Chapter Text
Zhongli looks down at her, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "The mall?" he repeats, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Are you sure you want to go out in your condition?"
"Why not?" she ask.
He hesitates for a moment, his hand resting on her stomach in a protective gesture. "It's just.. You're fairly heavily pregnant," he says, his voice tinged with concern. "I don't want you overexerting yourself, especially in public."
"Well, I know." she smiles, "But I'm so bored. I want to do some window shopping,"
Zhongli sighs, his expression a mix of concern and resignation. He knows there's no stopping her when she's set.
"Alright," he says, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But if you start to feel tired or uncomfortable, we're leaving. No arguments."
"Yes, yes." she smiles reassuringly.
Zhongli can't help but smile in return, her happiness contagious. He brushes his thumb against her cheek, his touch gentle and affectionate. "I just worry about you, my love," he says, his voice softer now. "You're carrying our child, and I want to make sure you're safe and comfortable."
He walks beside her through the mall, his eyes watchful and protective. He keeps a careful eye on her, noticing any signs of fatigue or discomfort.
They wander through the various stores, browsing through the goods.
"Are you sure you're not getting tired?" he asked, concern in his voice. "We've been walking around for quite some time now."
"I'm sure, Zhongli," she chuckles "Can't you see? I'm happy,"
Zhongli's expression softens as he sees the smile on her face. He knows how important it is for her to get out and about, even with her pregnancy. He sighs, unable to resist the sight of her happiness.
"I do," he says, his voice affectionate. "And I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Just promise me you'll let me know if you start feeling tired, alright?"
**♡**
Zhongli sighs dramatically, as if being tortured by her shopping desires. After so many stores, she still wants to check out a toy store. But he can't help the small smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth.
"Of course, my love," he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Because why not add toys to the list of things we're buying today?"
She laughs, "Why? Are you annoyed?"
Zhongli puts on a melodramatic expression, sighing deeply and pretending to be overwhelmed.
"Annoyed? Oh, yes, absolutely," he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How could I possibly be annoyed by walking around the mall, carrying books and toys? It's my favorite activity, you know."
She chuckles at his complaint, "Do you want to rest?"
Zhongli's expression softens as he hears her laughter.
"Rest?" he teases, a playful glint in his eye. "And give you the chance to buy even more things without me there to stop you? I don't think so."
She laughs again. She is the pregnant one and yet he's the one who is always complaining throughout this trip to the mall.
Zhongli grins, enjoying the sound of her laughter. He knows he must seem like a big baby, complaining about shopping when she's the one who's pregnant. But he also knows he wouldn't have it any other way. He loves her far too much to ever truly be annoyed.
"Can you blame me for complaining, my love?" he says, playfully pouting.
"You're the one making me walk around the mall and carry all this stuff. It's tiring work, you know."
"Can you see me complaining?" she teases, "You're the one who made me pregnant and I'm the one who needs to carry it for nine months,"
Zhongli pauses, his expression turning sheepish at her reply. She has a point, after all. He's the one who got her pregnant, and here he is, complaining about carrying a few books and toys while she's actually carrying a child inside her for nine months.
"Alright, alright," he says, surrendering with a mock expression of defeat. "You win, my love. I have no right to complain when you're doing all the real hard work."
"Good to hear." she smiles proudly.
Zhongli chuckles, his expression softening at her satisfied smile. He knows he'll never win an argument with her, especially not when she's right.
They check the direction and the toy store is on the fourth floor. Should be easy though, since there is a lift. Zhongli follows her gaze to the toy store located on the second level. He sighs dramatically, putting on his 'exhausted' expression once again.
"Of course the toy store has to be on the fourth floor," he says, a hint of mock-exasperation in his voice.
"Because why not make this even more tiring for me, right?"
He notices her sudden quietness and looks at her with concern. Не immediately drops his playful demeanor and steps closer to her.
"Guizhong, what's wrong?" he asks, his voice gentle and concerned. "You suddenly went quiet."
"The lift is broken," she says. "There's only stairs."
Zhongli's expression turns serious as he hears her words. He glances at the stairs and then back at her, his protective instincts kicking in. He hesitates for a moment, his mind racing with worry and concern.
