Li Laidi's face showed obvious distress, "I'm just afraid, sister, you understand?"
"I understand, but happiness is something you have to fight for yourself. Don't give up easily. Laidi, you are not lacking in any way compared to others. Although your family background is not good and your father is a gambler, that's not your fault. You are independent and self-reliant, filial to your mother, and a great cook. You are actually very capable." Jiang Mian said gently.
These words gave Li Laidi great encouragement. She nodded as if she had made up her mind and looked at Jiang Mian, "I understand, sister, thank you."
...
Ji Zhilan's belly grew bigger with each passing day, and she was now several months along.
One day, Jiang Cheng said he had business to attend to at the company and wouldn't accompany her for her prenatal check-up.
Ji Zhilan initially felt it was fine to go alone, but when she arrived at the obstetrics department, she saw that every expectant mother was accompanied. This made her resent Jiang Cheng a little.
"Be careful, wife."
"Oh, it's not obvious yet, I'm fine."
Ji Zhilan heard a familiar voice, looked up, and saw Chang Qin supporting Chang Qing, who was still wearing a white coat.
She widened her eyes, "Lu Cong ge, Qingqing jie."
Chang Qin looked up, "It's Zhilan."
Chang Qing smiled slightly, "What a coincidence."
"Are you also here for a prenatal check-up? Qingqing jie, are you pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Does everyone know?"
"We've already informed friends and family," Chang Qin nodded slightly, supported Chang Qing to walk a couple more steps, and said in a low voice, "Sit down for a while."
Ji Zhilan felt a pang of envy. Since marrying Jiang Cheng, she had become disconnected from her old circle. She didn't dare to go out even when her former best friends invited her.
Chang Qin took out the small biscuits he had prepared and fed them to Chang Qing's mouth, "Eat some, you ate too little this morning. It's your favorite mango flavor."
"I'm not hungry. Fine, then I'll eat a little... You eat too."
After she finished eating, Chang Qin took out a water cup, "Drink some more water."
Ji Zhilan's eyes turned red. She suddenly stood up, "It's my turn. I'm going in. Qingqing jie, you can wait."
Chang Qin didn't even look up, "Okay, you go ahead."
After she left, Chang Qing gave him a playful glare, "I told you not to accompany me. You work at the hospital every day, it's not like I don't know."
"No, I must accompany you. I can only be at ease. Besides, this is a check-up for our baby. Our family of three should be together."
Chang Qing's heart filled with sweetness. She held Chang Qin's hand, "A Qin, it's so good to have you."
"I promised to take care of you for a lifetime, and that will never change."
Ji Zhilan returned home filled with resentment. Jiang Cheng was playing games. Hearing the commotion, he took off his headphones, "You're back?"
Ji Zhilan's eyes were blazing, "Didn't you say you were going to the company? You came back earlier than me. Why didn't you pick me up?"
Jiang Cheng: "The hospital is so close, what's there to pick up? It's not even worth the gas money for me to drive."
Ji Zhilan slammed her bag onto the bed, "Jiang Cheng! Don't forget how you got where you are today!"
"Yes, yes, it's all thanks to you, the great Miss Ji! If it weren't for you, I would have starved to death long ago, are you satisfied?" Jiang Cheng said sarcastically.
Every time they argued, Ji Zhilan would bring up this same point. He had gotten to where he was today thanks to his own efforts, hadn't he?
Seeing that Jiang Cheng wasn't trying to placate her as usual, Ji Zhilan's anger flared, "Jiang Cheng, what do you mean by this? Once you got the money, you don't recognize me anymore?"
"Ji Zhilan, I should be asking what you mean. A small argument every two days, a big fight every three days. Do you think this is fun? We are a couple, isn't it normal for you to spend your money on me? Don't act like you're giving charity.
If my life is good, then you can have a good life too. You are married into our Jiang family, and you are one of us. Don't put on your spoiled young lady airs every day!"
Jiang Cheng's rapid-fire words left Ji Zhilan speechless. She screamed, "Jiang Cheng! How dare you say that to me, I'll fight you today!"
Saying that, she lunged at him. Jiang Cheng, concerned about the baby in her belly, quickly jumped back, "I'm warning you, don't go crazy!"
"You have my son in your belly, be careful."
The nanny, hearing the familiar sound of arguing, came over to mediate, "Sir, Madam is pregnant. Can we talk calmly? Please don't resort to violence!"
Ji Zhilan was furious and didn't care about anything else. Seeing Jiang Cheng distracted, she grabbed the pen holder from the table and threw it.
"Hiss..." Jiang Cheng was caught off guard and hit. He cried out in pain, raised his hand to touch his cheek, and felt a sticky trace of blood. He gasped, "Ji Zhilan, are you crazy!"
He dodged and jumped out of the room, pushing the nanny who was blocking his way, and threw a parting shot, "Go ahead and be crazy by yourself, I'm leaving!"
Ji Zhilan's chest heaved. She sank onto the bed, regretting her actions at that moment.
The nanny cautiously walked in and silently cleaned up the mess on the floor.
In the evening, Mother Jiang returned home from class for dinner. Not seeing Jiang Cheng, she asked, "Where's my son? He's not back yet, it's so late?"
Ji Zhilan sneered, "Your son is a good-for-nothing."
