Chapter 268: Hope It's a Boy |
Feng Qian sat in the car, leaning against the driver’s seat, staring out at the scenery beyond the window.
After a while, as if something occurred to him, he sat up straight and checked the rearview mirror. In that narrow mirror, he caught a glimpse of his own forehead.
Once he confirmed that his hair was covering it, Feng Qian let out a small sigh of relief.
Just then, the school bell rang. Upon hearing it, Feng Qian immediately reacted, opened the car door, and got out. He hadn’t even reached the school gate when he spotted a familiar car parked not far away.
Liu Changqing also got out of the car.
They turned their heads casually—and their eyes met.
Feng Qian instantly looked puzzled.
He walked forward.
"What are you doing here?"
"Text?"
Hearing that, Feng Qian suddenly realized something. He took his phone out of his pocket, unlocked it, and sure enough, there was a message from Liu Changqing.
He skimmed through it.
"You should’ve just called... I figured it was almost time for school to end, so I rushed over. Must’ve been while I was driving... I didn’t notice."
"No big deal. I was planning to take Xiazhi home with me anyway..."
Just as he said that, Liu Changqing suddenly thought of something.
"So... what’s going on with you and Xu Yisheng?"
"Huh?"
"Xiazhi already told me. Their homeroom teacher’s been walking her home every day."
"......"
"This morning I asked and you said there was nothing going on... What, got designs on her and ended up with a bruise on your head for it?"
"Don’t—don’t talk nonsense."
Seeing Feng Qian looking a bit different from usual, Liu Changqing chuckled a few times, then let it go.
As they chatted, the two men stood by the gate, watching as kids were picked up one after another. After a bit of waiting, they finally spotted their own child.
The two little ones walked out together, with their homeroom teacher following closely behind.
Liu Changqing took note of that and silently glanced at Feng Qian.
Feng Qian noticed the look too. His face flushed slightly, and he pretended not to see it.
Liu Xiazhi looked around. When she spotted Liu Changqing standing next to Feng Qian, her face lit up with surprise and joy. She started running toward him.
When she reached Liu Changqing, she stopped, tilted her head up, and looked at him.
"Why did you come today!"
"Of course I missed my daughter."
He reached out, placed a hand on her head, and ruffled her hair while speaking with a smile. Then he looked toward Xu Yisheng and Feng Shuyan who were walking over.
He greeted his daughter’s homeroom teacher, exchanged a few words with Feng Qian, and then got ready to leave with his daughter.
After saying goodbye to Feng Shuyan, Liu Xiazhi climbed into the car and sat quietly in her seat.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Liu Changqing glanced at the rearview mirror. He saw his daughter in the back playing with her little backpack.
After a brief pause, he asked:
"Xiazhi... Daddy wants to ask you something."
"Mhm, what is it?"
"Did you... take anything from Daddy’s room?"
"......"
The moment Liu Changqing asked that question, the inside of the car fell completely silent.
Hearing what her father said, Liu Xiazhi’s hands froze mid-movement on her backpack. Her lips parted slightly as a memory popped into her mind.
A memory... about balloons.
Her head, which had been lowered, suddenly snapped up. She shook it hard and spoke at the same time.
"I didn’t take anything!"
Her voice was a bit louder than before.
"Really?"
Seeing her reaction only confirmed Liu Changqing’s suspicion. His face turned more serious, and his tone deepened.
"Daddy doesn’t like it when you lie."
"I... I..."
"Just tell me the truth. I won’t get mad."
"......"
Her backpack sat on her lap, and her hands fiddled restlessly with it. It was clear she was struggling inside.
After a moment of silence, Liu Xiazhi cautiously asked:
"Daddy... you really won’t get mad?"
"Mhm, I won’t."
"...Okay then."
She pouted and muttered like she was admitting defeat.
"I took a little balloon from the drawer in Daddy’s room..."
"......"
Hearing “balloon” left Liu Changqing momentarily dazed. But after a second of thinking, he understood what she meant from a child’s perspective.
He let out a long sigh.
"Hoo..."
"Daddy..."
"It’s fine. I bought cupcakes today. Let’s have one when we get home."
"Cupcakes! My favorite!"
Kids’ emotions always came and went fast. One moment she was nervous from Liu Changqing’s sigh, the next she was beaming with joy at the mention of cupcakes.
Liu Changqing, meanwhile, let out a long breath of relief.
At least now he knew who did it...
Still...
The thought of the new life growing inside An Yuanyao made Liu Changqing feel like he was dreaming.
Even though, by blood, both Liu Zhiyue and Liu Xiazhi were his children, this child in An Yuanyao’s belly... felt different.
Right now, Liu Changqing felt both joy and anxiety...
His hands tightened around the steering wheel.
So... this is what becoming a dad feels like.
Back home, Liu Xiazhi bolted straight to the kitchen. Sure enough, she found cupcakes on the counter and immediately let out a cheer.
Liu Changqing heard her happy voice from outside, but didn’t respond. He walked straight into his own room.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw An Yuanyao getting up, trying to get out of bed.
Closing the door behind him, Liu Changqing rushed over, gently pressed her shoulders, and guided her back down.
"Lie down. You’re the VIP in this house right now."
"I..."
"I asked Xiazhi just now, and just as I suspected, she’s the one behind it. Makes sense now..."
An Yuanyao blinked in surprise, then finally relaxed.
When Liu Changqing had told her one of their square-shaped safety tools had been punctured, she was completely freaked out. But now that they knew who did it, she could finally breathe.
The anxiety she’d held all day melted away.
Liu Changqing glanced at her, then lowered his gaze to her belly. He raised his hand and gently placed it there.
His eyes were full of anticipation.
"I just wonder... if it’s a boy or a girl..."
Hearing that, An Yuanyao followed his hand and looked at her belly.
When she first found out she was pregnant, she hadn’t known how to describe the feeling.
Joy—or maybe... deeply moved.
So this is what it’s like... to become a mother.
In that moment, her eyes shimmered with maternal warmth. She reached out and placed her hand over Liu Changqing’s.
Their hands overlapped on her belly.
"I hope... it’s a boy."