"The stairs.." he mutters, his voice low and tense. "You can't possibly walk up the stairs in your condition. It's too risky."
Zhongli's heart aches at the sadness on her face. He knows how much she wanted to go to the toy store, but her safety of her and their child come first.
"My love, please understand," he says, his voice pleading. "You must think of your condition. It's too dangerous for you to walk the stairs right now. We can come back another time, or order the toys online."
"Okay.”
Zhongli feels a pang of guilt at her disappointed expression. He hates seeing her upset, but he knows he has to prioritize her safety and the safety of their unborn child.
"I'm sorry," he says, his voice softer now. "I know you're disappointed, but please understand, it's for your own good."
"We can do something else instead, something safer and less tiring."
"So, more shopping?"
Zhongli sighs, his expression a mixture of resignation and amusement. He should have expected this response, considering her shopping addiction.
"If you must," he says wryly, suppressing a smile. "But nothing too tiring or strenuous, alright? No extensive walking. And take frequent breaks. Your health and the baby's come first, no matter how much shopping you want to do."
"Okay," her gloomy face turned bright.
Zhongli can't help but smile back at her bright smile. Despite his nagging and worry, he's powerless to resist her happiness.
"You're lucky you're cute," he says, his voice affectionate. "Anyone else would have given up dealing with your shopping addiction long ago."
"And yet here you are." she grins.
**♡**
Zhongli struggles under the weight of the bags and boxes he's carrying. His arms are full, and his expression is a mix of exhaustion and irritation. He looks like a pack mule, carrying way more than he's used to.
"Are you sure you bought everything you wanted, my love?" he asks, his voice slightly strained. "Because it feels like I'm carrying half the mall here."
She laughs, "I promise I'm done,"
"Only because half the stores are closed."
Zhongli sighs, his weary expression slowly shifting to a smile at her response. He knows he's been complaining a lot, but he can't help it when his arms are practically falling off from carrying all the bags.
"And when you say 'half the stores," he says, raising an eyebrow. "Does that mean there's still more shopping we could have done if everything was open?"
"That's for another time," she laughs again teasingly.
Zhongli groans playfully, feigning irritation. But he can't help but smile at her laugh.
"Oh, I can't wait," he says sarcastically. "More shopping to look forward to. Just what I want to hear."
"Do you need me to carry some?" she ask.
Zhongli glances at the bags he's carrying and then at her. He hesitates for a moment, not wanting to burden her further. But he also can't deny that his arms are starting to ache.
"No, no, I'm fine," he says, forcing a smile. "I can manage. You worry about yourself and the baby."
"It's really fine, all of that seems heavy and I mostly do the shopping." she says again.
Zhongli sighs, realizing that she won't back down. He knows she's trying to be sweet and help him, but he can't shake the protective instinct to carry everything himself. But he also doesn't want to argue with her.
"Alright, fine," he says reluctantly.
"You can carry something, but only the lightest bags. No heavy stuff, okay?"
He shifts the bags he's holding, eyeing each of them and trying to judge their weight. Finally, he points to a smaller, lighter looking bag.
"This one," he says, handing it to her. "It's the lightest one, but if you start feeling tired or uncomfortable, tell me. I'll take it back immediately, alright?"
"Are you sure there's nothing more I can carry?"
Zhongli suppresses a sigh, knowing that she won't give up easily.
"No, my love," he says.
"You're carrying a child, remember? I don't want you to overexert yourself. The bag is light enough, okay?"
"Okay," she smiles. "Thank you for carrying everything."
Zhongli rolls his eyes playfully at her insistence on thanking him, but he can't help but smile. Despite his tired arms and exhaustion, he can't resist her gratitude.
"You're welcome," he says, his voice still a bit strained. "But next time, can we limit the shopping a bit? My poor arms can only take so much."
She laughs at his complaint, "I promise."
Zhongli can't help but chuckle at her response. He knows that her promises about limiting shopping can be fleeting, but he decides not to mention it.
"Now, let's get going before my arms give out completely," he says, still holding the majority of the bags and boxes.
He groans at the realization that their car is parked three floors below. He can barely manage the weight of the bags he's carrying, and the thought of going to the lift that's far away feels like an eternity of suffering.
