Work Text:
Jing Jing’s phone rang just as she was relaxing in the bath. Yu Tu glanced at the screen and, seeing Chen Xue’s name, decided to answer.
“Hey, Yu Tu,” she greeted. “How’s Jing Jing doing with the pregnancy?”
He sighed lightly before responding. “Her mood has been all over the place lately. The doctor put her on a strict diet because of gestational diabetes, and she’s struggling with it.”
“Oh no, that must be tough for her,” Chen Xue sympathized. “And for you.”
“She’s convinced we’re having a boy instead of a girl,” Yu Tu continued. “She says her belly looks pointier than round and blames me for making her eat plain yogurt. Now that she can’t have sweets, she is certain we are having a boy.”
Chen Xue laughed. “Oh, but she loves her strawberry yoghurt! She must be really grouchy these last few days.”
Yu Tu let out a defeated sigh before chuckling. “Words can’t even describe her mood. Ever since that TV interview, she’s been complaining about muscle aches and back pain. That’s why I practically made her take a bath. I am hoping it would help her relax and bring back her cheerful self.”
“Well, you tell her this … “Chen Xue leaned in, her voice teasing. She gave Yu Tu a suggestion, certain it would lift Jing Jing’s spirits.
An hour later, Jing Jing stepped out of their master bedroom, making her way toward the kitchen where Yu Tu was busy preparing dinner.
“How was your bath?” He asked, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
Jing Jing pulled a familiar grumpy expression, placing both hands on her back as if trying to ease the ache. “Back still achy.”
“So the bath didn’t help?” Yu Tu asked, his tone laced with disappointment.
“It felt great while I was in the tub,” Jing Jing grumbled, “until I had to get out.” She sighed before shooting him a look. “Yu Tu, you need to design a bathtub specifically for pregnant women.”
Yu Tu chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Sure, as long as I keep you on maternity leave for the next five years.”
“Huh?” Jing Jing blinked.
“Well, we need to put it to good use!” He smirked, his voice teasing.
“No!” She huffed. “If I agree, remind me to slap myself!”
Just then, Yu Tu recalled Chen Xue’s suggestion. He picked up Jing Jing’s phone from the back counter and was about to hand it to her.
“When you were in the bath, the woman who said I sounded like a Scumbag called.” He remarked casually.
Jing Jing gasped, her eyes widening as she quickly brought both arms forward, shielding her baby bump – as if Bao Bao’s ears were sticking out of the baby bump.
“Bao Bao, you didn’t hear that!” She exclaimed, then turned to Yu Tu, eyes round with mock indignation. “Yu Tu! No swearing in front of Bao Bao! We’re at week 28 now, Bao Bao can hear our words.”
Yu Tu raised an eyebrow, amused by her sudden protectiveness. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.
“Bao Bao, listen to your dad,” he said with mock seriousness. “Your mom might say ‘no swearing,’ but between you and me, she’s got a potty mouth when she’s mad.”
Jing Jing gasped dramatically, pointing an accusing finger at him. “I do not!”
Yu Tu smirked. “Oh yeah? I distinctly recall someone calling me the worst husband alive just last week over a yoghurt incident.”
Jing Jing huffed, crossing her arms. “That was justified.”
Yu Tu chuckled, then gently tapped her belly. “Don’t worry, Bao Bao. If your mom ever scolds me unfairly, you can back me up when you’re older.”
Jing Jing rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “You wish.”
Yu Tu handed her the phone. “Chen Xue told me to say that, she said it would lift your spirits.”
Jing Jing stared at the phone in her hand, then at Yu Tu, her expression unreadable for a moment. Finally, she let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
“She’s always got something up her sleeve,” Jing Jing muttered, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Then, she sighed dramatically. “Fine, I’ll let her have this one.”
Without further hesitation, she tapped the screen to the call list and pressed to dial Chen Xue’s number. The call barely rang twice before Chen Xue picked up.
“You’re welcome,” Chen Xue said immediately, amusement clear in her voice.
Jing Jing huffed. “You sound like you just saved my life.”
“I kind of did,” Chen Xue teased. “Yu Tu was struggling, wasn’t he?”
Jing Jing glanced at Yu Tu, who was conveniently pretending to be busy with dinner preparation. She narrowed her eyes. “Struggling is a strong word,” she replied, stretching the word out.
“Oh please,” Chen Xue scoffed, laughing. “You’re impossible when you’re moody, and you know it. I figured I’d help the poor guy out.”
