As winter approached, the weather turned colder, and even in the usually snow-free Xia City, a light layer of snow had fallen today. Mu Wan gazed out the car window, breathing on the glass and drawing a heart with her finger. Up front, Liu Qianxiu was waiting at a red light, and Mu Wan called out to him.
“Liu Qianxiu.”
The man turned to look at her, and Mu Wan smiled, pointing at the heart she had drawn on the window. She watched as a gentle smile slowly spread across his lips, and his dark eyes filled with warmth.
The heart began to fade, so Mu Wan breathed on the window again and redrew it. She remembered how, back in Finland, she had drawn hearts on the window outside, only for them to disappear quickly. But then, Liu Qianxiu had used red paint to draw one on the glass of their cabin in the woods.
In the snowy, forested mountains, with white blanketing the trees and the glass of the cabin’s window, that single red heart stood out, warm and comforting.
The traffic light turned green, and Liu Qianxiu turned back to the road. Mu Wan leaned back in her seat, shifting her gaze to her swollen belly.
Today was the twenty-ninth day of the lunar month, and the Mei family was holding a family dinner. Grandma Mei had called to invite Liu Qianxiu and Mu Wan over. She had wanted them to stay at the Mei residence for New Year’s Eve, but since Liu Qianxiu had just started his own family this year and was the head of the Liu family with many responsibilities, they decided to simply gather the day before the holiday.
Mu Wan was now five months pregnant. She hadn’t experienced any morning sickness, but her belly had grown rapidly, now quite prominent. At three months, Liu Qianxiu had taken her back to the Liu family home. With a dedicated nutritionist preparing her meals, Mu Wan hadn’t gained much weight, remaining slender except for her protruding belly.
When they arrived at the Mei residence, Mu Wan unfastened her seatbelt. Since entering her second trimester, she had been sitting in the back seat. Just as she was about to open the door, she heard Liu Qianxiu getting out of the car and reminding her, “Wait a moment.”
Mu Wan stayed put, waiting as Liu Qianxiu walked over. He opened the door slightly, his tall and lean figure standing outside, and reached for the scarf in the back seat, wrapping it around her neck.
The snow had started falling again. The grass on the lawn was covered with a thin layer of snow, with a few blades of grass poking through. Although it wasn’t too cold, the car had been warm, and suddenly stepping into the chilly air could cause her to catch a cold, so Liu Qianxiu was extra cautious.
After wrapping the scarf around her, Liu Qianxiu took Mu Wan’s hand, and the two of them walked toward the Mei residence.
Even through the scarf, the air felt cool. The light, icy snowflakes fell on her face, and Mu Wan squinted slightly. She breathed in the crisp, fresh air, her feet making soft impressions in the snow. Looking down at the footprints she left behind, she found it amusing.
They walked slowly, chatting and joking as they went. Mei Yaozhi stood at the door, watching them. When Mu Wan approached, he smiled and said, “You look like a little penguin.”
Mu Wan and Mei Yaozhi shared a similar sense of humour and often joked with each other. She patted her belly and laughed, “Just wait until I tell Grandma you called me fat.”
Hearing the noise, Grandma Mei called out, “Who said you’re fat?”
Mei Yaozhi let out an “Oh no” while Mu Wan laughed and stepped up the stairs. Once inside, she was greeted by a rush of warm air, and her heart felt equally warm. With a smile, she softly called out, “Grandma~”
Although Mu Wan hadn’t experienced the warmth of familial love growing up, she was naturally sweet and charming, especially with elders. Grandma Mei was particularly fond of her granddaughter-in-law and couldn’t stop smiling whenever Mu Wan called her “Grandma.”
Of course, Mu Wan was only joking about telling on Mei Yaozhi. When he came in, Grandma Mei, Mrs. Mei, and Mei Zhizhi’s wife had already gathered around Mu Wan.
Women always have endless topics when it comes to pregnancy.
“How have you been sleeping lately?” one asked, knowing that sleeping becomes tricky as the belly grows, with expectant mothers worried about pressing on the baby.
“Pretty well,” Mu Wan replied. “I haven’t had any major issues during this pregnancy.”
The Mei family had been closely monitoring her pregnancy. With no morning sickness or other complications, Grandma Mei finally relaxed after confirming that everything was still going smoothly.
Once they arrived, the kitchen announced that dinner was ready, and the family gathered around the table. Mu Wan had a special nutritional meal prepared for her, but she wasn’t too strict with her diet. Aside from the few things she couldn’t eat, she could have a little bit of everything.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t being responsible; she just found herself craving more during pregnancy, and Liu Qianxiu had consulted to make sure that indulging these cravings wouldn’t harm the baby.
After dinner, they naturally moved on to playing cards and mahjong. With her belly so large, Mu Wan didn’t have the stamina she used to and had developed a tendency to feel sleepy. After playing for a while, she excused herself around eight o’clock.
Needing rest, Liu Qianxiu didn’t stay in the game room either. They held hands as they returned to their room.
The room was filled with the soothing scent of calming incense and candles. Mu Wan went to take a bath first, and when she came out, she lay down on the bed. Liu Qianxiu, who had been preparing something, began to apply oil to her belly.
