Chapter 298 - 294: Old-Fashioned Romance Heroine 14

Chapter 298: Chapter 294: Old-Fashioned Romance Heroine 14

Ji Xiaosong gazed at the nursery designs covering the wall and the cute, chibi-style avatars of her and Huo Chen on the screen, but felt no stirrings of emotion.

None of Huo Chen’s efforts had managed to capture much of Ji Xiaosong’s attention.

’Ever since she regained her memories, she loved no one and trusted no one.’

’Her only focus was the mission.’

’Since her mission in this life was to give birth to a boy and a girl, she would use the time she had left to secure the best possible future for them.’

’That way, even after she was gone, they would live well under Huo Chen’s protection.’

With this clarity, Ji Xiaosong began to gradually change her attitude in the face of Huo Chen’s continuous displays of affection.

The days passed one by one, and as the babies in her womb grew, Ji Xiaosong proceeded with her plan ever more cautiously.

「In the blink of an eye, the seasons changed. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Central Park West was deep in autumn color.」

Ji Xiaosong stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting the belt of her silk robe. The fabric clung to her prominent belly.

The woman in the mirror had lost her initial youthful innocence; a profound, unreadable light now settled in her amber eyes.

She loosened the robe’s belt slightly, her fingertips lingering for a moment on the curve of her belly.

A faint flutter came from within, as if two little lives were greeting her.

"Ma’am, Mr. Huo is back."

The butler’s soft voice came from outside the door. Ji Xiaosong’s lips curved into a practiced smile, and by the time she turned, her expression had softened into one of gentle warmth.

Supporting her waist, she walked slowly toward the living room, her silk robe trailing behind her in an elegant arc.

Huo Chen was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on the phone, his impeccably tailored suit outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

Hearing footsteps, he immediately turned. His gaze softened noticeably when it landed on her swollen belly.

"You canceled the meeting?"

Ji Xiaosong accepted the bird’s nest soup from the maid and stirred it gently with a small silver spoon.

This movement made her wrists look exceptionally slender. She knew Huo Chen was most fond of this fragile yet resilient look of hers.

Huo Chen hung up the phone, strode over, and took the porcelain bowl from her hands. "The doctor said you need to rest more."

His thumb unconsciously caressed the pale blue veins on the inside of her wrist. "The babies were very active today."

Ji Xiaosong took the opportunity to lean into his embrace, guiding his hand to rest on her belly.

When Huo Chen’s palm touched her swollen belly, his fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly.

He looked down at the docile woman in his arms, a strange, aching pang rising in his chest.

’It had been so long since she had approached him so willingly.’

Ever since that night at the snow mountain castle, Ji Xiaosong’s gaze always held a subtle, almost imperceptible distance. Even when her attitude softened later, it always felt like she was merely fulfilling some kind of obligation.

But now, her soft hair was brushing against the side of his neck, her breath warm, like a cat that had finally decided to retract its claws.

Huo Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was low. "Why are you being so good today?"

Ji Xiaosong tilted her head up, the corners of her eyes crinkling slightly. "I suddenly realized you’ve been working very hard lately."

Her fingertip gently tapped his tie. It was a subtly patterned one she had casually picked from the new collections various brands had sent over last month. She hadn’t expected him to wear it every day.

Huo Chen’s breath hitched.

’He almost suspected this was a hallucination.’

’Ever since she got pregnant, he had been carefully trying to please her, but she had always kept him at arm’s length.’

’He gave her jewelry, and she would thank him politely.’

’He canceled meetings to accompany her to prenatal checkups, and she would only say coolly, "You don’t have to force yourself."’

’Even the nursery he designed himself, she only glanced at it from the doorway and said, "It’s nice."’

’But now, she was willingly leaning in his arms, and... she even remembered that he was wearing the tie she picked?’

Huo Chen’s eyes darkened. The pad of his thumb unconsciously stroked the side of her waist, as if confirming this wasn’t a dream.

"Huo Chen."

Ji Xiaosong called his name softly.

"Hm?"

"I dreamed about you last night."

Huo Chen’s muscles tensed instantly, and even his breathing grew shallow.

