Free Web NovelChapter 653: Chapter 651: Showing Off Everywhere
Everyone else looked at Su Shuochi, confused, while only Mu Ziquan studied Gu Jiaojiao closely.
"Jiaojiao, have you put on some weight recently? Your stomach seems a little bigger than before."
He already had two kids, so he had a suspicion but wasn’t certain, which was why he asked so tactfully.
Even though Gu Jiaojiao was wearing a bulky down jacket, Mu Ziquan could still make out the slight swell of her stomach.
"It’s cold, so she’s wearing a lot of layers. Mu Ziquan, watch your mouth! Where is Jiaojiao fat?"
"Exactly! How is she fat at all? Can’t you see her face has actually gotten thinner?" Su Shuochi said protectively.
Gu Jiaojiao, however, rested a hand on her stomach, a blissful look on her face. "Mm, I’m not fat. I just have a little baby in my belly."
"..."
Seeing everyone’s stunned expressions, Gu Jiaojiao’s lips curved into a smile. "What’s wrong? Are you all shocked speechless?"
Mu Ziquan shook his head. "No, just a little surprised."
Xiao Rui and Han Jingyi both stepped forward in unison. "Jiaojiao, can I touch your belly?"
"Of course, you can."
"Knock it off. Are you two three-year-olds? Don’t you know men and women should keep their distance?" Su Shuochi said, displeased.
Gu Jiaojiao knew Xiao Rui and Han Jingyi were just curious, but since her jealous husband wasn’t having it, she could only offer an awkward smile.
She was already over three months pregnant. Her belly would keep growing, making it impossible to hide, so she figured she might as well tell them.
Xiao Rui sheepishly retracted his hand. "Shuochi, Jiaojiao, you two are incredible! One trip abroad for an academic exchange, and you’re coming back as a father and a mother!"
"Well, I’m not getting any younger," Su Shuochi said. "We’d already been trying for a baby; we just didn’t expect it to happen at this time."
"Jiaojiao, are you still going to continue your studies when school starts next year?"
"Of course. It’s just a pregnancy, it won’t affect my studies," Gu Jiaojiao said, looking at Su Shuochi.
"Alright, everyone get in the car. Don’t stand around talking out here, you’ll let Jiaojiao get cold. If anything happens to my wife, you all..."
Su Shuochi was overjoyed at the thought of the baby in Gu Jiaojiao’s belly, his face radiating happiness.
"I’m not that delicate," Gu Jiaojiao said, but as she spoke, she still pulled open the car door to get in.
Su Shuochi sprang forward to support her, as if terrified she might trip or bump into something.
The group went to Yuetai Restaurant for dinner, then drove the couple home.
When Gu Jiaojiao came out of the shower, the phone in the living room was ringing off the hook. The family elders were calling one after another to ask about her pregnancy.
Su Shuochi patiently told each of the old men, "Yes, she’s pregnant. It’s been over three months..."
"Then we’ll come over for dinner tomorrow and see Jiaojiao."
"Okay. I’m hanging up now."
RING RING... The phone rang again. Su Shuochi tirelessly informed the next caller that he was going to be a father.
Seeing Su Shuochi looking so blissful and acting so patiently, Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but ask.
"Su Shuochi, you’ve been so cautious ever since you learned I was pregnant. Are you worried about the baby in my belly, or are you worried about me?"
Su Shuochi answered without a second thought. "Of course I’m worried about you, sweetheart. Even when we have a child,
you will always be the most important person in my heart. But right now, I want our child to be healthy and safe, because that’s the only way *you* will be healthy and safe.
The logic is simple. If you weren’t pregnant, I’d still be upset if you tripped or got hurt.
But now, if you trip or fall, you could have a miscarriage.
I don’t care about having a son or daughter, but a miscarriage would be devastating for your health. I’m so worried."
After speaking, Su Shuochi looked at his wife earnestly, his gaze seeming to say, ’You never used to worry about this stuff before!’
Gu Jiaojiao wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice muffled. "Honey, I think I really do care about all this."
Su Shuochi cupped her face and kissed her lips. "Sweetheart, you have to remember, no matter how many children we have, you will always be the most important one to me. I’ll love them, but only because they came from you."
Gu Jiaojiao pouted. "But everyone says a daughter is her father’s lover from his past life, and that fathers always dote on their daughters the most. For some men, the moment their daughter is born, they forget all about their wives."
Hearing this, Su Shuochi couldn’t help but chuckle. "What kind of nonsense is that? If I had a lover in my past life, it would have been you."
Gu Jiaojiao’s face instantly lit up with a smile as she snuggled into his embrace. "You’re right. If you had a lover in your past life, it was me."
Seeing how quickly her mood brightened, Su Shuochi mentally wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
’A pregnant woman’s moods are as unpredictable as a summer storm—they come and go in a flash.’
She hadn’t asked him this question directly since finding out she was pregnant. She finally voiced it now that they were home.
After reassuring his wife, Su Shuochi quickly called his in-laws. "Dad, Mom, Jiaojiao’s pregnant. Do you want to come over for dinner tomorrow?"
After a moment of silence on the other end, Mr. Gu’s excited voice burst through. "Yes! Wait, no, we’re coming over right now."
"You’d better not come now. Jiaojiao is tired and about to go to sleep."
"We’ll just pop over for a quick look and then we’ll leave," Grandpa Gu said from next to the phone.
"Alright, then."
"Su Shuochi, how much longer are you going to be on the phone? I’m heading up to bed."
"Jiaojiao, Grandpa, Mom, and Dad are all on their way over," Su Shuochi said with a sigh.
"Then you can wait for them in the living room. I told you to call them tomorrow, but you just wouldn’t listen."
She said this, but inwardly her heart was bubbling with joy.
Su Shuochi held his wife tight, not letting go. "If you’re tired, you can just sleep here. I have to make one more call, to my parents."
"Su Shuochi, I have a strong suspicion. You’ve been wanting to call everyone and show off since we were still in Hong Kong City, haven’t you?"
"The thought might have crossed my mind for a second," he admitted. "But thinking about it now, I’m glad I didn’t. I suspect Grandpa would have dragged your mom and dad all the way to Hong Kong City to see us!"
"That’s actually a real possibility. But they wouldn’t have been able to go..."
While the couple was talking, Su Mama picked up the phone. As soon as she learned her daughter-in-law was pregnant, she announced she was buying a train ticket to the Imperial City that very night.
Su Shuochi looked at Gu Jiaojiao, and the two exchanged a knowing smile. It was exactly as they had expected.
"It’s good that my parents are coming to the Imperial City. We have more than enough room here, and it wouldn’t be convenient for us to travel back home for the New Year while you’re pregnant."
Mrs. Gu was the most ecstatic of all. She had just been worrying about her eldest son not having found a wife, and then her second son went and got married.
She had been worrying that her daughter wasn’t pregnant yet, and then the next thing she knew, they were telling her she was over three months along.
In the end, Gu Jiaojiao didn’t get to sleep after all. Grandpa Gu, Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, and Eldest Brother Gu all arrived together.
Second Brother Gu was at the hospital with his wife and child; Li Xiulan wasn’t due to be discharged for another two days.
Grandpa Gu was true to his word, leaving right after seeing her. "Jiaojiao, you get some rest. We’ll be back tomorrow."
The phone in the Su family’s living room rang again.
