He placed his hand on her slightly swollen belly. It was this little one that was making his beloved grow thinner day by day.
"Be a good boy/girl. Don't tire your mother out so much."
Rong Xun took off the human-skin mask on his face and rubbed his somewhat stiff face. Then he moved his hand to her face, traced her delicate pink lips, and gently pressed his lips against hers.
"You've had a hard time."
These days, he'd clearly noticed that Tang Youyou wasn't as energetic as before. She always got tired easily. It wasn't just because of the pregnancy but also the troubles she'd been through.
Thinking that it was all because he hadn't been there to protect her in time, he felt a pang of self - reproach. He felt guilty towards her, but this guilt didn't just stem from this incident.
"What kind of expression would you show, You'er, if one day I'm really gone?"
Would she cry?
Rong Xun didn't know the answer.
His You'er was a person who always surprised others. Even he sometimes couldn't figure out what was on her mind.
In her sleep, Tang Youyou felt as if there was a hot water bottle beside her. It was so warm to be close to it. She reached out her hand and clung to it. The feeling was so comfortable that in the end, she even snuggled her whole body against him.
Rong Xun held her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head. His hand caressed her smooth and silky hair.
She had a very comfortable and satisfying sleep. By the time Tang Youyou woke up, it was already dawn the next day.
It had just dawned outside. She wrapped herself in a thick coat and stood in front of the window, looking at the rising red sun on the horizon.
"It's so beautiful."
The early - spring sunrise was truly astonishing. She really hoped to hold this little one in her arms and watch the sunrise together when it was born.
She heard the door creak behind her. Turning around, she saw Xun Rong come in with a kettle of hot water. He poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.
Tang Youyou took it in her hand. The temperature of the water was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. It felt just right in her hands.
"I didn't expect you to be so considerate."
She took a couple of sips to warm her stomach. The next second, she saw someone come in with a basket and take out delicate breakfast items one by one.
"This is the red bean paste bun, this is the scrambled eggs, this is the chicken congee, this is the osmanthus chestnut cake, this is the stuffed green peppers..."
Xun Rong introduced them one by one. Tang Youyou looked at the breakfast on the table. She didn't expect that all these things were to her taste.
"Have the congee first. Be careful, it's hot."
He filled a small bowl with most of the chicken congee and placed it in front of her. "Try it and see how it tastes?"
Tang Youyou had gone to bed without dinner last night. After waking up, she really felt hungry.
She took a mouthful of the warm congee. The moment the congee entered her mouth, it seemed that all the hunger was worth it.
"Um - how was this congee made? It's so fragrant."
Seeing that she was enjoying her meal, Xun Rong felt warm inside. He scooped up a spoonful of scrambled eggs and fed it to her.
"These scrambled eggs are so delicious."
The scrambled eggs melted in her mouth. The fragrance of the scallions covered the fishy smell of the eggs. A circle of sesame oil was drizzled on it. She didn't know what other seasonings were added, but there was a lingering aroma. Once she took the first bite, she couldn't wait to take the second.
After the main course, the dessert was also to her liking.
This breakfast really healed all the unpleasant experiences she'd had these days.
"Did you ask Ye Yue about my taste?"
Ye Yue had been with her for quite a while. Although he didn't usually prepare her meals, he was the only one who knew her taste well at the moment.
"Huh? No."
When they were in the palace, he'd noticed that You'er liked to eat some relatively rare and niche foods, so he'd asked people to try to make them.
These were all made by the chef according to her previous taste. Although they hadn't eaten together for a long time, he still remembered her preferences clearly.
When she was in a bad mood, she liked to eat some spicy and strong - flavored foods; when she was in a good mood, she liked to eat some sweets to make herself even happier; when she had a poor appetite, she liked to eat some salty congee and desserts...
"These and most of the others are all my favorite foods. How did you know my taste?"
Tang Youyou kept putting the scrambled eggs into her mouth. It seemed that she really liked them.
"I don't know. I just asked the chef to make some random dishes. It just so happens that they're all your favorites."
Tang Youyou looked at him skeptically. Was it really that much of a coincidence?
Every dish and dessert was to her liking. If it were just one or two dishes, it could be called a coincidence, but every single one hit her taste buds. It was hard not to be suspicious.
But it was understandable. This guy had just changed jobs. He must be trying to curry favor with his boss.
If this guy were in a real workplace, he would surely make a success of himself.
If he were in the court of a country, he should be able to become a prime minister.
But this guy seemed to care little about fame and fortune. He was a man with his own ideas.
"Come and eat with me. There's so much food that I can't finish it all by myself."
Tang Youyou looked at the remaining dishes. She wanted to continue eating, but she only had one stomach.
Xun Rong didn't answer her. He just lifted his feet and walked out of the room.
"Where is he going?"
After eating and drinking her fill, Tang Youyou felt sleepy again. She wanted to take a nap, but if she went to sleep right after eating, who else but her would gain weight?
Walking out of the door, she saw Ye Yue downstairs, seemingly talking to someone she didn't know.
The man had a red ribbon tied on his head. He had a handsome and elegant face, just like a fresh - faced young man.
She walked downstairs, still clutching a piece of the osmanthus chestnut cake she hadn't finished.
"Is this someone you know?" She puffed out her cheeks and leaned forward to take a closer look at this handsome young man.
When Ye Yue saw Tang Youyou coming, he didn't know how to introduce him for a moment. This Tie Shou was the master's most trusted subordinate.
Even he, who could be considered a master in the martial arts world, could only rank fourth.
Unexpectedly, before he could say anything, Tie Shou squinted his eyes and smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tie Shou, a friend of this brother."
Tang Youyou had rarely heard Ye Yue mention his private life, let alone his friends.
But this friend seemed a bit different. She just couldn't tell where the difference was.
"Nice to meet you, too. I'm Tang Youyou. I'm also Ye Yue's friend. You two go on with your conversation. I won't disturb you."
Tang Youyou gave Ye Yue enough face and didn't say that Ye Yue was her temporary bodyguard.
Tie Shou slapped Ye Yue on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Four months?"
"Yeah, almost four months. You guessed it so accurately."
Tie Shou smiled indifferently. "Just look at who I am."
Counting the time, there were still six months to go. By then, their Wuya Pavilion would surely be bustling.