The King’s Enchanting Chapter 1768 - 1782: Sweet Burden (Part 4)

"Is that so?" Jian Anning felt a thrill hearing Yu Zexiao utter the words "you look nice." She examined herself in the mirror, a hint of displeasure crossing her face after a pause. "But honestly, I feel like I’ve put on quite a bit of weight. Shouldn’t I try to manage it a little?"

"You’re still carrying a child, why would you consider losing weight?" Yu Zexiao’s brow furrowed in unhappiness. "If you don’t eat more, how can the baby grow up healthy? Put aside those absurd notions; if it hinders the baby’s development, it would be a terrible misfortune."

Jian Anning readily agreed, acknowledging that the baby’s well-being far surpassed her own weight gain. She nodded, resolute. "I understand. The baby is the priority. As for losing weight... we can discuss that later."

After all, she wasn't part of the demanding entertainment industry and primarily cared for the baby within the privacy of their estate. Even a stroll wouldn't take her beyond those grounds, and any minor weight gain would go unnoticed by the public eye. Without the threat of paparazzi, her concerns about shedding pounds faded; in essence, the baby’s needs were paramount.

When the elder members of the Yu family learned of her desire to slim down, they reacted with immediate alarm. "What? Lose weight? Where do you even see fat? Why would you want to lose weight?"

"No, it’s not like that," Jian Anning explained, feeling slightly sheepish. "I just feel that I’m consuming five meals a day now, with at least two bowls of rice per meal... at this pace, in the future, I’ll..."

The elders collectively turned their attention towards Yu Zexiao, standing nearby. Jian Anning had been content before, but since his return, she was now contemplating weight loss.

Consequently, swayed by Yu Zexiao’s somewhat bewildered encouragement, Jian Anning commenced her journey of "gaining nourishment." She continued to eat heartily, putting thoughts of weight loss aside. Furthermore, at the Yu family’s insistence, she diligently consumed various "tonic soups," reputed for their health benefits, leading to a further increase in her weight.

----

Before long, her pregnancy had progressed to six months. This particular day, filled with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, saw her and Yu Zexiao heading to the hospital. It was time for the malformation screening—a procedure that carried the anxiety of potentially hearing that something was amiss with their unborn child!

"Do not worry, our child will be perfectly fine," Yu Zexiao conveyed with a measure of calm. He had, in fact, sought counsel from Feng Linxue during this period, who had reassured him that their child was developing normally and showed no signs of potential abnormalities. Nevertheless, without a definitive medical report, Yu Zexiao and Jian Anning remained understandably concerned.

"Yes, I have faith," Jian Anning affirmed. Despite her words, she nearly stumbled due to a moment of carelessness. Yu Zexiao swiftly moved to steady her, and they soon arrived at the examination room within the hospital.

Being a private medical facility, the service was impeccable, and they were attended to immediately, bypassing any waiting period. Jian Anning nervously settled onto the examination bed as the doctor promptly began the procedure, moving the ultrasound probe across her abdomen as before.

The room was steeped in quietude, punctuated only by the hum of the medical equipment and the deep, audible breaths of Jian Anning and Yu Zexiao. Despite their claims of composure, their hands were tightly intertwined, their palms growing damp with sweat.

After a brief interval, the doctor finally broke the silence, announcing, "Congratulations, your baby is developing exceptionally well."

Just as the couple began to exhale in relief, the doctor adjusted his glasses and continued with a serious tone, "However..."

Their hearts leaped back into their throats at the single, ominous word!