Qin Ya, who was leaning against the wall, marched into Lin Xinyan’s room immediately and detected the mess on her bed. She turned around in guilt, avoiding Lin Xinyan’s gaze because she once told Zong Jinghao the password of their place.
He must have dropped by when we were out for work, but what the hell is wrong with him? Did he drop by because he wanted to sleep on Xinyan’s bed? Fine! Even if that’s the case, he should at least make the bed prior to his departure, right?
Look at the mess you have caused me, Zong Jinghao! How am I supposed to cover this up on your behalf?
“Are you sure? Maybe you have forgotten to make your bed in the morning?” Qin Ya ruled out the possibility and asked, “A pregnant woman tends to forget things easily, right? I’m pretty sure that’s the case. I’ll bring the kids out with me right now. See ya.”
Qin Ya turned around and was about to depart immediately after she finished her sentence, but Lin Xinyan rebuked, “That’s impossible because I’m pretty sure I have made my bed in the morning. It has always been a habit of mine to make the bed. I don’t like to leave my bed messy.”
“Since the kids are away for school in the morning, while I have been by your side throughout the day, Shao Yun’s the only one who has access to the place apart from us. It couldn’t have been him, right? I’m pretty sure you’re the one who has forgotten to make your bed in the morning.” Qin Ya assured righteously as though that was the case.
Lin Xinyan, who was by the bed, started doubting herself and thought she might have misperceived things.
Qin Ya is right because we’re the only ones who have access. Although Shao Yun seems like a playful man, he’s a detail-oriented gentleman. He would never barge into our place without notifying us in advance. Most importantly, he wouldn’t have slept on my bed.
“It’s not a big deal, isn’t it? What do you crave for dinner? It’s time for you to take a break. I’ll buy you something on our way back.”
“I want some radish.”
Lin Xinyan wasn’t sure what had gone into her head, but she had a strong craving for radish all of a sudden. When she first conceived, she didn’t have any particular craving, yet out of the blue, she craved for radish now.
“I want fresh preserved radish,” Lin Xinyan remarked.
Qin Ya was rendered speechless and caressed her head in return because she thought her friend must have lost her mind.
“Are you sure you’re going to have just preserved radish for dinner?”
“That’s the only thing I want for now, but I wonder if you can get it at such an odd season.” Lin Xinyan sat on her bed and turned the possibility of her not making her bed in the morning repetitively.
“Why not? I mean, do you really think seasonal vegetables are still a thing nowadays?” Qin Ya asked rhetorically, suggesting otherwise.
Hello? We’re living in the twenty-first century! We can get everything we crave for easily! After all, what she’s craving isn’t a rare item!
“I’ll drop by the supermarket on our way back. I’ll bring them out with me, okay?” Qin Ya walked out of Lin Xinyan’s room once she finished her sentence.
“Ya, why didn’t you ask me if I wanted to tag along or not? Usually, you’re going to ask me prior to departing, right? What’s wrong with you today?”
Qin Ya was at a loss for words.
Oh, God! Stop giving me a hard time!
“You’ve had a long day, right? Since you’re completely worn out, I’ll bring you your meal when we’re on our way back and save you the trouble of heading out once again. You really need to take a break.” Qin Ya cracked her brain and thought of a great excuse.
Indeed, Lin Xinyan hadn’t had a good rest since their store launched. There were a lot of things she had to deal with. She got up from the bed and held Qin Ya in between her arms, expressing her gratitude, “Ya, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I can make it through.”
She had been rushing here and there over the past two months; preparing for the exhibition, and procuring the required materials. Although Shao Yun had been pretty helpful, he wasn’t an expert in the field. Qin Ya would have to make the trip because she could tell the difference between the materials.
“Huh? Where is this coming from? Why are you being so sentimental all of a sudden? Do you want me to cry in front of you?” Qin Ya caressed Lin Xinyan’s back and instructed, “Take good care of yourself and give birth to a healthy son, okay?”
“What if it’s a she?” Lin Xinyan teased her friend.
