The next day.
When Qiao Shu woke up and looked at the ring on his hand, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the kiss on the swing last night.
Excitedly, he rolled around in bed with the blanket.
Although it wasn’t a real swing play, just kissing on the swing was thrilling enough. His face flushed, and his eyes sparkled.
Next time, he could try something else.
Qiao Shu covered his face.
As usual, he interacted with Zai Zai in the morning, then washed up and went downstairs for breakfast.
As usual, there were two boiled eggs.
Qiao Shu peeled the eggs while glancing at his phone beside him.
“Ah, yum.”
He took a bite of the egg.
A WeChat message popped up.
Gu Chenyan: Secretary Li is distributing milk dates in the office today. She saved one for you too.
Qiao Shu: Milk dates!
Gu Chenyan: Yes.
Gu Chenyan: I tried one. It’s sweet. The flavor you like.
Qiao Shu: (Piggy drooled)
Qiao Shu: I want to eat it now!
Gu Chenyan: When are you coming over today?
Qiao Shu: Mm.
Qiao Shu: Mr. Gu~
Qiao Shu: Are you missing Little Mister?
Gu Chenyan: Mm.
Qiao Shu laughed while biting into the egg. He licked his lips and was about to continue typing when he suddenly furrowed his brow.
Quickly retracting his hand from the phone, he covered his mouth and swiftly dropped the egg, jumping off the chair and rushing downstairs to the first-floor bathroom.
“Madam?”
Aunt Lan, who was feeding the fish, heard the commotion and turned to see Qiao Shu’s swift figure.
She frowned and followed, concerned.
The bathroom door was ajar. Aunt Lan took a few steps and heard the sound of retching. With a worried thought, she hastened her steps and arrived at the bathroom.
Sure enough, she saw Qiao Shu hunched over, feeling sick.
Aunt Lan immediately went to Qiao Shu’s side, gently running her hand down his back.
Qiao Shu turned his head: “Aunt Lan.”
The sudden urge to vomit made him extremely uncomfortable. After hunching over for a while, he vomited out everything he had for breakfast. Now his eyes were red at the corners, shimmering with tears.
Pitiful indeed.
But just as he uttered a sentence, he felt the urge to vomit again. He immediately turned his head and continued retching.
“Madam,” Aunt Lan said gently, “don’t talk for now.”
Aunt Lan softly ran her hand down Qiao Shu’s back.
When Qiao Shu emerged from the bathroom nearly ten minutes later, he looked pale and was supported by Aunt Lan, looking somewhat distressed.
“It’s morning sickness,” Aunt Lan said.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll have the doctor come over to take a look.” She furrowed her brow again. “No, let’s go to the hospital for a comprehensive check-up, just to be safe.”
Qiao Shu weakly nodded.
Aunt Lan helped Qiao Shu sit down at the table. “Madam, are you still hungry?”
Qiao Shu glanced at the unfinished breakfast on the table. He did feel hungry, but the thought of just having vomited made him a bit afraid, so he shook his head.
Aunt Lan: “In that case, let’s go to the hospital first. Later…”
The phone on the table vibrated.
Qiao Shu glanced at it. It was a call from Gu Chenyan. He rubbed his chest and answered.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan.”
His voice lacked its usual vigor and cheer, sounding listless and pitiful.
In the company, Gu Chenyan furrowed his brow at the news. “What happened?”
Qiao Shu pouted. “Just threw up.”
Feeling utterly aggrieved.
Gu Chenyan immediately stood up. “Wait for me. I’ll come back right away to take you to the hospital.”
He hurried out of the office as he spoke.
“No need,” Qiao Shu said.
Qiao Shu: “I’m preparing to go to the hospital with Aunt Lan now. You…”
“Then I’ll go to the hospital now,” Gu Chenyan interrupted.
Gu Chenyan: “Be good.”
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t cry.”
Gu Chenyan: “I’ll be there soon.”
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t be afraid.”
Despite initially wanting Gu Chenyan to continue working in the company, Qiao Shu eventually swallowed these reasonable words.
He was feeling extremely uncomfortable right now.
He just wanted Gu Chenyan to accompany him, so he pouted and said, “Mr. Gu, Little Mr. Qiao wants a hug.”
“Wait for me,” Gu Chenyan replied.
The call ended.
Qiao Shu then noticed that Gu Chenyan had called him twice before this phone call.
He glanced at WeChat.
Gu Chenyan must have called him because he hadn’t replied to his messages for a long time.
