Liang Zhiyi was stunned for two seconds, then realized the hidden, mischievous intent in his words. Her face flushed, and she huffed in a prideful yet grumbling tone, “I think someone has ulterior motives…”
Pei Chen chuckled and calmly asked in return, “What ulterior motives?”
She blushed and didn’t answer. Just as they reached the car and saw no one else around, Pei Chen pulled her into his arms, trapping her between the car door and himself, intentionally pressing the question.
The girl, feeling both shy and embarrassed, poked his chest with her fingertip and whispered, “You clearly said before that you find it more comfortable not wearing it…”
The man let out a low laugh, as if a feather had brushed against his heart, sparking a flame. He bent down to look her in the eye, his warm breath falling on her face. With a teasing smile, he asked in return:
“But didn’t you say that night it felt even better?”
“…”
Liang Zhiyi glared at him in embarrassment.
Where was his previous restraint? He was becoming increasingly shameless.
Seeing her flustered and angry expression, Pei Chen pinched her flushed cheeks and laughed, “I was just joking with you.”
When it came to such matters, he would never risk her health. If she wasn’t ready to be a mother, he wouldn’t force her into anything.
After getting into the car, they drove home.
From the underground parking garage to the elevator, Liang Zhiyi felt a playful urge. Like a clingy little kitten, she raised her arms to wrap around his neck, her eyes sparkling brightly, “Hubby…”
There was surveillance in the elevator. Pei Chen’s breath hitched, and he placed his hands around her waist, pulling her close as he spoke in a hoarse voice, “Wait a bit, don’t mess around.”
Liang Zhiyi smiled, stood on tiptoe, and whispered into his ear, her breath warm and fragrant, “Pei Chen, after all these years, why are you still so easily teased? Just like this and…”
She deliberately left the rest unsaid.
Only the clear crease in his suit pants told the story, struggling to contain itself.
This was a side of him that only she ever saw.
Pei Chen’s dark lashes trembled. Just then, the elevator door opened, and he bent down, picking her up forcefully as he walked out. Startled, Liang Zhiyi let out a small cry, her legs wrapping around his body as she couldn’t help but laugh, “Hubby, I was wrong…”
In the quiet hallway, he pressed her against the wall near their door.
The man lowered his gaze, his dark, stormy eyes locking onto her, “Wrong? Did you forget how you cried the other night?”
The girl’s eyelashes fluttered, and she meekly said, “I was just joking, just teasing you…”
Pei Chen unlocked the door with one hand while holding her, carrying her inside as he closed the door behind them. He sought her kiss, helping her remove her shoes as he whispered against her lips:
“Do you think tonight will be just a tease?”
“Uh, but my period…”
“Don’t pretend. You think I don’t know it ended today?”
As she anticipated what was to come, a tingling sensation started to spread throughout her body.
There was no escaping this…
With her back against the wall, Pei Chen raised his hand to cradle her face, his eyes locking onto hers with a fiery intensity as he murmured, “I’ve been holding back for days, you know that?”
Looking at the fierce, almost savage expression on his face, Liang Zhiyi felt her heart melt completely.
She couldn’t handle the stark contrast in Pei Chen’s demeanor when it came to these moments…
He lifted her and began walking toward the bedroom, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Suddenly, her phone rang in her bag. She gently pushed against him, her face flushed, and said breathlessly, “Pei Chen, let me take this call first…”
Pei Chen frowned in frustration, but she stroked his head and whispered in his ear, “Go to the bathroom first, I’ll join you soon.”
After slipping out of his embrace, she took out her phone and saw that it was Xiao Zhang, an employee from her company, calling. She gave Pei Chen a knowing look, and he reluctantly turned and headed back to the room.
Liang Zhiyi answered the call, “Hello, Xiao Zhang—”
A lively female voice came through the line, “Sister Zhiyi, I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I wanted to confirm some details about the planning document.”
“Sure, go ahead…”
They discussed the details for a while, and at the end, Xiao Zhang said, “That’s all for now. I’ll double-check with Director Chen tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
“Oh, and Sister Zhiyi, I just have to share some good news—I’m finally pregnant! My husband and I have been trying, and we just got the good news!”
Xiao Zhang was a member of Liang Zhiyi’s team, and they had a friendly relationship, often sharing personal updates.
“Congratulations!” Liang Zhiyi exclaimed with a smile. “I was just thinking about your efforts to conceive earlier tonight, and now I hear this great news! I knew it would happen!”
“Yes, I was really anxious, but thankfully, it finally happened. We just got back from the hospital today, and my husband is over the moon.”
