Ехtrа Chaрtеr 5
Duе tо thе difficulty in detеrmining thе impaсt of high-altitudе rаdiаtiоn оn рregnant wоmen under current regulatiоns, Ruаn Sixiаn stoрреd wоrking aftеr rесеiving сonfirmаtion from the hоsрital.
Нowever, during thеse idle dаys, she fоund it hаrd tо slеер аt night.
Everу timе she сlоsеd her еyеs аnd thought cаrеfully, shе felt it was a mirаculous thing to hаvе а new lifе growing inside her.
Аlthоugh hеr abdоmеn wаs still flаt, shе mоved with ехtremе cаution, evеn relуing оn Fu Мingyu’s аrm tо turn оvеr in bed.
After sеveral days of this, еven getting out оf bed begаn to rеsеmble thе elaborate rituals of an empress dowager in the Qing palace, and Fu Mingyu couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Right now, it’s just a fertilized egg. Even if you went dancing, it wouldn’t make a difference,” Fu Mingyu said, though he still picked her up and carried her into the bathroom, seating her on the countertop with his arms braced on either side of her legs. “Do you need me to help you wash your face and brush your teeth?”
“No, thank you for your kindness.”
Ruan Sixian tried to slide down, but Fu Mingyu held her in place.
“Wait.”
He lowered his head, looked at her abdomen, and gently touched it with his hand, smiling unconsciously.
“Do you want a boy or a girl?”
Ruan Sixian asked.
Fu Mingyu answered almost without thinking, “Either is fine.”
“But I have a feeling it’s a boy,” Ruan Sixian said, staring blankly at Fu Mingyu’s chest. “Lately, I keep hearing a little boy’s laughter in my dreams.”
“Really? That’s quite impressive,” Fu Mingyu said, pulling out a face towel, wetting it, and slowly wiping her face. “You can even tell the gender of a baby’s voice.”
Ruan Sixian fell into thought, only speaking again when Fu Mingyu handed her the toothpaste-squeezed toothbrush. “I just can tell.”
“Don’t you like sons?”
Fu Mingyu asked.
Ruan Sixian pointed the toothbrush at him. “It’s not that I don’t like them, but what if we have one just like you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Fu Mingyu grasped her hand, looking at her intently. “Speak.”
“Oh…” Ruan Sixian said casually, “You’d just go around ruining other girls’ lives.”
“Which girl have I ruined?” Fu Mingyu released her hand, instead pinching her chin, his fingertips gently stroking it. “Hmm?”
The steam in the morning bathroom made Ruan Sixian blush slightly. When she lifted her eyes to meet Fu Mingyu’s gaze, she unconsciously lowered her hand and said awkwardly, “Who knows?”
A soft chuckle echoed in the bathroom. “Maybe it’s the Ruan family girl, accidentally ruined to the point of having to bear my child.”
By the time they finished washing up, it was exactly seven o’clock. Aunt Zhang had prepared breakfast, and Fu Mingyu had to leave for the company after eating.
Ruan Sixian put down her toothbrush, rinsed the foam from her mouth, and while squeezing next to Fu Mingyu to dry her hands, she glanced at him sideways several times.
Suddenly, she spread her arms toward him.
“The bathroom floor is slippery.”
Fu Mingyu smiled, bent down, and carried her out.
In reality, the early stages of pregnancy had almost no impact on normal life. With nothing to do, Ruan Sixian attended concerts, visited art exhibitions, and experienced immersive theater, only to realize that such artistic pursuits weren’t quite for her. Staying at home was much more interesting.
As the weather grew hotter, she also grew lazier.
Ruan Sixian didn’t show much of a belly, and even at five or six months, her limbs remained slender, as she maintained her exercise habits.
Although Ruan Sixian was idle, Fu Mingyu became incredibly busy during her seventh month of pregnancy.Why call him a ghost? Because he always returned home late at night, and by the time Ruan Sixian woke in the morning, he was already gone. If not for the lingering warmth on the bed, she might not have even known someone had slept beside her.
Ruan Sixian thought this was too exhausting for him and suggested he stay at Mingchen Apartments at night to save a long commute.
