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It was Saturday, February 24, 2029 – their official 5th wedding anniversary. Normally, Jing Jing would have been swept up in elaborate celebration plans, but today? Absolutely not. She was in full baby-shopping mode, dragging Yu Tu through aisles of tiny clothes and adorable plush toys. His protests about ‘just looking’ fell on deaf ears - she was on a mission. But as she reached for yet another impossible cute onesie, she winced and paused, instinctively pressing a hand to her chest. Yu Tu, ever observant and protective, raised an eyebrow.
“Are you okay?”
Jing Jing shot him a glare. “You tell me!”
A beat. Then it hit him – the memory of last night’s pre-anniversary activities came flooding back. His smirk was immediate and unbearably smug.
“Ah,” he nodded slowly. “So … not pregnancy - related, just me - related?”
She buried herself in examining the selection before them, pretending to be far more invested in fabric patterns than necessary. He didn’t need to know that her discomfort had nothing to do with him—and everything to do with their little treasure in her womb. Let him think he was responsible. Let him stew in that overconfidence a little longer. She scoffed, ignoring the warmth rising to her cheeks.
“Stop being a smartass and help me pick one.”
Yu Tu chuckled, wisely obeying, though the amused glint in his eyes promised she wouldn’t hear the end of this anytime soon. Jing Jing held up a tiny astronaut onesie, turning it side to side, inspecting the details like she was evaluating a spacesuit for actual launch.
“Too plain,” she murmured, putting it back.
Yu Tu, standing beside her, arms crossed, looked more like a man being interrogated than a husband enjoying baby shopping.
“It’s practical,” he pointed out.
She waved him off, eyes lighting up as she spotted another section, rabbit-theme onesies. Now we’re talking. She picked up one covered in soft bunny prints, pressing it against herself.
“Look, Yu Tu! Isn’t this perfect? The baby can match all my rabbit plush toys!”
Yu Tu’s lips twitched. Over the years, he had learned one undeniable truth – Jing Jing’s love for rabbits wasn’t random. It was because of him.
“You do realize that means the baby is matching me, not just your stuffed animals, right?” He teased.
Jing Jing grinned, completely unbothered by this revelation. “Exactly. You’re my Jade Rabbit, and now our baby will carry that legacy!”
Yu Tu chuckled, shaking his head. “We should have had the baby in the Year of the Rabbit, it would have been perfect.”
Jing Jing scoffed, tossing the onesie into the cart. “Well, we couldn’t, because we got married in the Year of the Dragon. You were too busy being a mighty dragon back then.”
She paused, then smirked, leaning closely. “Actually, now that I think about it, you were too slow. If you’d made your move a little earlier, I could have been your wife in time for a Rabbit baby. But nooo … Mr. Aerospace Engineer needed extra calculations.”
Yu Tu raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his gaze. “Extra calculations? You make it sound like I ran simulations before proposing.”
Jing Jing grinned. “Didn’t you?”
He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “I should’ve known you’d find a way to blame this on me.”
She tapped his chest lightly. “It’s what I do best.”
His playful smirk softened, his voice quieter now. “I wasn’t slow, Jing Jing. I knew I wanted to marry you long before I ever proposed.”
Jing Jing tilted her head, skeptical. “Oh? And when exactly did this grand revelation happen?”
He hesitated for a second. “In the desert.”
Her teasing expression faltered, curiosity flickering in her gaze. “That month you were away?”
He nodded. “It was the first time in a long while that I had the space to truly think. About my career, my choices and about us.” He met her eyes, unwavering. “I thought of you every day, and that’s when I knew … I wanted to be with you. I wanted a life with you.”
Jing Jing swallowed, fingers brushing absently over the bunny onesie. “That was before you sent all those letters?”
Yu Tu’s lips twitched, the warmth returning to his gaze. “That was why I sent the letters.”
She blinked rapidly, trying not to look too affected … but failing miserably. “Hmph. And yet, you still took your time proposing.”
Yu Tu chuckled, slipping an arm around her waist. “I needed to make sure you really wanted a calculating aerospace engineer.”
Jing Jing rolled her eyes, but the radiant smile she wore made it clear that she had wanted nothing else.
Yu Tu watched as she held up another rabbit-theme onesie, inspecting it with the same critical eye she might use on a high-fashion gown. The sheer determination in her expression made him chuckle again.
