How Could a Scumbag Alpha Possibly Love His Wife? - Chapter 62

That morning, Cheng Wan woke up and realized it was already close to ten o’clock.

Ever since entering her sixth or seventh month of pregnancy, her sleep had only gotten deeper and longer. She could easily sleep for over ten hours without waking up—just like today, comfortably and completely rested.

During those hours, she was practically unshakable. Only the alarm she had set for work could wake her. Anything else was easily ignored.

She lay in bed for a while after waking up, letting her body adjust. Since she no longer had to go to work, this had become part of her routine—waking up slowly before getting out of bed. She supported her belly with one hand and turned to her side. With the size of her bump, she couldn’t sit up straight anymore. She had to roll over and push herself up. Otherwise, it would strain her lower back.

It sounded complicated, but really, it was just like rolling out of bed. A bit clumsy and definitely exhausting.

Even though she had slept well, her waist still ached. Stretching and yawning, she shuffled to the bathroom to wash up before finally opening her bedroom door.

The chubby cat was like a loyal little guard, lifting its round head the moment she appeared. It looked up at her with bright eyes and gave her a soft greeting, “Meow—”

Cheng Wan smiled as it waddled into her room, glancing at it briefly but not stopping it.

The little fatty had been with them for three or four months now, and it was about seven or eight months old. It had grown a lot since it first arrived.

Thanks to Aunt Pei’s excellent care and generous feedings, the cat had only gotten plumper. After every trip to the pet store for a bath, it seemed to gain another pound or two. Aunt Pei even started calling it “Little Chubby” and was considering cutting back on freeze-dried snacks to help it lose weight.

But to Cheng Wan, the cat was perfect just the way it was. Soft and round and incredibly cute. As long as it stayed healthy, being a little plump didn’t matter.

She walked into the kitchen to get something to drink. Just as she opened the fridge, she heard footsteps coming downstairs. Looking up, she saw Bai Juntang.

“You’re here too?” Cheng Wan asked as she grabbed a bottle of sea-salt soda water and took a sip. “Where’s Aunt Pei? I didn’t see her.”

“She had some things to deal with at home. She’s taking a few days off,” Bai Juntang replied, walking over in her white slippers. Glancing at the soda water in Cheng Wan’s hand, she asked, “She left in a rush and didn’t have time to prepare lunch. What do you feel like eating? Should we order delivery, or do you want to cook something?”

Cheng Wan didn’t really feel like ordering takeout, but she also wasn’t a fan of oily kitchen smells. Looking outside at the blazing sun, she could already tell how hot it was near midday. She definitely didn’t want to go out.

Now she was torn. This was a big decision, after all, and she had to think it through.

Seeing her hesitate for so long, Bai Juntang gently pinched her cheek and asked, “Do you have decision paralysis? You don’t even know what you want to eat?”

Cheng Wan blinked and explained, “I don’t want takeout, but it’s too hot to go out and eat.”

“Then I’ll cook for you,” Bai Juntang said, giving her cheek another light pinch. “How about noodles? Or should I stir-fry something?”

“Noodles are good,” Cheng Wan answered seriously. “Tomato and egg noodles.”

Bai Juntang laughed. “I thought you’d ask for noodles with hot pot seasoning.”

Cheng Wan frowned a little. “I didn’t say it had to be spicy. Sweet and sour is delicious too.”

“Alright.” Bai Juntang smiled and gave her cheek one last pat. “Go sit in the living room. The noodles won’t take long. I’ll call you when they’re ready.”

Happy with that, Cheng Wan headed off with her soda in hand and sat down while Bai Juntang opened the fridge, took out the ingredients, tied on an apron, and began cooking.

She wasn’t the kind of CEO who couldn’t tell rice from wheat. She just thought cooking was tedious, and with how busy her work was, she rarely had the time or energy to cook for herself.

Sure, she could enjoy the finest cuisine, but when she got busy, she often skipped meals entirely. If she was lucky enough to grab a short break, she’d just shove a few pieces of bread into her mouth and keep going.

So to her, it wasn’t about eating well—it was about eating enough.

Water boiled on the stove. Once it was ready, she dropped in the tomatoes she had cut with cross-shaped incisions. After a quick blanch, the skins peeled off easily.

She didn’t know if others minded tomato skins, but she didn’t like them.

After chopping the tomatoes, she poured out the water, dried the pan, heated some oil, and started cooking. Soon, a sweet and tangy aroma filled the kitchen. It drifted out into the living room, and Cheng Wan, drawn by the smell, sat down at the dining table.

As she watched Bai Juntang moving around the kitchen, Cheng Wan suddenly felt that this—this moment—was what a home was supposed to feel like.

The person she loved was in the kitchen, cooking a meal just for them. The house didn’t need to be big. Even a small one would be enough, as long as the people inside were together.

The scent of food lingered in the air, and Cheng Wan sat waiting for the meal, a little impatient, but more than anything, full of quiet anticipation.

She watched Bai Juntang’s silhouette and thought, if longing had a shape, this would be it.

