Chapter 25
The morning sunlight streamed into the bedroom through the curtains, and a faint floral fragrance filled the air.
Minamino Hideichi woke up early, changed into a white shirt and dark trousers, and turned to look at his wife beside him.
Sakura was still curled up in bed, her long blonde hair spread out on the pillow, her breathing soft.
Her hand unconsciously rested on her stomach, a gesture so gentle it softened his heart.
"Sakura, it's time to get up."
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, his voice low and tender.
"Hmm... just five more minutes of sleep~"
She mumbled with her eyes closed, like a kitten that didn't want to leave her dream.
"I'm going to the hospital for a prenatal checkup today."
"Hmm..." She opened her eyes slightly and saw his emerald green eyes staring intently at her, which instantly sobered her up a bit.
"You're all ready?"
"certainly."
He smiled, reached out and gently pulled her out of bed, helping her put on a light coat. "Your appointment is at 10:30, the doctor made a special record of it."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh: "You're more nervous than I am."
“I’m just worried,” he replied calmly, his tone gentle without any boundaries.
When we arrived at the hospital, the sun was shining brightly.
They walked into the familiar obstetrics clinic, where the white walls were clean and bright.
Upon seeing the two, the nurse politely greeted them, "Mrs. Minamino, how are you feeling today?"
"It's fine, I've just been a bit sleepy lately," Sakura replied with a smile.
The doctor walked in and smiled as soon as he saw Xiaoying: "This expectant mother is now our hospital's 'model patient'."
"A role model?" Sakura blinked. "Why?"
"Because your husband always arrives ten minutes early and is more prepared than we are," the doctor joked while adjusting the equipment.
Sakura turned to look at Minamino Shuichi, who was sitting calmly beside her, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Shuichi, are you having a competition with the doctor to see who is more dedicated?"
He said softly, "Of course, I'm just fulfilling my duties as a husband."
The doctor smiled and shook his head, gesturing for her to lie flat on the bed.
"Okay, now please relax, we'll do a basic ultrasound examination."
The lights dimmed, and the instrument's screen lit up.
As the probe moved slightly, a blurry image appeared on the screen.
A few seconds later, a small, gently beating heart appeared on the screen.
"—This is the baby."
The doctor's voice was gentle, as if announcing a miracle.
Sakura froze, unconsciously covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.
Shuichi watched the screen from the side, his usually calm expression softening unusually.
"This...is our child?"
"Yes," the doctor replied with a smile, "the fetus is developing very well, and the heartbeat is very stable."
A series of rapid "thump thump thump" sounds came from the screen, the rhythm so fast it made one's heart tremble.
Sakura's tears streamed down her face, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "So happiness really does have a sound..."
Xiuyi reached out and grasped her hand, palm to palm.
He said softly, "Did you hear that? That's our little life."
Sakura looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears as she smiled: "Thank you... for always being by my side."
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, his voice like a vow: "No matter where you go from now on, I will be there for you."
After the examination, the two left the hospital.
Sakura held the ultrasound photo in her hand, her gaze soft yet tinged with pride.
“Shuichi, look here—a tiny little thing.” She pointed to the blurry image, her eyes sparkling, “like a little star.”
"Mmm." He reached out and took the photo, his gaze so tender it was almost dripping with tenderness. "That's our little universe."
"Universe?" Sakura laughed. "What do you plan to name the baby after he's born?"
“I’m thinking,” he said thoughtfully, “that we should wait for you to decide. After all, the name should be worthy of your little star.”
She looked up at him, her smile filled with love, dependence, and the glow of a mother.
"Okay, then I'll choose a name that will make your heart flutter every time you say it."
“Then I’m afraid,” he said softly, “I’ll miss it every day.”
They walked out of the hospital side by side, the sunlight falling on them.
The wind blew her golden hair, which gently entwined around his fingertips—at that moment, time itself seemed to soften.
When he returned to the villa in the evening, Nan Ye Xiu put the ultrasound photo into a frame in the study and placed it in the center of his desk.
That was the first "work" he saw every day and the one he cherished most.
In the bedroom, Sakura sat on the sofa, drinking warm milk and looking at her stomach, murmuring softly:
"Baby, Mommy and Daddy saw you today... Grow up quickly."
Shuichi's footsteps came from the doorway. He leaned against the door, looking at her tenderly.
"Who are you talking to?"
“With our little universe,” she replied with a smile.
He walked over, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and whispered, "Then I'll join you too."
Their foreheads touched, and the quiet night was filled with happiness.
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the living room of the Minamino residence.
The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and floral tea, and it was so quiet that you could almost hear the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Shuichi Minamino was sitting on the sofa with documents spread out on the coffee table, but his gaze had already left the pages.
His gaze softened as he looked at the woman in his arms—
Sakura fell asleep leaning against his lap.
She wore a soft, light pink dress, and her long blonde hair cascaded down her legs, the light filtering through her hair like golden shimmer.
Her breathing was light, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and there was an unconscious smile on her lips.
"Really..."
He sighed softly, but with a smile in his eyes.
She's been feeling tired easily these past few days.
The doctor said it was a normal reaction in early pregnancy, but he still couldn't help but worry.
Every time she said "It's okay," it was like she was joking with his heart.
He reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across the top of her hair.
The movements were extremely light, as if afraid of waking a kitten from a dream.
Her hair was soft and smooth, lying flat against his palm.
He stroked it gently, his expression almost devout.
“Silly girl…” he murmured softly, “Even if you’re pregnant, you don’t have to be so stubborn.”
She seemed to hear it in her dream, her lips twitched slightly, and she mumbled indistinctly, "...I wasn't being stubborn, I just wanted to help you..."
Xiuyi paused for a moment, then smiled.
He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
"All I want is for you to get a good night's sleep; that's the best help I can give you."
The sunlight moved and fell on her quiet profile.
Her skin was fair and translucent, and her sleeping face was so gentle it was heart-wrenching.
Xiuyi put away the documents on the table and leaned back on the sofa to help her sleep more soundly.
His hand remained gently placed in her hair, his fingertips smoothing her long hair one stroke at a time.
He whispered to her, "When you wake up, I'll take you for a walk in the garden."
"Then, let's listen to the baby's heartbeat together, okay?"
Of course, she could no longer hear.
But he still spoke gently, as if this tranquil happiness could last without a response.
A breeze drifted in through the window cracks, gently lifting strands of her hair.
The warm sunlight enveloped the two of them—
At that moment, the world was so quiet that only breathing and love remained.
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