"What did you dream about?"

Ji Xiaosong lowered her eyelashes, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I dreamed you were holding the babies, taking a walk in the garden."

Her voice was very soft, yet it was like a dull knife, slowly cutting through all the defenses Huo Chen had built.

’She was imagining a future for them.’

This realization made Huo Chen’s heart pound wildly, and a wave of near-ecstatic joy washed over him.

He tightened his arms, pulling her closer. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice hoarse.

"We can make that happen every day from now on."

Ji Xiaosong hummed softly, nestling obediently against him.

But Huo Chen suddenly felt it was unreal.

’It was all too smooth.’

’The person who was so cold and distant just a few days ago, how could she suddenly...?’

He loosened his grip on her slightly, his deep eyes locking onto her face, trying to find a flaw in her act.

"Ji Xiaosong, what are you really thinking?"

Ji Xiaosong blinked, a hint of confusion in her expression. "What?"

Huo Chen stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating smirk.

’What was he doubting?’

’She was carrying his children. Her increasingly gentle body language couldn’t be a lie.’

’Perhaps she was finally willing to let down her guard and accept him?’

The thought made Huo Chen’s heart swell.

He lowered his head and tentatively kissed her forehead.

Ji Xiaosong didn’t pull away.

Huo Chen’s eyes darkened. His knuckles caressed her cheek, his voice low and raspy.

"Trust me one more time, okay?"

The words were almost pleading.

When had the high and mighty head of the Huo Family ever begged anyone like this?

Ji Xiaosong looked at the suppressed desire in his eyes and nodded lightly.

Huo Chen’s breath caught. He suddenly swept her up into his arms and strode toward the bedroom.

"Huo Chen!"

Ji Xiaosong cried out in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Don’t be afraid."

His voice was hoarse. "I just want to hold you."

He gently placed her on the bed but only lay down on his side next to her, his arm hovering around her waist, carefully avoiding her belly.

Ji Xiaosong was slightly taken aback.

’She had thought he would take the opportunity to demand more, but instead, he just held her with such restraint, as if cradling a fragile treasure.’

Huo Chen buried his face in the crook of her neck and said in a muffled voice, "Just stay like this for a little while."

His breath was hot against her skin, filled with obvious desire, yet he was trying his utmost to hold back.

A flicker of light passed through Ji Xiaosong’s eyes. She suddenly reached out and caressed his face.

Huo Chen stiffened and looked up at her.

"Have you been... very tired lately?" she asked softly.

Huo Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was low and raspy. "As long as you’re willing to pay attention to me, I’m not tired."

The moment the words left his mouth, he himself was stunned.

’When did he become so... pathetic?’

But Ji Xiaosong suddenly smiled.

She leaned in and brushed her lips against his, a touch that was gone as soon as it landed.

"Then from now on, I’ll pay more attention to you."

Huo Chen’s pupils constricted, his breathing instantly turning ragged.

He grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss, but before he lost control, he forced himself to pull back, panting.

"...Don’t tease me."

His voice was an absolute wreck. "The doctor said we have to be careful in the later stages of pregnancy."

Watching him struggle to restrain himself, Ji Xiaosong suddenly found it amusing.

’The once arrogant and untouchable Huo Chen was now losing his composure over a single, casual kiss from her.’

She deliberately leaned in closer, her fingertip lightly tracing his Adam’s apple.

"But I missed you."

Huo Chen’s muscles tensed, his eyes turning frighteningly dark.

He shot up, strode to the bathroom, and threw a line over his shoulder:

"...You’re doing this on purpose."

Ji Xiaosong watched his retreating back, which looked almost as if he were fleeing in defeat, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

’Yes, she was doing it on purpose.’

’Give him a taste of sweetness, let him drown in her tenderness, make it so that... he could never leave her.’

’That way, after she was gone, he would treat the children with the same kindness.’

The SPLASHING sound of water came from the bathroom. Ji Xiaosong gently caressed her belly, a dark, obscure glint flashing in her eyes.

"Just a little longer..."

she murmured, "Soon, Mommy will have earned the very best for you both."