Cheng Wan had always wanted a home. Back in the orphanage, when she found out she was being adopted, she had been full of hope. Her birth mother had abandoned her, but maybe her adoptive parents would love her.

But when she arrived at the Cheng household, she realized that place wasn’t her home either.

As she grew older, after going through so much, Cheng Wan came to believe that maybe “family” was something she was never meant to have. It seemed like her fate was to be alone, with no one willing to truly stay by her side.

Eventually, she stopped hoping, knowing it was better not to expect too much.

But today, for some reason, she felt like the little girl she once was. She imagined having a small home, just enough to fit her and the people she loved. Even if life was hard, as long as they were safe and together, it would be enough.

She didn’t have her parents anymore, but somehow, with Bai Juntang, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

She felt like she was home.

Condensation had built up on the outside of Cheng Wan’s soda bottle, and droplets slowly gathered before sliding down her hand.

Finally, she stood up. Looking at Bai Juntang busy in the kitchen, she walked over without thinking.

She wanted to hug her from behind—just to see if this moment was really happening.

The sun was so bright today. Was it possible she was just imagining all of this?

As Cheng Wan reached out carefully to embrace Bai Juntang from behind, her belly ended up bumping into her first.

Bai Juntang felt someone behind her before she even turned around. Then came a soft bump at her waist. Turning her head, she saw Cheng Wan standing there, arms half-open, clearly trying to hug her—but her belly had ruined the surprise.

It should’ve been a sweet moment, if not for the “betrayal” by her baby bump.

Cheng Wan’s face turned bright red. She quickly took a few steps back, flustered. “S-sorry! I was just trying to…”

“Hug me?” Bai Juntang asked, glancing at her.

Cheng Wan’s blush deepened.

She’d failed at her sneak hug and now felt like a complete fool.

Bai Juntang turned off the stove, walked over to her, and lowered her voice. “So, I guessed right?”

Cheng Wan wanted to escape, but with her belly, she couldn’t move fast. She hadn’t even reached the doorway before Bai Juntang gently pulled her back.

With both hands, Bai Juntang lifted her up and sat her down on the edge of the counter. She glanced at her belly, then smirked, “With this belly, hugging from behind might be tough right now. But once the baby’s born, you’ll manage.”

Cheng Wan’s whole body turned red. She pushed at Bai Juntang in embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant! Let me down… mmph—”

Before she could finish, Bai Juntang leaned in and kissed her, tasting the faint hint of soda still on her lips. In a soft voice, she whispered, “The noodles need a few minutes to simmer. We’ve got time for a little affection.”

Cheng Wan tried to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Bai Juntang deepened the kiss. In the cozy kitchen, the only scents were the tangy sweetness of tomato and egg noodles—and the familiar blend of their pheromones.

The warmth of the moment made Cheng Wan’s heart race. Nervous, she gripped Bai Juntang’s shirt and tilted her head up, afraid even the smallest movement would break the magic.

Only when her lips felt numb and she was short of breath did Bai Juntang finally let go.

Holding Cheng Wan’s chin gently, Bai Juntang looked at her swollen lips and kissed them once more with a soft pop.

“Did you like that?” she asked with a teasing smile.

Cheng Wan was too flustered to answer. Her entire face was burning. She wished she could crawl into a hole and disappear.

She had just wanted to sneak a hug. Instead, her belly betrayed her, and now she’d been kissed breathless in the middle of the kitchen.

If Aunt Pei had been home, Cheng Wan was pretty sure she would’ve died of embarrassment on the spot.

Seeing Cheng Wan’s helpless expression only made Bai Juntang happier. She felt more and more like a kid—there was something so satisfying about teasing the person you love.

The kitchen still carried the smell of food. Bai Juntang lifted Cheng Wan up again and carried her to the dining room, setting her gently into a chair.

Bending down slightly, she whispered, “Next time, don’t lead with the belly. If there’s something you want, just tell me. I’ll say yes.”

Cheng Wan blushed, holding her belly and avoiding eye contact.

Bai Juntang reached out and placed a hand on her stomach. It was round like a little watermelon, especially noticeable when Cheng Wan was seated.

Just as her hand settled there, she felt a kick from inside.

She froze for a moment, then blinked in surprise. That was definitely a kick.

“The little one just kicked me,” she said, narrowing her eyes at Cheng Wan. “Did you put them up to that?”

“I did not!” Cheng Wan huffed. “It was Sui Sui who kicked you, not me.”

“Sui Sui?”

Bai Juntang perked up at the name. She leaned over and kissed Cheng Wan’s temple, smiling. “So the name’s been decided?”

“Mhm.” Cheng Wan’s cheeks flushed again. “What do you think of Sui Sui? Simple and sweet.”

“I love it,” Bai Juntang said, gently ruffling her hair. “It’s perfect. Then that’s it—our baby is Sui Sui.”

Cheng Wan hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly. After all, this was their child. She’d just come up with the name on a whim—but Bai Juntang accepted it right away.

Resting her hand once more on the baby bump, Bai Juntang smiled and said, “Alright. I’ll go get the noodles. You and Sui Sui take it easy.”

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