Feeling slightly better, Qiao Shu went upstairs to change clothes and, accompanied by Aunt Lan, headed to the hospital.
Gu Chenyan was faster than him.
Before Qiao Shu arrived at the hospital, Gu Chenyan was already there, waiting on the first floor.
As soon as Qiao Shu got out of the car, Gu Chenyan ran over and hugged him. “Don’t be afraid.”
He rubbed Qiao Shu’s head and kissed his forehead gently. “Let’s go upstairs and have the doctor check you.”
Qiao Shu nodded.
He leaned his head against Gu Chenyan’s shoulder and held his hand.
Carried half by Gu Chenyan, Qiao Shu went upstairs. The one responsible for Qiao Shu’s examination was Fang Tangtang, Fang Zhouyou’s cousin. Thanks to the fast-track channel, the results came out quickly.
Fang Tangtang: “The pregnant husband’s body is healthy, and the embryo is developing well. You don’t need to worry.”
Fang Tangtang: “It’s just regular morning sickness.”
Gu Chenyan frowned. “Isn’t morning sickness supposed to occur before three months?”
Fang Tangtang explained, “Male pregnancy and female pregnancy can have different reactions. Qiao Shu’s situation has also occurred in other pregnant husbands…”
After hearing many explanations from Fang Tangtang, both worried Gu Chenyan and Qiao Shu felt relieved.
On the way back, Aunt Lan chattered, “I didn’t prepare anything because I thought Madam didn’t need it. I’ll buy some sour plums or something later to eat, which might help relieve…”
Gu Chenyan looked at Qiao Shu, whose spirits were still not good, in his arms. “Still uncomfortable?”
Qiao Shu shook his head. “I’m a bit hungry.”
He touched his stomach. After vomiting everything he had for breakfast and then going to the hospital, he was hungry, feeling like his front and back were sticking together.
Gu Chenyan checked his watch. “It’s getting late. Shall we order some food and eat at home?”
Qiao Shu nodded eagerly, looking at Gu Chenyan expectantly.
Gu Chenyan asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu replied, “Are you going back to work at the company now?”
Gu Chenyan said, “No, I’m not going back.”
Gu Chenyan: “I’ll accompany you for lunch.”
Qiao Shu instantly felt much better.
Qiao Shu and Aunt Lan came to the hospital by the family car. On the way back, Aunt Lan still rode in the same car, while Qiao Shu sat in Gu Chenyan’s car.
Gu Chenyan patted his leg. “Come sit here.”
Qiao Shu happily sat on Gu Chenyan’s lap, facing him, and hugged Gu Chenyan’s shoulders, delicately resting his head on Gu Chenyan’s shoulder.
The driver started the car.
There were some fruits in the car. Gu Chenyan opened the fridge and asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Qiao Shu turned his head and glanced. “Cherries.”
Gu Chenyan took out some cherries.
Qiao Shu lazily opened his mouth, and Gu Chenyan fed him the cherries attentively. When feeding the first one, Gu Chenyan asked carefully, “Does it feel uncomfortable?”
Qiao Shu shook his head while biting the cherry.
Gu Chenyan felt relieved. He touched Qiao Shu’s belly very seriously. “Zai Zai, be good. Don’t bother Daddy. Let Daddy eat well every day.”
Gu Chenyan: “We need to protect Daddy.”
Gu Chenyan: “Be good.”
Qiao Shu couldn’t help but smile while biting the cherry.
Although he was hungry now, he looked a bit more spirited than before. He reached out and poked Gu Chenyan’s face.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu~”
Qiao Shu: “You’re so childish.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu continued to smile. “Zai Zai is still young and doesn’t understand yet.”
Gu Chenyan smiled. “He understands.”
Qiao Shu blinked.
Gu Chenyan said, “This is the agreement between me and Zai Zai. Our Zai Zai is so obedient. He will definitely abide by it.”
Perhaps the baby really understood the agreement between Dad and him. After that, he was exceptionally well-behaved. Whether Qiao Shu was eating fruits or having lunch, he remained quiet and calm, and Qiao Shu didn’t feel any discomfort.
His appetite was as good as ever.
Even because of the morning sickness, he ate an extra bowl of rice for lunch.
Aunt Lan bought a lot of sour fruits and some dried fruits. The dining room, living room, and Qiao Shu’s room, the places he often stayed in, were filled with these fruits and dried fruits, which looked sour just by looking at them.
Qiao Shu didn’t really like sour things, and he thought he wouldn’t be able to eat them. However, after taking a bite, he found that his taste had changed. The sour taste wasn’t bad at all?
