Shen Tiantian’s heart raced as she listened. She lowered her gaze to the hand around her waist, and a soft hue filled her eyes. Unconsciously, she placed her hand over it.
This gesture lasted for quite a while, until Shen Tiantian began to feel a bit tired standing in one place. She shifted her body slightly and said, “I think I’ll go take a shower now.”
Although she was reluctant, Shan Yi slowly let go of her and followed behind as she walked. She spoke with a slightly aggrieved tone: “When will you also accompany me home?”
As Shen Tiantian was about to reach into the wardrobe, she recalled that she had promised Shan Yi to accompany her home after meeting with the dean. Now that they had returned to the orphanage, the next step would naturally be to meet Shan Yi’s parents.
After some thought, she turned around and happened to meet Shan Yi’s expectant gaze. The situation had developed to this point, and Shen Tiantian couldn’t keep avoiding the topic. “Whenever you want to go back, we’ll make arrangements.”
“Really?” Shan Yi was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected Shen Tiantian to be so straightforward this time.
Shen Tiantian softly hummed in agreement, though she didn’t display it on her face. Inside, however, her nervousness had already begun to build up.
Seemingly sensing her nervousness, Shan Yi cupped the back of her head, and a warm kiss landed at the center of her forehead. “No need to be anxious. My mom might be a bit talkative, but she’s fine otherwise. And haven’t you had a conversation with her before? You should be able to sense it. As for my dad, he might come across as a bit strict, but enduring my mom’s quirky personality won’t be that bad.”
Even though she spoke so earnestly, it inexplicably brought a smile to one’s face. Who talks about their parents like that?
She knew that Shan Yi was deliberately saying this to help her alleviate the pressure, and the reality proved that she had indeed succeeded.
Shan Yi playfully tapped her nose and continued: “You’ve met Shan Xu and Shan Yue. As for my cousins, they don’t live with us. We’ll introduce you to them when the opportunity arises.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be there for everything.”
“Okay.”
“How about we take a bath together tonight?” Shan Yi suddenly changed the topic.
“Okay…huh?!” Shen Tiantian didn’t catch on at first and widened her eyes. “What did you say?”
Shan Yi chuckled and repeated: “I said, how about we take a bath together tonight?”
“Nonsense!” Shen Tiantian was currently pregnant and couldn’t take baths. She could only rinse under the shower. On the other hand, Shan Yi enjoyed taking baths and had been using the shower lately to accompany her. But that wasn’t a reason to take a bath together.
Speaking of which, except for that time at the hot spring, they hadn’t taken a bath together before. She couldn’t overcome her own barrier, feeling weighed down even when it came to undressing in front of someone.
“It’s not like we haven’t before,” Shan Yi said with a look of complaint.
She couldn’t stand Shan Yi’s expression like this, and playfully scolded, “Stop being so spoiled.”
Shan Yi chuckled softly. “Come on, let’s take a bath together.”
“No.”
“I’ll help you wash your back.”
“No…” Shen Tiantian was still struggling.
Shen Tiantian’s face flushed red, looking so adorable. Shan Yi couldn’t control herself and lowered her head to kiss her, carefully avoiding her belly.
After the kiss, Shan Yi let her go. Compared to her heavy breathing, Shan Yi seemed much calmer. “Let’s wash together.”
“Do you promise not to do anything inappropriate?” Shen Tiantian looked at her with a skeptical expression.
“I promise.” With that said, Shan Yi had already wrapped her arm around Shen Tiantian’s waist and started walking towards the bathroom.
“Pajamas.” Shen Tiantian knew she was saying more than she needed to, making it seem a bit deliberate, like she was vacillating between accepting and rejecting.
Shan Yi nodded and turned back to take out a light, thin pajama that she had washed but hadn’t folded yet. She embraced Shen Tiantian again as if afraid she might regret it, saying, “Bathroom.”
With a bit of coaxing, they entered the bathroom. Shen Tiantian turned her back to Shan Yi, undressed, and tested the water temperature before adjusting the showerhead.
Sharing the same showerhead inevitably led to physical contact. Under the pretense of helping her wash her back, Shan Yi took full advantage, teasing Shen Tiantian until she was breathing heavily. In the end, she had to chase her out to stop her playful antics.
Returning to the room covered in steam an hour later, Shen Tiantian’s face was flushed, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the heat or embarrassment.
Shan Yi patted the bed. “Come here, I’ll help you dry your hair.”