"Remind me again why we chose the parking lot that's so far away? I'm starting to question every decision we've made today."
She chuckles, but then she goes quiet at a realization.
Zhongli notices her anxious expression and stops for a moment. He sets down the bags and steps closer to her, his expression turning serious.
"My love, what's wrong?" he asks, concern in his voice.
"I just realized we need to use stairs. The lift is still broken."
Zhongli groans again, he knows exactly why she's anxious, and it's precisely because of the stairs. Having to go to the lift with all the bags and boxes is tiring, and now they have to use walk down three stairs?
"Right, the stairs. The bane of my existence today," he says, a hint of humor in his voice. "Well, we don't have much of a choice. Let's just take it slow and steady, alright? And I'm right here with you, no need to worry."
She nods. It's definitely hard for her, given how big her belly is right now. Clinging to the rail slowly, she tries to get down one step at a time.
He watches her closely as she slowly makes her way down the stairs, clinging to the rail for support. The stairs are pretty steep, so he feels a mix of anxiety and protectiveness as he sees her struggle with her weight and the size of her belly. He walks beside her, ready to catch her if she stumbles or slips.
"Take it easy, Guizhong," he says softly, his voice filled with concern. "Don't rush, alright? We have plenty of time. Just concentrate on each step."
"Zhongli, you can go down first. You're carrying heavy things."
He glances down at the bags and boxes he's carrying, then back at her, her belly a prominent sign of her own burden.
"No, my love," he says firmly. "I'm not leaving you alone. We'll go down together, step by step. You're dealing with enough as it is already."
"Are you sure? You know how slow I am."
Zhongli smiles faintly, his expression filled with tenderness and concern. He shakes his head firmly and steps closer to her side.
"I'm sure," he says softly. "I don't want you to tackle the stairs alone in your condition. We'll take it one step at a time, no matter how slow we have to go. You just focus on staying steady, and I'll manage the bags and boxes."
They are only halfway through the second stairs, yet she seems breathless.
He tightens his grip on her hips and speaks in a low, soothing voice.
"You're doing great, my love," he reassures her. "Just a few more steps. Take deep breaths, take your time."
He silently hope that they'll reach the bottom of the stairs soon, his heart aching at her exhaustion.
"I'm really tired," she says leaning her head against his shoulder. She does look like she wants to pass out.
Zhong's concern grows as she leans against his shoulder, noticing the paleness on her face. He can hear the exhaustion in her voice and see the fatigue in her eyes. He stops walking and gently turns her to face him, his gaze filled with worry.
"Can you lean on me a bit more?" he asks gently. "Just hold onto me, alright? We'll take a short break and catch our breath."
"Yes please," she says weakly.
Zhongli nods and gently pulls her in closer, supporting her weight against him. He wraps his arm around her waist and holds her steadily, providing stability for her exhausted form. He tries to keep his voice calm and reassuring.
"Just take it easy, love," he whispers. "Rest on me as much as you need. We'll catch our breath and then continue down."
He holds her close, his other arm wrapped around her back, steadying her as she leans into him. He feels her weight on him and her exhausted breaths against his shirt. He gently rubs her back, trying to soothe her weary body.
"That's it, love. Just breathe," he says softly, his voice low and gentle. "We'll stay like this until you feel a bit better. There's no rush, alright?"
As other people pass them by, quickly walking down the stairs, they can't help but glance at the peculiar sight of a heavily pregnant woman leaning on a man carrying several bags and boxes. Zhongli notices their glances, his protective instincts flaring. He tightens his arm around his love, pulling her closer to him, almost as if shielding her from the curious gazes.
He ignores the gazes, focusing instead on her well-being. He leans closer to her, his voice low and soothing. He gently strokes her back, his thumb rubbing small circles to try and soothe her, silently hoping that people will stop staring and give her some space.
"Okay.. I can do this." she says to herself.
Zhongli glances down at her face, noticing her paleness. His worry deepens as he hears her determination, sensing her struggle to push herself. He squeezes her shoulder gently, trying to get her attention.
"Are you sure, my love?" he asks, his voice laced with concern. "You're awfully pale. Maybe we should take a bit more time to rest."
She sighs, "Okay."
