Chapter 94.1 – Extra: Pregnant With a Little Bundle of Joy

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　　Even after remarrying, Jiang Dai remained focused on her career and had no immediate plans to have a baby.

　　As they watched Huo Rongshen grow older, his parents naturally became anxious. However, they were reluctant to rush their daughter-in-law, whom they had worked so hard to win over.

　　For the lack of a better option, Old Madame Huo turned her attention to her younger son and nagged, “You’re not getting any younger, Shenli. Now that you’ve had several girlfriends, your latest one seems quite promising. Get married soon and have grandchildren.”

　　Jiang Dai’s parents had no qualms about expressing their concerns when they felt it was time to nudge her. When that time came, they would approach the matter straightforth.

　　Jiang Dai’s mother was also quite open-minded. “If you genuinely don’t like children or don’t want them, that’s perfectly fine, Daidai. I won’t hold it against you. Deep down, I know you want them, but you also worry about how they might impact your career. However, now that your career is no longer a burden, if you’re going to have a child eventually, it’s best to do it sooner rather than later. You’re already twenty-eight this year, and giving birth after thirty can be less favorable for your physical recovery.”

　　After returning home, the night fell. Huo Rongshen gently kissed his wife’s forehead and the space between her eyebrows before gradually moving downward……

　　Until his lips landed on her smooth and flat lower abdomen, he cautiously questioned, “Do you think what my mother said today makes sense, Daidai?”

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　　Kkydt Pyk lule bkx yde pvyvle, “Rq usw byhl psxlvbkdt vs pyu, fwpv pyu kv ekalnvzu. Psd’v clyv yaswde vbl cwpb.”

　　Tws Ssdtpbld zlv swv y pktb, qllzkdt wvvlazu rsolazlpp yde hsknlzlpp kd qasdv sq bkp qsaxkeyczl okql. Gqvla nyalqwz nsdpkelayvksd qsa y obkzl, bl xwpvlale wr vbl nswaytl vs pyu, “R alyzzu oydv vs byhl y cycu, Pykeyk. R’x yzalyeu vbkavu-qswa ulyap sze. Rq ol byhl y nbkze obld R’x qsavu, R’e cl dlyazu pkmvu obld vblu alynb yewzvbsse. R esd’v oydv vblal vs cl vss xwnb sq y tldlayvksd tyr clvolld xl yde swa nbkze……”

　　Brsd blyakdt vbyv, Kkydt Pyk pwrralpple y pxkzl.

　　Rd vawvb, pbl bye clld qllzkdt vbl pvkaakdtp sq elpkal zyvlzu. Eblvbla kv oyp bla ytl sa vbl vkxl pkdnl vblka alxyaakytl, kv pllxle zkjl vbl aktbv xsxldv vs vyjl vbkp pvlr.

　　Wkdyzzu, Kkydt Pyk alzldvle yde ytalle vs zlv vbkdtp wdqsze dyvwayzzu.

　　Brsd blyakdt vbyv, Valpkeldv Tws oyp lnpvyvkn. Gqvla yzxspv vball ulyap sq alxyaakytl, bl nswze qkdyzzu dsv wpl y nsdesx yde lmrlakldnl y rlaqlnv xyaakle zkql.

……

　　Perhaps it was a convergence of favorable timing, conducive circumstances, and the right people, as Jiang Dai soon became pregnant without complications.

　　Right from the start, everything went so smoothly that the expected intense early pregnancy symptoms never came. Jiang Dai’s condition was excellent, and the little one growing inside her belly was developing healthily.

　　As the first trimester passed, Jiang Dai grew increasingly confident in her body’s resilience. She felt that pregnancy was merely a minor affair, to the point where she personally managed several major projects.

　　However…… Unexpected changes always came abruptly.

　　Jiang Dai’s pregnancy symptoms began to rear their heads in the fourth month. Her temper became volatile, easily ignited, and explosive. She grew highly sensitive, displaying an unusual abundance of melancholy and sensitivity. Even a piece of negative news about society could infuriate her, leaving her to sit and cry on the bed inconsolably.

　　She became pregnant in the golden autumn of September, just as the scorching summer heat subsided and the pleasant temperatures of autumn set in.

　　As winter approached, she started to show, and her entire body grew heavier. Additionally, Yanjing experienced an exceptionally harsh winter that occurs once every decade this year. The temperature dropped significantly, and frequent snowfall made the winter even colder than previous years.

　　Due to frequent heavy snowfall, the roads were covered in thick layers of snow, leading to severe traffic congestion.

　　Jiang Dai experienced intense pregnancy symptoms once again, so she tried to complete most of her work from home, relying on remote communication and delegating tasks to her subordinates.

　　After remarrying, the couple continued to reside in Nangang Palace, a luxurious residence owned by Jiang Dai.

　　The mansion boasted the most advanced underfloor heating and centralized thermostat system that was equipped with humidifiers. Even in the harshest winter, you would not feel any discomfort from the dryness when living in the mansion.

　　It was just that the unusually low temperatures they were experiencing this year required them to set the floor heating slightly higher than usual. Otherwise, it would be challenging to maintain a controlled temperature due to the influence of the frigid outdoor conditions.

　　In general, the temperature was maintained at a level that provided the utmost comfort to the human body, and individuals in good physical health would not experience any discomfort.

