Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

Chapter 225 Are you pregnant?

night.

The bathroom door opened, and Liu Haocun appeared wearing a light-colored silk nightgown. Her hair was wet and draped over her shoulders, with water dripping from the ends. Water droplets slid down her collarbone, shimmering in the light.

Her face was slightly flushed from the steam, and she looked like a freshly washed peach, plump, moist, and radiating a lazy, satisfied glow.

Li Ran stood up from the sofa, took out a hairdryer, and patted the spot next to him. "Come here."

Liu Haocun obediently walked over, sat down in front of him, and turned his back to him.

As Li Ran dried her hair, he thought to himself, "Cunzi has been acting very strange these past few days. She's suddenly become so gentle and kind, even radiating a maternal glow."

After drying their hair, the two sat on the sofa.

Liu Haocun rolled over and lay on his lap, looking up at him. His doe-like eyes shone brightly in the light, and his expression carried a touch of naivety.

"My legs are sore from standing all day." Her voice was soft and sweet, with the last syllable drawn out like a strand of maltose.

Li Ran looked down at her, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Shall I rub it for you?" He spoke casually, as if it were something very ordinary, but his fingers were already on her calves.

"Okay." Liu Haocun immediately changed his posture, put his legs on his legs, rested his head on the sofa armrest, and stretched out his whole body in a very lazy manner.

Li Ran placed his palm on her calf, starting from the ankle and pushing upwards little by little with just the right amount of force to relieve the soreness in the muscles.

She closed her eyes and let out a comfortable hum.

After massaging for a while, Li Ran suddenly spoke up: "Didn't you say you were going to surprise me last night? Where's the surprise?"

He didn't stop what he was doing; he was still massaging her thigh.

Liu Haocun opened his eyes and looked at him; a light suddenly appeared in his doe-like eyes.

The light wasn't a reflection of lamplight; it shone through from within, bright and warm, like the first rays of sunlight on a winter morning.

"I told you, you have to hold back." Her voice softened, carrying a hint of mystery.

"Don't get too excited."

""

Li Ran looked at her with a puzzled expression.

He's seen it all – the S-series finals stage, the 90,000-strong audience at the Bird's Nest, the national anthem on the Asian Games podium.

What else could excite him? He smiled, his tone confident.

"I'm a major competition participant, so you tell me."

Liu Haocun gave a sly smile and said in a low voice, "Let's wait a few days. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

Li Ran's curiosity was completely piqued.

He reached out and tickled the itchy spot on her stomach, then gently stroked her waist with his fingers.

Liu Haocun immediately curled up, laughing so hard he was shaking, twisting and turning on the sofa.

"Okay, okay, stop fooling around—" she gasped for breath, covering her waist with her hands, her face flushed red from laughing and being shy.

She sat up straight, facing Li Ran, her expression suddenly becoming serious, a solemn light shining in her doe-like eyes.

"Then I told you, you need to calm down."

Seeing her serious expression, Li Ran's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

A thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

No way?

He looked at her and nodded.

"What do you mean I need to calm down? Are you pregnant?" he asked casually, as if it were a joke, but he regretted it as soon as he said it.

Liu Haocun nodded.

Those deer-like eyes were bright, the corners of her mouth were curved, and her voice was very soft, but every word was very clear.

"Yes, you guessed right, I'm pregnant."

After she finished speaking, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Ran was stunned.

He stared at her, motionless, as if frozen in place by something.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind—when was the last time she said "want a child"? Could it be that she wasn't joking?

His lips moved slightly, then closed again.

"Really?" His voice was a little dry, as if it were being squeezed out from deep in his throat.

He asked again, as if to make sure he hadn't misheard.

"Really." Liu Haocun's voice was still soft, but very firm.

"I've been tested twice, but I still need to go to the hospital for a check-up." Her expression was serious; she didn't seem to be joking or testing me.

Li Ran was completely stunned.

He stared at her in disbelief, without saying a word.

There was something complex and indescribable in those eyes, like an undercurrent beneath deep water, calm on the surface but churning beneath.

