Chapter 35 Jiang Ran actually got someone pregnant while carrying a piece of wood on her back.

Jiang Ran openly showed off group photos online, and Su Mu pointed at her forehead and said it was childish.

Jiang Ran wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she hugged him tightly, then opened her mouth and gently bit his soft cheek, leaving a light mark. She said confidently, "I'm just trying to get my legal status."

The hot breath tickled her skin, and Su Mu felt the dampness on her face. She pushed his shoulder and said, "You're so heavy."

Jiang Ran pulled back slightly with his force, but her arms were still wrapped around him: "Now they all know, they all know you're mine."

Su Mu: "Yes, it's yours, it's all yours, okay?"

Upon receiving this confirmation, Jiang Ran's lips immediately curled into a smile. She grabbed a thick cashmere blanket, unfolded it, and wrapped Su Mu completely inside, leaving only his fair face and the top of his soft, black hair exposed. Jiang Ran hugged him, blanket and all, resting her chin on the top of his head, and muttered, "I really want to just devour you whole."

He looked at Su Mu, who was wrapped up so tightly that only his face was showing, and suddenly laughed out loud: "You look like a glutinous rice ball now, all white and soft."

sweet dumpling……

Su Mu's mind involuntarily flashed back to a post he had casually browsed a couple of days ago, something about a pregnant woman with a thin skin and a big filling, who looked easy to bully. He freed one hand and accurately covered Jiang Ran's mouth before she could continue to give her evaluation: "Stop talking."

Su Mu kept dozing off on the way to Jiang Ran's maternal grandmother's house; he hadn't been sleeping well at night lately.

As the car drove into the manor nestled against the mountains and beside the water, Su Mu had a vague idea of ​​the power of Jiang's mother's family. When he stepped into the main house and saw the marble floor that could almost reflect one's image, the inconspicuous calligraphy and paintings on the walls that exuded a sense of age, and the well-dressed and quiet servants moving about, that vague idea became a real understanding.

Jiang's mother's surname was Meng. In her generation, the Meng family was truly blessed with many daughters.

Jiang's mother was the youngest, with several older sisters. It's said that her maternal grandfather carefully chose the names of her aunts, each containing the character "玥" (yue), a divine pearl mentioned in ancient books. Her eldest aunt was named Rongyue, her second Huiyue, and her third Yingyue—a collection of precious pearls and jade.

When she came to Jiang's mother's house, because she was the youngest daughter and had come many years later than her older brothers and sisters, her maternal grandfather felt that it was an extra gift from heaven, so he simply named her Tianyue.

Meng Tianyue.

As soon as Su Mu stepped into the living room, before he could even see the furnishings, he was surrounded by a fragrant breeze and laughter.

Several well-dressed aunts, each with their own unique charm, all stared at him as if they were observing some rare animal.

His second aunt was the first to step forward, taking his hand and looking him up and down, a smile playing on her lips: "This is Mumu? Oh my, he's even more handsome than in the photos!"

His aunt nodded and casually stuffed a velvet box into his hand: "You must be tired from the journey. Here's a little something for you to play with."

The little thing felt surprisingly heavy. Before Su Mu could react, his aunt had already grabbed his wrist and, as if by magic, produced a bright gold bracelet, about the thickness of a little finger, and slipped it onto his wrist without a word.

The bracelet has a large opening, but it's surprisingly heavy, and its bright yellow luster is dazzling.

"You lot, that's enough!" Jiang's mother said with a smile. "Look how you've surrounded Mu Mu, he can hardly breathe, can he? Quickly, let him sit down and rest."

She walked over, naturally separating herself from the other women, and gently patted Su Mu on the back. Her eyes swept over the gold bracelet, and her smile deepened, but she said nothing, only instructing people to serve tea and snacks.

The Meng family is a business with a solid foundation and a very straightforward style.

While Jiang's mother turned away, Auntie quickly slipped a small, cold object into Su Mu's other hand. Su Mu looked down and saw it was a gold ring with a wide face engraved with intricate auspicious patterns.

The portion size is also not to be underestimated.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of tea and snacks.

It is said that the Jiang family was once considered a well-off family, respectable and stable. The Meng family, on the other hand, was truly wealthy. In the early years, when Jiang's father started his business, it was his wife's family who personally guided him into the industry. Jiang's mother used to manage the company herself, but later, probably not wanting to deal with that anymore, she stepped down, but she still held the largest number of shares.

