RMM – Chapter 116 A Lifetime

Maybe it was because she was in a good mood, or maybe it was simply peace of mind—Su Ruo woke up very late today. When she opened her eyes, sunlight was already spilling into the room, filling it with warmth.

This nap had been exceptionally sound and comfortable. She lazily lay in bed, half-squinting at the sunlight streaming through the window. The weather looked lovely.

Xi Yuechen had already left, but Su Ruo wasn’t surprised. It was already past eight-thirty—she was probably the only one in the house still in bed.

Even after waking, she didn’t feel like getting up. She just lay there, smiling to herself. Clearly, she was in a good mood.

Well, so what if she wanted to laze in bed? She was a pregnant woman, wasn’t she? Occasionally exercising a pregnant woman’s privilege was perfectly reasonable.

But while Su Ruo could laze around, others couldn’t wait forever. Shen Liang always prepared her nutritious breakfast on time. Since she still hadn’t come down today, Shen Liang was getting restless.

It wasn’t that she begrudged Su Ruo sleeping in, but breakfast was ready. Once it got cold, it wouldn’t taste as good. Su Ruo could always eat first, then go back to bed.

Just as she was about to bring it upstairs, Xi Yuechen and Xi Yuehui came in from outside, chatting.

Seeing her son, Shen Liang set down the plate in her hand and called out, “Yuechen, come here a moment.”

Xi Yuechen turned and strode into the kitchen, with Yuehui following behind.

“Take this up to Ruoruo,” Shen Liang instructed, passing him the tray. “She hasn’t eaten yet, and it wouldn’t be good if she went hungry.”

Why should she carry it when her son could? Besides, he didn’t come home often. Since he was here, he ought to take good care of Ruoruo—the woman carrying his child.

“Mm.” Without asking anything further, Xi Yuechen picked up the tray and headed upstairs.

He thought of the little woman curled in his arms that morning, fast asleep with the look of a content little cat. Not wanting to wake her, he had slipped out quietly.

Who would have thought she could sleep this long? The sun was already high in the sky.

The thought crossed his mind, but his eyes only held gentle indulgence—no trace of reproach.

Pushing open the door, he found her awake at last. She was leaning against the headboard flipping through a magazine, completely at ease. Soft piano music drifted through the room, sunlight painting her in tranquility.

Hearing him, Su Ruo looked up. Noticing the tray in his hands, she stuck out her tongue mischievously, a little guilty.

“Chief.”

As a wife and a daughter-in-law, this really wasn’t a good look—sleeping in and having breakfast brought to her.

Xi Yuechen set the tray on the nightstand, turning his gaze on her.

“Have you washed your face?”

Su Ruo grinned cheekily. “Not yet.”

There was something roguish in her expression, but he only shook his head helplessly, sitting down on the bed.

“Go wash up.” His voice, normally calm and flat, carried a rare touch of warmth.

Glancing at the steaming food, Su Ruo let out an “oh” and slipped off the bed toward the bathroom.

Only after she went in did he withdraw his gaze. He picked up her phone, paused the music, then set it back down without looking through it.

Worried breakfast would cool, Su Ruo brushed her teeth, splashed some water on her face, and hurried back.

She ate quickly, finishing the meal in no time. Xi Yuechen raised an eyebrow—she used to eat so little.

But it was good. A bigger appetite meant better health, and her figure now looked healthier than the frail frame of before.

After she finished, he didn’t take the tray downstairs immediately. Instead, he sat there watching her stroke her belly in satisfaction.

Su Ruo, full and content, felt like life couldn’t get any better. Seeing that he wasn’t leaving, she grew even more pleased. Tilting her head, she asked, “Why aren’t you going?”

“Going where?” His brow furrowed slightly—was she trying to chase him away?

Su Ruo looked out the window, giggling. “To work.”

“Nothing pressing,” he said, lips curving in a faint smile. Looking at her profile, his heart softened. “I’ll spend these few days with you.”

Caught off guard, Su Ruo blinked, then broke into a radiant smile.

“Chief, I think you’ve changed.”

He gave a quiet hum, eyes inviting her to go on.

“You know what I thought the first time I saw you?” Her smile deepened. “I thought you were cold, distant, unapproachable. Not likable at all. Sure, you had the looks, but your icy aura pushed people away.”

Xi Yuechen recalled that day in the hospital. That hadn’t been his first time seeing Su Ruo, but it was her first time seeing him after losing her memory.

Remembering it now, he almost found it amusing. Back then, he never could have imagined he’d change so much—or that this woman before him would someday share his life and bear his children.

“At the time, I was worried and afraid. I didn’t want to interact with you at all. When I had to move into Jingyue Mingdu, I was so unwilling—it felt like walking into the unknown.”

He arched a brow. Was she complaining? Or pouring her heart out?

