Mad Dog

In the second year of Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi’s marriage, Zhi Yu and Ji Liang also registered their marriage and held a wedding ceremony.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, Zhi Qi was practically racking her brain over what wedding gift to give her brother. After all, when she got married, Zhi Yu had gifted her a car. Now, even though she was still in her third year of graduate school and hadn’t yet graduated, she had already started working, so she couldn’t just ‘give nothing.’
However, more than material gifts, Zhi Qi valued thoughtfulness. She felt that she had so little to give Zhi Yu and couldn’t help but feel inadequate.
When Jiang Qi returned home that evening after his flight, he found Zhi Qi half-reclined on the sofa, deep in thought with a frown.
Surprised, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Ah, isn’t my brother and Liang-jie’s wedding next week?”
Zhi Qi rested her chin in her hand and asked with concern, “What should we get them as a gift?”
After all, now that she and Jiang Qi were a family, it made sense to give the gift together.
However, Jiang Qi, being someone with little experience in gift-giving, was not much help. Although the sharp edges of his personality had softened over the past two years, he was still not particularly ‘savvy’ when it came to social matters.
…
Hmph, asking him was pointless.
Zhi Qi stifled her frustration and continued searching online for ‘what gift to give your brother for his wedding.’
In the end, Zhi Qi decided on a pair of couple’s watches from a modest luxury brand that matched her budget. The design was simple and elegant, and after days of deliberation, she finally made her choice. When she gave the gift to Zhi Yu and Ji Liang, they seemed genuinely pleased, which brought her a great sense of relief.
Only later, a delayed sense of joy slowly bubbled up within her.
Finally, her somewhat ill-tempered, occasionally infuriatingly stubborn brother… had found his fairy to tame him.
–
Two months after the wedding, Ji Liang was found to be pregnant.
It was likely a honeymoon baby, and the entire family was overjoyed. After all, both Zhi Yu and Ji Liang were nearing thirty, so having a child at this time was ideal both emotionally and career-wise.
In the first few months of Ji Liang’s pregnancy, Zhi Yu was swamped with work, so Zhi Qi eagerly volunteered to accompany Ji Liang to her prenatal checkups.
Watching the small outline on the ultrasound screen and hearing the baby’s faint heartbeat… Zhi Qi felt as if she had discovered a new world!
“Sis-in-law!
The baby has a heartbeat!”
Zhi Qi excitedly grabbed Ji Liang’s fingers and shouted, “Oh my gosh, it’s so cute!”
“It’s just a little sprout; what’s so cute about that?”
Ji Liang couldn’t help but laugh, playfully flicking Zhi Qi’s pretty, upturned nose.
When the two of them left the hospital after the checkup, Zhi Qi held Ji Liang’s arm as if she were escorting royalty.
Ji Liang found it both funny and overwhelming. For a moment, she really felt like she was carrying the entire village’s hopes in her belly!
Amused by her own thoughts, Ji Liang glanced at Zhi Qi’s flat stomach, her mind wandering.
“Qi Qi, you and Jiang Qi have been married for almost two years now.”
Ji Liang gently patted Zhi Qi’s fair hand and smiled. “Aren’t you planning to have a baby?”
…
That question… It wasn’t until Ji Liang brought it up that Zhi Qi realized she had never even considered it.
In Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi’s world, having children still seemed like a distant thought, especially with the way Jiang Qi always pampered her, making Zhi Qi feel like she was still a child herself.
She felt a bit unsure, wondering if she could truly be a good mother.
But now, the thought of having a child of her own seemed like something to look forward to.
After a while, Zhi Qi looked at Ji Liang’s small belly and smiled gently. “I haven’t really thought about it yet.”
Jiang Qi had recently joined a new drama crew and had a lot of scenes to shoot, which meant he couldn’t always come home every day. However, since they were filming at Hengdian, just outside Linlan, he occasionally stayed up late to rush back home.
That night, Zhi Qi was half-asleep, not resting well, when she felt a slight movement beside her in bed, signaling that someone had returned.
“Jiang Qi…”
She rubbed her eyes and half-opened them, struggling to stay awake. “You’re back?”
“Mm.”
He didn’t turn on the bedside lamp, and in the darkness, his tired, husky voice replied, “Go back to sleep.”
As he spoke, he got into bed and wrapped his arms around her, preparing to sleep.
But Zhi Qi suddenly couldn’t fall asleep anymore. Her now-clear eyes sparkled mischievously, like a cunning cat—her heart feeling as if it was being tickled by a little cat’s paw.
Soon, her delicate fingers slid under Jiang Qi’s pajama shirt, gently teasing him with playful, ticklish touches.
“What are you doing?”
He caught her hand, his deepened voice swirling in her ear. “Not tired anymore?”
Hmm, that voice was so intoxicating.
“No, I’m not.”
