Chapter 117: Pregnancy Confirmed! Protagonist’s Stepmother’s Excitement! Daughters’ Blessings:
"Li Xiao?" The image of her useless younger brother flashed through Li Yunshu’s mind. She thought of how he often slandered Xu Hao, always convinced that Xu Hao had ulterior motives for helping their family. His persistent paranoia made her sigh in exasperation.
So when Xu Hao claimed that Li Xiao had threatened him, she wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t hard for her to believe.
Anger bubbled up within her.
How dare Li Xiao interfere with her life?
Who was he to tell Uncle Xu to stay away from her and even suggest firing her?
Did he not understand how much Uncle Xu had done for her?
The Xu Group was one of the world’s top 500 companies, and many graduates from prestigious universities couldn’t dream of joining its ranks. Yet she, by some stroke of fortune, had not only joined the company but also earned Xu Hao’s attention. She knew countless people envied her position.
And now, her brother wanted to take that away?
If Li Xiao were standing before her, her fiery gaze alone would have burned him to ashes.
"Uncle Xu, he dared to intimidate you?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief and rage.
"Yes," Xu Hao replied with a pained smile."I didn’t expect it from someone so young. He’s surprisingly strong, too. My hand still hurts..."
Xu Hao fabricated the story without hesitation, knowing full well she wouldn’t doubt him. He had already won her trust.
Li Yunshu’s anger intensified as memories of her brother’s strength flashed through her mind. She had once seen him fend off a group of gangsters with ease, so Xu Hao’s claim seemed plausible.
"Uncle Xu, are you okay? I’m so sorry. This is all my fault..." Tears welled up in her eyes again.
"It’s nothing," Xu Hao said with a self-healing smile, gently wiping away her tears."Don’t blame yourself. It’s not serious."
Her guilt deepened.
Xu Hao was still defending her brother, even after being treated so poorly.
[Ding! Li Yunshu feels guilty. Emotional points +890...]
After some more reassurances, Li Yunshu left the office. As she walked away, Xu Hao leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"There’s something interesting to look forward to," he murmured.
Just as Xu Hao was about to resume reviewing documents, his phone rang. It was a call from Su Wanqiu, his beautiful stepmother.
When he answered, her voice was trembling with excitement."Husband, I... I’m pregnant!"
Xu Hao froze for a moment, then a wave of excitement washed over him.
After living through two lives, this would be his first biological child.
"Where are you? I’ll come right away," he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency.
"The First Hospital," she replied.
…
Half an hour earlier, Su Wanqiu had rushed to the hospital after suspecting she might be pregnant. She waited anxiously as the tests were conducted, her heart pounding in anticipation.
Finally, the doctor approached her with the results.
"Congratulations, you’re pregnant."
Her heart soared with joy. Unable to contain her excitement, she immediately called Xu Hao to share the news.
True to form, Xu Hao didn’t disappoint.
Upon hearing her words, he rushed to the hospital without hesitation, showing just how much he valued the child she carried.
Not long after, Xu Hao arrived.
Seeing him, Su Wanqiu’s first instinct was to run into his arms. But before she could, Xu Hao stopped her gently.
"Careful," he said.
Blushing with happiness, Su Wanqiu nodded and responded softly. She rested her hand on her belly, her maternal instincts already blossoming.
Xu Hao took the examination report from her, carefully reviewing it. The results left no room for doubt—she was indeed pregnant.
He wrapped his arm around her waist."Let’s go home," he said.
"But I need to stop by the beauty salon," Su Wanqiu reminded him, thinking about work.
"Work doesn’t matter," Xu Hao said firmly."Your only responsibility now is to take care of yourself and ensure a safe delivery."
[Ding! Su Wanqiu feels immense happiness. Emotional points +678...]
[Ding! Su Wanqiu is in a joyful mood. Emotional points +876...]
As Xu Hao noticed the surge in Emotional points, he began to consider. There were many ways to accumulate this energy, but pregnancy seemed particularly effective.
His mind wandered briefly, picturing the other women in his life: Teacher Wang Xueying, the school beauty Xia Qingge, the wealthy Xiao Wanling, the sweet and gentle Li Yunshu, the icy CEO Lin Chuqing, his sister-in-law Yao Xinrui, and even the seven daughters of the Qing Dynasty...
…
(At home)
Xu Hao and Su Wanqiu were greeted by their twin daughters, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi, who hadn’t gone to school that day.
"Dad, Mom Su, didn’t you just leave? Why are you back so soon?" one of the twins asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Did you forget something? You could’ve just called us to bring it over," the other added, tilting her head quizzically.
