They had never been valued by those around them growing up — constantly overlooked, brushed aside, never quite seen. But their mother, and her side of the family, had always treated them as the center of the universe. So much so that Su Li, unable to contain his emotions, threw his arms around his mother and sobbed loudly, "Mom, when I grow up, I’m going to buy you a big house! A huge one! And I’ll buy one for Grandpa and Grandma too — and for Uncle and Auntie!"
Gu Zi ran her fingers gently through his hair. "All right, don’t cry, don’t cry. Getting new clothes is something to be happy about, isn’t it? Go on now, try on your new shoes. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t know how tall you’ve gotten, so they had the shoes made a little big. See if they fit, and if they don’t, we can have the tailor adjust them." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Everyone obediently began trying on their shoes at her suggestion — everyone, that is, except for Su Shen. He wasn’t in a rush. He had quietly taken a thick, glossy piece of red-cured bacon into the kitchen.
Ever since Gu Zi got pregnant, she’d been craving meat constantly. And Su Shen had noticed the way her eyes had lingered longingly on that particular piece of hometown-cured pork. Tonight, he was determined to make sure she had her favorite stir-fried bacon.
Gu Zi herself had noticed her appetite growing increasingly robust these days. It was as if pregnancy had given her an insatiable craving for meat. So when Su Shen finally emerged with the food, steam rising from the dishes, she was already swallowing back her saliva in anticipation.
Su Shen ignored everything else. He immediately grabbed a bowl and chopsticks for her, scooped her a generous portion of rice, and deftly laid slices of stir-fried cured bacon on top. Then he went back into the kitchen and brought out a small bowl of sour pickled radish — the very same ones Gu Zi had made before her pregnancy, which she now adored more than ever. Sweet, sour, tangy — everything her taste buds were begging for.
Watching her eat so heartily made Su Shen smile. Often, he wouldn’t even touch his own bowl until he was sure she was eating well.
But halfway through her rice, Gu Zi found herself craving something more — something with a kick. Her gaze landed on the half-finished bottle of chili oil on the table. It was her own creation: rich, fragrant, fiery — dangerously good.
She reached out toward it and asked, a little shyly, "Can you get me some chili oil? I want just a little taste."
Su Shen stiffened slightly. His expression turned serious. "Did you forget what the doctor said? No spicy food. Be good, all right? After the baby’s here, we’ll eat all the spicy things you want."
She knew he was only worried for her — for their baby — but the longing was real. Her heart sank. Maybe it was the pregnancy, maybe it was hormones, but lately she had become much more emotional and sensitive to the smallest things. And now, denied her one spicy indulgence, tears began to fall silently onto the table.
One by one.
Plop. Plop. Plop.
Su Shen was stunned.
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