“There’s no need to worry; it was bound to happen eventually.”
“Yeah, hahaha. I’ll treat you to dinner next week. And don’t worry, Sister Zhiyi, I won’t let the pregnancy affect my work.”
“No worries, the baby comes first. If you ever need help, just let me know.” Being a woman herself, Liang Zhiyi understood the challenges women often faced in the workplace.
“Thank you so much, Sister Zhiyi.”
After hanging up, Liang Zhiyi smiled and walked back to the room, hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom.
She undressed and walked over, and as soon as she opened the door, a hand grabbed hers, pulling her into a warm embrace.
With her hands pressed against Pei Chen’s damp chest, she watched as droplets of water dripped from his dark hair, past his chiseled brow, down his chest. The sight of him, exuding raw, masculine sensuality, was utterly captivating.
“Pei Chen…”
He grasped her delicate fingers, continuing what he had started alone in the bathroom, unable to resist any longer. He nibbled on her earlobe, his voice hoarse, “Why did the call take so long?”
The warmth of her palm spread through him, and her cheeks, already flushed from the steam, grew redder. “It was nothing, just discussing the planning document with Xiao Zhang,” she replied.
She looked up into his dark, ink-black eyes and smiled, “Pei Chen, don’t you ever get tired of this? Some guys lose interest after being with their girlfriends for a long time.”
But he was like a hungry wolf, never seeming to get enough.
Pei Chen cupped the back of her head, lowering his head to kiss her. “How could I get tired of you, Zhizhi?”
Every moment with her felt unforgettable. If he could ever tire of her, he wouldn’t have fallen so uncontrollably in love with her in the first place.
“Stop overthinking,” he added in a low, slightly stern voice.
“Okay…”
He lifted her chin and sealed her moist, bright red lips with another kiss, erasing any other thoughts from her mind.
The hot water cascaded down their bodies, splashing onto the floor, as the bathroom filled with mist, refracting colorful light.
Pei Chen held her up with his strong hands, kissing her deeply until she let out a soft whimper. Finally, he pulled back slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, gazing at her intently:
“Do you want to stay here or go back to the bedroom?”
In her urgency, her eyes glistened, “Here…”
He kissed her hard, his breath unsteady, and whispered, “Be good. Wait here, I’ll get something from the bedroom.”
Just as he was about to leave, Liang Zhiyi grabbed his wrist, her dimples deepening as she looked up at him, “Didn’t someone say they wanted to try something different tonight?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Pei Chen’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist and spoke softly, “Pei Chen, why don’t we just let things happen naturally? I suddenly think having a little one around the house wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, I know you’ve always wanted a baby.”
Recalling Xiao Zhang’s excitement during the phone call, she suddenly felt that maybe they didn’t need to wait until everything was perfectly planned to welcome a new life. Perhaps letting nature take its course was the best decision.
And she was sure their little family of three would be warm and sweet.
“Pei Chen, would you like that?” she asked, looking up at him.
He pulled her close, his eyes filled with tenderness. “How could I not?” This was the deepest desire in his heart.
He brushed his thumb across her lips, his voice low and mesmerizing as he asked, “Zhizhi, shall we begin, hmm?”
Her face flushed red, and her heart pounded like a drum.
Then, he truly began to claim new territory, conquering and taking over.
She was completely lost in the waves of his love, gradually forgetting about time, forgetting about place.
Half an hour later, he carried her back to the bedroom.
Her eyes were hazy, and in the heat of the moment, as she lay on the pillow, she heard him whisper in her ear, his breath uneven, calling her “baby.”
“Baby, who do you belong to?”
At times like these, Pei Chen couldn’t help but call her that, each word sending shivers down her spine. She could hardly bear it, her nose tinged with redness as she softly responded:
“I belong to… Hubby…”
Pei Chen smiled and pressed another fiery kiss to her lips.
The lights flickered, and the night seemed to stretch on endlessly…
—
Afterward, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi agreed to stop using protection, deciding that if they had a child, they would welcome it into the world.
However, they didn’t go out of their way to try for a baby, as it wasn’t an urgent matter. They mainly wanted to enjoy the sweetness between them. Pei Chen did make an effort to cut down on drinking at social events, often avoiding alcohol altogether.
But ever since then, Pei Chen frequently used the excuse of “preparing for pregnancy” to thoroughly wear her out, leaving her often rubbing her sore waist and lamenting how tough life could be…
After New Year’s Day, the Spring Festival arrived in the blink of an eye.
After the holiday break, when she returned to the office, Liang Zhiyi joined Ji Fei’er and a few other close colleagues in the break room to get some water before starting the workday.