He agreed verbally, but every night he still came home, slipping quietly into bed and holding Ruan Sixian in his arms as they slept.
During this period, Fu Mingyu had declined almost all social engagements. However, tonight, a cooperation meeting among the tourism, aviation, and accommodation supply chains was being held. Zhu Dong had booked a private room for dinner and invited many people interested in collaboration.
This was the kind of occasion that couldn’t be refused. Fu Mingyu informed Ruan Sixian and went to attend.
At the dinner, everyone was in high spirits except Fu Mingyu, who didn’t touch a drop of alcohol, drinking only water throughout. Zhu Dong couldn’t help but mutter a few words.
"Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the one carrying a baby."
This drew laughter from those nearby, but Fu Mingyu merely raised an eyebrow, still showing no intention of drinking. "You know my wife’s temper."
A tourism technology platform owner sitting nearby overheard their conversation and, while exchanging toasts, probed a little, learning more about the situation.
His wife was seven months pregnant and usually had difficulty moving around. But for this man, it seemed like an opportunity.
Hiding his mouth behind his wine glass, he exchanged a meaningful glance with the female companion he had brought along.
Understanding his cue, the woman’s gaze swept over Fu Mingyu a few times before she stood up, glass in hand.
She had originally been a receptionist at this tourism company. Because of her good looks and her ability to hold her liquor, demonstrated at the company’s annual party, she was transferred to the marketing department. Though young, she had grown increasingly adept at navigating social situations during business dinners with her boss.
The young woman walked over to Fu Mingyu, offering flattering toasts before downing her own glass first. Several men at the table praised her drinking prowess, but Fu Mingyu only smiled and drank the tea in his cup.
Before coming, her boss had told her that everyone at this gathering was connected to their company’s interests, advising her to be sharp. He also warned that World Airlines’ Fu Mingyu was not an easy person to get along with and required extra caution.
But now, seeing his gentle expression and the faint smile at the corner of his mouth when he spoke, he didn’t seem at all like the person others had described.
Later, after her boss maneuvered a few times, someone unknowingly switched seats with her, placing her next to Fu Mingyu. She naturally took it upon herself to pour tea and water for him.
But just as she picked up the ceramic teapot, before she could pour, Fu Mingyu—who had been engrossed in conversation with Zhu Dong—suddenly turned to look at her and covered his cup with the back of his hand.
"No need, I’ll do it myself."
After the teapot was taken away, the young woman awkwardly lowered her hand, her gaze lingering on the ring on Fu Mingyu’s ring finger before disappearing into the flickering lights and shadows of the clinking glasses.
After the meal, Fu Mingyu was the first to rise, ready to leave.
The young woman skillfully fetched his coat and handed it to him. Fu Mingyu took it casually, draping it over his arm without putting it on. After bidding farewell to those in the room, he headed out.
Because of this gesture of accepting the coat, it seemed as though some unspoken understanding had been reached. The young woman immediately followed him out.
Seeing this, Zhu Dong rubbed his ear, hesitating for a few minutes between standing up and staying put.He had a child last year and knew all too well how difficult it was during a wife’s pregnancy, especially with so many temptations out there. Take that young woman just now, for example—not only was she pretty, but she also knew how to make a move. He was genuinely afraid that Fu Mingyu might succumb to temptation and waver. If that happened, tomorrow he’d be visiting his longtime friend in the intensive care unit. So, he had no choice but to stand up and follow him out.
Zhu Dong walked outside but didn’t see anyone, and his heart immediately tightened.
After all, this place had a hotel attached.
Fortunately, as he turned a corner, he spotted someone by the elevator.
Fu Mingyu stood under the light, glancing down at the person before him.
His gaze swept over her face, and the young woman grew visibly nervous under his scrutiny.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
It had only been an excuse, but Fu Mingyu had taken her words at face value. She had no choice but to brace herself and say, “It’s about the collaboration I mentioned to you earlier today. I felt like you seemed quite interested.”
The elevator hadn’t arrived yet. Fu Mingyu spoke softly, “Go on.”
