Chapter 279 Loving You
Xie Qi lowered his eyes and gently stroked Chen Yuanzhu's wrist bone.
A moment later, he pulled her onto the small couch and gently embraced her.
Xie Qi carefully reached out and placed his hand on her lower abdomen.
Seeing this, Shen Yuanzhu said, "It's still early in the month, we can't find anything yet."
"How long will it take to touch him?"
Shen Yuanzhu shook her head: "I don't know either."
Xie Qi gently placed his hand on her and said softly, "Yuanzhu, I'm a little scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
Xie Qi was silent for a moment before speaking: "I don't know how to be a father."
He propped himself up on his arm and leaned closer to Shen Yuanzhu: "Yuanzhu, what if I don't do a good job as a father? I don't know what it means to be a father, I..."
Neither Xie Boyu, who had been his nominal father for over a decade, nor Xie Shan, had ever taught Xie Qi anything about what it meant to be a father or a son.
He grew up alone, and after having Yuanzhu, he only knew how to cling to her. But what should he do if he were to become a father?
Xie Qi looked at Shen Yuanzhu, a hint of shyness and nervousness on his face.
"Yuanzhu, what if she doesn't like me after she's born? What if she thinks I'm not as good as other people's fathers after she's born?"
Xie Qi's throat tightened, and just thinking about it made his heart ache.
He didn't know how to be a good father, nor had he ever seen what a good father should do.
Xie Qi pursed her lips: "I'm a little scared."
Shen Yuanzhu was taken aback upon hearing this, unaware that Xie Qi's concerns extended so far into the future.
After thinking for a while, Shen Yuanzhu said, "This is also my first time being a mother, and I don't know how to do it well."
"I think we can learn to be parents together."
Xie Qi's eyes softened. "Okay, let's learn how to be parents together."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded, turned over and hugged Xie Qi's neck, and whispered, "Go and get me the account books and abacus."
Xie Qi hesitated for a moment upon hearing this.
He didn't want Yuanzhu to overwork, but Doctor Yan also said that she should keep a cheerful mood, avoid worry and anger, and calm her mind.
After hesitating for a long time, Xie Qi finally nodded.
Shen Yuanzhu smiled and pushed him away. Xie Qi slowly and reluctantly handed the account book and abacus to Shen Yuanzhu.
As soon as Shen Yuanzhu sat up, Xie Qi placed a soft cushion behind her.
A little while later, they brought over some snacks and a nourishing soup cooked by Mrs. Luo.
Shen Yuanzhu pushed the small table aside and looked at the accounts herself.
However, after flipping through about ten pages, Xie Qi reached out and pressed down on her wrist.
"What's wrong?"
Xie Qi said, "The ledgers are too rough."
Shen Yuanzhu looked up, her face full of confusion.
"Look..."
Xie Qi opened her hand and gently stroked her fingertips, saying, "Your fingertips are all red from being rubbed."
"..."
Shen Yuanzhu said, "What's so rough about the account books?"
"I'll translate it for you."
Xie Qi sat cross-legged next to Shen Yuanzhu, holding the account book in his arms. He would turn the page as Shen Yuanzhu read it.
After reading another dozen or so pages, Xie Qi said, "Yuanzhu..."
"Um?"
"Shall I have someone carve a jade abacus for you? Jade is warm in nature, and it will feel warm when you touch it."
"..."
Shen Yuanzhu pursed her lips and said after a while, "The jade beads are too heavy. My wrist will hurt if I play with them for too long."
"Then let's change it to..."
Shen Yuanzhu raised her leg and kicked Xie Qi hard. "Go to the study. If you hadn't caused trouble, I would have finished the accounts by now."
Xie Qi pursed his lips, his mouth opening and closing for a long while before finally letting out a dejected "oh".
Then Shen Yuanzhu saw him move slowly off the bed like an old tortoise, and then walk out, looking back every few steps.
After Xie Qi left, Shen Yuanzhu glanced through the accounts she had on hand.
Luo Qing is meticulous in her work and sincere in her character. Even though she was away from Suzhou for two years, there was nothing wrong with the shop.
The only problem was that her business dealings with Mobei increased during this period, and the in-and-out accounts were complicated, which took some of her effort.
After Shen Yuanzhu finished her rough calculations, she felt somewhat tired. Just as she was about to get out of bed, Xie Qi pushed the door open and came in.
He held a towel soaked in hot water in his hand, silently took her hand, and wiped her fingers clean one by one.
Shen Yuanzhu said, "You've come at the right time; I just finished calculating."
Xie Qi gave a soft "hmm".
Seeing his expression, Shen Yuanzhu said, "You wouldn't have... been waiting outside all this time, would you?"
Xie Qi paused, raised his head, and gave her a look filled with sorrow.
How could he possibly feel at ease?
He didn't know what a pregnant woman looked like, so whenever he left Yuanzhu's side, he would feel uncontrollable panic.
He would keep imagining a baby slowly swelling and growing inside her belly, and then he would feel uncomfortable, and he would imagine that Yuanzhu was also uncomfortable.
These unfounded imaginings kept Xie Qi in a state of constant fear, and the absence of Yuanzhu only amplified his terror.
The suffocation and pressure he hadn't felt in a long time returned, but he... couldn't confide a single thing to Yuanzhu.
He didn't want to, and couldn't, let Yuanzhu worry about him.
Although they had only been husband and wife for a short time, Xie Qi's thoughts were always easy to guess. Even with just a glance, Chen Yuanzhu could understand most of Xie Qi's thoughts.
She reached out and cupped Xie Qi's face in her hands.
Xie Qi was startled and stood still, half-bent over.
Shen Yuanzhu looked at his features and smiled sweetly: "My husband is so good."
Xie Qi's face flushed slightly. "Is that all? Have I been unkind to you in the past?"
“Yes, my husband has always treated me well, and I can’t live without him.”
Xie Qi turned his head, his tone hesitant: "Really?"
"Of course, it couldn't be more sincere; these are my heartfelt words."
Shen Yuanzhu cupped his face and turned him to face her.
She slowly traced his features with her eyes, her gaze filled with tender smiles.
Xie Qi pursed his lips, wanting to turn his head, but Shen Yuanzhu kept turning it towards him.
He said softly, "What are you doing?"
Shen Yuanzhu watched as the half of her ear peeking out from under her fingertips gradually turned red, and the temperature under her palm slowly rose.
She curled her fingers and gently rubbed them.
Xie Qi scoffed, "Don't do that."
"What?"
Shen Yuanzhu leaned closer and gave him a light peck on the lips, her fingers also playfully pinching his ear.
She tilted her head, her eyes full of laughter: "My husband doesn't like people touching his ears."
"no……"
Shen Yuanzhu asked, "So that means you like him?"
"Um."
Xie Qi pressed down on Shen Yuanzhu's hand, his face showing some struggle, "Don't do this."
What's wrong with me?
He pulled her hand away, turned her palm over, and kissed it, but quickly let go.
He climbed onto the small couch, pulled Yuanzhu into his arms, and whispered, "You'll corrupt the child."
"..."
Looking at Xie Qi, whose ears were red and who was breathing slightly, Shen Yuanzhu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Then we won't kiss anymore."
"Um?"
Xie Qi looked up and quickly shook his head, "I was just joking. You can kiss me, and I'll rub your ears too..."
He took Shen Yuanzhu's hand and pressed it against his cheek.
Chen Yuanzhu squeezed it, and Xie Qi sighed, "Yuanzhu..."
"Um?"
I love you so much.
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