They handed her a cup of coffee. “Zhiyi, would you like some coffee?”
She waved her hand, “No, thanks.”
She wasn’t a fan of coffee, only drinking it when she was extremely tired.
“Here, have a cup of hot milk instead.”
As she took the milk, her thoughts wandered briefly, recalling how last night she had mischievously called Pei Chen “big brother,” which had ignited his passion. He had ended up taking her to the rooftop garden to swing.
As things heated up, Pei Chen had gripped her waist tightly, his warm breath brushing against her ear. “Why are you trying to escape? Isn’t my naughty Zhizhi just asking for some milk from her big brother, hmm?”
“…”
He was such a tease, and now she couldn’t even look at milk without blushing.
Sipping her hot drink, they chatted casually. One of the girls was watching a video on her phone and squealed, “Oh my gosh, this actor is so handsome!”
“Hey, he really is handsome.”
Hearing about a handsome guy, Liang Zhiyi and Ji Fei’er also leaned over to take a look. Liang Zhiyi marveled, “Wow, his looks are absolutely stunning…”
The group of girls clustered together, fangirling over the actor, their voices getting a bit loud. After a while, Liang Zhiyi glanced up and saw Pei Chen walking toward them with several senior executives.
Leading the group, Pei Chen stood out the most, tall and poised in his suit. His hand was casually tucked into the pocket of his light gray overcoat, and his long legs moved with a relaxed but commanding presence.
His features were sharp and defined, his demeanor cool and distant. His long, dark eyelashes caught the sunlight as he looked over at her with an impassive expression.
She instinctively touched her nose and quickly wiped the bright smile off her face.
Oh no, caught in the act of admiring another man…
As the group of men passed by the break room, Ji Fei’er playfully nudged her shoulder, grinning mischievously, “Your husband caught you drooling over another guy—you’re in trouble.”
Liang Zhiyi glared at her, “Pei Chen isn’t that petty.”
“Oh, sure, look at you trying to act innocent.”
Rolling her eyes, Liang Zhiyi took her milk and headed back to the office. Once there, she quickly pulled out her phone and sent Pei Chen a message: “After seeing so many handsome guys, I’ve realized my husband is the most handsome of all. And I’m being totally honest, hehe.”
Her survival instincts were strong.
In the conference room, Pei Chen felt his phone vibrate. He glanced at the message, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.
Noticing this, those around him immediately understood: Ah, President Pei smiled—it must be because of Mrs. Pei.
Pei Chen put his phone away, looked up at the others, and said calmly, “Let’s begin.”
“Understood…”
—
As the sun rose and set, time gradually shifted into spring.
The spring season in Lincheng was the most comfortable, shedding the damp and chilly discomfort of winter. Warmth spread through the city, and everywhere you looked, the world was filled with lush, vibrant green, bursting with life.
However, as the saying goes, “Spring makes you sleepy, and autumn makes you tired.”
With the arrival of spring, Liang Zhiyi became increasingly sleepy, taking her midday naps in Pei Chen’s office, and sleeping longer than before.
When he would wake her up, she would cling to him, lazily hanging onto him. Pei Chen would pat her gently and laugh, “Why are you like a little lazy cat?”
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she replied, “I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve just been feeling so tired lately.”
“Are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital for a check-up?”
“I don’t feel sick anywhere, maybe I’ve just been a bit overworked lately.”
“Get some rest tonight; if there’s work you can’t finish, leave it to me.”
She smiled warmly, “Having a good husband really is the best.”
Liang Zhiyi just thought she was tired from work and decided to pay more attention to resting.
In early April, when Lincheng entered its rainy season, the city was enveloped in continuous drizzles for several days. Liang Zhiyi caught a cold, and Pei Chen, feeling sorry for her, insisted that she work from home.
One morning, while she was still enjoying some extra sleep, Pei Chen woke up, washed up, and dressed. He walked over to the bed, leaned down to kiss her gently, and whispered:
“Zhizhi, I’m heading to the office. Breakfast is on the table, and remember to take your medicine after you eat, okay?”
Half-awake, she nodded obediently, “Mm…”
After Pei Chen left, she slept for another hour before finally getting up when the sunlight fully brightened the room.
Looking out the window, she noticed that today’s weather had finally cleared up. The bright sunlight streamed through the windows, making the room feel fresh and clean, instantly lifting her spirits.
She stretched lazily, feeling much better.
Thinking it over, she decided she would go to the office today after all.
After all, there was still a lot of work to be done, and she didn’t want to slack off.
