CHAPTER 355: CHAPTER 348: PREGNANCY DAYS ARE ALSO SO PLAIN

"Delicious, truly delicious."

Qin Guanglin cradled his bowl, savoring a sip of soup, blew on it, took another sip and couldn’t stop praising, "This soup, simmered on low heat, is just so flavorful."

"Just quietly drink it."

Qin’s Mom wasn’t too happy, having carefully prepared a small pot to nourish He Fang’s body, and now it was all going into this guy’s stomach.

He’d always been robust, never leaving a morsel behind, and all the nourishment seemed wasted, squandering a good pot of soup.

"What did the doctor say?"

"He just went on and on... like that." Qin Guanglin couldn’t be bothered to repeat, "Exercise more, eat a balanced diet, and that’s all good. Everything else is fine; the baby is very healthy."

During Qin’s Mom’s time, being pregnant meant just lying at home and an egg was considered a great nourishment; nowadays living standards have improved so much she didn’t even know what nutritional excess was. After eating a few bites of food, she looked up and asked, "What does ’balanced’ mean? Did you ask clearly?"

"Don’t worry, with me, a chef, watching over, just don’t stew anything too fatty for her... Look at this layer of oil, getting too fat isn’t good for the body."

Qin Guanglin shook his bowl, showing the clear layer of oil on the chicken soup to Qin’s Mom, and authoritatively added, "If pregnant women get too fat, it could compress the fetus and lead to poor physical fitness; it’s hard to move around, and too much nutrition can cause the baby to be overweight, making delivery difficult. This is all from the doctor’s advice; I’ve asked clearly and remembered...right, darling?"

"Mhm, that’s what they said, and his cooking is quite tasty now. Mom, you don’t need to worry too much, just leave it to him," He Fang nodded in agreement.

Qin Guanglin’s tender attentions were something she had gotten used to; a couple needn’t be too formal about these things, they should enjoy when they should, but Qin’s Mom’s concern made her feel a bit uneasy, unable to comfortably sit and be served.

"A big man, all clumsiness..."

"I’m not clumsy at all; I’m an artist who draws, very meticulous."

"Yeah, he takes very good care of me."

"..."

Seeing the couple so in sync, Qin’s Mom was amused, "Alright, you live your sweet little life, and call me when you can’t manage—just take good care of my little grandson." Her last words were directed at Qin Guanglin, not fully trusting his assurances since it was his first time being a father, which she felt was somewhat unreliable.

"Rest assured, rest assured."

Qin Guanglin responded, not bothering to correct her that it wasn’t a little grandson but actually a granddaughter on the way; after all, by then it’ll still be their own beloved child, liking it wouldn’t even be a choice.

After eating, Qin Guanglin didn’t let He Fang chat idly with Qin’s Mom, but took her out for a walk instead, conscientiously following the doctor’s advice to maintain weight.

"From now on, we’ll get up an hour early every morning, walk for half an hour after breakfast, then at noon... after I wrap up my work handover, I can also accompany you for a walk since you come home to rest midday, and then another half hour walk in the evening, until thirty weeks when we’ll check with the doctor if we need to reduce the amount of exercise. You’re getting a bit too heavy now..."

"Are you saying I’m fat?!"

"No, it’s not good for the baby... Aunt Wang, have you eaten dinner so early?"

"It’s not early; didn’t you all also just eat? Taking your wife for a walk?"

"Yeah, just walking with her for health."

While strolling and greeting familiar faces, Qin Guanglin and He Fang walked arm in arm down North Fly Road, moving slowly since it’s not suitable for pregnant women to walk too fast. The former landlady, still remembered them and casually struck up a conversation before waddling away, her plump figure swinging, keys in hand, seemingly patrolling her domain.

In this familiar and cozy old street, which felt more comfortable than their new place, neighbors knew each other, exchanged greetings in their free time, and lent a hand when needed—like teaching Little Fatty to draw, or Brother Wang from the corner helping them buy their house, or Uncle Qi who sometimes caught turtle and would check with Qin’s Mom first if she wanted it for brewing soup, cheaper and fresher than what’s available in the market.

