Chapter 18 I'm Pregnant

Jiang Ran was stunned when Su Mu hit her hard with a pillow. Then, seeing Su Mu's angry and disappointed expression, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and she thought she had figured it out.

He thought that Su Mu had heard the words "pregnancy dream" and associated them with the child, and might therefore suspect that his previous indifferent statement about the child was just a perfunctory response.

After all, what you think about during the day, you dream about at night. Suspecting that he would be pressured by his family to enter into some kind of business marriage to continue the family line, she got angry and took action.

This realization immediately replaced the slight grievance on Jiang Ran's face with an expression of eagerness to prove herself, as if asking, "Who is trying to smear my innocence?"

"Mumu, don't be angry, listen to me," he said, holding Su Mu's hand and pressing it to his chest. "I am a very loyal person. I am 100% loyal to you and to our relationship. I have no other intentions!"

"You don't need to worry about my parents at all. Although they are sometimes a bit traditional, they have never had, and will never have, the idea of ​​using my body or my marriage to maintain the family business when it comes to my personal life. Our family is not at that level, and I am not the kind of puppet to be manipulated."

He was afraid Su Mu wouldn't believe him, so his eyes were incredibly serious, even carrying a hint of desperate resolve: "If I'm just saying if, in the future, anything that might threaten our relationship, or make you uneasy, whether it comes from family or somewhere else..."

Jiang Ran seemed to have made a very important decision: "I can, and I will, nip this situation in the bud."

Su Mu was still annoyed by the filth in Jiang Ran's mouth, but he was taken aback by Jiang Ran's sudden, seriously off-topic, and unusually intense statement.

He blinked, following Jiang Ran's train of thought, and asked curiously, "So what do you plan to do? How do you nip it in the bud?"

He was curious to hear what kind of outrageous solution this young master Jiang, with his peculiar way of thinking, could come up with.

"ligation."

Su Mu: "…………"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Su Mu's expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment, and then to an utter bewilderment that mixed disbelief, absurdity, and utter confusion as to what he had just heard.

ligation?

It's definitely a good method that solves the problem once and for all.

Su Mu decided that he needed to observe Jiang Ran for a while longer.

The agreed-upon ten days for consideration now seems far too short. This person's thought process and focus are simply astonishingly unique.

I, the one who was actually pregnant, hadn't even really experienced the wonder of pregnancy dreams yet, but this person who's afraid of childbirth took over all of it, scaring me half to death and making me paranoid.

Just how afraid of children is Jiang Ran to be so paranoid and trembling with fear?

Shouldn't pregnancy dreams be warm and comforting?

Is this fear a resistance to unknown responsibilities, or simply a lack of understanding and imagination about childbirth itself?

Su Mu was unsure.

When Jiang Ran heard Su Mu say "ten days is too short," she replied incredulously, "This is not enough?"

He felt that ten days was long enough and agonizing enough.

Seeing his anxious look, Su Mu put on an expression that said, "How can you be so insensible?"

"Oh dear, how can you not understand?" He sat up, hugging his knees, looking at Jiang Ran who was still lying on the bed. "Since I've been with you, you've let your whole family know about me. All your aunts and uncles have made a group chat announcing it to the world. Shouldn't I also formally and properly introduce you to my family? It can't just be my parents who know, right? My grandparents are gone, but my maternal grandmother is still here, and there are my uncles, aunts, and other relatives..."

The more he talked, the more sense it made.

Although Su Mu found Jiang Ran's behavior of coming out to the whole family a bit silly and even a little crazy, the courage of her unreservedly declaring to the world that this was her boyfriend stirred a secret, cherished feeling in her heart amidst her speechlessness.

If Jiang Ran dared to do this, he naturally couldn't fall behind.

At least in terms of attitude, we must make Jiang Ran feel that we are equally serious and value her.

Thinking of this, Su Mu considerately suggested, "How about this, you go back to Jiangzhou first? You've just taken over the company, and it's really not good to be away for too long. Come over when you're less busy there and have some free time?"

He was secretly calculating: by the time Jiang Ran came again, the baby might already be born. Holding a live, soft, and beautiful little baby in his arms would be far more impactful than simply telling her he was pregnant, wouldn't it?

By then, all the fear of pregnancy dreams and the abstract resistance to the child should vanish in the face of the real, lovely little life that belongs to both of them, right?