Zhongli nods, feeling relieved that she agreed to rest a bit more. He carefully lowers her back down onto a step, supporting her against the railing. He kneels next to her, gently adjusting her position so she is seated as comfortably as possible.
"Sit here and rest for a bit," he says softly, his hand gently rubbing her back. "I'll keep watch, make sure you're not overexerting yourself."
Zhongli notices her elevated breathing and immediately becomes more concerned. He places a gentle hand on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
"My love, you're breathing heavily again. You need to slow down your breathing, alright? Just focus on slow, steady breaths."
He moves closer to her, leaning in gently as he continues rubbing her back, trying to soothe her and help her regulate her breathing.
Seeing her unresponsive to his words, Zhongli's worry intensifies. He gently cups her face, tilting her chin up towards him.
"My love, listen to me," he says firmly, trying to get her attention.
"You need to slow down your breathing. Take a deep breath, hold it for a moment, then exhale slowly. Can you do that for me?"
He keeps his touch light and gentle, hoping that his voice can reach through to her.
Zhongli sighs in relief as she responds to his instructions. He keeps his voice soft and encouraging. "That's it, my love. Slow breaths, in and out. Breathe deeply, nice and steady."
He continues rubbing her back, noticing that her breathing is gradually calming down. He keeps a watchful eye on her, observing her as she catches her breath.
This is really making him anxious. Her state.
"You're doing great, my love," he says softly, continuing to rub her back. "Just keep focusing on your breaths. In and out, nice and slow."
He glances down at her face, studying her expression, her tired eyes, and her labored breaths.
"Zhongli.."
He looks up instantly as he hears his name on her lips. He leans in closer, his gaze fixed on her.
"Yes, my love? What is it?" he asks softly, his voice filled with concern.
"..Tired."
Zhongli's expression softens at her tired admission. He nods, his hand still gently rubbing her back. She is closing her eyes and leaning to him.
"I know, my love," he says, his voice sympathetic. "You've been through a lot. But you're doing so well. We're almost at the bottom." he glances down at the remaining stairs, calculating the distance.
Although, this doesn't seem like her usual complaints. He never seen her this tired.
Zhongli waits for a response, but when he only receives silence, his worry deepens. He gently squeezes her shoulder, trying to get her attention.
"My love, can you try to speak? Just a few words, please," he pleads, his voice filled with concern.
Zhongli's worry reaches new heights as he receives no response from her. He gently takes her face in his hands, turning her to face him. He looks into her eyes, trying to gauge her awareness.
"Guizhong, please, say something. Anything," he pleas, his voice full of anxiety. "You're worrying me."
Zhongli feels his heart sink as she remains unresponsive. He knows something isn't right, and his protective instincts kick in. He gently cups her face, tilting it towards him, trying to catch her gaze.
His voice is growing more urgent, "You're scaring me. You need to respond to me."
Zhongli's panic grows as he notice her eyes fluttering. He gently taps her cheek, speaking firmly.
"My love, wake up," he says, his voice urgent. "You need to wake up. Don't pass out on me. Please, focus on my voice."
He reaches for her hand, holding it firmly in his.
Zhongli breathes a sigh of relief as she slowly starts to regain consciousness. He keeps holding her hand, his grip tight but gentle.
"Guizhong, you scared me," he says softly, his voice laced with concern. "You were completely unresponsive. I thought you were going to pass out."
Zhongli continues to hold her hand, "My love, do you understand what I'm saying? Can you say something, anything at all?"
He waits anxiously for her response, his heart still racing from the scare she had given him.
"Yes..” she nods weakly. "I’m just really exhausted."
Zhongli lets out another a sigh of relief at her response. He takes her hand and holds it tighter.
"I can see that," he says, his voice soft and gentle. "You pushing yourself to finish those stairs really wore you out. We're almost at the bottom, but I don't think we can continue like this."
Zhongli notices her lack of response, and it worries him further. He gently squeezes her hand, trying to get her attention.
"My love, you have to speak to me," he says gently. "Tell me what you're feeling. How tired are you?"
"Very tired.." she says almost closing her eyes again.
Zhongli nods, his worried expression still present on his face. He glances around, trying to find a solution to their predicament.
