Qi Chenyan didn’t respond to that remark, but asked first, “Do you want more water?”
Yu Li shook her head.
Qi Chenyan took away the empty cup and handed her the handbook instead, so she could read it while waiting in line to pass the time.
Only after these preparations did Qi Chenyan slowly begin to speak.
“Today, all my time belongs to you and the baby.”
“So don’t worry anymore about whether I have time. If I couldn’t even spare time to accompany my wife to her prenatal checkup, I wouldn’t deserve to have my name next to yours on a marriage certificate.”
Perhaps because of the man’s serious, earnest expression as he said this, Yu Li blinked blankly.
“Any other questions?”
Yu Li shook her head instinctively.
Hearing him say something so serious and responsible made Yu Li feel a little unaccustomed.
After all, when she had entered this flash marriage with Qi Chenyan, she had planned for him to simply provide the money—anything more, she neither dared nor intended to hope for.
But the way things were developing now… did it feel a bit like marriage before love?
No wait, that should be pregnancy before love?
Wait, what was she thinking about? Stop it. This wasn’t a CEO romance novel—what kind of daydream was she having?
Yu Li, wake up! You two only married because of the baby. Nothing romantic about it!
While Yu Li was brainwashing herself, Qi Chenyan’s phone rang first.
Although Qi Chenyan had cleared his whole day, there were still plenty of calls.
“I need to take this.”
Qi Chenyan silenced his phone and gestured toward the fire exit, indicating he’d step away for a moment.
Yu Li made an OK sign, telling him to go tend to work if needed.
Qi Chenyan didn’t go far—he stopped right by the fire exit staircase across the way.
He stood casually, one hand holding the phone, the other tucked in his pocket. His tall, well-proportioned frame was bathed in sunlight, which outlined his deep, flawless jawline.
In that moment, Yu Li finally understood why netizens online cried that they’d live for Director Qi, die for Director Qi, and slam themselves against walls for Director Qi.
Getting into the wrong room and sleeping with the wrong man—this time, she really hadn’t lost out at all.
Yu Li was a journalist herself, and whenever she saw a perfect shot, her fingers would itch.
She took out her phone and secretly snapped a photo of Qi Chenyan from behind.
Then she opened her best friend’s WeChat chat.
Lili on the Grass: [I have to say, my bargain husband is actually pretty responsible. Honey, you have no idea—the hospital was packed today, but he didn’t show a hint of impatience. He ran around taking care of everything, so thoughtful and attentive. What a great deal!]
She attached the photo she’d just secretly taken.
But since it was a shot of his back, combined with the lighting, the whole picture had a hazy, atmospheric beauty.
Although Qi Chenyan’s face wasn’t visible, with proportions that outstanding, he surely couldn’t be bad-looking.
Her best friend replied instantly: [Holy crap, who’s this absolutely atmospheric hunk? Babe, is that your bargain husband? You totally scored on this deal! The quality’s a bit blurry though—got any front-facing shots?]
Lili on the Grass: [Maybe when there’s a chance someday, I’ll introduce you two in person.]
Best friend: [Tsk tsk, ditching your friend for a pretty face. No wonder you didn’t want me coming along today—got a handsome husband and forgot all about your bestie, huh~]
Lili on the Grass: [Love you, love you, love you most in the whole world, mwah~]
When Qi Chenyan came back, he found Yu Li’s fingers flying across her keyboard, clearly enjoying the conversation.
“All done with work?”
Qi Chenyan gave an “mm” and sat back down beside her. “All done chatting?”
“I was chatting about you.”
Qi Chenyan raised an eyebrow slightly—he hadn’t expected that answer.
“I told my best friend that I have a handsome, considerate, and gentle husband. She’s so jealous of me—she said I hit the jackpot.”
Qi Chenyan was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.
When he smiled, his peach-blossom eyes tilted up slightly in a beautiful arc, softening the composed, slightly intimidating aura he usually carried.
“Then I’ll have to thank you for the compliment.”
With that, Qi Chenyan held out his phone.
Yu Li didn’t understand what he meant for a moment. She tilted her head and blinked in confusion.
“Does Mrs. Qi want us, as a married couple, to keep communicating by text message?”
The words “Mrs. Qi” made her ears burn even more than “wife” would have.
It was as if her entire being had been stamped with Qi Chenyan’s mark.
“I’ll scan you.”
Yu Li said “oh” and opened her QR code.
With a beep, the friend request was confirmed.
Qi Chenyan’s WeChat name was simple: QCY, just the initials of his name.
Yu Li secretly changed his contact name to “Bargain Husband” behind his back.
Then, feeling guilty, she picked up the little booklet and pretended to flip through it.
Qi Chenyan didn’t see the contact name, but he caught his little wife’s sneaky movements out of the corner of his eye, and the corners of his lips curved up slightly.
Eventually, bored of waiting, Yu Li started to doze off.
Although Qi Chenyan was replying to work messages, he kept an eye on her the whole time.
When he noticed Yu Li’s head tipping to the side, he put down his phone and reached out to cradle her head.
Slowly, gently guiding it, he let her head rest on his shoulder.
Then he adjusted his posture slightly so she could lean more comfortably.
Yu Li was completely unaware of all this; only her thick, long lashes trembled faintly.
But because they were sitting by the window, sunlight streamed through the curtains, making Yu Li frown uncomfortably.
Noticing this, Qi Chenyan picked up the little booklet beside him, unfolded it, and held it up above Yu Li’s face to block the light.
It seemed like an ordinary little gesture, but in the bustling hospital, it formed a uniquely beautiful sight.
A pregnant woman saw it and nudged her husband beside her, whispering enviously, “Look at that husband—so thoughtful and attentive. Now look at you.”
“Don’t be mad, honey. Are you hot? Want me to fan you?”
Yu Li, completely oblivious to all this, was finally woken by Qi Chenyan when her number was called.
The moment she opened her eyes and found herself leaning on Qi Chenyan’s shoulder, she bolted upright, awkwardly scrambling with hands and feet.
Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt as if quite a few eyes from all directions were looking her way.
Meanwhile, Qi Chenyan calmly gathered their things, and he and Yu Li went into the ultrasound room together.
“Pull your clothes up and slide your pants down a little. Patient’s husband, help your wife get ready.”
Yu Li was a bit embarrassed and wanted to say she could do it herself, but Qi Chenyan had already stepped in.
In truth, he wasn’t quite so composed either—when her clothes were lifted, a large expanse of fair skin was revealed.
It inevitably reminded Qi Chenyan of that intense, chaotic accidental night.
Having finished adjusting her clothes, Qi Chenyan slightly averted his gaze.
Yu Li was even more mortified. She bit her lower lip and turned her head to the other side.
The doctor smiled. “You two—you already have a baby on the way, yet you’re still so reserved with each other?”
But soon, both of their attention was drawn to the image of the baby displayed on the screen.
Yu Li was getting a 4D ultrasound, which produced much clearer images.
Yet Yu Li craned her neck, looked and looked, and asked curiously.
“Where’s the baby?”
The doctor pointed at a small round shadow on the screen.
“At about one month, the fetus is less than a centimeter long and shaped like a tiny seahorse. Your baby is right here.”
Qi Chenyan leaned in closer to look.
The baby was still so small—not even fully formed, just a tiny embryo.
But he looked at it very intently.
This was his child, connected to him by blood.
A subtle feeling stirred within him, as if his very blood was surging.
“So adorable,” he said.