Chapter 37
The night was soft, and the breeze outside the window carried warmth.
The bedroom in the Minamino residence was dimly lit, and the only sound in the air was breathing.
As Minamino Shuichi was preparing to organize his documents, Sakura hugged him from behind.
The soft touch made his body stiffen instantly.
"Sakura?"
He called out softly, his tone tinged with amusement.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," she said softly.
Her chin rested gently on his back.
"I just... want to hold you."
"Now?"
"Mmm." Her reply was almost like her breath touching his heart.
He sighed and reached out to cover her hand.
"Stop fooling around, go and rest."
But the next second, Sakura's finger gently slid...
I could feel his firm abdomen through his shirt.
Shuichi Minamino's breath hitched for a beat.
The slender hand was tracing lines almost imperceptibly.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he gritted his teeth as he said, "...Sakura."
She tilted her head back, blinking innocently.
"What's the matter?"
"What are you doing?"
"Let me touch you."
She blinked, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"Your muscles are so strong."
"...Do you know you're playing with fire?"
His voice was so low and hoarse that it was almost abnormal.
"You yelled at me."
She bit her lip.
In that instant, her expression held a hint of hurt, yet also a touch of coquettishness.
Minamino Shuichi looked at her, his breathing slightly disordered.
Her sea-blue eyes reflected the light.
The lip color was as bright as berries.
That innocent yet alluring appearance,
It pushed his sanity to the brink.
"Sakura".
He called her name softly.
The tone was like a warning, yet also like a plea for help.
But Sakura only looked up at him.
"You don't want me to touch you, do you?"
He was defeated in an instant.
He sighed deeply and reached out to press his hand on her shoulder.
"It's not that I don't want to—it's that I want to too much."
The moment the words left his mouth, the air grew even stiller.
She hadn't reacted yet.
He leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
That wasn't a hurried kiss.
It was a touch that conveyed deep affection through restraint.
A few seconds later, he pulled away from her lips.
His forehead was pressed against hers, and his voice was so low it was almost inaudible:
"Don't provoke me like that anymore. You're pregnant, I'm afraid I might accidentally..."
Sakura's face turned completely red, and she leaned gently against him.
"Then hold me while you sleep, don't think too much."
"That request... I'd be happy to oblige."
He smiled and reached out to pull her tightly into his arms.
The night gently enveloped the two of them.
The wind outside the window stirred the gauze curtains.
The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance and warmth.
They didn't say much that night.
They simply leaned against each other quietly.
Listening to each other's heartbeats,
It's as if confirming that this moment of happiness truly exists.
The morning sunlight streamed into the bedroom through the gaps in the curtains, casting a pale golden glow on the edge of the bed.
Sakura woke up from her dream, stretched, and got out of bed, putting on her bathrobe. She looked at herself in the mirror—soft blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, and a hint of sleepiness still on her face.
She was about to comb her hair when she suddenly froze.
"...Huh?"
In the mirror, a faint blush appeared on her fair neck.
The mark wasn't deep, but it stood out prominently against her snow-white skin.
Sakura suddenly realized what was happening, her mind exploding as she recalled that almost out-of-control, ambiguous moment from last night.
"...this big fox."
She bit her lip and angrily clutched the collar of her nightgown.
"You said you were 'afraid of being careless'! But you still bit me pretty hard!"
As she was muttering to herself, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.
Shuichi Minamino was wearing a white shirt, his hair slightly damp, clearly having just taken a shower. His green eyes curved gently the moment he saw her.
Good morning, Sakura.
He stepped forward, his tone as gentle as the morning light.
"What do you mean 'early'!"
Sakura turned around angrily, "Minamino Shuichi, explain yourself."
"Explain what?" he asked knowingly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Sakura suddenly turned around, pointing to her neck.
"This! You did this, didn't you?!"
Minamino Shuichi leaned down slightly, looking at her sullen expression, a mischievous smile flashing in his eyes.
"Yeah, it was an accident last night."
"careless?!"
Sakura glared at him, stomping her feet in anger, "You call this an accident?!"
He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, his tone tinged with a helpless yet doting affection.
"I'm afraid I'll go crazy if I keep putting up with this. It's your fault for always looking at me like that."
