As Luo Wei's belly began to show, Mo Huai arranged all his work to be done from home so he could accompany her throughout the day. After dinner, he was in the kitchen washing dishes and clearing the table, while Luo Wei curled up on the sofa, leisurely browsing entertainment news on her phone.
From time to time, she glanced up at Mo Huai, who was diligently working, a peaceful smile spreading across her face. Just then, the doorbell rang.
Luo Wei's cell phone rang, displaying an incoming call from Chi Ye. She quickly pressed the answer button.
"Sister Weiwei, I just talked to your landlord, and he mentioned you moved out. Why didn't you tell me?" Chi Ye complained, pouting.
Luo Wei stammered, "I've been too busy lately, so I didn't have time to tell you." Trying to change the subject, she asked, "Have you found an internship?"
Chi Ye had recently returned from studying abroad, and his father wanted him to learn how to run the family business with his brother Chi Yu, but Chi Ye had firmly refused. He wanted to be self-reliant, earn his own money, and not depend on his family's wealth.
"Actually, I found an internship. I've been working for a month now, and it's really fun. It's much more meaningful than just studying," Chi Ye said, his voice brimming with excitement. He seemed pleased to be demonstrating his value and contributing to society.
Luo Wei smiled, "That's good to hear. I was a bit worried you wouldn't be able to adapt."
"How could you think that? I'm naturally adaptable. Don't underestimate me," Chi Ye replied, laughing. "Sister Weiwei, once my internship is over, I'll come by the pet store to visit you."
Luo Wei paused, realizing she hadn't been back to the pet shop in a long time. She often received updates from Su Yuxin via WeChat about the store's business and videos of some cute animals. "Okay," Luo Wei responded, her tone hesitant.
"Take care, Sister Weiwei. I've got to finish some work now. Goodbye," Chi Ye said before hanging up.
Just then, Mo Huai came over from the kitchen, holding a bowl of strawberries. He smiled warmly and said, "Baby, eat some fruit to get your vitamins."
"Baby?" Luo Wei repeated, looking at Mo Huai with a puzzled expression.
He stared at her with intense eyes and clarified, "The baby in your belly."
Mo Huai's face turned red briefly, but he quickly masked his embarrassment.
"Oh, oh," Luo Wei murmured, accepting the strawberry he handed her. She took a bite, savoring the sweetness and strong strawberry flavor. "So sweet," she remarked, before impulsively grabbing another strawberry and offering it to Mo Huai.
Mo Huai's lips curled into a slight smile. After a moment's pause, he opened his mouth, allowing Luo Wei to place the strawberry inside. As he ate, his Adam's apple moved subtly, an action that mesmerized Luo Wei, making her swallow nervously.
Noticing her gaze, Mo Huai asked with a teasing glint in his eyes, "Am I that handsome?"
"Ah?" Luo Wei blurted out, suddenly realizing what Mo Huai had said. Her face flushed, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed. Her cheeks grew warm as she nervously played with her fingers, an endearing sight to Mo Huai.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as he softly reassured her, "Okay, I won't tease you anymore, alright?"
His deep voice was soothing, yet its intimate tone sent a shiver through Luo Wei. She buried her face in his chest, feeling shy and overwhelmed. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the warmth of his breath against her ear made her feel both comforted and tingly, heightening her awareness of his presence.
At that moment, Luo Wei felt a sudden craving for grilled tofu, a favorite snack from her school days. She, Gu Chuyi, and Su Yuxin used to visit a local vendor after class, agreeing that it was the most delicious snack in the world.
She sat up straight, pouting as she remembered those times, lost in thought. Mo Huai noticed her sudden shift in mood and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Luo Wei hesitated, unsure how to express her craving, especially since it was late at night and they lived in a wealthy area where street food was scarce.
Seeing her reluctance, Mo Huai pressed gently, "What's wrong?"
Finally, Luo Wei whispered, her voice barely audible, "I suddenly want to eat grilled tofu..." She looked at him with a hopeful gaze, her expression full of quiet longing.
Mo Huai raised an eyebrow and chuckled at Luo Wei's request. "That's easy, just buy it if you want to eat it."
Luo Wei sighed, frustrated. "There's no snack bar around here. You can't buy it even if you have money." She glanced at him and suddenly felt guilty for being demanding. She tried to brush it off, smiling awkwardly. "It's okay, I don't really want it now, hehe..."
Seeing her discomfort, Mo Huai pressed his lips into a thoughtful line. He didn't want to leave her alone in the apartment, but he also wanted to fulfill her craving. An idea came to him, and he quickly picked up his phone, issuing a brief instruction to someone on the other end.
"Could you get some sizzling tofu and bring it to the Supreme Mansion?" He spoke with authority, ensuring the request would be fulfilled promptly.
After finishing the call, Mo Huai turned to see Luo Wei staring at him in disbelief. Her eyes were wide with admiration, and she blushed slightly. "Really, there's no need to go through so much trouble. I don't have to eat it," she said shyly.
Mo Huai smiled warmly, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "How could I refuse a pregnant woman's craving?" he said, his voice gentle. He picked up a strawberry from the table and held it out to her, encouraging her to take a bite.
On the other side, Xu Kaifeng was working overtime at home, preparing to shower and go to bed, when his phone rang unexpectedly. He frowned, puzzled as to why Mr. Mo would contact him so late. It was unusual, as Mo Huai typically respected work-life boundaries unless there was an emergency.
Answering the call with a respectful tone, Xu Kaifeng asked, "Boss Mo, what's the matter?"
To his surprise, he heard Mo Huai's straightforward request: "Buy me a plate of sizzling tofu and bring it to Supreme Mansion."
Xu Kaifeng blinked, momentarily stunned. He thought he must have misheard and asked for clarification. Mo Huai calmly repeated the unusual request. After a brief silence, Xu Kaifeng collected himself and responded, "Okay, I'll take care of it."
Xu Kaifeng muttered to himself as he hurried out, "Mr. Mo usually doesn't eat junk food. Miss Luo must have a craving."
He quickly put on a coat, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out the door. As he passed through the living room, his father, watching TV, noticed his son's urgency and called out, "Where are you going so late?"
"To buy some sizzling tofu," Xu Kaifeng replied over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
Father Xu grumbled under his breath, "Going out for food at this hour... Can't miss a meal, can you?"
Then, raising his voice, he added, "And bring me a cup of milk tea, no sugar! Did you hear me, you rebellious son?"
Xu Kaifeng's mother emerged from her room and rolled her eyes at her husband. "Can you drink less milk tea? How did you end up with diabetes? You won't change until it's too late."
Father Xu responded gruffly, "I know, I know, stop nagging."
Meanwhile, Xu Kaifeng had packed up the grilled tofu downstairs, grumbling inwardly about the situation as he made his way to the garage. Starting the car, he couldn't help but curse under his breath. What was this all about? As Mr. Mo's special assistant, he never expected to be handling such personal errands. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of it all.
After a fifty-kilometer drive, he finally arrived at the Supreme Mansion. Parking the car, he took the elevator up with the takeaway in hand. A woman in the elevator eyed him curiously, likely wondering why someone was delivering food at such an hour.
Xu Kaifeng felt a bit embarrassed under the woman's curious gaze. She probably assumed he was a delivery man, given the late hour and the food he was carrying. The atmosphere in the elevator became awkward, and he forced a faint smile, trying to brush off the uncomfortable moment. The elevator's silence felt heavy, making the ride to the floor seem longer than usual.