Chapter 55: Confident and Fearless

She was pregnant!

As this thought surfaced, her hand instinctively rested on her lower abdomen.

Was there already a little life here?

A little life connected to her by blood?

I wonder if it will be good-looking?

Will it inherit her and Li Beichen’s double eyelids?

Or perhaps, be even better than them…

Various thoughts flashed through her mind, and a smile unconsciously curved her lips.

In that smile, there was genuine joy and an irrepressible maternal glow.

Perhaps all first-time mothers have similar reactions.

It was only after this wave of emotion gradually subsided that Shen Yi’an snapped out of her immense surprise.

Why had she entered the Space again?

Oh, right—to consider whether to keep the child.

But… this question seemed completely unnecessary to consider.

Having lived two lifetimes, she finally had the chance to become a mother. Why would she want to miss it when she cherished it so much?

Her once frail body, weakened by premature birth, had already regained its health under the nourishment of the Spirit Spring Water.

Moreover, she had a vague premonition that her physical health now far surpassed that of ordinary people.

If she had any martial prowess, she might even be able to spar with Li Beichen, who had undergone special training.

Of course, this was just her personal thought.

Her body was healthy, she had the foundation for a new life, and she had the Space as her cheat tool.

Why wouldn’t she keep the child in her belly?

Besides, even without Li Beichen, she was fully capable of providing a good life for herself and her child.

Not to mention, she had her family behind her.

Although they hadn’t discussed or negotiated the matter of her pregnancy, some things didn’t need to be spelled out so clearly.

She just knew that whatever she wanted to do, her family would unconditionally support her.

Including her pregnancy!

Because the moment her father learned she was pregnant, his first reaction wasn’t anger or disbelief.

Instead, he naturally defended her reputation first, then told others she was married, indirectly proving that the child in her belly was legitimate and lawful.

With this premise, everything else made perfect sense.

Then there was her mother. Upon hearing the news of her pregnancy from Third Sister-in-law, instead of rushing to the hospital to question her or anything, she first bought an old hen and stewed it in a pot.

Don’t ask how she knew—the moment she stepped into the house, she smelled the familiar, rich aroma of old hen soup, the kind only her mother made.

If the people who gave birth to and raised her reacted this way, the rest of the family went without saying.

It was precisely because of this confidence that Shen Yi’an wasn’t afraid of being pregnant. Instead, she felt happiness and joy that didn’t need to be hidden.

So, the child in her belly was definitely going to be born.

As for the child’s father…

Well, that depended on the situation.

If Li Beichen also liked children and welcomed the child’s arrival… wait!

This assumption might not hold either!

Because when they had just set foot in Lancheng, and her fourth brother was boasting about his wife being pregnant again, that dog man seemed to have said something.

Let her think, what was it again?

Ah, right. That dog man said, “Our family has absolutely no preference for sons over daughters,” and also, “My grandfather has been longing for a granddaughter so much his eyes are practically popping out.”

Just these two sentences were enough to prove that the man also liked children, and his family, especially his grandfather, might even like them more!

At this moment, Shen Yi’an automatically ignored the emphasis in Li Beichen’s statement—that Grandpa was practically staring holes in the air hoping for a granddaughter.

It was precisely because she remembered this that she now felt fearless.

Without any external obstacles or interference, what was there to fear?

As for the child’s household registration, that wasn’t a problem at all.

The Li Family had both the background and the status.

Though the child wasn’t conceived within marriage, there was ample opportunity and time to legitimize the birth.

As for the pregnancy timeline—well, it had only been a month. Who would question it if she later claimed it was a premature birth?

Having sorted through these thoughts, Shen Yi’an’s mood became exceptionally bright.

She was going to be a mother!

From now on, there would be another bond in this world.

How wonderful!

Just as Shen Yi’an was fully immersed in her joy, a series of rhythmic knocks sounded at the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

“An’an, may Mom come in?”

“Your Third Sister-in-law has prepared dinner, and I’ve also simmered some nourishing old hen soup.”

“Would you like to come out and try some?”

Hearing the voice outside, Shen Yi’an immediately slipped out of her Space.

After confirming nothing seemed amiss, she walked over and opened the door. “Mom, is dinner ready already?”

She first let her mother in, then quickly added, “Thank you for specially making the old hen soup for me!”

“I’ll thank Grandma on behalf of the little one!”

Deng Yaxin chuckled and poked her forehead affectionately.

“You! Always so glib!”

“You call me ‘Mommy’ when you’re craving something, but it’s just ‘Mom’ any other time.”

“You really are something!”

After teasing her for a moment, Deng Yaxin cautiously asked, “Have you thought it through?”

“The one in your belly… are you keeping it?”

Since the baby hadn’t been born yet and the gender was unknown, the pause in her speech served as a placeholder.

Understanding her meaning, Shen Yi’an smiled brightly, linking arms with her mother and acting coy. “Look at you, already playing the grandma role!”

“Since I called you Grandma, of course I’m keeping it.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in this state right now.”

Hearing this, Deng Yaxin finally dared to scrutinize her from head to toe.

“You do look more spirited than before.”

“Alright, as long as you’ve figured it out.”

She gently patted the back of Shen Yi’an’s hand reassuringly.

“It’s just a pregnancy—nothing to be afraid of.”

“When you were weak as a child, your father and I never once considered giving up on you.”

“We thought, since we were fated to be mother and daughter, and you were born from my womb, this bond was worth cherishing.”

“Now it’s your turn to be a mother, and it’s the same.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Yi’an’s still-flat stomach.

“Since the little one chose you as its mother, it must know you’ll be a good one.”

“Having a weak constitution will make it harder, but your dad and I can help you gradually regain your health.”

“Just like when you were little.”

In early spring, she had to wear a mask outdoors to prevent willow catkins from entering her nose and mouth, which could trigger respiratory illnesses.

In midsummer, she needed a sunhat to shield against harsh UV rays that could cause dizziness or even sunburn.

During golden autumn, she had to be even more cautious—flies and mosquitoes were still active, and a single unexpected bite could lead to a cold or fever.

When winter comes, it’s best not to go outside. Every time I venture out, I end up coughing at home for nearly half a month without getting better.

It was through years of such experiences that Deng Yaxin came to this realization.

Hearing the deep concern in her words, Shen Yi’an’s eyes reddened as she smiled. “I will definitely be a good mother, especially since Ms. Deng is such a mother herself.”

“I’ll strive to live up to Ms. Deng’s example!”

The mother and daughter chatted and laughed in the room for a while until they faintly heard someone at the dining table asking about their whereabouts. Only then did they leave the room and head to the living room.

Seeing them approach, Shen Junyue quickly stood up and pulled out chairs for them.