My Husband, a Marshal: Conquering the Stars with My Culinary Arts
Chapter 37 - 15: Congratulations, Original Toast

Chapter 37: Chapter 15: Congratulations, Original Toast

Du Xixi was absolutely stunned, clearly not expecting Ke Lian to move like this, not even giving her time to react. Ke Lian leaned over and pressed down on her.

The hot breath gradually shifted from the tip of the nose to the nape of her neck, with a tendency to move downward. Du Xixi’s consciousness slowly became blurry, and in a daze, she felt like she had forgotten to say something.

Suddenly, a slightly cool large hand slipped under the fabric on her lower abdomen, and Du Xixi’s mind instantly cleared. She reached out to hold that large hand, pressing it still.

"Ke Lian, no..." Du Xixi said breathlessly, meeting the confused and eager gaze of the man above her, and shook her head, "No!"

Ke Lian respected Du Xixi. Seeing her biting her lip and refusing to relent, he slowly calmed his breath and frowned as he asked, "Is your body inconvenient lately? Shall I make you some brown sugar water?"

The mention of brown sugar water seemed to be a tradition passed down from Blue Star thousands of years ago. Its exact effects were unclear, but it seemed women liked to drink it during those few days of the month.

Ke Lian thought Du Xixi just happened to be in those days, so he dutifully wanted to make her brown sugar water.

Du Xixi, however, gave him an annoyed glance, motioning for him to lie by her side, and then she shyly leaned toward his ear: "Ke Lian, I’m pregnant."

Ke Lian didn’t speak, his entire body froze there. Du Xixi looked at him doubtfully, seeing Ke Lian’s eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief, and felt amused.

Du Xixi covered her mouth, laughter spilling out from between her lips. She had fantasized many times before about Ke Lian’s reaction to the news of becoming a father—perhaps he would nod calmly and promise to be a good dad; perhaps he would stare at her blankly, wondering if she was joking; or maybe... he would feel the child came too fast to accept the reality.

But seeing Ke Lian’s eyes nearly pop out of his head in shock made Du Xixi find him utterly amusing, making it impossible for her to suppress her laughter.

"Say it again?" Ke Lian cautiously hugged Du Xixi. Knowing full well that Du Xixi wouldn’t joke about such matters, he couldn’t help but lean his head over, hoping Du Xixi would say it once more in his ear.

Du Xixi obediently reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, leaning closer to suppress her laughter as she said: "Congratulations! I’m pregnant! You’re going to be a dad!"

Ke Lian was once again stunned, but quickly, he laughed along with Du Xixi. Childishly, he reached out a hand, gently placed it on Du Xixi’s lower abdomen without exerting any pressure, while burying his head in the crook of her neck, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Xixi, I never thought... we would have a child." Ke Lian murmured in amazement. In his mind, he and Du Xixi would most likely spend their lives treating each other with respect, never having hoped for a child.

But... but Du Xixi was pregnant! He was going to be a dad! The unexpected child had come!

Du Xixi felt the man’s cautiousness, and amusedly rubbed Ke Lian’s head with her face, feeling the soft curls rubbing against her cheek: "Do you like children?"

"Yes! I really like them!" Ke Lian held Du Xixi tightly again, lifted his head to look at her, meeting her gaze with emotions complex yet sincere, "Being able to nurture our own child together with you, I love it."

Du Xixi’s mouth had always carried a smile, and at this moment, her smile became gentler. Under the glow of the night lamp, she looked otherworldly beautiful.

The ripples in Ke Lian’s eyes grew deeper as he cupped Du Xixi’s face, sincerely planting a kiss on those crimson lips, speaking in an unusually solemn tone: "Xixi, I know our feelings haven’t reached love, nor even like..."

Du Xixi lowered her eyes, seeing herself reflected in his eyes. He continued, "But I promise, from beginning to end, there will only be you. I will learn to love you, to protect you, and I ask you to open your heart, to accept my love."

Du Xixi’s nose tingled, nearly beyond control, tears streamed down. The crystalline tears slid from the corners of her eyes. At night, they were like pearls glistening with a soft glow, dropping into her dark hair, disappearing from sight.

"Ke Lian..."

"Thank you."

Du Xixi, for the first time, voluntarily kissed Ke Lian. For the first time, she felt her earlier fondness for Ke Lian begin to slowly change, evolving into the kind of feelings they both yearned for.