Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot-Chapter 974 - 580: Fifth Master’s Passion Misplaced, Qiqi Caught in the Act? (Third Update)
Shen Shuci’s reaction to morning sickness was unexpectedly severe; she tried quite a few remedies and foods, with the doctor’s approval, but none were effective.
She had weathered storms before; even the Liang Family’s slander did not bring her down.
Who knew she’d trip over pregnancy?
It had seriously affected her work; she had taken leave too many times. If the pregnancy symptoms were too severe, it would undoubtedly delay work. After pregnancy, there was maternity leave and postpartum rest; she couldn’t work at all.
She initially discussed with the two elders about resigning, but the manager said they could arrange a leave of absence without pay for her.
She could return to work anytime she wanted.
Shen Shuci understood that the company kept her because of the Huo Family’s influence; she didn’t want to take advantage of her status as the Huo Family’s daughter-in-law to reap all the benefits everywhere.
She planned to take this time during pregnancy to study, but her morning sickness was so bad, even reading was out of the question.
She didn’t even show up when it came to choosing the bridesmaid dresses. Although Tang Wan was pregnant and her body was getting heavier, the doctor also advised against her lying down all the time; moderate exercise was beneficial for future childbirth.
So she participated when choosing the bridesmaid and best man attire.
Shen Shuci was not feeling well, and Huo Qinqi was at work, so they watched the whole event live online...
**
Shen Shuci wasn’t worried about the bridesmaids stealing the spotlight at the wedding. It was all about looking good. However, Huo Qinqi was quite particular.
He insisted that Qi Zeyan change his outfit several times.
Finally, they settled on a rather old-fashioned suit...
Tang Wan nearly laughed herself silly:
This was truly Brother Huo’s style.
All serious, strict, and formal.
Luckily, Qi Zeyan had good looks; otherwise, an average person would look ten years older in that suit.
Qi Zeyan was quite annoyed and even called him afterward to question:
"Picking out a best man’s outfit without you, the groom, showing up, commanding me to change clothes via phone—does that make you feel good?"
Had it been someone else making such demands, Qi Zeyan would have walked away long ago.
What’s the deal? Can’t one have a little temper?
But since it was Huo Qinqi’s wedding, something that happens once in a lifetime, he decided to let it slide, only to end up choosing the most old-fashioned outfit!
Was it because he was afraid the best man would outshine him?
Such a scheming guy.
Huo Qinqi listened to his complaints and chuckled lightly, "Enjoyable might be an overstatement, but it’s okay."
Huo Qinqi wasn’t worried about the best man being too handsome; it was mainly his conservative taste—playing it safe means no mistakes.
"I’m putting my life on the line here to be your best man. I can’t predict what the Jiang Family might do to me later, and you won’t even let me dress nicely?"
Qi Zeyan thought, even if entering the tiger’s den, one should do so with flair and style.
Huo Qinqi straightforwardly asked, "Since the outcome can’t be changed, does what you wear matter? Must you strike a pose and snap a picture before they finish you off?"
Qi Zeyan was fuming. Listen to that—is that even human talk?
"Do you believe I’d show up to your wedding in rags?"
"If you’re not afraid of embarrassment, I don’t mind."
"..."
Some people just won’t budge, and it was driving Qi Zeyan crazy.
**
After trying on the clothes, Tang Wan and Ruan Mengxi went shopping, and Qi Zeyan, full of frustration, headed back first.
Nowadays, Tang Wan couldn’t resist going into a mother and baby store, especially upon spotting all those little gadgets inside.
"Weren’t you here to buy clothes for Jinsang? Why are you checking this place out?" Ruan Mengxi found these items cute but wasn’t as engrossed as Tang Wan.
Especially after seeing the prices, she couldn’t help but click her tongue.
Are kids’ items really this expensive nowadays? A can of formula costs this much—just how much would diapers and formula add up to in a month?
No wonder people say raising kids now is unaffordable.
Tang Wan held a doll in her hand, examining it closely, "I’m just looking around."
She initially wanted to buy some seasonal clothes for Jiang Jinsang before her body got any heavier, and someone was eagerly waiting for new clothes from Tang Wan.
Despite saying she was just looking, Ruan Mengxi noticed that Tang Wan wouldn’t let go of whatever she picked up.
"Xixi, how are things with Zeyan? Any progress recently?"
Ruan Mengxi frowned, "I guess so."
"What do you mean by ’I guess’?"
Ruan Mengxi felt that Qi Zeyan might know she was interested in him. After all, living under the same roof as a single man and woman, sometimes she spoke in a way that made it obvious.
But he hadn’t expressed anything, making Ruan Mengxi start to have doubts.
What exactly was his intention? Did he not want to break the tension, or was he allowing her to get closer?
"You two can’t keep being like this. If he really can’t fall for you, you need to make plans early; you can’t just hang yourself on his tree forever." Tang Wan continued picking toys.
