Chapter 34: Late Pregnancy Fu Jingchuan entered the late pregnancy...
Fu Jingchuan entered the late stage of pregnancy. Her belly was getting bigger every day, and she inevitably became more clumsy in her movements. She used to be able to bend and stand up easily, but now she had to support her lower back with her hands and do it slowly.
The most agonizing aspect is the pelvic pressure caused by prolonged sitting. After a meeting lasting more than half an hour, a sore, heavy pain would spread from his tailbone, making it impossible to sit still. He had to find excuses to get up and walk around. Sleeping at night also became difficult. Lying on his back was too drowsy, and lying on his side was too much for him to press the baby. No matter how he positioned his legs, they were uncomfortable.
Cramps also began to appear. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, a sudden, sharp twist in his calf muscle would jolt him awake with such pain. However, Shen Shutong had been a light sleeper since Fu Jingchuan became pregnant, so she always heard the movement in time and massaged the tense muscles until the spasm subsided.
The baby's movements were becoming more vigorous. The gentle, bubbling movements of the early days had transformed into powerful punches and kicks. Sometimes, a small bulge could be seen forming on the belly, then quickly disappearing. Occasionally, perhaps because the little one was rolling over, the movement was so large that it would hit his stomach or ribs, causing a brief, dull pain and nausea. He couldn't help but frown and groan, pause what he was doing, take a deep breath, and wait for the discomfort to pass.
Shen Shutong watched with deep heartache. She persuaded Fu Jingchuan to reduce his frequency of company visits, asking his assistant to take documents home or arrange a video conference unless he had to attend an important meeting. She also bought a more comfortable and spacious massage chair for his study, allowing him to work in a semi-reclining position, relieving pressure on his waist and abdomen.
Although Fu Jingchuan said that he was "not that pampered", he also obeyed her arrangements and stayed at home to work most of the time.
The late stages of pregnancy brought not only physical discomfort but also subtle psychological changes. Fu Jingchuan found himself more sensitive and vulnerable than before. Waking up in the morning, he noticed his ankles and fingers were swollen. He looked carefully in the bathroom mirror and noticed his face had become rounder, less angular than before.
These changes caused a flicker of anxiety in him. He was no longer the thin, stern, and meticulous Mr. Fu. Although Shen Shutong had never shown any sign of abnormality and continued to take care of him meticulously, a sense of unease still emerged deep in his heart.
This uneasiness was quietly magnified in another aspect - he found that Shen Shutong had not been intimate with him for a long time.
During the second trimester, they had a few cautious yet tender moments of intimacy. But since entering the third trimester, Chen Shutong seemed to have completely lost interest in such matters. Every night, she would simply hold him to sleep, massaging his back when it ached, or giving him a routine oil massage before bed, her technique professional but devoid of any hint of intimacy.
At first, Fu Jingchuan thought everyone was just being considerate of the child, so he didn't think much of it. But as time went on, and his own image changed, he couldn't help but wonder: Did she find his bloated and clumsy appearance unattractive? So she didn't even want to touch him anymore?
This thought quietly penetrated into my heart. It was not obvious at ordinary times, but it caused a dull pain when I was alone.
That night, after taking a shower, Fu Jingchuan looked at his round belly and slightly swollen face in the mirror, and the inexplicable anxiety surfaced again. He took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom.
Shen Shutong was leaning against the bedside looking at a tablet, and when he saw him come out, he put it down: "Have you finished washing? Come on, I haven't applied oil yet today."
She took the pregnancy oil and motioned him to lie down. Fu Jingchuan lay down as she said, watching her skillfully rub the oil to warm it up, then lift up the hem of his pajamas, apply it evenly on his bulging belly, and massage it gently in circles.
Fu Jingchuan looked at her drooping eyelashes and delicate profile, and the thought in his mind came to his mind again. He suddenly stretched out his hand and gently covered the back of her moving hand.
Shen Shutong paused and looked up at him: "What's wrong? Is the strength wrong?"
"No." Fu Jingchuan looked at her, his voice a little softer than usual, "Just... a little tired." He said, taking her hand and pressing it slightly, "It's a little sore here."
He was referring to her lower abdomen, near her pubic bone, a spot that had been feeling a lot of soreness lately. But his intention at that moment wasn't simply to massage her. He shifted slightly, bringing them closer. The collar of her pajamas opened slightly, revealing her collarbone and a small sliver of chest. The warm, damp air from a fresh shower mingled with the delicate scent of essential oils. His eyes held a subtle, yet still inviting, reliance.
Shen Shutong's gaze paused on his face for a second. Fu Jingchuan's skin was even more delicate during pregnancy. The slight swelling softened the usual hard lines, making it appear softer. Under the light, it even had a rounded, smooth texture. His eyes and posture at this moment silently exuded a completely different aura from his usual self. It was indeed... a unique charm.
She felt her heartbeat quicken considerably, her throat slightly dry. But her senses quickly returned. Sexual intercourse during late pregnancy carries risks, potentially stimulating uterine contractions and leading to premature birth. While the doctor didn't absolutely forbid it, he did emphasize the importance of caution and avoiding intense and frequent stimulation. She didn't dare take any chances that might harm him or the baby.
So, she could only forcefully suppress the ripples in her heart, looked away as if nothing had happened, and continued massaging with her hands, trying to keep her tone calm: "If it's sore, I'll help you press here more. If you're tired, rest early. You still have a prenatal checkup tomorrow."
After she finished speaking, she even considerately helped him pull up the collar of his pajamas to cover him more tightly, and then continued to massage him attentively, as if his cautious seduction just now was just her illusion.
