Chapter 21
At midday, the sunlight was perfect in the dining room of Nanye House, with the curtains half-drawn, casting a soft glow. On the table was today's meal for pregnant women: steaming pumpkin porridge, steamed sea bass, roasted tomatoes with cauliflower soup, and a small bowl of seasonal fruit tossed with natural honey.
Sakura sat obediently in the main seat, a maid gently tucking a cushion under her back. She held a silver spoon and slowly sipped her soup.
"Madam seems to have a good appetite today," the older maid said with a gentle smile.
Sakura nodded, a faint smile on her face: "Yeah, maybe it's because the sun is shining so brightly today~ I feel like the baby is enjoying it too."
She glanced down at the curve of her lower abdomen, a soft expression appearing on her face that she herself didn't even realize.
After finishing her meal, Sakura refused the maids' offer to help her down the stairs, insisting on walking down by herself, though with extra care.
She stood in the entryway, changed into her usual white flats, gently lifted her skirt with her slender hands, and slowly pushed open the floor-to-ceiling glass door leading to the garden.
The garden outside the door is warm and dreamlike.
Roses climbed gracefully along the colonnade, their blooming petals shimmering in the sunlight like frozen watercolor paintings. A breeze carried the fragrance of the flowers, mingled with the subtle scent of fresh grass, and enveloped her.
She walked slowly along the path, her fingertips lightly brushing against the flower branches.
Her skirt swayed gently in the wind. Although she was two months pregnant and her figure was small, her movements were gentle and steady, like a quiet guardian, letting the tiny life in her womb breathe in the sunlight.
Sakura stopped in front of a cluster of the most vibrant roses, lowered her head and gently stroked her soft belly, her voice as soft as the wind.
"Baby..." she murmured softly, her eyes reflecting the flowers, "Look, aren't the flowers here beautiful?"
"This is Mommy's favorite rose garden. After you are born, we can come here for a walk together every day."
She crouched down, pressed her face close to the flowers, and inhaled their fragrance, which carried the scent of early summer. Then she closed her eyes, chuckled softly, and said, "When you come out, Mommy will show you how beautiful this world is."
"Sunshine, flowers, butterflies, and your most handsome dad."
As she spoke, a gentle smile played on her lips, and her voice was soft: "He's actually quite clumsy and talkative, but very gentle, and he's the best at spoiling people."
Her hand remained on her lower abdomen, as if she had formed a silent understanding with the baby inside her. Every word she spoke was as light as the wind, yet it landed on her heart, real and profound.
At the far end of the garden stood a white wicker chair. Sakura gently sat down, letting the sunlight fall on her shoulders, her hands naturally clasped in front of her lower abdomen. She gazed quietly at the blooming flowers before her, her eyes filled with peaceful happiness.
Not far away, the maid stood quietly by the pillar, watching her gentle and quiet back, and couldn't help but whisper:
"Madam is as gentle as a flower... No wonder Mr. Minamino always says that she is the most precious person in the family."
The tranquility of this moment is like a scroll slowly unfolding. Roses are in full bloom, a gentle breeze is blowing, and life is quietly growing in my embrace.
Sakura spoke softly, as if making the gentlest promise to her child in another world—
"Baby, you must stay healthy... because Mommy is really looking forward to seeing you very soon."
Sunlight shone on her slightly upturned lips, and the entire garden seemed to quiet down, listening to the expectant mother whispering words of love.
As evening fell, the sky above the Minamino residence was tinged with a pale orange-pink hue by the sunset, the distant mountains were shrouded in mist, and golden light fell from the horizon, creating a dreamlike scene.
The familiar sound of a car engine came from the entrance hall, followed by the "click" of the car door closing.
Sakura was sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading a book while gently rubbing her lower abdomen. Hearing the sound, she subconsciously looked up, her ears perking up to listen.
The door was pushed open, and Nan Ye Xiuyi walked in wearing a sharp suit and carrying two paper bags. He had a faint smile on his face, but his green eyes looked undisguisedly at her on the sofa.
"I'm back."
His voice was as gentle as ever, but it seemed particularly soft today.
"Welcome back, Shuichi~" Sakura closed her book and blinked at him.
"Did you miss me today?" He approached, leaned close to her, and smiled mischievously.
Sakura gave a soft hum, her tone sweet and charming: "No, I'm busy watching a drama~"
“That’s terrible,” he whispered in her ear. “I came back with a gift.”
She then noticed the two paper bags in his hands, immediately sat up straight, and her eyes lit up: "What are they?"
He smiled and placed the paper bags on the coffee table. He took out a delicate little box from one of them, opened it, and found her favorite—a limited-edition strawberry mini cake, decorated with pale pink jelly petals.
"Strawberry cream puff!" Her eyes lit up instantly. "Didn't you say... I couldn't eat anything too sweet?"
“Yes.” He sat down beside her, gently kissed her forehead, his eyes as tender as the sunset glow at dawn. “That’s why I came back to make sure you eat—just one bite.”
Sakura pouted slightly: "What you're doing is... giving people hope but not feeding them."
"You're allowed to be sweet, but candy isn't allowed to be sweeter than you."
"...You've really gotten good at sweet talk lately, Mr. Minamino."
"Post-marriage skills maxed out."
He smiled again and took out a freshly wrapped bunch of pink daisies from another paper bag.
The bouquet wasn't large, but it was carefully tied with a gold ribbon, and the daisy petals bloomed softly, just like her eyes.
"This is for you." He handed it over. "It's a new arrival from the florist today. They said this 'first love pink' color is quite rare."
Sakura paused for a moment, and her eyes inexplicably welled up with tears.
"Why all of a sudden... so romantic..." She gently took the flowers, lowered her head and smelled the fragrance of the flowers with the scent of grass, her voice sounding like it was both laughing and crying, "I clearly... didn't prepare for any holiday."
“Who said we have to wait for a holiday?” He stroked her hair. “Every day when I come home and see you, I want to celebrate.”
Sakura chuckled and snuggled into his arms: "So, are you going to reward me today?"
"What will the reward be?"
"Let me have a couple of bites."
“…Deal.” He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “But I have to feed her.”
As night quietly fell, the restaurant lights shone warmly and softly.
Sakura leaned against Minamino Shuichi's chest, and he carefully cut a small piece of strawberry puff pastry for her with a small fork and brought it to her lips.
She took a small bite, and the cream melted on her tongue.
"Is it sweet?" he asked.
She nodded, then chuckled softly, "...Not as sweet as you."
“You’re wrong,” he said, gently hugging her back. “We’re both just as sweet.”
A breeze blew through the garden outside the window, and daisies swayed gently in the vase. Their married life, marked by this carefully planned "little surprise," quietly wrote another happy chapter.
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