Chapter 56 Going to the Military Camp

“Afraid you’d catch a chill, your sister-in-law dug out your little nephew’s blanket for you to sit on.”

“Come, try sitting on it and see how soft it is.”

“Don’t worry, it’s been washed clean. Not dirty at all!”

Watching her third brother bustling about and patiently giving instructions, Shen Yi’an felt somewhat unaccustomed to it all.

Why was it suddenly like this?

She wasn’t some porcelain doll, afraid of being bumped or bruised?

The thought flashed through her mind before she realized her third brother’s behavior was unusual.

It was only late September. Although the weather outside had turned cooler, the temperature of the stool was still quite comfortable.

It definitely hadn’t reached the point where a cushion was necessary.

Could it be that he already knew about her pregnancy?

Thinking this, she curiously leaned closer to Shen Junyue, who was holding the backrest. “Third Brother knows?”

Though she didn’t specify what he knew, the implication was clear.

Hearing this, Shen Junyue simply helped her sit down on the stool.

“I’m your own brother. Did you really think you could hide this from me?”

“I heard about it from your third sister-in-law as soon as I got off work.”

After stating this premise, he followed up with a sigh.

“You’re still a child yourself, and now you’re going to be a mother.”

“Who knows who’ll end up taking care of whom when the time comes.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an turned her head to look back at him. “Third Brother, I’ve already graduated from university. I’m not a child anymore.”

“Do you still see me as an immature little kid in your eyes?”

“Otherwise?” Shen Junyue couldn’t help but retort.

“No matter how old you get, you’ll always be a little kid in mine and our parents’ eyes.”

“Though you’re not as troublesome as you were when you were little.”

Saying “troublesome” was putting it mildly.

She’d frequently run fevers, occasionally have night terrors, or sometimes couldn’t be woken up suddenly.

In short, his little sister in childhood was more fragile than porcelain.

Of course, Shen Junyue didn’t voice this observation, afraid that if he did, someone might extend her claws to scratch him.

But Shen Yi’an wasn’t foolish either.

Just from seeing her third brother’s raised eyebrows and light laugh, she could pretty much guess that his expression meant no good.

Her instinctive reaction was to pounce on him and play-fight as she always had in the past—it was a habit after all.

But when her gaze swept over her niece and nephew sitting quietly at the dining table, curiously observing her, her movement to rise suddenly halted.

Oh right, she was going to be a mother now!

Although, perhaps, she might not be a competent mother, but anyone could learn.

Immediately, she decided not to argue with her third brother. Instead, she teased the little nephew in Shen Shasha’s arms before shifting her attention to Little Shen Yi, who was cautiously stealing glances at her.

Meeting her gaze, the little girl guiltily lowered her head, her aura of loneliness quite palpable.

Seeing this, Shen Yi’an found it amusing and directly pulled the child into her arms. “What’s wrong with our Xiaoyi? Aren’t you happy to see your auntie?”

“Oh dear, I never thought your auntie would be unwelcome.”

“Xiaoyi used to like Auntie the most before. Why don’t you like me today?”

The adults seated at the dining table understood this was said in jest, but three-year-old Little Shen Yi didn’t.

Hearing Shen Yi’an say this, she hurriedly lifted her little head and explained in a milky voice.

“Xiaoyi likes Auntie the most! Likes Auntie the very most!”

“Auntie, Xiaoyi likes you the very most. Please don’t not like Xiaoyi, okay?”

After just these two sentences, her large eyes were already brimming with tears.

“Auntie, Xiaoyi doesn’t like cookies and cakes anymore.”

“Xiaoyi doesn’t want Auntie to fall on the ground. Xiaoyi likes Auntie who always smiles.”

“Can Auntie keep liking Xiaoyi forever?”

The choked, sobbing tone made anyone who heard these words feel inexplicably tender-hearted.

Shen Yi’an was no exception.

Hearing this, she knew the little girl was still haunted by the shadow of her previous fainting spell.

