As the Tang Family business gradually got on track, Tang Yiyi suddenly noticed that Pang Zhi seemed to have a secret. He went out more frequently, returning either looking radiant, sulking, troubled, or anxious—clearly, he was in love!
Though Tang Yiyi had no hobby of prying into others’ privacy, she couldn’t help but be curious about who Pang Zhi had fallen for. She hesitated for a long time, yet never found the opportunity to ask, and could only keep it to herself.
One day, after finishing the Tang Family business, she was lying on a massage chair receiving a massage when she suddenly heard the door open, and Pang Zhi came in with his head down, looking upset.
Tang Yiyi saw his look and her heart skipped a beat, sensing something was wrong. Then she met Pang Zhi’s conflicted gaze. She clenched her fingers and looked at Pang Zhi scrutinizingly, testing, "Xiao Zhi, are you okay?"
A hint of struggle flashed across Pang Zhi’s chubby face, and then he suddenly walked up to Tang Yiyi and cautiously said, "Sister Yiyi, I have a friend who really admires people who can cook and wants to meet you. Well..."
Before he could finish, Tang Yiyi coldly interrupted, "No way!"
At her words, Pang Zhi immediately lowered his head further, and after a while, he suddenly looked up with a determined gaze toward Tang Yiyi, "Sister Yiyi, I’m sorry, I was reckless."
He didn’t say anything more, but Tang Yiyi could see that he was very sad now. She felt a bit soft-hearted for a moment, but then thought of the child in her belly, and her resolve hardened again. She looked at Pang Zhi and said word by word, "Xiao Zhi, it’s not that I’m heartless, but you know, I have a child in my belly, and I still don’t want others to know about this. Do you understand?"
Tang Yiyi had not disclosed her pregnancy to anyone and was tightly concealing the news. The Tang Family’s fame had already spread, and many people knew that the owner of the Tang Family was ’Tang Xiao’. If her pregnancy were exposed, her true identity might be discovered!
After all, both ’Tang Xiao’ and ’Tang Yiyi’ have the same surname. Her appearance in Qinghe City was too coincidental! So ever since her tummy began to show more noticeably, she no longer appeared, only staying in the kitchen and her room, leaving the reception of guests to Zhang Xue and the staff.
After consuming Mutated Beast Meat for two months, Zhang Xue’s health visibly improved, although her previous deficiencies weren’t completely rectified, her complexion had improved significantly. Grateful for Tang Yiyi’s kindness, she worked diligently, and under her care, the ornamental plants in the mini planting room were growing noticeably better!
She had discovered Tang Yiyi’s pregnancy quite early, and, though surprised, shrewdly kept this matter to herself, never revealing a word outside. Even Zhang Haoyu took her advice, keeping the news strictly under wraps.
Tang Yiyi hadn’t expected Pang Zhi to suddenly make such a request, but no matter how she felt about Pang Zhi, she absolutely couldn’t agree to it!
She trusted Pang Zhi as a person but couldn’t trust his so-called "friend"!
She vaguely guessed that Pang Zhi’s "friend" was very likely the person he liked. Objectively speaking, the request was not excessive, but unfortunately, she simply couldn’t meet outsiders now!
Pang Zhi glanced at Tang Yiyi with guilt, his gaze lingering for a long while on her rounded belly, and then he suddenly said, "I’m sorry, Sister Yiyi, for putting you in this difficult situation. I didn’t think it through, just pretend you never heard what I said just now!"
After he spoke, he wiped his face and suddenly realized he was being a jerk.
When Tang Yiyi heard his words, her heart relaxed. She really liked Pang Zhi, always regarded him as a little brother, and didn’t want this to affect their relationship.
However, after hesitating for a moment, she still probed, "Xiao Zhi, can you tell me about your friend? What kind of person is she?"
At her question, Pang Zhi’s face instantly reddened. His eyes wandered, avoiding meeting Tang Yiyi’s gaze, while he pretended to be nonchalant, "What... what kind of person? Just a friend. Well, she’s quite nice."
Tang Yiyi saw he was too shy to talk and just smiled without pressing further, only reminding, "Xiao Zhi, you’re still young. It’s fine to date, but some intimate matters should wait until you’re an adult."
There’s a saying that premature intimacy can affect the awakening of one’s superpower upon reaching adulthood. Tang Yiyi didn’t know if this was true, but since she considered Pang Zhi as a brother, naturally, she didn’t want him to take the risk.
At this, Pang Zhi’s face turned beet red, and he stammered, "Sister Yiyi! You... you’re talking nonsense, it’s not like that. We’re just... just ordinary friends!"
Pang Zhi shuffled his gaze away from Yiyi, speaking with significant unease. Afraid Yiyi might continue questioning him, he hastily left with a "I got something to do."
Tang Yiyi didn’t expect Pang Zhi to be so thin-skinned. Seeing him flee like his life depended on it, she couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile.
This was just a small episode in her life, and Tang Yiyi didn’t dwell on it, nor did she pay attention to Pang Zhi’s progress, only occasionally teasing him. And Pang Zhi never again mentioned the idea of bringing someone over.
Time passed quietly, and soon three months had flown by, ushering in the winter holiday. Tang Yiyi was now eight months pregnant, her belly quite large and a bit intimidating, but fortunately, it didn’t hinder her cooking.
Pang Zhi received notice from his family that he needed to go home for the Spring Festival. He was reluctant to leave Tang Yiyi, and ever since he received the notice, he looked at Tang Yiyi with extremely conflicted eyes every day, muttering, "What to do, what to do? If I go, will little nephew forget me?"
He already learned from Tang Yiyi the gender of the child in her belly and never missed a chance to greet his "little nephew" whenever free. Now, facing the sudden need to leave and not seeing "little nephew" for a month, felt quite unsettling for him.
Originally, Tang Yiyi didn’t want Pang Zhi to leave, but his constant muttering instantly dispelled her sorrows, making her wish to just kick Pang Zhi out!
Ultimately, she couldn’t bear to see him so conflicted and couldn’t help comforting, "Don’t worry, the baby’s due date isn’t here yet, and you’ll definitely be back in time for the birth!"
Pang Zhi was instantly comforted, then began to murmur to Tang Yiyi’s belly, urging the baby to wait for his return before being born, which left Tang Yiyi utterly speechless.
After Tang Yiyi couldn’t take it anymore and kicked Pang Zhi out, Pang Zhi’s personal terminal suddenly received a message — I’m at Dreamy Dessert House, hurry over.
Seeing the message, an expression of joy flashed across Pang Zhi’s face, and then he quickly changed his clothes and rushed out of the door. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)