Shen Tiantian obediently sat in the spot Shan Yi patted, feeling the warmth of the air wildly tousling her hair.
After they had each finished blow-drying each other’s hair, Shen Tiantian comfortably lay down under the covers. Perhaps she had just dozed off for a while, and now her sleepiness had temporarily disappeared. She picked up her phone and started using WeChat.
She shared the news of returning to Hongle with her best friends in the group chat.
Shen Tiantian: @Liu Wanjun, I told the dean about your pregnancy.
Liu Wanjun: I called him a few days ago to tell him myself.
Shen Tiantian suddenly realized. No wonder the dean didn’t react much when she mentioned it earlier. She thought he was surprised by her pregnancy and didn’t bring up Liu Wanjun’s matter. It turned out he already knew.
The old dean was like a father figure to them. Even though they had left Hongle, they would always find time to go back and visit. Naturally, they would also share the good news of pregnancy with the dean.
Shen Tiantian: I promised the CEO that I will accompany her home.
Kang Jiaya: You guys… are so fast. You completed the three major life events within three months – pregnancy, engagement, and meeting the parents. Have you thought about when to get married?!
Seeing Kang Jiaya’s message, Shen Tiantian couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Indeed, quite fast.
Shen Tiantian: We haven’t decided yet.
Liu Wanjun: You’re more than two months pregnant, right?
Shen Tiantian: Yes, a little over two months.
Liu Wanjun: Then take wedding photos first. It won’t look good if your belly gets bigger when you wear a wedding dress.
Kang Jiaya agreed: That’s right.
Although Shen Tiantian and Shan Yi had already confirmed their relationship, she had never imagined herself wearing a wedding dress and becoming Shan Yi’s wife. She always felt that this scenario was distant from her reality.
While she was lost in thought, her phone vibrated.
She was still in the group chat, and the screen was lit. Though she hadn’t muted notifications, she knew it shouldn’t be vibrating.
Looking down, she saw a message from mother Shan.
Mother Shan: Baby, you’re coming home tomorrow, right? Mom will have soup ready for you, waiting.
Shen Tiantian blinked and after a while, she turned her head to look at Shan Yi, who was also playing with her phone. Shen Tiantian handed the phone to her and asked, “Did you tell your mom that we’re going to your house tomorrow?”
Shan Yi showed her own phone. The message mother Shan sent to her and the one sent to Shen Tiantian were only a minute apart. Mother Shan didn’t respond to Shan Yi’s message but came to Shen Tiantian instead.
Truly a doting mother.
Seeing the helpless expression, Shen Tiantian suppressed a smile and replied to mother Shan’s message.
Shen Tiantian: Thank you, Auntie. We’re coming back tomorrow.
Mother Shan: Still calling me Auntie? [sad expression.jpg]
Shen Tiantian was speechless. Fortunately, they were separated by a screen; otherwise, she would have felt embarrassed.
Mother Shan: Come back early tomorrow, okay?
Shen Tiantian replied with a simple “Okay.”
Not knowing how long she had been chatting with mother Shan, Shen Tiantian yawned and checked the time; it was already past ten o’clock. Knowing that Shen Tiantian was chatting with her mother, Shan Yi didn’t disturb her. She quietly read a book about pregnancy tips on the side. Seeing her yawn, she asked, “Feeling sleepy?”
Shen Tiantian made a sound of agreement, “A bit.”
Shan Yi also put down her book, “Then go to bed early, we’re going home tomorrow.”
With a soft “Mhmm,” Shen Tiantian hadn’t even had the chance to say goodnight to mother Shan when her phone was already taken away by Shan Yi.
Shen Tiantian gave her a sideways glance and took her phone back, “I have to say goodnight to auntie.”
They were going to meet tomorrow, and she needed to leave a good impression on the elders. She had already experienced Shan Yi’s tone and manner, and although she knew their family was easygoing, for them, she was still a stranger. She needed to adhere to certain etiquette.
“I’ll do it.” If Shen Tiantian said it, who knows how long her mother would end up chatting with her. Don’t doubt it, her mother has the kind of personality that becomes even more determined after setbacks.
“Not allowed.” Shen Tiantian said without raising her head. She said goodnight to mother Shan using text and surprisingly, her mom didn’t continue chatting as Shan Yi had anticipated. Instead, she obediently said goodnight as well. Perhaps it was because of Shen Tiantian’s pregnancy, Shan Yi thought.
Setting down her phone, Shen Tiantian happily buried herself in Shan Yi’s embrace, “Auntie wants us to come early, but I haven’t prepared anything. What should I do?”