Mother Jiang was displeased, "I say, Zhilan, what did Jiang Cheng do to offend you now? What did he do to you that you would say that about him."
"He has wronged me in many ways."
"We're family, why are you being so petty? It's normal for young couples to have little tiffs." Mother Jiang was displeased.
Ji Zhilan didn't want to talk and buried her head in her meal.
After dinner, Jiang Cheng still hadn't returned. Mother Jiang called him worriedly, but there was no answer.
She finally realized something was wrong and looked at Ji Zhilan, accusingly, "Did you drive my son away?"
Ji Zhilan poked a piece of watermelon with a toothpick and put it in her mouth, "He's a grown man, his legs are his own. Do you think I can stop him from going wherever he wants?"
"You don't seem worried."
Ji Zhilan let out a laugh, "Since Mom is worried, then you can wait. I'm pregnant and can't stay up late, so I'm going to sleep. By the way, if Jiang Cheng comes back, please tell him to sleep in the guest room so as not to disturb us. After all, pregnant women need good sleep."
With that, she picked up the fruit platter and slowly went upstairs.
Mother Jiang watched her retreating back and couldn't help but curse.
She waited until twelve o'clock. Jiang Cheng returned and was startled to see his mother in the living room.
He patted his chest, "Mom, what are you doing in the living room so late without sleeping? And without turning on the lights."
Mother Jiang: "You still know how to come back? You didn't answer your phone."
A hint of unnaturalness flickered across Jiang Cheng's face, "I had something to do, so I turned off my phone."
"It's good that you're okay. Now that you're back, I can go to sleep. By the way, your wife is already asleep and told me to tell you to sleep in the guest room tonight, so as not to disturb her."
Jiang Cheng was displeased, "She told me to sleep in the guest room, so I'll sleep in the guest room? I'm not listening to her."
He stomped upstairs, unlocked the master bedroom door, and found it was locked from the inside.
He couldn't help but curse, "You're something else, Ji Zhilan!"
Jiang Cheng angrily walked towards the guest room.
The next morning, Ji Zhilan, seeing Jiang Cheng's setback last night, loudly declared, "Looking at it now, it's much more comfortable to sleep alone. Last night I really had a good night's sleep."
Mother Jiang didn't find anything wrong with it. She nodded, "You're pregnant, and your emotions fluctuate a lot. If you feel Jiang Cheng is in the way in the future, you should sleep alone. Jiang Cheng can also relax by himself."
Jiang Cheng put down the biscuit in his hand and looked at Ji Zhilan, "Early in the morning, why do I feel like you have ill intentions again?"
Ji Zhilan acted innocent, "Mom, look at your son. Why is he saying that about me? I meant well, but he twists my words."
Jiang Cheng hadn't told Mother Jiang about their argument yesterday. Ji Zhilan was sure that Jiang Cheng wouldn't mention it to avoid worrying Mother Jiang.
As expected, Mother Jiang sided with her, "Jiang Cheng, speak politely, don't make your wife sad."
"By the way, I didn't notice last night, but I see it today. What happened to the injury on your face?" Mother Jiang asked.
Jiang Cheng glanced at Ji Zhilan with an unreadable expression, "It's nothing, I just fell last night because I didn't turn on the light."
Mother Jiang was heartbroken, "You, how can you be so careless."
Saying that, she reached out to cup Jiang Cheng's face and examine it closely, "Remember to turn on the light next time, understand? We're not short of that little bit of money."
"I know, Mom. It's not serious, it'll heal with some ointment."
...
After finishing her new drama, Shen Tingyu returned to the capital. The first thing she did was call Ji Zhixiu.
"Zhixiu, do you remember what you promised me? I'll host a dinner, and you bring Lu Cong and the others."
Fearing that Ji Zhixiu would refuse, Shen Tingyu hesitated and said, "It's a pity my brother isn't home... otherwise, everyone would be here."
"You, you'll come, right?"
Ji Zhixiu was silent for a moment, so long that Shen Tingyu almost thought he wouldn't answer. Then a faint "En" came from the other end, followed by, "The address."
Shen Tingyu's heart leaped with joy, "Fuyun Tower, tomorrow night. Just give my name."
"Got it." With that, he hung up the phone without hesitation.
Then he relayed the message to Lu Cong and the others.
Lu Cong practically bounced into Ji's company. He leaned back on the sofa in Ji Zhixiu's office, directing Fan Cheng to buy snacks.
Ji Zhixiu looked down at him, "Get out and eat."
Lu Cong pouted, "I'm eating here, a hundred thousand miles away from you. Even so, your洁癖 can act up?"
He finished the rest in a few bites and tossed the trash, "Can't eat anymore, has Mu Yuan said when he's coming back?"
Ji Zhixiu said steadily, "Next week."
Lu Cong smacked his lips, "I really want Mu Yuan to see what kind of person his sister really is."
Ji Zhilan lowered her eyes and expressionlessly flipped open a document. "Do you really think he doesn't understand Shen Tingyu's character?"
Lu Cong's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"
"It's useless to tell you."
Lu Cong rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay, our President Ji is right. Stop looking, stop looking. How long has it been since we went for a drink?"
He stood up and leaned towards the desk, closing those files and pressing on Ji Zhixiu's shoulders, "Come to Seattle for a few drinks quickly. Chang Qin will be here later. We haven't gotten together in a long time."