"How about this, I'll go with you to find a school to study. You can't smoke, but having a pen in your mouth isn't a bad alternative."
"？？？？？？"
"Instead of bothering me, why not find a school in Bogotá to study? Community college or public school would be fine. Your Spanish is so good, attending classes shouldn't be difficult."
Chen Yi frowned deeply, his expression full of reluctance: "No."
Miao Jing explained gently, "I've seen some schools offering short-term courses with weekend classes at reasonable costs. Now that you've started your company, you need to learn everything. Why not recharge and expand your knowledge? I'll accompany you?"
He thought for a long time, somewhat aggrieved: "Do you think I'm not educated enough?"
"I just want to see how amazing Chen Yi can be. Having never studied properly before, yet eventually earning a diploma from an international university - that would be truly remarkable." Miao Jing rested her chin on his head. "Imagine you sitting in a classroom reading and writing."
She recalled their middle school years, watching him swagger around campus in his uniform. The oversized school uniform hung loosely on him, yet somehow drew everyone's attention.
Miao Jing pressed her soft lips to his ear, whispering seductively: "A man's brain is sexier than his body."
And so Chen Yi was led by Miao Jing into the world of studying. He enrolled in an adult education program at a university, spending a considerable amount on an economics course. Besides attending weekend classes, he had to find time on weekday evenings to study and do homework at home. Between Spanish and unfamiliar professional terms, Miao Jing accompanied him through the challenging material, their evenings becoming filled with quiet companionship.
Miao Jing's work situation also changed. She had been assigned to Bogotá for an electric car project, which had now entered the production phase. With the manufacturing center located in Brazil, Miao Jing needed to travel there for business.
Since Brazil's security situation wasn't necessarily better than Bogotá's, Chen Yi insisted on accompanying her on the business trip.
They stayed in Brazil for over a month, naturally visiting the Amazon rainforest and Rio de Janeiro. Their visit coincided with Brazil's Carnival, where grand celebrations filled every corner of the city with colorful parades. The influx of tourists made the air seem thick with sensuality and passionate desire.
While packing, Chen Yi remembered to stuff a supply of contraceptives into the luggage, but they were consumed at an alarming rate. Due to supply issues and Miao Jing being in her safe period, they occasionally became less careful.
When they returned to Bogotá, Miao Jing often felt drowsy. At first she thought it was fatigue from the business trip, and even went to hot springs with Si Nan.
One day when Chen Yi picked her up from work, she had just stepped out of the office building when the smell of car exhaust made her cover her mouth suddenly - nauseous to the point of dry heaving.
They hadn't yet realized that a child had quietly arrived.
When Miao Jing's period was significantly late, she brought home a pregnancy test from the pharmacy. Chen Yi stared at the two lines, sinking into bewildered contemplation.
Chapter 54: Making You My Home (Part 1)
Neither Miao Jing nor Chen Yi had given much thought to having children. They assumed it would happen naturally someday and they'd prepare in advance, but certainly not now.
The colorful packages in the drawer had just been restocked and filled...Miao Jing sat calmly on the sofa, her expression soft. Her clear gaze drifted from the fresh flowers before her to the wall clock, then settled on Chen Yi. He was hunched deeply in his chair, elbows propped on his knees, fingers interlaced with his thumb tips supporting his stern jaw. Lost in thought, he slowly exhaled, ran both hands through his hair twice, then looked up to ask her: "Are you scared?"
"Scared of what?" Miao Jing countered.
He pointed at her abdomen, his eyes dark and intense: "Pregnancy. Giving birth. Raising it."
Miao Jing twitched her lips: "You're the one who's scared?"
She hurled a cushion hard at his face: "Weren't you fearless when you suddenly dragged me up the mountain to stargaze at midnight? When you pinned me against the steering wheel? Scumbag!!"
"Didn't I pull back in time?" Chen Yi caught the cushion looking disheveled, rubbed his face, attempted a grin but ended up looking dejected. He moved to squat before Miao Jing, his dark eyes studying her deeply before wrapping his arms around her and burying his head against her lower abdomen, his voice muffled: "I haven't figured out how to be a dad yet... Didn't dare make you a mother either."
His arms tightened as he pressed against her soft warmth: "I've never been afraid of anything... I'm just afraid you might be scared..."
Miao Jing took a deep breath and calmly patted his head: "Get up. Don't press on my stomach."
Chen Yi rose in a daze, glancing between Miao Jing and their home before scratching his head and planting his hands on his hips. Their eyes met simultaneously as they spoke in unison: "Should we go to the hospital?"
They drove to the hospital where the results were clear - six weeks pregnant, with both fetal heart and fetal bud already detectable. The doctor saw them out, shaking their hands while congratulating the new parents on the arrival of their little angel.
Angel...
Chen Yi clutched the ultrasound photo, frowning as he stared at the blurry angel for a long while with a peculiar expression. Finally, he placed both hands on Miao Jing's shoulders, gazing at her with an involuntary silly smile. She took the photo from him, slanting him a sidelong glance while suppressing her rising lips.
It felt like witnessing the fruition of something blossoming - they had each contributed half their genes to create this tiny seed.
Chen Yi grinned widely, pulling her into his embrace as they held each other openly in the corridor. Foreheads touching, he nuzzled her cool nose and pecked her red lips before murmuring softly: "Shall we try? Raising a child together?"
"Let's raise it." Miao Jing buried herself contentedly against his chest, breathing in his scent deeply. "Nothing to be afraid of. I'll take responsibility for it."
She vowed that no matter what the future held, this child would have a completely different life from its parents.
Chen Yi pressed a kiss to her forehead: "I'll take responsibility for the child and its mother."
The sudden arrival of the child abruptly changed life's rhythm.
First came the issue of childbirth. When Miao Jing's company headquarters asked if she needed to transfer back to China, she declined. Both had adapted well to Bogotá, Chen Yi's small business was just taking off, and matters in Tengcheng remained unresolved - returning at this critical juncture was undesirable.
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