If Jiang Ran finds the childbirth process unacceptable, why doesn't she just skip it?

Anyway, their process of conceiving life is not considered a regular one.

Upon hearing "go back to Jiangzhou first," Jiang Ran replied without hesitation, "No way!"

How can he leave now? It's too dangerous here!

When he recalled how Su Mu used to avoid him and shun him at all costs, he felt disheartened and utterly dejected.

His aunt couldn't stand it and comforted him, saying, "He's just a young boy. There are plenty of fish in the sea. So what if he's gay? I know a lot of handsome young boys. I'll introduce you to a few someday, and I guarantee they'll be better than yours!"

Jiang Ran's answer at that time was: "I only want Su Mu! I don't want anyone else but Su Mu!"

His aunt was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone: "Crazy! You ungrateful brat!"

Jiang Ran knew that someone like Su Mu, with his clean-cut looks, gentle nature, and strong opinions, would be quite popular in the gay community.

He had finally managed to catch the person up to him, so how could he leave at this moment and give anyone any opportunity to take advantage of him?

Jiang Ran looked at Su Mu and said sincerely, "As you know, I just joined my family's company and haven't fully mastered many things yet. Without me, the company is like a horse without a bicycle. Besides, my dad is still alive. He's only in his fifties, which is the time for him to build his career."

In Jiangzhou, a thousand miles away, at the Jiang residence study.

An open report lay on the mahogany desk. Jiang's father wore glasses. The early summer afternoon sun shone through the large French windows, casting bright spots of light on the smooth, dark floor. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed Longjing tea and a faint scent of sandalwood.

Everything is peaceful and orderly, which is the work environment that Jiang's father is most accustomed to.

Suddenly, without warning, he sneezed.

Jiang's mother, who had been sitting on the single sofa next to him with a thin blanket over her legs, wearing her reading glasses and slowly flipping through a latest fashion magazine, looked up at her husband upon hearing the sound, her brows furrowing slightly. "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold because the air conditioning was on too high last night?"

Jiang's father took off his glasses: "I just suddenly had a bad feeling."

Hearing what he said, Jiang's mother put down the magazine in her hand, got up, picked up the phone on the coffee table, unlocked the screen, and swiped a few times.

“What bad feeling could there be?” Jiang’s mother said. “Your son is having a great time right now, sharing the beautiful scenery of the countryside. Look at these photos he posted.”

She turned her phone screen towards Jiang's father.

On the screen is Jiang Ran's WeChat Moments. The latest post, published half an hour ago, includes a nine-grid image.

There are rice paddies gleaming in the sunlight, winding, clear streams, rustic farmhouses, and even a blurry photo of a person whose profile and a fair hand are only visible.

The caption was extremely simple, just a sun emoji, but the smug and satisfied feeling that practically radiated through the screen was overwhelming.

Jiang's mother pointed to one of the blurry photos of wildflowers, her disdain even more obvious: "Like someone who's never seen the world before."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's father also went over to take a look. The photo was indeed not very good; the composition was haphazard, and the lighting was poorly controlled. However, the silly look in the photo perfectly matched Jiang Ran's current state of being deeply in love.

He glanced at it for a few seconds, then looked away, put his glasses back on, and picked up the financial report: "Your son."

Jiang's mother: "…………"

Jiang Ran reassured Su Mu, "I'm fine, really, Mu Mu. When do you think it's appropriate, and what do you need me to do before I leave? Until then, I'll stay with you, okay?"

“Yes,” Su Mu nodded, “My family will definitely like you too.”

Just like his parents, although they might be surprised at first, they will gradually accept Jiang Ran after seeing his sincerity and hard work.

He believes this.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but reach out and gently ruffle Jiang Ran's fluffy hair, as if soothing a large dog. Strands of hair brushed against his fingertips, carrying the faint scent of their shampoo.

Su Mu couldn't stay at home with Jiang Ran forever; his work had already been delayed for several days because of Jiang Ran's arrival.

Su Mu ate some prenatal vitamins, then stood up and started packing his things to go to the factory.

Jiang Ran had also wondered what Su Mu was eating, but Su Mu casually said it was nutritional supplements and brushed it off.

Jiang Ran followed closely behind him, asking, "Aren't you tired?"

Su Mu's face radiated confidence and brilliance.