Now, Jiang's father manages the business, and Jiang Ran also works in his own company. In a way, the father and son are actually working for Jiang's mother.

While her aunts were distracted and chatting about the latest jewelry fashion, Jiang Ran secretly sidled up to Su Mu and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, with a mix of teasing and seriousness, "See? In our family, my mom is the ultimate boss. You'd better cling to her golden thigh; it's a sure thing."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang's mother had already strolled back. Hearing this, she raised her hand and lightly patted her son's arm, laughing and scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Jiang's mother brought over a small dish of glistening pickled jujubes and placed it on the coffee table. She instructed Jiang Ran to take Su Mu upstairs to the guest room to rest, and to call them when the meal was ready.

Su Mu's appetite has been fluctuating lately, but he can still tolerate sour and tangy foods.

As Su Mu climbed the stairs, his steps were a little heavy. Just a few months ago, when he was pregnant with Xiao He, he was perfectly fine, eating and drinking as usual, and even had more energy than usual. But recently, for some reason, that persistent, inescapable discomfort had become more and more obvious, like waves, slowly and steadily washing over him, making him feel lethargic and easily fatigued.

The curtains in the guest room were half-drawn, letting in soft, non-glaring natural light. Su Mu touched the pillow and, with barely any struggle, drifted off to sleep.

I didn't sleep particularly soundly; I could vaguely feel the familiar body temperature and weight beside me.

About an hour later, he woke up. His vision was not yet fully clear when he first felt his right hand being gently held, the palm warm. He turned his head and met Jiang Ran's eyes, which were very close to his.

Jiang Ran wasn't asleep; she just lay on her side, quietly watching him.

Seeing him open his eyes, Jiang Ran smiled and stroked his knuckles with her fingers, her gaze falling on Su Mu's wrist exposed outside the thin blanket: "Mu Mu, you look quite good in gold."

Su Mu then realized that the gold bracelet his second aunt had given him was still hanging heavily on his wrist, which he had forgotten to take off when he went to bed. His skin was fair, smooth, and had an ivory-like texture. His wrist wasn't particularly bony; the lines were slender and well-proportioned, and the contours of his bones appeared clear and delicate beneath the thin skin. The substantial, deep-lustered gold bracelet loosely rested on his wrist, the yellow and white contrasting beautifully without appearing gaudy.

Su Mu stared at the bracelet, somewhat lost in thought. Lately, he'd been feeling drowsy easily, and like today, he'd drift off to sleep while talking or looking at things.

This habit of taking naps anytime, anywhere ultimately stems from his restless sleep at night, tossing and turning, making it difficult to get a full, long sleep. Jiang Ran stayed by his side almost every step of the way, waking up at the slightest noise at night to adjust his position.

Looking at Su Mu's still somewhat dazed and confused eyes after waking up, Jiang Ran felt guilty and heartbroken again: "It's all my fault..."

here we go again.

Su Mu could almost guess what he was going to say next. Sure enough, Jiang Ran gripped his hand tightly, her brows furrowed, looking like she wanted to go back in time and beat herself up: "If I had known it would be this hard, I shouldn't have..."

Su Mu: "You didn't know that back then."

The gift Jiang Ran received from her maternal grandparents wasn't cash or gold jewelry, but a good luck charm. It was an understated gift, yet it carried more weight than real gold or silver.

I didn't stay at the Meng Family Manor for long. The winter in Jiangzhou is a damp cold that seeps into your bones, unlike the dry chill of the north. The cold is subtle and can seep in through every gap in your collar and cuffs.

Su Mu stopped going out much.

On the other end of the video call, Su's mother showed Su Mu the little sweater she had knitted herself. It was made with the softest baby cashmere yarn, a tender pale yellow color, and the collar and cuffs were carefully crocheted with a white wavy edge, all neatly folded. Even before she wore it, just looking at it made Su Mu imagine how cute Xiao He would look in it.

As Su Mu sorted through the ever-accumulating pile of baby clothes, blankets, and various baby supplies, she thought with a touch of helplessness, "The baby isn't even born yet, and there's already enough stuff to open a small maternity and baby store."

The imported baby bottle sets and the pure cotton swaddles that Jiang's mother sent alone filled half the storage room. Su Mu even felt that even if she were pregnant with triplets, she might not be able to use them all.

Skinny Monkey urged them to get together: "Wood, have you forgotten your buddies? You're all in Jiangzhou now, you have to come out and have a get-together."

