Chapter 102: The Grand Scheme of Creation!

She spoke while carefully watching Su Ruan's expression, hoping to catch a trace of envy or jealousy on the other's face.

Yet Su Ruan simply stared at her quietly, her gaze still flat.

Su Yanhua felt a surge of resentment in her heart, and was even more unwilling.

She took out the cloth pouch that held money, weighed it in her hand, the coins clinking lightly, and kept pressing harder.

"Look, Wen Bin too, insists I'm pregnant now, can't wear my old clothes, forces money onto me so I can buy a few new outfits."

She deliberately sighed, looking very helpless.

"I said no need, but he insists on giving!"

"So I happened to be near you, thought I'd come in and have a look."

"Do you here… have any styles suitable for pregnant women?"

"The fabric must be the softest, can't wrong the child in my belly."

She tried to provoke Su Ruan with marital affection and the prestige of a mother bearing a child.

She even imagined Su Ruan would show an awkward or embarrassed expression.

Unfortunately Su Ruan, after listening, merely gave her a faint glance, tone still flat: "Congratulations, but our shop currently has no styles specifically designed for pregnant women."

"These Ready-made Clothing have relatively fitted waists, probably unsuitable for your current condition."

"You can go to the department store and have a look; maybe there are more suitable ones."

The words were polite, but like a bucket of cold water, dousing all of Su Yanhua's desire to perform.

Her long‑held bragging, in front of Su Ruan's completely unresponsive calm, looked so laughable and futile.

What made her more embarrassed was that Jiang Ran at the back‑yard gate seemed finally done with his work.

He patted the dust off his hands, strode over with long legs, didn't even glance at Su Yanhua, directly wrapped his arm around Su Ruan's waist, his tone affectionate yet a bit impatient.

"Daughter‑in‑law, why waste words with people who aren't involved? The new batch of material in the back‑yard arrived; go check the quality. I'm still waiting for your opinion to draw new designs!"

His words plainly categorized Su Yanhua as a "person not involved."

Moreover, what leaked from his words is the shared enterprise and pursuit he has with Su Ruan, a level Su Yanhua simply cannot comprehend or reach.

Su Ruan smiled at Jiang Ran, nodded: "Alright, I'm going right now."

She then looked at the pallid Su Yanhua, still with that detached politeness: "Sister, if there's nothing else, I won't keep you company; take your time."

After speaking, she walked hand‑in‑hand with Jiang Ran toward the back‑yard, leaving Su Yanhua standing stiffly alone.

As soon as they stepped into the back‑yard, cutting off the front shop's noise, Jiang Ran's previously unflappable expression collapsed completely.

The corner of his mouth twisted, looking just like someone who is owed eight hundred bucks and still can hang onto a soy‑sauce bottle.

Su Ruan watched his childlike look, couldn't help letting out a "Pfft" laugh, reaching out to gently poke his puffed cheek.

"What's this? Really got angry because of those few words from Su Yanhua? Not worth getting mad at her."

Jiang Ran grabbed her mischievous finger, held it in his palm, his gaze a bit wavering, then seeming to make up his mind, his eyes locked onto Su Ruan's flat belly, his tone full of bewilderment and a faint, barely noticeable anxiety.

"Daughter‑in‑law, you say… I haven't done little work either…" his voice lowered, with a hint of grievance and resentment, "How is it that she… only this long and got pregnant? We've been married over half a year, why does your belly… show no sign at all?"

The more he talked, the more uneasy he felt, his brows knit tightly, as if facing a century‑old puzzle, even beginning to doubt himself.

"Could it be… that I have some problem? Maybe… I should go to the men's department at a hospital for a check?"

"Pfft—" Su Ruan this time truly couldn't hold back, laughed out loud, cheeks flushing pink, gave him a look both annoyed and amused, "What nonsense are you spouting! What chaotic thoughts fill your head all day!"

She withdrew her hand, sighed helplessly, tone gentle yet firm: "Children depend on fate; when the time comes, they will naturally arrive."

"Our shop has just gotten back on track, Grandma's health is also in recovery, with so many things, just go with the flow, why are you in a hurry?"

She paused, her eyes flickered, with a hint of reproach.

"Besides, you have no problem, I'm fine too, don't keep overthinking yourself, and definitely don't go to the hospital for a pointless check, got it?"

Jiang Ran looked at Su Ruan's steadfast and gentle gaze, the restlessness and self‑doubt in his heart eased a bit, but the stubborn drive rose again.

He leaned close to Su Ruan, arms around her waist, pulled her into his embrace, his chin nudged her hairline, humming and whining in a petulant way.

"I don't care, anyway… I can't be worse than her! If fate hasn't arrived, then we'll… work harder, bring fate forward!"

He follows through on his words.

Starting that night, Jiang Ran seemed to be in a competition with someone, launching a frantic "procreation" mode.

The marital life, which used to sometimes be restrained by busyness, now became unusually diligent and… tireless.

For several consecutive days, Su Ruan was worn out by his relentless pestering.

By day she hustled in the shop, at night she had to deal with an over‑energetic little puppy; she felt sore and weak, even her energy for drawing designs was nearly drained.

What embarrassed her more was that one morning, after being exhausted the night before, she yawned, rubbed her sore waist, and was caught exactly by Jiang Jiaojiao who came over for breakfast.

Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes, as sharp as her brother's, swept over Su Ruan's slightly fatigued face and Jiang Ran's refreshed, even slightly smug face, instantly understanding something.

She gave Jiang Ran a flirty glance, teasing ambiguously: "Hey, Ranran, you've been so vigorous lately! Look how you've worn out RuanRuan!"

"But young man, you must know moderation, understand? A steady drip keeps flowing."

Another day, during dinner, Jiang Jiaojiao watched Jiang Ran constantly serving dishes to Su Ruan, murmuring "Eat more, supplement."

Then she couldn't help laughing to Li Huijuan: "Mom, look at Ranran, now he finally knows how to care for his daughter‑in‑law! This attentiveness makes my teeth ache!"

Li Huijuan naturally noticed the sign, smiled and shook her head, said little, but kindly served Su Ruan a piece of meat: "RuanRuan, you've worked hard, eat more."

Su Ruan, reddened by Jiang Jiaojiao's repeated teasing, stomped hard on Jiang Ran's foot under the table.

Jiang Ran winced in pain, teeth clenched, yet dared only to glare at his sister, unable to speak.

Finally, after another night of hard work, Su Ruan looked at the faint dark circles under her eyes in the mirror, resolved she could no longer let Jiang Ran's antics continue.

The next morning, Jiang Ran habitually came over, his arm just draped over Su Ruan's waist, only to be slapped down mercilessly by her.

Su Ruan sat up, set a stern face, her expression unusually serious: "Jiang Ran, stop! We need to talk."

Jiang Ran looked at her serious demeanor, froze a moment, a bit at a loss: "Daughter‑in‑law…"

"From today onward, back to normal!" Su Ruan's tone left no doubt, "If you keep messing around, I'll… I'll move in to sleep with Grandma!"