Chapter 109: He Will Always Be in the Future

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: He Will Always Be in the Future

Oh, right...

’It’s just a little ball of cells right now, but a mother’s heart softens easily.’ She even felt she had been too reckless just now.

She burrowed into the blankets, her voice muffled.

"Fine, fine... Let’s sleep!"

Now she was actually a little embarrassed.

Li Hanchen lowered his head, drew close to her forehead, and gently pressed his lips against it.

Song Yao immediately started making little duck noises.

"Mwah, mwah, mwah~"

Li Hanchen paused, then said no more.

The next morning at six, she threw off the covers and sat up.

Li Hanchen rubbed his eyes and asked.

"Are you still going to the Cultural Relics Bureau today?"

Song Yao didn’t stop buttoning her shirt.

"I’m going! I have to go!"

She said, gently pressing a hand to her lower abdomen.

"I have to earn a bright future for my little one."

"I can more than provide for you two,"

he immediately replied.

Song Yao patted his shoulder.

"Of course. We’ll both work hard and build a golden bridge for our baby."

Her eyes curved into two little crescents as she smiled.

Li Hanchen’s throat tightened. He just gave a heavy hum of agreement.

"Mm, okay."

’He was always in her plans for the future.’

This thought warmed his heart.

When the Shen family saw she was up on time again, they gathered around and asked.

"Song Yao, are you still going today?"

She nodded.

"Yes, I took tomorrow off. I’m working as usual today."

Tomorrow was the big day—the Shen family was holding a banquet to formally welcome her.

Shen Jiajia sighed.

"You just found out you’re pregnant. Can’t you rest for a couple of days? I’ll have your second brother make a trip and tell Director He to find someone to cover for you."

Song Yao shook her head, her tone firm.

"Auntie, I want to go."

"But your body is just starting to go through changes..."

"I’ll definitely protect myself like I’m made of glass! Restoring artifacts isn’t strenuous work. You just need the patience to sit still."

Shen Jiayue waved her hand.

"Just let her go. Forcing her to stay put will only make her feel more frustrated."

Song Yao immediately nodded her head like a chick pecking at grain.

Shen Jiajia didn’t try to stop her anymore, just gave her a long list of detailed instructions.

"Don’t you dare just grit your teeth and push through it! If anything feels wrong, no matter how late it is, pull out your phone and call home immediately!"

"Okay, okay, I know! I will!"

As she promised, she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

As soon as it was light out, Li Hanchen drove her to work.

Yang Wanqing had already stuffed a bag of snacks into her hand.

Song Yao took it, her eyes curving into crescents.

That evening, as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she saw Shen Zhenwu sitting in a rattan chair in the main hall, looking down at an old photo album.

The daylight outside was fading. An old-fashioned lantern hung from the corner of the eaves, its soft halo illuminating one side of his face.

He had just been discharged from the hospital that morning; Shen Rongdan had picked him up.

The doctor had just said he could go home to rest when he heard Shen Rongdan add,

"Song Yao’s pregnant."

The moment the words were out, his grip on the medical records loosened.

His original plan to go and confront Yao Yuzhen vanished in an instant. He uttered only four words.

"Go to the courtyard."

Shen Rongdan acknowledged with a sound and immediately changed their planned route.

Inside, no one mentioned Yao Yuzhen’s name.

Everyone gathered around Song Yao, chattering excitedly as they calculated the due date.

Song Yao held her teacup, listening to them talk and nodding occasionally.

It was currently October. Yang Wanqing calculated on her fingers.

"She’ll be born next July. The worst of the heat will have just passed, but the cold won’t have set in yet. It’ll be a comfortable time for the postpartum confinement, and the baby won’t suffer."

"By the time it gets truly cold, the baby will have grown stronger. This child, Song Yao, she’s truly blessed."

Shen Jiayue placed some shelled walnuts into a small celadon dish and pushed it in front of Song Yao.

"Just the other day, I dreamt that the old locust tree in the courtyard had bloomed with new flowers, a whole tree of pure white. When the wind blew, the petals fell and covered the ground. And when I woke up this morning, I heard magpies chirping on the eaves."