Looking at his appearance, Liu Haocun suddenly felt nervous.

She wasn't sure if Li Ran wanted the child right now.

Although he agreed when she brought it up last time, who knows what he really thought? Maybe he just didn't want to disappoint her, maybe he was just saying it casually, or maybe he didn't take it seriously at all.

She looked into his eyes, trying to read something from them, but she couldn't read anything.

He just looked at her without saying a word.

She reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes.

"Li Ran, are you alright?" Her voice was a little cautious.

Li Ran shook his head violently, as if he had just woken up from a brief bout of dizziness.

Then a smile bloomed on his face.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly that her face was pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat.

It's unbelievably fast.

Then, remembering something, he quickly loosened his grip on her a little.

"It's nothing, I'm just so surprised." His voice trembled slightly as it came down from above her head.

Liu Haocun breathed a sigh of relief.

She breathed a huge sigh of relief, so much so that she felt her whole body lighten.

She leaned against him, closed her eyes, and smiled.

"So, do you like this surprise?"

"I like it." Li Ran said without hesitation, then released her, picked up his phone, and started swiping the screen.

Liu Hao looked at him with suspicion. "What are you doing?"

"Of course I'm calling my mom." Li Ran didn't even look up, his finger quickly swiping across the screen until he found the contact person whose name was "Empress Dowager".

"I have to tell her about the pregnancy, no matter what." He spoke much faster than usual, like a tape recorder that had been sped up.

"And also, how to take care of a pregnant woman, what to pay attention to, and whether she needs to go to the hospital for a check-up. You're a celebrity now, if you get photographed in public, what will happen—" He finally raised his head and looked at Liu Haocun, his eyes showing a little panic, but more so seriousness.

"I've asked my mom to come over tonight, and she'll take you to my family's private hospital tomorrow for a full set of checkups."

Liu Haocun looked at his string of words, at his slightly flushed cheeks and at his speech twice as fast as usual, and suddenly laughed.

It's not that he doesn't like it; he likes it too much, to the point of being at a loss and losing his composure.

This man, who never gets nervous on the field, panicked the moment he learned he was going to be a father.

"Li Ran, don't trouble your auntie—" she began, trying to persuade him not to make such a fuss, but he interrupted her before she could finish speaking.

"No." His tone was firmer than ever before, but there was a touch of childlike stubbornness in that firmness.

"You—I—" He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he only said, "I'd better have my mom come over."

Without waiting for her response, he dialed the number. It rang twice before being answered.

"You brat, what are you doing so late at night?" Li's mother's voice was sleepy, but also a little impatient at being disturbed.

Li Ran took a deep breath.

"Mom, Cunzi is pregnant!" His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried an irrepressible excitement.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then Li's mother's voice boomed, waking him up completely.

"Really?" Her voice rose a half tone, carrying a sense of surprise that said, "You're not lying to me."

"Really," Li Ran said, her voice tinged with laughter.

"Okay, you're in Hengdian now, right? I'll head over there right now."

Before Li's mother could finish speaking, the phone call ended.

Li Ran stared blankly at the "Call ended" message on the screen.

He turned to look at Liu Haocun, who was also looking at him. They stared at each other for a second and then smiled at the same time.

"Your mom," Liu Haocun laughed, bending over, "is even more anxious than you?"

Li Ran shook his head and smiled.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight in Hengdian peeked through the gaps in the curtains, falling thinly onto the carpet.

Before Li Ran and Liu Haocun got out of bed, there was a knock on the door.

It wasn't the kind of hesitant, tentative knocking; it was a rapid, decisive knocking, three times, with an unquestionable and firm rhythm, as if they were in a hurry.

Li Ran opened her eyes, glanced at her phone, and saw it was six in the morning.

He threw back the covers to open the door. The moment the door opened, Li's mother stood in the doorway, wearing a dark trench coat, her hair neatly styled, and her makeup exquisite. She looked nothing like someone who had traveled all night.

