“Summer vacation is coming soon,” Liang Zhen said, “and I’ll just be home with nothing to do. If Luo Qi wants anything to eat, I’ll cook it for her.”

“No need. If she craves for something,” Jiang Shenghe said. “I’ll do it myself.”

He just heard from Luo Qi that her tastes have changed since she got pregnant; she couldn’t get enough of the foods she used to dislike.

Jiang Sixun brought over a bottle of red wine. This bottle was specially brought from Beijing to Suzhou. It was one of the two most expensive bottles in Jiang Shenghe’s collection, and he brought it for Luo Qi to enjoy on this very special day.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t get to enjoy it.

“Luo Qi is not drinking.” Jiang Shenghe said generously, “It’s yours.”

Jiang Sixun looked at him suspiciously, “What immoral thing do you want me to do for you again?”

“Nothing is needed.”

Jiang Shenghe had a smile on his face all night.

Qin Moling teased, “Everyone can tell you’re happy on your wedding day, look at you smiling the whole time. Doesn’t your face feel stiff?”

Surprisingly, he didn’t retort to Qin Moling today, and instead answered seriously, “Not stiff at all.”

These pitiful people truly could not understand the double happiness he felt.

When toasting, when they reached the table of the ‘Front Row Wedding Squad’ from the President’s Office, everyone wished Jiang Shenghe and his wife a happy marriage. Xiao Jiang, in particular, smiled and raised his glass, “President Jiang and Sister Luo, I wish you a healthy baby soon.”

Jiang Shenghe’s smile widened. “Thank you. I’ll send you red envelopes when I get back tonight.”

They thought the boss made a joke, and nobody took it seriously.

… …

In the early hours of the morning, the President’s Office group chat was flooded with several red envelopes with the same amount and each person’s name noted in the message. Everyone claimed their share.

Xiao Jiang opened the app. He was already in bed but looking at the screen, he had to get up again. He turned on the light and looked at the screen again. 

It wasn’t that his eyes were blurry from playing games and he just misread the numbers—the red envelope his boss sent really was comparable to their previous quarter’s bonus!

Jiang Shenghe left a message in the group chat: [This is a message from Luo Qi and me. Thank you for your hard work these past few years.]

In truth, Luo Qi was already asleep and had no idea that he had sent red envelopes.

… …

At 3:30 a.m., a white sports car was parked at the entrance of the alley leading to the school. In the hand leaning on the open the car window, a cigarette gleamed crimson.

Pei Shixiao has been here from 7:00pm to 3:30am. He had bought two packs of cigarettes; one pack was already empty, and the other only had two cigarettes left.

The car’s ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts.

His throat hurt from smoking too much, and he kept coughing, his breathe choking. Drinking water didn’t help stop the cough.

The cigarette in his hand burned, but he couldn’t smoke it anymore. Pei Shixiao stubbed it out, reclined the seat, and lay down. The sky was dark, and the surroundings were desolate, with only the occasional car speeding by.

He was like a walking corpse, not knowing how he would get through tomorrow.

Suddenly, with a loud ‘bang,’ someone kicked the car door hard.

Pei Shixiao didn’t have the strength to turn his head. From the angry sound of high heels, he knew it was his mother. Only his mother would care that he hadn’t come home in the middle of the night.

“Your phone is off, and you’ve disappeared for a whole day and night. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to be like your dad? Why didn’t you think this would happen when you were acting out before?”

Still not satisfied, Li Jin kicked the car door again.

“If you weren’t my child, I would have kicked you right in the face with those two kicks!”

The night before she was to file for divorce, her ex-husband sent her a long, repentant apology and even went to the place where they first met to wait for her.

But her heart was already dead, and she couldn’t feel any sympathy for him.

She only came back to life the next afternoon after receiving the divorce certificate.

“Where did you go last night? If you went to Luo Qi’s wedding, I’ll cut ties with you completely!”

Pei Shixiao’s voice was hoarse as he said self-deprecatingly, “What would I do at her wedding? Make a scene?”

Overcome with anger, Li Jin took her frustration out on her son, uttering harsh words, “That’s right. You have no face to make a scene!”

Taking a breath, she softened her tone, “Let’s talk about it at home.”

Pei Shixiao said, ”You go back first.”

He felt completely weak, the pain worse than having his bones and muscles pulled out.

… …

Back in Beijing, Jiang Shenghe and Luo Qi continued their honeymoon, but their plans were disrupted by the arrival of their baby.

Luo Qi felt lethargic and didn’t want to move; she was also very prone to drowsiness.

The morning sun wasn’t too strong. Jiang Shenghe accompanied Luo Qi to bask in the sun in the yard. The two chairs were close together, and Luo Qi rested her elbow in her palm, propping her chin up as she looked at him.

She was wearing a sun hat, but it didn’t block out all the sunlight; a patch of it fell behind her ears, and Jiang Shenghe used his hand to shield her from it.

“When should we go to the hospital for a checkup?” he asked.

“Wait a little longer. My mom says the baby is still too young, and an ultrasound might not detect it yet.”

… …

On the day of the hospital check-up, Jiang Shenghe accompanied her throughout the procedure. After entering the ultrasound room, Luo Qi lay down and lifted her shirt. She was wearing loose clothing to make the examination convenient.

“Lie down, I’ll do it.” Jiang Shenghe pulled down her trousers slightly, picked the edge of her shirt and rolled it up. When the doctor applied the gel, Jiang Shenghe held her shirt away to avoid getting it on her clothes.

The doctor glanced at the tall, handsome man. In her many years of work, she had sometimes seen such a considerate men during examinations, but it was very rare.

Jiang Shenghe couldn’t understand the ultrasound screen, so he didn’t stare at it with curiosity. Instead, he looked at Luo Qi and gently asked, “Does it itch?”

Luo Qi felt a bit ticklish, so she smiled and nodded.

He said, “It will be over soon.”

The doctor put the probe away and handed him a few sheets of toilet paper. “Both babies are very healthy.”

Jiang Shenghe’s focus was simply that the baby was healthy. He bent down to wipe the gel on Luo Qi’s lower abdomen. Luo Qi struggled to get up, but he reached out to support her shoulder. “Take it easy.”

“Why aren’t you reacting?” Luo Qi was crying and laughing at the same time, shaking his arm vigorously with both hands. 

The gel on her abdomen hasn’t been all wiped off yet. Jiang Shenghe was adjusting the edge of her shirt when he suddenly realized what the doctor said. 

They were having twins.

The doctor added that since the pregnancy was not yet advanced enough; it was not possible at this time to determine whether the twins were identical or fraternal.

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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