Chapter 10: Wife, let's have a child

At night.

They closed the bedroom door.

Shen Xun opened his mouth and questioned Jiang Lai: "Why are you brushing me off with takeout?"

Jiang Lai paused while flipping through her pajamas, brushed past the skirt, and picked up the sleepwear and pants.

"What takeout?"

"Tonight's dishes weren't made by you." Shen Xun said, "You've cooked for me for four years; I can tell."

As it turns out, you also know I've cooked for you for four years. Jiang Lai gave a cold smile in her heart.

"Pretty impressive." She said in a light tone, "You could go be a food critic."

To Shen Xun, it sounded like blatant mockery.

"Do you have to speak to me with that expression and tone? Jiang Lai, you weren't like this before."

"I've always been like this."

Jiang Lai looked at his eyes burning with anger, not understanding what he had to be angry about, as she had allowed him to live under the same roof with his first love.

"But after we got together and married, you weren't like this."

Shen Xun will always remember when he handed her an umbrella, she smiled faintly, like a magnolia in the rain.

He accompanied her to attend her mentor's funeral, the warmth of her leaning on his shoulder.

He accompanied her back to the orphanage, the bright smile when she handed him a bottle of mineral water.

Especially after four years of marriage, every day when he got off work and returned home, he could see her busy figure in the kitchen, and upon seeing him she would turn around.

In a gentle, tender voice she asked him: "You're back."

If the rice had just been served, she would eagerly walk over and hug him.

Her eyes were always full of anticipation, anticipating him eating every dish she made.

Jiang Lai may be aloof before outsiders, but she is gentle and considerate toward him, and even more filial and sensible toward his parents.

"How have you changed recently?"

Jiang Lai treats him like she would an outsider.

But they are clearly husband and wife.

"Jiang Lai, if this is your protest against my letting you quit work to stay home and prepare for pregnancy, I won't go easy on you." Shen Xun said, "I can hire a nanny to also take care of your health; my parents have been wanting a grandchild all these years."

He looked at her belly.

Jiang Lai stiffened all over: "Shen Xun, don't mess around."

"We are a legally married couple." Shen Xun embraced her, kissing her neck, "Wife, let's have a child; from now on you'll stay home to raise the child, and I'll take good care of you both."

"No, Shen Xun, Shen Xun..." she pushed hard, "I'm not ready yet."

"No preparation is needed."

"I haven't taken a shower yet!"

"Washing after is just the same."

Just as she was about to be unable to hold out, the door was knocked again.

"Ah Xun, Jiang Lai, are you asleep?"

Lin Shutong's voice.

Jiang Lai, as if seeing a savior, said to Shen Xun: "Miss Lin is calling you; surely something urgent, maybe you're feeling unwell somewhere!"

Shen Xun's movements stopped, his brows furrowed tightly.

He glanced at the panicked Jiang Lai, then toward the doorway; Lin Shutong knocked twice more.

Shen Xun opened the door.

"What's wrong? Shutong."

His tone was a little impatient.

Lin Shutong froze, looking at his slightly disheveled shirt and Jiang Lai hurriedly pulling her clothes together; tears instantly welled up in her eyes, and she forced a sad smile.

"Ah Xun, I, I am I disturbing you?"

Shen Xun hates seeing her cry and feel wronged; he immediately went out, pulling the door shut.

"No, is your hand hurting?"

"Hmm." Lin Shutong nodded, the aggrieved tears finally spilling: "I know I shouldn't be like this, sorry, I shouldn't cry; back then I was the one who wanted to leave, you married someone else, I should be happy… I just can't feel happy at all, seeing you and Jiang Lai together, I… can't help but tear up."

Shen Xun's brows furrowed tighter and tighter as he led her away from the master bedroom, afraid Jiang Lai would hear.

"Everything's in the past; don't bring this up again, I don't blame you."

Lin Shutong suddenly hugged him.

Shen Xun's eyes kept fixed on the door, obviously somewhat nervous.

"Let me hug you, just once, just as a friendly embrace." Lin Shutong lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears.

Shen Xun sighed and let her hold him.

"My hand hurts, hug me."

He slowly raised his hand and gently patted her back.

That door never got pushed open from inside.

Jiang Lai didn't need to guess to know Shen Xun was again showing concern for Lin Shutong, and her heart felt repeated stabs of pain.

Compared to the heartache, what's more important is how to avoid Shen Xun's closeness.

The first and second times were both because of Lin Shutong; what if the third time Lin Shutong doesn't interrupt in time?

She thought of the master's wife.

……

Shen Xun returned; Jiang Lai on the bed had already fallen asleep. He walked over and called twice, but there was no response.

Helpless, he could only lie down.

He turned and pulled the person into his arms.

It seemed he hadn't held Jiang Lai to sleep together for over half a month; when he suddenly embraced her, it was like holding a cat—aloof and unresponsive, yet genuinely soft and lovable.

Shen Xun pulled the person in his arms even closer.

As a result, Jiang Lai dared not sleep deeply all night, only dozing lightly; any slight movement behind her would startle her awake.

The next morning, after waking early and while brushing her teeth and washing up, Xu Rong sent a message.

【Xiao Jiang, during this period of your resignation you need to come to the office to clock in for work, otherwise I'll have trouble on my end.】

Jiang Lai was actually hoping to continue shouldering her canvas bag and go out.

"Good morning, Jiang Lai."

Lin Shutong leaned against the door, yawning lazily, exactly like the mistress of this household.

Jiang Lai was bending over to change her shoes.

"Going to work this early?" Lin Shutong approached and said, "Everyone is scrambling to get into Ke Clan; although you're just an insignificant admin, being able to stay is not bad at all. Do you really want to resign?"

She had heard yesterday that Shen Xun said Jiang Lai should resign to stay home and prepare for pregnancy; she almost rushed in to confront Shen Xun—wasn't it said they would only have a child together? How did it change now!

In the end she still held back.

Shen Xun likes a delicate, affectionate manner, but dislikes pretentiousness.

Unable to question Shen Xun for fear of offending him, she could only try to persuade Jiang Lai.

"Maybe it's just because your position is low and your pay low, so Ah Xun thinks it doesn't matter whether you work or not; how about this—I'll help you."

"My maternal grandfather's family has connections with the Ke Family; I've met the boss of Ke Clan before. I'll speak to him for you, get you a promotion and raise, so your salary can supplement the household—then Ah Xun won't let you resign."

Jiang Lai rose: "Miss Lin, are you serious?"

"Of course." Lin Shutong chuckled, knowing Jiang Lai didn't love Shen Xun that deeply; one plan and she'd turn against him.

Jiang Lai: "I'll await your good news at Ke Clan, Miss Lin."

She went out.

Lin Shutong closed the door, yawned lazily again, then went to knock on the master bedroom door.

"Ah Xun, I'm hungry."

Shen Xun opened his eyes; Jiang Lai was no longer beside the bed. He felt a momentary daze, but soon thought she was in the kitchen making breakfast for him, and he relaxed.

"Soon there will be breakfast to eat; the buns Jiang Lai wrapped and the porridge she cooked are both good."

Lin Shutong exclaimed in surprise: "But I saw Jiang Lai already go to work; she didn't make breakfast."

Shen Xun glanced at the time.

"Leaving at seven-thirty to go to work—what shift is that!"

His good mood vanished in an instant.

Lin Shutong pressed her lips and whispered softly: "Jiang Lai might think work is more important."

"Can work be more important than her husband's body?" Shen Xun flared up, anger rising from all sides.

Lin Shutong remained silent, merely listening as Shen Xun called himself Jiang Lai's husband, feeling quite uneasy inside.