“Nope! I’m pretty sure it’s a he!” Qin Ya reassured her friend as though she was aware of the child’s gender.
“How can you be so sure? Do you have some kind of super eyesight?”
“Look at how pointy your bump is. The saying goes you’re going to give birth to a boy if you have a point baby bump. If it’s a blunt baby bump, you’re going to give birth to a girl.”
The theory was an urban legend that had been going around since ages ago. It wasn’t backed with scientific research. Hence, there wasn’t a standardized definition to differentiate between a pointed and a blunt baby bump.
“Can you please tell me how did my bump look like back when I was heavily pregnant with Yanxi and Yanchen?” Lin Xinyan decided to play along with her friend because she knew Qin Ya was trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s squarish.” Qin Ya burst into laughter because she found her own words hilarious once she finished her sentence.
Meanwhile, Lin Xinyan was at a loss for words because if it were a squarish as Qin Ya said, that would indicate that she had given birth to freaks.
Suddenly, Qin Ya phone beeped. She reached for her phone and noticed it was a text from Zong Jinghao, asking her estimated time of arrival.
He had appended the address of the eatery as well.
“Who is it?” Lin Xinyan asked casually because she had no intention to poke her nose into her friend’s business.
“Oh, it’s a spam message. Alright, I’m starving. I’ll bring the kids out with me now. See you!” Qin Ya shrugged her shoulders and put on a calm front as she replied.
“Alright, take care on your way there.” Lin Xinyan bade farewell to Qin Ya and asked her to return home as soon as possible. After all, the latter had also been pretty exhausted lately.
Qin Ya gestured in return and walked out of Lin Xinyan’s room.
Zong Yanxi was watching cartoon in the living room while Zong Yanchen was in the bedroom. Qin Ya urged, “Come on kids! It’s time for dinner.”
The children rushed over and put on their respective pair of shoes.
“What are we having for dinner?” Zong Yanxi, the picky eater, asked.
“I have no idea,” Qin Ya stated.
Zong Yanxi looked at Qin Ya in the eyes, feeling speechless.
“Since someone is going to foot the bill, feel free to name all kinds of food you have been craving for all this while.” Qin Ya notified casually since she wasn’t the one who would have to foot the bill.
Zong Yanchen figured out Qin Ya’s words were a double entendre, but he kept it to himself and followed Qin Ya as they made their way downstairs.
“Does that mean you’re aware as well?” The moment they reached downstairs, Zong Yanchen asked.
“What is it about that I should be aware of?” Qin Ya asked in return because she was utterly confused.
“Dad is the one who wants to treat us to a meal, right? It means you know he’s in C City, right?”
Qin Ya was dumbstruck for a few seconds before she returned to her senses. The children must have figured it out because Zong Jinghao had visited them before.
She nodded and assured, “Yes, I’m aware he’s in C City.”
Zong Yanxi heaved a long sigh.
As soon as Qin Ya buckled her up, she asked, “What is this about?”
“Mommy is the only one who’s kept in the dark because we’re all aware of Daddy’s presence.” She felt dejected due to her parent’s odd relationship.
“As a child, you should stop poking your nose into the adults’ matters, okay?” Qin Ya pinched Zong Yanxi’s nose and instructed, “Sit tight, kids! We’re about to head out.”
“Yes, Aunt Yanyan! We have heard that for more than a hundred times thus far!”
Qin Ya started the car and replied as she departed from the parking lot, “Well. Nothing comes before the safety of both of you.”
Along the journey, the children behaved themselves. Before long, Qin Ya reached the place Zong Jinghao told her to take them over to.
It was a high-end Western restaurant. Once Qin Ya parked her car, she opened the door and brought the children out of the car. She exclaimed, “Kids, it seems like we’re going to have a feast tonight!”
Zong Jinghao had set up the dinner on behalf of Su Zhan and Qin Ya. Although his wife was his priority in life, he couldn’t bear to forsake his best friend.
Qin Ya brought the kids along with her and found the private dining hall Zong Jinghao had reserved.
