Chapter 51: Keeping the Wife in Line
The new year began on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Jiang Rong and He Siming spent two days together. On the second day of the new year, He Siming went to his uncle’s place for a meal on behalf of his own mother.
He Siming also wanted to take Jiang Rong along to formally meet the family, but after careful consideration, Jiang Rong declined.
He had his own reasons. Having just come to this world, he still wasn’t very familiar with the local customs and social etiquette. If he accidentally said something inappropriate and offended someone, it wouldn’t be good for He Siming. It would be better to wait until he understood the culture here a bit more before meeting He Siming’s relatives.
He Siming didn’t force him. For now, he had only made their relationship public in front of his parents and his youngest uncle. He himself preferred to wait until his parents introduced their “son-in-law” to others. By next year, when the baby was born and everything was settled, it wouldn’t be too late to take Jiang Rong to meet relatives.
Although he wished he could announce to the whole world that he had a husband who could bear children, he still had to respect Jiang Rong’s wishes.
This was Jiang Rong’s first New Year without having to visit relatives. In the past, during long holidays, his parents would always take him to relatives’ homes regardless of his own wishes.
He knew that celebrating the New Year here meant visiting relatives, exchanging New Year gifts, and going back and forth between households.
Jiang Rong really had no interest in sitting with strangers and chatting about boring topics. It always made him feel extremely awkward. He just wanted to escape situations like that.
He Siming stayed at Xu Mingzhuo’s house for half a day, had lunch, and then came back.
When he returned, his face was so sour it couldn’t have been worse. Jiang Rong thought he had run into some big trouble.
“What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?”
“No. My cousin—I kindly took him out for fries, and he got ketchup all over my clothes.” He had only wanted to try showing goodwill to a child. Apparently, his goodwill didn’t work on little brats.
“It’s fine, just wash it,” Jiang Rong said, picking up his coat to wash it.
He Siming pulled him back. “No need. I’ll have someone come pick it up tomorrow and send it to the dry cleaners.”
Jiang Rong nodded. “Okay, that’ll clean it better.” He was just worried about He Siming’s mild cleanliness obsession. He handed the coat back. “Is your cousin really that scary? Your uncle and aunt are so nice—your little cousin shouldn’t be that bad, right?”
He Siming’s expression was pure disdain. “You find it strange too, right? My uncle and aunt both have great tempers. Later I realized it wasn’t their fault.”
Jiang Rong had been studying all afternoon and felt some soreness in his waist. “Then whose fault is it?”
He Siming said, “My grandma. She dotes on my cousin too much. He’s the only young one in the family, so he was spoiled rotten.”
Jiang Rong said, “But you stayed at your grandma’s place when you were little too. Your personality turned out great.”
He Siming grew proud. “That’s different. I’m smart. My cousin is pretty dumb.”
Jiang Rong smiled at him. “Don’t say that about him.”
He Siming continued, “He’s just spoiled by the elders. My uncle and aunt are always busy and don’t have time to discipline him. Now that he’s older, they can’t control him anymore. Two years ago, he still needed my grandma to coax him while eating. If my grandma were still around, he probably still wouldn’t even know how to use chopsticks properly.”
“That is a bit too spoiled,” Jiang Rong said. Talking about who would raise a child was also something they would face in the future. He was a full-time student; He Siming was half student, half boss. “Then when the time comes, who will take care of our baby?”
He Siming had thought about this already. “Do you mind keeping the baby by your side?”
Perhaps wanting to make up for something missing in his own family, He Siming hoped the child could grow up close to them. His parents definitely wouldn’t have time to look after their grandchild—they were busier than heads of state.
Jiang Rong shook his head. “I don’t mind. It’s our own baby.”
Seeing him constantly pressing his waist, He Siming placed his hand on Jiang Rong’s lower back and gently massaged it. “Then we’ll just work a bit harder and have the family hire two trustworthy aunts.”
Jiang Rong had no objections. “Okay.”
Their thoughts aligned perfectly.
These things might seem far off, but preparations still had to begin early.
He Siming would still need to consult the elders. His uncle had asked about this at lunch today as well. Jiang Rong’s thinking matched his—eventually, they would really be studying while raising a baby.
Mm. And he’d also need to tutor his wife.
On the way back, thinking about all this actually gave him a strange sense of happiness. He had never imagined that the concept of “family” would become so clear and tangible.
He Siming took two more days to visit his grandmother at the old house after she was discharged from the hospital. The elderly woman could eat and drink normally; she just felt dizzy and needed to lie down.
She was old and had poor eyesight, unable to see clearly, but she could recognize He Siming by his voice.
