The voice sounded so young, probably just a teenager.
The other pregnant women glanced at the girl wearing the veiled hat, then at her visibly rounded belly. It looked like she was already six or seven months along. Beneath the thin black veil, hints of delicate, fair skin and a beautifully refined face could still be seen. It was the kind of beauty that no veil could hide.
And her outfit—a luxurious fabric adorned with embedded gems and jewels, with patterns seemingly stitched in gold thread. She must be from a wealthy family. However, in Spirit City, wealth was everywhere, so the pregnant women only took a momentary interest before returning to their conversation.
"Is your morning sickness still bad?" one woman asked, concerned for another.
Qian Renxue couldn't resist joining in: "It's awful! Just terrible!"
"At first, I even thought that brat inside had messed up my stomach somehow—just made me sick to the core."
As she described this, Qian Renxue stood with her hands on her hips, looking like she had a grudge against the person in her belly.
Lin Luo was nearly speechless, thinking, As if a divine king like me would ever do something so undignified? Slandering me before I'm even born? [TL: trust me this is just gonna get better and better]
The first pregnant woman chuckled, "This must be your first pregnancy, huh? Morning sickness is pretty common."
Qian Renxue tilted her head, curious, "How many times have you been pregnant?"
"Twice."
"Whoa, impressive."
Another woman joined in, "This is my second too. My first is already toddling around now, just the joy of my life. Every time I see him, it fills me with purpose."
"Really?" Qian Renxue asked, doubtful.
"Absolutely. Children are the most precious beings in the world, especially your own flesh and blood," the second woman replied.
Qian Renxue murmured, "Your own flesh and blood..." Her white, soft hand found her belly, stroking it absent-mindedly. But then she waved it off, saying with a shrug, "Bah, it's my most annoying part. I'm dying for him to leave my body as soon as possible."
The other pregnant women chuckled quietly, covering their mouths.
"What's so funny? I meant it!" she said with slight irritation.
"Just wait until you have him in your arms," the first woman smiled warmly. "Then you'll know he's the one person you'll always worry about the most in your life."
"No way! Absolutely not!" Qian Renxue shook her head with confidence. "Unless my brain's scrambled, there's no chance. He's nothing but a little troublemaker—I already know it."
Lin Luo rolled his eyes internally.
Meanwhile, watching this exchange from the side, Guangling Douluo chuckled, barely able to contain his amusement. *This girl sure has a stubborn mouth; joining in a "moms' group" yet still claims she doesn't care?*
Just then, Qian Renxue noticed that one of the women was busy with something in her hands, working on what looked like a tiny, almost-finished shoe.
"What's that?" she asked.
The third woman smiled, "A baby shoe. I'm knitting it myself; the ones in stores are too expensive."
Qian Renxue asked, "How much?"
"Two copper soul coins each."
Qian Renxue blinked, surprised, "So cheap?" She took out a pouch of coins and handed it to the woman with a smile. "Chatting with you all has been fun; consider this a small gift. Use it to buy shoes."
The woman opened the pouch, only to be nearly blinded by the shine of gold coins inside.
A small gift??
Stunned, she looked back at Qian Renxue, hastily offering the money pouch back. Who was this girl, casually handing out a sack of gold coins?
Of course, if the woman knew Qian Renxue's real identity, her unborn child might have been scared into early labor. Hurriedly smiling, the woman said, "Thank you so much, but I'd rather knit a pair of shoes for my baby myself." The women exchanged glances, realizing it might be better to keep a safe distance from this mysterious, well-dressed girl. They bid a quick farewell and left.
Qian Renxue was left standing there, money pouch in hand, looking bewildered.
Next to her, Guangling Douluo couldn't contain his laughter, clutching his stomach.
"What's so funny?" she asked, frowning at him.
"Why don't you just tell them that your grandfather is Qian Daoliu?" Guangling Douluo laughed.
She let out a frustrated huff, feeling slightly hurt that her "fellow moms" had left her.
He composed himself, teasing, "So, what else would our young mother like to buy?"
"Fifth Grandpa, you're the one who's a young mother!" she snapped, her face turning pink with embarrassment, and stomped her foot. Guangling Douluo laughed so hard that even Lin Luo had to hold back his amusement.
*Fine, fine, an eighteen-year-old mother,* he thought.
Qian Renxue cleared her throat, folding her arms as she mumbled, "I was... considering learning to knit a pair of shoes, just as a challenge."
Guangling Douluo smirked, "Oh, a challenge, huh? Not trying to knit a cute pair for your baby?"
"Absolutely not," she replied, frowning, "I just think it's difficult, and I like a challenge. Besides, it'd be for my grandpa—not for that little scoundrel."
They wandered the marketplace for most of the day before finally heading back to Spirit City. Nearing the Pope's Palace, they split up, and Qian Renxue ran into the last person she wanted to see—Bibi Dong.
She'd heard Bibi Dong was supposed to be in seclusion for a month, but actually, Bibi Dong was recovering from an injury.
As she walked towards her, Bibi Dong's face turned cold, and she seemed almost frightened, staring at Qian Renxue with a tense expression.
In the same moment, Lin Luo felt a strong wave of hostility aimed at him.
Qian Renxue noticed Bibi Dong glaring at her belly with intense disapproval, and she instinctively placed a protective hand over it.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice chilly.
"The thing inside you must be destroyed!" Bibi Dong narrowed her amethyst eyes, speaking with grave seriousness. [TL: Now she like this but after birth she also gonna awaken the Grandma instincts]
Qian Renxue's expression turned icy. "That's none of your concern."
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're not seriously thinking about keeping it, are you? Qian Renxue, when did you become so shameless? Keeping something so strange inside?"
Lin Luo felt uneasy, knowing it was Bibi Dong.
If she attacked him now, he had no means to defend himself; his meager life force would do nothing to protect him.
Bibi Dong stepped forward, taking out a small packet as she said, "This is an abortive potion. Trust me, take it. You have no idea how strange the thing inside you really is."
Lin Luo's nerves went on high alert.
What? An abortive potion?! [TL: good luck with your future survival]