Hello, Jie Fen – CH25

Chapter 25: For Our Baby

Not only was Xie Siheng stunned, but Shu Tingyu and Luo Lianyun were also taken aback. Shu was the first to react, hiding behind Luo and snickering.

But with his height of 1.9 meters and sturdy build, Luo couldn’t block him, so Xie saw Shu’s smile.

“…” Xie said to Chi Wang, “Don’t call me ‘Master.'”

After a pause, he continued, “I’ve already eaten.”

“Alright then, ‘Senior’ it is,” Chi Wang readily agreed.

He didn’t mind calling someone ‘Master’ if they taught him a skill, but if the person wasn’t comfortable with it, he wouldn’t insist.

Calling him ‘Master’ was just for sustainable development.

Since Xie had brought breakfast over, Chi Wang invited him into the dormitory.

Xie walked into the dorm and placed the food box on Chi Wang’s desk.

Chi Wang was quite surprised. “How did you know this desk is mine?”

Xie didn’t answer.

In the entire dorm, only Chi Wang’s desk was the cleanest and most organized. One side of the desk was stacked with books, their edges frayed from frequent use. His pencil case held colorful highlighters, pens, and brushes. There was a neatly folded felt desk pad and a box of paints. A small traditional Chinese painting of flowers and birds hung on the side wall, with lively brushstrokes.

The other two desks—one was cluttered with snacks and empty wrappers that hadn’t been thrown away, and the other was messy, piled high with miscellaneous items.

It was obvious which desk belonged to Chi Wang.

Chi Wang opened the food box and took out the items inside. It was a Cantonese-style breakfast, looking light yet delicious.

He laid out the breakfast; the small plates were exquisite, each layer holding a row of dishes. The portions weren’t large, but there was a wide variety.

After unloading one layer, he took out the second, quickly arranging all the breakfast items from the box.

Chi Wang’s desk was almost too small to hold everything.

After delivering breakfast, Xie left without lingering—very considerate.

Chi Wang called Luo and Shu over to eat. Luo was still a bit hesitant, but Shu had already started.

Chi Wang asked Shu, “How does it taste?”

Shu replied, “The flavor is a bit mild.”

Chi Wang said, “You prefer stronger flavors; you might not be used to it. I quite like it.”

Luo came over, picked up a shumai to try, and said, “It’s okay.”

Chi Wang said, “I feel like eating something spicy.”

“Don’t. Stop eating spicy food. Your gastroenteritis probably came from eating spicy stuff. You didn’t usually eat spicy food, and suddenly having it can upset your stomach,” Luo said.

“I know.” Chi Wang was just expressing a thought.

He was a man with strong self-control and wouldn’t indulge himself again.

Shu suddenly said, “By the way, you’ve been liking spicy food lately—is it because the baby likes spicy?”

Luo added, “Could be. Also, they say ‘sour for boys, spicy for girls’! Maybe you’re having a girl.”

Chi Wang asked, “Is there any scientific basis for that?”

Shu said, “I’ve heard this saying. Many novels mention it, and TV dramas depict it that way. If they dare to film it, there must be some basis. The experiences passed down through our country’s five thousand years of history sometimes can’t be explained by science.”

He then asked Chi Wang, “Would you prefer a boy or a girl?”

At this question, Chi Wang frowned slightly, once again truly realizing there was a little life in his belly. That feeling of melancholy surged up again.

But it lasted only a moment. His furrowed brow relaxed, and he smiled. “Either is fine. If I had to choose, I’d prefer a girl. I can braid her hair and dress her up beautifully.”

Luo nodded. “Girls are great; they’re easier to take care of.”

Shu said, “I don’t think it’s that good. If it’s a girl, it might be awkward for us to take care of her—like giving her baths and stuff.”

Chi Wang pondered. That was indeed a consideration.

But it was still early to think about these things.

Chi Wang wasn’t much in the mood to chat. Although he’d decided to keep the baby, he wasn’t exactly excited about it—truth be told, he didn’t feel much anticipation.

At his age, he hadn’t reached the point where his DNA was driving him to eagerly leave behind offspring; he was still young himself.

After breakfast, Chi Wang went next door to continue learning Go.

Upon entering, he noticed that the dorm had a few new items—some exquisite tea sets and a set of fabric chairs. The tea table had been replaced with a taller version.

Chi Wang felt more comfortable sitting down; at least he could stretch his legs.

However, limited by the dorm’s size, the table couldn’t be very large. If he sat a bit forward, his legs would touch Xie’s knees.

Xie was quite tall. Earlier, when he went to the dormitory, Chi Wang had glanced over and noticed that Xie was even taller than Shu Tingyu—probably just over 1.9 meters.

As Chi Wang was lost in thought, Xie scooted back a bit, freeing up space beneath the table. His legs angled slightly, resting outside the tea table.

Xie began setting up the Go stones, giving Chi Wang the black stones as usual while he took the white.