"You've pushed yourself too far," he says softly. "I'll carry you the rest of the way, love. I won't let you overexert yourself anymore."
Her eyes widen slightly, "Carry me?"
Zhongli smiles faintly, his gaze never leaving her face.
"Yes," he says gently. "I'll carry you. There's no way I'm letting you take one more step on those stairs. You need to rest and recover your energy."
"I’m pregnant.. it’s going to be heavy."
Zhongli chuckles softly, a hint of affection in his voice.
"My love, I appreciate your concern," he says softly. "But you don't have to worry about your weight. I think I can manage. Besides, it's not the first time l've carried you."
"That was when I was still not pregnant,”
Zhongli chuckles again, his expression fond. "I know, love," he says softly. "But don't underestimate my strength. I can easily carry you, pregnant or not."
He stands up in front of her, his hand extending towards her. "Come here, let me carry you down the stairs."
"But the bags and boxes?"
Zhongli glances down at the bags and boxes at his feet. He smiles faintly, his gaze returning to her.
"I'll manage," he says confidently. "'ll carry you first, then I'll come back for the bags. You're my priority right now."
Zhongli takes her silence as a sign of agreement. He gently scoops her up into his arms, careful and gentle in his movements. He holds her against his chest, cradling her against him.
"Just rest," he whispers, his voice soft and soothing. "Close your eyes and relax. I'll bring us down the stairs."
He silently takes in the weight and feel of her in his arms. He adjusts his grip, making sure that she is secure and comfortable against him. He can feel the weight of her pregnancy and the exhaustion in her limbs.
"You're not as light as you used to be, my love," he teases gently, a hint of playfulness in his voice.
That seems to struck her, "Now why would you say that.."
Zhongli immediately realises that his lighthearted comment has accidentally hurt her feelings. He mentally scolds himself for being so insensitive.
"No, no, my love," he says quickly, his voice apologetic. "I didn't mean it that way. You're not too heavy for me. I was just teasing. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
Zhongli can tell that she's still upset, and he mentally kicks himself. He looks down at her in his arms, a look of remorse on his face.
"Guizhong, please forgive me," he pleads, his voice soft and sincere. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I spoke without thinking. You know how much I adore you, pregnant or not. I would carry you anywhere and everywhere if you asked me to."
She chuckles a little, understanding his panic. "It’s alright,"
Zhongli breathes a sigh of relief as he hears her chuckle. He knows that she forgives him, but he still feels guilty for his careless words.
"I'm glad you're not angry anymore," he says softly, his grip on her still firm and protective. "I shouldn't have joked about your weight, especially when you're carrying our child. I'm sorry, love."
She nods, and they finally reached down the bottom. Zhongli carries her to a nearby bench and carefully sets her down, making sure that she is comfortably seated. He takes a moment to catch his breath, the strain of carrying her down the stairs evident in the rise and fall of his chest. He straightens up and glances down at her, a mixture of concern and affection in his gaze.
"Are you feeling better, my love?" he asks, his voice gentle.
She didn't even answer, and yet focusing on him instead. "Are you tired? I’m so sorry,"
Zhongli shakes his head, trying to dismiss her concern. "No, no, don't apologise, my love," he says quickly. "I'm fine, really. Just a bit winded, that's all."
He reaches out and takes her hand, gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. His expression is tender and reassuring as he looks down at her.
Zhongli reluctantly releases her hand, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he turns away and climbs up the stairs.
He takes deep breaths as he ascends the stairs, his heart still pounding from the effort. He quickly picks up all the bags and boxes, stacking them in his arms. He glances back at her, making sure she's comfortably seated and resting.
Zhongli finishes gathering the bags and boxes and carefully descends the stairs, being mindful of his footing with all the weight in his arms. He reaches the bottom and sets the bags on the ground before returning to her side.
"Finally, everything's down here," he says, his voice slightly winded. "How are you feeling?"
"I’m perfectly fine since you carried me." she says, "How are you? It must be tiring. I’m sorry,"
Zhongli smiles gently and shakes his head, dismissing her apology. He takes a seat beside her, their bodies close together on the bench.
"Please don't apologise, my love," he says softly. "Carrying you was nothing. I'm just glad you're feeling better."
