Ruan Jiujiu quickly stopped Cheng Jun’s attempt to contact the “next candidate,” although she was curious about who Cheng Jun had in mind. It was probably best not to ask about such matters.
The immediate consequence of Cheng Jun not hearing the baby’s movement was that the cardboard box was lined with two layers of newspaper.
Yes… as a father, Cheng Jun, who had never been particular about details, not only didn’t use towels but also brought back some company newspapers. He casually crumpled them and placed them in the box, making it look quite crumpled. Ruan Jiujiu stood by, supporting her waist, watching the spectacle, and couldn’t help but find it both funny and exasperating.
“When the baby moves next time, I’ll call you quickly. There’s no need for this,” she said.
“Okay, but it’s necessary,” Cheng Jun replied.
Ruan Jiujiu sighed, realizing she couldn’t convince Cheng Jun.
She gently touched her protruding belly and asked with a smiling face, “If it’s an adorable daughter, would you be willing to give her away?”
Cheng Jun paused in his newspaper-laying process, pondered for a moment, and said, “If it’s a daughter, I’ll add another layer of newspaper.”
If it was a son, two layers of newspaper would suffice.
Ruan Jiujiu: …
While other fathers were already thinking about names and buying clothes for their children, Cheng Jun seemed more like an outrageous dog, thinking only about giving the child away every day. After lining the box with newspapers and placing it solemnly in the cabinet, Ruan Jiujiu witnessed his series of actions and suddenly thought that the box might be too small.
Maybe, in the end, she would be the one throwing both father and son into a cardboard box and sending them thousands of miles away.
Cheng Jun quickly changed his demeanor and naturally hugged Ruan Jiujiu’s waist, as if she and the child in her belly were two separate individuals, and his liking for one didn’t affect his disinterest in the other.
The next day, Ruan Jiujiu went to her class and could clearly sense a change in the atmosphere among the others. Some remained friendly, some were even more enthusiastic, but some showed subtle signs of avoidance.
During their break, a woman sitting in the front row angrily said, “I hate mistresses the most in my life. At least those mistresses aim to rise in status. Women like her are worthless and shameless.”
“Exactly.”
“Hey, you can’t say that. The matters between a husband and wife are complex, and I have people around me who have their own affairs. If there are mistresses, there are mistresses. Nowadays, society is more open.” The elderly pregnant woman sitting next to Ruan Jiujiu glanced at her with a hint of pity.
Ruan Jiujiu was lost in thought, contemplating what name to give her child, whether it was a boy or a girl.
But every time she thought about a name, the name Cheng Xiu1according to google Xiu means graceful or elegant kept coming to mind, and she couldn’t shake it off.
She vigorously shook her head.
Absolutely cannot name the child Cheng Xiu! Under no circumstances!
She hadn’t even paid attention to the discussion among the women, despite some of them clearly implying something. Fortunately, most of the people, even if not well-intentioned, were tactful enough not to discuss such private matters in the classroom. Someone changed the topic, and gradually, no one brought it up again.
After the class ended that day, the coach stood in front of the pregnant women and said with a smile, “Raising a child is not a one-person task. In the next phase, we hope that everyone’s husbands can also get involved, and men should also learn a bit.”
As soon as she spoke, someone immediately voiced their skepticism.
“Our children all have nannies to take care of them; I don’t need to put in any effort, let alone my husband.”
The coach, a well-groomed middle-aged woman, smiled faintly in response. She said, “On one hand, it helps nurture the relationship between couples, and on the other hand, you can get to know each other without having to gather separately. It’s just a short one-hour class. Those of you who have the time can come, and those who don’t, no pressure.”
Ruan Jiujiu sat in the audience feeling conflicted.
She believed it was highly necessary for Cheng Jun to come and attend the class, but Cheng Jun couldn’t attend.
The coach would tally the number of attendees in the evening, and based on past experience, at least half of the people would come. It was still worth the expensive “entry fee.”
Ruan Jiujiu finally decided that she would learn the skills first and then teach Cheng Jun at home.