Chi Wang didn’t immediately start playing but instead asked, “Your dark circles seem to be getting worse. Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

Xie glanced at him and said, “I’m used to it.”

Curious, Chi Wang asked, “Did you stay up all night?”

Xie placed his palm on the smooth Go stone box, his handsome face tensing slightly.

He was exceedingly good-looking, with long, narrow eyes—inner corners slightly hooked, outer corners slightly upturned, extending outward—a classic phoenix-eye shape. His eyelashes were thick and long, adding to his allure. His features were delicately refined yet carried a heroic air, like gold or jade. Despite such striking looks, there was a faint blue under his eyes.

While others might have dark, heavy circles, Xie’s were bluish, yet they didn’t make him appear fatigued. At first glance, people tended to notice his handsome features and overlook the bluish tint under his eyes.

Xie had always had trouble sleeping, which did affect his temperament—sometimes he was quick to anger. But now, he just tensed his expression briefly before calmly saying, “Yes.”

Chi Wang was surprised. “You really stayed up all night?”

It was his first time encountering someone with insomnia, and he couldn’t help feeling sympathetic. “Do you take naps during the day?”

Xie paused and replied, “I get sleepy around noon and sleep until the afternoon.”

Chi Wang was speechless. “…”

That’s pretty extreme.

Chi Wang thought for a moment and said, “Weren’t you planning to go abroad? Maybe your sleep schedule would adjust there.”

Perhaps Xie operated on a different time zone—maybe he’d sleep better in a place like the U.S.

Xie glanced at him briefly, then quickly looked away. “I don’t have plans to go abroad.”

“Alright then, let’s not talk about it. Let’s continue learning Go.” Chi Wang quickly refocused his attention on Go.

Xie said, “Today, I’ll teach you about layout techniques and capturing tactics.”

Chi Wang rubbed his hands excitedly, “Great, Master, I’m ready!”

Xie’s tone grew a bit colder. “… I’m not your master.”

Chi Wang blinked and then quickly smiled, “Alright, Senior.”

Xie looked at his smiling face, his eyes flickering slightly before he lowered his gaze. “Let’s begin.”

Chi Wang was always enthusiastic when learning something new. Around nine o’clock, his phone rang. He took it out without even looking and turned it off immediately.

“Sorry about that, I forgot to turn off my phone.” Chi Wang said as he put the phone back in his pocket and continued immersing himself in the world of Go.

At nine-thirty, Chi Wang proactively said, “Senior, let’s stop here for today.”

Before Xie could respond, Chi Wang continued, “Staying up all night isn’t good for your health; you should get some proper rest. You need to maintain good health to take care of me.”

After a pause, Chi Wang added, “After returning from the hospital, I thought about it for a long time and finally decided to keep the baby. You know, if abortion weren’t so difficult, I wouldn’t choose to give birth. So during this period, you need to take responsibility and take good care of me. I’ll be making a lot of demands, and you’ll have to meet them. After all, I’m going through such a big ordeal; it’s okay for me to be a bit willful, right?”

Xie straightened his back, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, and his voice was a bit hoarse. “We…”

Before he could finish, Chi Wang glanced at him. “Stop right there. Don’t bring up marriage.”

How could Xie so casually mention them getting married?

Chi Wang thought for a moment; perhaps Xie had a strong sense of responsibility.

Thinking this way, having someone like him as the baby’s father, even his ancestors could rest in peace.

“Have you looked into the cause of your insomnia?” Chi Wang asked.

Xie calmed himself, his voice cool, like a stream flowing over a stubborn stone. “I have. The doctor said it’s due to anxiety.”

Chi Wang asked, “Do you feel anxious?”

Xie looked up at the ceiling and answered calmly, “No.”

Chi Wang rubbed his chin, thinking seriously. “Maybe you’re anxious without realizing it. Are you worried about your studies?”

Xie replied, “No.”

Chi Wang continued, “Anxious about family?”

“…” Xie lowered his gaze. “My family is harmonious, and I’m an only child.”

Chi Wang: scratching head emoji.

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Xie’s tone was a bit heavier when he said that.

Chi Wang stood up and walked a few steps around the room. “I have a task for you: I hope you can go to bed on time every day, early to bed and early to rise. Although it might be difficult, for the sake of our baby, you need to do it. Can you?”

Our

Baby

Xie: “…”

He was like a statue, frozen in place, silent.

Finally, under Chi Wang’s expectant gaze, he moved and said seriously, “Okay.”

Chi Wang didn’t realize how much his casual words impacted Xie. His emphasis was on “our baby,” and different people might interpret that differently.

He was just reciprocating; since Xie was willing to patiently teach him Go, he was willing to use some motivational methods to help Xie overcome his insomnia.

Initially, Chi Wang hadn’t planned to share his decision with Xie. After all, with all options closed, he couldn’t help but harbor some resentment toward Xie and even maliciously speculated that Xie wanted the baby—which he later dismissed.

But Chi Wang felt that Xie still cared a lot about the baby. Perhaps, at his age, the desire to have children was strong; once the opportunity arose, he’d want it.

