Pregnancy was more arduous than Jiang Mian had imagined.
At midnight, she would cry, unable to sleep due to leg cramps. Ji Zhixiu didn't notice at first.
Until one night he woke up and saw the young woman with her back to him.
He turned Jiang Mian's shoulder and saw her red-eyed and in tears.
Ji Zhixiu panicked then, feeling an indescribable emotion.
Jiang Mian took a while to recover. When the surge of emotion passed, she choked out, "I don't want to have it anymore."
Ji Zhixiu didn't hesitate for a moment. "Then don't have it."
As long as she didn't cry, anything was negotiable.
Jiang Mian was so amused by him that she stopped crying and laughed, "It's already this big, why not have it? If he knew, he'd definitely blame you."
Ji Zhixiu said very seriously, "Blame me."
He lifted the quilt, and his well-defined fingers massaged Jiang Mian's calf, easing her discomfort.
Jiang Mian's tears gradually stopped.
Under the lamplight, the man's half-profile was exceptionally captivating.
The little deer in her heart leaped with joy. Jiang Mian murmured, "Husband..."
"Hm? You don't like this strength?" he asked, looking down.
"I love you so much," she suddenly said.
Ji Zhixiu paused, looked up, and furrowed his brow. "You love me just for doing this? This is what a husband should do, understand?"
Jiang Mian took a tissue to wipe her tears, feeling both touched and amused. What was this? He was just expressing his feelings.
She let out a soft hum, "Okay, okay, I'm hungry."
"What do you want to eat?"
"I don't know..." Jiang Mian was stumped.
She just wanted to eat, pure and simple.
Ji Zhixiu covered her with the quilt, got up, and said, "I'll go make it for you. Wait in the room."
Jiang Mian nodded, "Okay."
Then, as soon as Ji Zhixiu went downstairs, he found two little shadows following him.
One was Jiang Mian, and the other was Little Dried Fish.
Jiang Mian sniffled and spoke before Ji Zhixiu could say anything, "I'm scared alone!"
Ji Zhixiu paused for two seconds and then brought her a chair.
So Jiang Mian sat by the kitchen door, watching the man cook.
Ji Zhixiu made her a bowl of clear soup noodles, omitting the scallions according to Jiang Mian's preference.
The moment it was served, Jiang Mian glanced at it and said with a hint of grievance, "Why didn't you put scallions? Everyone puts scallions in noodles, they look better that way."
Ji Zhixiu gave up arguing and respected her changing tastes, chopping some scallions and sprinkling them on top.
Jiang Mian was content and ate it all up.
This whole episode had already reached half-past two in the morning.
Jiang Mian was finally getting sleepy, and they went to bed.
Jiang Mian snuggled into his arms and suddenly remembered that Ji Zhixiu had an early meeting the next morning.
Her nose tingled, and she couldn't help but want to cry again.
Tears fell one by one. Jiang Mian spoke with a nasal voice, "I'm sorry... you have a meeting tomorrow morning."
Ji Zhixiu gently wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips. "Why are you crying again? Why are you apologizing when everything is fine?"
The more he was like this, the more Jiang Mian wanted to cry, she couldn't control it at all.
Even she felt a little annoyed. She sobbed, "Do you think I'm annoying?"
Ji Zhixiu was very understanding of her emotional fluctuations. Chang Qin had specifically given him several books about pregnant women, which he had read carefully in his spare time.
"No, don't overthink it. Tell me if you feel uncomfortable anywhere, don't keep it inside. Next time you can't sleep, tell me, okay? Pregnancy isn't just your business; I have a responsibility to help you bear it." Ji Zhixiu's eyes held a hint of tenderness, and his voice was exceptionally gentle in the quiet night.
"I can reschedule the meeting to the afternoon; it won't affect me at all. Mianmian, don't doubt yourself, and don't think you're a burden to me. This is what I should do as your husband and the father of the child, and I do it willingly." Ji Zhixiu rested his chin on her forehead, gently patting her back to comfort her.
It was too dark in the room, and Jiang Mian couldn't see anything.
She could only feel the voice coming from above her head, which strangely calmed her heart.
Her emotions came and went quickly. Jiang Mian's eyelids fluttered, and she suddenly felt sleepy.
Ji Zhixiu might have said something else, but she didn't listen carefully.
She buried her face in his chest and murmured with her eyes closed, "I want to have it..."
Not wanting to have it was just a fit of pique. Giving birth to a child for him was also her heartfelt desire.
It was difficult, but she didn't regret it.
Ji Zhixiu thought for a second before he understood what she was saying.
His heart instantly melted, as if it couldn't be more tender.
How could she be so cute? How could he not love her like this?
...
Ji Heng was a well-behaved child. Perhaps it was because he had caused Jiang Mian so much trouble during her pregnancy that his birth was very smooth.
When Mother Ji learned that Jiang Mian wanted to focus on her work, she volunteered to look after her grandson.
Ji Zhixiu neither agreed nor refused. He first asked Jiang Mian, "If you're not at ease, you can let him stay with me. Aunt Song can help at home."
Jiang Mian hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Let Mom raise him. We can wait a few years, and I'll reduce my acting and raise him myself."
She had set a goal for herself: before she turned thirty, she hoped to win all the major awards in the industry. If she didn't, it was okay.
She would return to her family.
Since Mother Ji wanted to help raise her grandson, Jiang Mian had no reason to refuse.
On the day Ji Heng was born, Mother Ji waved her hand and transferred all the shares of the company under her name to her grandson.
This showed her deep affection.
Hearing this, Ji Zhixiu nodded. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
After Jiang Mian gave birth, she was very busy with work.
