3 – See You at the Civil Affairs Bureau Tomorrow at 9 AM
Shen Lingyao heard Wen Song on the phone and had already settled onto the sofa across from her, waiting for a “grilling session.”
But Wen Song didn’t need any grilling at all.
She voluntarily showed Shen Lingyao the chat history on her phone and objectively recounted what Pei Qingji had just said.
Pei Qingji’s reaction and behavior barely passed muster in Shen Lingyao’s eyes, so she didn’t stop Wen Song from going back. However, she still had things to finish up and couldn’t leave just yet.
She handed the phone back, and Wen Song started looking at flights while Shen Lingyao went to pack her luggage.
Four hours later, Wen Song boarded the flight from Bangkok back to Kyoto.
She landed a little past nine Beijing time, but she had no intention of going back to her parents’ place.
First, the long journey had left her feeling awful, and she urgently needed to lie down and rest. Her penthouse was relatively closer to the airport.
Second, it was still about the pregnancy. She hadn’t figured out what to do yet and was afraid she’d give herself away if she went back.
On the ride home in the taxi, she booked a check-up for the next morning on her phone. After getting back, she showered and fell straight into bed.
The next morning, she showed up at the hospital a little after nine. To get more definitive results faster, she paid for the expedited service.
Two hours later, the test report—which held no surprises—was in her hands.
Just as she was about to sigh, her phone screen lit up.
Pei Qingji: [Are you awake? When are you free?]
Wen Song guessed he’d already arrived. She checked the time and then the route.
Wen Song: [See you at the café in an hour.]
Pei Qingji: [Mm.]
Wen Song let out a breath, tucked the report into her bag, and headed outside.
The hospital wasn’t far from the café—it only took her half an hour to drive there.
It was less of a café and more of a cozy little shop with a bit of everything.
Besides the usual café offerings, there were books to read, a craft corner for DIY projects, and a flower section where you could buy blooms or learn flower arranging.
Wen Song glanced around, ordered a milk tea, and found a quiet corner to sit in.
Normally, she would’ve gone to join in on the fun, but now—maybe because of the pregnancy—she felt sluggish all over.
She half-leaned against the chair, and before long, her eyes fluttered shut as drowsiness overtook her.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she vaguely sensed a shadow fall over her.
She assumed it was a server coming by with something, but just as the shadow receded, she heard a soft rustling from across the table.
Wen Song opened her eyes, groggy for a moment before realizing who was sitting opposite her.
“Pei Qingji?”
Her voice was light and quiet, but he still heard it.
“Mm.” Pei Qingji acknowledged, settling into the chair across from her.
Wen Song’s drowsiness vanished in an instant. She sat up properly and studied Pei Qingji.
She wondered if he’d rushed over—his breathing was still a little uneven. His suit jacket was draped over the back of his chair, and he was leisurely rolling up his shirt sleeves.
Seeing him like this, Wen Song grew even more puzzled. How could someone have such a stark difference in demeanor between inside and outside of school?
In school, he was impossibly rigid. If it weren’t for that face of his, he definitely wouldn’t have such a huge following.
But now, outside of school, every inch of him screamed “refined and elegant.” Even just sitting there like this was utterly captivating.
This contrast was exactly why she hadn’t even considered Pei Qingji that night.
“Ahem, ahem.”
Pei Qingji cleared his throat twice, pulling Wen Song’s thoughts back.
She didn’t hesitate, directly pulling the pregnancy test report from her bag and handing it over.
Pei Qingji took it, lowering his head as if carefully reading the contents, remaining silent for a long time.
Wen Song couldn’t gauge his attitude, so she probed tentatively: “Professor Pei, you… what are your plans?”
Pei Qingji raised his eyes to look at her, pressing his lips together in silence for a moment before tossing the question back to her.
“Do you like children?” he asked.
That question really hit home for her—Wen Song was certain she liked children.
And a child with both her and Pei Qingji’s genes—she couldn’t even imagine how beautiful that child would be.
She wasn’t lacking in her own conditions; even if Pei Qingji didn’t want it, she could completely raise the child well on her own. It was just that her family might be a bit difficult to deal with, since they hadn’t even gotten married.
But regardless, these two days of thinking had been enough for her to make a decision.
Having made up her mind, Wen Song nodded toward Pei Qingji: “I do.”
Pei Qingji inclined his head, replying with an expressionless face: “Then I’ll see you at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow at nine in the morning.”
Huh??
Wen Song froze. Wait, this direction didn’t seem quite like what she had imagined.
What she thought they’d discuss was the future issues regarding the child—how did it suddenly veer into marriage?
Sensing her hesitation, Pei Qingji said solemnly: “I will take responsibility.”
Wen Song pressed her hand to her forehead. How was she supposed to explain that this wasn’t a matter of taking responsibility or not?
“A relatively complete family—I think it would be better for the child’s growth.”
“I…”
Just as Wen Song started to speak, Pei Qingji’s phone rang. Although he apologized and hung up, the caller kept calling relentlessly.
Finally, after he hung up for the third time, Wen Song told him to just answer it.
Whatever the person on the other end said, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter—it didn’t seem like good news.
After the call ended, Pei Qingji seemed to be hesitating on how to broach the subject. Wen Song waved her hand dismissively: “If you have things to do, go ahead and take care of them first.”
It was probably indeed something urgent, as he didn’t decline.
Pei Qingji stood up, holding his suit jacket in hand as he said: “I’m sorry, something really came up suddenly. Get some rest—I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning. I’ll adjust my work schedule as soon as possible.”
Wen Song didn’t say anything, just waved her hand again, watching his back as he left in a hurry. But only afterward did she realize there seemed to be a lot of information in what he’d just said.
Pick her up? She didn’t think she’d ever told him her address.
And what did he mean by “adjust my work schedule”? Wasn’t he thinking a bit too far ahead?
But compared to going to get the marriage certificate tomorrow, these didn’t seem like big deals.
Having a complete family would indeed be better for the child—she agreed with that point wholeheartedly.
But how on earth was she supposed to explain this absurd situation to her parents to get the household register from them!
Wen Song was losing her mind. She sat in the shop for a while before returning to her own apartment.
Lunch was a quick fix, and in the afternoon she slept like the dead.
She had barely opened her eyes, her brain not even starting to function yet, when the phone on her nightstand started blaring.
Wen Song groggily grabbed the phone and answered it—her mother Wang Junlan’s voice came through from the other end.
“Hello? Song Song, why aren’t you back yet? Little Pei’s already home.”
“Who did you say?” Wen Song’s mind was still a blur.
“Pei Qingji.”
“What?!”
Wen Song abruptly sat up in bed, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her.