“No need to apologize,” Ji Zhenshi said. “I’m just worried that your mood got affected because of me. You’ve already been so tired, and I should be the one showing you more understanding.”
Li Yunli spoke softly. “Then don’t be upset now, and don’t take my little outburst earlier to heart. I just couldn’t control myself a bit.”
“I won’t. I’ll keep being patient with you. You getting mad at me just means you care about me, right? It’s fine.”
“Xiao Zhen, thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you, Sister A-Yun. I’ll always love you, no matter what happens to you—even if you balloon up to one hundred and eighty pounds, you’ll still be the most beautiful in my heart.”
“It’s not that scary. I’ll just put on a little weight, that’s all. You and your sweet talk, always coaxing me like this. Xiao Zhen, I’m starting to suspect someone else taught you these lines.”
“No way—heaven and earth can vouch for me. Everyone around knows that at sixteen, I was already head over heels for you and not thinking about anything else. Who would teach me stuff like this? I just think you’re so slim; no matter how much you eat, you don’t gain weight. Grandma even thought I was mistreating you.”
“Pfft, sixteen? Our Xiao Zhen is twenty-six now.”
Ji Zhenshi was truly someone who loved deeply and loyally. She loved Li Yunli from those awkward, innocent days right up to now, when she stood tall on her own. She loved the violin too—from obscurity to carving out her own world in the music scene.
She was pure-hearted like that; once she liked something, she never gave up easily.
In the late stages of pregnancy, Li Yunli’s belly had grown so large that it severely limited her movements. For the final month, Ji Zhenshi stopped taking gigs altogether and stayed by her side every day.
During the daytime, she never left her side—not even when Li Yunli went to the bathroom.
At night, she dutifully massaged essential oil onto Li Yunli’s skin.
“I’ve sent you the list of supplies we need to restock,” Li Yunli said into the phone midway through her call. “Just check them when they arrive tomorrow. Also, some customers have complained about delivery delays on takeout, so make sure you’re preparing orders promptly.” Ji Zhenshi snatched the phone and chimed in, “Sister Xiao Ning, thanks for handling everything. Call me if anything comes up these days. Sorry to trouble you all.”
She hung up, then looked down at Li Yunli.
Ji Zhenshi tossed the phone aside and resumed applying the oil. “What are you looking at me like that for? It’s so late—why are you still worrying about the shop? I told you, you need to rest now.”
“I just want to check today’s sales footage, see if there’s anything we need to watch out for.” Li Yunli reached for the phone to review the day’s business.
Without a second thought, Ji Zhenshi swiped it away. “You insist on going to the shop during the day—that’s one thing. But at night, you need to rest. Sister Xiao Ning has it covered. Don’t stress so much; it won’t fall apart in a day or two. You need to rest!”
“Who rests every single day? This stuff isn’t tiring anyway. Give it back—stop fooling around.” Li Yunli couldn’t stop fretting over the shop; she was never the type to be a hands-off manager.
Her big belly tired her out easily these days, but she still couldn’t sit still.
Ji Zhenshi firmly pinned Li Yunli’s thighs to keep her from squirming and changed the subject. “The due date’s almost here. Soon you can give birth and get some relief. You won’t have to be this worn out every day.”
Li Yunli couldn’t win against her, so she gave in.
“But from the videos I’ve seen, it doesn’t seem like giving birth slims you down much. You still end up with some flab, and breastfeeding can make you gain even more from all the extra nutrition,” Ji Zhenshi said.
It was hard to picture what Li Yunli would look like plumper. Would she turn less attractive?
Li Yunli had just closed her eyes when Ji Zhenshi’s words made her snap them open again.
She grasped Ji Zhenshi’s wrist, her voice gentle. “What if I get ugly? After the baby, I’ll be all plain-faced and no makeup—really unattractive. Xiao Zhen, would you still like me then?”
Unlike early pregnancy, Li Yunli had become very dependent on Ji Zhenshi now. She needed to see her nearby to feel at ease.
She used to handle shop work alone just fine, but these days, she only felt secure with Ji Zhenshi by her side.
Luckily, Ji Zhenshi never left her for a moment, always providing that emotional support. Though six years younger, she was incredibly attentive—handling so many things without being asked, giving Li Yunli all the security she needed.
“You’ve asked me this a million times,” Ji Zhenshi said, a touch exasperated. “Look at your huge belly right now, and I’m still glued to you every day. If anyone’s doing the rejecting, it’s you with me. How could I ever reject you?”
