Chapter 93

At first, Ji Ran didn’t tell anyone about her pregnancy. However, Shen Zhi immediately hired a dedicated nutritionist to stay at home, and every day her meals were delivered to her company by the family driver.

Shen Zhi also knew that what women feared most during pregnancy was gaining weight, so he personally discussed it with the nutritionist: in addition to ensuring adequate nutrition, they should avoid overly rich or excessive supplements as much as possible.

Even the nutritionist was quite surprised. After all, she had served many pregnant ladies, but usually, it was the person herself who made such requests; rarely did a husband consider things so meticulously.

On the weekend, Ji Ran accompanied Shen Zhi back to the Shen family mansion.

Since getting married, Ji Ran had not yet come to the Shen family mansion for a meal. This was the first time, and because she was pregnant, Shen Zhi intended for them to tell Grandfather the news in person.

When they arrived at the mansion in the evening, they didn’t expect Shen Jiming to be there as well.

“Grandfather, Dad.” Ji Ran greeted them alongside Shen Zhi.

Before long, Cheng Hui walked out of the kitchen, casting a cold glance at Shen Zhi and Ji Ran. Cheng Hui had not attended their wedding.

After the incident where Tang Zhenpeng kidnapped Ji Ran, he was caught and sent back to prison, which directly poked a hornet’s nest.

Not only did it drag Shen Yue from the Shen family’s first branch down with him, but it also dragged Jiang Yi in along with them.

Cheng Hui didn’t care about Shen Yue or Jiang Yi; what she cared about was Tang Zhenpeng—he was her sister-in-law’s biological nephew, who had committed crimes back in high school. Who could have known that after getting out of prison, he would still hold a grudge against Shen Zhi?

To think he ended up ruining himself once more.

This time, he likely wouldn’t be getting out without eight to ten years.

Previously, her sister-in-law had come to beg her, asking if she could get Ji Ran to write a letter of forgiveness. Although it wouldn’t have a decisive impact on the sentencing, it would still be good if his sentence could be reduced by a couple of years.

Cheng Hui already had a bad relationship with Shen Zhi, so how could she have the nerve to bring it up?

Originally, she wanted Shen Jiming to bring it up with Ji Ran, but Shen Jiming refused without a second thought. Now that Shen Zhi had taken charge of Hengchi Group, Shen Jiming was entirely focused on playing the role of the retired chairman.

How could he possibly make such a request of Shen Zhi?

Therefore, Cheng Hui currently didn’t have a pleasant expression upon seeing the couple.

As for Ji Ran, she didn’t care either. To her, Cheng Hui was at most Mrs. Shen, having nothing to do with her. She had a proper mother-in-law, and her relationship with Cheng Hui was at best a nodding acquaintance.

“Ah Zhi and Ranran are back, let the house maid serve the dishes then.” The old master waved his hand.

Just as everyone was preparing to head to the dining room, noisy voices suddenly came from outside the door. It turned out that the Shen family’s Eldest Uncle had forced his way in with his wife.

Shen Jidong no longer possessed his previous refined appearance; gray hair had gradually grown on his head, his whole demeanor carrying an air of decline, and the dark circles under his eyes made it look like he hadn’t rested for a long time.

The Eldest Aunt by his side was even more full of resentment and anger.

“Dad, please help us! Ah Yue won’t survive much longer in prison.” Eldest Aunt cried out the moment she opened her mouth.

Shen Yue’s case had just been sentenced last month. Going to prison was unavoidable, and he would have to serve quite a few years. Ji Ran naturally knew the progress of this matter; after all, she was the person who had been kidnapped back then.

However, Shen Yue’s case was quite complex. He was not only involved in the kidnapping case, but also in embezzling public funds.

It turned out that when he previously went to the casino on Saipan Island, he had lost over ten million all at once.

He didn’t dare tell his family, so he embezzled money from the company’s accounts. He originally thought nothing would happen, but Tang Zhenpeng’s matter dragged him in; the moment he went in, the company was handed over to someone else.

