Su He noticed the abnormality in her body a month later.
One day, while searching for something in a drawer, she accidentally caught sight of a box tucked away in a corner, and only then did she realize that her period had been absent for a long time.
"Is it possible?" She suspiciously lowered her head, placing her hand on her stomach. She had absolutely no pregnancy symptoms! Weren't pregnant women supposed to feel nauseous? Her appetite was excellent!
Su He bit her lip lightly, a mix of apprehension and excitement in her heart.
Should she buy a pregnancy test stick and check?
Su He was a woman of action. She immediately went to the pharmacy in her neighborhood. To ensure accuracy, she bought test sticks from different brands. The saleswoman looked at her with a smile, as if she had seen it all before.
After paying, Su He clutched the pile of items and sneaked home.
She breathed a sigh of relief upon encountering no acquaintances on her way.
Back home, Su He eagerly took a pregnancy test stick to the bathroom.
Five minutes later, she emerged with a complicated expression.
The two lines on the pregnancy test stick spoke for themselves.
She hadn't expected to be pregnant so soon!
Previously, she had tracked her ovulation cycle every month, fearing she would miss it, and even took many tonics, hoping to conceive as quickly as possible. All to no avail.
Now, as her mindset gradually relaxed and she no longer held any expectations, the child had arrived!
The elderly say that children come with fate; there was indeed some truth to that. The more you rush, the less likely it is to happen. When you're not eager to achieve it, it just comes.
Su He clutched the pregnancy test stick tightly, her heart filled with excitement.
She wanted to share the news with Lu Yanbei immediately. However, after composing the message, she hesitated to send it. What if it was a mistake?
Su He paused for a moment, then walked back into the bathroom.
*
Seeing his boss finish signing a stack of documents, Cheng Jue seized the opportunity to knock and enter. "Mr. Lu, may I request two days off?"
"Is something the matter?" Lu Yanbei asked, raising his hand to rub his temples. The intense work all morning had made his eyes uncomfortable.
"Well, my girlfriend's family wants to meet me," Cheng Jue said, scratching his head sheepishly.
Lu Yanbei gave a soft hum.
Cheng Jue had been with him for many years, and at his age, it was indeed time to get married.
Thus, the generous Boss Lu readily signed his leave request. Furthermore, he didn't forget to send him a gift to help him win over his future father-in-law.
"Thank you, boss." Cheng Jue accepted the heavy gift box, profusely thanking him. The box looked very expensive; if he guessed correctly, it was some aged wine.
"Perform well," Lu Yanbei encouraged, patting him on the shoulder.
Cheng Jue gave a simple, honest smile. "I'll take your good wishes!"
Cheng Jue left with the gift, and outside, sounds of congratulations and well wishes could be heard intermittently.
Lu Yanbei watched his retreating figure and suddenly recalled his own experience meeting Su He's parents. Indeed, all men were the same; they felt equally uneasy during the parent-meeting phase, fearing they might not perform well and affect their future together.
Thinking of this, Lu Yanbei involuntarily thought of his wife at home. He wondered what she was doing now, whether she had woken up. Su He had been sleeping a lot lately, waking up past noon every day. Lu Yanbei couldn't help but worry that sleeping so much would be bad for her stomach.
Unable to resist, he immediately called Su He.
"Honey?" Su He answered the phone, calling him sweetly.
Lu Yanbei felt something was amiss.
Whenever Su He called him like this, it was either because she needed something or because she was happy. Could it be that she had sensed something?
"When did you wake up? Have you had breakfast?" Lu Yanbei asked, feigning calmness.
"I woke up after ten, and I had a bowl of seafood congee," Su He replied obediently. "Are you busy right now? There's something I want to tell you."
"Not busy," Lu Yanbei said, setting aside the document he had opened.
"I want you to accompany me to the hospital," Su He said, placing one hand on her stomach, her breathing cautious.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Lu Yanbei's heart instantly leaped into his throat.
"No, I just want to get a check-up," Su He said, taking a deep breath and trying to speak in a calm tone.
Lu Yanbei leaped to his feet. "Wait for me at home."
With that, he hung up the phone.
He picked up his phone and called the driver, instructing him to wait downstairs. Then, he grabbed his coat from the coat rack behind the door, closed his office door, and hurried out.
The company employees were surprised to see their boss leaving.
"Why is the boss leaving work so early? This is truly a rare sight!"
"He seems quite anxious; could something have happened?"
"Besides the old man, there's probably only 'that person' who could make the boss this concerned..."
"It would be great if Secretary Cheng were here; we could ask him..."
Amidst the employees' astonished gazes, Lu Yanbei left the office building with a brisk pace.
When he returned to their residence, Su He was taking a nap.
She had just woken up after ten, eaten, and now she was feeling drowsy again. No wonder some people gain weight during pregnancy; at this rate, she would also become a ball.
When Lu Yanbei entered, Su He was sleeping soundly, wrapped in her blanket.
She seemed to be having a pleasant dream, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Lu Yanbei gently sat beside her, reached out to stroke her hair, and his anxious heart finally settled back into place.
It was good that she was all right!
By the time Su He woke up, it was almost dark, and the planned trip to the hospital had been called off.
Su He felt a pang of regret.
How could she have slept so soundly!
Looking at the man lying beside her, a warmth spread through Su He's heart. "When did you get back?"
Lu Yanbei put down the book he was reading, turned to her, and kissed her. "A while ago. Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I'll ask Sister Li to make it for you."
Now that he mentioned it, Su He was indeed feeling a bit hungry.
Ever since she had conceived, her appetite had become exceptionally good, and she got hungry quickly, almost wanting to eat five meals a day.
"I want to eat hot pot," Su He said with enthusiasm.
"Would something milder be okay?" Lu Yanbei was worried that spicy food would be too irritating for her.
Su He nodded, making a concession.
She was going to be a mother now; she couldn't be too willful, especially with her diet. She had to be extra careful, restraining herself from many things, and even then, only eating them in small quantities.
Sister Li downstairs received the instruction and immediately busied herself in the kitchen. "The young madam likes crab, so I'll make a spicy crab stew."
Before Lu Yanbei could say anything, Su He herself refused. "Let's have steamed shrimp instead; I don't feel like eating crab for now."
Because she hadn't had a detailed check-up yet, Su He felt embarrassed to reveal her pregnancy.
Sister Li, thinking she was just tired of eating, didn't suspect anything.