Li Yunli was usually so calm and composed, but pregnancy had made her self-conscious about her looks, worried she might not bounce back.
Ji Zhenshi answered patiently every time, repeating tirelessly that no matter what happened, Li Yunli would always be Li Yunli—and as long as she was, Ji Zhenshi would love her.
Exhausted now, Ji Zhenshi didn’t want to dwell on it. Her oil-slicked hands slid to Li Yunli’s waist, and with a mischievous grin, she tickled the sensitive dip there. “Look at how soft sister’s waist is. This isn’t a waist—it’s a killer move designed to finish me off.”
Li Yunli was ticklish; she instinctively shielded her belly and twisted away. “Ji Zhenshi, if you’re applying oil, do it properly. No messing around.”
Whenever they were home, Ji Zhenshi insisted on using the anti-stretch-mark oil, and Li Yunli let her.
“I’m messing around.” Ji Zhenshi leaned down to kiss Li Yunli’s belly, then set aside the bottle, pulling out wet wipes to clean her fingers one by one.
Ji Zhenshi wanted to play with Li Yunli a bit, to distract her from shop worries that left her mind elsewhere.
Li Yunli watched those hands without blinking—especially that magically talented left hand, its fingertips capable of weaving violin magic.
It had been nearly a year, and they’d both behaved impeccably, never crossing the line.
Their gazes met. Li Yunli’s eyes heated as she watched Ji Zhenshi earnestly wipe her hands. A warm current flowed through her, thickening her breaths.
Those utterly focused eyes of Ji Zhenshi’s were so innocently damp—like the wide-eyed girl in her early twenties who could still be fooled by videos.
The pounding in her chest wouldn’t subside. The moment Ji Zhenshi climbed into bed, Li Yunli tugged her collar, her gaze sultry. “The doctor said…”
“Huh? What did he say?” Ji Zhenshi’s curiosity flared; she hated missing any medical advice.
After such an obvious hint, with no reaction from her, Li Yunli didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She undid Ji Zhenshi’s buttons one by one, pinching her waist. “Xiao Zhen, did you even read that pregnancy guide I gave you properly?”
“No way!” Ji Zhenshi shot back instantly. “I read it super seriously—you can quiz me on anything, and I’d nail it. That book’s practically worn out from me flipping through it!”
Ji Zhenshi spoke so openly, as if terrified Li Yunli might think she didn’t care enough.
Pregnant and emotional, Li Yunli was sensitive these days, and Ji Zhenshi tried to handle everything perfectly, feeding her positive vibes to keep her happy.
Ji Zhenshi’s frankness only made Li Yunli feel like her own thoughts were impure.
Her fingers paused on the buttons, a blush creeping onto Li Yunli’s cheeks—not from the intimacy, but from Ji Zhenshi’s pure sincerity contrasting her own tempting intentions.
She clutched Ji Zhenshi’s shirt, throat dry. “That’s not what I meant.”
Had she become some lustful woman?
Why could Ji Zhenshi stick to the rules for ten straight months, while she kept yearning to draw close, to merge with her body time and again?
Li Yunli breathed slowly and soundlessly mouthed, “Don’t you want me?”
Her fingertips brushed Ji Zhenshi’s knee. Slowly, she slipped off her own nightshirt, baring her full, smooth curves. Leaning in, she softly kissed the corner of Ji Zhenshi’s lips.
A kiss that could ignite everything.
Ji Zhenshi blinked in realization as Li Yunli gripped her wrist, the sultriness in her eyes unmistakable.
Pregnancy didn’t diminish Li Yunli’s beauty at all—instead, it deepened her feminine allure, her mature, intellectual aura richer than ever, radiating that perfect “wife” vibe.
Ji Zhenshi swallowed hard. Clearly tempted, but she hesitated at the sight of that swollen belly. “Is this okay? She can hear now, you know.”
Unlike with Hihi, the baby brought a different kind of shy, emotional tug.
More importantly, as a IVF baby, Li Yunli’s body had taken so much to prepare—Ji Zhenshi didn’t want to risk her safety.
“Feeling shy?” Li Yunli undulated her hips, pressing closer.
“No. Can you handle it?” Ji Zhenshi shook her head.
Rather than answer, Li Yunli silently undid Ji Zhenshi’s buttons, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Less talk, more action.”
Ji Zhenshi grinned. “Sister A-Yun, you’re so tempting.”
Glistening with moisture, Li Yunli strained her chin upward, breaths coming in gasps.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
In their brief bliss, love wove through it all.