Jing Jing sighed, giving in. “Fine, fine. Consider this your victory.”
“I always do.” Chen Xue’s grin was practically audible.
Jing Jing rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile from forming.
-----
A few days later, on a Saturday evening, Yu Tu stepped into the house after a two-day business trip to Beijing. The silence greeted him first. It was eerily still, as if the home had been holding its breath in his absence. Then, from the master bedroom, faint noises broke the quiet.
He paused and smirked to himself. What is she up to now?
Curiosity warred with hesitation as he moved toward the door, the soft rhythm of her breathing growing louder. The way it sounded … low, drawn-out, almost tempting … made him wonder if he was about to walk into something he wasn’t supposed to see. Still he couldn’t help himself.
Lowering his carry-on to the floor, he placed a steady hand on the doorknob, turning it without a sound.
As he slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside, his eyes widened in surprise and shock.
Jing Jing was on the bed – on all fours.
Yu Tu didn’t want to startle Jing Jing or risk any mishap with a surprise entrance, so he knocked gently on the door, watching as she shifted onto her knees. She turned to him, her expression lighting up with a bright, cheerful smile.
“You’re finally back!” Jing Jing exclaimed, waving him over eagerly. “Come here!” She patted the mattress beside her, an unmistakable invitation for him to join her.
Yu Tu’s lips curved into a smirk as he watched Jing Jing pat the mattress, her excitement obvious.
He had barely put his suitcase down before she was already summoning him like a long-lost treasure. “Miss me that much?” He teased, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her.
Jing Jing huffed dramatically, crossing her arms. “Two whole days, Yu Tu. That’s unacceptable.” She narrowed her eyes, her lips pouting as if he had committed an unforgivable crime. “I swear my hormones have been all over the place. I cried watching a commercial about corn. Yu Tu. Corn.”
Yu Tu bit back a laugh, knowing better than to challenge her pregnancy logic. “You poor thing.” He murmured, took off his glasses; amused, reaching out to pull her close as he sat beside her, his hand instinctively moving to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Well, I’m here now,” he murmured, his voice lower, warmer. “What would you like me to do?”
Jing Jing turned her back to him, settling onto her side. With a low, inviting voice, she beckoned him closer. “Give me a kiss.”
Yu Tu obliged, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. As he pulled away, she leaned in, her breath warm against his ear.
“I need a massage, please.”
Yu Tu blinked, his smirk faltering for just a second. “So that’s what this was all about?” He exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. “You lured me in with a kiss, just for a massage?”
Jing Jing grinned unapologetically. “Smart right?” She teased.
Yu Tu chuckled, his hands already moving to her shoulders. “You know, next time, you could just ask.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” She chirped, utterly satisfied with herself. “By the way, after the massage, I think we can try a different position other than Edge of the Bed.”
Yu Tu’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Oh? So the massage is just a warm-up?” He teased, his voice low and amused. He started massaging her spine while she laid on her side.
“Oh this feels so good!”
Yu Tu stepped out of the bathroom and was immediately met with a blast of icy air. Jing Jing had set the air conditioner to its lowest temperature, the fan whirring at full speed. He couldn’t blame her, an hour ago, she had been drenched in sweat as their shared heat lingered between tangled sheets. Even without the lingering warmth of their embrace, the sweltering July temperatures had hit the mid-30s when his flight landed. Her fluctuating hormones must had only intensified the feverish flush in her body.
Still, despite the relief she sought, concern flickered in his mind. Would the chill be too much for her, especially since she had only stepped out of the shower fifteen minutes ago?
Jing Jing glanced up from where she lay curled on the couch next to the bed, a sleepy smile playing on her lips. “Worried about me again?” She murmured, stretching languidly under the cool blast of the air conditioner.
His gaze flickered with quiet concern. “You just stepped out of the shower. The temperature difference …..”
She waved a hand dismissively. “My body’s been running hotter than usual these days. Blame the hormones.” She shifted slightly, patting the space beside her. “But if you’re so concerned, you can always warm me up.”
Her teasing tone was light, but beneath it lay an undeniable invitation; one that made Yu Tu pause for a beat before a small, knowing smile tugged at his lips.
“That’s just your hormones talking,” he said. Then, pointing toward the kitchen, he added. “And soon, they’ll be speaking to your stomach. I’d better get some snacks ready for you.”