　　However, Jiang Dai was currently facing the challenge of her belly growing larger by the day, accompanied by a surge of various unsettling symptoms such as insomnia, edema, and restlessness. Due to the influence of pregnancy hormones, her body had become remarkably sensitive and prone to waves of heat and humidity. No matter how much effort was made to increase humidity and control the temperature, she still could not find comfort. It felt as though there was a fire burning inside her belly and another fire at her back, with the intensity fluctuating between moments of mild relief and periods of severe discomfort.

　　The most vexing part was Jiang Dai’s struggle to sleep soundly at night. She would often wake up drenched in sweat after catching just one or two hours of sleep.

　　Even so, Huo Rongshen remained by her side, providing constant care and companionship. After witnessing her discomfort firsthand, he could not help but feel both anxious and heartbroken.

　　He had long since developed a habit of becoming instantly alert whenever Jiang Dai gently nudged him awake. Then, he would rise and offer her water before proceeding to help her change out of her sweat-soaked nightgown. Sometimes, he would even drape a thick cloak over her and accompany her to the terrace for a brief breath of fresh air.

　　This cycle of disturbances occurring thrice throughout the night had become a common occurrence.

　　Huo Rongshen attended to her needs with utmost care and attentiveness, displaying a level of dedication and obedience that could easily rival that of a top-tier professional caretaker. After all, he placed his wife’s well-being above all else, without a hint of complaint or dissatisfaction. 

　　Deep down, Jiang Dai was fully aware of Huo Rongshen’s unwavering efforts to be considerate and care for her. If she had to rate his performance during her pregnancy, Huo Rongshen would undoubtedly surpass the highest possible score by an additional ten points. His dedication, thoughtfulness, and selflessness were truly exceptional, exceeding all expectations. He consistently went above and beyond to ensure her well-being, leaving Jiang Dai in awe of his exemplary behavior.

　　As her pregnancy progressed from the fourth month into the fifth and sixth months, Jiang Dai found her belly growing increasingly heavy. During this period, her temperament underwent a drastic change. It was almost as if a monstrous creature had taken residence within her.

　　She began to exhibit frequent outbursts of anger, often picking fights with Huo Rongshen over various reasons, both significant and trivial.

　　Jiang Dai was well aware that the issue lay within herself, but she found herself unable to control her emotions. In an effort to seek guidance and support, she even went as far as consulting an experienced psychologist during her prenatal check-ups.

　　The psychologist assured Jiang Dai that there was nothing major to worry about. Immediately right after, they went further to explain that during pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations and overall discomfort could contribute to changes in temperament and personality. Such alterations were considered entirely normal and often resolved after giving birth. The psychologist emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary psychological pressure and encouraged Jiang Dai to find solace in the knowledge that her experiences were part of a typical journey shared by many expectant mothers.

　　Huo Rongshen continued to console her that her temperament had not worsened, but rather, it was the journey of carrying their precious baby that had taken a toll on her. He reminded her that her body would fully adapt in just a couple more months, and the challenges she faced would gradually subside.

　　One afternoon, Jiang Dai woke up from her nap and prepared to have some afternoon tea.

　　After using the restroom, Jiang Dai stood in front of the mirror and suddenly noticed light brown spots on both sides of her nostrils. Instantly, she burst into tears out of frustration.

　　The situation escalated quickly, leaving Huo Rongshen startled and alarmed. He did his best to soothe her distress by holding her tightly and comforting her for a full hour.

　　“It’s alright, My Darling. This is just pregnancy melasma, and it’ll soon fade away. Besides, it’s not very obvious, so you can easily cover it up with some foundation whenever you head out. Please don’t cry, alright?”

　　After her outburst, Jiang Dai had exhausted herself and was drenched in sweat. After accepting the presence of the melasma, she no longer felt angry. Instead, she started to feel regretful about her previous emotional outbursts, blaming herself and feeling a sense of self-pity.

　　Since such occurrences happened occasionally, the butler and servants at the Nangang Palace understood the situation well and could not help but feel sympathy toward Mr. Huo.

　　On the other hand, Huo Rongshen was adept at comforting himself, as he likened his wife’s behavior to that of a sensitive and skeptical young girl going through her teenage years — one who believed that her occasional tantrums were nothing out of the ordinary.

……

　　On another day, Jiang Dai began to feel exhausted after ten at night, so she headed to bed, only to toss and turn for two hours before finally drifting off to sleep.

　　It was only 4 in the morning when she woke up to an intense heat surging through her body. Unable to bear the discomfort, she impulsively hurried outside into the icy, snowy landscape in her nightgown, seeking relief and a moment of coolness.

　　However, she quickly dismissed the thought of heading outside, as the discomfort she experienced paled in comparison to the importance of her baby’s health. Despite the challenges of her pregnancy, Jiang Dai found solace and immense comfort in the fact that every check-up showed her baby to be in excellent health. 

　　Jiang Dai took a sip of cool water, feeling a slight relief wash over her. Huo Rongshen was sound asleep, completely immersed in his slumber. Jiang Dai could not help but notice how tired he had been lately, and her heart ached for him.

　　Not wanting to disturb his peaceful rest, Jiang Dai decided not to wake him. 

　　Today, Jiang Dai’s mood was relatively calm, yet she could not seem to fall back asleep no matter what she tried. 

　　With no luck in finding sleep, Jiang Dai reached for her phone and checked the work-related messages. Coincidentally, she had yet to address a few important emails from the previous night. Glancing at the time — half past four in the morning — she contemplated the idea of getting up to handle them. It seemed like a viable option at this point.