Even during the period when she reduced her acting to have a child, it didn't affect her national popularity.
Director Wang, who had been preparing the Republic of China script for so long, finally welcomed her and Song Xingjia.
And Mother Ji doted on Ji Heng extremely, taking him everywhere, even when playing mahjong.
The entire Ji family was lively because of his arrival.
As a result, the first words Ji Heng spoke after learning to talk were "eight of bamboos."
Mother Ji almost thought she had misheard, but she immediately pushed away the mahjong tiles, held her grandson's face, and said in disbelief, "Heng Bao, what did you just say? Can you say it again for Grandma to hear?"
Heng Bao's lips were tightly closed. Although he was still young, his face was exactly like Ji Zhixiu's.
Even at such a young age, a hint of aloofness was already apparent.
Mother Ji hurriedly coaxed him, "Good Heng Bao, did you just say 'eight of bamboos'?"
Although the sound had been drowned out by the mahjong, Mother Ji had caught it. She was sure it must have been Heng Bao's voice.
Mother Chang, who was beside her, was almost doubled over with laughter. "Shuhua, look at what Heng Bao has learned from you! His first words are about mahjong!"
"So you heard it too, didn't you?" Hearing her say that, Mother Ji became even more certain that it wasn't her imagination.
However, no matter how Mother Ji coaxed him, Heng Bao wouldn't speak again. But Mother Ji was already convinced that Heng Bao could talk.
She waved her hands repeatedly, her face beaming with joy, "No more playing, no more playing! Our Heng Bao can talk now!"
Mother Chang's lips twitched. "Fine, if you're not playing, then I'll go home too! I need to pick up my granddaughter from school!"
That evening, Mother Ji shared this news with Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian was on set, taking a break to read her script.
When she received the video call, Mother Ji was talking enthusiastically, while Heng Bao looked expressionless in front of the camera.
Jiang Mian was a little skeptical. Could her son really talk? He didn't seem like it at all.
She said softly into the camera, "Heng Bao, can you say 'Mommy'?"
Heng Bao stared at her without speaking.
Jiang Mian's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.
Perhaps Grandma had misheard.
It's okay, there's no rush if Heng Bao can't talk yet. He's only two years old, Jiang Mian reassured herself.
Mother Ji picked up Heng Bao and placed him on the bed, pointing the phone camera at him. "Heng Bao, talk to your Mommy. Grandma's going to get some water downstairs."
Heng Bao nodded.
Watching his Grandma leave the room, Heng Bao didn't want his Mommy to be disappointed in front of the camera. He suddenly said, "Mommy."
Jiang Mian was stunned. By the time she reacted, tears welled up in her eyes, and the corners of her lips turned up. "Heng Bao... Heng Bao can really talk now. My baby is so good!"
She lowered her voice, "Heng Bao can talk now, why didn't you speak when Grandma asked you to?"
Heng Bao pursed his lips and remained silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Mian felt like crying and laughing. She wished she could fly back immediately to hug her son.
At the same time, she felt a pang of sadness. She couldn't be with her son for long. If it weren't for Mother Ji teaching him, Heng Bao wouldn't have said "Mommy."
Jiang Mian lowered her voice and coaxed him, "Next time Grandma talks to you, will you help Mommy make Grandma happy, okay?"
Heng Bao nodded. Daddy had told him that Mommy's words must be obeyed.
Seeing her son agree, Jiang Mian's heart softened completely. "Good Heng Bao, Mommy will be done soon. I'll come back to see you when I'm done."
Heng Bao nodded again.
Even though Mommy wasn't with him, Heng Bao's impression of her was no less than that of Grandma.
Grandma always played Mommy's TV shows for him at home.
So, whether Jiang Mian was in ancient costume or modern attire, Heng Bao recognized her at a glance.
And Ji Zhixiu visited him four or five times a week. Every time he came, besides playing with him, he talked more about Jiang Mian.
As a result, Heng Bao's little mind had stored too many memories of Mommy.
Seeing him obediently agree, Jiang Mian wanted to say more.
But Director Wang beside her was already calling for her. Jiang Mian looked at her son reluctantly and said, "Mommy is going to work now. Heng Bao, be good at home. Listen to Grandma."
After speaking, without waiting for Heng Bao's reply, Jiang Mian hung up the video call.
The costume teacher on set helped Jiang Mian change clothes and saw the tears in her eyes. "What's wrong, Sister Mian? Still not out of character?"
Jiang Mian smiled slightly, proudly. "My son can talk."
The costume teacher smiled in response. "No wonder."
She too had experienced that proud feeling of being a new mother.
Jiang Mian let out a slow breath. Suddenly, she felt a surge of strength.
She knew how to shoot this scene that had been stuck for two days.
"Heng Bao, Grandma made you some milk powder. Drink it before you sleep." Mother Ji came back with a milk bottle and saw that Heng Bao had already snuggled obediently into the quilt.
Hearing her, Heng Bao poked his head out of the quilt. Remembering what Mommy had said earlier, Heng Bao pursed his lips, then said, "Thank you, Grandma."
Mother Ji was stunned, her eyes immediately welled up. "Oh my! Grandma's good Heng Bao!"
She hugged Heng Bao tightly and kissed his forehead repeatedly. "Grandma loves you so much! Grandma knew you could talk! Our Heng Bao is the smartest!"
Mother Ji was overjoyed. "Heng Bao doesn't need to thank Grandma, okay? Grandma loves Heng Bao the most."
Heng Bao's ears turned red. He snuggled in Mother Ji's arms, not daring to move.
This was why he was reluctant to speak easily. He couldn't handle Grandma's enthusiasm!