Fang Chuning rolled her eyes. “Since when did you become such a know-it-all?”

“Hey, I’m not being a know-it-all,” Gao Qiong put down the watering can and walked over to sit in the bamboo chair opposite her. “A lot happened at Xinxing after you left.”

Fang Chuning crossed her legs lazily, giving her a glance. “Like what?”

“For example, right after you left, the vice president also dropped out. I thought he must have gone to find you, but you two were actually apart for these five years?” After going abroad, they rarely kept in touch, so she didn’t know what had happened between them. “Also, do you remember that Lin Yuechan?”

Fang Chuning paused, lifting her eyelids slightly.

Gao Qiong continued, “She was arrested for suspected theft. Although she wasn’t locked up for long, it left a record. Xinxing couldn’t keep her anymore. Later I heard that she didn’t even finish university and dropped out.”

Theft?

Thinking of that woman who considered herself righteous and had strong self-esteem, although Fang Chuning really disliked her, she also felt that she shouldn’t be… that kind of person… right?

The wedding was held in a castle in Switzerland. Fang Chuning felt that getting married anywhere was fine, but Xu’s father insisted, saying the wedding must be grand and ostentatious enough, only then would it not wronged his son.

After the busy wedding, things did not calm down. Xu Muzhou’s belly was already slightly swollen, and Fang Chuning found his temper getting worse day by day.

One night, she had just finished showering and was lying on the bed looking at her phone when Xu Muzhou suddenly handed her a tube of moisturizer for pregnant men. He didn’t say anything, just sat beside her silently watching.

Fang Chuning took the moisturizer, confused. “What?”

The young man pounded the bed forcefully twice, staring at her with resentment in his eyes.

Fang Chuning tried hard to understand his meaning. “You want me to help you apply it?”

The young man pressed his lips together; apparently she had understood correctly.

Fang Chuning glanced at his slightly protruding belly, then at his hands, and clicked her tongue. “It’s not like you’re applying it on your back. You can do it yourself.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Muzhou suddenly grabbed the moisturizer and threw it forcefully. Accompanied by a sharp, crisp sound, the glass bottle instantly shattered, and the white creamy lotion spilled everywhere in the room.

Fang Chuning was stunned for a moment, then got angry too. “What are you doing!?”

Xu Muzhou turned his face away coldly and lay back down on the bed with his back to her.

“Get up!” This wasn’t the first or second time he had inexplicably lost his temper. Fang Chuning couldn’t take it anymore and pulled him up from the bed. “Explain clearly, why are you throwing a tantrum again?”

Xu Muzhou pressed down the corners of his mouth, his gaze resentful. “Are you planning to divorce me after the child is born?”

Huh?

“Who told you that?” This was really nonsensical. “When did I ever think about divorcing you? Don’t make up stories in your head, okay?”

Fang Chuning was exhausted. It was the first time she experienced a man’s unreasonable tantrums. He would get angry if she came home late from overtime, if she didn’t immediately kiss and coax him when she got back, if she didn’t hug him while sleeping at night. She doubted whether what was swelling in his belly was a child or all the anger he couldn’t vent.

“Then let me ask you, who was that man walking with you today?”

Man? Fang Chuning thought back. She had gone to the construction site today. At the time, her assistant had urgent matters and took half a day off, so she temporarily found a male employee familiar with the business to go with her. On the way back, she suddenly craved milk tea and also treated the male employee to a cup.

He must have happened to see that.

“That was a company employee,” Fang Chuning explained to him.

Xu Muzhou’s expression didn’t improve. “If he’s a company employee, why were you drinking together?”

Fang Chuning really couldn’t stand his questioning tone. She simply didn’t bother to explain anymore. “Think whatever you want.” She lay back down on the bed to sleep.

Xu Muzhou’s hands gripped her arms, his fingers pressing hard. “Did you… fall for someone else?”

Fang Chuning held back again and again, then suddenly turned her head. “Yes, yes, yes, everything you said is right. Are you satisfied now!”

There was no sound after that. She held her breath and remained still for a while, feeling the mattress sink and then spring back up. The person seemed to have gotten off the bed, but when she squinted and looked around the room, she didn’t see anyone. There wasn’t even the sound of the door opening.

