67 Extra Four
◎Preparing for Pregnancy [Part 2]◎
When Shang Xinuan was 28 and Li Xiran was 38, the two officially started planning to have a child.
The first thing the couple did when preparing for pregnancy was to go straight to the Women and Children's Health Hospital for a pre-pregnancy checkup.
After all of Li Xiran's and Shang Xinuan's indicators showed normal results, the doctor prescribed fertility medication and a fertility preparation guide.
On the way home, Shang Xinuan lay in the back of the car, her head resting on Li Xiran's lap, looking up as she flipped through the pamphlet on pregnancy preparation issued by the Women and Children's Hospital.
"Chapter 1: Guide to Preparing for Pregnancy. Pregnant women should start taking folic acid three weeks before conception. This is beneficial for the health of the fetal nervous system, prevents neural tube defects, and helps prevent miscarriage. Foods rich in folic acid include animal liver, dark green leafy vegetables (cabbage, spinach, rapeseed, etc.), asparagus, beans, and citrus fruits (apples, oranges, etc.)."
Li Xiran listened to her reading with his eyes half-closed, then echoed, "Okay, when we get back, we'll have Auntie try out our menu to get her into the best physical condition."
"Oh, and men can also take folic acid to improve sperm quality." Shang Xin patted him on the shoulder. "Did you hear that?"
"Okay, I'll listen to my wife and eat."
Shang Xin smiled softly and continued, "During the preconception period, moderate exercise not only improves physical function but also helps generate high-quality eggs and increases the chances of conception. You can do some aerobic exercises, such as yoga, walking, swimming, jogging, Pilates, etc."
Li Xiran wrapped his arm around her waist, stroking it lightly. "When we get back, I'll have the housekeeper disinfect the indoor pool again, and then I'll hire two fitness instructors..."
“Li Xiran, we are trying to conceive. It’s too embarrassing to invite outsiders over.”
Li Xiran raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a hint of confusion. "It's just for them to exercise. If Miss wants to learn about things in bed, your husband is more than enough to guide you."
Although it's common for couples to make these kinds of jokes, Shang Xinuan still couldn't help but blush. "Can't we talk about turning off the lights when it's just the two of us?"
Looking at the partition that had already been raised, Li Xiran teased, "What, can't we say this during the day?"
"First, it is wrong to engage in lewd behavior during the day. Second, sexual matters should not be revealed to outsiders. Third..."
"The third what?"
Shang Xinuan puffed out her cheeks. "I haven't thought of anything yet. I'll tell you when I do."
Li Xiran looked at her shy face and smiled.
"Don't interrupt me, I'm still reading." Shang Xinu glared at him, steer the conversation back on track, "Smoking and drinking are extremely harmful to fetal development, and they also damage sperm and eggs, resulting in low sperm/egg quality. Once conception occurs, the 'survival of the fittest' mechanism kicks in, leading to miscarriage. Therefore, both partners should stop smoking and drinking 3 to 6 months before conception to bring the nicotine and alcohol levels in their blood to zero."
"Um."
“I won’t say anything since you rarely smoke. But you need to be careful when socializing in the future, and even coffee and tea can have an impact.” Shang Xinuan frowned as she looked at this. “Looks like I’ll have to give up milk tea and coffee from now on.”
Li Xiran: "From now on, I'll use a thermos to brew goji berries, and you'll drink bird's nest milk."
Shang Xinuan has a personal quirk: she needs to snack while working. Coffee and milk tea are always her first choice for staying awake.
"..." The young lady expressed some regret about making this decision.
-
That night.
When Shang Xinu came out of the bathroom, she saw Li Xiran tidying up the bedside drawer.
She didn't even notice when she pushed open the bathroom door.
Curious, she walked over and asked, "What are you doing?"
It wasn't until Shang Xinuan walked up to Li Xiran that she saw him tidying up the small boxes and replacing them with various health supplements.
“We won’t be using these for a long time, so let’s clean them out.” Li Xiran showed her a brand new, unopened box. “We originally thought we needed a lot, so we ordered so many. It’s true, plans can’t keep up with changes.”