The faint light of expectation in Fu Jingchuan's eyes was extinguished in an instant.
As expected, she still disliked it.
She didn't even want to look at him for a few more seconds and covered him tightly.
His heart felt like it was being clenched tightly, a sharp pain. He lowered his eyelashes, hiding the disappointment in his eyes, and hummed softly. He made no further movement, allowing her to complete the rest of the massage.
After applying the oil, Shen Shutong packed up her things and turned off the headlights, leaving only a dim night light. "Go to sleep." As usual, she hugged him sideways, her hand gently resting on his stomach.
Fu Jingchuan turned his back to her, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep. But Shen Shutong could feel the stiffness in his body. He didn't relax as quickly as usual. He even quietly buried his face in the pillow, letting out a barely audible, suppressed breath.
Shen Shutong immediately noticed something was wrong. This wasn't his usual tired look. She pushed herself up and moved closer to him. In the dim light of the night lamp, she saw his tightly closed eyelashes were wet and trembling slightly. He bit his lower lip unconsciously, leaving a shallow tooth mark.
"Jingchuan?" Shen Shutong's heart tightened. She gently stroked his cheek, her fingertips touching a damp, cool spot. He was really crying, but he was trying hard to hold it back.
When Fu Jingchuan was touched by her, his body trembled and he wanted to bury his face deeper, but Shen Shutong gently pulled him over.
"What's wrong? Tell me." She looked at his red eyes and nose, feeling distressed. "Are you feeling unwell? Or did I do something wrong?"
Fu Jingchuan couldn't avoid her gaze, and all his grievances and uneasiness burst out at this moment. Tears rolled down uncontrollably: "You... do you think I look ugly now... so... that's why you don't want to touch me..."
Shen Shutong was stunned, and instantly understood the source of his abnormal seduction tonight and his tears at this moment. Feeling both distressed and amused, he quickly hugged him in his arms: "Silly boy! What are you thinking? How could I think you are ugly?"
"Then why do you..." Fu Jingchuan leaned on her shoulder, his body trembling slightly, "It's been a long time... Do you think I'm fat, swollen, and ugly..."
"Of course not!" Shen Shutong denied categorically, patting his back gently, "What kind of you have I not seen? You are pregnant with our child now, which is the most difficult and amazing time. How could I think you are ugly? I think you look very beautiful now, really, with a special soft glow."
She stepped back a little, wiped the tears from his face with her fingertips, and looked into his eyes seriously: "I don't touch you because you are in the late stage of pregnancy. I am afraid... afraid that I will accidentally hurt you and the baby. The doctor said to be extra careful, have you forgotten? It's not that I don't want to, but I dare not. I have to be responsible for both of you."
Fu Jingchuan stared at her blankly, tears still hanging on his eyelashes: "Really? You are not... not interested anymore?"
"I have plenty of interests," Chen Shutong smiled helplessly and dotingly, resting her forehead lightly against his, "I don't know how hard it is to hold it in. But nothing is more important than the safety of you and the child. When the baby is born safely and you recover, you won't be able to hide even if you want to." She deliberately spoke in a relaxed tone, trying to dispel his uneasiness.
Fu Jingchuan looked at the seriousness in her eyes, and the unmistakable worry and love, and slowly began to believe her words. A huge sense of embarrassment came over him belatedly. He had actually been thinking about such things and crying secretly... He buried his face in her neck in embarrassment, his ears red, and said muffledly, "I'm sorry... I'm too sensitive..."
Shen Shutong felt his softening and breathed a sigh of relief. He hugged him gently and whispered in his ear: "Don't apologize, I didn't notice your emotions. Don't think too much, Fu Jingchuan, I like you no matter what you are. Especially now, I feel that you are hard-working and brave every day, and I can't even bear to feel distressed."
She gently stroked his back until his tense body completely relaxed and his sobbing gradually stopped.
"Okay, stop crying, let's go to sleep, okay?" Shen Shutong asked softly and kissed the top of his head.
Fu Jingchuan nodded in her arms, his voice still a little nasal, but much calmer: "Yeah."
Shen Shutong helped him lie down again, and held him in his arms from behind, with his hands on his bulging belly.
"Go to sleep, I'm here with you."
Fu Jingchuan felt the warmth coming from behind, and the uneasiness and anxiety in his heart were finally completely soothed. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep in her warm embrace.
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Author's Note: I changed the pre-collected synopsis and slightly altered the plot. Is anyone interested? [Shy] "I Regret Divorcing My Celestial Dragon Husband"
Jiang Yu'an is a well-known ambitious person in the entertainment industry who believes that fame and fortune are supreme.
She personally chose the most perfect stepping stone for herself - the billionaire CEO Gu Ci.
He was gentle, wealthy, and deeply in love with her.
After marriage, her resources soared, she gained both fame and fortune, and she felt like a winner in life.
Until Gu Ci asked her with red eyes: "Jiang Yu'an, have you ever loved me?"
The moment she was speechless, he had lost their child and was completely heartbroken.
With a divorce agreement, she gained freedom, but also tasted pain for the first time.
Later, she finally learned how to love, and when Gu Ci had a miscarriage, was depressed, and was at his craziest and most miserable, she turned back to him with her true heart.
The man pushed her away with self-loathing: "I am so unbearable, I am not worthy of you, go away!"
When she turned around, he desperately hugged her tightly from behind, his voice choked with sobs:
"An An...you are not allowed to leave. You will lie to me forever, okay?"
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