"Honey, seriously?!  Will you be following me around ALL THE TIME?"

"Yes.  I don't have much to do anyway.  Can't just wait at home while you work your a.s.s off here.  Our baby will get tired too."

"Shh!!!" Xue Jinxu turned her head sideways, checking if anyone was within earshot.  n.o.body seems to hear.

"If you're going to mention it every now and then, why decide to keep it under the covers?"

"Sorry, I'm just too carried away." Chen Linyun's eyes glistened as he speaks.  He did a face palm to somehow hide his stupidly smiling face.

Xue Jinxu curled her lips upward.  She, too, was overly ecstatic.  She could definitely understand her husband's sentiments. 

The moment she broke the news with him, Xue Jinxu wrapped her jadeite lovely arms around his neck.  She found out that moment that it's possible to laugh and cry simultaneously. 

At first, the husband was dazed, but her tight hug brought him back to reality.  Chen Linyun reciprocated the missus's hug and cupped the bottom of her head with his right hand.  "We're so blessed." He murmurmed, and kissed her hair just on top of her ear.

After a while they pulled away from their tight embrace, only for their lips to meet again in a slow, sensual kiss.  It was a kiss with the understanding of all the ups and downs that they went through in the short time of their marriage. 

When the kiss ended, Chen Linyun planted another one on Xue Jinxu's forehead, his eyes solemnly reflecting his high adoration for his wife.  Then he docked, which surprised Xue Jinxu, and kissed her tummy. 

"Chen Linyun…" Xue Jinxu raised her arms and slightly leaned back to accommodate the husband's actions and intent.

In the end, she ran her dainty fingers along his hair as he spend the very first quality time with their tiny baby b.u.mp.

'I'll really be careful this time around.' She thought, full of responsibility.  She felt scared, but the happiness the news brought to her and her husband's lives was enough to overcome all the negative emotions that come with it.

And since they wanted to be more careful this time around, they hadn't told anyone yet.  It's still a secret between spouses.

Of course, they couldn't keep it for themselves forever, as Xue Jinxu's tummy would start to show, and it wouldn't be right not to share the good news to their relatives and closest family.

Therefore, they decided to hold a banquet at their house.  However, their press release had nothing to do with the b.u.mp.  They invited their closest family members under the reason of Chen Linyun's safe recovery.  They would make the announcement there, during the event.

So, for the meantime, it became the expectant parents' little secret between them.  It was kind of thrilling to be keeping such a big secret between them.  For now, they savor every moment only the two of them knew of.

As such, Chen Linyun decided to take his husband duties to the next level.  He ditched the house arrest, to stick to the wife's side wherever she goes.  When she went to work at Xue s.h.i.+pping, he tagged along, too, but promised that he wouldn't be there for work.  He's only there to look after her.  She would still call the shots at Xue s.h.i.+pping.

Even when Xue Jinxu attended meetings, Chen Linyun still came and sat beside his wife, or if there's a couch at the vicinity, he would quietly pa.s.s the time there, not giving a d.a.m.n about the meeting per se.  Some attendees would glance to his direction, which he heeded no mind.  He would only stare at his own mobile phone, and at the periphery of his vision, checked on Xue Jinxu too.

His presence at Xue s.h.i.+pping brought a slight uproar with the employees.

"Can you feel Chen Holdings' presence?"

"They're probably here to make sure their investment is doing well."

"Perhaps they're planning some major changes."

"Oh no, will we lose our jobs?"

"What nonsense are guys spouting?  Mister Chen is our officer too right?"

"Ahh, yeah.  Yes… But…"

"Chen Holdings…"

When he learned Xue Jinxu's decision to proceed with a merger between Xue s.h.i.+pping and Chen Holdings, he a.n.a.lyzed the situation, and gave the verdict that she did the best solution to salvage the Xue family's empire.  It's better to tie it to another family member's solid business rather than to another company outside of familial connections.

As for Xue Jinxu, she made it appear that each day is just like any other day.  She tried not to show any changes with her façade and aura just yet.  She still wore corporate attire except that her stilletos were replaced with wedges and sometime soon, with flats. 

For the announcement banquet, the Chen couple invited the Xue Family, Father Chen and Aunty Mo.  Of course, the squad - Mo Wenbin, Zhu Li Qiang, Hw.a.n.g Meilin, Kang Sola, and Xue Guangxi will be there too.  The couple sent out invites for those who were far away as well: Xue Minhe (and Teng Man Rui), and Mother Chen.  It would be held the following weekends after the annual sports fest at Xue s.h.i.+pping.

Mother Chen was rather elated when she saw her son alive and well again through videcon.  She almost went frantic and hysterical.  Xue Jinxu and Chen Linyun exchanged worried looks.  "Mother, calm down!  Are you alone right now?  Calm down, Mother!  Drink some water, take deep breaths!"

"Yes, Mother, please…" Xue Jinxu implored.

"So can you make it to the banquet?" Chen Linyun tried to return to the topic.

"Of course! Of course, son!  I have to see you and hug you and take care of you.  I will be there." She nodded repeatedly as she wiped the sides of her eyes with her handkerchief.

As for Xue Minhe…

He had not confirmed his attendance yet.  The Chen couple had informed him already about the upcoming annual sportsfest at Xue s.h.i.+pping in which his partic.i.p.ation was antic.i.p.ated a lot by the employees.  They had explained the situation to him already, yet he still had not made up his mind whether he will do an appearance.

If he won't appear, then Xue Jinxu would have to…

"I know what you're thinking, Jinxu, and I'm against it."

"Hmmm?" Xue Jinxu blinked innocently while devouring tangerines - her favorite at the moment.  They were at the backseat inside their car one afternoon at around five o' clock, on their way home.

"If your brother couldn't make it to the event, I know what you're thinking.  Aren't you planning to wear his clothes and act like him?"

"He. He. He." The lady arched a brow and tilted her head as she admitted, "It isn't too difficult to predict, I guess…"

 "Tsk.  It's a no.  I won't allow you to do that." Chen Linyun interjected.  He had to be firm about this matter.

"I won't even allow you to leave my side on the duration of that sports fest.  What if you don't attend at all?  Guangxi and I will represent our family.  It's a physical event.  Anything could go wrong."

"I don't think that will be enough.  We have to think far and emphatize with our employees.  Your presence will only amplify their fear against any lay-offs and changes.  And Guangxi… well…"

"But don't get me wrong.  You can be there too.  And Guangxi, too… It's just that… I don't think it would be enough."

"I'll be careful."

"Let's discuss about it again." Chen Linyun brushed off the topic as he handed the missus with some newly peeled tangerines.

Xue Jinxu curled her arm around the husband's leaned her head on his shoulder, and sighed, as she reached for the tangerines.