"Not tired at all," he said in a light, even cheerful tone. "I feel a great sense of accomplishment now. Our factory manager is a really nice guy and values ​​me a lot. And look, all those certifications I took back then weren't for nothing, right? They're all coming in handy now. Even our factory manager said that it's rare for someone so young to know so much."

His face radiated undisguised pride, a genuine sense of accomplishment from gaining recognition through his own hands and mind.

"Look how farsighted I am! Who would have thought it would actually come in handy?"

Jiang Ran really admired Su Mu; he had managed to find such a seemingly niche but actually excellent race track.

"You're the best." Jiang Ran smiled and agreed, her eyes full of affection.

While putting on his shoes, Su Mu seemed to remember something and casually said, "But you know, the internet is a big place, and you can find all sorts of weirdos. There's this guy with a string of numbers in his ID who's been really persistent in giving me gifts. He gives me gifts every time I go live, rain or shine, and the amount is quite substantial."

He gave him a puzzled look: "I suspect he's some kind of ATM slave, enjoying the feeling of spending money for others? Oh well, I can't be bothered with him, let him swipe if he wants."

"I'll buy you a gift once I withdraw the money."

Jiang Ran's smile twitched slightly when she heard the keywords "ATM slave," "gift-giving," and "strange ID."

But he reacted very quickly; that slight awkwardness was immediately replaced by an expression that was a mixture of surprise, emotion, and a little bit of guilt, as well as being flattered. He grasped Su Mu's hand, his tone exaggerated yet sincere.

"...Mumu, you're so good to me!" Jiang Ran leaned over and quickly kissed Su Mu on the cheek. "I'm so happy!"

Su Mu was startled by his kiss, then laughed and pushed him away: "Stop it."

After the joke, Su Mu looked at Jiang Ran, his expression turning serious with a hint of worry: "But Jiang Ran, are you really... okay? Staying here with me all this time, won't it be difficult for your family and company? Because of me, I've delayed too many things for you."

He didn't want Jiang Ran to pay too high a price because of him, whether in her career or family relationships.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran dropped his joking expression. He reached out and gently straightened Su Mu's slightly crooked collar.

"It's nothing." His answer was simple, yet firm.

Jiang Ran could clearly distinguish between a lifetime of happiness and a temporary period of seclusion.

For him, nothing is more important than seizing the opportunity with the person in front of him and cultivating their future possibilities.

The company can handle things remotely, and we can communicate and explain things slowly at home, but Su Mu, he can't afford to miss even a second of the time he's already missed.

The temporary pause and adjustment are for a longer-term future where we can walk side by side.

Once Su Mu's footsteps disappeared outside the courtyard, the Su family courtyard became completely quiet, leaving only Jiang Ran alone.

Su's mother has an extremely regular life, and she goes to the village square to dance without fail. Recently, she has been even more enthusiastic because she heard that there will be a temple fair in town soon, and her "Sunset Red Dance Troupe" has been selected to perform. These past few days, she has been rehearsing with extra vigor, and every day after breakfast, she grabs her small speaker and heads out in a flurry.

Su's father also had his own pastimes. He loved playing chess and cards. Every day after his afternoon nap, he would stroll to the big banyan tree at the edge of the village, where a few old friends would always be waiting. With the chessboard set up or the cards thrown around, an afternoon would slowly slip by amidst the battles on the chessboard or the shouts of "Ace" and "Can't beat!"

The Su family only has one son, Su Mu.

In their early years, while Su's parents were in good health, they did all sorts of work, working overtime at the factory and from dawn till dusk during the busy farming season. Through sheer hard work, they managed to save up a sum of money for Su Mu, not a large amount, but enough for emergencies and as initial capital.

They even bought retirement and medical insurance for themselves early on. In Su's mother's words, "When we get old, the greatest blessing is not to be a burden to our children."

With nothing else to do, Jiang Ran helped Su's mother pick vegetables and listened to her chatter about everyday things.

When Su Mu was mentioned doing part-time jobs during college, his mother's face showed heartache and a little resentment: "That child has been sensible since he was little. He always thought about saving money for us. No matter what the family's situation is, we definitely have enough money to support his studies and food. He doesn't tell us when he's unhappy at work. He keeps it to himself. Actually, even if he didn't work, he could have lived with us and we could have supported him."

She sighed, picking green beans in her hand, her eyes gentle: "We have limited abilities and can't give him great wealth and status, but we just hope that he can be happy and carefree, not so tired, and not wrong himself, that's enough."

