CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: LIGHT BULB

Ever since meeting Li Hongyan, Madam Jiang felt uneasy.

She instructed Shen Qingqing, "If you see her in the future, try to take a different path. You’re not alone now; you need to be extra careful."

That person’s words are unpleasant. If they affect Qingqing’s mood, the child in her belly would certainly be affected too.

The best method is not to interact.

Don’t meet.

Don’t talk.

Cut off all chances of contact.

Considering how thick-skinned Li Hongyan is and might come over on her own, she simply had her daughter-in-law avoid her.

Shen Qingqing knew her mother-in-law meant well by her.

Not wanting to worry the elder, she smiled and said, "If I see her from afar, I’ll just take a detour."

Madam Jiang nodded, "It’s not that I’m afraid of her, but she’s not forthcoming, and frequent contact wouldn’t be beneficial for us."

Shen Qingqing agreed, "It’s best to keep a distance."

Madam Jiang wanted her daughter-in-law to stay away from trouble, but also worried saying too much might make her tense and affect her health.

She said, "Besides those few troublemakers, most in the compound are good people we can normally interact with."

Shen Qingqing agreed one by one.

She wasn’t a child and knew how to handle such situations.

She pointed to the kitchen, "I’ll go see what Zhixun is doing."

On his rare day off, the young couple surely wanted to stay together.

Madam Jiang didn’t plan to keep Shen Qingqing all to herself.

"Go on, I’ll find the fabric I bought earlier, make some clothes for the baby, and prepare diapers..."

Madam Jiang spoke as she went back to her room to dig through boxes and cabinets.

Jiang Zhixun, having finished washing the dishes, was in the kitchen kneading dough and had also prepared a large bowl of cabbage and meat filling.

Shen Qingqing asked him, "What are you making?"

"Dumplings to freeze; when you’re hungry at midnight, you can steam them or cook them," he replied.

Shen Qingqing was embarrassed, "We just had dinner."

Jiang Zhixun nodded, "That’s why I said midnight."

His gaze naturally fell on Shen Qingqing’s stomach, his expression gentle, "You’re eating for two now, so you’ll easily get hungry. We have to prepare food in advance, can’t let you and the baby go hungry."

Shen Qingqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "It’s still so early, you’re preparing too soon."

"No, it’s not too early."

With a child in her belly, things were definitely different from before.

Jiang Zhixun said, "You should keep snacks both in the dormitory and the office; when you’re hungry, you can eat. Also, put some fruit in your bag."

Madam Jiang had already bought the fruit, a whole bag full of apples.

If not, Jiang Zhixun would have gone out again.

He wasn’t home much, but anything he could think of, he wanted to do for Shen Qingqing and the baby.

Afraid of treating them badly.

Shen Qingqing glanced outside; the old man was watching TV, sitting in a spot where he couldn’t see into the kitchen.

Her father-in-law was handling work in the study.

Her mother-in-law was in the room looking for things.

No one was paying attention to what she and Jiang Zhixun were doing.

She hugged the man’s slender waist from behind, snuggling affectionately against his back.

Sincerely praised, "Why are you so good?"

Jiang Zhixun turned to look at her, the corners of his mouth quickly lifting at the compliment.

Yet he tried hard to suppress it.

With a half-smile, he said, "Is this enough? No ambition at all, how undistinguished."

Shen Qingqing pinched his ear, "You’re clearly happy, but still pretending!"

Jiang Zhixun proudly said, "Teacher Shen, you should have high standards and demands for me, otherwise there’s no sense of achievement."

Shen Qingqing let go of him, "Alright, from today on, I’ll raise the standards..."

As soon as she let go, Jiang Zhixun was dissatisfied.

"Hug me."

Shen Qingqing’s eyes curved, a smile nearly overflowing.

She huffed, "You haven’t met the high standards, yet you still want to be hugged? Wishful thinking! Starting tonight, it’s best to sleep in separate rooms."