Looking at his reflection in the mirror—his waistline, which even his loose loungewear couldn't hide, and his face, noticeably rounder than before—Su Mu sighed helplessly. How could he possibly go out for a get-together looking like this? He could only postpone it again and again.

Skinny Monkey posted in their four-person dorm WeChat group: "Idiot! You can't just indulge in beautiful women and abandon your brothers."

Fatty knew the inside story. When the news of Su Mu and Jiang Ran getting together reached his ears, this friend, whose weight was proportional to his magnanimity, accepted it very well. Later, he learned that Jiang Ran had actually canceled his best man spot.

Fat Knife: @Young Master Jiang Ran, the organization needs me to clarify that the inappropriate remarks and attempts to disrupt your harmony were all done by Skinny Monkey and have nothing to do with me. I think we need to reconsider the choice of best man.

With the Jiang family's wealth, the wedding will definitely be a grand affair, perhaps even on a private island—a wedding of the century. I absolutely have to be the best man.

Jiang Ran: Then the organization will reconsider.

Skinny Monkey, watching Fatty Knife's ruthless betrayal of his friend for personal gain, said: "Knife, you traitor! All those years of love were ultimately wasted."

Fat Knife: Don't talk nonsense, I'm the only straight man in 109.

Su Mu: @SkinnyMonkey, I'm not just saying this to appease you, there have indeed been some special circumstances lately, I've been really busy. Please wait a little longer, we'll definitely get together in a while.

A few days later, Skinny Monkey suddenly stopped talking and only sent a message in a slightly strange tone: "Let's not rush the party, Wood. I have some things to take care of."

He didn't elaborate on what it was about, but he also stopped chasing after Su Mu to meet her like before.

The sycamore leaves outside the window have all fallen, leaving bare branches pointing towards the gray-white sky.

Jiang Ran returned home a little earlier than usual that day, carrying a red bag. Early winter days are short, and the heating was on full blast inside. Su Mu was nestled on the sofa, a blanket covering her legs, flipping through a book idly.

He was wearing a soft, loose-fitting light gray cashmere sweater, and you could still see that his figure was much rounder than before. His cheeks were also fuller, and his skin had a faint pinkish hue from the warmth of the heating.

Jiang Ran took off her coat and hung it up, walking over with the chill of the outside air. She first bent down and kissed him on the forehead before handing him the small box: "Ta-da, a gift."

Su Mu took the box; it felt quite heavy. Lifting the lid, he found a bracelet resting on a black velvet lining. It wasn't the traditional, heavy style given by Aunt Meng, nor was it the currently popular, extremely thin chain style. It was slightly wider than a typical men's bracelet, yet its lines were remarkably smooth and clean. The surface had a delicate matte finish, and the edges were rounded, with only a simple yet exquisite spiral twist design at the joint.

Su Mu had noticed that she had been feeling a bit swollen lately; her fingers, ankles, and even wrists seemed thicker than before. She had taken off her old ring long ago, afraid it would get stuck. Seeing this bracelet now, she subconsciously pinched her wrist.

Jiang Ran has recently turned down a lot of work and social engagements. She avoids going to the company for things that can be handled at home, and if she has to attend in person, she tries to keep the time short, going and returning in a hurry.

Su Mu wasn't unaware of this, but he still felt somewhat guilty.

Once, when Jiang's father came to dinner, he said with a smile, "Mumu, don't overthink it. Jiang Ran's most important thing right now is to spend time with you. As for me, I'm full of energy and it's time for me to start my career."

Although everyone around her was very considerate, when Su Mu looked in the mirror or when her vision was obstructed by her noticeably protruding belly, a subtle emotion would still pass through her mind.

The numbers on the scale grew more than expected, and my body felt heavy and unfamiliar.

However, that feeling doesn't last long, and Su Mu will soon fall into anticipation for new life.

He picked up the bracelet, looked it over, and found the style to his liking. It was clearly a men's design specially ordered—neither too feminine nor too rugged. He tried it on his wrist, and it fit perfectly, with just the right amount of tightness. Surprisingly, it suppressed the swelling and made his wrist look less clumsy.

"It looks good." Jiang Ran held his hand with the bracelet on it, looked at him with focused eyes, "I'll buy you whatever you want in the future. I just hope that you and Xiao He will both be safe and healthy."

Time seemed to have been wound up faster.