Shang Xinuan glanced at him, then reached out and snatched the laser-cut design of the square box. "You're about to become a father, so please tone down your manner of speaking. Prenatal education is just as important."
Li Xiran, who was originally squatting on the ground, grabbed her wrist upon hearing this and pressed her down against the corner of the bed. "So strict?"
Shang Xinuan's wrists were held by Li Xiran's hand, raised above her head, and then sank into the down comforter.
His pupils were tinged with passion, desire, and lust, and his strength was much greater than usual.
Shang Xinu struggled a few times, but only became a seasoning to enhance the atmosphere.
"Nuan Nuan, do you like it?" Li Xiran cupped her cheeks and kissed her gently as he asked.
Shang Xin felt as if her mind had been filled with a jar of fine wine, and replied, "I like it."
She liked anyone who was Li Xiran.
From the very first glance, it was her genes that chose her to like him.
-
Since Li Xiran started trying to conceive, she has been acting like an old peacock spreading its tail feathers to announce her pregnancy to the world.
The last time it caused such a stir was before their wedding, when Li Xiran booked all the large advertising screens in Shanghai and played their wedding photos for a week.
He even contracted to project the images onto the parcel lockers in various residential communities.
This story has always been a widely circulated romantic tale in Shanghai.
Back when Li's company was recruiting, many girls did it just to meet the legendary love-obsessed chairman.
After deciding to try for a baby, Li Xiran started to decline business engagements whenever possible. Of course, there were occasions he couldn't refuse, which became his stage to show off.
People who were once prominent figures in the business world now wish they could stay on the fringes and remain invisible.
Unfortunately, he seemed to be born with an aura of brilliance; wherever he was, the earth seemed to revolve around him.
"Chairman Li, is something on your mind? Why are you sitting here all alone?" Several people who knew him well pulled him aside, ready to offer him a drink.
Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Li Xiran simply took the champagne glass but didn't bring it to his lips.
"Chairman Li, you used to be the one urging your buddies to drink, but lately we've noticed you're acting a bit strange." You always make excuses about social engagements, even skipping dinners with government officials and their organizations. "Miss, have you been throwing a tantrum lately?"
Upon hearing his wife mentioned, Li Xiran seemed to instantly activate his radar. "What are you saying? That's outrageous! If my young lady finds out about this, you're in big trouble."
At this time, Shang Xinuan had been transferred to the social news group of Shanghai TV station. Before that, when she was in finance and economics, they had seen the young lady quite often.
My impression of Shang Xinuan has changed from that of a beautiful and wealthy woman to that of a wise financial editor.
It's truly remarkable that what Grandpa Shang taught us, step by step, was knowledge far superior to any theoretical lesson.
Therefore, everyone felt it was perfectly normal that Li Xiran was strictly controlled by the young lady.
"We're all family here today, so you can have a couple of drinks and we won't tell the young lady."
This was the first time Li Xiran had been pressured to drink. He had expected to go along with it, but today he became stubborn, saying, "I really won't drink. I'll just have water."
"Old Li, if you don't want to drink alcohol, fine, but can't you even substitute tea for alcohol? Or just water?" someone immediately joked.
Because of Li Xiran's presence, the people who were chatting in different places gathered together.
In just a few words, they practically lauded him.
Li Xiran looked at the crowd of people who were unaware of the truth, but he was not in a hurry. He just smiled easily and freely.
After the person explained what had happened, he slowly spoke, "It's not that I don't drink, it's just that my wife and I have recently started trying to conceive. Forget about smoking and drinking, we even turn off the lights at 11 p.m. at home."
Chen Ti, who had been standing next to Li Xiran the whole time, smiled, thinking to herself that her boss really loved to show off.
Given his status in Shanghai, even if he arrogantly declared that he refused to drink, no one would dare to challenge him.
Business cocktail parties are filled with countless jokes and banter over drinks.
One can only say that Li Xiran had a lot of ulterior motives; he wanted to show off.
Like a child who suddenly receives a treasure, wanting to hide it yet eager to show it off.
"So you're planning to conceive, then it's not appropriate for us to keep urging you to drink." The group wisely stopped what they were doing.