Fang Chuning sat up from the bed. As soon as she got off, she saw a figure at the foot of the bed. He was kneeling on the ground, using his hands to pick up the shattered glass. Even though his fingers were cut, he seemed unaware, stubbornly picking up the pieces one by one.

Blood dripped from his fingers onto the ground. Fang Chuning’s scalp tingled as she hurriedly pulled him up from the ground. “Are you crazy!?”

Xu Muzhou clutched the glass in his hand, looking at her with a gloomy gaze. His voice was hoarse: “Didn’t you fall for someone else? Why do you still care about me?”

Fang Chuning pried open his hand and threw the glass on the ground. But some fine glass shards had already embedded themselves in the tender flesh of his palm. She drew in a sharp breath and quickly picked up her phone to call the private doctor.

Half an hour later, Xu Muzhou fell asleep leaning on her shoulder, his injured hand already bandaged.

Fang Chuning gently placed him on the bed and tucked him in. The young man seemed to sleep uneasily, his beautiful brows slightly furrowed. She leaned close to his ear and softly comforted him with a few words, then kissed his brow. Only then did the young man’s worried expression relax.

Fang Chuning tiptoed out of the room. Outside was the doctor who had just finished examining him. It was already midnight. She didn’t disturb Father Fang and the others. The doctor didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “Mr. Xu may be suffering from prenatal depression. His mood instability will affect the fetus.”

Prenatal depression?

Fang Chuning hadn’t expected it to be so serious. She felt a bit panicked. “Then, what should we do?”

“Men are most vulnerable during pregnancy. Miss Fang needs to give him more attention and care, try to accommodate his moods, and spend more time with him. Once he feels better, he’ll naturally improve.”

Accompany? How to accompany? Like not going to work kind of accompanying?

In the end, Fang Chuning told Fang Hong about the situation. At this point, Fang Hong was generous, letting her stay home to accompany Xu Muzhou until the baby was born before returning to the company.

From then on, Fang Chuning indeed had ample free time. The happiest about this was none other than Xu Muzhou. His originally gloomy mood became cheerful, and his face was no longer as somber as before. His brilliant smile constantly exuded a hint of sweetness.

His belly also grew bigger day by day, and his clothes were changed to those specially designed for pregnant men.

In the garden, he even planted a patch of white roses himself. Whenever he had time, he would go to look at them, and always pulled her along.

“Ning Ning, help me bring that watering can over there.” Xu Muzhou’s fair face was slightly flushed from the sun, and his bangs were dampened by sweat from his labor.

Fang Chuning held the umbrella over his head, wiping his sweat with a mix of concern and helplessness. “This kind of work can be left to the servants. Why do you insist on torturing yourself?”

Xu Muzhou’s eyes were strikingly bright. “It’s so boring staying at home all day. I just want to find something to do.”

Actually, this was just a superficial reason. What he enjoyed was the time spent constantly sticking close to her, and the concern and love she showed after his hard work. At this moment, Xu Muzhou felt a satisfaction and joy he had never experienced before, becoming addicted to it.

He raised his hand to gently caress his belly, feeling both grateful and jealous towards the unborn child inside. It was all because of the child that she was being so good to him.

“Ning Ning.”

“What?”

“Do you prefer a girl or a boy?” Xu Muzhou lowered his eyes, asking with seeming innocence.

Fang Chuning replied without hesitation: “Either a girl or a boy is fine. I’m not picky.”

“I see…” Xu Muzhou looked up, sweetly asking again: “Then between the child and me, who do you like more?”

Fang Chuning’s expression tightened, nervously pinching her fingers. It had finally come, the moment she’d been dreading. Wasn’t this just like that soul-searching question online: if your father and I fell into the water, who would you save?

She pondered for a moment, then made her choice without hesitation, “Of course it’s you.”

Xu Muzhou smiled, his smile more dazzling than the sun in the sky. “Me too. I like you the most, forever and ever.”

After saying this, as if making a vow, he placed a light kiss on the corner of her mouth.

Fang Chuning touched the corner of her mouth somewhat dazedly. Seeing him so happy, she couldn’t help but smile, raising her hand to pat his head affectionately, “Mm, I know.”

Sweet affection drifted through the garden. The flower buds swayed in the wind, as if witnessing the beginning of the two.