Before he returned to the capital, she said, “Ming’er, if you have someone you like, be sure to bring them for Grandma to see.”
“I will, Grandma,” He Siming replied.
Then he returned to the capital.
For the remaining half month, he stayed home with Jiang Rong. Afraid Jiang Rong would get bored, he even took him to the movies to watch popular Spring Festival films. Worried about crowded theaters and flu, he simply booked a private screening—avoiding contact with strangers and even contributing to box office sales.
After the movie, of course, they went shopping. Jiang Rong rarely went out in the dead of winter, and once outside, he was like a bird released from a cage, practically walking with a spring in his step. He Siming followed beside him, nervous the whole time. The mall floors were polished very smooth, and he was afraid Jiang Rong might slip. Jiang Rong laughed at him for being overly tense.
He Siming sternly ordered, “You’re not allowed to wander off. Hold my hand.”
Jiang Rong decided to go along with him for once. “Alright, holding hands. I won’t run around.”
He Siming interlaced their fingers. “That’s more like it.”
Jiang Rong’s winter break passed in a cycle of studying, prenatal checkups, and fooling around with He Siming.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for school to start. It felt like their little two-person world hadn’t lasted nearly long enough before it was officially over.
Yao Shule returned to school two days early, bringing local specialties from home.
As soon as he boarded the high-speed train, he bombarded Jiang Rong with messages: Rongrong, I brought you spicy rabbit heads—you’re going to love them!
Jiang Rong had seen photos of spicy rabbit heads before and was practically drooling.
He returned to school with He Siming, bringing back their bedsheets and covers to wash, planning to take them back on the first day of school.
The moment he entered the dorm, Yao Shule enthusiastically hugged him. “Rongrong! I missed you so much!”
“I missed you too—especially the spicy rabbit heads,” Jiang Rong joked.
Yao Shule ruffled his hair. “Tsk tsk, you can joke now. You look like you’ve gained a little weight.”
Jiang Rong said, “Yeah, a bit.”
“That’s healthier. Before the New Year, you were so skinny the wind could’ve blown you into the bushes.”
“…” Was it really that exaggerated?
Standing behind Jiang Rong, He Siming frowned slightly, wanting to swat Yao Shule’s hands away from Jiang Rong’s waist and head. Why were Yao Shule’s hands always everywhere?
Li Yizhou, also fed up with his mom’s nagging, returned to the dorm around the same time.
Dorm 519 was finally fully assembled again.
There was also an “extra member.” Just as they were about to head out for dinner, he showed up right on time.
Ding Yan carried a gift box. “Hehe, guess what I brought you guys?”
Li Yizhou said, “Looks like something good.”
“I bought qingtuan!” Ding Yan announced.
Jiang Rong didn’t know what that was and asked He Siming.
“A traditional snack made with mugwort,” He Siming explained.
“Can we eat it now?” Jiang Rong asked.
“Probably needs reheating. We’ll ask the restaurant to heat it up,” Ding Yan said.
He Siming had originally just planned to come back to sort out the bedding, but it ended up turning into the five of them going out to eat together. He still preferred the quiet two-person world of winter break.
Jiang Rong, on the other hand, cheered up seeing everyone lively and together again.
He Siming treated them to dinner and chose the restaurant he frequented.
Whenever the two of them didn’t cook, this restaurant delivered meals to them. Jiang Rong was used to it, but for Yao Shule and Li Yizhou, it was their first time—and they were stunned by the price of each dish.
Yao Shule took out the rabbit heads, and Ding Yan asked the restaurant to heat the qingtuan.
Jiang Rong got to try different traditional snacks—one spicy, the other with red bean paste, pork floss with salted egg yolk, and several other flavors.
He ate until he almost couldn’t stop. His pregnancy reactions had eased recently, and there were many more foods he could eat.
Just as he reached for a second spicy rabbit head, He Siming stopped him.
“Jiang Rong, you can’t eat too much.”
Jiang Rong had no choice but to pull his gloved hand back, though he kept staring longingly at the rabbit head.
Even Ding Yan couldn’t stand it and laughed. “Old He, you’re so strict—it’s like you’re disciplining your son.”
Li Yizhou chimed in, “He really does look like it.”
Yao Shule added, “God He, just let Rongrong eat if he wants to. It’s only this once. Poor Rongrong—are you not getting enough food at God He’s place? Come back to the dorm, we’ll take care of you.”
Jiang Rong didn’t dare say anything, just looked pitifully at He Siming. Even though he remembered the doctor’s warning about chest swelling, he still wanted to eat. He knew that if it swelled, He Siming would have to massage and relieve it for him—every time was incredibly embarrassing, but… being embarrassed one more time was fine.