In the blink of an eye, there were only two weeks left until her due date. Because of Su Mu's special physical condition, Director Chen, who was in charge of her prenatal checkups, had suggested early on that she could be admitted to the hospital for observation and labor in advance, just in case.

Su's parents also rushed up from their hometown. The house suddenly became much more lively, and there was also a sense of tense order before the battle.

The succulent was entrusted to the neighbor for care.

Initially, both of Su's parents went to the hospital with him.

Every day at the same time, Su's mother would put on her reading glasses, take a notebook, and record Su Mu's blood pressure, body temperature, and fetal heart rate monitoring data one by one, while Su's father would cook different kinds of soup and bring it to Su Mu.

That evening, after Su's parents finally finished packing their things and repeatedly told him to "get some rest" and "call if anything happens," Su Mu let out a long sigh of relief as they left, turning back to look at him every few steps.

Jiang Ran walked over and asked in a low voice, "Do you really want to do this?"

His tone carried a mixture of disapproval and helplessness.

Su Mu nodded vigorously, looking at him with bright, childlike eyes and a pleading expression.

Jiang Ran couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she got up, took out a thick cashmere scarf, and carefully wrapped it around Su Mu's neck, layer by layer, until it was completely covered. Then she put on a woolen hat that covered his ears, and finally, she unfolded the long down jacket that she had deliberately bought too big, enough to wrap him from head to toe, and stuffed him inside like a wrapped-up dumpling. The zipper was pulled all the way up, revealing only a pair of dark, moist eyes. Even so, from the side, a rounded bulge could still be seen in the front of the wide hem of the down jacket.

Su Mu was practically dying for food from outside.

These past few days, I've been taken care of meticulously by Mr. and Mrs. Su. The soups and broths they prepare are made according to the most nourishing and lightest recipes, so bland that I could practically taste birds flying out of my mouth.

Even through his thick clothes, he could imagine the smoky, oily, and fragrant smells of the night market.

Near the hospital, just two streets away, there's a fairly well-known night market. It's bustling at this time of day, brightly lit, with voices mingling with the sizzling sounds of food being fried and cooked, and the air filled with the complex and enticing aromas of cumin, chili, oil, and sugar.

Jiang Ran held Su Mu tightly, using her body to shield herself from the occasional passing crowd, and walked cautiously.

Su Mu had a clear goal and headed straight for a small oden stall.

The hot soup pot was bubbling away, with white steam rising from it. He ordered a serving and eagerly waited for the owner to scoop out the radish chunks soaked in the soup, the golden tofu pouches, and two strings of kelp knots and konjac noodles.

Jiang Ran paid and took the box. Su Mu took a bite of the radish from his hand; it was cooked until very soft, soaked in the sweet broth, and melted in her mouth.

He squinted contentedly and ate the bulging fortune bag again, the fish roe inside bursting on his tongue. He only tasted the remaining seaweed and konjac noodles once before pushing them away with little interest. The taste was right, but after eating these two things he wanted most, nothing else seemed appealing.

Seeing that he was really craving it, and considering his health, Jiang Ran compromised and said, "Let's buy another skewer of grilled squid, just one skewer. After we finish eating, we'll go back, okay?"

Su Mu licked his lips, which were still slightly stained with soup, and nodded obediently.

Hou Yuncong felt he had been incredibly unlucky lately. His irregular schedule and overeating had brought him swift and severe retribution; his hemorrhoids had flared up, so badly that he had to undergo minor surgery.

This matter concerned a small, unspoken aspect of his male dignity, so he told no one and quietly went to the hospital. The days following the surgery were hell; he couldn't lie down or sit comfortably, and his days were filled with bland, tasteless food. Finally, he was able to get out of bed and walk around, supporting himself against the wall, grimacing as he slowly made his way through the small garden downstairs in the hospital ward, just to get some fresh air.

That day, he was looking down, wondering if he could secretly order takeout for a treat the next day, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a very familiar figure walking over from the parking lot.

The man was tall and straight, wearing a well-tailored dark coat, and carrying an insulated bag.

Jiang Ran.

Almost instinctively, with an agility completely out of character for his current physical condition, Hou Yuncong aggravated an unspeakable wound, causing him to faint and dart behind a thick roadside tree. He cautiously peeked half his head out from behind the trunk.

Jiang Ran walked quickly and went straight into the inpatient building. The skinny guy squinted, trying to make out the direction; it seemed to be the obstetrics department.