These words, though simple, were like a soft feather, gently stirring something deep within Jiang Ran's heart.

He suddenly understood better where Su Mu's beauty and innocence came from.

Su's parents are very good and open-minded parents.

Now Jiang Ran was the only one left in the courtyard.

Jiang Ran walked to the old locust tree in the corner of the yard, took out her phone, and dialed her mother's number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. Jiang's mother's voice, slightly languid (she was probably having tea in the garden right now), came through: "Hello? Xiao Ran? Why are you calling at this hour? Had you been having too much fun in the countryside and now you're thinking of your mother?"

Jiang Ran had no time for pleasantries; she immediately cried out for help, "Mom! Save me!"

Upon hearing this tone, Jiang's mother, though her son was practically a wild child now, still insisted that he was her own son, no matter how much they were related by blood: "What's wrong? What happened? Did you quarrel with Xiao Su? Or are you having trouble adjusting to life over there?"

"No, it's just that I've been having a lot of strange dreams lately. I looked it up online, and it says they're pregnancy dreams."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, Jiang's mother's questioning voice came over: "A pregnancy dream? Isn't your partner a man? I've met him, he's definitely a boy."

“That’s the problem, Mom,” Jiang Ran said. “My boyfriend is a man, and I have pregnancy dreams every day. Is that reasonable? I’m going crazy. I have them every day. I see them as soon as I close my eyes. I’m going to have a nervous breakdown. I’m gay, you know. What is this dream trying to tell me?”

Jiang's mother paused for a moment on the other end of the phone before saying, "How would I know? You should ask yourself, Jiang Ran. I still want to remind you that our Jiang family has never had a morally corrupt person in all these years."

Jiang Ran: "Mom, you know a lot of people, not many of whom believe in this. Hurry up and find me a reliable and effective metaphysical master to perform a ritual for me and exorcise the evil spirits. I can't take it anymore, really."

Jiang's mother was both amused and exasperated by his frantic manner, but she still agreed: "Okay, okay, I'll ask for you. But don't scare yourself unnecessarily, maybe it's just a case of acclimatization issues."

“Also,” Jiang Ran said, “Mom, please tell Dad that I need to stay here for a while longer. Have him handle things at the company for me, or find someone reliable to fill in. I need to take care of my boyfriend full-time right now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a deep and authoritative male voice came from the other end of the phone. It was Jiang's father who had been listening nearby and couldn't help but interrupt. His tone was full of disdain: "If you stay any longer, be careful that Su's family finds out what kind of person you are. In that case, you, this lousy son-in-law, will be kicked out before you even officially move in!"

Mr. Jiang knew his son very well. Everyone praised him for being calm and polite, but they knew that their son was picky and proud, and actually a little wicked.

Jiang Ran retorted: "Dad, I'm not you. Grandpa told me that the first time you went to Grandma's house, you were so nervous that you couldn't even greet people. You just stood there like a wooden post."

"Su Mu's parents are very satisfied with me. There's no way to hide it; I'm too outstanding. Su Mu said he's going to formally introduce me to his maternal grandmother, uncle, aunt, and maternal aunt. This is a big deal, so I have to prepare well and can't leave."

On the other end of the phone, Mr. Jiang seemed to be taken aback, letting out a cold snort of annoyance. Then, Mrs. Jiang seemed to take over the phone, and her cheerful, comforting voice could be faintly heard.

Jiang Ran repeatedly urged his mother on the phone to hurry up and find the "expert" as soon as possible, as he desperately needed a good night's sleep.

Jiang Ran has been experiencing both sweetness and torment these past few days.

Especially when it's late at night and everyone is quiet, lying next to Su Mu, listening to his even and shallow breathing, smelling his clean and pleasant scent, the instinctive desire in my body that comes with being with my beloved battles fiercely with the restraint of reason.

Su Mu had said he wanted to take things slowly, and he respected and understood that. But what this respect and understanding brought was every sleepless night and the sweet yet torturous torment of waking up in the morning with a warm and soft body in his arms, which he could only restrain.

It's really... so hard to get through.

That evening, Su Mu returned home from work, his eyes bright. As he changed his shoes, he habitually asked Jiang Ran, who was sitting in the main room looking at her phone, "How was your day? Bored?"

Jiang Ran put down her phone, looked up, followed him into the room, and blurted out, "I missed you."