“Don’t be upset. That’s honestly how I felt. Who told you to be so unapproachable? My reaction was perfectly normal.”

He didn’t argue. He knew his own shortcomings and waited for what came next, his eyes holding a rare trace of expectation.

Who said Xi Yuechen was cold and unfeeling? Would someone unfeeling sit here, listening to his wife’s criticisms, quietly waiting for her words to soften?

“But once I lived at Jingyue Mingdu and got to know you, I realized you weren’t all that bad. Cold, sure—but that also made you reliable. Maybe my mindset shifted, so my view of you changed too.”

Her smile faded as she turned to him, eyes carrying both puzzlement and joy.

“Later, I don’t even know how it happened, but I… fell for you. It felt unbelievable.”

His eyes softened, though he did catch that word—unbelievable.

“You’re not happy about that?”

Hearing the hint of displeasure in his tone, she laughed, leaning against his shoulder.

“Of course it was unbelievable! You’re like a block of wood sometimes. But… I was willing.”

Her voice calmed, like the flowing piano music earlier—gentle, captivating.

“Because at the same time, I could feel your change. I could feel how much you cared. You even promised you’d always be by my side.”

With a light laugh, she added, “I took it as a promise for a lifetime. That’s why I was willing. Sometimes I ask myself, what did I ever do to deserve your true heart? So even when you’re not here, even when I’m terrified while you’re on missions, even if I have to bear your children, I’m still willing—because I know I have a place in your heart. That’s enough. I just want to guard you all my life.”

Her words struck him like a tidal wave, overwhelming and impossible to calm.

No emotion had ever shaken him like this. Her confession weighed more than the whole world. What had he done to deserve her?

She felt lighter after saying it all. Sometimes feelings had to be voiced, not left for endless guessing. And truly, she wanted to hear a promise from him—something even stronger than I’ll be by your side.

But when he didn’t answer, she looked up in puzzlement, only to meet his gaze.

For a moment, she froze. She saw excitement, even fulfillment, in his usually calm eyes.

Was this block of wood actually showing emotions like that?

Her heartbeat stumbled, then quickened wildly. His eyes seemed to pull her in completely. She had never seen them hold so many feelings at once.

“Then for a lifetime,” he said at last, his face breaking into an unguarded smile, voice carrying rare warmth, “never leaving, never forsaking.”

Xi Yuechen hardly ever smiled. But this one felt warmer than the sunlight outside, dazzling and irresistible.

A lifetime, never leaving, never forsaking…

Tears welled up. She threw herself into his arms, her shoulders trembling.

How unfair—he claimed not to be good with sweet words, yet here he was making her cry with one simple promise.

The unexpected vow filled her with a joy too great for words, leaving her laughing and crying all at once.

Holding her, he let her tears soak into his shirt. He didn’t push her away, only patted her back gently, his face full of tenderness.

“Don’t cry.”

But that only made her sob harder, clinging tighter to his shirt.

Whether it was pregnancy hormones or her own feelings, he hated seeing her cry like this—it tugged painfully at his heart.

“Don’t cry, or it’ll upset the baby.” He remembered the magazine he’d read yesterday, warning that pregnant women shouldn’t experience strong emotional swings.

At the mention of the child, she quickly tried to control herself, biting her lip and forcing the tears back before looking up at him.

Her tear-streaked face looked pitiful yet endearing. He didn’t know whether to sigh or laugh. Gently, he wiped her cheeks with tissues.

“Don’t be like a child. No more crying.” His tone was tender yet lightly scolding.

You brought this on yourself, making me cry, she thought, but wisely held her tongue. She sniffled a few more times, but the tears stopped.

“A real man keeps his word!” she said fiercely once she’d calmed down.

He chuckled helplessly, nodding in agreement. Pregnancy had made her more childlike than ever.

Satisfied, she smiled again. Catching the pampering look in his eyes, her heart stirred. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his, gently licking and sucking.

His gaze darkened. Pulling her close, he kissed her back, taking control.

The kiss wasn’t fiery, but lingering and tender—a true sharing of hearts.

Down in the garden, Xi Yuehui was feeding his grandfather’s birds while chatting with Shen Liang.

“Mom, my brother’s been upstairs a long time, huh?”

Shen Liang shot him a glare. “What’s it to you? Can’t you let a married couple have time alone? Why else do you think he came home?”

Of course it was to see Ruoruo.

“Heh, I was just saying. Their relationship looks better and better, that’s all. You must be relieved now, right?” Yuehui grinned.

“Hmph. Relieved? I’ll be relieved when you bring me a daughter-in-law and a fat grandson.” Shen Liang gave him a meaningful look.

Yuehui choked, frowning. “Mom, I’m still young! Don’t even think about forcing me to marry.”

Shen Liang only snorted, ignoring his protests.