After washing up, Pei Xi chased Si Ruohan downstairs to eat his own breakfast. She wasn’t helpless—there was no need for him to wait on her.
Once she finished eating, she found she wasn’t sleepy anymore. She changed into a dress, used concealer to cover the marks on her collarbone and neck, and was about to head downstairs.
Just as she opened the door, her phone rang from beside the bed.
She glanced at the screen—it was her best friend, Peng Jiao. She quickly picked up.
Before Pei Xi could even speak, Peng Jiao started rambling loudly.
“Xiaoxi! You came to see me yesterday?”
“Yes, I did. But no one was home. Where were you? Did you go home? Or were you out with your boyfriend?”
A dramatic wail came from the other end.
“Wuuuu! I was dragged back home! My relationship was exposed! My brother caught me and brought me back. I’m under house arrest now! Xiaoxi, we don’t know when we’ll see each other again. Maybe I’ll be locked up here forever! My parents are so angry! We might never meet again in this lifetime. Remember to come visit my grave during Qingming next year!”
Pei Xi had her phone on speaker, and Peng Jiao’s exaggerated crying filled the room.
She felt like a flock of crows had just flown over her head.
“What are you talking about? You mean I should mourn your doomed romance? Are you upset because you can’t see Xu Haoyang? Now that your family knows about him, did they go after him?”
She was genuinely curious whether Peng Jiao’s family had beaten the poor guy up.
“If they confiscated your phone, how are you calling me? Sounds like you’re not in that much trouble.”
Peng Jiao lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“I secretly had the housekeeper sneak it to me! My parents aren’t home right now. I just called Xu Haoyang—he said my brother went to see him but didn’t hit him. I don’t believe it! I asked to video call, but he said he had a meeting and that as long as I’m okay, he’s relieved. He said he’ll come see me tonight.”
Hearing this, Pei Xi felt her best friend’s relationship had truly entered a dramatic phase. Hopefully they would survive this test.
Worried that her family might come back any minute and catch her with the phone, Peng Jiao quickly hung up, promising to call again later.
Pei Xi had half-expected her to ask why she wasn’t staying at her own place anymore—but surprisingly, she hadn’t asked a single question. That saved her from making excuses.
When she turned around, she saw Si Ruohan standing by the door. She had no idea how long he’d been there.
Seeing she’d noticed him, he walked in and handed her a tube of medicine.
“I found the ointment for you. It won’t affect the baby—you can use it safely. Come here, I’ll apply it for you.”
She glanced at it and shook her head.
“Not today. I’m not going out, and I’ve covered it up. If it hasn’t faded by tomorrow, I’ll use it then.”
He studied her for a moment. Indeed, the marks were barely visible now. He sighed inwardly—her skin was too delicate. Even when he’d been gentle, it still left traces.
“I’ll be more careful next time. I won’t leave marks where people can see.”
As for under her clothes… that was another matter.
After sharing a bed for a night, Pei Xi no longer felt as nervous or resistant toward him. They were legally married; separation wasn’t happening anytime soon. Since that was the case, they might as well try to get along properly.
So far, he had treated her well—perhaps because of the baby. Either way, she was benefiting from it.
Hearing his promise, she shot him a look.
“Can’t you restrain yourself a little? I’m pregnant, remember?”
Why did other men turn abstinent when their wives were expecting, while he acted like a starved wolf?
He found her glare completely unthreatening—adorable, even.
“This is really something I can’t just endure. Don’t worry—I’ll be careful. I won’t hurt the baby.”
After years of abstinence, finally having a wife in his arms—how could he not indulge a little? It was just unfortunate they couldn’t go all the way.
People said flash marriages felt awkward, that couples might feel shy sharing a bed.
Not him. In his opinion, sleeping together was how you became familiar.
She was his wife—why wouldn’t he hold her?
“When’s your next prenatal checkup? Should I take you to the hospital again and ask the doctor what we need to pay attention to?”
She shook her head.
“No need. Let’s wait another half month, when I’m two months along. Right now it’s just a tiny bean. As long as I eat and sleep well, there’s nothing to worry about.”
An ultrasound at this stage would show little more than a small dark dot anyway.
He nodded. If she didn’t want to go, he wouldn’t force her.
“Alright. Just tell me when it’s time. I’ll go with you.”
He was already thinking of switching her to a better private hospital with superior service.
“Okay. If you’re free, I’d love for you to come.”
When she went alone before, she had watched other pregnant women sitting in the hospital corridors with their partners beside them. She’d been the only one alone, and yes—she’d felt envious.
He smiled softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely go.”
Even if he had to squeeze time out of nowhere.
She tilted her head at him.
“When did you come up? Did you hear my phone call?”
He remembered it clearly. After finishing breakfast, he’d come upstairs slowly—then heard crying from the room. Thinking it was her, he’d hurried over, only to realize it was coming from her phone.
“I came up to take the dishes downstairs. I heard someone crying and thought it was you. Your friend’s relationship was exposed? Her family doesn’t allow her to date? Or is there some arranged engagement?”
He had caught bits and pieces—her family had beaten the boyfriend and locked her up. It sounded like a classic case of separating lovers.
Privately, he even felt a little relieved that Pei Xi was an orphan. Otherwise, marrying her so smoothly might not have been possible. He would likely have faced a furious father and protective brother.
After all, what parents could calmly accept their unmarried daughter being pregnant?
“I don’t know exactly what happened,” Pei Xi replied. “They started dating in college and never dared tell their families. Now that it’s out, of course her family is angry.”
A precious daughter raised for years—of course they’d be upset if someone took her away.
Then she teased him lightly.
“You’re pretty lucky, you know. No difficult father-in-law, no overprotective brother. No one lining up to beat you up. You really got off easy.”
He nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. No trials to overcome, no obstacles to fight through—and I brought you home just like that. I’m fortunate.”
She turned to look out the window.
“But her family is angry because they love her. Even if she and her boyfriend break up, her family will always be her safety net. As for me… I don’t have a way out.”
Her tone held a faint trace of envy.
How wonderful it must be to have family shielding you from the wind and rain.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting her lean against him.
“How could you say you have no one behind you? You have me. I’ll be your safety net. Try trusting me a little more, okay?”
He knew she didn’t reject him—but she hadn’t truly accepted him either. If not for the baby, they might never have crossed paths again.
To give her a stronger sense of security, he realized he needed to start preparing something for her.