“No need to bring anything. She doesn’t lack anything.”
Shen Tiantian frowned: “It’s not about whether she lacks something, it’s about courtesy, you know?”
“Alright, alright. Then wake up early tomorrow and buy something to bring over.”
Shen Tiantian felt delighted: “Does she have any preferences?”
“I don’t know.”
“Wow, what kind of daughter are you?” Shen Tiantian couldn’t help but tease.
Shan Yi smiled: “But I believe that whatever you buy, she’ll definitely like.”
Shen Tiantian realized she had asked the wrong person. She sent a message to Shan Xu, but it seemed that he might be busy as he didn’t reply. So she gave up.
“Alright, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there. We’ll know when we go out tomorrow,” Shan Yi tightened her arm around Shen Tiantian and pulled her closer, “Get some sleep, or you’ll oversleep again tomorrow.”
“It’s all your fault for being in such a hurry,” Shen Tiantian pouted and complained.
Shan Yi semi-jokingly said: “I’m afraid you’ll change your mind.”
Shen Tiantian glared at her and said firmly: “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Shan Yi kissed her lips and whispered.
Despite staying up late, Shen Tiantian woke up early the next morning. After being troubled by morning sickness, she still urged Shan Yi to get ready quickly.
As the time drew closer, she became more and more nervous, even though she hadn’t noticed it herself.
Shan Yi held her hand, the warmth passing from hand to hand, soothing without words.
Shen Tiantian gradually calmed down, changed into a dress, and looked more gentle.
After ten o’clock, the two finally left the house looking presentable. Shan Yi drove to the mall, and after wandering around for a bit, Shen Tiantian bought a versatile silk scarf for mother Shan and an automatic razor for father Shan, not an expensive one.
The Shan family was already wealthy beyond measure and had seen everything. They didn’t care about these materialistic things; what mattered was the thought behind the gifts.
Although consoling herself like this felt a bit shameless, it was still the truth.
Shan Xu is a bit stylish, so Shen Tiantian chose a pair of sunglasses for him. Shan Yue is a doctor, after much consideration, Shen Tiantian decided to give her a model of a white-coated angel.
After selecting the gifts, it was already past noon. Shan Yi’s phone in her bag rang several times, all calls from her mom. She didn’t answer and sent a message to let her know that they were on their way.
The Shan residence was located deep within a villa area, with a wide road. Walls surrounded both sides, and it took a while to reach an iron gate. The yard itself was quite spacious.
“Have you ever been to Lin Hao’s house?” Shan Yi suddenly asked.
“No,” Shen Tiantian replied.
Liu Wanjun’s wedding was held in a hotel; otherwise, they might not have had that night together. They always met Liu Wanjun outside.
Shan Yi slowed down and pointed to a European-style villa on the right. “That’s it.”
Following her gesture, thinking that Liu Wanjun might live there, Shen Tiantian felt a tingling sensation in her heart, eager to see her.
Just as she was thinking this, the car suddenly came to a halt. The iron gate on the left slowly opened, and Shan Yi turned into the entrance.
Shen Tiantian exclaimed: “Your home is so close to the Lin family?”
Shan Yi chuckled, “Yeah, otherwise how do you think I got to know him?”
Well, okay. Shen Tiantian shrugged her shoulders, looking at the houses outside the window. Nervousness surged within her again. She forcefully swallowed a gulp of saliva, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt, which she hadn’t done for a while.
Shan Yi leaned over and helped her unfasten it, then leaned in to kiss her cheek gently. She whispered in her ear: “Don’t be nervous. My parents are quite easy to talk to.”
She had heard this reassurance many times already, but she was still nervous.
“Let’s get out of the car.” Shan Yi exited the car first, walking to the other side to open the door for her, making a welcoming gesture.
“Um, the gifts.” Shen Tiantian rarely wore makeup, and now that she was pregnant, she was even less inclined to do so. She had initially wanted to put on makeup today to meet her parents, but Shan Yi had stopped her. In the end, she only applied some lipstick.
Shan Yi took the items they had just bought from the rear trunk, holding Shen Tiantian’s hand. They walked for a good three to four minutes before reaching the main gate.
Standing in front of the gate, Shen Tiantian took a deep breath. Her heartbeat accelerated more than usual, and after holding her tension for a while, she couldn’t help but say: “I’m so nervous.”
Just as she finished speaking, the door suddenly swung open from the inside.
Shen Tiantian: …