Straightforward, passionate, and undisguised.

Su Mu felt a flush rise to her ears from his directness. She glared at him reproachfully, but didn't reply. She simply said, "I'm covered in dust. I'll change my clothes first. Can you go out for a bit?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow in confusion. They had shared a bed and seen each other everything, whether they should or shouldn't, yet she still had to avoid him when changing clothes.

Just then, Su's mother called from outside the door: "Xiao Mu!"

Jiang Ran responded almost reflexively, "Yes! Auntie, I'm here!"

Su's mother's voice came over: "Uncle is bringing some fresh shrimp over tonight. Is it okay to have shrimp for dinner? Can Xiao Jiang eat it?"

Jiang Ran quickly replied, "Yes, Auntie! I'll eat anything!"

As he agreed, he subconsciously got up, wanting to ask Su Mu's opinion, since Su Mu was the family's darling.

He walked to the door of Su Mu's house, which was only slightly ajar. As soon as he pushed it open, he caught a glimpse of what was inside.

Su Mu took off his shirt and casually tossed it onto the back of the chair next to him. He was slightly turned to the side, facing the old but clean full-length mirror in the room, his head down, seemingly looking at something carefully, while one hand unconsciously and gently stroked his lower abdomen.

Jiang Ran's gaze froze instantly.

The reflection in the mirror was crystal clear. Su Mu's usually slender, even somewhat thin waist now had a... noticeably abnormal, rounded, and soft curve at the lower abdomen. It wasn't excess fat, nor was it simple weight gain; it was a slightly bulging shape.

Bathed in the fading light of the sky outside the window, the curved outline appeared both exceptionally clear and exceptionally unfamiliar.

Jiang Ran even staggered a little as she closed the door.

Hearing the noise, Su Mu inside the house froze, reacting almost instantly. He hurriedly grabbed the clothes he had just taken off, covered his stomach in a panic, and turned around, revealing only his unexpected panic and the embarrassment of having his secret exposed.

Jiang Ran had already taken a few steps to stand in front of him, her eyes fixed on the bulge that was hastily covered by his clothes but whose shape was still discernible. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her voice was dry and strained with shock and a sense of foreboding: "Su Mu, what's wrong with your stomach?"

His throat tightened: "Have you gained weight? But how could you have gained so much weight?"

He recalled the feeling of occasionally touching Su Mu's waist before. At that time, he only felt that it was slender and supple, as if it would break if he held it in his arms. But recently, it seems that the lines between her waist and abdomen have become softer. He thought it was because Su Mu was eating well at home, was in a relaxed mood, and had gained some weight. He was secretly happy about it.

But this obvious curve is definitely not just a matter of gaining weight.

Forced back by him, Su Mu's calf touched the edge of the bed, and he sat down. He clutched the clothes he was wearing on his stomach tightly, his knuckles turning white. He looked up at Jiang Ran's face, which showed no trace of surprise or worry, and his mind was in turmoil.

He wasn't prepared with his words yet, and the matter itself was too unbelievable. How could he bring up the topic of a man being pregnant?

Seeing his silence, and only his frightened, doe-like eyes staring at her, Jiang Ran's ominous premonition grew stronger. Her questioning voice unconsciously took on a sharp edge: "Su Mu, say something! What's wrong with your stomach?"

Forced into a panic, Jiang Ran's tone became harsh; it was the first time he had ever yelled at him like that.

Su Mu blurted out without thinking, with a hint of spite and self-abandonment, "What? Do I have to report to you that I have a tumor?"

As soon as he said it, he froze.

Jiang Ran was struck dumb.

"Are you serious?" Jiang Ran seemed to have all her strength drained away. Her tall body swayed for a moment, and she knelt straight down in front of Su Mu. She looked up, her eyes fixed on Su Mu, filled with disbelief and a sudden surge of immense fear.

Su Mu was terrified by his sudden kneeling and violent reaction. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but was speechless for a moment, stammering and unable to utter a complete sentence.

Jiang Ran seemed to have already accepted the worst possible outcome. He knelt there, motionless for a long time, as if petrified. Then, he reached out, his movements extremely slow and careful, yet with an irresistible force, and gently covered the back of Su Mu's hand, which was tightly clutching her stomach. Then, through the thin fabric, his palm pressed against that slightly raised curve.