“Our company is a blockchain-based centralized… no… decentralized open-source travel distribution platform that can resolve issues like conflicting flight statuses.”
“Are you saying your company’s blockchain can serve as a single source of truth for flight data?” Fu Mingyu glanced at his phone. Two minutes ago, Ruan Sixian had sent him a message: “I’m going to sleep.”
Looking at the screen, his eyes held a warmth that starkly contrasted with his tone. “The demand for airline product inventory integration and multi-source distribution channels is ever-growing. What solutions does your company’s blockchain technology offer for these needs?”
Fu Mingyu had only casually picked two questions, but they left the other person speechless.
“I…”
“If you don’t even understand your own company’s business, what makes you think you can talk to me?”
The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open automatically. Before stepping inside, Fu Mingyu glanced back at her. “Is it just because of your face? Then you might as well go find out who my wife is first.”
As his words hung in the air, Zhu Dong, who had been eavesdropping for a while, walked out with a smile and gestured politely to the young woman. “Your boss is looking for you.”
Once inside the elevator, the two stood side by side. Zhu Dong stared at the mirrored reflection and remarked idly, “You’ve become much gentler with your words these days.”
“Have I?” Fu Mingyu loosened the button at his collar, his tone softening. “Maybe it’s because I’m about to become a father.”
Recalling how the young woman had chased after him, trying to keep him there to “talk,” he scoffed. “I thought my wife was quite well-known. I didn’t expect someone to still be so bold.”
“It’s your fault,” Zhu Dong said. “When you took the coat she handed you earlier, her eyes lit up right away.”
Fu Mingyu raised an eyebrow. “What else was I supposed to do? Just leave my coat behind? My wife bought it for me.”
He paused for a moment before adding, “Besides, I’m used to it. The housekeeper at home is very thorough in this regard.”
Zhu Dong was left speechless. “I take back what I said earlier. You’re still the same, not a bit changed.”
As the elevator descended slowly, Zhu Dong broke the silence with another comment. “Well, you have changed a little. Your temper’s been smoothed out by your wife.”
Fu Mingyu: “Do you have to use the word ‘smoothed out’?”
Zhu Dong: “Then… ‘trained’?”
Fu Mingyu: “…”Seeing Fu Mingyu speechless, Zhu Dong laughed. "Honestly, many years ago, I thought you'd marry a gentle and virtuous wife like that girl just now."
Fu Mingyu spoke coolly, "What do you mean?"
Zhu Dong: "...Of course, Comrade Xiao Ruan is also gentle, virtuous, and beautiful. In that regard, few women can compare."
Fu Mingyu lowered his gaze, his tone soft, as if speaking to himself, "There are many beautiful women, but there is only one Ruan Sixian."
"Oh, that's true." Zhu Dong nodded in full agreement. "After all, aside from dreaming, you won't find another woman who'd fly to the high plateau in the middle of the night to bring you home."
By the time Fu Mingyu returned home, it was already midnight. He didn't go to shower but pushed open the bedroom door and walked in by the moonlight.
Just as he bent down, he saw Ruan Sixian open her eyes.
"Not asleep yet?"
"No, I couldn't sleep tonight." In the darkness, Ruan Sixian looked into Fu Mingyu's eyes. "I dreamed you were sneaking around with a young girl behind my back."
Fu Mingyu: "..."
The doctor in charge of Ruan Sixian's prenatal mental health had said that women tend to overthink during pregnancy and need their husbands to provide a strong sense of security.
Incidents like today weren't actually the first time, but he had never mentioned them to Ruan Sixian, feeling it was completely unnecessary to upset her over such things.
But he suspected Ruan Sixian might have a strong sixth sense about tonight's events, so he leaned down and touched her forehead. Just as he was about to speak, she added, "A very, very young girl, not even a year old, and you were holding her in your arms, kissing her all over."
Fu Mingyu: "..."
Ruan Sixian's eyes, peeking out from under the blanket, curved into a smile. "I have a feeling it might really be a girl."
Winter arrived in the blink of an eye.
The night before, a heavy snowfall had blanketed the city. At seven in the morning, just as the sun rose, the city was illuminated by the light reflecting off the snow.