Qiao Shu: “…”
Pregnancy is truly miraculous.
In the afternoon, Qiao Shu went to the company with Gu Chenyan. Gu Chenyan had official duties to attend to, so Qiao Shu lay on the nearby carpet playing with puzzles. This carpet was Qiao Shu’s recent favorite.
The soft fur felt like stepping on a fluffy cloud, and the sunlight through the French windows warmed him up.
While playing with the puzzles, Qiao Shu received a call from his current agent, Xuan Mingyong.
Xuan Mingyong is currently the general manager of the Starry Sky Entertainment Agency’s artist management department. He’s usually very busy, but his work prioritizes Qiao Shu, regardless of whether Qiao Shu is filming or not.
Xuan Mingyong: “Madam, the program team of ‘Working People, Working Spirit’ just sent a message asking when you and President Gu will be available to finish the remaining recordings.”
Qiao Shu: “Um.”
Qiao Shu, holding the puzzle pieces, said, “Hold on, let me ask Gu Chenyan. I’ll give you a message in a moment.”
Gu Chenyan, upon hearing his name, already looked toward Qiao Shu. “What’s up?”
Qiao Shu: “It’s from the ‘Working People, Working Spirit’ program team. They are asking when we’ll have time to continue recording. Do you have time recently?”
Gu Chenyan: “Wait a moment.”
Gu Chenyan asked Chen Wenyuan to bring the schedule, then frowned. “I have to go abroad in a few days.”
He asked, “How does the program team arrange it?”
Qiao Shu: “Xuan Mingyong said the program team wants to finish shooting as soon as possible because summer vacation is approaching.”
Summer vacation has the best viewership, and the program team wants to ride on the summer season. They originally planned for the summer season.
But unfortunately, Qiao Shu and Gu Chenyan still couldn’t go back to continue the program shooting.
Gu Chenyan himself is very busy.
And Qiao Shu…
He vomited again.
In the end, Gu Chenyan postponed the overseas trip.
Qiao Shu’s morning sickness comes and goes. With his condition like this, not only is Gu Chenyan worried about him going to shoot the program, but Qiao Shu himself is also afraid of delaying the program’s progress. So he decided to withdraw from the program’s recording.
On June 15th, the official Weibo account of “Sword of the Martial World” released the second version of the trailer and announced the airing time, which will be on July 12th at 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV.
Fans were ecstatic.
【Woo hoo hoo hoo. It’s finally airing! I’ve been waiting for so long!】
【The second trailer is even better than the first one. The anticipation is so high. The director’s cinematography is excellent, with both fast and slow-paced action scenes, and the rhythm is strong. I hope the actual episode won’t disappoint.】
【Ah ah ah! Qiao Qiao looks so good! The aerial somersault is amazing!】
【It’s the first time I knew Qiao Qiao’s ligaments are so good, hehe, impressive.】
【I’ve only played it in a loop thirty times, that’s all.】
Qiao Shu’s morning sickness only lasted for half a month. After the announcement of the “Sword of the Martial World” airing, the symptoms of morning sickness suddenly disappeared. He felt anxious for several days, afraid that the baby in his belly would suddenly attack him again, preventing him from eating.
Fortunately, the baby was very well-behaved.
After realizing that he finally wouldn’t have morning sickness, Qiao Shu happily jumped onto Gu Chenyan.
He smiled with his eyes sparkling, “Ah ah ah ah ah! Mr. Gu, it seems like I’m really better now!”
Qiao Shu: “Zai Zia is so good!”
Qiao Shu: “I finally won’t vomit anymore.”
Gu Chenyan pinched Qiao Shu’s face with some tenderness. Over the past half month, Qiao Shu had vomited many times, causing him to lose weight and even some flesh on his face.
He lifted Qiao Shu’s butt, “Shall we go out for dinner tonight?”
Qiao Shu: “Yes, yes.”
His eyes sparkled, “I want to eat crayfish!” He even licked his lips eagerly.
Qiao Shu: “Is that okay?”
Gu Chenyan: “…”
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t eat too much.”
Qiao Shu pouted, “Okay.”
Qiao Shu: “Can I have a kilogram?”
Gu Chenyan: “Ten.”
Qiao Shu pitifully bargained, “Crayfish doesn’t have much meat to begin with. I won’t even taste anything with just ten. How about thirty?”
Gu Chenyan: “Eleven.”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu~”
“Fifteen, maximum fifteen,” Gu Chenyan compromised.