He Siming: “…” He lightly pinched the bridge of his nose. Was he disciplining a son? He was disciplining his wife.
Softening, he said, “Alright. Just one last one.”
Jiang Rong smiled. “Thank you for your leniency, God He.”
The first New Year gathering of Dorm 519 ended smoothly.
After dinner, Ding Yan drove Yao Shule and Li Yizhou back to the dorm. He Siming and Jiang Rong drove home in their own car.
It was still deep winter. He Siming made Jiang Rong put on his hat and scarf, wrapping him up airtight before letting him get into the car.
Back in the dorm, Yao Shule and Li Yizhou couldn’t help feeling something was a bit off.
“Li Yizhou, don’t you think God He is way too strict with Jiang Rong?” Yao Shule asked.
Li Yizhou always tried to see things positively. “I think it’s pretty good. Isn’t Jiang Rong sick? It’s normal that he can’t eat just anything. God He is very responsible—after all, Jiang Rong lives with him. If something happened, he’d have to take responsibility.”
Yao Shule thought it made sense. “Yeah, you’re right. Still, one winter break and Jiang Rong did gain a bit of weight.”
“Exactly. That’s good. God He really treats Jiang Rong like a good brother.”
“True,” Yao Shule agreed without thinking too much.
Jiang Rong had already had sexual experience, so he must like girls. He Siming had never accepted advances from guys and never shown interest in anyone—he probably liked girls too. The two of them couldn’t possibly be a couple.
They were just unusually close, that’s all. Straight guys were like that—the closer they were, the more it meant nothing. Didn’t the internet have that saying? When straight men flirt lightly, fujoshi suffer for life.
With the semester starting, Jiang Rong returned to a two-point routine: classes at school during the day, reviewing at home at night.
In the morning, Jiang Rong measured his waist. The fetus was nearly fourteen weeks along, but his lower abdomen wasn’t noticeably protruding—still fairly flat.
After Yao Shule said he looked heavier yesterday, he couldn’t help worrying.
He was afraid that once his belly grew bigger, others would notice. At fourteen weeks, it still wasn’t obvious, so it was okay for now.
After washing up, He Siming saw Jiang Rong lifting his shirt in front of the mirror, examining himself. He came up behind him, gently placed a hand on his still-flat lower abdomen, and kissed his cheek.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Jiang Rong told him his concern. “When the months go by, will people notice?”
“No need to worry,” He Siming said. “If you don’t want to go out later, we’ll just ask for leave and study at home. As long as you finish the exams this semester, it’s fine.”
Jiang Rong sighed. “I guess that’s the only way.”
He Siming squatted down and kissed his lower abdomen again and again. “So what if people see? Our baby isn’t something shameful.”
Jiang Rong felt ticklish from the kisses and laughed. “No way. You guys can show yourselves; I can’t. There aren’t any boys here walking around with big bellies.”
He Siming asked, “Then in your world, there are?”
Jiang Rong tried to explain. “Yeah. Lots of them. It’s totally normal.”
Following his lead, He Siming said, “I’d like to see the world inside your head.”
Seeing that He Siming didn’t seem to be joking, Jiang Rong couldn’t tell whether he believed him or not.
Half-joking, half-serious, he said, “I’ll take you there if I get the chance.”
He Siming pulled his shirt back down. “Alright. I’m looking forward to it. Get dressed properly—don’t catch a cold.”
Jiang Rong hummed. “You didn’t seem worried about me catching a cold when we were sleeping.”
He Siming: “…” He’s learned to talk back now.
He quickly stole Jiang Rong’s breath, pinning him against the wardrobe and kissing him deeply. The scent of lime pheromones flooded Jiang Rong’s senses. Only when Jiang Rong begged did he let him go.
He Siming suffered the consequences himself—the two of them almost missed their 8 a.m. class. By the time they reached the classroom, the lecture had already started. Jiang Rong quietly scrunched his nose at He Siming.
He texted him: It’s all your fault. Everyone’s staring at me.
He Siming replied with a smirk: If they keep staring, I’ll warn them not to look at my wife.
Jiang Rong put his phone away and focused on class: …
Yao Shule had wanted to ask why Jiang Rong arrived so late, but then he saw the two of them texting.
You see each other every day—do you really have that much to say? Tsk. Straight men.
On the first day back, classmates were very friendly. Lin Nana and the class monitor brought snacks to share. Jiang Rong ate a little and got along fine with everyone.
Another classmate offered him more snacks. As Jiang Rong reached out to take them, He Siming took them for him instead and reminded him softly, “Jiang Rong?”
“Oh. I won’t eat anymore,” Jiang Rong said.