"Wishing Ms. Li a successful pregnancy and the arrival of a son."
"Congratulations, Chairman Li."
It was an event that hadn't even taken shape yet, but the atmosphere at the scene was like that of a full moon celebration.
After several rounds of drinks, Li Xiran left the party early.
A group of people saw them off with smiles, not forgetting to make jokes.
"Are you in such a hurry to go back?"
"There are still two hours before the lights go out at Li Dong's house, so it's just the right time to go back."
Li Xiran got into the car with a smile, sat in the back seat and looked at the bustling traffic outside the window, the smile still lingering in his eyes.
“You seem to be in a lot of happiness lately,” Chen Ti said, glancing at the rearview mirror.
Li Xiran was indeed in a good mood, and asked with slightly narrowed eyes, "Really?"
"Anyway, just by looking at your expression, I can tell that you're in high spirits when something good happens."
Li Xiran smiled but remained silent, seemingly acquiescing.
Until she saw a maternity and baby store on the side of the road, she said, "Stop for a moment."
When Li Xiran returned home, Chen Ti came in carrying large and small bags.
Shang Xinuan, who was sitting on the living room sofa writing a manuscript, was surprised. "Isn't this a business engagement? Why did you two go shopping?"
Li Xiran rarely goes shopping; all his clothes, shoes, and accessories are personally delivered to him by business managers from various luxury stores or high-end custom-made shops.
Another thing is that when the young lady goes shopping with Qiao Xi, she will buy whatever suits him and bring it home.
So seeing the entire living room piled high with brand-name packaging bags gave it the feel of her usual shopping trips.
"Baby and maternity products?" Shang Xinuan quickly noticed the orange-pink bags, all from the same brand. The iconic baby silhouette on the logo made the product instantly recognizable.
"Yeah, I was just passing by, so I took a look." Li Xiran said casually, as if it were an ordinary thing for him to go downstairs.
Shang Xinuan squatted down and took out two identical baby clothes, one pink and one blue, from a bag. She looked at him and said, "Chairman Li, I'm not pregnant yet."
"Let's prepare in advance, just in case we don't have enough time." Li Xiran also squatted down to show Shang Xinuan the other types of clothes, toys and other baby supplies he had bought.
The young lady was almost amused by him, and shook her head helplessly, saying with a smile, "Chairman Li, you're pregnant for ten months. You have plenty of time to prepare baby supplies. Besides, we don't even know if it's a boy or a girl yet, and you're buying so much."
Li Xiran, however, was unimpressed, tapping his fingers on the paper bag. "Have someone redesign the nursery tomorrow, on the second floor. Bedroom, bathroom, study, toy room, etc., have them start preparing in advance."
Shang Xinuan rested her chin on her hand and asked, "We don't know if it's a son or a daughter. What if we decorate it in pink and it turns out to be a son?"
After a moment of contemplation, Li Xiran said, "Then let's make the second floor the daughter's room and the third floor the son's room. If it's a daughter, the third floor will be reserved for the son-in-law; if it's a son, the second floor will be reserved for the daughter-in-law."
“My dear Chairman Li, you are so smart.” Shang Xinuan felt that Li Xiran had entered a childlike state first since they started trying to conceive. “Our most important task right now is to get pregnant first.”
Looking at the mess on the floor, and then at Shang Xinuan who had already washed up and was smelling sweet, Li Xiran bent down, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and walked towards the bedroom. "Wife, you're right."
-
After a whole night of fussing, Shangxinuan completely rejected the plan to create a nursery.
Li Xiran also admitted that he had suddenly become interested, which led to what happened last night.
But ever since the two started trying to conceive, he truly feels like he's been given a second chance at life.
Filled with love, I eagerly await the arrival of my own angel.
However, good news finally arrived the following spring.
When Shang Xinuan came out of the hospital, she saw the first flower blooming on the magnolia tree at the hospital gate.
Holding the pregnancy test results, she drove directly to the Li family's residence.
On the way, Qiao Xi suddenly answered the phone, "I heard you almost fainted at work today?"
Shang Xinu hummed in agreement, admitting, "I just came from the hospital."