-----
Satisfied from the light snack, they made their way back to the bed, settling into a comfortable rhythm that had become second nature. Yu Tu leaned against the headboard, his laptop open as he skimmed through documents from his trip. Jing Jing, nestled against him, let out a contented sigh, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on her baby bump.
For a few quiet moments, the only sound was the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional tap of the keyboard. Then, with playful glee in her voice, she asked. “Have you thought about baby names yet?”
“Yes,” Yu Tu murmured, eyes still fixed on the screen, scanning the lines in front of him. He was focused, but Jing Jing was far too excited to wait.
“If we have a son, let’s give him a two-character name, like yours.” She announced, curling closer against his side. “And if we have a daughter, she’ll have a four-character name, like mine.”
Yu Tu finally looked up, his brows knitting together in quiet confusion. “Your name is three characters.”
She grinned, the mischief unmistakable in her eyes. “That’s because I never tell people my full name. It’s actually Qiao Yu Jing Jing.”
Yu Tu stared at her for a moment, as if recalculating everything he thought he knew about her. Then, a slow smile tugged at his lips. “So you’ve been hiding an extra character from me all this time?”
She laughed. “Not hiding, just saving it for the right moment.”
Now that she had Yu Tu’s full attention, Jing Jing wasn’t about to let the moment pass. She tilted her head, watching him expectantly. “So? Have you thought of any actual names?”
Yu Tu leaned back against the headboard, his fingers idly tracing over the edge of his laptop.
“I have,” he admitted. “I’d like the names to follow a theme, something connected to the glittering stars in the galaxy.”
Jing Jing’s eyes lit up, her excitement unmistakable. “Because of my name and your dream?”
He nodded, the corners of his lips lifting ever so slightly. “Exactly.”
She gave his arm a playful squeeze. “That’s perfect! So tell me, what have you come up with?”
Yu Tu hesitated just long enough to tease her anticipation before finally speaking. “The first name I thought of for our daughter doesn’t have 4 characters in Chinese,” he admitted. “But it does have four syllables in English.”
Jing Jing sat up straighter, curiosity sparking through her. “Really? What is it?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s for you to guess.”
She pouted, but there was laughter in her voice. “At least give me a clue.”
Yu Tu relented slightly. “It starts with the letter C.”
Jing Jing’s mind immediately began to race. She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling as she repeated the clues aloud. “Letter C … four syllables … star and galaxy.”
Yu Tu tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress his amusement as she muttered the clues a few more times, deep in thought. She began sounding out names, testing them carefully, but each one fell short, only having three syllables.
Then like a light flickering on in her mind, realization struck. She turned to him, eyes bright with triumph.
“Cleopatra!”
Yu Tu blinked, momentarily stunned, before feigning exasperation. “Cleopatra?” He tapped at her temple. “Were you not paying attention in History class during Senior High?”
Jing Jing’s excitement wavered, her eyes blinking rapidly, a tear threatening to slip free. Yu Tu didn’t hesitate, he gently pulled her into his side, his voice warm with apology. “I’m sorry. That’s just your hormone talking,” he murmured.
Jing Jing recovered swiftly, a spark of mischief returning to her gaze. “And that,” she said, poking his chest lightly, “was your testosterone talking.”
Yu Tu chuckled at Jing Jing’s persistence, the amusement dancing in his eyes. “It’s not Cleopatra,” he said finally, relenting.
She perked up instantly. “Then what is it?”
He turned to her, his voice soft but certain. “Cassiopeia, as in the constellation.”
Jing Jing’s eyes widened with delight as she mouthed the name, savoring the sound. “Cassiopeia Yu …” she murmured, testing how it fit. She repeated it a few times, letting it roll off her tongue like a melody, before flashing him an approving smile. “I love it.”
She leaned against Yu Tu once more, absentmindedly tracing her fingers along her baby bump as she thought. Then, with renewed excitement, she sat up, eyes gleaming.
“Cassiopeia … 卡西佩雅 – ka-xi-pei-ya!” She declared, carefully crafting the Chinese name aloud. “Four characters!”
Yu Tu was momentarily stunned, then let out a quiet chuckle. “What about the family name?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “于卡西佩雅 – Yu Ka Xi Pei Ya? That’s five characters.”
Jing Jing feigned deep contemplation before her lips curled into a mischievous grin. “Then how about 于仙后座 Yu Xian Hou Zuo? The Immortal Queen Yu Constellation?”
Yu Tu’s jaw dropped.
She smirked, triumphant. “This proofs I did paid attention during Senior High!”