Lin Nana teased him, “Rongrong is so pitiful. God He, are you always this strict with your wife?”
Half-serious, half-joking, He Siming replied, “Yeah. My wife can’t eat just anything. Don’t feed him.”
Jiang Rong’s face quietly flushed a peachy pink.
After the semester started, He Siming became even busier.
He joined Qinda University’s computer science laboratory, recommended by a highly respected professor. It was also a field he was deeply interested in, and he chose NLP as his research direction.
This was all within his personal study plan.
Compared to merely participating in professors’ projects before, the lab carried far more weight. It was involved in many cutting-edge technologies related to the nation, with more projects and more knowledge to learn.
Through constant exposure, Jiang Rong learned quite a bit about the computer industry. Once he understood the basics, everything clicked, and learning became faster—especially since He Siming always broke things down patiently for him.
Only later did Jiang Rong realize that He Siming had published his own professional paper back in his freshman year, after teaching himself a computer language.
He Siming’s busy schedule also meant they spent less time together.
Two weeks into the semester, Jiang Rong only saw him in the mornings and evenings. The rest of the time, He Siming was busy.
Seeing how hard He Siming worked, Jiang Rong worked hard too—attending classes during the day and taking online courses at night, pushing his bedtime back by an hour.
Still, with He Siming away more often, the house felt too quiet. Jiang Rong began to form an idea.
He wanted to move back to the dorm.
That day, he asked He Siming when he’d be back from the lab. He went to the library first, studying while waiting for He Siming to come home together.
Around nine, He Siming texted him to come downstairs, and they walked to the parking lot together.
Jiang Rong came down from the second floor with his backpack.
He had expected to see only He Siming, but instead noticed a gentle, refined man standing beside him.
The man was mature and composed, with delicate features and rimmed glasses. The two were engaged in serious conversation.
Jiang Rong rarely saw anyone chat so easily with He Siming. His usually aloof face showed far more expression.
Most of the time, He Siming barely spoke around others, as if uninterested in their childish topics.
But this man was different—clearly well-educated, with no professional barrier when talking to He Siming.
Jiang Rong thought he might understand some of what they were discussing, but quickly realized the huge gap between himself and He Siming. He felt like an elementary school student.
Noticing He Siming’s gaze shift to Jiang Rong, the man asked gently, “Your classmate?”
“We’ll head back first,” He Siming said.
“Siming, your idea is very novel,” Professor Wen said. “Come to the lab tomorrow. We’ll discuss it in detail then.”
“Okay,” He Siming replied.
Professor Wen was tall and slim, wearing a well-tailored cashmere coat. Before Jiang Rong even reached them, the conversation ended. Professor Wen glanced at Jiang Rong with a sharp look, then turned and left.
Jiang Rong walked over to He Siming and casually asked, “Who was that just now?”
“A professor the university just hired from abroad—Professor Wen. He’s very capable,” He Siming said.
It was rare to hear He Siming praise someone. “Then he must be amazing,” Jiang Rong said.
“He really is. His résumé is impressive. Back in high school, he was already called a computer prodigy. He turned down Qin University’s guaranteed admission, took the entrance exam himself, studied for two years, then applied overseas. Don’t let his age fool you—he’s already led several major projects.”
As Jiang Rong fastened his seatbelt, he said, “That résumé really puts people to shame. Did you know him before?”
“Sort of,” He Siming replied. “He’s the son of one of my dad’s friends. I met him once before.”
The more He Siming praised him, the more pressure Jiang Rong felt.
That night.
He Siming, exhausted, fell asleep quickly. Jiang Rong, however, couldn’t fall asleep at all. He hugged He Siming and absorbed some of his pheromones, but the more he did, the more awake he felt.
He burrowed into He Siming’s arms, wanting to be closer. Thinking He Siming was fast asleep and couldn’t hear him, he softly called his name.
“He Siming.”
“Husband.”
“Baby.”
A hand clamped around his waist as He Siming opened his eyes. “Do you think your husband is dead?”
Jiang Rong burned all over. “N-no…”
He Siming lowered his head and kissed him. “If you can’t sleep, then let’s do something else.”
Jiang Rong tried to push him away but failed—only managing to wake him up fully. “W-we have class tomorrow!”
“You’re the one who woke me up,” He Siming said, biting his lip in mock punishment.
After a long while, Jiang Rong was weak and limp, the corners of his eyes damp.
Nipping at his neck, He Siming said, “It’s too late today. Turn over yourself—save some time.”
Jiang Rong obediently turned his back to him, resting his head on He Siming’s arm, letting out soft whimpers. He completely forgot why he hadn’t been able to sleep in the first place.