Excluding the extremely unlikely possibilities that a relative of Jiang's family happened to have a baby, or that Jiang Ran's mother wanted to give him a younger brother or sister, Skinny Monkey racked his brains but couldn't figure out why Jiang Ran would be in the maternity ward at this time.

Putting aside everything else, Hou Yuncong is absolutely gifted in information gathering and gossip radar; he's truly exceptional.

He endured the throbbing pain in his wound and didn't return to his own ward. Instead, he began to wander around the inpatient department intentionally or unintentionally, chatting with the nurses on duty and talking to the cleaning ladies. He spoke skillfully, subtly and without leaving a trace.

Before long, the fragmented information was gradually pieced together.

Recently, a rather special expectant father was admitted to the maternity ward. The name registered by the family member was secretly seen by Hou Yuncong, and occasional conversations at the nurses' station all pointed to one fact: Jiang Ran was going to have a child.

As Hou Yuncong listened to the solid evidence he had gathered, he felt a newly stitched wound suddenly jump, almost bursting open on the spot.

hateful!

On one side is the brotherhood forged through years of sharing a room and opening their hearts to each other; on the other side is the stark reality of societal ethics laid bare before them.

Jiang Ran actually got someone pregnant while carrying a piece of wood on her back!

His poor, clueless brother was completely kept in the dark, knowing absolutely nothing!

You can know a person's face but not their heart.

Despite the throbbing pain from his wound, Minghou Yuncong displayed the tenacity of a professional paparazzi, staking out the maternity ward for several days.

Heaven rewards those who persevere, and he actually caught him.

That evening, just as dusk was falling and the streetlights weren't fully on, Hou Yuncong huddled in front of the convenience store across from the inpatient ward, his eyes scanning the exit like searchlights. Then, he saw Jiang Ran.

Jiang Ran helped someone out carefully. The person was wearing a large, long white down jacket, with a hat and scarf wrapped tightly around their body, making it almost impossible to see their face. However, their figure, outlined by the down jacket, revealed the bulging curve of their abdomen, which even the bulky coat couldn't conceal.

However, this mistress is quite tall.

If what was previously just speculation and deduction, this scene before them was practically shoving the word "adultery" right in Hou Yuncong's face.

Jiang Ran's arm remained loosely wrapped around the man's waist, and she was extremely nervous, whispering something. Her protective demeanor was almost exaggerated.

Hou Yuncong gritted his teeth, sneering inwardly: "Mistress, you know you can't be seen in the light, huh? Why are you so covered up?"

He quietly followed them, taking out his phone, silencing it, and snapping several photos of the two people ahead. Their backs, their profiles, the moment Jiang Ran lowered her head to speak—all were evidence.

He followed them, crossing two streets, until they arrived at the rather famous night market. The market was bustling with lights and teeming with people. Hou Yuncong watched as Jiang Ran, protecting the person, squeezed through the crowd and found a relatively quiet bench to sit on.

The mistress had her back to him, while Jiang Ran went to buy food.

A little while later, Jiang Ran returned with a cardboard box. Surprisingly, she used a bamboo skewer to pick up a takoyaki, blew on it, and then personally fed it to the mistress.

Hou Yuncong's hand, holding the phone, trembled with anger. This was outrageous! Utterly shameless!

Holding up a takoyaki ball, Jiang Ran looked at Su Mu's chubby, satisfied face: "Mu Mu, don't you feel a murderous aura coming from there?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu exclaimed in confusion, "What murderous aura? Have you been too anxious lately?"

Now!

Hou Yuncong's blood boiled, driven by a sense of justice and loyalty to his brothers. He rushed forward, ignoring the protests from his wounds, and held up his phone, the camera first pointing at Jiang Ran's astonished face.

"Truly, justice prevails, and nothing escapes its reach," Hou Yuncong's voice resounded. "A guilty conscience will always be discovered! Jiang Ran! You hypocrite, you beast in human clothing, you bastard with a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

He took a breath, then suddenly swung his arm, shoving the camera sharply at the "evil mistress": "Let me see this little devil who ruins other people's relationships..."

The conversation ended abruptly thereafter.

A face was clearly reflected on the phone screen.

Su Mu slightly opened her moist black eyes, a few strands of soft black hair fell from the edge of her woolen hat, her cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush, and there was still a little takoyaki sauce on her lips.

Hou Yuncong: "…………"

Su Mu: "…………"

-

A note from the author:

Young Master Jiang: I was just asking where that murderous aura came from.

Skinny Monkey: ...My butt hurts.