“You’re really taking this seriously,” he mused, crossing his arms. “Are we dressing a newborn or preparing for a red carpet debut?”
She shot him a mock-glare. “Excuse me, every outfit must be perfect.”
Yu Tu smirked, his amusement growing. “So, what does that make our baby?”
Jing Jing thought for a moment, then grinned mischievously. “A little horse-rabbit hybrid. Fierce but adorable.”
She held up yet another rabbit-themed onesie, nodding in satisfaction before tossing it into the cart. Yu Tu, arms casually crossed, watched her pile up baby clothes like she was preparing for a wardrobe expansion rather than a single newborn.
“You do realize our child will be born in the Year of the Rooster, right?” he asked, smirk intact.
She barely glanced up. “And?”
His tone turned teasing. “Roosters are known for being confident, outspoken and …” he paused deliberately, “…very stubborn.”
She scoffed, finally looking at him. “Oh, so you think our baby is going to be the stubborn one?”
Yu Tu raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself. “Well, considering who the mother is …”
Jing Jing narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me? I am not stubborn!”
Yu Tu laughed. “You’re literally rejecting astronaut onesies because they’re ‘too plain.’”
“That’s called standards.”
“And you refused to celebrate our anniversary today because you wanted to go baby shopping instead.”
“That’s called priorities.”
Yu Tu shook his head in amusement. “Right. Priorities, standards … not stubbornness at all.”
Jing Jing huffed, grabbing another onesie – this one with tiny roosters on it and tossed it into the cart. “Fine, we’ll embrace it. Rooster onesie it is!”
Yu Tu took the onesie, examined it, and then sighed dramatically. “Guess I should prepare myself for a lifetime of handling two strong-willed forces of nature then.”
Jing Jing grinned. “That’s the spirit, Daddy.” She took the rooster onesie from him and tossed it into the cart with a satisfied nod.
And then, as if struck by inspiration, she sifted through the rack with practiced precision until she found the ultimate onesie. Triumphantly, she thrust it toward him with a grin.
“Welcome to your reality, Jade Rabbit.”
As they wandered into the crib section, Jing Jing marveled at the sheer variety – classic wooden cribs, sleek modern designs, and convertible options. But Yu Tu? He looked unimpressed. Jing Jing glanced at him, suspicious.
“What’s with the face?”
Yu Tu crossed his arms, surveying the options as though analyzing inferior engineering designs.
“None of these are … optimized.”
“Optimized?” Jing Jing raised a brow. “It’s a crib, not a lunar module.”
He smirked but remained firm. “Our baby deserves something better. I’ve been working on a design.”
She froze. “Wait!” Blinking, she stared at him. “You’ve already designed a crib?”
Yu Tu nodded, entirely unfazed. Jing Jing opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her brain stalled. Finally, she spluttered.
“We found out YESTERDAY.”
He shrugged. “I had some free time.”
“Some free time?” She gaped at him, then whirled toward the cribs. “You mean to tell me that after our little celebration last night, YOU started sketching structural reinforcements?”
He considered this. “Pretty much.”
Jing Jing smacked his arm. “You absolute nerd!”
Yu Tu chuckled, dodging the second swat, unfazed. “You’re welcome.”
Yu Tu pulled out his phone, scrolling through some schematics before holding it up. Jing Jing stared in awe. His design had shock absorption technology, temperature regulation, and even a built-in monitoring system linked to their phones - tracking movement, breathing, or comfort levels.
“This looks like something NASA has to approve,” Jing Jing said, half in awe, half in absolute disbelief.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Yu Tu replied, completely serious.
Jing Jing stared at him, then burst into laughter. “You really are turning our child into a space program prototype.”
Yu Tu’s smirk deepened. “So, you approve?”
She threw her hands up. “Fine. Build the crib. But if it ends up looking like a mini spaceship, I’m calling Pei Pei to stage an intervention.”
“Pei Pei? Please. She’d just ask if she can borrow it for her dog.” Yu Tu chuckled, knowing full well his crib would be light-years ahead of any store-bought option. He tucked his phone away, satisfied.
“I’ll start building it next month after we get back to Shanghai.”
“Next month? Shanghai? Should I expect prototype testing as well?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He chuckled. “I’ll only test it once … before final assembly.”
Jing Jing rolled her eyes but the amused smile lingering on her lips gave her away. Their baby was about to have the most advanced crib in existence - and honestly? She wouldn’t expect anything less.