Sighing inwardly at the sensitive child, she patiently explained the reason for her earlier collapse, “Auntie fainting before had nothing to do with Xiaoyi.”

“It’s because Auntie has a baby in her tummy, and suddenly felt so sleepy that I accidentally fell asleep.”

“See, Auntie is perfectly fine now, isn’t she?”

Upon hearing this, Little Shen Yi blinked away the tears in her eyes and stared curiously at her belly.

“Auntie has a baby?”

“Why is the baby in Auntie’s tummy?”

“Can Auntie let the baby come out to play with me?”

The innocent questions made not only Shen Yi’an laugh, but all the adults at the dining table as well.

Children truly are easily comforted.

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an explained with a smile, “Not yet!”

“The baby is still too small now and can’t come out to play with our Xiaoyi.”

“In a few months, when the baby grows bigger, Auntie will bring them out to play with Xiaoyi.”

“Okay?”

Learning that it would take several months for the baby to arrive, Little Shen Yi felt momentarily disappointed.

But thinking about being able to play with the baby in her aunt’s belly, she immediately became animated again.

“Okay!”

“When the baby comes out, Xiaoyi will play with them!”

With the little girl comforted, the chicken soup served at the table had cooled enough to drink.

The family finally sat down together to enjoy a happy meal.

Shen Shasha ate the fastest among them.

Because she not only had to feed herself, but also care for the youngest Shen Hong.

As for Shen Yi, she was naturally taken care of by Deng Yaxin.

After dinner, as the family sat in the living room chatting, Shen Guozhong asked about Shen Yi’an’s plans.

“Sweetheart, tell us what you’re thinking.”

“Once we know your plans, we’ll understand how to arrange things going forward.”

Understanding what her father meant, Shen Yi’an shared her intentions, “Mom, Dad, Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, I plan to go to the military base to find Li Beichen.”

“Go to the base?” The Shen family members were somewhat surprised.

“But you’ve just been confirmed pregnant, and your health isn’t great.”

“What if something happens on the way…”

The unspoken meaning was clear to everyone present.

If anything happened during the journey, regret would be the most basic emotional response.

Understanding her family’s concerns, Shen Yi’an tried to explain as clearly as possible, “Although the decision to go to the base came recently, it’s something I must do.”

“While we could communicate by phone, some things simply can’t be properly discussed over a call.”

She paused briefly after speaking.

“Furthermore, news of my pregnancy has likely spread within certain circles already.”

“Although we have an official explanation for outsiders, we can’t rule out that some people might have ill intentions.”

“Whether it’s spreading rumors behind our backs or employing underhanded tactics.”

“We can guard against it temporarily, but not forever.”

After saying this, she turned to look at her father, “And Dad…”

“Now is the critical moment for your promotion to deputy director of the Steel Mill.”

“If your future gets derailed because of those rumors, do you think I could feel at ease?”

“So from every perspective, this trip to the military unit is absolutely necessary for me, isn’t it?”

Hearing the resolute tone in her words, the living room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Indeed, going to the military unit seemed truly the best solution!

Firstly, it could dispel external speculation.

Let them know that the youngest daughter of the Shen family was truly married, and the child in her womb was legitimately conceived within marriage.

Secondly, it could thwart the schemes of those with ulterior motives.

The deputy director position at the Steel Mill had finally become vacant, and many were eager to climb their way up.

Without the interference of personal conduct issues, Shen Guozhong would be the undisputed candidate for deputy director.

Moreover, it wouldn’t affect the careers and lives of other Shen family members.

Whether married off or having brought wives into the family, everyone had their own households.

When there were no conflicting interests before, everyone naturally maintained harmonious relations.

But once interests became entangled, it was hard to predict what situations might arise.

In short, after Shen Yi’an expressed her thoughts, the several people sitting in the living room contemplated many things.

The final decision reached was to support her resolution – to go to the military unit!

By understanding Li Beichen’s perspective, they would naturally come to know the Li Family’s stance as well.

When the time came, they could make any decision without feeling constrained.