Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 128 Part 1

Chapter 128: Extra Story 1

After Auntie Zheng pointed it out, Qi Cheng finally understood what she meant.

"But this time, aside from being sleepier than usual and craving sour stuff, I feel totally different from when I was pregnant with Fanfan," Qi Cheng said. "I even had a whole bowl of pickled fish yesterday!"

And it was super delicious!

Back when he was carrying Fanfan, he couldn't stand even a hint of fishy seafood smell. He'd wake up feeling nauseous in the morning, and sometimes his lower back would ache too. But now—nothing like that at all.

"Every pregnancy is different. I can't say for sure either, Xiao Cheng. You should still go see a doctor and get it checked. Better safe than sorry," Auntie Zheng said.

Auntie Zheng had been working as a nanny for the Bai family for years. At first, she just did her job and kept things professional—employer and employee, plain and simple. But then Qi Cheng came along, and over time, their relationship grew warmer. Especially after Fanfan was born—Auntie Zheng practically raised him, and she doted on him almost like he was her own grandson.

She cared about Qi Cheng too, which was why she brought it up—just in case it was nothing, but also just in case it was something, so he'd be careful and not overlook it.

"Okay, I'll go get checked first." Qi Cheng's eyes lit up as a thought struck him. "Auntie Zheng, don't tell Uncle Quan or my husband yet. Keep it a secret for now."

"Sure thing." Auntie Zheng agreed without hesitation, assuming Qi Cheng wanted to plan a surprise.

The young couple had been married for several years now, but instead of growing apart, they only got more attached over time. Auntie Zheng was long used to it.

Qi Cheng patted his own belly. Yep, still flat—couldn't feel a thing. Then a delighted, triumphant grin spread across his face.

Because if it was true...

This time, he was absolutely going to do a "pregnant runaway"!!!

And give his little cub an IQ boost while he was at it!

Just thinking about it made Qi Cheng lick his lips in excitement. His little one was going to become a hacker prodigy at age seven—the second cub!

That evening, when Bai Zongyin came home from work, he couldn't miss the barely contained joy written all over Qi Cheng's face. He smiled. "What's up? Something good happen?"

"Not telling you." Hehehe.

Bai Zongyin raised an eyebrow but didn't press. His Chengcheng could never hold in a secret for long—he'd spill it eventually.

Qi Cheng struggled to keep quiet, but he managed—he'd made an appointment to see Dr. Liu tomorrow. He could hold out until he got the confirmation.

That night, the couple went through their usual routine of putting their little goose to bed.

"Dad's going to tell you the story of the Three Little Pigs."

Fanfan kicked his little legs and made a request: "I wanna hear about cars."

"Alright then, let's switch it up with a story about little robot cars." Qi Cheng kissed his son's chubby cheek.

The three of them lay together on the small bed, the two parents cuddling their little goose between them and took turns telling the story. Before long, Fanfan was fast asleep. The couple headed back to their own room.

Bai Zongyin wrapped his arms around Qi Cheng. Qi Cheng pressed his cheek against his husband's chest and nuzzled in—a silent signal that he wasn't in the mood tonight. Bai Zongyin found it a little odd; Qi Cheng was usually the eager one.

"Not feeling well?"

"Is that all you think of me—some kind of horn dog?!" Qi Cheng looked up and whined playfully.

Bai Zongyin chuckled and pulled him closer. "Aren't you?"

!!!

Qi Cheng's eyes went wide with mock outrage. After teasing him enough, Bai Zongyin soothed, "Alright, alright. Chengcheng isn't. Chengcheng is a pure-hearted, desireless sweet orange."

"...Even I wouldn't buy that." Qi Cheng muttered under his breath. His husband was still messing with him—he could tell.

Bai Zongyin: "Then what do you think you are, Chengcheng?"

"I'm not saying!" Qi Cheng had learned his lesson—his husband was setting another trap. He huffed, buried his face in his husband's chest, and started feeling drowsy.

Bai Zongyin stopped teasing, pressed a kiss to the top of his head, and whispered good night.

The next morning, the whole family had breakfast together.