Qiao Shu was still dissatisfied. He felt like Gu Chenyan didn’t love him anymore. He had been vomiting for half a month, and now he wanted to eat crayfish, but he was only given fifteen!
Just fifteen!
After peeling off the shells and putting the meat together, it was only a mouthful.
With one gulp, it would all be gone.
He looked at Gu Chenyan with a grievance.
Gu Chenyan coaxed him, “I’ll make dried persimmons for you at home, okay? I’ll also make crayfish for you.”
Qiao Shu couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, “Then can I have another bucket?”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu~”
He playfully tugged on Gu Chenyan’s clothes.
Gu Chenyan: “…”
He compromised, “You can only have one-third.”
Qiao Shu: “Yay!”
In order to eat more crayfish, Qiao Shu and Gu Chenyan went to the supermarket together to buy crayfish.
Qiao Shu personally selected them.
He picked the plumpest and most energetic ones, but only picked a kilogram, less than thirty, which made him very regretful.
When the spicy crayfish was ready, Qiao Shu’s mouth watered almost uncontrollably.
He looked at it greedily.
Then, impatiently, he reached out to grab a crayfish to eat, but his hand was stopped by Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan: “It’s hot.”
“I want to eat it,” Qiao Shu insisted.
“I’ll peel it for you,” Gu Chenyan offered.
Qiao Shu refused.
Crayfish without being peeled by oneself had no soul. Only crayfish peeled by oneself were delicious!
He looked at Gu Chenyan.
After hesitating, Gu Chenyan took out a bowl from the kitchen, then put fifteen crayfish in it before handing it to Qiao Shu.
Gu Chenyan: “You eat this bowl.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Suddenly feeling very aggrieved!
Gu, the cunning and astute Mr. Gu, had seen through his scheme! He only gave him fifteen!
Not even one more!
Stingy!
QAQ
Qiao Qiao was struggling!
He watched with longing eyes as Gu Chenyan took the remaining crayfish into the kitchen. Qiao Shu’s heart almost broke with sadness. His crayfish!
Crayfish!
He sat on the chair, feeling miserable, and reluctantly put on disposable gloves. He grabbed a crayfish and started peeling it. The spicy crayfish was truly fragrant, and in its aroma, Qiao Shu briefly forgot the miserable fact that he only had fifteen crayfish.
He peeled happily.
Then, he put the crayfish meat into his mouth.
As per Qiao Shu’s request, Gu Chenyan added some dried chili peppers, paired with the Hai Di Lao’s thirteen-spice crayfish base, it was incredibly delicious.
So fragrant and delicious!
He licked his fingers deliciously, repeatedly licking them.
Fifteen crayfish were still too few. Even though Qiao Shu had slowed down his pace, in no time, the bowl was empty.
He looked at the empty bowl, licked his lips, and then turned to the kitchen where Gu Chenyan was making milk jujubes, emitting a sweet aroma.
But compared to the milk jujubes, Qiao Shu still wanted to eat his thirteen-spice crayfish.
He watched for a while.
Then he quietly got up.
Qiao Shu tiptoed to the kitchen. Gu Chenyan was stirring the milk jujubes in the pot with a serious attitude, completely unaware of him. Qiao Shu was satisfied.
He leaned against the kitchen door, peeking inside cautiously, carefully examining left and right.
Finally!
His eyes lit up, fixed on the corner of the countertop—his thirteen-spice crayfish!
Qiao Shu swallowed quietly.
Then he looked up carefully at Gu Chenyan.
Good!
Gu Chenyan was still focused on making the milk jujubes, not distracted or noticing him!
Qiao Shu felt relieved.
He shrunk his neck and then tiptoed towards the direction where he spotted the crayfish.
Almost there!
Don’t turn around!
Don’t turn around!
Qiao Shu nervously took a dozen steps, but thankfully, his caution paid off. Because he reached his thirteen-spice crayfish without Gu Chenyan noticing him.
Good!
Qiao Shu patted his chest, then wiped away the imaginary cold sweat on his forehead with his hand.
He looked at the bowl containing the crayfish.
Unconsciously, saliva swirled in his mouth, and his throat moved involuntarily. He reached out his hand, eager to grab the bowl and sneak out with it.
But as he touched the bowl, he suddenly felt guilty. Qiao Shu glanced at his own stomach, wrinkled his nose, and then reluctantly changed his plan. He reached into the bowl and grabbed one crayfish claw, silently repeating to himself: I’ll just eat one, just one!