What's the reason?
"I am pregnant."
There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Qiao Xi's scream, "I'm pregnant! Does my uncle know?"
Shang Xinuan glanced at her business attire, which she hadn't yet changed out of, and replied, "I'm on my way to the Li family's business, planning to give him a surprise."
"Then you must be careful not to let the old man get too excited." Li Xiran's current delusional state is known throughout Shanghai.
"This is difficult..." He even started planning that once Shang Xinuan confirmed her pregnancy, he would hand over the company to Chen Ti to manage, and he would accompany the young lady throughout her pregnancy.
Qiao Xi recalled for a moment, then chuckled dryly and said, "It really is difficult. He's become so obsessed that when people ask him what he's having for lunch, he says he's trying to conceive and is eating nutritious meals."
Shang Xi smiled so sweetly her stomach hurt, "It's a secret!"
"Definitely." Qiao Xi was also very excited. "Was your fainting serious? Do you need to rest for a while and get through the first three months of danger?"
During the first three months of pregnancy, both the fetus and the mother are in a vulnerable stage.
At the time, Qiao Xi was pregnant, but Chu Ling did not announce it to the public until the fourth month.
"The doctor's checkup showed nothing wrong, it's just that I've been staying up late these past few days to finish a project, and I'm experiencing some low blood sugar. My company has given me a week of leave to protect the pregnancy, so don't worry."
Qiao Xi breathed a sigh of relief. "Then you should go see my uncle quickly, and be careful."
As the car turned into the front of the Li's Building, the security guards, seeing that it was the chairman's wife's car, immediately approached.
Shang Xin Nuan got out of the car and handed the keys to the security guard.
“Okay, we’ll go back to the old house this weekend and have dinner with Grandpa.”
At that moment, Li Xiran was holding a departmental meeting. As soon as Shang Xinuan walked to the boardroom floor, she saw the man listening attentively in the transparent glass room.
When he works seriously, he will squint his eyes slightly, then clench his fists, support his chin, and look straight ahead.
When listening to others report on their work, he would not interrupt them, but would keep a pen handy to write down any questions.
Shang Xinuan paused for a moment, while Li Xiran, as if suddenly having a telepathic connection, turned around at the same time.
The two looked at each other from a distance of nearly twenty meters.
She waved her hand, indicating that she would go to the office to wait for him.
Li Xiran nodded and watched her until her figure disappeared around the corner before refocusing his attention.
Li Xiran didn't return from work until Shang Xinuan had finished drinking a glass of water on the sofa.
"Why did you decide to come to the Li family today?" Shang Xinuan hadn't been here for half a month, so he asked tentatively, his gaze lingering on her lower abdomen.
Shang Xinuan glanced outside the door and then closed all the blinds.
She walked towards Li Xiran, pulled his arm, and sat in his lap.
"You said you had to work overtime today, but I'm ovulating today." The implication was that his guess was false, and she was only there because of her ovulation.
Once they start trying to conceive, they absolutely refuse to have sex when they are tired from work.
So, what the young lady means is, while he still has the energy...
Li Xiran began to move his hand toward the person's buttocks.
Today, both of them were dressed in formal business attire, sitting together in the office, creating an atmosphere that was even more intimate than when they were at home.
Shang Xin's fingers hooked around his buttons, and she said with a wicked smile, "Don't you think this scene looks a lot like an affair?"
The curtains were drawn, and the office door was locked.
A man and a woman dressed in business attire sat together, embracing.
The temperature, clearly early spring, began to rise rather ambiguously in the afternoon.
"Secretary Shang, this is the first time I've ever been like this..." He held her, his gaze and breath resting on her chest.
Shang Xinuan tossed her long hair, half shyly saying, "Chairman Li, wouldn't this have a terrible impact? We're both married people."
Li Xiran raised an eyebrow and stepped back slightly, enough for his arm to unbutton Shang Xinuan's white shirt. "Secretary Shang, just make sure you hide me well so I'm not discovered."
Before she could even think of her next line, Li Xiran had already lowered his head and pecked her with a kiss.