Shen Jiayue added with a laugh.

"Isn’t that the truth? Her good fortune is just getting started!"

Song Yao looked up at her, and the two exchanged a smile.

Then, the group started chatting about who the baby would look like, how many cribs to prepare...

They chattered excitedly for half the night.

The next day, the whole family was up at the crack of dawn.

Pots and pans clattered on the stove, white steam rose from the steamers, and the fragrance of osmanthus wafted from the kitchen.

As soon as Guo Shushu walked in, she handed a small gift box tied with a red ribbon to Song Yao.

"Song Yao, I heard you’re pregnant! I’m so happy for you!"

Her gaze fell gently on Song Yao’s belly, a hint of envy in her voice.

Song Yao accepted it with a smile and turned to pull a pre-prepared scarf box from a drawer.

"This is for Big Brother and you. It’s just a little something, don’t think it’s too plain."

She opened the box. A cashmere scarf glowed with a soft sheen, warm to the touch.

Guo Shushu reached out and touched it, a prickle of emotion rising in her nose.

"How could I think that! I love it! Thank you. You have such a good memory, you even know I like this style."

She immediately wrapped it around her neck and tilted her head, striking a pose.

"See? It goes perfectly with a sweater!"

This wasn’t just polite talk.

In the past, when she gave things to Shen Shuangshuang, she would pick and choose with great care, but the girl wouldn’t even bat an eye.

"I use this brand too, but this style is dated."

Or she’d frown.

"Why did you buy something so cheap?"

She wouldn’t touch the box at all, let alone give a gift in return.

But today was the first time she had given Song Yao a gift, and not only had Song Yao accepted it, she had returned the favor with a thoughtful and generous present.

Guo Shushu’s eyes grew warm, and she couldn’t help but stare at Song Yao for a few more moments.

She quietly leaned close to Shen Rongjing’s ear and whispered.

"The aura you two have... now *that’s* what you call ’blood is thicker than water’!"

Shen Rongjing chuckled in agreement. He lowered his head, wound his own scarf around his neck, and looked up to ask.

"Sister-in-law, how do I look?"

In that instant, his usual steady demeanor vanished completely. He looked exactly like a goofy husky had taken over his body, just like Shen Rongdan.

Guo Shushu beamed and nodded.

"So handsome! You look very sharp!"

Shen Zhenwu stood to the side, his heart pounding like a drum.

’The gift I’d prepared seems...’

’a little too insignificant.’

’It was just a property deed, not even wrapped, stuffed in an old file folder he’d just pulled out of a drawer.’

The more he thought about it, the more insecure he felt, and he unconsciously scuffed the floor with the toe of his shoe.

Just as he was wondering how to bring it up, Song Yao strolled over to him with her hands behind her back and stuffed a small paper box into his hand.

"Dad, this is yours."

Shen Zhenwu froze on the spot, his mouth slightly agape, unable to make a sound.

’She called me Dad?’

’And she gave me a gift with her own hands?’

This veteran detective, usually so decisive and efficient, turned away and frantically wiped at the corners of his eyes with his thumb.

After wiping them for the third time, he took a deep breath and turned back around.

Song Yao tilted her head, feigning a frown.

"Dad, you don’t think this scarf is too cheap, do you?"

Shen Zhenwu immediately snapped his head back, fumbling to grab the box.

"Of course not! Your dad couldn’t treasure it more!"

He clutched it tightly, stammering as he wiped his eyes.

"Y-You chose this with such care, but your dad... I didn’t even put it in a new box..."

Song Yao was all ready to say that it was the thought that counted, but Shen Zhenwu, after a two-second pause, confessed honestly.

"Dad was in the hospital late, and I was in a hurry the day I got out. To make things simple, I just had a property added to your name—an old courtyard house in Beijing’s Xiqin Drum Alley. It’s been sitting empty."

He wrung his hands, his face full of guilt.

"Song Yao, please don’t think your dad is being stingy. I’ll... I’ll definitely make it up to you in the future!"

Song Yao’s pupils contracted. Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, she stopped breathing.

’Wait...’

’A courtyard house in Xiqin Drum Alley?’