Qiao Shu carefully took out the crayfish and turned to leave.
“What are you doing?”
The sudden voice startled Qiao Shu, freezing him in place.
Gu Chenyan had just scooped the milk jujubes out of the pot and was about to shape them with a pair of disposable gloves. When he turned around, he saw Qiao Shu acting suspiciously.
His gaze was sharp.
He immediately noticed the bowl of crayfish that Qiao Shu had hidden beside him.
Gu Chenyan sighed helplessly.
He walked towards Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu’s heart pounded, but fortunately, his acting skills were not in vain. As Gu Chenyan approached him, he nervously turned around, hiding the crayfish behind his back and trying to put on an innocent expression.
Qiao Shu: “Nothing. I just came in to take a look. I wanted to see how your milk jujubes turned out.”
Qiao Shu: “Yeah!”
Qiao Shu: “Just like this!”
Gu Chenyan had already walked up to Qiao Shu by now. He affectionately pinched Qiao Shu’s nose. “No lying.”
Qiao Shu blinked.
His instant innocence vanished.
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu pouted in grievance.
Then, with a super sad expression, he reluctantly handed over the crayfish hidden behind his back, saying in a deeply sorrowful tone, “I just wanted to eat the last one.”
He raised his hand in oath: “Really, the very last one!”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu~”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu coaxed, “Mr. Gu~”
Qiao Shu: “Let me have one more, I promise it’ll be the very last one!”
Gu Chenyan: “You…”
Qiao Shu looked innocent.
Gu Chenyan: “The last one.”
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
He jumped up in excitement, disregarding the crayfish still in his hand, and went to hug Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan allowed him to embrace him.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu, you’re so kind!”
Qiao Shu planted a kiss on Gu Chenyan’s cheek, leaving an oily mark. After kissing him, he realized what he had done and took a step back, feeling a bit guilty.
Gu Chenyan’s face and the white shirt were both stained with crayfish soup.
Qiao Shu: “I-I…”
Gu Chenyan also noticed.
But he didn’t mind at all. He casually grabbed a piece of tissue from the countertop and wiped his face. “The last one. If you still want more later, I’ll cook some for you again.”
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
Surprise!
A huge surprise!
Gu Chenyan wrapped the remaining crayfish in cling film and then washed his hands to start shaping the milk jujubes. If he delayed any longer, it would be difficult to manage later.
With permission granted, Qiao Shu openly enjoyed the last crayfish next to Gu Chenyan.
As he carefully peeled the shell, he watched Gu Chenyan shaping the milk jujubes. “Mr. Gu, it seems like you’re good at everything.”
Qiao Shu also knows how to cook, but his skills are limited. Most of what he can make are simple home-cooked dishes, and the taste is nothing extraordinary, just at an average level. However, Gu Chenyan is different. He can cook many dishes, and they often turn out delicious. Every time Qiao Shu eats, he wishes he had another stomach so he could keep eating.
Even though Gu Chenyan is so busy.
Gu Chenyan gestured for Qiao Shu to look behind him.
Next to the stove was a phone, its screen still lit up. Qiao Shu leaned over to take a look and saw it was a tutorial on making milk jujubes.
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu, you’re still amazing!”
Qiao Shu: “Just learned from the tutorial.”
Qiao Shu: “The crayfish just now was also cooked really well, no worse than what I can make.”
The best dishes Qiao Shu can make are crayfish and spicy diced chicken. Whenever crayfish season comes around, he becomes a dedicated consumer of crayfish, making a significant contribution to preventing crayfish species from invading.
Unfortunately.
This year, he’s pregnant.
He can’t eat too much crayfish.
As he ate the last crayfish, Gu Chenyan smiled and offered him to taste the sweet milk jujube, “Try it.”
Qiao Shu opened his mouth and took a bite, his eyes instantly lighting up. “Delicious!”
He reached out to grab another milk jujube to eat.
But as he reached out, he realized his hands weren’t clean; they were covered in crayfish broth.
Qiao Shu: “…”
Gu Chenyan: “You little glutton.”
Gu Chenyan took off his gloves and tapped Qiao Shu’s nose, then led him to the sink to wash his hands.
The comfortably warm water poured over Gu Chenyan’s oily hands, as he gently and attentively washed away the grease for Qiao Shu. Qiao Shu watched, his smile sweet and content, radiating happiness.
Author’s Note:
I crave spicy crayfish, garlic crayfish, thirteen-spice crayfish, and milk jujubes, even a family-sized bucket. I’m hungry~
