RMM -Chapter 148 Baby, Don’t Take After You

After leaving the Zhou residence, Xi Yuechen hurried over to the Su household, met with Su Feng and Zhang Huaqing, and quickly departed.

Watching Xi Yuechen leave, Zhang Huaqing couldn’t help but sigh: “Sigh, when will days like this ever end?”

Su Feng frowned at her comment, clearly displeased. “A good man has ambitions beyond home. What do you know?”

“Yes, I don’t know,” Zhang Huaqing retorted with a cold laugh, turning back to him. “All I know is how hard it is for a woman to stay at home! Everything I went through when I was young is now falling on my daughter. I’m just upset about it—so what?”

Mentioning his daughter left Su Feng silent. To be honest, he did feel for her, especially since she was now six months pregnant.

But Zhang Huaqing didn’t pause. “If you don’t care for your daughter, I still do! When I was pregnant with Su Ruo, where were you? Huh? Do you think it’s easy for a woman to stay home, belly swollen, waiting for her husband to come back?”

Zhang Huaqing glared at him, her tone sharp enough to make Su Feng feel guilty. He didn’t dare argue; with this soft-but-firm woman, a single word back would only make things worse.

Indeed, thinking back, Su Feng had been unfair to Huaqing. He spent almost all his time in the military, hardly ever home, and during her pregnancy with Su Ruo, even when she had accompanied him at times, he still provided too little care. She had given so much.

In this matter, General Su would always be in the wrong. Back then, his heart was full of patriotic ambition, leaving the family neglected. Because of that, he later had to yield to Huaqing at every turn. Now, she had become the head of the household; he even had to consider her mood before making decisions.

Su Feng thought that his yielding and compromise had only emboldened Huaqing, making her increasingly unruly. Look at him—a general of a nation—yet at home, he had no authority!

These thoughts were just his venting; in reality, he could do nothing, let alone reclaim authority at home.

So now, even being scolded by Huaqing, he didn’t argue. He laughed dryly, making light: “Ah, that’s all in the past, isn’t it? Why bring it up now? Come, let’s see what we can get for our grandson.”

A real man knows when to yield; he wouldn’t bother quarreling with a woman. Su Feng comforted himself with this thought.

After Zhang Huaqing saw he was backing down, she relented, humphing as she walked to the sofa.

It was fine to occasionally mention the past, but endlessly dwelling on it served no purpose. Zhang Huaqing knew this principle well.

—

When Xi Yuechen returned to the Zhengjia courtyard, Shen Liang was coming back from outside, dressed as if she had attended some event.

Xi Yuechen didn’t ask. Shen Liang’s status sometimes required her to attend social functions, and she usually managed these on her own.

“Back? How was your talk with General Zhou?” Shen Liang took off her coat and handed it to Xi Yuechen, carefully observing his expression, a hint of worry in her eyes. “You didn’t cause any trouble, did you?”

Shen Liang’s question was honest—she knew her son’s temper well. Even if he tried to curry favor, he usually ignored social niceties. That deadpan face was natural for him, but strangers could easily misinterpret it as arrogance.

Those close to him forgave him for it, but outsiders wouldn’t. Especially General Zhou Tingzhang, whose own temper was infamous. To get on his good side, one would need extraordinary tact—something Xi Yuechen’s temperament rarely allowed.

Seeing his mother’s worried look, Xi Yuechen smiled faintly, shaking his head: “No, General Zhou is easy to deal with. We only discussed business.”

He meant Zhou hadn’t been difficult, and he hadn’t offended him. Their interaction was strictly professional, so there was nothing to worry about.

Understanding this, Shen Liang relaxed, nodding: “Good. You handle yourself wisely.”

Though she worried about her eldest son’s temper, she trusted his judgment when it came to professional matters.

“Oh, your flight this afternoon?”

Remembering that her son was leaving today, Shen Liang asked, unsure of the schedule.

“At four.” Xi Yuechen glanced at the time—it was already two.

“Almost four, then. Go check on Ruo Ruo. She might still be asleep.”

Shen Liang urged him to go upstairs and see Su Ruo before he left.

“Yes. You rest too.” Xi Yuechen nodded and headed upstairs.

—

Su Ruo wasn’t asleep. She waited a while, and seeing Xi Yuechen hadn’t returned, she couldn’t linger in the living room. At naptime, she returned to the bedroom—but she couldn’t sleep. How could she? If Xi Yuechen had already gone back to D Province, she would have given up, but he hadn’t. Her heart stayed suspended, neither up nor down.

When Xi Yuechen opened the bedroom door, this is what he saw: Su Ruo tossing and turning on the bed, sighing heavily, looking troubled, mumbling to herself.

Hearing the door, Su Ruo turned and saw Xi Yuechen at the doorway. Her eyes lit up. She tried to sit up, but her large belly made movement awkward; she could only sit slowly.

“Commander, you’re back!” Her joy was evident.

“Yes. Why aren’t you asleep?” Xi Yuechen walked to the bed and sat on the edge, watching her.

“Mmph,” Su Ruo puffed her cheeks, frowning, “how could I sleep?”

Xi Yuechen understood and didn’t press further, his face calm.

Su Ruo looked at him, sticking out her tongue playfully. “Besides, I’m not tired, so of course I can’t sleep.”

Xi Yuechen smiled faintly, saying nothing.

“Then now? Are you going to sleep?”

“Of course not. If I slept, you’d really be gone. I’m keeping you company.”

Xi Yuechen remained silent, watching her seemingly reluctant expression. He couldn’t help but find it amusing—who was keeping whom company?

“Commander, can I come see you in D Province?” Su Ruo asked, curiosity getting the better of her, though she knew he would refuse.

“Let’s wait until after the baby is born,” Xi Yuechen said after a moment of thought.

She guessed correctly: he didn’t want her to go to D Province. Beyond inconvenience, there were safety concerns. With the recent breakthroughs at Yanmen, progress would accelerate, and Su Ruo had three months until delivery. Add postpartum recovery, she couldn’t leave for at least five or six months. By then, the matter in D Province would likely be resolved without her.

This short answer was carefully considered—he simply couldn’t let her be in danger.

“Pfft, just brushing me off,” Su Ruo rolled her eyes, silently grumbling. Soldiers usually wanted their wives to accompany them, so why the opposite here? Xi Yuechen was determined not to let her join the army.

Changing the topic, Xi Yuechen placed his hand on her protruding belly. “Little one… hasn’t moved much lately?”

He had meant to say “little thing,” but changed it mid-sentence. Except for the day he returned, when the baby had been active, it had been mostly quiet these past days.

Su Ruo looked at his broad hand over her belly and smiled. “The baby’s never very active. That day, it was just giving you, as a dad, some face. This little one isn’t very mischievous—probably calm after birth too.”

She used his new nickname naturally and fluently, prompting a raised eyebrow from Xi Yuechen.

Su Ruo’s focus wasn’t on the name, though. The recent quietness gave her a bad feeling. “Quiet is fine, but baby, don’t take after your dad’s temperament.”

Her expression of slight annoyance and exasperation finally unsettled Xi Yuechen. He wanted to ask what she meant but felt awkward; after all, what was wrong with him? If his child didn’t take after him, who would it take after?

Xi Yuechen fell silent, awkwardly.

Seeing no reaction for a while, Su Ruo’s hand on her belly stopped moving. She looked up curiously at Xi Yuechen. What’s wrong?

When she saw his expression, barely concealing displeasure, Su Ruo couldn’t help but laugh, biting her lip to keep it restrained, shoulders shaking slightly.