It was at this moment that little Fu Guangzhi made her grand entrance into the world.
As Ruan Sixian had predicted, she was a soft and delicate girl.
Hearing her first cry, Fu Mingyu snapped out of his nervousness, tightened his grip on Ruan Sixian's hand, and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
Ruan Sixian, drenched in sweat, stared at the ceiling for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Is she pretty?"
Only then did Fu Mingyu turn to look at his daughter.
"Pretty."
Ruan Sixian let out a sigh of relief and turned to look at the child the nurse brought over.
A few seconds later, she frowned.
"Is your eyesight bad?"
Though the baby was wrinkled, all her indicators were healthy.
Clearly, He Lanxiang preferred girls over boys, which fulfilled her regret of not having a daughter. From the day her granddaughter was born, she went all out, buying so many tiny outfits that they filled two entire wardrobes—enough for the baby to change five times a day.
In addition, the gifts from others ensured the little one literally "lacked nothing in clothing or food."
As the child grew, her skin smoothed out, becoming as fair as her parents'. When she slept, her eyelashes were dark and long, and she wore clean, delicate little outfits. When awake, her eyes seemed to have built-in colored contacts, captivating every elder who held her and refused to let go.
Ruan Sixian finally admitted that Fu Mingyu wasn't blind—he was just confident.But the scene from the dream never occurred. Fu Mingyu would never cuddle and kiss their daughter endlessly. Instead, he would sit by the crib for hours on end, gazing intently at her.
Ruan Sixian didn’t understand what Fu Mingyu was looking at and intended to join him in his observation. Yet, by the time she felt there was nothing left to see, she too had already spent an hour sitting by the crib.
As time passed, she began to sense something deeper.
Every inch of this child’s skin, every strand of her hair, and the blood flowing through her veins were hers and Fu Mingyu’s.
A child might be the strongest bond in the world, tying her and Fu Mingyu tightly together. No matter how the world changed, the arrival of this life was proof of their love.
Yet, true familial affection grew gradually through their daily interactions.
A little over a month after the child’s birth, Ruan Sixian began her return-to-work training, leaving much of the daily care to Fu Mingyu.
Fu Mingyu wasn’t overly affectionate with their daughter, but he displayed extraordinary patience and attention to detail in daily life. For instance, he never let the nanny trim the baby’s nails.
Sometimes, when she returned home, she would see Fu Mingyu sitting in the yard, holding the child and feeding her with a bottle. The sight of him in a crisp suit performing such a tender task felt both surreal and harmonious, leaving her momentarily disbelieving.
As a father, Fu Mingyu was very responsible, but he also seemed to have a mischievous side.
For example, he often called their delicate, porcelain-like little girl “Guangzhi.”
Of course, this wasn’t her formal name, but he used it so often that the child would react whenever she heard it.
“Guangzhi, Guangzhi, Guangzhi! What’s your obsession with these two words?”
Ruan Sixian was furious, feeling sorry for her daughter being stuck with such a nickname. “When she grows up and tells others, ‘My name is Guangzhi,’ won’t her classmates laugh at her?”
“What’s wrong with Guangzhi?” Fu Mingyu remained unrepentant. “‘A settled heart brings order, a broad mind brings openness.’ The name Dad chose is excellent.”
Ruan Sixian sighed deeply.
Well, Guangzhi it was—still better than “Dazhi.”
Perhaps because she was given this nickname before birth, the child’s future path seemed to have been inadvertently foretold by Fu Mingyu.
Of course, that was a story for later. For now, the child’s temperament worried Ruan Sixian.
The child was already one year old and hadn’t spoken a word, while most children started calling for their parents around ten months.
Ruan Sixian often leaned over the crib and coaxed her softly, “Baby, say ‘Mama.’”
The child only blinked.
“Or ‘Mommy.’”
Still no response.
Ruan Sixian frowned and turned to Fu Mingyu. “She won’t call anyone.”
Fu Mingyu smiled confidently, stepping forward to bend down and hold her tiny hand. “Guangzhi, say ‘Dada.’”
His baby stared at him, slowly opening her mouth.