He reaches out to take her hand again, intertwining their fingers together and squeezing her hand gently.
Zhongli notices her silence and casts a sidelong glance at her, concern etched on his face. He gently bumps her shoulder with his.
"What's on your mind?" he asks softly, his tone laced with tenderness.
"So sorry..”
Zhongli's eyes widen as he sees her on the verge of tears. His heart aches at seeing her upset, and he immediately moves closer to her, concern etched on his face.
"No, please don't cry, my love," he pleads, his voice soft and gentle. "What are you apologising for? You have nothing to be sorry for."
"You're tired because of me.." her tears finally fall, "Not only that I asked you to carry my stuff, but you had to carry me too."
Zhongli immediately pulls her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her in a warm and protective embrace.
"No, no, love," he says softly, his voice soothing. "Please don't cry. I wanted to help you. I’m your husband, and I want to take care of you."
He tries to wipe her tears, "I want you to lean on me. I don't mind being tired as long as you're safe and resting."
Zhongli tightens his embrace, holding her closer against his chest. He can feel her tears soaking through his shirt, and it breaks his heart.
"Please, don't cry, okay?" he says softly, his voice filled with tenderness. "I would carry you a hundred miles if you asked me to. I just want you to be well and healthy, especially now that you're carrying our child."
He gently places a soft kiss on the top of her head as she nods, holding her close against him.
"No more tears, okay?" he says softly, his voice gentle but firm. "I don't like seeing you upset. Especially not about something like this."
"Okay, sorry.."
A faint smile on his face, his expression gentle. "No more apologising either," he says softly. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just want you to focus on your health and the baby. That's all that matters to me."
He gently strokes her hair, his fingers threading through the strands in a soothing gesture. Gently tucking her head under his chin, his arm wrapped around her shoulders in a protective embrace.
"There you go," he whispers.
Zhongli's eyes narrow slightly as the memory of her nearly fainting replayed in his mind. His heart clenched at the thought, and he instinctively pulls her even closer against his side. "Scared the life out of me," he mutters under his breath. "I thought you were going to pass out. I've never seen you so exhausted before."
"I did?" she ask, confused.
Zhongli nods, his expression still laced with concern. "Yes, you did," he replies softly. "You nearly fainted, Guizhong. When we were on the stairs. You were too exhausted to even stand by yourself."
She chuckles, "I remembered thinking I was about to die." it was supposed to be a joke to lighten the mood, but perhaps she was wrong.
Zhongli's eyes widen at her words, his heart clenching in his chest. He pulls her closer against him, his grip tightening slightly.
"Don't say that," he says, his voice filled with worry. "Please don't scare me like that again."
She understands his panic, realizing her poor choice of words. So she just nods and squeeze his hand.
Zhongli returns the gesture, gently squeezing her hand in return. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He brushes a strand of hair away from her face, his expression tender and protective.
"Promise me you'll rest and take better care of yourself," he says softly. Zhongli silently vows to himself never to let her exert herself again. He keeps her close against his side, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. He's determined to take care of her and ensure that she's well-rested and comfortable during her pregnancy.
"No more tiring yourself out," he says softly, his voice filled with affectionate sternness. "I'll carry everything from now on. You're not lifting a finger."
She laughs, thinking he was just joking, "You're kidding,"
Zhongli raises an eyebrow and looks down at her, his expression serious. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" he replies, a hint of playful sarcasm in his tone. "I'm entirely serious. You're not exerting yourself from now on. I'll take care of everything. You're going to rest and take care of yourself and the baby."
"No buts, no protests," he says softly, his voice firm but gentle. "I mean it, love. I don't want you to tire yourself out or overexert yourself. Especially with our baby on the way. You need to prioritise your health and rest. Let me take care of everything else."
Her hands slowly caress his hair in a gentle manner, "My almost fainting really made you scared, yeah?"
Zhongli nods, his expression serious. He revels in the sensation of her fingers running through his hair, his gaze softening slightly.
"It terrified me," he admits, his voice quiet. "Seeing you nearly collapse like that. I thought I was going to lose you for a moment. Please, love. I can't bear to see you like that again."
They just sit there silence, her fingers gently stroking his hair, and with Zhongli becoming more and more protective every single day.