The crib would feature a full suite of cutting-edge technology, all aimed at minimizing crying time and ensuring their baby slept soundly. But Jing Jing had one non-negotiable demand – Yu Tu had to upgrade the Full Self Soothing system. Classical melodies like Mozart and Beethoven were fine, but that wasn’t enough. Their crib needed more options. It would include selections from Classical Chinese Music, modern Chinese ballads, and … naturally … her own songs.
“I’ll design it to analyze our baby’s reactions and adjust the playlist in real time, creating the perfect sleep environment.”
Jing Jing smirked, crossing her arms. “A crib that adapts to AI … I should start calling you Chief Engineer of the Jade Rabbit Smart Crib.”
Yu Tu shrugged. “The patent paperwork is already in progress. I should start accepting investors.”
“Well, Chief Engineer of the Jade Rabbit Smart Crib. Should I start measuring you for your fancy Nobel Prize outfit? Silk or Velvet? Actually, never mind - I remember Ivan’s studio. You barely made it through the first fitting. Maybe we should just go with an adult-size rabbit onesie instead?”
The next day—Sunday, just after lunch—Yu Tu sat comfortably on the couch, his laptop open as he browsed flight options. Jing Jing wandered in, settling beside him, her gaze drifting toward the screen.
Initially, he had planned to call his parents on the last day of Chinese New Year, assuming Jing Jing would do the same with hers. But the more he thought about it, the more appealing an in-person reveal became. After all, why deliver such joyous news over the phone when they could share it face-to-face?
Celebrating Lantern Festival together felt like the perfect occasion—at least, in Yu Tu’s mind. Their parents would find out sooner or later, so why not tell them now, surrounded by festive lights and warm reunion dinners?
So, he was making arrangements—whether Jing Jing realized it yet or not. She didn’t, not immediately. But as her eyes flicked over the laptop screen, her brows knit together. Four tickets from Shanghai to Beijing? Her curiosity sparked.
“Is your unit coming here to join you?” she asked, assuming the flights were for his colleagues.
Without looking up, Yu Tu responded smoothly. “No, these are for our parents.”
She stilled. “Wait a second.” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re flying them here?”
Yu Tu remained calm, sipping his tea. “It’s a good occasion.”
Jing Jing knew him too well. This wasn’t just a simple dinner—it was his plan to make the announcement formal. She groaned inwardly. He was ready to tell their parents, while she, ever the cautious one, wanted time to ease into it. She hadn’t even figured out how she wanted to break the news yet!
“You don’t just casually fly four parents across the country for a Lantern Festival dinner unless you have ulterior motives.”
Yu Tu didn’t argue. He simply raised a brow in amusement. “Why delay the inevitable? They’ll find out sooner or later.”
Jing Jing sank deeper into the couch, exhaling dramatically. “Can’t I just enjoy the glow of this a little longer before the parental advice rolls in?”
His smirk deepened. “You act like it’s a bad thing. They’ll be thrilled.”
She shot him a look. “I need time to prepare for the enthusiasm, the unsolicited wisdom, and, knowing my mother, the immediate baby name suggestions.”
Yu Tu chuckled. “You know she’ll have at least ten ready.”
Jing Jing groaned. “Exactly! And she’ll act like it’s a vote instead of a suggestion.”
Yu Tu leaned back, casually amused. “Considering how fast you accepted the crib, I assumed naming would be easier.”
She grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it at him. “That’s entirely different!”
Yu Tu caught it effortlessly, his grin completely unfazed. “Besides, Pei Pei knows.”
Jing Jing sat up straight. “Wait, what?”
He blinked, calm as ever. “She called this morning and guessed in under thirty seconds.”
Jing Jing groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Pei Pei is dangerous.”
Yu Tu leaned forward, entirely unbothered. “She told me she already ordered celebratory milk tea.”
Jing Jing buried her face in her hands. “Of course she did.”
Then, as she narrowed her eyes at him, another realization struck. She groaned, rubbing her temples.
“Wait a second… Does Sister Ling know too?”
Yu Tu hesitated. That split-second pause was enough. Jing Jing groaned louder.
“She knows, doesn’t she?”
He sighed. “She called me yesterday to ask how you were feeling.”
Jing Jing threw herself back against the couch in pure exasperation. “Of course she did.”
“She was suspicious when you got sick last week.” Yu Tu reminded her. “Pei Pei and Xiao Zhu confirmed her theory, so… yes, she knows. They all know.”
