While Mo Junlin was getting ready for work, Qin Ruoyao was still curled up in bed.
She didn’t feel like going anywhere that day. All she wanted was to stay home and rest. Before leaving, Mo Junlin made sure her breakfast was kept warm.
“Remember to get up and eat something later. I’ll come home for lunch and eat with you.”
“You don’t have to come back at noon. I’ll be fine on my own.”
She wasn’t made of glass—she didn’t need someone watching over her every minute.
“No. That’s not up for discussion. Aunt Sun will prepare lunch, and I’ll come back to eat with you.”
“All right. Then drive carefully and stay safe.”
After Mo Junlin left for work, Qin Ruoyao found she wasn’t sleepy anymore. She got up, finished breakfast, and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the view outside.
Her phone rang.
“Let’s leave yesterday behind. Now that you’re here before me, if I want to love, please give me a chance…”
She glanced at the screen.
It was her younger sister, Ruohan.
“Hey, Xiaohan, have you finished your exams?”
“Oh, come on, Sis. Has pregnancy made you forgetful? I finished them ages ago.”
Qin Ruoyao laughed.
“So which university did you apply to? Are you staying in W City?”
“Of course I’m aiming for the best. I scored 699 points—I can get into Peking University.”
Qin Ruohan sounded incredibly proud.
She had every reason to be.
“That’s an amazing score! You’ve done so well. What reward do you want?”
Qin Ruoyao was genuinely happy for her sister.
“I’ve already been rewarded. Everyone at home has spoiled me enough. I don’t need anything.”
“Then are you planning a graduation trip? Those seem really popular these days.”
“No. I’m not interested in those places. I’m staying home with Grandpa.”
“Then why don’t you come visit me for a few days? I can pick you up.”
“Absolutely not! Please don’t come pick me up.”
Thinking about her pregnant sister driving over made Qin Ruohan nervous.
“If I come, I’ll ask the driver to bring me.”
“All right. Then have the driver bring you over. I’ll be waiting for you. I’m staying at Huating Pavilion.”
“Okay. I’ll let Grandpa know first.”
Knowing her younger sister was coming immediately put Qin Ruoyao in a good mood.
At lunchtime, Aunt Sun prepared a table full of her favorite dishes. Just as she was about to eat, Mo Junlin returned.
Qin Ruoyao immediately questioned him.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come back? Why don’t you listen? Were you speeding?”
Mo Junlin sat down beside her.
“No. I just finished work early because there wasn’t much to do today.”
He smiled.
“What? Don’t you like having me eat lunch with you?”
“Of course I do. But aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“Work is important, but so are you. As long as I finish what needs to be done, I have time to spend with you.”
He placed some of her favorite dishes onto her plate.
“I got a call from Xiaohan today. She got into Peking University.”
Mo Junlin nodded approvingly.
“That’s an excellent school. Did you give her a reward?”
“She didn’t ask for anything. I invited her to stay with us during the holidays, and she agreed. She’ll arrive this afternoon.”
“Do you want me to pick her up? She doesn’t have a driver’s license yet, does she?”
“The driver is bringing her.”
“She’s not even eighteen until next month. How could she have one?”
After a moment, he suggested,
“Once she gets her license, let’s buy her a car as a gift.”
Qin Ruoyao smiled.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“It’ll be good for you to have someone around to keep you company. Just make sure you two stay away from anything dangerous.”
He paused before asking,
“Where do you want to have dinner tonight? Here or at the old family estate?”
“Let’s go back to the estate. I want to take her strawberry picking—and maybe pick some peaches too.”
“All right. I’ll let Mom know so she can prepare the guest room.”
Qin Ruohan arrived at two o’clock that afternoon, just after Qin Ruoyao had finished her nap.
“You must be tired after a two-hour drive. Sit down and rest for a while.”
Qin Ruohan stared at her in surprise.
“Wow, Sis, you haven’t gained any weight at all. Aren’t you pregnant? I thought pregnant women all had huge baby bumps.”
Qin Ruoyao glanced down and smoothed her dress over her stomach. Only then did she notice the slight curve of her belly.
To Qin Ruohan, it looked no different from the way her own stomach looked after a big meal.
“I’m not tired. I slept almost the entire way here.”
“Great. Then let’s go shopping for a few things before heading to the estate. I’ll take you fruit picking.”
“Is it one of those pick-your-own farms? I love places like that.”
“Something like that. There are lots of vegetables too, and you can even go fishing. But first, let’s go shopping.”
After they finished shopping and returned to the estate, Mrs. Mo gave Qin Ruohan an enthusiastic welcome.
The estate was usually quiet, so having a young girl around livened things up.
“Come on, Xiaohan. Let’s put your things away first, and then we’ll take a look around.”
Mrs. Mo personally led Qin Ruohan to the guest room.
Since the sun was lower in the sky and the weather had cooled, the three of them headed to the strawberry fields behind the house.
The rows of bright red strawberries immediately caught Qin Ruohan’s attention.
“I want one! I want one!”
Mrs. Mo laughed.
“Don’t be shy. Eat as many as you want—they’re very sweet.”
Qin Ruohan didn’t need to be told twice.
She picked a perfect-looking strawberry and popped it into her mouth.
Sweetness instantly spread across her tongue, and she closed her eyes in delight.
Seeing her expression, Qin Ruoyao couldn’t help smiling.
“Well? How does it taste?”
Qin Ruohan nodded enthusiastically.
“It’s delicious! The sweetest strawberry I’ve ever had.”
She kept eating one after another, unable to stop.
At the same time, she picked strawberries for her sister, knowing that Qin Ruoyao shouldn’t bend over too much.
Because it was getting late, they only picked strawberries, leaving the rest for another day.
“I’m so full I don’t even want dinner.”
Qin Ruohan patted her stomach.
“That’s because you ate too many.”
Qin Ruoyao laughed and handed her a hawthorn candy ball.
“Here. This will help with digestion.”
“They’re the best strawberries I’ve ever tasted. I couldn’t help myself.”
Qin Ruohan pouted playfully.
“Then let’s eat a little later. I had quite a few myself.”
Mrs. Mo agreed.
When Mo Junlin returned home, he found everyone sitting in the living room.
It was already seven-thirty, and dinner hadn’t been served yet.
He looked puzzled.
Qin Ruohan immediately greeted him.
“Brother-in-law, you’re back!”
Mo Junlin nodded.
“When did you arrive, Ruohan? Make yourself at home. Don’t be shy.”
Then he asked,
“Why haven’t you started dinner? Were you waiting for me?”
Mrs. Mo rolled her eyes.
“What are you thinking? Do you really think you’re that important?”
Qin Ruoyao explained with a smile,
“We ate too many strawberries earlier and weren’t hungry yet, so we decided to have dinner later. Have you eaten?”
Mo Junlin shook his head.
He had wanted to come home and eat with them.
“Then let’s eat now. It’s been long enough.”
Mrs. Mo turned to Qin Ruohan.
“Come on, Xiaohan. Time for dinner.”
Earlier, Mrs. Mo had asked Qin Ruoyao about her sister’s favorite foods and specifically instructed the chef to prepare them.
Looking at the table filled with dishes she loved, Qin Ruohan felt more cared for than ever before.
“Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Brother-in-law. Thank you, Sis.”
Mrs. Mo smiled warmly.
“Why are you thanking us? We’re family. Hurry up and eat, then get some rest. You must be exhausted.”
After dinner, Qin Ruohan felt as though her stomach was almost as round as her sister’s.
After chatting together for a little while longer, everyone retired to their rooms for the night.