She carried an insulated bag in her hand and a large bag slung over her shoulder. She looked travel-worn but was full of energy, like a general who had just returned from a victorious battle.

"Mom, did you rush over overnight?" Li Ran stepped aside to let her in, her voice still hoarse from just waking up.

-

Li's mother ignored him, changed her shoes, and looked past his shoulder, landing directly on Liu Haocun, who was still curled up in bed.

She walked over, sat down on the edge of the bed, reached out and touched Liu Haocun's forehead, then touched the back of her hand, her movements so gentle it was as if she were touching something very fragile.

"Haocun, is there anything you'd like to eat? Auntie will have them send it over." Her voice was much softer than usual, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.

Liu Haocun quickly sat up, his hair a little messy, his face still flushed from just waking up.

She shook her head, her voice soft.

"Auntie, these will do—"

Li Ran sat on the sofa, took a bite of the steamed bun his mother brought, and looked at his mother whose eyes were almost glued to Liu Haocun. He was all too familiar with that look—it was the same look she gave him when he got first place in an exam as a child.

Now, his position has been replaced.

"Mom, have you contacted the hospital yet?" He swallowed the bun and asked again.

Only then did Li's mother turn her head to look at him, her gaze filled with disdain, but her tone remained gentle.

"I've made contact." After she finished speaking, she turned back to look at Liu Haocun, reached out and tucked the stray hairs that were hanging in front of her forehead behind her ear, her fingertips tracing along her earlobe with a very light touch.

"You silly child, why are you still calling me 'Auntie'?" Her tone was slightly reproachful.

Liu Haocun paused for a moment, then smiled.

She opened her mouth, her voice was very soft, but her words were clear.

"Mom," she called out.

Li's mother's eyes curved into a smile, a curve deeper than any other smile she had ever given.

She patted Liu Haocun's hand without saying anything, but she didn't let go of his hand.

Li Ran sat to the side watching this scene, and slowed down the way he was biting into his steamed bun.

He had become accustomed to his mother's double standards. Before, she only had eyes for him, then Tian Xiwei came into her life, and now, Liu Haocun had surpassed everyone else in this one step.

In the minds of the older generation, children are the most important thing. He understood this long ago.

After breakfast, Li's mother stayed at the hotel with Liu Haocun, while Li Ran changed her clothes and went to the film set alone.

He began to make plans in his mind.

We definitely need to tell Director Zhang about Liu Haocun's pregnancy.

She just joined the crew, and her role is crucial throughout the entire series. If filming continues as originally planned, it definitely won't work.

The best solution is to replace the actor—since filming has just started, replacing the actor won't have too much of an impact.

But last night he asked Liu Haocun, and she said she didn't want to give up the role.

Moreover, "Glory" has received so much attention that a sudden change of actors is bound to cause some negative comments.

Those marketing accounts don't care about your reasons; they just write things like "Liu Haocun was replaced" or "Li Ran's new drama's female lead was replaced," and then add all sorts of sensational headlines.

She had finally recovered a little from the previous public opinion storm, and he didn't want her to go through it again.

Moreover, she is pregnant and cannot afford to have any major emotional fluctuations.

Therefore, the only option is to revise the script.

The romantic storyline with Li Ran was transferred to other characters. Liu Haocun's role was publicly described as a guest appearance—a host. His screen time was retained, but it was not part of the romantic storyline.

This way, it won't affect her work, nor will it subject her to unnecessary public pressure.

As for the romantic scenes, they can be redistributed among other characters without affecting the main storyline or the integrity of the series. Li's mother's efficiency was as high as ever; she arrived in the morning and had everything arranged by the afternoon.

A black minivan was parked in front of the hotel. The driver was already waiting in the driver's seat. The engine was still running, the air conditioning was on, and the door was ajar.

Li's mother led Liu Haocun out of the elevator. Liu Haocun had changed into a loose casual outfit, wore a baseball cap with the brim pulled low, and sunglasses perched on his nose, covering most of his face.