It feels warm to the touch, soft, and has a strange sense of presence.

The next second, Su Mu saw large tears roll down Jiang Ran's face without warning, tracing down her handsome but instantly pale cheeks and landing on Su Mu's legs.

"No, how could this be..." Jiang Ran's voice choked with sobs, "So... you've been avoiding me because you're sick? Was it because your illness was so severe, incurable, that you agreed to be with me? Actually, you..."

Su Mu was completely dumbfounded. He had no idea what kind of tragic drama of life and death Jiang Ran had imagined in her mind at that moment.

He watched as Jiang Ran's tears fell like beads from a broken string, the pain and despair contained within so heavy that it made it hard for him to breathe.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Ran suddenly grabbed Su Mu’s wrist with terrifying force, her eyes bloodshot. “Back to Jiangzhou, right now! No matter what, I will heal you. I will find you the best doctors in the world and use the best medicine. Su Mu, how could you… how could you not tell me?”

His voice suddenly rose, hoarse on the verge of collapse: "If you can't survive... I... I don't want to live either!"

Su Mu watched Jiang Ran cry like a child who had lost the whole world, and saw the genuine, crazy love in his eyes—a love that was willing to live and die with him. All his panic, hesitation, and the stubbornness from before were instantly shattered, leaving only regret and heartache.

That's gone too far.

Su Mu hurriedly reached out and haphazardly wiped away Jiang Ran's tears, urgently explaining, "No! No! Jiang Ran, don't cry, I'm not sick! I'm really not sick! Don't think nonsense!"

He tried to calm Jiang Ran down.

Jiang Ran continued to cry, looking at him through her teary eyes.

Su Mu took a deep breath, knowing he could no longer hide it or make any more excuses. He looked into Jiang Ran's eyes and said, word by word, "It's true, I'm pregnant!"

Jiang Ran's crying and all her movements froze completely at that moment.

He knelt there, tears still wet on his face, but his expression was completely frozen, as if he hadn't understood, or as if he understood but couldn't comprehend it. He seemed to have turned into a statue instantly frozen in ice.

Afraid that he wouldn't believe him, Su Mu quickly took out a file folder from the bottom drawer of the bedside table. His hands were trembling slightly, but he still quickly pulled out the contents: several prenatal ultrasound reports, blood test reports, and a clear ultrasound image showing the outline of a tiny embryo.

He knelt down next to Jiang Ran, spreading the reports and photos out on the ground one by one, pointing to the dates, data, and the blurry yet real little image in the photos.

"Look, it really is more than four months along. The due date is written here. Look at this, these are the baby's little hands and feet. The doctor said they are developing very well."

Jiang Ran's gaze followed Su Mu's finger mechanically, landing on the small, curled-up shadow on the black-and-white image. He read it page by page, extremely slowly and carefully.

The air was eerily quiet, save for the two people's slightly rapid breathing and the soft rustling of papers being turned over.

Finally, Jiang Ran finished reading the last report. He slowly, extremely slowly, raised his head, his gaze shifting from the papers back to Su Mu's face.

Those eyes, washed by tears, were now as deep as the night sky after a storm, churning with extremely complex and difficult-to-discern emotions: shock, bewilderment, disbelief.

He opened his mouth and asked a classic question: "...Mine?"

Su Mu nodded vigorously: "Yes."

After receiving confirmation, Jiang Ran remained silent for a few seconds.

Looking at the ever-changing expression on his face, which finally settled into an almost blank look of shock and helplessness, Su Mu felt her heart pounding. She couldn't help but ask in a low voice, with a hint of probing and grievance, "...Don't you have any thoughts?"

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something extremely important, Jiang Ran scrambled to her feet. Her movements were so sudden that her knees buckled and she almost fell back down. Fortunately, she managed to steady herself by grabbing the bed next to her.

He picked up his phone from the chair next to him, almost dropping it, found Jiang's mother's number, and dialed it.

The call was answered after a while. Jiang's mother said, "Oh dear, young master, don't rush me! I'm asking someone to help me..."

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Ran said into the microphone, "Mom, please don't have anyone perform an exorcism or any rituals. Su Mu is pregnant; please don't harm the baby!"

On the other end of the phone, Jiang's mother: "…………"

-

A note from the author:

Jiang's mother: Was I hearing Chinese?

Young Master Jiang: At that moment, I thought about human evolution from the origin of species.