Her belly had grown rapidly, which could lead to stretch marks. To prevent them, Liu Qianxiu had started applying oil to her skin daily. Despite the size of her belly, her skin remained smooth and flawless, without a single mark.
Lying in bed with the help of the calming incense, Mu Wan began to feel drowsy. Just as she was about to drift off, a loud noise jolted her awake, and a flash of light caught her eye. Turning towards the window, she realised that someone outside had started setting off fireworks.
As Mu Wan watched, another explosion lit up the sky, and her eyes widened as a beautiful firework illuminated the night.
“The fireworks are so pretty!” she exclaimed. Lying flat on her back, she struggled to get up like a little turtle, her arms and legs flailing. But she lacked the strength and couldn’t quite manage it.
She looked over at Liu Qianxiu, stretching out her arms toward him, and called out softly, “Help me up~”
Liu Qianxiu’s hand was still resting on her belly. He didn’t immediately respond, instead gazing at her intently, his dark eyes holding an emotion that Mu Wan couldn’t quite decipher.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, puzzled, glancing down at her belly. At that moment, another firework exploded outside, the colourful lights illuminating the sky.
Mu Wan stared in surprise at her exposed belly. As the fireworks boomed, she saw a tiny bulge appear on her skin.
Her eyes widened with astonishment.
The sensation was strange and incredible. She hadn’t had any morning sickness, no adverse reactions, and aside from her growing belly, she hadn’t noticed much change.
This was the first time she truly felt the presence of her baby.
A tingling sensation spread across her skin, and Mu Wan let out a small sound, part confusion and part amazement. She looked up at Liu Qianxiu, who was also watching her.
“Did it just… move?” Mu Wan’s voice trembled slightly, her gaze filled with excitement and uncertainty.
“Yes.” The baby had reacted to the sound of the fireworks, moving inside her. Liu Qianxiu hadn’t just seen it—he had felt it.
He released his hand from her belly and climbed onto the bed. Sitting beside her, he gently pulled Mu Wan into his arms. He guided her hand to her belly, placing his palm over hers.
Once they were settled, they both instinctively turned to look out the window.
The sky, which had been quiet for a moment, suddenly burst into colour again as another firework exploded. With the sound, Mu Wan felt something inside her belly brush against her hand.
She relaxed completely, leaning back into Liu Qianxiu’s embrace. Her heart raced, and her dark, clear eyes slowly filled with warmth. Letting out a soft sigh, she turned to look at Liu Qianxiu, her eyes brimming with joy.
Feeling the presence of the new life within her made her both excited and blissfully happy. Seeing her smile, Liu Qianxiu leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Mu Wan giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck as she returned his kiss. Their kisses were tender and full of love.
Outside, the fireworks continued to light up the sky, casting a beautiful glow across the room. The room flickered with the soft light, wrapped in a gentle warmth.
Mu Wan leaned against him, watching the fireworks together. Perhaps because of the significance attached to them, these fireworks seemed more beautiful than any she had seen before.
“Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and the day after that will be the New Year.” Mu Wan murmured, resting her head on his chest as she watched the display outside.
The little one inside her had stopped moving, having gotten used to the noise. Liu Qianxiu took a blanket and gently covered her belly, kissing her forehead softly. “Mm” he responded.
“This is my first New Year with you, and I’m so happy.” Mu Wan giggled as he kissed her, her happiness spilling over.
Liu Qianxiu’s expression softened as he watched her laugh. Her eyes sparkled like the fireworks outside, and with determination, she declared to the night sky,
“Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, I’m going to let go of all the unhappiness from before. My future, with you, will be filled with nothing but joy.”
After making her vow, Mu Wan chuckled, hugging him tightly. Her fluffy head rubbed against his chest as she playfully added, “I love you so much, Liu Qianxiu~”
He returned her embrace, his arms gently but securely holding her. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he nuzzled her affectionately and replied in a deep voice.
“I love you too.”
At five months pregnant, Mu Wan had only just begun to feel the baby’s movements. Not long after, Xu Xingkong gave birth. However, she had her baby in her hometown of Huai City. Since the baby was still small and it wasn’t ideal to travel, Huai Jing arranged for a postpartum care team to be brought to Huai City. After staying there for over a month, Xu Xingkong finally returned to Xia City with her newborn.
As soon as Xu Xingkong returned to Xia City, Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu went to visit her. After ringing the doorbell, Huai Jing came to open the door. Seeing them, he stepped aside to let them in.
Mu Wan had called Xu Xingkong ahead of time to let her know they were coming, so she was already waiting. When she saw Mu Wan, she smiled brightly and greeted her with joy.
“Mu Wan, you’re here!”
After giving birth, Xu Xingkong looked even more radiant, with a healthier complexion and smoother skin. She smiled as she approached and asked, “Where’s the baby?”
Xu Xingkong laughed and took her hand, saying, “Come on, I’ll take you to see him.”
The two women chatted and laughed as they headed upstairs. Huai Jing and Liu Qianxiu remained downstairs, watching their wives’ retreating figures. After the women entered the room, Huai Jing turned to Liu Qianxiu and asked, “What brings you here?”
The couple had brought gifts, which Liu Qianxiu handed to Huai Jing. With a calm demeanour, he replied,
“To learn.”
In just three months, they, too, would be preparing for the arrival of their first child.
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