Li Ran followed behind, carrying a suitcase.

The car door opened, and Li's mother got in first. Then she reached out and helped Liu Haocun up, her movements as careful as if she were moving a fragile item.

Li Ran put the suitcase in the trunk, placed the snack bag next to Liu Haocun's feet, and then stood outside the car door, bending down to look at her.

Liu Haocun took off his sunglasses, his doe-like eyes filled with a hint of reluctance, but also with a reassuring "don't worry" message.

"Message me when you arrive," Li Ran said.

"Mm." Liu Haocun nodded.

Li Ran looked at her for two more seconds, reached out and pulled her hat brim down a little, then took a step back and closed the car door.

Only after the car entered the highway did Li's mother finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She leaned back in her seat and turned her head to look at Liu Haocun.

Liu Haocun had taken off her hat; her hair was a little messy, and her face still showed signs of afternoon fatigue, but she was in good spirits. She was looking down at her phone, where her chat window with Li Ran was displayed.

"If you're sleepy, take a nap. I'll wake you when we get there," Li's mother said softly.

Liu Haocun shook his head and turned his phone over, placing it face down on his knee.

"I'm not sleepy, Auntie," she said, then realized she had called her by the wrong name and blushed slightly.

"Mom," she called again, this time much more smoothly.

Li's mother smiled, reached out and opened the armrest box in the middle of the seat, took out a thermos, unscrewed the lid, and handed it to her.

"Drink some water, don't be thirsty." Liu Haocun took the water, drank a small sip, and found it to be lukewarm, neither too hot nor too cold, just right.

Liu Haocun leaned against the car window, watching the outside world recede frame by frame, and suddenly felt a little unreal.

Her hand unconsciously covered her lower abdomen, which was still flat and she couldn't feel anything there, but she felt something there, warm, like a fire being carefully tucked away.

Li's mother saw her hand, but said nothing. She simply looked away and focused her gaze on the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.

It was already dark when we arrived in Changsha.

The car drove directly into the villa at the foot of Yuelu Mountain, the one Li's mother lived in. It wasn't the one Li Ran had brought Zhang Jingyi to last time; it was another one, deeper and quieter. There was no nameplate on the door, and several osmanthus trees were planted in the yard, which were in full bloom and filled the air with a sweet fragrance.

Li's mother first settled Liu Haocun in her bedroom on the second floor, then went to her study, closed the door, and made a phone call.

The first call was made to Liu Haocun's mother.

It rang twice before I answered, as if they had been waiting.

"Mother-in-law, it's me."

She recounted the story without embellishment or beating around the bush, simply stating the facts: the two children were together, and she was pregnant. She wanted Haocun to come to Changsha for a checkup, as it would be more confidential and easier to take care of him.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Liu Haocun's mother's voice came through, slightly choked, but she quickly held it back.

"Okay, we'll go there tomorrow." She didn't ask "what are you planning to do?", "what is Li Ran's attitude?", or ask any other questions.

She simply said "okay" and then hung up the phone.

Li's mother put down her phone, leaned back in her chair, and let out a long sigh.

She looked at the calligraphy hanging on the wall of the study. It was written by the old man and contained only four characters: "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things."

But with this kid like this, where does the word "harmony" come from?

She watched for a while, then stood up, walked out of the study, and gently pushed open the door to Liu Haocun's bedroom.

Liu Haocun had changed into her pajamas and was leaning against the headboard, holding her phone. On the screen was a chat window between her and her mother. She typed and deleted messages she hadn't sent yet, then typed and deleted them again.

"Your mother is coming tomorrow," Li's mother said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Your father is coming too."

Liu Haocun nodded and put down his phone.

"Mom, what if my parents—" She didn't finish her sentence, but her mother knew what she wanted to ask.

Will she be angry? Will she be disappointed? Will she think she's being immature?

Her daughter got pregnant out of wedlock. Any mother would feel heartache, worry, and ask, "How could you be so careless?"

Li's mother reached out and patted the back of her hand.

"No, your mom is happy."