This poked an even bigger hole.

The old master was truly enraged this time, declaring that he wouldn’t shield him and that things should be investigated however they ought to be.

Thus, Shen Yue added crime upon crime, and Eldest Uncle and his wife panicked all at once. Over the past few days, they ran to the old master’s place time after time, crying and asking him to think of a way.

At this moment, Shen Jidong pulled his wife slightly, his gaze looking toward Shen Zhi with cold indifference.

In his view, had it not been for Shen Zhi being overly aggressive, Shen Yue wouldn’t have strayed so far into today’s state. After their children commit mistakes, many parents are always habituated to looking for other people’s problems first.

It was never their own child’s fault.

The old master was originally in a pretty good mood; after all, it was rare to see Shen Zhi and Ji Ran together, and he had also heard the good news of Ji Ran’s pregnancy. But now his face sank like deep water as he looked at Eldest Uncle and his wife.

“Crying and wailing, what does this look like!”

“Dad, you now have a house full of children and grandchildren, so naturally you don’t care about this one grandson, Ah Yue. But we only have him as our only son!” Eldest Aunt pushed things to the extreme the moment she spoke.

In her eyes, the old master was biased beyond measure; how could he completely ignore Shen Yue?

Ji Ran quietly watched this scene. This was probably also the reason why Shen Zhi had never let her get involved in the Shen family’s affairs. All along, he had shielded her, standing in front of her; she didn’t need to listen to, manage, or ask about the Shen family’s matters.

The problems Pei Yuan had once worried about had all been borne by him.

The old master didn’t want to lose his temper with them; after all, they were at an advanced age, and it was hard on them to encounter such a thing, so as an elder, he wouldn’t say much. Yet instead, these two felt as if the whole world owed them.

“And don’t give attitude to Ah Zhi and Ranran! It was your son who instructed an outsider to kidnap Ranran. That he ended up with this fate as the mastermind is what he deserves! You are the parents of the perpetrator; don’t always put on the stance of victims!”

Shen Jidong opened his mouth, but in the end still said.

“Dad, but we can’t just leave Ah Yue be.”

“How else do you want to manage it? Now he’s reforming in prison, handed over to the state for discipline! You two should self-reflect on why you raised your child like this!”

The old master reprimanded them thoroughly, and in the end didn’t even keep them for dinner, directly sending them away.

When it was time to eat, the old master sat at the head of the table, his face still solemn.

Ji Ran sat beside Shen Zhi. When she turned her head to look at him, the man beside her reached out his hand to gently cover the back of her hand resting on the edge of the table.

He didn’t speak, only pressing his thumb lightly twice against the back of her hand.

Soon, the maid served the prepared dishes. The old master looked back and said.

“Open a bottle of wine.”

“Dad.” Shen Jiming looked at him with some concern, softly advising.

“The doctor said your blood pressure hasn’t been stable, you should drink less.”

The old master waved his hand, looking at Shen Zhi and Ji Ran, his heart full of comfort.

“Today should have been a good day for Ah Zhi and Ranran. You two are having a child, and Grandfather is very happy for you. Speaking of which, this is also Grandfather’s first great-grandchild.”

Although Shen Zhi was younger than his older cousins above him, late marriage was common nowadays, and getting married at twenty-seven like Shen Zhi was already considered marrying young.

A rare minority indeed.

Afterward, Shen Zhi accompanied the old master for two drinks, and his mood gradually recovered, not as angry as before.

When it was time to go home, the old master’s driver drove them back.

In the car, Ji Ran leaned close to his cheek and asked with a smile.

“Are you drunk?”

“No.” Shen Zhi shook his head without hesitation.

The corners of Ji Ran’s eyes tilted up, her round eyes curving into adorable crescents. She reached out and pressed her finger against his lips, saying in a small voice.

“But why do I feel like you seem drunk?”

