Chapter 817: Extra 4: 54

Xiao Jiu never expected she would become pregnant.

Because someone always shows up at irregular times in the middle of the night—sometimes after a month, sometimes after more than two months—in short, there's no set pattern.

Whenever Xiao Jiu gets busy, she forgets about contraception.

During that period she had no appetite and constantly felt nauseous, which she just chalked up to being tired and an upset stomach.

Feeling truly awful, Xiao Jiu finally asked Bai Shulan to come over and take her pulse, hoping to get some stomach‑soothing herbal medicine.

That day Feng Ran happened to be off work and at home, and Shan Shan and their younger generation came back to keep her company; they set up a canopy by the Pearl Plate River, lit a barbecue grill, and a big bunch of kids were happily busy.

While Bai Shulan was taking Xiao Jiu's pulse, Li Qingying happened to be moving a big basin of ingredients to the reception hall, and the kids sat together chatting while skewering food.

As soon as Bai Shulan felt Xiao Jiu's pulse, her expression changed instantly.

Her expression was…… hard to put into words.

She seemed unable to believe what she had felt, so she checked the pulse twice more, occasionally giving Xiao Jiu a puzzled look.

Xiao Jiu frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Bai Shulan took Xiao Jiu to her bedroom, closed the door, sat at the table, took Xiao Jiu's pulse again, then lowered her voice and asked solemnly, "Whose is it?"

Xiao Jiu was bewildered: "Whose what?"

Bai Shulan asked again: "Whose child is it?"

Xiao Jiu froze on the spot.

Bai Shulan sighed and speculated: "It's someone from around you, right? Otherwise I've never seen you frequently in contact with strange men. Xiao Jiu, you're clueless—I know these ten years haven't been easy for you, wanting to find a thoughtful person to accompany you, which I understand. In the future, after Seventh Lord comes back, we'll cut it off if necessary; it won't affect anything."

"But you've been eating the grass right next to your nest—sooner or later people will see, and secrets can't stay hidden. While Seventh Lord is still away and the pregnancy is early, decide now: do you want this child? And what to do with the 'nest‑side grass'? I can help you either way."

Bai Shulan's words made Xiao Jiu's face flush red.

Xiao Jiu wanted to rebut Bai Shulan, but how could she bring up Liu Junyan?

That good‑for‑nothing man is so unreliable—he comes and goes as he pleases, acknowledges nothing, takes what he wants, wipes his mouth, and leaves without even showing his face.

Xiao Jiu only kept quiet about Liu Junyan's visits because she thought there was no set schedule.

But now… things have gone awry.

Xiao Jiu found it even harder to speak up.

Seeing Xiao Jiu's reaction, Bai Shulan's misunderstanding deepened, and she sighed repeatedly.

Xiao Jiu had no choice but to lean close to Bai Shulan and whisper in her ear, "There's no nest‑side grass—it's Liu Junyan's."

"Ah?!"

Bai Shulan's reaction was huge.

She stared at Xiao Jiu in disbelief: "When did this happen? Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"I… I don't know how to say it!"

Xiao Jiu then recounted the past half‑year's events, her face flushed, to Bai Shulan in broad outline.

After listening, Bai Shulan mused, "Why is Seventh Lord being so sneaky? He's making the main partner seem like a concubine! Does he think this is fun?"

Xiao Jiu raised her hand as if to hit Bai Shulan, stopping her nonsense: "Shulan, keep my pregnancy quiet for now; wait a bit longer—if he returns before I start showing, I'll ask him properly then."

Bai Shulan asked, "What if he doesn't come back? What if he comes back but still says nothing?"

The more Xiao Jiu thought about it, the angrier she got: "Then when the child is born, I won't let them call him dad."

Bai Shulan giggled.

Xiao Jiu reached out to scratch her.

Bai Shulan and Xiao Jiu fooled around for a while, then Bai Shulan said she'd prescribe some fetus‑nourishing medicine.

Then she asked, "Should we tell Qingying?"

"Yes," Xiao Jiu replied, "I'll talk to her privately later."

Bai Shulan nodded, stood up, and got ready to leave.

After taking two steps, she seemed to recall something, turned back and asked Xiao Jiu, "Before Wu Ling died years ago, that gu worm placed in the pawnshop—hasn't it been almost ten years?"

Bai Shulan didn't bring it up, and Xiao Jiu almost forgot about it.

Time really flies—in the blink of an eye it's almost been ten years since Wu Ling's death.

Back during the battle in the Nine Abyss Deep Abyss, Shan Shan brought Wu Ling out.

In the end, Wu Ling sent the gu worm that had accompanied her all her life alive into the Yin Dang Hang.

She told Xiao Jiu not to spread the news; if, within these ten years, any of her disciples or their descendants come to the Yin Dang Hang to redeem that gu worm, she would give it to them.

If not, the gu worm would stay with Xiao Jiu for her to dispose of as she wishes.

Xiao Jiu calculated the time—only one month left until the ten‑year period ends.

So far, no one has come to redeem the gu worm.

Xiao Jiu has never opened the box that holds the gu worm.

Xiao Jiu looked at Bai Shulan and asked, "What? Shulan, do you want that gu worm?"

Bai Shulan nodded readily: "The gu worm Wu Ling left behind is surely a good thing—you know, gu originally was used to treat illness, so I really want it."

Xiao Jiu naturally understood Bai Shulan's meaning.

She then said, "Don't worry—if no one comes to redeem the gu worm when the time comes, no matter how precious it is, I'll give it to you."

Bai Shulan gave Xiao Jiu a bright smile: "Thanks."

Outside it was noisy and lively.

Shan Shan's generation has many peers; they're usually busy with their own things, but whenever Feng Ran returns, they all gather at the Yin Dang Hang.

Actually, sometimes Xiao Jiu can see her own reflection in Feng Ran.

The young lady harbors a stubborn streak, is especially affectionate, and everyone likes her.

Xiao Jiu waited while the kids finished skewering the ingredients, then, as they carried basin after basin to the Pearl Plate River bank, she quietly summoned Li Qingying to a room and told her about her pregnancy.

I have to say it.

Li Qingying is basically the person closest to Xiao Jiu; nothing can escape her eyes.

Upon hearing that, Li Qingying sat up straight, suddenly realizing: "No wonder, from the day you came back from the Zhe area, I felt something was off with you."

Li Qingying also pointed at Xiao Jiu's neck, saying: "Back then I saw a kiss mark on your neck, I thought… I thought…"

Saying this, Li Qingying couldn't go on.

Xiao Jiu was stunned.

That morning she even deliberately wore a collared shirt, yet it still didn't cover properly, did it?

Furthermore, Li Qingying clearly saw it, so why didn't she question her?

Only then did Xiao Jiu realize, these sisters around her are really good at covering for their own.

Li Qingying saw the kiss mark on her neck, suspected her of 'sneaking a bite', yet didn't question her.

Actually, Li Qingying was originally Liu Junyan's person; she had the standing to question Liu Junyan on her behalf.

But she didn't.

Bái Sōnglán is the same; she's even reached the point of suspecting her of 'eating the grass beside the nest', and was thinking of helping her deal with it.

On one hand, Xiao Jiu felt moved; on the other, she wondered what Liu Junyan would think if she found out.

He has been away too long; the people around him seem to have all defected to this side…