Looking at the little girl bundled up in blankets, Long Aotian chuckled and reached out to gently pat her cocooned figure. "It's okay. We had intimacy before your period was delayed, so no one can be sure. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Even if your period hadn’t been delayed, wouldn’t I still care for you?"
Hearing this, the little girl peeked out from under the covers. Her slightly reddened eyes made her look even more delicate and sweet.
Long Aotian gently pinched her cheek. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
A blush spread across Hu Yuying’s face, making her appear even more charming. "J-Just a little stomachache... and my back feels a bit sore..."
After preparing ginger tea with brown sugar, Long Aotian lay down beside her, one hand resting warmly on her abdomen while the other gently massaged her waist.
"The ginger tea will be ready to drink once it cools a bit."
His large palm radiated warmth against her stomach, easing the discomfort she had felt earlier.
"Long Aotian... are you disappointed?"
"Do you want the truth?" He gazed at her tenderly."Of course!"
"Honestly, I feel a little disappointed... but also a little relieved."
"Because I really want to marry you and have a child of our own. I’m sure they’d look just like you."
"But that would mean you’d have to sacrifice your youth and the dreams you’ve worked so hard for—your prestigious university."
"I feel guilty... and selfish..."
Hu Yuying looked at him seriously, pressing a delicate finger to his lips. "Don’t say that, Long Aotian. I chose this willingly."
"I love you. What you call 'sacrifices' don’t compare to all the love and care you’ve given me."
"Once you graduate... will you marry me?"
A soft smile bloomed on Hu Yuying’s face, her eyes curving sweetly. "Yes."
"Pinky promise." Long Aotian held out his little finger.
"But you always said this was childish!" Hu Yuying giggled behind her hand.
"With you... it doesn’t feel childish at all."
Her small finger hooked around his. "Long Aotian will marry Hu Yuying, and Hu Yuying will marry Long Aotian. A pinky promise, sealed for a hundred years, no take-backs..."
After this, the little girl and her beloved exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
"Now, drink your ginger tea, and then we’re going to the hospital."
"The hospital? Why?"
"To find out why your period was delayed, so we can avoid it in the future."
Before they had been intimate, her cycle had been regular. But afterward, it became irregular. Long Aotian didn’t understand why, but because he cared for her, he worried even more.
Feeling his concern, Hu Yuying nodded softly.
After getting ready, Long Aotian draped his jacket over her shoulders before taking her out on his electric scooter.
At the hospital’s third floor, Long Aotian waited outside the examination room.
Before long, the door opened, and Hu Yuying stepped out, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"What’s wrong? Why are you so red?" Long Aotian rushed to her side, concerned. "Did the doctor say what caused it?"
Hu Yuying nodded, then shook her head, whispering, "I’ll tell you outside."
Once they left the hospital, the cool breeze brushed against her cheeks, finally easing some of the redness.
"Can you tell me now?"
Seeing her relaxed expression, Long Aotian knew nothing was seriously wrong—just a little curiosity remained.
Hu Yuying lowered her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers. "The doctor needed to know... possible reasons, like extreme physical activity or certain foods..."
"Then I... mentioned being with you..."
"She said intimacy right before a period could sometimes delay it... and then she asked how many times we..."
Long Aotian coughed lightly, finally understanding why she had been so flustered.
"When she heard we did it over thirty times in two and a half days... she just laughed and said it was fine, but to be more mindful of your health in the future..."
By the end, her voice had faded to nearly a whisper.
Long Aotian couldn’t help but laugh—both at her shyness and the relief that she was okay.
Hu Yuying pouted, lightly pinching his waist. "I told you not to do it so much, but you wouldn’t listen..."
"Alright, alright, it’s all my fault. Pinch me a few more times if it makes you feel better."
"My little girl is so precious..."
For some reason, hearing those words filled her with warmth.
"Long Aotian, since the workers aren’t coming today, let’s buy groceries. I’ll cook for you."
"Sure." He took her to the market on his scooter.
Compared to him, Hu Yuying was far better at haggling and picking fresh ingredients.
Everyone had their own way of living.
For someone like Hu Yuying, who cherished life’s simple joys, shopping was happiness, cooking was happiness, and sharing a delicious meal was happiness.
And because she was happy, her joy was contagious—so Long Aotian was happy too.
They bought plenty of groceries before heading home on the scooter. With the cooler weather, the food would keep well.
Back home, Long Aotian washed the vegetables while Hu Yuying cooked.
Every time their eyes met, they couldn’t help but laugh.
"No, no, I can’t look at you anymore, or the food will burn!"
Hu Yuying covered the side of her face with her hand, refusing to glance his way.
Long Aotian smirked. "Oh? You had your way with me last night, and now you won’t even look at me? Such a fickle woman."
Ever since they became intimate, the once-stoic Long Aotian had shed his serious demeanor.
Just then, his phone rang.
"Wan Ning? What’s up?"
Lin Wanning’s worried face appeared on the screen. "Brother! Qingxue told me Yuying is pregnant—is it true?"
Hu Yuying, sitting on a stool, muttered under her breath, "Qingxue and her big mouth..."
Long Aotian chuckled at her reddening ears. "No, her period was just delayed."
He turned the camera toward Hu Yuying, who shyly waved.
"Wan Ning, don’t listen to Qingxue’s nonsense..."
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