What kind of look?
"It's that kind of gaze... that makes me want to possess your very breath."
"……you!"
Sakura blushed deeply and pushed him away.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
"Okay, okay, I won't talk about it anymore." He smiled and surrendered, then put his arm around her waist.
"But this also proves—I controlled myself well last night, didn't I?"
"Restrain yourself, my foot!" Sakura muttered, patting his chest lightly with her small hand, but he grabbed it without hesitation.
"How about I get a good morning kiss as compensation?"
He spoke in a low voice, so deep it could almost scorch the air.
"...After what happened last night, you still want a good morning kiss?"
"That's from last night, I want today's."
"you--"
Before he could finish speaking, he gently kissed her lips.
It wasn't urgent, but rather gentle and tender, with a hint of a smile.
The moment he kissed her, Sakura's anger turned into shyness.
She gently pushed him away, a hint of helplessness in her eyes as she conceded defeat.
"...If you keep doing this, I'll never talk to you again."
"You can't bear to part with it."
He chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"Go change your clothes, breakfast is ready."
The restaurant was filled with the aroma of breakfast.
Shuichi Minamino pulled out a chair for her, and after Sakura sat down, she remained silent with her head down.
Still angry?
"snort."
"Then I apologize."
He paused, then smiled and leaned close to her ear: "But I don't regret it."
Sakura turned to look at him, her blue eyes glistening with moisture.
Finally, he sighed—
"What a cunning fox."
"And what about you?"
"The wife of the silly fox."
She answered with a smile.
The two looked at each other and smiled, a gentle sweetness filling the air.
The wind outside the window gently rustled the curtains, and the early spring air carried a touch of soft warmth.
Sakura sat on the sofa in her bedroom, gently stroking her already protruding belly with both hands. That roundness made her smile especially soft.
The doctor said that I might have to be prepared to give birth at any time.
So, Shuichi Minamino handed over almost all his work ahead of schedule and put his phone on silent mode.
That evening, he walked in from his study with his usual gentle smile, but with a hint of nervousness.
“Xiaoying,” he walked up to her, gently knelt down, and placed his hand on her stomach, “I’ve decided that I won’t go to the company for the next few days. I want to stay with you.”
"Hmm?" Sakura looked up, her sea-blue eyes sparkling.
"Is it okay with the company?"
"It's okay. More than contracts or meetings... I want to be with you."
He smiled, his gaze as gentle as a spring breeze.
I don't want to be absent on your most important day.
Sakura looked down at him, and at that moment, her heart felt gently touched.
"Silly fox," she chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke his face, "I'm not a child who needs someone to watch over me."
"You are my wife,"
He interrupted her and took her hand.
"She is the most important person in my life."
His tone was so serious that Sakura was speechless for a moment.
I felt a tightness in my throat and a slight soreness in the tip of my nose.
"...you,"
She sighed softly, revealing a charming yet gentle smile.
"He's already a father, and he's still so good at sweet talk."
"That's true."
He moved closer to her, forehead to forehead.
Their breaths almost mingled together.
I want to kiss you.
He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of cautious pleading.
Sakura paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Then go ahead and kiss me."
Before he finished speaking, he had already leaned down and gently captured her lips with his.
The kiss was neither hasty nor domineering.
It simply conveys a deep sense of attachment and gratitude.
The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance and warmth.
When he released her, Sakura's cheeks flushed slightly.
She gently patted his chest and whispered:
"Don't be nervous. We'll welcome the baby together, right?"
Shuichi Minamino squeezed her hand and nodded.
"Yes, together."
I will be by your side, from now on, and for a very, very long time to come.
Sakura smiled.
She stroked her belly and whispered to the baby:
Did you hear that?
Dad will have to take a day off to be with us.
As if in response, she felt a slight movement in her stomach.
That faint fetal movement was like a gentle promise.
Nan Ye Xiu paused for a moment, then looked up with a smile.
"He is responding to you."
"Um."
Sakura looked at him with eyes so tender they could melt the spring sunshine.
"I'm saying—Dad's the best."
They looked at each other and smiled.
The wind outside gently brushed against the window frame.
Everything was peaceful and gentle.
It's as if fate is gently playing the prelude to a new life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