Chi Wang could understand Xie’s thoughts and didn’t hesitate to leverage the baby he was carrying.

After all, he considered himself a bit of a cold-hearted guy.

Chi Wang felt it was hard for him to have expectations about familial love. With parents like his, who could guarantee the child would turn out well? He wasn’t confident he could raise a good child.

Feeling that he had helped Xie solve a difficult problem, Chi Wang was quite pleased with himself. A smile appeared on his face—somewhat exuberant yet modest. These two emotions coexisted harmoniously on his face, making his beautiful eyes shine brightly and his smile particularly charming. “Since you’ve agreed, you have to follow through. Start working on it from today.”

Xie gazed at Chi Wang’s face, his voice softening a bit. “Mm.”

*

After finishing the Go lesson, Chi Wang returned to his dormitory and remembered the missed call from earlier. He turned on his phone and saw that the call was from Xiao Fu, which puzzled him.

He opened WeChat and found that Xiao Fu had sent him over a dozen messages, asking why he hadn’t been working at the Milky Way Club and inviting him out, saying he wanted to take him for a drive.

Chi Wang: “…”

He was quite confused.

He first replied to Xiao Fu about why he wasn’t working at the Milky Way Club anymore and then declined the invitation for a drive.

Xiao Fu quickly responded, [What’s going on? Is someone bullying you?]

Chi Wang replied, [No, Brother Fu, I’m just a bit tired~ Want to rest.]

Xiao Fu said, [Then come out and have some fun. I’ll show you around.]

Chi Wang replied: [Husky among wolves.jpg. Bro, I’m scared.]

Xiao Fu: [Scared of what?]

Chi Wang: [Scared of seeing too much of the world.]

Xiao Fu looked at his reply and laughed. [You’re that timid? I’ll take you to a banquet to broaden your horizons. There’ll be plenty to eat—you can have whatever you want. I’ll bring you back the same way I take you there, okay? Come on, bro wants to see you.]

Chi Wang: […]

Alarm bells ringing!

Chi Wang asked, [Bro, are you sure you’re not into guys?]

Xiao Fu: [? Say that again, and I’ll give you a beating. Is there no such thing as pure friendship anymore?]

Chi Wang was taken aback and asked, [Bro, you consider me a friend?]

Xiao Fu: [What else?]

Chi Wang laughed; he hadn’t expected Xiao Fu to genuinely see him as a friend, especially since they hadn’t known each other long.

After sending that message, Xiao Fu also paused. He did find Chi Wang quite agreeable, but most of his friends were carefree rich kids. It was rare for him to have someone like Chi Wang, a well-behaved guy.

Xiao Fu thought cautiously. He didn’t dislike him and could include him in his circle of protection.

Since Xiao Fu said so, Chi Wang felt more at ease and told him, [Bro, maybe another time. I’ve got things to do these days—learning a new skill—so I don’t have time.]

Xiao Fu asked, [What are you learning?]

Chi Wang replied, [Learning to play Go.]

Seeing this, Xiao Fu frowned, recalling some unpleasant memories, which reflected in his tone. [That game is for cunning people. Learn something else.]

Chi Wang: [? I command you, stop randomly acting like everyone’s boss!]

Chi Wang asked, [Why, bro? Cute cat pointing at finger.jpg]

Xiao Fu said, [Because Go is played by sly people. You’re very straightforward; if you learn it, you’ll turn bad.]

Chi Wang: “…”

Wait, how could he be so biased?

Hold on, Chi Wang remembered that Xiao Fu and Xie didn’t get along.

Chi Wang candidly said, [But I find Go very interesting, so I’ll continue learning it.]

Since they were friends, there needed to be boundaries. Just because one party had a higher status or wealth didn’t mean he had to listen to everything and flatter him.

Bottom lines can be flexible, but principles shouldn’t be compromised.

Xiao Fu was displeased by his retort and didn’t reply.

Chi Wang didn’t mind. Although Xiao Fu said they were friends, Chi Wang remained cautious and reserved.

He might be young, but he had experienced society and knew that so-called friendships and relationships were often just games for those in higher positions. Sometimes, getting along well was simply because the other person was accommodating you, and they could leave at any time.

Chi Wang wasn’t foolish at all.

*

After Chi Wang left, Xie first tidied up the Go board.

Then he organized the tea set.

He had brewed warm sweetened water for Chi Wang, who enjoyed it and had two cups.

He picked up the empty sugar packets and noted the flavor—a throat-soothing blend of orange peel and pear juice.

After cleaning the tea set, he picked up his phone and placed an order for lunch from a private kitchen.

Having done all this, Xie frowned, placed his phone face-down on the table, and looked out the window.

His expression was indifferent, his eyes deep and emotionless. Retracting his gaze, he slightly lowered his eyes, and his thick eyelashes cast a deeper shadow under his faintly bluish under-eyes.

The weather was getting colder; Chi Wang couldn’t continue staying in the dormitory.