Xu Hao smiled warmly as he explained,"Your mother Su is pregnant. She’ll be resting at home today and won’t be going to work."
"Ah?" The poetic and picturesque sisters, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi, were momentarily stunned, but then their faces lit up with joy. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they stared at Su Wanqiu’s belly.
"Is Mom Su really pregnant with a baby? When did this happen?"
"How long has it been?"
"Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?"
The sisters bombarded her with questions, their curiosity overflowing.
Su Wanqiu chuckled and gently touched their heads."It’s still very early. I just found out today. We don’t know yet whether it’s a boy or a girl."
"It must be a little sister," Xu Huayi said confidently."She’ll definitely be as beautiful as Mom Su."
Xu Shiqing glanced sideways at her sister."We can’t tell yet if it’s a boy or a girl. How can you be so sure it won’t be a little brother? Are you saying Dad isn’t handsome enough for a boy?"
"Of course not!" Xu Huayi said with a laugh."Dad is super handsome, but if it’s a little sister, she won’t take too much of Dad’s love away from us."
Xu Shiqing nodded thoughtfully."If it’s a boy, Dad might give all his attention to him. But if it’s a girl, the love will be shared among us. What you’re saying makes sense."
It didn’t take long for the news to spread. Xu Hongjiao and Xu Feiyan, two of their other sisters, soon learned of the pregnancy and came to congratulate Su Wanqiu.
"Mom Su, you have to take care of yourself," Xu Hongjiao said sincerely."If there’s anything you need, just tell us, and we’ll handle it."
"And you don’t have to cook for us anymore," she added."There’s too much smoke and grease in the kitchen. Just let us know what you want to eat."
Xu Hongjiao carefully placed her hand on Su Wanqiu’s belly, her expression filled with concern and affection.
Feeling their heartfelt care, Su Wanqiu smiled."You all make me sound so delicate!"
"Mom Su, listen to us. The baby is the most important thing," Xu Shiqing said firmly."I’ll find some baby care manuals for you to read later."
"I heard that listening to music during pregnancy is good for the baby," Xu Huayi interjected."Third Sister, since you’re a big star now, you can play the piano and sing for Mom Su often."
"Most people worry about the impact of electronic devices on the baby," Xu Shiqing added."But we’re lucky. We have a superstar at home who can perform live."
Xu Hongjiao laughed at her sisters’ enthusiasm. As a well-known musician, she knew how much money she could make from concerts—millions, if not more. Yet, when it came to Mom Su, she couldn’t say no.
"I don’t mind helping," she said, smiling.
Xu Huayi suddenly chuckled."You’ve all forgotten something. Dad plays the piano even better than Third Sister. When the time comes, Dad can play for Mom Su, and we’ll all benefit!"
The sisters couldn’t help but remember Xu Hao’s flawless piano performance at the concert hall. His music was legendary.
As the other sisters greeted Su Wanqiu, Xu Feiyan remained quiet, feeling a slight distance from the family dynamic. Though she had no objections to her beautiful stepmother, her sense of belonging in the family was tied entirely to Xu Hao.
Still, she didn’t want to feel left out, so she said,"Since you’re all taking care of Mom Su during her pregnancy, I’ll take responsibility for the child after it’s born. I’ll teach them martial arts. They’ll grow up to be a master who can command thousands, defeating gods and Buddhas alike!"
Her sisters were used to her bold declarations and ignored her.
Xu Huayi smirked."Fifth Sister, you should focus on mastering what Dad taught you first."
Xu Feiyan froze, glaring at her mischievous younger sister.
Lately, Xu Hao had been teaching her advanced fighting techniques. Despite the boost she’d received from the Marrow Cleansing Pill, which improved her memory and abilities, she still struggled to keep up with his lessons.
Each day spent training with Xu Hao had brought significant progress. Her strength had improved by leaps and bounds, but the more she learned, the more she realized how far ahead Xu Hao was. She couldn’t forget the times he had easily outmaneuvered her in spars, catching her off guard and making her feel like a fool.
Remembering those moments, a blush of shame crept over her face.
Watching her daughters bickering, Su Wanqiu felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Having such a warm and lively family was a blessing.
She thought about the three other daughters who weren’t home at the moment. They would surely return soon, and then their family would be complete.
Reflecting on how none of the daughters had initially respected Xu Hao but were now wholeheartedly devoted to him, she couldn’t help but smile. Even the stubborn fifth daughter, Xu Feiyan, was gradually falling in line.
