Xu Manling's dance hall was closed for a period of time. After it resumed normal operations, the auctions were not as successful as before. Xu Manling simply canceled the auctions and focused most of her energy on Chen Ke's trading company.
She now holds the title of manager at the company and is responsible for most of the company's affairs when Chen Ke is away, while Li Guaizi and Chen Zhuo learn and help out at the same time.
Chen Zhuo suddenly became much more mature. When he went to "work," he wore a suit and tie, and you could hardly tell that he was a boy who was not even seventeen years old. He was also more reserved and his expression did not easily show.
In the past, he would either glare at Xu Manling or give her the cold shoulder, but now he can not only work under Xu Manling, but he also never utters a sound when Xu Manling points her finger at him and scolds him for doing something wrong. However, Xu Manling never has the chance to scold him for the same mistake a second time.
Xu Manling and Chen Zhuo thought that Chen Ke would be back in a month or two at most, but they didn't expect that after late autumn and early winter, Chen Ke finally returned, travel-worn, as the end of the year approached. If it weren't for the letters that kept coming back, Chen Zhuo would have almost thought that Chen Ke had broken his promise and abandoned him once again.
Chen Ke's return came without warning. It was snowing lightly in Shanghai at that time. Chen Zhuo had delivered some documents to the concession and returned to find Chen Ke standing outside the courtyard smoking. A thin layer of snow had fallen on his shoulders, indicating that he had been standing there for quite some time.
Chen Zhuo ran over in disbelief, "...Brother?"
Chen Ke threw his cigarette butt out and stomped it out in the snow. "How did we walk back? Where's the car?"
Chen Zhuo took two steps forward. "The snow was quite heavy today, so I asked Brother Li to take Sister Manling home. It wasn't far, and we walked back. What about you? When did you get back? Why are you standing outside instead of going in? Mom and Dad are home."
Chen Zhuo kept asking questions like a never-ending wheel, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Chen Ke revealed a longing he had never shown before.
Chen Ke looked at Chen Zhuo, who had grown half a head taller in just a few months, smiled, patted his head, and remarked with a completely unrelated sigh, "You've grown so fast, I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to pat your head again."
Although Chen Zhuo felt a little awkward, he controlled his body and didn't move, obediently letting Chen Ke pat his head.
"What are you saying, bro? When you grow taller, you'll bend down so I can touch you."
"Okay, let's go in." Chen Ke put his arm around Chen Zhuo's shoulder and led him into the courtyard.
Chen Zhuo had a feeling that something was different about Chen Ke this time he came back. It was as if he had a lot on his mind. He wanted to ask, but he didn't know where to start.
Once inside, Chen Zhuo quickly took off Chen Ke's coat, saying, "Go change quickly, your shoulders are all wet."
"No need, it's not cold inside."
"That's because Dad lit the fireplace for Mom." Chen Zhuo said this with a strange yet delighted expression, as if he had some secret to share with him.
Chen Ke granted his wish and asked curiously, "I remember we never had a fireplace at home before. Why did you suddenly decide to have one?"
Chen Zhuo lowered his voice mysteriously, "Because... Mom is pregnant." After saying that, he couldn't help but laugh at Chen Ke's shocked look, "Brother, we're going to have a younger brother or sister!"
Chen Ke was truly shocked this time. In the original story, Song Xiaowen never had any biological children, only two adopted sons, Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo.
"What's wrong, bro? Are you stunned? But don't even mention you, when Dad and I heard the news, we had the same expression as you, especially Dad, he was both shocked and overjoyed, hahaha, but we didn't have a camera, otherwise we could have taken a picture of Dad and shown it to our younger brother or sister later."
Chen Zhuo continued talking to himself, as if he wanted to tell Chen Ke everything he had said over the past few months at once.
Chen Ke, however, was recalling everything about Song Xiaowen from his memories and the plot given by the system, wondering if this child actually existed in the original plot.
The reason why Song Xiaowen and Zhou Shanhuai adopted Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo at such a young age was twofold: firstly, Song Xiaowen was diagnosed by a doctor with infertility and might never be able to conceive; secondly, Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo were so pitiful and lonely at the time that Song Xiaowen felt compassion for them.
After adopting Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo, the two of them wholeheartedly raised them as their own children. As the doctor had diagnosed, Song Xiaowen had not been able to get pregnant, but the two of them were not in a hurry and never thought of looking for any folk remedies.
So now that Song Xiaowen is suddenly pregnant, it is undoubtedly a huge surprise and a blessing from heaven. Everyone is overjoyed and full of anticipation.
However, Chen Ke was worried. Since Song Xiaowen had been pregnant, was the reason why there was no biological child of Song Xiaowen in the plot because she miscarried during her pregnancy, or because the child died when it was very young?
Seeing Chen Ke's expression, Chen Zhuo explained, "I originally planned to tell you in the letter, but I thought it would be more surprising to tell you such great news in person, so I waited until now."
After realizing what was happening, Chen Ke immediately smiled and said, "It really is a surprise. Mom, is your health alright after the checkup?"
Song Xiaowen is now considered an older mother, and she must pay close attention to her health during her pregnancy.
The two walked towards the lobby while talking. "She's doing well. Dad takes Mom for a check-up every month."
How many months pregnant are you?
“It was detected in the second month after you left, and it’s been four months now.”
"Chen Ke!" Song Xiaowen's surprised voice rang out on the stairs.
Chen Ke looked in the direction of the voice, smiled and called out, "Mom." Song Xiaowen was wearing a loose-fitting cotton-padded coat. Perhaps because she was too thin, her four-month pregnant belly was not very noticeable.
"I told you it was you who came back, but your dad didn't believe me!" Song Xiaowen was overjoyed and started to go downstairs.
"Hey! Slow down, slow down!" Zhou Shanhuai was quite frightened and quickly supported Song Xiaowen from behind.
"Chen Ke, you're back. Hey, let me help your mom down first, then we'll talk." Zhou Shanhuai said as he carefully helped Song Xiaowen down the stairs, muttering, "I told you to be careful, but you never listen. These stairs are so slippery, how can you walk by yourself with such a big belly?"
Song Xiaowen smiled apologetically at Chen Ke downstairs, then whispered to Zhou Shanhuai, "I'm perfectly healthy. You're being too careful. It's just going down a flight of stairs. Don't let the kids laugh at me."
"Who would laugh at you? You have to be careful. I was even thinking of getting some cotton cloth to cover the stairs; they're too slippery."
Song Xiaowen: "Do you believe that if I sign here today, I'll move out tomorrow?"
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