Jiang Zhixun didn’t expect he’d dig himself into a hole.

Separate rooms?

Impossible!

Without a word, he wiped his hands clean.

Pulling over Shen Qingqing’s arm, he made her hug him again before he was satisfied.

He continued working on what he was doing.

In a breathy tone, Shen Qingqing said, "Childish, aren’t you afraid the elders might see?"

Jiang Zhixun raised an eyebrow, "Our relationship is good; they’d be too happy. Besides, it’s beneficial for prenatal education!"

Upon mentioning prenatal education, Jiang Zhixun didn’t dare let Shen Qingqing hug him anymore.

Afraid of getting busy and accidentally bumping into her stomach.

"Be good, go watch TV outside, be careful with your belly, don’t bump into anything."

Shen Qingqing thought he was making a fuss, "It’s just the beginning, and you’re this nervous. What will you do when the belly is big?"

"Better to be cautious."

Shen Qingqing said, "We’re lucky it’s not you carrying the child, or else you’d be too worried to eat or sleep."

Jiang Zhixun’s mouth twitched, "How can a man carry a child? Don’t talk nonsense."

"It’s just a hypothetical."

"I have a healthy body, I’m not worried."

Shen Qingqing placed her hand on his abdomen, lightly stroking the firm muscles.

The feel was excellent.

She nodded in satisfaction, "Indeed, your body is in great shape."

Being touched made Jiang Zhixun’s body tense; if it weren’t for the fact that his wife was pregnant, he’d definitely have taken her upstairs.

On his rare day off, if they hadn’t found out about the pregnancy, it would have been their private world.

Jiang Zhixun clicked his tongue, "A little bulb, quite disrupting things."

He didn’t say it clearly, but Shen Qingqing knew what he implied.

She pinched his slender waist, "Just as well, cultivate yourself!"

Pregnancy was long, and after the baby was born, there’d be confinement again.

Jiang Zhixun calculated the time and sighed, "Just this one!"

Shen Qingqing agreed, "I also think having one is best, saving time and effort."

Both she and Jiang Zhixun were busy at work, with no time to raise a child.

If they had more, even her mother-in-law would be overwhelmed with childcare!

As they spoke, Jiang Zhixun had already finished kneading the dough and started rolling out the pastry skins and making dumplings.

Shen Qingqing wanted to help, "Let’s make them together, then we’ll go upstairs to shower and sleep."

Jiang Zhixun wouldn’t let her do anything.

Pregnant women should rest well.

Shen Qingqing said, "Then I’ll go shower first."

Jiang Zhixun wouldn’t agree, "Wait until I finish wrapping; I need to watch over you, otherwise, I won’t be at ease."

Shen Qingqing was helpless, "You can’t watch me every second, Comrade Jiang, you need to adjust your mindset."

It was normal for a first-time father to be nervous.

But like this, not letting her do anything and watching her every moment, Shen Qingqing thought it unnecessary.

Jiang Zhixun knew he was overly nervous. The bathroom had anti-slip measures, and normally, nothing would happen.

He said gently, "Give me some time, I haven’t adjusted yet."

While they were talking in the kitchen, Madam Jiang called Shen Qingqing to choose fabrics, preparing to make clothes for the baby.

"The sewing machine at home can finally be of use," Madam Jiang remarked.

The sewing machine was a part of the dowry given by the Jiang Family when Shen Qingqing first married Jiang Zhixun.

Later, she used it a few times, mainly for making her own clothes.

Afterward, it was left unused.

Luckily, Madam Jiang maintained the household items well, and despite not being used for a long time, the sewing machine didn’t break.

Madam Jiang said, "If you think any baby clothes look nice, just draw a design. I’ll figure it out at home slowly and make sure it meets your wishes."

Shen Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh, "It’s not for me to wear; as long as the baby feels comfortable wearing it, it’s fine."

Madam Jiang replied, "You’re the child’s mom; how you want to dress the baby, of course, is up to you."