After looping around the streets for over ten minutes and heading back, they’d have just about covered half an hour, the couple leisurely strolling down the old street, enjoying a relaxed weekend.

"If you wanted, you could’ve tried harder back then and maybe been like her, jangling a cluster of keys to collect rent."

On their way back, they spotted the landlord again showing tenants a flat, and Qin Guanglin whispered to He Fang.

Having ten years of foresight, even without much effort, could have let them amass a fortune that most people couldn’t make in a lifetime.

"If back then it had been a wealthy woman flirting with you, would you have run off in fright?"

"You, my little wealthy lady..."

Qin Guanglin thought carefully and realized it was a strong possibility, "Back then you didn’t have money, just a poor student and I already thought you were too good for this world. Helping you find a flat was the only thing that gave me some peace of mind. If it had been some strong, wealthy woman..."

The disparity might have been too great; not just women often seek the so-called security, men do too. If He Fang had not been just a regular college student but a perfect "Time Traveler", surpassing him in all aspects, it possibly could have led to a different outcome—rather than seeking a perfect, wealthy woman as a girlfriend, he preferred these simple, quiet days.

"Still, you think too much," Qin Guanglin couldn’t help but sigh.

"I know clearly what is most important to me—I’ve been through everything, and you haven’t been through anything." He Fang smiled, "If we switched places, you’d definitely make the same choices as me; I’m quite sure of that."

"Smart choices."

Money can’t be earned indefinitely, while people could be lost at any moment. No need to ponder to know which is more important.

"If I really were in your shoes and came before you flaunting loads of cash, would my fate be the same as that... that Ke Nan?"

"Ke Nan?"

"That guy who chased you in school with all the branded clothes."

"It would probably be worse than his. He’s a second-generation rich kid, and you’re a nouveau riche. With your taste, a big gold necklace and a small watch, matched with a tacky plaid shirt and a cigar at the entrance of our dorm building... hahahahaha."

Thinking about that scene made He Fang burst into laughter, "I definitely wouldn’t be able to resist having Zhou Nan give you a good beating."

"My eyes hurt."

Qin Guanglin shook his head and laughed. A big gold necklace and a small watch might have been too much, but looking bad was a certainty. He had never been good at dressing.

Artists, their aesthetics are always different from ordinary folks—yeah, that’s it, it’s not that he can’t dress.

...

On Saturdays he stayed over, and on Sundays he would laze at home and enjoy their little world as expectant parents. Having been practically a monk for half a year, Qin Guanglin needed to hit the gym and sweat it out to feel relieved. Treadmills weren’t as safe as walking outside, and he didn’t let He Fang use the treadmill in the gym. While He Fang quietly sat in the lounge area with a water bottle, watching him grunt and strain, she felt quite at ease.

"Getting stronger."

"Definitely. Look at these muscles, solid, I won’t turn into the fatty you talk about, that’s funny..."

"Let me touch them."

"Go away, don’t touch erratically."

Once Qin Guanglin had showered, the two of them joked as they walked home. He Fang peeked at him, her eyes flitting.

"It must be tough holding it in?"

"...Not tough."

"Tsk."

Even though the doctor had said they could resume their night life after three months, for the baby’s safety, they hadn’t done anything yet, and didn’t plan to start doing anything carelessly.

Roughly counting, it had been almost half a year, and he had been able to hold back without even bringing up a request for help.

"If all men were like you, the world’s infidelity would decrease by eighty percent," He Fang remarked leisurely.

"If all women were like you, it would also decrease by eighty percent."

Qin Guanglin saw right through what she was thinking, launching into a mutual admiration mode.

"If it’s tough, just say it," He Fang said.

"Not tough... are you?"

"Pfft, I definitely am not."

"Well, I’m off to shower. I just quickly rinsed off at the gym, wasn’t comfortable."

Qin Guanglin changed into slippers and shuffled off to the bathroom. When he came out again, He Fang was nowhere to be seen in the bedroom. He looked around and saw He Fang calling him from the study.

"Come over here, I’ve found something good."

"What?"

"Come and see!" He Fang laughed mysteriously, fiddling with her wrist behind the computer.

"..."