Yet Shen Zhi suddenly placed his hand on her lower abdomen. His palm was slightly cool, but fortunately, through her thick clothes, Ji Ran didn’t feel that chill.

She only felt the gentle force of his palm, as if he wanted to greet the little baby inside through her stomach.

Even if this little fellow was currently still just a tiny bean sprout.

“I really hope we can see our Shiqi soon.” Shen Zhi’s eyelids drooped slightly, his low voice laced with a trace of laughter.

Ji Ran was stunned, blinking her eyes in confusion.

“Shiqi?”

“That’s the nickname I picked for him.” Shen Zhi slowly leaned close to her, his breath carrying the faint astringency of red wine—not unpleasant. His eyes were half-squinted, the pitch-black irises glistening with moisture, as if mist was about to smudge out from his eye sockets.

It was uniquely tantalizing.

Ji Ran was indeed quite shocked, because she hadn’t known Shen Zhi had even thought of a nickname.

She was a bit curious.

“Why call him Shiqi?”

Yet right after asking, she felt she was being redundant, because she had already realized the meaning behind this name.

Because she had returned to their seventeen-year-old selves, only then discovering the secret that Shen Zhi had always loved her, discovering such a gift within time.

And their wedding was at their twenty-seven-year-old selves, exactly seventeen years after their parting at age ten.

Shiqi (Seventeen).

It was the number between them—be it luck or fate.

Ji Ran murmured these two words softly, suddenly finding it strangely adorable. Whether it was a boy or a girl, the nickname Shiqi seemed quite suitable.

This was their Shiqi.

Shiqi’s birth was at the end of summer, approaching the tail end of August, and Ji Ran’s due date was near as well. She hadn’t taken leave after getting pregnant, working normally throughout her entire pregnancy.

So much so that when business partners saw her big belly while negotiating cooperation, they didn’t dare over-bargain, fearing they might trigger something bad for her.

Who knew that the more it was like this, the more Ji Ran pushed her luck, actually relying on being “two people” to bully others.

She was even particularly proud to tell Shen Zhi about it. As for Mr. Shen, he didn’t panic or get frightened like ordinary prospective fathers, but merely smiled and told her to exercise some restraint, lest she learn how to bully people before the child was even born.

They say giving birth is taking a trip through the gates of hell.

Shen Zhi was worried to death from the start, so he arranged for B City’s best obstetricians, the highest-grade ward, and even the best postpartum care center after birth.

Yet even if money could buy all these finest things, it alone could not replace the pain of childbirth.

Ji Ran had prepared early on for a natural birth. Yuan Sheng, as her mother-in-law, never bossed anyone around regarding these matters; she had simply started learning knitting and handiwork recently, actually making several tiny pieces of clothing for Shiqi by hand.

Who knew that when Pei Yuan went to her house last time, she saw these tiny clothes, and Ji Ran had only said a couple of sentences.

A few days later, Pei Yuan actually had someone send a giant pile of baby clothes she had bought.

She even made a special point to state that these were handpicked by her for her future grandchild.

The heavy emphasis was placed on the word “handpicked.”

After all, she didn’t have Yuan Sheng’s patience to do such delicate handiwork, so in order not to be outdone, she personally went to the mall and picked out a pile of baby clothes to bring back.

Ji Ran hadn’t expected Pei Yuan to occasionally be childish to such an extent.

Originally, her due date was August 20th, but on the 20th, Little Shiqi had zero intention of greeting this world.

All the way until the 26th, Ji Ran still felt no signs of going into labor.

Thus, the doctor arranged for her to be admitted to the hospital, because the due date could not be exceeded by more than a week at most, to prevent cloudy amniotic fluid from having bad effects on the child.

After Ji Ran was admitted to the hospital that afternoon, she underwent simple checks.

As a result, by nightfall, her stomach began to hurt, but it wasn’t the kind of contractions described by the doctor. Shen Zhi accompanied her throughout, but this night she could barely close her eyes from the pain.