After getting out of bed and washing up, she picked up her phone and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. As she was eating, she noticed today’s date, and a thought suddenly struck her—
She hadn’t had her period in March.
Her cycle usually came at the end of the month, sometimes a few days late, but this time it was a full two weeks late.
Liang Zhiyi froze in shock—
Could it be? Was she pregnant?!
A flood of thoughts overwhelmed her, leaving her inexperienced mind in a state of blank confusion.
It had been more than three months since she and Pei Chen stopped using protection…
So if she were pregnant, it would be entirely likely…
Her head spun as she found herself caught in a whirlwind of joy, anticipation, and the fear that it might be a false alarm.
The first thing she wanted to do was call Pei Chen.
She stared at her phone, hesitating for a moment, worried that he might be busy and that she would disturb him. With her hands trembling slightly, she backed out of the call screen. Feeling a bit dazed, she mumbled to herself:
“W-What should I do now…”
Help, why did my brain suddenly freeze up QAQ.
Her mind spun for a moment before she reacted, “Right, right, I should go buy a pregnancy test first…”
She needed to confirm for herself whether she was truly pregnant.
It wouldn’t be too late to tell Pei Chen afterward.
Grabbing her purse from the sofa, she hurried toward the entryway in a bit of a panic. A few seconds later, she stopped, worriedly touching her belly.
No, if she really was pregnant, rushing out like this could be risky. What if something happened on the way? She needed to protect the little one.
“That’s right, I can order it online…”
Nowadays, deliveries could bring anything to your doorstep. She took out her phone, opened an app, and quickly placed an order.
Afterward, she sat back down on the sofa, drank some water, and tried to calm her racing heart. “Don’t be nervous, relax…”
Her cheeks felt warm, as if she were soaking in warm water, her mind filled with anticipation for the upcoming result.
But she hadn’t experienced any nausea lately. Isn’t morning sickness common during pregnancy? Why was she different from others…
What if she was getting excited over nothing? That would be really disappointing…
Amidst all these speculations, the delivery arrived swiftly.
Holding the package, she dashed into the bathroom.
Half an hour later, she slowly opened the bathroom door and returned to the bedroom.
Walking to the bed, she flopped down and happily rolled around twice. Staring at the two lines on the pregnancy test in her hand, her eyes sparkled with joy as she murmured:
“It’s actually positive…”
She was really pregnant!
No wonder she’d been so sleepy lately; it must be related to the pregnancy. Since she and Pei Chen hadn’t been actively trying, this news came as a pleasant surprise.
Although she initially had some fear of the unknown about becoming a mother and wasn’t in a hurry to have children, now that it had actually happened, she found herself much happier than she had imagined.
She hadn’t expected that she and Pei Chen would have a little baby so soon.
Propping her chin with her hand, she smiled so widely that her eyes turned into crescent moons.
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
The conference room was filled with a crowd of people.
Everyone was quietly attending the routine meeting.
Pei Chen sat at the head of the table, operating the laptop in front of him. He connected his phone to the computer, projecting the documents onto the screen behind him.
He crossed his legs and looked at everyone, speaking steadily:
“For the next six months, we will focus on the fourth generation of Shanzhi…”
Everyone listened attentively, and once Pei Chen finished speaking, they began to share their thoughts.
Half an hour later, Pei Chen glanced at his watch and said calmly, “Let’s take a five-minute break.”
Some people got up to get water, while others continued discussing the meeting topics.
The conference room filled with the soft sounds of movement.
Pei Chen looked down, took out his phone from his pocket, and saw a call from Liang Zhiyi.
He called her back, forgetting that his phone was still connected to the computer. When the call connected, he spoke, “Zhizhi—”
But the next moment, her voice rang out clearly through the conference room’s speakers:
“Hubby, I have some great news—I just found out I’m pregnant!”
Her voice was filled with soft, excited joy as she continued, “I was going to wait until you got home to surprise you, but I’m just too happy and couldn’t keep it to myself! But don’t tell anyone yet—I want you to come with me to the hospital first…”
Suddenly, the entire conference room fell silent.
Every employee who heard her words turned to Pei Chen in unison, their faces showing complete shock.
What just happened???!!!
Pei Chen froze for a moment, not having expected this.
Two seconds later, Xuan Xia, sitting nearby, broke the silence with a laugh:
“Wow, congrats to you both!”
In the next instant, the conference room erupted with excitement as everyone eagerly offered their congratulations: “Congratulations, President Pei! Congratulations, Mrs. Pei! We all know now!”
On the other end of the line, the girl was stunned: Huh???!