Chapter 28
The morning sunlight gently spilled onto the driveway of the Minamino residence, and the air was filled with a faint floral fragrance.
Sakura was wearing a light pink maternity dress, her long hair swaying slightly in the wind, and she smiled as she fastened her seatbelt.
Are you ready?
As Minamino Hideichi started the engine, he asked in a low voice.
"Hmm~ I'm going to see the baby today."
Sakura gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, her voice full of anticipation.
The car slowly drove out of the villa area, and the street scene outside the window shimmered in the sunlight.
Shuichi occasionally glanced at her and found her quietly looking out the window with a faint smile on her lips.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"I'm wondering... what does the baby look like now? Is he sleeping in my belly, or is he kicking his legs?"
She smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of innocence.
Shuichi couldn't help but reach out and gently place his hand on hers: "She should be a good girl."
"I wish I were like you."
"What if it's like you?" Sakura tilted her head, her smile deepening.
"Then I'm doomed." He sighed helplessly. "One little fox and one big fox, I have to manage two mischievous devils."
The atmosphere inside the car was relaxed and gentle.
Sakura couldn't help but laugh out loud, leaning back in her seat, a warm feeling of happiness welling up inside her.
When they arrived at the hospital, the familiar nurses greeted them with smiles.
"Miss Sakura, this way please. Today is your four-month prenatal checkup~"
She was led into the examination room, where the doctor was the head of the obstetrics and gynecology department she had met before. His expression was gentle: "Ah, Mrs. Minamino, you look to be in good health."
Sakura nodded obediently: "Thank you, doctor~ My appetite has improved a bit recently."
The doctor smiled and picked up the ultrasound probe: "Let's take a look at the baby's condition today."
Shuichi Minamino sat down beside him, his eyes fixed on the screen.
As the probe moved, the black and white image gradually appeared—
It was a tiny life, curling up gently.
The doctor said softly, "The baby's heartbeat is very steady. You're about sixteen weeks along now, and your development is excellent."
The clear "thump-thump" sound from the electrocardiogram monitor seemed to be responding to their expectations.
Sakura's eyes instantly welled up with tears: "Is that... the baby's heartbeat?"
"Yes," the doctor smiled gently, "each jump was very powerful."
Xiuyi reached out and grasped her hand tightly.
His palms were slightly warm, and his voice was low and gentle: "Did you hear that? That's him telling you that he's a good boy."
Sakura nodded, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a smile: "Mmm... thank you, baby."
As the examination was nearing its end, Sakura couldn't help but ask, "Doctor, how long will it take to find out the baby's gender?"
The doctor adjusted his glasses and smiled, "Generally speaking, it will be clearer around five to six months. You might be able to tell at your next prenatal checkup."
"Eh~ You can find out so quickly?" Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, but it also depends on whether the baby cooperates. Some babies will turn away shyly."
Sakura chuckled, "If Baby were like Shuichi, he'd be super arrogant and definitely wouldn't let us see him!"
Minamino Shuichi coughed lightly, but a smile played on his lips: "I'm just a little reserved."
The doctor and nurses were amused by the interaction between the two.
After the examination, the doctor confirmed the report: "The mother is in good health, and the baby's development is stable. Just pay attention to rest and nutrition."
Sakura replied gently, "Thank you, doctor."
Stepping out of the examination room, clutching the report, she felt a surge of energy.
"Shuichi~ Baby has really grown up~"
Xiuyi gently tidied her stray hairs: "Yes, and when he heard your voice, he jumped even faster."
Sakura playfully pushed him away: "Liar~ No baby would jump just because they hear me."
"Yes," he chuckled softly, whispering in her ear, "because he likes you, just like I do."
The sun was shining brightly as the two walked out of the hospital.
Sakura leaned on Shuichi's shoulder and whispered, "Next month... we'll find out if it's Himawari or Kouichi."
"Mmm." He smiled and pulled her into his arms.
"Everyone has the gentlest mother."
Sakura looked up at him, smiled, and winked: "And the most handsome dad."
Xiuyi chuckled and gently kissed her forehead.
"Of course."
The sunlight shone on the two of them, as gentle as a dream.
At that moment, they all understood—
Happiness is not a spectacular moment, but every heartbeat in the ordinary days.
