Chapter 188 - 186: Sister-in-law is Pregnant?

Chapter 188: Chapter 186: Sister-in-law is Pregnant?

"Silly, I’m downstairs."

Lin Yanwan’s cheerful voice came through the phone.

Jiang Xia glanced at the time and chuckled. "Baby, hurry on up. I left the door unlocked for you."

A minute later, Lin Yanwan, carrying grapes, gently pulled open the door and entered the apartment.

There was no one in the living room, just the sound of clothes being scrubbed coming from the bathroom. She put the grapes on the coffee table and went into the bathroom, where, sure enough, she saw her mother-in-law washing clothes.

"Mom, you’re doing laundry. Is there any more? I can help you."

Hearing her daughter-in-law’s voice, Xia Shanshan turned around, her face lighting up. "Oh, Yanwan, you’re here! No, no, it’s fine. It’s just a few pairs of socks."

She turned on the tap to rinse the foam off her hands, then pulled out a couple of paper towels to dry them before walking out. Spending time with her daughter-in-law was much more important than doing laundry.

"Jiang Xia’s in the study. I have no idea what he’s so busy with all day."

Lin Yanwan smiled. "I won’t go looking for him. I wanted to spend time with you."

Xia Shanshan was overjoyed to hear that. She felt truly blessed to have Yanwan as her daughter-in-law.

"Alright, then let’s chat for a bit and watch some TV."

"Okay! I’ll just go rinse the grapes first."

As Lin Yanwan carried the grapes into the kitchen, Xia Shanshan pushed open the study door. Looking at her son, she said, "Yanwan’s here. Aren’t you coming out to spend time with her?"

"I’ll be out in a bit. I’m still busy with something," Jiang Xia said without looking up.

"Busy, busy, busy, all you ever do is work! Are you too busy to spend time with your girlfriend?" Xia Shanshan grumbled, closing the door. This silly son of hers was going to be the death of her.

’He hasn’t even officially started working yet. What’s it going to be like when he does?’

Jiang Xia just chuckled and shook his head. He spent half of his twenty-four-hour day working. Two-thirds of the remaining time was spent with his wife, and the final third was for eating and sleeping. His time management was simply flawless.

Lin Yanwan brought the washed grapes to the table. Xia Shanshan looked up at her capable and beautiful daughter-in-law, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

"I just went to get him, but he’s a little tied up at the moment."

"Mom, don’t mind him. Just let him work. Here, have some grapes." Lin Yanwan smiled, handing her a bunch of purple grapes. She remembered that her mother-in-law seemed to like this variety, which was juicier than the green ones.

"Thank you, Yanwan." Xia Shanshan ate one, then asked with a smile, "And where’s Xiao Man?"

"Xiao Man’s at home with my mom watching her," Lin Yanwan said, a bit resigned. "You really should have given her some summer homework. She has way too much free time otherwise."

Little girls her age had even more energy than boys. Sometimes her antics made Lin Yanwan’s temples throb.

"Hahaha," Xia Shanshan laughed. "Is Xiao Man a handful at home?"

"Not really a handful, no," Lin Yanwan said. "She’s just the type who can entertain herself for hours, singing and dancing all on her own and having a blast."

"That’s just how kids are. You have to let them play. Don’t think burying their heads in books all day is a good thing. There’s a time to study and a time to play. That’s how they develop into healthy, well-adjusted people."

"I wish I’d had a teacher as open-minded as you when I was little, Mom."

Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but recall her own childhood, when her mother was always forcing her to practice the piano. Although she was grateful for it now that she was older, she hadn’t been very happy back then compared to other kids her age.

Xia Shanshan chuckled. "Oh, by the way, Yanwan, why don’t you stay for dinner? I’ll go buy a fish in a bit, and we can have spicy fish tonight."

"I’m afraid I can’t," Lin Yanwan said, shaking her head.

"Oh? Why not?"

"Our class organized a teacher appreciation dinner for tonight. We have to head over soon."

"Is Jiang Xia going too?"

"Yes, he is."

Xia Shanshan nodded. ’Ah, no wonder Wang Ming is here today. They must be using our place as a meeting spot.’

"Alright then, we’ll have it next time."

The two of them watched TV and chatted about this and that, and before they knew it, they felt much closer.

After a little while, Lin Yanwan sent Jiang Xia a text.

"Hurry out and get some grapes. They’re almost gone."

Jiang Xia was focused on editing a video when he saw his phone screen light up. He quickly picked it up and typed back, "Coming! Save some for me!"

A few minutes later, once the final frame was rendering smoothly, Jiang Xia confidently hit save. At this rate, he should be able to export a draft tonight and take it to his wife for the voice-over tomorrow.

Jiang Xia came out of the study to find his mother and Lin Yanwan chatting happily. He grabbed a grape, popped it in his mouth, and swallowed it whole—skin, seeds, and all.

"Be careful, or a grape seed will sprout in your stomach," Lin Yanwan said.

"That would be great!" Jiang Xia laughed. "A grapevine could grow right out of my mouth. I wouldn’t even have to pick the grapes—I could just shake my head and they’d fall right in."

"Ew, you’re disgusting."

Watching the two of them tease each other, Xia Shanshan just smiled silently.

Jiang Xia grabbed a bunch of grapes and knocked on his bedroom door. "Old Wang, come out for some grapes."

"Oh," came a faint voice from inside.

He pushed the door open with a sigh and went in. "Hey, you should take a break every once in a while."

"You go ahead. I haven’t even finished this pineapple."

"So eat your pineapple."

Without another word, Jiang Xia closed Wang Ming’s storyboard. "You’re taking a break either way. No more drawing."

The corner of Wang Ming’s mouth twitched. "Fine. You’re the boss, you call the shots."

He followed Jiang Xia out of the bedroom and froze when he saw Lin Yanwan on the sofa. ’The boss’s wife is here? Are they already so casual about meeting each other’s parents?’

Then he heard Lin Yanwan say, "Mom, you rest. I’ll go wash this."

Hearing her completely natural and unforced tone, Wang Ming was utterly stunned.

’Holy crap, she just called her "Mom"? Shouldn’t she be calling her "Auntie"?’

’This... This was a side of the world he’d never seen before.’

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were already married.’

He shot a questioning look at Jiang Xia. *’When the hell did you get married?’*

*’We’re not,’* Jiang Xia’s expression seemed to reply.

*’Then why is she calling her "Mom"?’*

*’Don’t be surprised. Standard procedure.’*

*’Fuck you.’*

Jiang Xia just smiled, saying nothing.

Wang Ming felt a pang in his heart, as if he’d just taken a metric ton of critical damage.

From his perspective, their relationship was moving way too fast. Most other couples their age were probably still figuring out if they even had a future together. Meanwhile, these two had not only met the parents, but were already calling them Mom and Dad.

’Wait a minute, don’t tell me... is she pregnant already?’

The thought that he’d been rejected before he even got to confess, while Jiang Xia was about to become a father, filled him with so much envy he could have ground his molars to dust.

*’Dammit, you lucky bastard,’* he glared.

Sensing his childhood friend’s "sincere" blessing, Jiang Xia silently offered a look of pity in return.

*’Thanks, buddy.’*