The next morning, Su He was woken by her alarm.
After a simple breakfast, the two went to the hospital.
While waiting in line for the test results, Su He rested her hands on her knees, unsure what to do. She felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety, afraid it was all a misunderstanding.
Lu Yanbei reached out and enclosed her small hand in his, offering silent comfort.
He was also a first-time father, and just as nervous as she was.
Fifteen minutes later, hand in hand, they went to the automatic printer to scan their codes and retrieve the results. Lu Yanbei skipped over the data and went straight to the conclusion at the bottom.
"How is it?" Su He leaned over and asked.
"Congratulations, you're going to be a mother." Lu Yanbei was inwardly thrilled, but his expression remained calm.
His emotional control had always been excellent.
Su He smiled, her eyes crinkling.
She took the report from Lu Yanbei's hand, her eyes involuntarily welling up.
She had waited so long, and finally, her wish had come true.
"Why are you crying?" Lu Yanbei hugged her and gently soothed her.
"I'm happy," Su He choked out. "I thought before..."
"Don't overthink it, let nature take its course," Lu Yanbei gently patted her back to calm her. "This is the best outcome."
Su He hummed twice and leaned into his embrace, her voice muffled. "Should we tell Grandpa?"
The old man had been looking forward to a great-grandchild for a long time.
"Let's not say anything yet. We can share the good news after three months," Lu Yanbei was cautious and didn't want the old man to get his hopes up prematurely. After all, there were still several prenatal checkups before the baby's birth, and if any problems were found... it would only be more heartbreaking.
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say." Su He’s tears turned into a smile.
The two took their results to a follow-up appointment. After reviewing them, the doctor first offered congratulations, then advised them on some precautions, and scheduled their next prenatal checkup.
As they left the hospital, Su He walked with extreme caution, afraid of any mishap.
This child was something she had longed for, so she had to protect it well.
Lu Yanbei seemed even more cautious, supporting her all the way, afraid she might fall.
It took them twice their usual time to get back to the car, and only then did they let out a sigh of relief.
For the next period, Su He didn't go to the company and stayed at home to rest. Lan Xi called several times to report on work, wondering why her boss had suddenly lost interest in her job.
"The fans are eagerly waiting, when will you start updating?" Lan Xi, seeing that the new manga theme was very popular, naturally wanted to see it published sooner.
Su He was lying in the courtyard, basking in the sun, feeling lazy and unwilling to move. "I'm afraid I won't be able to update at all this year..."
"Why? Didn't you say you were already drawing it?" Lan Xi couldn't understand.
Her boss was too fickle!
"My body doesn't allow it." Su He touched her flat stomach, feeling an illusion that it had already grown a little larger.
"What's wrong?" Lan Xi was startled and asked with concern.
"It's nothing, there's just a little thing growing inside," Su He said, half-jokingly.
Lan Xi's heart skipped a beat.
Did she understand it correctly, that her boss had a tumor growing inside her? And she couldn't work for a year, which must mean it was a serious problem.
Lan Xi didn't know how to comfort her for a moment. "Your health is the most important thing, please rest well. If you trust me, I'll take care of company matters..."
Lan Xi spoke cautiously, but then heard the other party chuckle. "It's not as serious as you think, I'm just a bit sleepy and lack energy."
And this wasn't serious? Lan Xi grumbled inwardly.
However, on second thought, her boss had a great mindset. Knowing her condition, she could still be so calm, truly worthy of being the woman behind the big boss!
She hadn't even considered the possibility of pregnancy.
After ending the call, Su He couldn't help but tell Lu Yanbei about it as a joke, and then tugged at his sleeve. "Your son wants to eat big cherries."
Lu Yanbei, who was peeling an orange for her, raised an eyebrow at her words. "I prefer a soft and adorable little daughter."
Preferably one who looked like her.
Su He pouted and said, "Elderly people always say, 'Sour for boys, spicy for girls!' I've been craving sour things lately, so it might really be a boy!"
"And what's with your attitude! If it's a son, you won't like it?"
Lu Yanbei offered her a segment of orange. "No. As long as it's yours, I'll like it."
It's just that he preferred a daughter.
"That's more like it!" Su He was satisfied with this answer.
After eating an orange, Su He still felt hungry.
Coincidentally, Aunt Li had finished lunch and came to call them to eat.
Seeing Su He's listless demeanor, Aunt Li, as someone who had been through it, suddenly had a thought – could the young madam be pregnant?
With this question in mind, Aunt Li began to observe Su He's every move.
Two days later, she got her confirmation.
That day, Su He gagged while brushing her teeth, which Aunt Li happened to overhear.
This was a classic symptom of pregnancy!
Moreover, Su He's taste had become very strange recently, craving things she never used to touch. So, one day, she tentatively asked Su He, and Su He didn't deny it.
"Aunt Li, when the three-month period is over, I'll tell Grandpa myself. Please keep it a secret for me!"
"She's really pregnant! Oh, this is truly wonderful news!" Aunt Li was so happy her eyes crinkled, as if she had a grandchild herself. "I promise I won't say a word!"
She made a sealing gesture with her lips, her eyes full of smiles.
She was genuinely happy for the old master.
*
"Have you guys noticed that Mrs. Lu hasn't appeared for a long time?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, you're right! I haven't seen her at the last few banquets! Could she have fallen out of favor?"
"Lu Yanbei has been appearing alone recently, do you think they're having marital problems?"
While Su He was recuperating at home, many people were gossiping behind her back. Just because she hadn't attended social events for a while, they misunderstood her situation like this.
The reason for these speculations was that Lu Yanbei used to always bring his wife with him everywhere and take meticulous care of her. Even if Su He was occasionally absent, he would still bring his assistant. But at the last few meetings, he was alone, making it hard not to suspect something.
"Why is Mr. Lu here alone? Where is his wife?" at a charity gala, the organizer couldn't help but ask curiously when they saw Lu Yanbei arrive alone.
"My wife is not feeling well," Lu Yanbei replied indifferently.
"Not feeling well? She's probably just bored of him and doesn't want to bring her out!" a woman said sarcastically. "Their marriage was never well-regarded to begin with!"
"I bet with someone that their marriage wouldn't last more than three years. It's only been a year, and they're rarely seen together now. It seems that rumor is true!"
"What rumor?"
"Haven't you heard? Aren't you curious why she's been married into the Lu family for so long and there's been no sign of a child? She must be infertile! Would you keep a hen that can't lay eggs like a treasure?"