…
1 p.m., Xu Group Office
"Don’t overthink it, Yunshu," Xia Qingge said gently."Uncle Xu told you to follow your heart. As long as you want to stay, he won’t force you to leave."
Xia Qingge, who had recently become close friends with Li Yunshu, noticed her distracted state and decided to check on her.
Li Yunshu let out a bitter smile."I know Uncle Xu wouldn’t fire me, and I have no intention of leaving. But I feel so guilty because my brother, Li Xiao, caused trouble for him."
As she spoke, her anger toward her younger brother flared up again…
"Yunshu, I’m telling you, you really need to educate your brother," she said, her tone laced with irritation. "Does he have some kind of persecution complex? He acts like everyone is out to harm him. And now he thinks Uncle Xu has ulterior motives toward you?"
"Do you even know who Uncle Xu is? He’s a billionaire who manages tens of thousands of people. He has a dignified and beautiful wife. And your brother has the nerve to suggest Uncle Xu is interested in you? It’s absurd!" Xia Qingge’s voice carried a mix of disdain and exasperation.
"Besides, think about it. Logically speaking, I’m no worse than you, right? Why hasn’t Uncle Xu ever made a move on me? It’s ridiculous," she added sarcastically.
Though her words seemed dismissive, a pang of unease stirred in Xia Qingge’s heart.
Fortunately, Li Yunshu had no idea what had happened between her and Uncle Xu. Otherwise, she would definitely have her suspicions.
Li Yunshu nodded in agreement. She couldn’t help but feel that her brother truly had something wrong with him.
Xia Qingge pressed on, "I heard your brother is jobless? He probably picked up all these bad habits from hanging out with thugs and gangsters. To threaten Uncle Xu, of all people, and even harm him under the guise of a handshake? Does he not realize he’s breaking the law?"
"If it weren’t for Uncle Xu’s kindness and the fact that he probably didn’t want to make things difficult for you, your brother would be in jail with just one phone call."
As she subtly sowed discord between Li Xiao and Li Yunshu, Xia Qingge made sure to sing Uncle Xu’s praises in front of her best friend. Her anger didn’t seem feigned—she truly appeared outraged at Li Xiao’s audacity to threaten Uncle Xu.
Li Yunshu felt a surge of guilt. She knew how highly Xia Qingge regarded Uncle Xu. Xia Qingge often spoke about him in glowing terms, so it wasn’t surprising that hearing about Li Xiao’s actions made her so upset.
"Qingge, I’m so sorry," Li Yunshu murmured.
Xia Qingge patted her shoulder and smiled. "Haha, I’m not blaming you. I don’t think Uncle Xu blames you either—he’s just disappointed in your brother."
Despite Xia Qingge’s comforting words, Li Yunshu’s guilt remained, matched only by her growing resentment toward her brother.
After work, Li Yunshu returned home. Once there, she began tidying up her room. Eventually, she packed a suitcase, determined to move out.
She no longer wanted to live under the same roof as Li Xiao. She feared that if she stayed, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her anger and would end up cursing him. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him; she just didn’t want their parents to worry. Moving out would make things much quieter for everyone.
Just as she was about to leave, her parents returned home from work. Along the way, they had been glowing with pride as acquaintances praised their daughter for landing a job at a Fortune 500 company. Their happiness was palpable as they shared stories about how amazing their daughter was.
But the moment they stepped inside and saw Li Yunshu with her packed luggage, their smiles froze.
"Yunshu, where are you going?" her father asked, alarmed.
"I’m moving out for a few days," she replied curtly.
"What’s going on? Everything seemed fine before. Why are you suddenly moving out? It’s dangerous for a young girl like you to live alone outside," her mother added, worry etched on her face.
"If you want to know what’s going on, ask your ‘good son,’" Li Yunshu said, her voice filled with sarcasm.
Her parents’ hearts sank.
Seeing their daughter so resolute, they realized she was serious about moving out. Their minds raced. What on earth had their good-for-nothing son done this time to drive her to this point?
To them, Li Yunshu had always been the perfect daughter—hardworking, respectful, and kind. If something like this was happening, the problem undoubtedly lay with Li Xiao.
As they tried to persuade her to stay, Li Xiao walked into the house, looking dazed. He barely had time to process what was happening before his father stormed over and lightly smacked him on the head.
"What did you do to make your sister so angry that she wants to move out?" his father demanded.
Li Xiao stood frozen, bewildered.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What just happened?
Confused, he slowly raised his head, his mind racing. He hadn’t done anything... had he?