“Be good, let me have a look,” Fu Zhiyie’s hand gently stroked her soft belly, waiting for her nod.

After a long moment, Cecilia finally loosened her grip a bit. “You won’t like it.”

“...I will.”

Fu Zhiyie settled her down by the bed, knelt in front of her, and carefully pulled aside the thin nightgown.

Her belly was round and firm beneath the fabric, with five or six faint lines stretching across her lower abdomen, their color still light.

His long fingers brushed gently. Of course, girls like being pretty. Now, her belly was so big from pregnancy, and she’d gotten stretch marks—how could she be happy about that?

He sighed softly, his heart aching. Cecilia was still worried he wouldn’t like her, even though carrying their child was so hard on her.

“Is it scary...?” Cecilia asked, glancing down with hair falling softly around her face.

Fu Zhiyie kissed her round belly. “Not at all. It’s not ugly or scary. Once the baby’s born, they’ll fade.”

She trembled at his kiss, her face flushing deep red. “Don’t kiss, I...I haven’t even showered yet.”

He let out a quiet laugh—finally, she wasn’t on the verge of tears. He stood and gently helped her up from the bed. “Our Cecilia smells good every day. How about I help you bathe?”

“Mm.”

Fu Zhiyie fetched a clean nightgown from the wardrobe, supporting her as they went into the bathroom.

After their shower, he settled her back in bed, dried her hair, then grabbed some oil meant for her belly.

“Go to sleep. I’ll put this on for you.” The warmth of his palm worked the oil gently into her soft skin.

Fu Zhiyie’s eyes brimmed with tender pity. She was so petite—only her belly was round and full, with a few pale marks winding across the lower curve.

His large hand covered her belly, smoothing the oil in gentle strokes. Lying there, she couldn’t help letting out a tiny sigh of comfort.

Cecilia closed her eyes. It felt so good she drifted right off to sleep.

……

It was over a week later before Mia Moore finally came to visit.

She arrived alone.

August in the capital was brutally hot. Normally she’d be in a short skirt and tank top, but today she wore a knee-length dress with three-quarter sleeves.

Near dusk, Cecilia sat on a garden bench, catching the breeze and waiting for Mia Moore.

Zaobao dashed circles around her feet. The little rascal was suddenly hard to book—these days it was always with Grandma Rivers, Mom, even Grandpa Rivers, every slot filled.

“Zaobao, have you been eating even more lately? You’re so chubby.”

She tossed the little ball in her hand. Zaobao wagged its tail, trotted after it, and brought it right back—over and over again, never tired. Cecilia really didn’t get what was so much fun about it.

Across the garden, Mia Moore approached from afar.

Cecilia looked up and grinned stealthily. My baby’s little aunt is coming.

“Cecilia, darling!” Mia Moore hurried over and plopped down on the bench.

“Yao Yao... Sister-in-law??”

Before she could finish, Mia Moore slapped a hand over Cecilia’s mouth, eyes wide and face flushing instantly. “N-no more of that! Don’t call me that.”

She’d worked so hard to dodge Cecilia for a few days, hoping this whole thing would be forgotten!

Cecilia nodded obediently, her whole face brimming with laughter. Only then did Mia Moore drop her hand.

“So, why didn’t my brother come with you?”

“Didn’t we agree not to talk about him? Why bring him up again!” Mia Moore pouted.

Cecilia hugged her, giggling into her shoulder. “Why? You really don’t want to be my sister-in-law? I’m devastated!”

Mia Moore was helpless. “It’s just...I’m not used to it yet.”

“How’s my honorary nephew? Has he been good? When is he coming out?” Mia Moore patted Cecilia’s belly, curiosity all over her face.

“Soon—just two more weeks. If you wait any longer, he might be born before you get here!”

Mia Moore’s hand lingered gently. She hoped the baby would come soon too—every day, she counted down the days.

“Are you taking any maternity photos for keepsakes? I saw some beautiful ones online the other day.”

Cecilia paused—she really hadn’t thought of that. Now that it was mentioned, she was tempted, but quickly shook her head as if to snap out of it.

“But wait—when did you and my brother get together? Don’t try to change the subject! I want the gossip, and so does baby!”

…

Mia Moore was speechless. Cecilia always joked that pregnancy made her silly, but she wasn’t going to let herself be made a fool too. No way a baby could actually understand gossip.

Still, Cecilia was her best friend. So Mia Moore gave in and, in vivid detail, spilled everything that happened that night at the hotel.

“My brother is amazing!”

“...Is that really the point?”

Mia Moore pinched Cecilia’s cheek. “But wasn’t this all moving way too fast? It still doesn’t feel real sometimes.”

There was a flash of amusement in Cecilia’s eyes. She cleared her throat. “So, do you like him? Was it from before, or just that night?”

Mia Moore tilted her head, a faraway look on her face. “Maybe...since before. After coming back from Y Country, even though I didn’t know his name, I’d randomly think of him sometimes.”

A soft, sweet smile curved her lips.

“And you say you don’t like him,” Cecilia teased, bumping her nose playfully. “My brother’s a bit of a handful sometimes, but he’s always sincere.”

Cecilia smirked, and glanced in the direction behind Mia Moore. Charles Chase had already been standing there for a while.

One hand in his pocket, tousled chestnut hair swaying in the summer breeze, Charles Chase was watching Mia Moore with a relaxed, contented look.

Sensing her gaze, Mia Moore turned—and jumped. “Hey! Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t come today?” She walked up, giving his waist a sharp little twist.

Charles Chase dodged expertly, catching her mischievous hand and leaning in close. “Be good, or I’ll kiss you right here.”

“Hey!”

Mia Moore was indignant but couldn’t say anything. She’d realized by now—Charles Chase was exactly like Cecilia said: he might seem all calm and refined, but deep down he was just as childish and mischievous!

From the bench, Cecilia covered her eyes but peeked through her fingers at the tangle of lovebirds, her lips popping in exaggerated protest.

“Don’t mind me—I didn’t see a thing, the baby didn’t see anything either. You two just go on.”

…

“Why are you all still out here? Come inside, dinner’s ready.”

Fu Zhiyie had just finished work, and upon seeing the trio in the garden from the second-floor window, he came straight down.

He draped a little jacket over Cecilia’s shoulders and took her hand, helping her up.

“All done for the day?” Cecilia asked, walking slowly with him and paying no further mind to the couple tangled up behind them.

“Mm, finished.”

Thinking of what Mia Moore had just said, Cecilia realized she’d never really taken photos with Zhiyie. Back then, they’d signed a prenup and only took a wedding photo when they got their marriage certificate.

For various reasons, their wedding had just been a small family meal with her grandparents.

As far as she could remember, Zhiyie didn’t like having his picture taken—there were hardly any photos of him at home. The only ones she’d ever seen were in her grandfather’s old albums, showing him as a little boy.

Things were so good now—so good that Cecilia wanted keepsakes for the future. Someday, when they were old, they could look back through albums together and smile at all their memories.

“Zhiyie, can we get photos taken? You, me, and the baby.”

She turned, eyes bright as stars, beaming at Fu Zhiyie.

He paused, then smiled gently. “Of course. If you want to, we’ll go.”

He tugged her jacket closer, and the two headed back inside, side by side.