Zhi Qi couldn’t help but giggle, biting her lower lip as she leaned in to kiss him. “You didn’t come home yesterday.”
Her actions and words made her intentions clear.
Would any man resist at this moment? In the darkness, Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow and immediately flipped over to pin her beneath him.
At the critical moment, as Zhi Qi mewled softly like a kitten, Jiang Qi reached for the box on the bedside table, but his wrist was caught by her hand.
“Don’t.”
The bedside lamp was already half-lit, and in the dim, warm glow, Zhi Qi’s eyes shimmered with mist, gazing up at Jiang Qi with a dreamy look. “Can we… not use that this time?”
Jiang Qi froze.
After a moment, it seemed like he understood, so he withdrew his hand but didn’t continue.
“Qi Qi, you went with Liang-jie to her prenatal checkup today.”
Jiang Qi slipped under the blanket and hugged her, his chin resting on her shoulder, his voice slightly muffled. “Do you want to have a baby?”
“A little bit.”
Since he had already guessed, Zhi Qi didn’t bother denying it. As she fiddled with the buttons of his now-open pajamas, she admitted, “I kind of want a baby, but when I think about it seriously, it also scares me.”
This was probably a ‘necessary step’ in everyone’s journey to adulthood—the conflicting desires of wanting and not wanting, a contradiction.
“You haven’t graduated yet.”
Jiang Qi played with her fingers, sharing his true thoughts. “Why don’t we wait a little longer?”
In truth, it wasn’t just Zhi Qi who was afraid. Jiang Qi also admitted that he had no idea how to be a father or how to take on the responsibilities of fatherhood.
To be even more honest—he wasn’t sure what being a father really entailed.
Growing up in a dysfunctional family, even though he had healed somewhat over the years, the shadows cast by his childhood weren’t easily erased.
Jiang Qi feared that if he and his beloved had a child… would he turn out as messed up as he had been? He was genuinely afraid.
Zhi Qi, nestled in the familiar scent of pinewood from his embrace, gradually became sleepy. Without overthinking it, she yawned drowsily and mumbled, “Well, we’ll talk about it later.”
The girl, soft and lazy, soon fell asleep in his arms.
Jiang Qi quietly watched her in the lamplight, his fingers tracing the air over her delicate brows, long lashes, and rosy lips. After a moment, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Not only was he unprepared, but in many ways, Zhi Qi was still a child who needed to be cherished and pampered.
He was willing to spoil her for a few more years, just her alone.
–
Ji Liang’s pregnancy went smoothly, and as expected, when her due date arrived, both families were there to support her.
Knowing that Zhi Qi would be nervous, Jiang Qi even cleared his schedule to wait outside the delivery room with her.
Perhaps it was the hospital atmosphere or the way everyone’s chatter made the hours pass anxiously. Although they knew Ji Liang was in the best hands, there was still an unavoidable sense of tension.
Zhi Qi clutched Jiang Qi’s fingers so tightly that he was already ‘sacrificed,’ with several scratches on his hand.
Finally, the nurse emerged holding the baby, cheerfully announcing to the waiting crowd, “Who’s family for Ji Liang?”
In an instant, five or six people rushed forward.
Normally calm and composed, Zhi Yu had reddened eyes and stammered, “I—I am… Doctor, how’s my wife?”
“Rest assured, both mother and baby are healthy. It’s a boy.”
The nurse was used to such scenes but still found it heartwarming, so she smiled warmly and added, “You can go in and see the mother now.”
Hearing this, Zhi Yu barely glanced at his ‘newborn’ before rushing into the operating room.
He had originally wanted to accompany Ji Liang into the delivery room, but she refused—self-conscious about her image, she didn’t want him to see her crying and screaming. Zhi Yu had no choice but to comply.
Meanwhile, the adults naturally crowded around the baby. Both sets of grandparents beamed with joy, eager to hold the baby, but the nurse was firm and didn’t allow it.
Zhi Qi waited for a while, and once the adults had their fill, she pulled Jiang Qi over to see the baby.
Seeing the tiny, soft bundle wrapped in a pink blanket in the nurse’s arms, Zhi Qi instinctively quieted her footsteps, as if afraid to disturb the little one.
“Wow…”
So this was what new life looked like. Staring at the baby’s tiny, wrinkled face, Zhi Qi couldn’t help but exclaim, “So small.”
“Not that small.”
The nurse smiled. “The baby weighs seven pounds and six ounces.”
Zhi Qi wasn’t very good with numbers but vaguely recalled that she had weighed a little over six pounds when she was born.
As new parents, they would probably remember these numbers more clearly.
For now, though, she was filled with a sense of awe for this new life.
Watching the baby quietly, Zhi Qi’s heart stirred.
She gave a slight squeeze to Jiang Qi’s hand, not realizing that while she was gazing at the baby, the whole time, the young man had been gazing at her.