As Ji Zhenshi tidied the little toys, she chuckled under her breath. “Sister A-Yun has no shame.”
She’d been so forward—probably starved for it after so long. Li Yunli was passionate.
Ji Zhenshi loved this side of her: responsive and fiery in a way no one else saw, so different from her poised, intellectual daytime self.
Li Yunli had been drifting toward sleep, but Ji Zhenshi’s words jolted her. They hadn’t even dressed yet, and here she was teasing.
“Who lasted less than a minute? Folded at the lightest tease?” Unable to resist, Li Yunli shot back. She grabbed a damp cloth and flung it at Ji Zhenshi in playful revenge. “I said no, and you still got all worked up.”
Ji Zhenshi took it as their flirtatious banter, catching it firmly. “Because Sister A-Yun was too tempting.”
Besides, Li Yunli had started it.
Li Yunli shot her a mock glare, then lazily lifted her arm to crook a finger at her. “Come here. I want to sleep. Sing for me, Xiao Zhen.”
“Sure thing.” Ji Zhenshi scampered onto the bed happily and launched into the familiar lullaby routine.
“Goodnight, Sister A-Yun.”
“Mm, sweet dreams, Xiao Zhen.”
The baby in Li Yunli’s belly turned out to be remarkably well-behaved. Right on her due date, she arrived without much ordeal—just one hour of labor, and she let out her first cry.
The little one had tormented Li Yunli plenty during pregnancy, but in the end, she proved an angel, sparing her mother too much pain and making a smooth entrance.
When Ji Zhenshi first held that tiny bundle, her legs went weak. “She’s… she’s kinda… grubby-looking.”
After holding back forever, Ji Zhenshi finally blurted it out.
All red and messy—she figured she wasn’t that unattractive herself, so why didn’t the kid take after her more?
Li Yunli overheard and gritted her teeth weakly. “Xiao Zhen!”
Who called their own daughter grubby?
Ji Zhenshi’s butt really needed a spanking. She’d shattered this tender moment without mercy.
“All newborns look like that,” the nurse said beside them. “Mother Li Yunli, it’s a healthy girl—five pounds four ounces. Umbilical cord cut at 4:30 a.m.”
Ji Zhenshi had done the honors with the scissors, sobbing the whole time.
It was terrifying. She didn’t feel any happiness—just panic that she might hurt Li Yunli.
“Uh… can you clean her up first? I’ll check on her later.” Ji Zhenshi handed the baby off to the nurse for the newborn room after barely two minutes, then rushed back to Li Yunli’s side.
“What a pretty baby. She looks just like you.” Li Yunli was spent, drenched in sweat like she’d been pulled from water, but her eyes shone with joy at Ji Zhenshi.
She loved Ji Zhenshi so much; everything sparked by her felt like bliss.
Heaven had long prepared this gift for her after all the hardships.
Ji Zhenshi tenderly kissed Li Yunli’s forehead, then pulled a jadeite ring from her pocket and slipped it gently onto her ring finger. “Thank you for bringing our baby. You were amazing, Sister A-Yun—so strong and incredible.”
Every mother was incredible, nurturing a new life.
Li Yunli smiled softly, lacing her fingers with Ji Zhenshi’s. “What should we name her, Baby?”
Ji Zhenshi shook her head. “You pick. She’ll take your surname, Li.”
“Hm?” Li Yunli blinked in surprise.
Blood-wise, the child was tied to Ji Zhenshi. She hadn’t expected Ji Zhenshi to yield the surname so naturally. They’d discussed it before pregnancy, when Ji Zhenshi had enthusiastically wanted the baby to take hers—but now, she handed it over without hesitation.
“You’re the incredible one. You bore all the discomfort of ten months alone, so her taking your name feels right.”
In the end, the child took Li Yunli’s surname—but Ji Zhenshi named her.
Her name was Li Zhi, little name Zhi Zhi—a play on “lychee.”
Ji Zhenshi had a special fondness for lychees. Their first stolen kiss had tasted of Li Yunli’s lychee lip gloss; their love had begun with that flavor and never faded.
The single character “Zhi” held extra meaning too: a deciduous orange tree, symbolizing warm encouragement, unyielding resilience, forging ahead. It bloomed in April-May, and Li Zhi was born mid-April—hence her name.
With that name chosen, Ji Zhenshi completed her first original composition at twenty-seven: “Lychee-Flavored First Kiss.”
Grow up healthy, little Li Zhi Baby, wrapped in your moms’ love.
Ji Zhenshi and Li Yunli—may joy fill your days, forevermore.