Jing Jing sat up straight, eyes wide. “She was the first person to suspect, Xiao Zhu and Pei Pei backed her up? I am doomed.”
Yu Tu smirked. “They’re betting on whether you tell your parents before or after the Lantern Festival dinner.”
Jing Jing gaped. “Betting?”
He nodded, looking far too smug for her liking. “Milk tea rewards.”
Jing Jing groaned again, covering her face. “I have the worst friends.”
The moment their parents met at Shanghai Airport for the flight to Beijing, puzzled glances were exchanged. While Yu Tu had always been thoughtful about family gatherings, booking flights for both sets of parents on such short notice—without any particular reason—felt out of character. They sensed something was up.
Mother Yu frowned slightly as she turned to Jing Jing’s mother. “Is there some kind of event in Beijing we’re not aware of?”
Mother Qiao sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know. Yu Tu has always been meticulous about planning, but this feels… different.”
Mother Yu narrowed her eyes in thought. “Could it be work-related? Maybe an aerospace event?”
Mother Qiao waved a hand dismissively. “If it were work, Yu Tu would have sent a neat little briefing with all relevant details.”
Mother Yu hummed in agreement. “That’s true. So why rush us to Beijing, just for the Reunion Dinner?”
Mother Qiao gasped suddenly, clasping her hands together. “Oh! Could it be a vow renewal? A grand romantic gesture? Yu Tu is such a romantic.”
Mother Yu shook her head, amused. “My son is romantic, but efficient. If he were renewing their vows, I would have received a formal itinerary weeks in advance.”
Meanwhile, Father Yu and Father Qiao were having their own theories. Father Yu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“This isn’t a simple reunion. Yu Tu never arranges things last minute without a reason.”
Father Qiao crossed his arms, skeptical. “You think it’s business?”
Father Yu shook his head. “If it were business, he would have mentioned it on the phone.”
Father Qiao exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “It better not be another of Jing Jing’s secret. The last time she kept something from us, we didn’t find out about the relationship until everyone else already knew.”
Father Yu chuckled. “She does have a habit of delaying announcements.”
Father Qiao scoffed. “At this rate, I am prepared for her to tell us about their child after the baby is born.”
All four parents paused, exchanging a knowing glance.
Jing Jing’s mother frowned, deep in thought. Then, suddenly, she stilled. Something dawned on her. She turned sharply to Mother Yu.
“Wait a second…”
Mother Yu’s amused smile faltered for a split second before widening again.
“You don’t think—?”
Father Yu leaned forward, his voice low and certain.
“It’s entirely possible.”
Jing Jing’s mother inhaled sharply, her hand tightening around her purse. She turned to her husband.
“She wouldn’t dare… would she?”
Father Qiao exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as if already defeated.
“That girl…”
The reunion dinner on the last day of the Chinese New Year was held at Yu Tu and Jing Jing’s home in Beijing. The warmth of family, the joyful chatter, and the clinking of dishes made the evening feel exactly as it should — festive and full of love. Lantern Festival had a way of turning ordinary gatherings into something special, and tonight was no exception. As the meal was in full swing, Yu Tu set his chopsticks down and cleared his throat. The gentle hum of conversation quieted.
“There’s something we want to share with you,” he said, exchanging a glance with Jing Jing. His fingers curled slightly against the table, anticipation thick in the air. “We’re expecting a baby. You guys are going to be grandparents!”
A beat of silence. Then, without hesitation, Mother Qiao waved a hand dismissively.
“Mm. Thought so.”
The other parents barely reacted. With casual nods of approval, they carried on eating as if he had just informed them about tomorrow’s weather forecast. Not a gasp, not a startled blink—just serene acceptance.
Jing Jing blinked. “…That’s it?”
Her father took a measured sip of tea, completely unfazed. “We knew the moment we saw you at the airport today.”
“Airport?” Jing Jing was puzzled.
“Yup, suspected at Shanghai Airport!” Father Yu added. “Confirmed at Beijing Airport!”
Mother Yu turned to Mother Qiao, arching a brow. “Can we stop pretending now?”
The moment the words left her lips, the facade among the parents crumbled. Father Qiao let out a booming laugh, reaching for more food as if he had been holding back his joy for hours. Jing Jing’s mother clapped her hands together, eyes twinkling with delight. Mother Yu practically beamed, shaking her head in amusement.