A smile spread across Fu Mingyu’s eyes, while Ruan Sixian held her breath.
Why?!
But her child didn’t disappoint her. Though she opened her mouth, it was only to let out a big yawn before turning over and closing her eyes to sleep.
Her entire body seemed to spell out, “Sleeping—do not disturb.”
Fu Mingyu: “…”
Ruan Sixian burst into laughter.
“What are you laughing at?”
Unaware of the change in Fu Mingyu’s expression, Ruan Sixian laughed so hard she collapsed onto the sofa. “Should I cry instead?”
“Cry?” Fu Mingyu mused. “That’s not impossible either.”Ruan Sixian's smile froze abruptly, lingering at the corner of her lips.
"Fu Mingyu, can you act like a decent person in broad daylight?"
He raised his hand, hooking his finger around his tie and pulling it down, his eyebrows lifting slightly. A meaningful smile flickered in his eyes. "Not a good idea. I can't bear to let you go through a second pregnancy."
Ruan Sixian: "…?"
Perhaps it was true that pregnancy dulled the mind for three years, but it wasn’t until she was coaxed into the bedroom that she finally grasped the meaning behind Fu Mingyu’s words.
Apart from being quiet, little Fu Guangzhi also showed little interest in toys. During her first birthday ceremony, faced with a table full of books, abacuses, coins, treasure gourds, and seals, she seemed unenthusiastic. Under the eager gazes of her surrounding relatives, she casually picked up a book just for show.
Ruan Sixian thought the child might take after her, so she carried her to the storage room to show her the entire collection of aircraft models.
But the child still kept her head down, playing with her own hands.
"Is this child a bit introverted?" Ruan Sixian had already resumed flying by this time and didn’t spend much time at home, which filled her with guilt. "Is it because we don’t spend enough time with her?"
"Being introverted is fine too."
Although Fu Mingyu said this, he wanted to explore their daughter’s personality from another angle.
He began to nurture her artistic talents.
One morning, Ruan Sixian was on leave and woke up late. When she opened her eyes, she found both the big and little figures missing from the bedside, but faint music drifted in from outside.
Following the sound, Ruan Sixian walked out and saw Fu Mingyu at the piano in the second-floor hall, with little Fu Guangzhi nestled in his arms.
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the father and daughter in a warm glow. The man sat upright, his posture elegant as he played the piano with effortless grace, while holding their little one added a touch of tenderness to the scene.
Ruan Sixian clasped her hands behind her back and quietly walked up behind him. Leaning over, she rested her chin on his shoulder and glanced at the sheet music on the stand.
"Paganini… Études. Can she even understand this?"
"Whether she understands or not isn’t important," Fu Mingyu replied, his fingers dancing fluidly across the keys, his expression calm. "Cultivating refinement should start from a young age."
"Oh… Did you forget you did the same thing when I was pregnant?"
"Hmm?"
"I fell asleep back then." She pressed Fu Mingyu’s hand, signaling him to look down at their daughter in his arms. "I think our daughter takes after me in this regard."
Fu Mingyu lowered his head and let out a long sigh.
Little Fu Guangzhi was fast asleep in his arms.
Regarding their daughter’s introverted nature, the two of them stopped pushing the issue.
They realized that although she wasn’t talkative, she loved to smile. From this perspective, her personality was undoubtedly fine.
However, Ruan Sixian noticed that as their daughter’s features developed, she looked more and more like Fu Mingyu—almost like a carbon copy.
Thinking about it, such looks seemed to match such a personality. When she grew up, she would undoubtedly be a true ice-cold beauty.
"Why is that?" Ruan Sixian murmured to herself while holding the child. "I carried you, I gave birth to you, so why don’t you look like me?"
Fu Mingyu was quite satisfied with their daughter’s appearance, but he didn’t forget to comfort his wife. "Daughters often take after their fathers in looks."
Ruan Sixian turned to look at Fu Mingyu and, for once, acted coquettishly, hoping he would say something sweet. "But that’s so unfair to me."
Fu Mingyu smiled faintly. "Enduring unfairness brings blessings."
Ruan Sixian: "…"
"Then I wish you blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea."
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