Yu Li burst out laughing.
“It’s just a little seahorse right now, and you can already tell it’s cute?”
Qi Chenyan said, completely serious, “If it looks like you, it’s bound to be cute.”
Yu Li’s cheeks flushed.
Who was it online who said that a face as aloof and forbidding as Qi Chenyan’s surely belonged to some old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud who knew nothing about romance?
Those flirtatious sweet words rolled right off his tongue—he was way too good at this!
Yu Li, thoroughly charmed, her pretty face burning, murmured, “Looking like you wouldn’t be bad either.”
The doctor nearby teased, “You two are quite the good-looking couple—the baby is bound to be beautiful too, so no need to keep modestly pushing the credit back and forth.”
Actually, Yu Li wanted to say that Qi Chenyan was still wearing a mask, covering most of his face—just where exactly had the doctor seen that he was handsome too?
But even without seeing his face, Qi Chenyan’s bearing alone was outstanding in a league of its own.
After the ultrasound, the slimy coupling gel left on her lower belly was very uncomfortable.
The doctor, putting away the instrument, said, “Use a tissue to wipe your wife’s belly.”
Qi Chenyan pulled out a tissue, his movements stiff and unpracticed.
Even through the tissue, his fingertips inevitably brushed against that patch of soft skin on her lower belly.
Qi Chenyan unconsciously slowed his breathing. Though unfamiliar with the task, his hands moved very gently, carefully wiping away the gel bit by bit.
As for Yu Li, the one being wiped, she felt a shiver run through her whole body—an extremely uncomfortable sensation that inexplicably made her heart race.
In that cramped ultrasound room, the air seemed to grow stale.
The temperature climbed degree by degree, giving off an inexplicable, face-flushing heat.
Fortunately, the process didn’t last long—there was still a crowd of people waiting outside for their ultrasounds—so once she was wiped clean, Qi Chenyan helped Yu Li up.
Yu Li was a bit flustered.
“No rush, hold this first.”
Qi Chenyan steadily handed her the things in his hands, then lowered his head and raised his hands to fasten her belt for her and let down her rolled-up knit top.
After pulling it down, he carefully smoothed it out, and only once she was properly dressed did he take the miscellaneous items back from Yu Li’s hands.
“Excuse me, about when will the report be ready?”
Although this was Qi Chenyan’s first time accompanying Yu Li to a prenatal checkup, apart from being a bit stiff and unpracticed during physical contact with her, he was otherwise meticulous to a fault.
Yu Li, on the other hand, was like a raw recruit scrambling about in a flurry—though who knew what she was busy with.
After all, Qi Chenyan had tidied her clothes, Qi Chenyan was carrying the things, and it was even Qi Chenyan who first thought to ask the doctor about the report.
Could it be true that pregnancy makes a woman lose her wits for three years? She was only one month in and already muddled—if this kept up for the full ten months, would she end up senile?
“Usually thirty minutes to an hour. You can just swipe your medical insurance card at the machine outside to get the report.”
Yu Li thanked her and went out with Qi Chenyan.
While waiting for the report, Yu Li and Qi Chenyan went to set up a file for the baby.
The household register had no photos, but it did have names.
Upon seeing the name “Qi Chenyan” in the father’s field, the nurse couldn’t help glancing at him a few extra times with curiosity.
But the nurse quickly dismissed that speculation herself.
How was that possible? That world-famous, powerful government spokesperson—how could he possibly be married with a child?
She must have been overthinking it.
Unfortunately, the nurse had just ruled out the correct answer herself.
After setting up the prenatal file, the test report was ready too.
Yu Li stared at the report, looking at it again and again in wonder.
“It’s so tiny. Forget the shape—it really does look just like a little seahorse!”
Qi Chenyan lowered his head and leaned in to look as well.
“One month, it’s still just an embryo. In a few more months, it’ll be much clearer to see.”
The moment Yu Li raised her head, she bumped her forehead right into Qi Chenyan’s, and she instinctively hissed in pain.
The words blurted out: “Workplace injury! Either pay me a million or I’m lying down right here and not moving!”
Because she used to joke around with her best friend all the time—whenever they bumped into each other, they’d immediately start demanding compensation—so before her brain could catch up, the joke had already slipped out.
The moment she said it, Yu Li regretted it.
That cursed mouth of hers!
But Qi Chenyan simply reached out and touched her forehead, asking softly, “Does it hurt?”
The man’s palm was large and broad, carrying a warmth different from her own, almost scorching against her forehead.
“No, I was just joking…”
Qi Chenyan laughed instead. “It happens to be mealtime. What do you want to eat—shall that be your compensation?”
It was already past five, so it really was time for dinner.
Yu Li thought for a moment. “I want something spicy to whet my appetite. Have you ever eaten hot and sour noodles?”
For once, a hint of confusion appeared in Qi Chenyan’s usually composed eyes.
“Hot and sour noodles? Is that a type of noodles?”
So it was true that top-tier rich young masters lived completely apart from ordinary life—he’d never even tasted hot and sour noodles, such delicious food. What a tragedy of a life!
“I know a really good hot and sour noodle shop. Whenever I don’t feel like cooking, it’s my and my best friend’s first choice. Want me to take you there?”
Qi Chenyan had no objections.
When they came out of the hospital, Yu Li noticed that the red Hongqi official car was gone, replaced by the black Cayenne Qi Chenyan had driven before.
His secretary had already been waiting outside for a while. Upon seeing Qi Chenyan, he immediately jogged over and handed over the car keys.
“Director.”
Qi Chenyan gave an “mm” and took the keys.
The secretary then turned and greeted Yu Li with great enthusiasm: “Hello, Madam!”
In truth, the secretary had only found out an hour ago.
To be precise, he had received a message from the Director telling him to drive the Cayenne parked at the airport to the First People’s Hospital—he had just taken his wife for a prenatal checkup.
God only knows, when the secretary received that message, he was so shocked he jumped straight out of his seat, startling all the colleagues around him.
He didn’t even know whether to be more shocked that the Director was married, or that he had unexpectedly become a father!
The Director was really too sneaky. Keeping his marriage a secret was one thing, but even news as big as becoming a father had been kept completely under wraps.
That said, he had to admit—the Director’s wife was really beautiful.
Though she couldn’t compare to those stunning beauties in the entertainment industry, she had fair skin and lovely looks, with a unique, lively charm.
So this was the Director’s type?
Qi Chenyan introduced the secretary to her.
Yu Li greeted him graciously, then asked quietly, “Didn’t you say we’re keeping our marriage hidden? Is it okay to let your secretary know about our relationship?”
“Keeping it hidden just means not announcing it to the public—and it’s only to protect your privacy. The people close to me naturally pose no problem.”
“Oh,” Yu Li said. “Then whenever you’re free, can I introduce you to my best friend?”
Although Qi Chenyan hadn’t known Yu Li for very long, he often heard her talk about her best friend.
That meant the other person was very important to her, and Yu Li introducing him to someone so important showed that she had already accepted him as her husband.
The corners of Qi Chenyan’s lips curved upward. “Sure, just arrange it.”
After delivering the car, the secretary left, and Qi Chenyan drove personally to the hot and sour noodle shop Yu Li had mentioned.
It was a storefront with small, separate private booths. Though the soundproofing wasn’t great, it at least offered a bit of privacy.
Familiar with the routine, Yu Li scanned the QR code and ordered her usual favorite—zhajiang hot and sour noodles, plus an extra portion of beef and a poached egg.
“What flavor do you like?”