"I know." Ruan Mengxi nodded in agreement, pondering it over in her heart.
...
After receiving a call from Tang Wan, Jiang Jinsang drove to pick her up. He first dropped off Ruan Mengxi at home before asking her what she bought today.
"I bought two little outfits, they are super cute, and some toys," Tang Wan immediately took out the items to share with him.
"That’s all you bought?" Jiang Jinsang raised an eyebrow as he looked.
"I also bought a baby bottle. I heard this brand is really good. I saw many expectant mothers recommending it online, so I bought one when I saw it today."
"That’s it?"
"What else?" Tang Wan looked innocent.
"Nothing, what do you want to eat tonight?" Jiang Jinsang gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Tang Wan noticed his expression wasn’t quite right and tried to recall why she had gone out shopping today. She suddenly remembered that she was supposed to buy clothes for him, but she didn’t even enter a men’s clothing store.
"Next time, I’ll buy something for you," Tang Wan said with a flattering smile, stuffing the little trinkets she had just shown off back into the bag. "You know, ever since I got pregnant, my memory hasn’t been great; I’m always forgetting things..."
"I used to think the saying ’pregnancy makes you silly for three years’ was a joke, but I didn’t expect it to be true."
She laughed dryly, turning her head to look at him, "Fifth brother, you’re not mad, are you?"
"No, I’m not." Jiang Jinsang just felt that his enthusiasm was misplaced. The items were bought for their child, so there was no reason for him to be jealous. "You’ve been shopping for quite a while today, are you tired?"
"My legs are a bit sore."
"I’ll give you a massage when we get back."
...
While the atmosphere here was just right, things were different on Ruan Mengxi’s end.
She had just returned home, fished out her keys to open the door, and saw three people sitting in the living room.
Qi Zeyan, Assistant Xiaozhu, and...
Mr. Qi!
More importantly, Qi Zeyan seemed to have just taken a shower, with drops of water still trickling from his hair, creating an awkward and uncanny atmosphere.
"You’re back, Xiaoruan," Mr. Qi smiled at her.
"Hello, Mr. Chairman," Ruan Mengxi didn’t even bother to change her shoes, quickly closing the door. She glanced at Qi Zeyan, questioning with her eyes what was going on.
Qi Zeyan’s expression remained unchanged; he was quite startled himself.
...
Half an hour ago, the doorbell rang.
Having lived here for so long, aside from a visit by the air conditioning repairman and the gas company staff to check the meter, no one had ever come by. He thought Ruan Mengxi had returned without her keys.
He was wearing his best man suit before, which had made him sweat, so he had just taken a shower and changed into fresh clothes.
Without much thought, he opened the door.
Instead, the person standing at the door caught him off guard, but it was the person outside who was truly startled.
"Bo...Boss?"
The person standing outside was Xiaozhu.
He had wanted to find Ruan Mengxi to discuss some data report issues, but working with the energetic Mr. Chairman, it was only because he finished work early today and had some free time that he came over.
He didn’t expect Qi Zeyan to open the door.
He had always felt that those data reports had some familiar wording, but ever since Qi Zeyan took charge, he could instruct others and rarely did such tasks himself, so it hadn’t occurred to him.
At that moment, seeing him, everything was clear.
Even though it was already after work hours, the sky was still bright with the sun not yet set, strictly speaking still daylight.
Why are you taking a shower in broad daylight?
His mind instantly went in the wrong direction...
"Why are you standing there? Come in and close the door," Qi Zeyan didn’t mind him at all. "You here to see Xiaoruan?"
"Yes, I needed to discuss some work matters with her."
"Work matters should be handled at the company, why discuss them at her home?" Qi Zeyan raised an eyebrow:
"Have you been coming here often before?"
"No!" Xiaozhu shook his head quickly, "It’s just because she’s been on leave recently, and I was passing by after work, so I came up."
Qi Zeyan tussled his hair with a towel, sitting directly on the sofa, looking very much like the master of the house.
"It’s not work hours now, why are you standing? Sit down."
"Oh...okay." Xiaozhu was still not fully recovered.
Because of Mr. Qi’s direction to not mind him, Xiaozhu, as an assistant, naturally wouldn’t inquire about Qi Zeyan’s whereabouts. Could it be that his "disappearance" for so many days was because he was staying at Ruan Mengxi’s place?
The lone man and woman...
Ruan Mengxi also liked him, but these two people...
Xiaozhu was on high alert, just about to secretly glance at him when the doorbell rang again, almost scaring him to faint.
"It might be her, go open the door," Qi Zeyan guessed it should finally be Ruan Mengxi this time.
But instead...
It was Mr. Qi!
Qi Zeyan was so shocked that he dropped the towel he was using to dry his hair, feeling inexplicably like a teenager caught watching something inappropriate by a parent.
This was the scene Ruan Mengxi saw when she came back home.
