Chapter 100: I’ve Never Tasted the Flavor of Being a Kept Man

“An An, what made you mistakenly think I wouldn’t like children?”

“Especially our own child?”

Though phrased as questions, his tone carried subtle anger.

“After meeting you, I never imagined my children would come from anyone else’s womb.”

“Only you. Only you can bear them.”

“So An An, why would you think I’m an irresponsible man?”

“Hmm?”

The close eye contact made Shen Yi’an feel his sincerity.

She knew he wasn’t lying.

But if he was telling the truth now, what was the reason for his distracted behavior earlier?

As this thought crossed her mind, the question slipped out, “Then why were you spacing out just now?”

“Wasn’t it because you couldn’t accept the news of my pregnancy?”

While saying this, she directly grabbed his sleeve to wipe her overflowing tears.

If there had been snot, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated to wipe that on him too.

Seeing the dark pattern spreading on his sleeve, Li Beichen finally understood why the woman before him had suddenly said those heartless words, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

After a soft sigh.

He cupped her tear-stained face in both hands, planting a kiss between her eyebrows.

Only then did he seriously explain, “My distraction earlier wasn’t because I couldn’t accept your pregnancy news.”

“Rather…”

He felt the little rascal had come too early!

But he couldn’t say that outright, causing his speech to pause momentarily.

This made Shen Yi’an anxious, “Rather what? Just say it!”

“If your reason doesn’t convince me, I’ll take the child back to Lancheng.”

“And never appear in your world again.”

That was serious talk.

Having finally found his desired partner, Li Beichen wouldn’t allow them to misunderstand and miss their chance.

Steeling himself, he told the truth, “Don’t you think the little rascal came at a rather inopportune time, An An?”

“Our couple time hasn’t even properly begun, and he’s already rushing to arrive.”

“He’s purely opposing me!”

After speaking, his tone gained a gritted-teeth quality, “When he’s born, I’ll definitely give him a few smacks to vent.”

“Never seen a brat who dares to challenge his own father before he’s even born!”

Hearing this was why he’d been distracted, Shen Yi’an couldn’t help twitching her mouth.

This was too absurd!

All that brainpower she’d wasted earlier, secretly deciding to get the birth permit no matter what.

Yet the man’s reason for distraction turned out to be so bizarre: simply because the child’s presence would disrupt their couple time.

Hah, men!

Snorting inwardly, she broke free from his hands and buried her face in his chest, vigorously wiping her tears, “Li Beichen, you’re so annoying!”

“I thought you didn’t like our child, but it turns out you’re jealous of him.”

“If the little one finds out someday, he definitely won’t support you when you’re old!”

Feeling her head rubbing against his chest, Li Beichen felt both amused and an uncontrollable physical reaction rising.

Knowing this reaction was somewhat inappropriate, he could only look up at the sky, trying hard to suppress his desire.

After ensuring his body had calmed down, he finally smiled and smoothed her hair, “I’m human too, why can’t I be jealous?”

“Besides, when I’m old, will I need him to support me?”

“Not only won’t I need him to support me, I won’t let him support you either.”

“Just the two of us—I’ll take care of you, okay?”

The sound of breathing so close at hand made Shen Yi’an’s ears flush red.

Afraid of being seen by others, she quickly straightened up and smoothed her hair to maintain her image. “Who needs you to take care of me?”

“I can support myself, and when I’m in a good mood, I might even take care of you.”

The proud tone made Li Beichen’s heart itch. “Alright, I’ll wait for you to take care of me.”

“I haven’t tasted what it’s like to be a freeloader yet, but I imagine it must be nutritious and healthy.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, the two leisurely made their way to the guesthouse.

As they passed the community square, Shen Yi’an noticed that many of the familiar faces who used to gather and gossip were gone, replaced by quite a few new ones.

After a moment’s thought, she guessed the reason.

Back in the Commander-in-Chief’s Office, she had heard Political Commissar Liang mention that the most notorious gossips had their husbands or sons fined.

Having caused their families to lose money for no reason because they couldn’t keep their mouths shut, those women probably felt too embarrassed to show their faces outside for a while.

As for the new faces, they likely came to the square to relax now that the gossips were gone.

Seeing her nod slightly toward the square, Li Beichen grew curious. “What is it? Do you know someone there?”

“No!” Shen Yi’an shook her head and immediately recounted what Political Commissar Liang had said.

She added at the end, “It’s good that they learned a lesson.”

“Being able to live in the same Family Compound is fate. Spreading rumors about others just to get a cheap thrill with their words is hardly honorable behavior.”

“It’s also because I’ve toned down my temper. In the past, I would’ve rushed over and fought them.”

This was true.

In her past life, Shen Yi’an had a fiery temper.

As long as no one crossed her, she was easygoing and polite in dealing with others.

But if someone stirred up trouble for no reason, her response was simple: fight!

However, that was her original nature.

After her experiences in her past life, the sharp edges of her personality had long been worn down.

Now, having been given a second chance at life, she naturally wouldn’t act recklessly.

This was the first time Li Beichen had heard about such incidents happening in the Family Compound before he returned.

Especially since it involved his fiancée, he felt an inexplicable discomfort.

He immediately stopped and looked Shen Yi’an up and down. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know about all this.”

“Were you hurt?”

“Should we go to the hospital for a full checkup? We can also see how the little one is doing.”

That’s what he said, but his actions left no room for consideration.

He crouched down, revealing his broad and strong back. “I’ll carry you to the hospital!”

Seeing the man crouching in front of her, Shen Yi’an poked his back. “Get up, I can walk on my own.”

“Carrying me won’t look good.”

Although they were currently in the Family Compound, the hospital area was a public space.

Not to mention the doctors and nurses coming and going, there were surely many soldiers or patients moving in and out.

If they were seen, Captain Li’s image would likely be shattered.

But Li Beichen had no such concerns at all. “I’m carrying you on my back, not holding you in my arms. What impact could that have?”

“Besides, I submitted the relevant documents about us being engaged a long time ago.”

“This is a good opportunity to make it public, so we won’t have random people causing trouble.”

Meeting the man’s serious gaze as he turned his face, Shen Yi’an stopped hesitating and simply leaned onto his back. “Alright then, I’ll give the baby’s father a chance to show off.”

Feeling the light weight on his back, Li Beichen slowed his pace. “You’re too thin and too light!”

“Once the hospital test results come out, I’ll go to the political commissar to apply for family housing. Then I can properly nourish you.”

“I’ll also ask Grandpa to send a reliable auntie over. That way, I can rest easy knowing you’re living in the Family Compound.”

Hearing the man’s plans, Shen Yi’an shook her head. “No, we haven’t registered our marriage yet. I can’t just move into the Family Compound.”

“Besides, I told Mom and Dad when I left that I’d return once I got the birth permit.”

“I… oh no! I think I forgot something very important!”

It was only when calmly mentioning her family that Shen Yi’an suddenly remembered something very, very important.

She hadn’t called home to let them know she was safe!

She boarded the train at the end of September, and with all the delays and complications along the way, plus the five or six days at the Base, it had been quite a journey.

Today was November 3rd.

That meant, all things considered, the trip had taken over a month.

Not contacting her family for such a long time—she had no idea how worried her parents must be.

Thinking this, Shen Yi’an anxiously patted Li Beichen’s arm.