The next class was scheduled for Sunday. Ruan Jiujiu stayed in bed until noon, and Cheng Jun stayed in bed with her, occasionally touching her belly. Strangely, what should have been an affectionate gesture filled Ruan Jiujiu’s mind with gruesome scenes of Cheng Jun waiting to harvest the fruit when it was ripe.
She shuddered.
Cheng Jun asked, “Are you cold?”
Ruan Jiujiu curled up under the blanket and replied, “I’m fine.”
Cheng Jun suggested, “Drink more hot water?”
Ruan Jiujiu retorted, “… You making me angry is worse than anything.”
Normally, the driver wouldn’t work on weekends. Ruan Jiujiu had forgotten about this and asked him at the last minute if he had the time. The driver felt embarrassed as he mentioned that his child was celebrating their birthday, and he might be a bit late.
Ruan Jiujiu didn’t want to disturb their rare joyful family time, so she declined his offer and sent him a generous red envelope, asking him to buy a birthday gift for his child.
The distance wasn’t far, and she could easily take a taxi to get there.
Cheng Jun overheard their conversation and said, “I’ll drive you there.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m afraid you’ll run away.”
Ruan Jiujiu replied, “… I just wanted to run, but I’m carrying a big belly. Where could I run to?” She guessed that she would probably be out of breath after walking a few steps.
Suddenly, Cheng Jun felt that having a child didn’t seem so bad after all.
In the end, Ruan Jiujiu got into Cheng Jun’s car. Both cars were not cheap, and she didn’t know what others would think if they saw her. When they arrived at the entrance of the building, Ruan Jiujiu asked Cheng Jun to stop the car. She got out of the car herself, not quite steady on her feet, and urged Cheng Jun to leave quickly.
Cheng Jun gazed at her quietly, and he began to doubt whether Ruan Jiujiu really had a lover outside or if her feelings for him had faded, making her repulsed by him.
He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
Ruan Jiujiu asked in surprise, “What are you doing?!”
Cheng Jun spoke calmly, “Just watching.”
As they were talking, a couple passed by. Both of them had cold expressions and indifferent gazes. From a distance, it looked like they were about to get a divorce. Ruan Jiujiu hurriedly tried to get into the car, but Cheng Jun grabbed her collar and prevented her from moving. Their actions attracted the attention of the passing couple.
One of them was none other than the woman who had sarcastically commented about Ruan Jiujiu the day before.
First, her gaze fell on Cheng Jun, unable to hide her shock and amazement. She stared at him for a moment, looking briefly stunned. The man beside her, who already had an unpleasant complexion, turned even worse, like a moldy and hairy sweet potato that had been left out for days. Ruan Jiujiu felt uncomfortable seeing his expression.
If Cheng Jun had this expression on his face all day, she would definitely show what an irritable pregnant woman looked like right then and there.
“You… you two, Little Ruan?” Her gaze finally moved away from Cheng Jun and landed on the embarrassed Ruan Jiujiu.
Ruan Jiujiu awkwardly greeted her.
“Oh my God, is this your husband?” She looked at Cheng Jun in disbelief. “Is he a celebrity? Or a model?”
“Neither,” Ruan Jiujiu coughed and pushed Cheng Jun, saying, “You should go now, and I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“Where are you going? Didn’t you say that today couples are learning together?”
The woman obviously misunderstood Ruan Jiujiu’s avoidance.
Her husband had found a pretty female college student during her pregnancy, and she dared not speak up. She was full of anger and had no way to vent it. Now she had run into Ruan Jiujiu, who was like a ripe soft persimmon ready to be picked. The man standing next to her was young and handsome, and he showed no anger toward Ruan Jiujiu’s behavior. Ruan Jiujiu was clearly not the sugar daddy who financially supported her; no one would treat their sugar daddy like this.
However, the two of them were standing close together, the man had his arm around her waist, and their intimate gestures were impossible to misinterpret.
So, she thought —
It was possible that Ruan Jiujiu was two-timing, or she was secretly raising a little wolf cub as well.
The couple’s minds wandered, and their gazes at Ruan Jiujiu were like they had glimpsed an unspeakable ugly secret, leaving Ruan Jiujiu feeling overwhelmed. To make matters worse, Cheng Jun, who was standing next to her, asked, “What kind of couple activity is this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ruan Jiujiu couldn’t explain herself this time.
