Chapter 824: Side Story 4: 61

Fortunately, this problem was quickly gotten over.

Because when she woke up the next morning, not only had the hard skin scales on her belly softened a little, but Xiao Jiu's always-flat belly had also grown a bit.

This was the first time in the past few months of pregnancy that Xiao Jiu felt the little one growing.

Over the next few days, each day brought significant changes.

Xiao Jiu was already the mother of two children, Li Qingying had given birth to over a dozen babies in two litters, yet she was still delighted and amazed by the growth and changes of the third little one.

Xiao Jiu no longer felt uncomfortable, her appetite improved day by day, and Li Qingying went all out, preparing various nutritious meals for Xiao Jiu.

Within just a week or so, Xiao Jiu's energy and spirit had recovered, the hard skin scales on her belly turned into soft armor, and the color faded considerably.

The only inconvenience was that Xiao Jiu's belly was growing too fast.

In that week, she actually began to show her pregnancy.

At Dragon Phoenix Elegant Dwelling, with many people and mixed eyes, although they had assumed false identities, Xiao Jiu's belly, visibly growing to the naked eye, still attracted considerable attention.

Moreover, Xiao Jiu's actual pregnancy had already been several months, and now her belly was growing rapidly; she and Li Qingying could not guarantee that the third little one would be born soon.

Although Li Qingying had no trouble delivering, they couldn't give birth in the guesthouse, could they?

But leaving Suedi at this time wasn't realistic either; who could guarantee that once they left Suedi, Xiao Jiu's condition wouldn't revert to how it was before?

So the two of them decided to rent a place.

Looking for a house was a headache, but coincidentally, just as they were preparing to look for a place, Fang Chuanzong called Xiao Jiu, saying he had some business at Yin Dang Hang to find her, and only then did they learn Xiao Jiu was in Suedi.

Xiao Jiu frowned; although Fang Chuanzong wasn't an outsider, how could Hui Moqiong so easily tell him about her being in Suedi?

Fang Chuanzong asked about Xiao Jiu's condition, they chatted a lot, and Xiao Jiu couldn't keep anything from him anymore.

Somehow, the conversation turned to their plan to stay in Suedi for a while longer and their search for a house.

Fang Chuanzong then said he had a property in Suedi—a small courtyard with all necessary amenities—though its location was a bit remote, situated in a town near the river.

Xiao Jiu also knew that town—it was the one where they had been relocated after withdrawing from Dragon Phoenix Elegant Dwelling.

Xiao Jiu remembered that the town was close to the old well where the ancient turtle had been sealed.

Of course, that old well no longer exists now.

Fang Chuanzong earnestly invited Xiao Jiu to stay there, for as long as she liked.

He also mentioned that he would soon be coming to Suedi on business, so they could get together then.

Unable to refuse such warm hospitality, Xiao Jiu agreed.

Li Qingying began packing, Fang Chuanzong sent the location of the small courtyard to Xiao Jiu, and that afternoon the two moved there.

Though called a small courtyard, it was actually not small at all.

It was a large three-section courtyard, not much smaller than Yin Dang Hang—let alone housing just Xiao Jiu and Li Qingying, even five or six families could live there.

Xiao Jiu didn't stay in the main courtyard; she and Li Qingying chose two adjoining side rooms in the front courtyard, and after they had tidied up, Li Qingying freed her hands to call Hui Moqiong.

Xiao Jiu was peeling an apple when she heard Li Qingying scolding Hui Moqiong, saying he had a big mouth, that she had told him before leaving not to spread news about her and Xiao Jiu, yet he was still blabbing everywhere.

After hearing just a couple of sentences, Xiao Jiu returned her focus to peeling the apple.

After a moment, Li Qingying came over, looking puzzled.

Xiao Jiu handed the freshly sliced apple to Li Qingying and asked, "What's up?"

Li Qingying said, "Xiao Jiu, just now Hui Lao Wu told me that Fang Lao hasn't been to Yin Dang Hang at all recently, and he hasn't told anyone about our coming to Suedi."

Xiao Jiu froze.

Fang Chuanzong hasn't been to Yin Dang Hang?

Then how did he know she was in Suedi? And why would he lie?

And how could this courtyard be such a coincidence?

Xiao Jiu thought it over, still uneasy, and called Fang Chuanzong back.

The line was already switched off.

Li Qingying advised, "Xiao Jiu, don't dwell on it; Fang Lao would never harm us. Since we're here, let's make the best of it—first let's nurture the fetus well; we can talk about the rest after we return to Wufu Town."

Xiao Jiu thought that made sense.

She and Fang Chuanzong had over a decade of friendship, having gone through life-and-death together many times; she could doubt anyone, but how could she doubt Fang Chuanzong?

In the end, Xiao Jiu soon found out exactly who owned this courtyard.

She also figured out exactly who Fang Chuanzong was in league with.

That night, after ten o'clock, Xiao Jiu and Li Qingying each returned to their rooms to sleep.

Xiao Jiu had slept for little more than an hour when someone leaned up against her.

A familiar embrace enveloped her entirely, and a large hand rested on her belly.

Xiao Jiu jerked awake with a start; realizing who was holding her, she was about to shout, but her mouth was covered by a kiss.

Again!

Ten years!

This damned man left for ten years.

In those ten years, he learned nothing else, but his skill at sneaking about had become perfected.

This time Xiao Jiu was truly angry; she had been harboring a bellyful of fire for months, and if she didn't let it all out tonight, she wouldn't be able to sleep ever again.

Xiao Jiu raised her knee and, taking advantage of the man's focus, drove it hard upward.

This strike landed right on Liu Junyan's belly; the man winced and let out a muffled grunt.

Xiao Jiu seized the moment to shove him away, struggling to get up.

In the next instant, the man scooped her up entirely.

In the blink of an eye, the man carried Xiao Jiu to the east room of the main courtyard and laid her on the large bed over two meters wide there.

Just as Liu Junyan was about to get on the bed, Xiao Jiu lifted her foot and kicked him in the chest.

That kick carried wind, and Liu Junyan even felt killing intent.

He grabbed Xiao Jiu's ankle with one hand, pressed her back onto the bed, and couldn't help complaining: "Xiao Jiu, are you trying to murder your husband?!"

If he stayed silent it would be fine, but once he spoke, Xiao Jiu's anger flared up again; she gathered strength in her palm and lunged at Liu Junyan.

After arriving in Suedi, as the hard scale armor on her belly softened, her internal strength returned somewhat.

Although she hadn't fully recovered her former level, she could still beat Liu Junyan black and blue.

So infuriating.

The suffering I've endured these past few months was indeed schemed by that damn man.

From the moment Liu Junyan appeared in Suedi and even spoke to her, everything was set in stone.

The couple started fighting as soon as they met.

Xiao Jiu's every move was fueled with anger, and Liu Junyan dared not truly block them; for a moment, she was forced into constant retreat.

Only when Liu Junyan was pressed into the corner did Xiao Jiu, eyes red, shout at him: "Liu Junyan, you must give me a reasonable explanation today, or else we're not done!"

Liu Junyan said aggrievedly: "Wife, I…"

"Don't call me wife!" Xiao Jiu roared, "My husband ascended to the upper realm ten years ago, already Duàn Qíng Jué Ài, having nothing to do with me—who do you think you are, trying to cozy up to me?!"