busy to discuss it.
“Do you want to tell him yourself?” Liu Qianxiu asked Mu Wan softly.
Having accepted his proposal, an engagement and wedding were inevitable. Since Liu Qianxiu had started making preparations, she wanted to cooperate fully. There was no need to be shy or hesitant about it.
She nodded, took the phone, and greeted him, “Yaozhi.”
Mei Yaozhi got straight to the point and asked Mu Wan about her preferences. Mu Wan, who had never planned an engagement before, wasn’t sure what to expect.
Following Mei Yaozhi’s questions, she answered a few basic ones, like what colour schemes and styles she liked. After going through the questions, Mei Yaozhi said, “I have a general idea now, but there are many subcategories within that. Why don’t you and Qianxiu come to my place for dinner tomorrow? We can finalise the details then.”
“Alright.” Mu Wan agreed, and the call ended.
Whether it was the phone call or the news of the engagement, Mu Wan couldn’t fall asleep. Liu Qianxiu put the phone down and wrapped his arms around her.
Marriage was an abstract concept for Mu Wan, but now that it was becoming a reality, she couldn’t help feeling excited.
“When did you start preparing all this?” she asked, hugging Liu Qianxiu.
“After the proposal.” he replied.
“You only started after it was successful?” Mu Wan laughed and asked, “Were you afraid it wouldn’t be?”
In the darkness, their faces were barely visible, but he could still accurately find her lips. He kissed her and said, “I wasn’t afraid. But until you said yes, I wanted to respect your choice.”
He always did things so meticulously, leaving no room for dissatisfaction.
Mu Wan hugged him tighter, nuzzling against his chest, and asked, “What about the wedding?”
Running his fingers through her hair gently, Liu Qianxiu answered, “I only have preliminary ideas. On the wedding day, you’ll leave from the Mei residence, from the room my mother used to get married in.”
Having no parents or close relatives, he provided her with a strong support system to give her confidence as a bride.
Mu Wan’s heart overflowed with sweetness. Hugging Liu Qianxiu, she hummed softly, “Liu Qianxiu, I love you so much~”
Feeling her affection, Liu Qianxiu’s expression softened, and he whispered in her ear, “I love you too.”
After they got together, life became simple yet still filled with romance. Listening to his confession, Mu Wan felt a warm, tingling sensation inside and wanted to cuddle even closer.
He held her close, indulging her, and as he listened to her laughter and eventually her slow, steady breathing, his lips curled into a smile.
“Tomorrow morning, come with me to a place, and in the afternoon, we’ll go to the hospital for a prenatal checkup.”
“Where are we going?” she mumbled, her voice barely audible, as if asking in her sleep.
Liu Qianxiu looked down at her, but before he could answer, she had already fallen asleep. He pulled her closer and said nothing more.
I’m picking this novel up since there are only about 15 chapters left—almost there!
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