It was only when morning approached the next day that she lay in Shen Zhi’s embrace, saying with a bit of annoyance.

“Once Shiqi is born, you must help me teach him a lesson.”

“Mm, spank his butt first.”

They thought there would be progress on the 27th, but there still wasn’t, so the doctor decided to administer oxytocin on the morning of the 28th.

Nearing noon, Ji Ran’s contractions became more and more frequent.

The anesthesiologist gave her an epidural for painless labor. Shen Zhi accompanied her by her side the whole time, but when he saw the anesthesiologist inject the anesthetic into her back, his brows furrowed tightly despite himself.

Ji Ran looked up at him, her slightly pale lips curving into a gentle smile, extending her hand to lightly tug his wrist.

Shen Zhi thought she wanted to talk to him, immediately half-squatting by her bed and asking in a low voice.

“Ranran, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t frown.” Ji Ran reached out her hand, smoothing out the center of his brows bit by bit. The handsome, sword-like brows finally returned to their original position, no longer tightly furrowed.

She said in a soft voice.

“Our Shiqi wouldn’t want to see his father frowning like this the moment he’s born.”

“You have to smile at him.”

To tell the truth, when Ji Ran recalled the pain of that day later on, she seemed to no longer remember that extreme feeling of pain. Instead, the greatest joy was when the doctor delivered that tiny baby out, and he let out his first loud cry in this world.

Shen Zhi turned his head, looking at Little Shiqi not far away with a face full of surprise, suddenly asking in a quiet voice.

“Why is he crying so loudly?”

Yet when he looked at Ji Ran, she actually saw tears glittering implicitly in the depths of his eyes.

A person clearly so restrained and calm could no longer suppress his emotions at this moment.

He stayed by Ji Ran’s side throughout; even if he couldn’t bear anything on her behalf, whenever she needed to grasp his palm, he was right by her side.

“Ranran, I love you.” Shen Zhi gently leaned close to her, kissing her lips without hesitation.

Even though he had experienced so much in the past, right now fate was far too gentle, far too generous to him.

Wen Qianxia and the others came together the next day to visit Ji Ran and Shiqi. The little guy had opened his eyes early this morning, neither fussing nor crying, just lying quietly.

When Wen Qianxia came in, she circled around his small bassinet for a long time, exclaiming.

“My goodness, how are his eyes so big? The eye contour is so long!”

This wasn’t an exaggeration on her part. The moment Shiqi was born, the doctor took one look and said this little guy’s eyes would definitely not be small in the future.

“Of course, do you think Shen Zhi and I could give birth to a small-eyed child?” Ji Ran sat leaning against the head of the bed, her face full of cocky laughter.

Even though Shiqi was still a small baby who hadn’t filled out yet, in her eyes he was still an astonishingly pretty little fellow.

Wen Qianxia asked curiously.

“What’s our Little Shiqi’s real name?”

Almost everyone knew the nickname Shiqi.

“Shili,” Ji Ran opened her mouth and said.

“Shen Shili.”

After Wen Qianxia recited it once, she was a bit curious.

“Why this name?”

“Because it’s a gift of time.”

This was a name Shen Zhi had personally chosen. To him, Shiqi was a gift time had brought him. Because of time’s mercy, Ji Ran was allowed to return to the past so they could be together.

Only then was there Little Shiqi.

So isn’t he precisely a gift of time?

Wen Qianxia wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a goosebumps-inducing thrill.

“The male god even picks names with so much charm.”

Ji Ran looked at Wen Qianxia and couldn’t help smiling.

She really hadn’t seen what Shen Zhi looked like when he was together with Shiqi—when he held Shiqi, so gentle and so fulfilled.

The paranoid and somewhat violent youth of past times no longer bore his former wild and arrogant look. The hardships and setbacks time had brought him were gradually smoothed of their sharp edges by these tender years and gifts.

This was indeed the gift of time.