Jing Jing’s mind reeled. Have Yu Tu already told them? He had called their parents two days ago about the flight tickets, and she had been right there during both conversations. She was certain she hadn’t heard him mention anything about the baby—so how could they possibly have known? She smacked Yu Tu’s arm, suspicion flashing in her eyes.
“You called them again, didn’t you? When I wasn’t around?”
Yu Tu looked genuinely bewildered. “I didn’t! I swear!”
Still unconvinced, Jing Jing narrowed her eyes at him before turning back to their parents. Then, both of them asked in unison.
“How did you know?”
“Of course we knew — how could we not?” Mother Yu said, shaking her head with amusement.
Father Yu gestured toward Yu Tu with his chopsticks. “You hovered over her like a mother hen the entire time at the airport. Not to mention the way you kept glancing at her stomach every five seconds.”
Mother Qiao scoffed. “And that glow! A mother knows.”
Jing Jing gaped at them. “So you suspected the moment you boarded the plane?!”
Father Qiao shook his head. “Boarded the plane? No, no. We suspected when we met up at the airport.”
Jing Jing shot Yu Tu a look, as if searching for answers herself, but he was just as stunned. Curious, he asked.
“And you kept quiet all this time … why?”
Mother Yu grinned. “Because it was more fun this way.”
Jing Jing stared at them, completely floored. She had been played. All this time—from lunch to now—they had known, and not a single one had let it slip. Her eyes widened in disbelief before she blurted out.
“You guys are all actors, aren’t you?!”
Father Qiao chuckled, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, you’re not the only best actress in the family.”
Before Jing Jing could recover, the hovering began. The parents sprang into action, buzzing around her with excitement.
“We knew it!” Mother Qiao declared as she made her way to the guest room. “And to prove it—just wait!”
One after another, the parents rushed off, returning moments later with their loot. Jing Jing and Yu Tu barely had time to react before their dining table was covered with bags.
“This—” Father Yu pulled out a tiny embroidered blanket, “—was from a specialty shop at the airport.”
“We found these too,” Mother Yu added, revealing an assortment of baby clothes, tiny shoes, and—was that a stuffed rabbit?
Father Qiao laid out neatly packed food containers. “And don’t worry, we stocked up while shopping after lunch! You need all the nutrients you can get.”
Jing Jing blinked, stunned. “Wait—you went shopping? When?”
Mother Yu smiled knowingly. “While you were resting at home.”
Jing Jing’s mouth fell open. “You mean… I was asleep, and you snuck off to go shopping without telling me?!”
Father Qiao beamed proudly. “Of course. We weren’t going to let the opportunity slip.”
Yu Tu sat back, expression calm, his eyes glinting with something between amusement and satisfaction. His plan to fly their parents over was working out even better than expected. Now that the news was out, the hovering had officially begun.
“Jing Jing, from now on, you need to stop all work at once,” Mother Qiao declared.
“Yes! No more tiring yourself out,” Mother Yu agreed. “You need proper rest. And food—you must eat more!”
Father Yu nodded firmly. “Anything you crave, we’ll make sure you have it.”
Jing Jing opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, her mother delivered the final blow.
“We’ll be staying with you until the baby is born,” Mother Qiao announced, looking incredibly pleased with herself.
Mother Yu nodded in agreement. “It’s only right. You need round-the-clock care, especially since you’re high-risk.”
Jing Jing’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Wait, what?”
Yu Tu finally spoke, ever so calmly. “Sounds reasonable.”
Jing Jing turned to him in horror. “You — you did this on purpose, didn’t you?!”
He merely picked up his tea, taking a leisurely sip, saying nothing. But the slight curve of his lips told her everything. Jing Jing narrowed her eyes at him before exhaling dramatically. Then, with all the frustration of someone who had just been successfully cornered, she declared.
“Fine! I’m going to get away from all of you and move into Yang Yang’s house.”
Yu Tu, completely unfazed, set his tea down with ease, his lips curving into a knowing smirk.
“You sure about that? You really think Dilraba would let you?”
Jing Jing blinked. “…Wait, what?”
Yu Tu leaned back, exuding quiet amusement. “She might just kick you out herself. You want to risk it?”
The parents, oblivious to the brewing battle, carried on discussing Jing Jing’s new diet plan.
Jing Jing groaned, realizing she had played right into his hands.
