"I can't baby."

"I need to hold you…" she whined.

​​

"You're too fragile," he insisted as he stood up. "We will have plenty of time for that. I just need you to rest and take care of the babies, okay?"

"You keep licking your lips. Your lips must be chapped. What do I get you?" he asked, peering into the empty paper cup he had been feeding Qian Meng ice chips from.

She shook her head. "Did you bring my bag? I had lip balm in there. My lips are so dry," she protested.

Qing Yuan entered and saw the scene.

"I don't have your bag, but I can go out and buy one for you."

Qian Meng put her hand on his leg to physically stop him. "It's okay. Don't leave."

"It's fine. I need to get a toothbrush for myself and you."

She looked at him longingly. "I need one of those desperately."

"I can go out and pick up everything you two need," Qing Yuan said sweetly.

"It's okay. You two enjoy a little time together before Qian Meng starts taking calls and working again," he chuckled softly, knowing that was exactly what his wife was going to do when he left the room.

"Qingchen!" Qian Meng protested and he really did find it sweet that she was so adamant about not wanting him to leave. He didn't want to leave either, but he knew he had been hogging all her time from the family.

"It's okay, Qian Meng," he laughed. "I will be right back. Finish whatever you need to before I do. I won't condone you working when I am in the room."

"Hey!" she called after him as he started to walk away. "If you are going to leave, you should at least kiss me. My mouth tastes horrible but you have to deal with it." She smiled slyly.

Lighthearted laughter filled the room from the people who had entered. Qingchen went back to her, shaking his head. He leaned over to place a quick kiss on her dry, chapped lips.

"Extra strong toothpaste it is, then," he muttered to her teasingly as he pulled away.

- - - - -

"Which pants do you want to wear?" Qingchen asked as he unzipped the duffle bag.

"The grey ones," Qian Meng said slowly.

"The plaid ones?"

"Yes." She looked at him in surprise. "I am impressed that you know plaid, Mr. Mo."

He ignored her teasing and continued with his questions. "Which shirt, then?"

Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Qingchen, I can dress myself."

He glanced over at his wife, who watched him helplessly from the hospital bed.

"Don't start complaining, Qian Meng. I am already anxious about you going out so soon." He sighed.

"It's been a week."

"Exactly. It has only been a week and you are recovering from a serious condition, Qian Meng." She shook her head, but he continued on before she could argue with her like he knew she wanted to. "The way you have been acting, you would think you have a cold or something. Not something as severe as your body rejecting all nutrients and trying to kill you."

Qian Meng looked at him with mild disgust at the exaggeration. "I really hate lying in this bed all day, feeling absolutely useless. It's driving me to the brink of insanity. I need to get out. Even if I sit in the office, I don't dare."

Qingchen gave her small, sympathetic smile. He really did feel for her, but her health was his absolute first priority.

"I know, baby. That's why I am letting you go home. But I am not happy about it."

She shrugged. "I don't want to stay at your parents' home for the rest of the pregnancy. It's not something I can handle and I don't think you can handle either. So, let's just go home, okay?" she chuckled.

Qingchen and she were in complete agreement about that. Qingchen's mother had offered them the guest bedroom in their house but there was no way the two of them would walk through the hallway without Mo Qingchen constantly thinking about how his father might hurt his wife.

Qian Meng was already clawing at the walls to get out of the hospital. She was an independent individual and she hated that her mobility was restricted.

Qian Meng was the ruler of her own kingdom, as was Qingchen, living in someone else's house? There wasn't room for two kings in Qingchen's father's place.

Instead, Yun Qing Yuan was moving in. Add in Xiong Hua and her constant need to take care of the couple, Qian Meng was set for a good pregnancy.

"Are you okay with Qing Yuan staying with us?" Qian Meng asked finally.

Mo Qingchen hummed. "I don't care if he lives with us temporarily or permanently. I already invited him to live with us before the wedding. He chose to do so now. Also, it's better that he comes live with us. I am not letting my wife stay at home and get bored or depressed. He will be of great help."

Qian Meng looked at her husband and realized he had thought everything through.

"Bored and depressed?" She quirked her eyebrow defensively but quickly melted at his boyish smirk. "My prince charming, why are you pushing my buttons when I am sick?"

He grinned. "Am I pushing your buttons? I like that."

She rolled her eyes. "There is nothing I want more than to push your buttons."

Qingchen ignored the sexual innuendo and made a quick subject change as he helped her changed into her clothes.

"Did you get enough to eat? You're going to need your strength because we are going out for the first time today."

"I'm good," she said dispassionately.

"Are you sure? I could ask Xiong Hua to make something and keep it ready for when we arrive," he insisted.

"Qingchen, I am good."

He knew his constant questioning about her well-being was getting on her nerves, but he couldn't help it. He was constantly thinking of things he could do for her. The near-death of his soulmate did that to him.