Ruan Jiujiu tried to ease the situation. “It’s not a very important thing, so it doesn’t matter if you come or not.”
One of the pregnant women on the other side smirked, “The coach said it can improve the relationship between couples and expand your social circle.”
Cheng Jun had no interest in expanding his social circle, but the idea of improving his relationship with Ruan Jiujiu clearly struck a chord with him.
He said, “I want to go.”
Ruan Jiujiu suggested, “How about waiting for me downstairs?”
Cheng Jun’s dark eyes made it clear that waiting downstairs was not an option.
Ruan Jiujiu sighed, “Alright.”
They arrived a bit early today, and some people were already chatting with each other. Despite it being a relaxed couples’ learning session, some participants were dressed in flashy outfits, with some even wearing suits and styled hair. However, Ruan Jiujiu and Cheng Jun were in casual sweatshirts and loose-fitting pants. One seemed nonchalant and unconcerned, while the other hesitated throughout, only wanting to hide Cheng Jun from view.
As they entered the room, the gazes of the others turned towards them, and there was a sudden hush.
If Ruan Jiujiu’s pregnancy had made her increasingly beautiful and reserved, Cheng Jun by her side was a massive presence, leaving a group of women dumbfounded, forgetting their social etiquette, and staring at him in a daze.
In comparison, the husbands in the room were not pleased.
Cheng Jun furrowed his brows slightly.
“So many people,” he didn’t like being in a crowded place with so many strangers, “why didn’t they arrange it one-on-one?”
“One-on-one is such a waste. Occasionally, it’s not a bad idea to socialize with others,” Ruan Jiujiu said with enthusiasm, “You can still go back now.”
Cheng Jun subtly positioned himself in front of her, shielding her from various curious looks. “No need,” he said.
Ruan Jiujiu hesitated, “But…”
This couple seemed like an anomaly amidst the lively conversations of others. One didn’t want to participate, and the other couldn’t be bothered to engage. Plus, there was another couple just a few steps away, saying a few ambiguous words intentionally or unintentionally. Now, everyone knew that Cheng Jun was the “kept man” of Ruan Jiujiu.
Ruan Jiujiu was still unaware of the absurd assumptions circulating among the other attendees, but a few pregnant women who had left their husbands behind approached her quietly. They cast envious glances at Cheng Jun and asked in hushed tones, “Are there any resources left? Is it very expensive?”
Ruan Jiujiu was completely confused, “Resources? What are you talking about?”
She couldn’t understand their conversation anymore.
Some people disapproved of bringing their male partners to such a gathering and found it impolite, while others were unsure about the situation and didn’t want to comment. Unconsciously, they isolated the couple, leaving Ruan Jiujiu at ease.
Cheng Jun idly played with her hair, seemingly unfazed by what others thought. Occasionally, someone would approach them for conversation, but he would glance disinterestedly and continue to act oblivious.
The couple was completely forgotten in a corner, isolated from the rest of the group.
Ruan Jiujiu thought that maybe after today’s class, she could request a transfer to another class.
But then, she caught a familiar keyword. She focused her attention on the group and overheard them talking enviously. One of the husbands was a senior executive at Jia Cheng, and he would be arriving shortly.
Ruan Jiujiu’s heart tightened.
This was bad. Even though Cheng Jun’s photos hadn’t circulated publicly, most of the upper management had seen him.
Ruan Jiujiu was about to drag Cheng Jun out of there, but she saw a couple entering the room. The expectant mother was proudly holding her husband’s hand, and their relationship seemed quite good. The husband was being very careful while assisting her.
People immediately approached them, trying to engage in polite conversation, and they responded graciously. The interactions were lively and cheerful.
Ruan Jiujiu was about to pull Cheng Jun out of there when the pregnant woman she had met downstairs called out to her.
“Where are you two going? The class is about to start.”
The atmosphere suddenly quieted.
Then, they saw the Jia Cheng executive, who had previously appeared confident and composed, staring at them in astonishment. After a moment of shock, he nervously greeted them. His words left everyone else in the room stunned.
“Chairman, Madam, you’re here too?”
Author’s Note: Ruan Jiujiu: … The last thing I wanted to happen.
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