As night deepened, a gentle breeze rustled through the rose bushes outside the window, and the lights in the Minamino House shone softly and warmly.
A faint floral fragrance filled the bedroom, and the bedside lamp cast a golden halo around it.
Sakura lay on the bed, hugging a soft pillow, and looked at Minamino Shuichi, who was flipping through documents.
His red hair fell to his shoulders, his eyes were focused, yet his brows revealed a gentleness.
“Shuichi~” she suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?" He closed the file and turned to look at her.
"I'm thinking about something," Sakura said softly, with a hint of coquettishness.
"Would you prefer your baby to be a boy or a girl?"
Hideaki Minamino paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"So that's what you've been thinking about all along?"
“Of course.” She blinked her sea-blue eyes, smiling as if she were probing for a secret.
"Tell me quickly, I want to hear the truth."
He moved closer, gently brushed her hair aside, and said with a smile, "I love any child born to Sakura."
"You're lying!"
She pouted in dissatisfaction and reached out to pinch his cheek.
"Tell me the truth!"
Shuichi was amused by her actions and let her pull his cheeks.
"Honestly..." he said softly, his gaze gently falling on her lower abdomen.
"If I had to choose, I think it would be a girl."
"Daughter?" Sakura was slightly taken aback. "Why?"
“Because,” he smiled and leaned down, his forehead lightly touching hers, “I hope she can be as lovely, gentle, and have a smile that melts your heart, just like you.”
He gently stroked her face, his voice almost dreamlike in its warmth.
“I want to come home every day and see your smiles, mother and daughter. That kind of life must be wonderful.”
Sakura felt a pang of tenderness at his words and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You haven't even become a father yet, and you're already showing favoritism."
"And what about you?" he countered.
“I think my son is cute too,” Xiaoying said, blinking and smiling gently.
"If you were like me, you would definitely be a serious and intelligent little boy. You would also protect your mother and help your father in the future."
"That won't do." Minamino Shuichi snorted lightly, feigning displeasure.
"You belong to me, who has the right to protect you?"
"Oh dear~ You're such a possessive person." Sakura couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to gently pat his chest.
“There’s nothing I can do,” he said in a low voice. “I can never control myself when it comes to Sakura.”
The two looked at each other, and a hint of ambiguity hung in the air.
He reached out and gently pressed the back of her hand, a tender smile curving his lips.
“How about this,” he suddenly said in a low voice, “let’s make a small bet.”
"A bet?" Sakura blinked. "What kind of bet?"
"I'm betting on the baby's gender at next month's prenatal checkup."
He smiled and whispered in her ear, "I bet it's a girl."
"So what if we win?"
"If I win, you have to go on a date with me."
"A date?!" Sakura's eyes widened instantly. "Hey~ Minamino Shuichi, you actually used the baby's gender as a bet!"
She pouted and lightly punched him, "You're so mean! You're the one who got me pregnant, and you still dare to make demands!"
Shuichi laughed so hard at her reaction that he completely lost his composure. He reached out and hugged her, whispering with a smile through her hair, "That was the happiest accident of my life."
"Hmph~ You're so cunning." Sakura bit her lip, revealing a charming yet helpless smile.
"So, you've agreed to my bet?"
"No way."
"Then I'll have to—use a little trick to get you to agree."
"Huh? What—"
Before she could finish speaking, he gently kissed her.
In that instant, the air in the bedroom became so quiet that only the two of them could hear each other breathing.
The kiss was light, yet it carried a smile and a tender possessiveness.
He whispered to her lips, "If it really is a daughter, I hope she can inherit your smile."
Sakura leaned against him, her eyes gentle.
"What if it's a son?"
“Then I’ll teach him how to pamper his mother.”
Sakura smiled and gently leaned against his chest, her ear filled with the sound of his steady heartbeat.
“You know what?” she whispered, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, I feel that with you by my side, the baby will definitely be happy.”
“Me too.” He reached out and placed his hand on her lower abdomen, gently stroking it.
"No matter who comes into this world first, he should know how much his parents love him."
The wind outside gently stirred the curtains, and the moonlight shone on the two of them, soft and dreamlike.
They embraced quietly, as if time itself had stopped at that moment.
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