"Is it really okay to be here?" Shang Xinuan asked with some worry. Even though she knew the door was locked, she still looked back. "Won't anyone come?"
Li Xiran smiled and said, "Don't worry, with the chairman's wife here, no one will dare to knock on the door."
Despite saying this, Shang Xinuan still restrained the sound in her throat.
Later, when she couldn't hold back any longer, she bit Li Xiran's shoulder.
Be gentle.
"Honey, relax."
However, under his gentle reassurance, Shang Xinuan finally calmed down, "Your pants are dirty."
The scent of photinia flowers filled the entire office.
Li Xiran: "There are clean ones in the lounge, we'll just change them later."
Not only were his pants dirty, but Shang Xinuan's skirt was also wrinkled beyond recognition.
After a sudden downpour, Li Xiran carried the person into the lounge.
"Once Miss Shang leaves, I'm afraid this office will become the culprit for my absent-mindedness." She has filled Li Xiran's entire remaining life. Occasionally, just by looking up, he can think of the time when Shang Xinuan worked in the board office.
Shang Xinuan lay back on the bed, glanced at him, and laughed heartily, "There's something I haven't told you yet."
Li Xiran threw all the tissues on the ground into the trash can, then took out a change of clothes she had left there in the closet. "You say it."
"Li Xiran, I'm pregnant."
Li Xiran squatted by the bed, stunned for a long time before he reacted, "What did you say?"
Shang Xinuan blinked her eyelashes. "I'm pregnant...it's been more than four weeks. You're going to be a father."
Li Xiran tossed aside the tissue in his hand, then repeatedly wiped his hands with disinfectant wipes before daring to touch her. "Pregnant?"
"Um."
Then Shang Xinuan saw Li Xiran sit down on the edge of the bed with a frown and begin to examine her lower abdomen. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Do you know how dangerous it was just now?"
The preconception guide states that babies are very vulnerable in the first three months. Couples should also avoid vigorous sexual activity; under the influence of the recent stimulation, Li Xiran had completely lost his rationality.
There were still his handprints on her buttocks. "Is anything bothering you?"
Shang Xinuan watched him anxiously, checking her chest and then checking for bloodstains below.
"I'll cancel tonight's meeting, and we'll go to the hospital for a checkup."
Shang Xinuan hadn't expected this scene to be like this; it was different from the excited scene he had imagined Li Xiran would experience.
On the contrary, his entire face was filled with tension.
"Li Xiran." Shang Xinuan pushed him away, her eyes red-rimmed. "Are you worried about hurting me, or about hurting your child?"
Li Xiran looked at her without saying a word for a long time.
He suddenly hugged her as she got up to leave.
“Of course I’m worried about you,” he said. “If something happens, it’s not the unborn baby who will suffer, it’s you who will suffer.”
He even followed the steps and procedures taught in the book on preparing for pregnancy when it came to his requirements for sex, and in his spare time he read a lot about the accidents that can happen during a mother's pregnancy and childbirth.
Leaving aside those unknown moments, he still felt lingering fear.
"I'm sorry, I got a little emotional just now," Li Xiran apologized. "I was just too nervous."
He was so worried about her injury that even his excitement about becoming a father was overshadowed.
"I thought you loved the baby even more now," Shang Xin said, her voice choked with emotion, leaning into his arms. "I didn't want this to happen either, but..."
She liked this man so much that just his presence standing in front of her, with a smile, was enough to bewitch her.
"I understand, I'm sorry." Li Xiran hugged her. "Thank you, my wife."
Shang Xin pouted and pinched his chest hard. "It's nothing like what I imagined."
Li Xiran laughed and asked, "What are you imagining?"
"You might excitedly hug me and spin me around, saying you love me, that I've worked hard, and that you'll always be with me." Perhaps it's because of the pregnancy, but the young lady seems more sensitive than usual.
"Wife, I love you very much, more than you can imagine." He loved her so much that he was extremely careful with his words.
"So, do you love me more or the baby more?"
Li Xiran nodded helplessly and smiled, kneeling on one knee in front of her, his eyes red and moist. "I will always know that we are the ones who are truly meant to walk hand in hand through this life."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