Usually, Uncle Quan took Fanfan to kindergarten in the mornings, and Qi Cheng picked him up in the afternoons—because Uncle Quan had to cook dinner. Sometimes Qi Cheng slept late, but if he woke up early, he'd go with Uncle Quan to drop Fanfan off.

In the afternoons, after finishing his gaming, Qi Cheng would drive himself to pick up his son.

Fanfan was almost four—old enough to move up to the middle class next year.

"Dad, are you not sleeping in today?" Fanfan's round eyes sparkled with delight. He sat in his chair, swinging his little legs to show how happy he was.

Uncle Quan chimed in first: "Oh, looks like Dad's taking you today?"

"I'm taking my little goose today!" Qi Cheng took a sip of water. He had to fast for his morning hospital visit, so he covered by saying, "I made plans to meet Lu Yang early—that's why I'm up. We're grabbing breakfast together. I'm craving some jianbing guozi."

[jianbing guozi (煎饼馃子): a popular Chinese street breakfast that originated in Tianjin, made by spreading a thin batter (usually mung bean flour) on a griddle, adding an egg, and rolling it with a crispy fried dough stick (油条) or cracker (薄脆), along with sauces like sweet bean paste and fermented tofu.]

Uncle Quan was about to suggest he drink some milk first so he wouldn't go too long without food.

Bai Zongyin glanced at Qi Cheng and said, "Then head out early so you don't get too hungry."

"Got it. I'll take the milk with me and drink it if I get hungry." Qi Cheng beamed.

Kindergarten drop-off was usually between 7:30 and 8:00. Their place was close—about a five-minute drive, or a bit longer on foot. On nice days, Qi Cheng would skip the car and walk, taking his time strolling back with his little goose.

"Yay~" Fanfan cooed sweetly.

After breakfast, Fanfan went to get his own little backpack—a sleek black car-shaped one that Uncle Xiao Lu had given him as a gift.

"Double-check your stuff. Make sure your water bottle's in there."

"Got it, Dad~"

Uncle Quan laughed. "Dad's taking you and you're already hamming it up, huh?"

Fanfan toddled over and hugged Uncle Quan's arm. "Fanfan likes it when Grandpa takes me too."

"Alright, alright." Uncle Quan smiled and ruffled Fanfan's hair.

Fanfan had packed his own backpack. Qi Cheng checked it—coloring book, crayons, and a bag of rainbow candy. Qi Cheng pulled the candy out.

Fanfan's chubby face tensed up a little. He puffed out his cheeks and looked up at his dad with pleading eyes.

"That's a lot of candy?"

Fanfan whined in his sweetest voice: "I'm giving it to my little brother."

???

Qi Cheng burst out laughing and pinched his son's soft cheek. You, a little sweetheart like you, have a little brother following you around?

"Fine, fine." The doting dad put the candy back in the bag but warned, "Only one piece, got it? If you eat too much, sugar bugs will eat your teeth, and I'll have to take you to the dentist."

Fanfan happily showed off his pearly whites. "My teeth are great!" He stretched out his little arms to put his backpack on himself.

"Summer break's in about half a month, right?" Qi Cheng asked.

Fanfan didn't know. Fanfan just wore his backpack, held his dad's hand, and shook his head.

Qi Cheng: ...

"I'll walk out with you too." Bai Zongyin had changed into his clothes. He gave Qi Cheng a hug and a kiss. Fanfan stood on his tiptoes, craning his neck with a look that said, "What about me?" Bai Zongyin reached over and patted his little head.

Fanfan pouted. "Big Dad's playing favorites."

"My husband's allowed to play favorites with me—and I'll play favorites with you." Qi Cheng laughed and pinched his son's cheek. This little one even knew what favoritism meant.

Fanfan thought for a moment, then puffed his cheeks again. "Dad, don't play favorites with me, then. Or else Big Dad will be so sad—nobody will play favorites with him."

"Then you play favorites with Big Dad," Qi Cheng said.

Fanfan's chubby little face wobbled in surprise, and his eyes lit up with a look of total revelation—like, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Qi Cheng burst out laughing. This little silly goose.