Chapter 388: Chapter 377: Su Manhan Lets Qiao Jing Call Her Mom Chapter 388: Chapter 377: Su Manhan Lets Qiao Jing Call Her Mom Lin Xiuxiang’s eyes gradually filled with anticipation as she touched Qiao Jing’s belly with one hand and her own with the other.

“Qiao Qiao, should we go buy some more baby clothes?”

Qiao Jing thought for a moment and shook her head.

“We don’t yet know if the baby is a boy or a girl. I’m afraid the clothes might not match the gender, and besides,
it’s too early to buy now. Let’s wait until the eighth month, and I’ll go shopping with you then.”

By that time, she could buy some toys, diapers, and other such items, which don’t require choosing based on gender.

Lin Xiuxiang looped her arm through Qiao Jing’s as they started towards their next destination.

“You make a good point. Let’s go shopping for those next time then.

By the way, Qiao Qiao, I plan to have fun with you until it gets dark before going back home. Otherwise, who knows when I’ll next be able to go out.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but complain about Tang Yan again.

“Tang Yan is watching me too closely. I’m about to lose my personal freedom.

If it weren’t for you being with me, he wouldn’t have allowed me to come out at all. He keeps saying he’s worried something might happen, that pregnancy is inconvenient, and all that…”

Qiao Jing showed a helpless smile as Zhan Qipei’s face crossed her mind.

Not only did he want to accompany her everywhere, he was even considering using bodyguards. He had just messaged her, supervising her like a watchdog.

Plus, there was how he had stuck to her side recently…

A thought crossed her mind–this bastard of a man wouldn’t be thinking of keeping as tight a watch on her as Tang Yan did on Lin Xiuxiang, would he?

She cast the thought aside. Even if Zhan Qipei wanted to, it was useless; no one could keep that close a watch on her.

“Pregnancy is indeed inconvenient, so you should be careful with your health, too.”

Truth be told, she could understand Tang Yan’s behavior–she was also very worried about Lin Xiuxiang’s health.

Lin Xiuxiang sighed softly and pressed the elevator button to go down.

“I know, don’t worry. I’ve taken leave from the orphanage too; I really miss the kids.”

Qiao Jing glanced at her, slightly puzzled.

“Are you starting your maternity leave already?”

She remembered that maternity leave typically started around three months before the due date.

Lin Xiuxiang showed a troubled expression and blinked, leading Qiao Jing forward.

“No, but ever since I fainted last time, Tang Yan has been very nervous. He doesn’t let me go to places other than my classes, and he even proposed to the dean that I take a break.

The kids and the dean didn’t mind, so I just started resting at home. But I think it’s a bit excessive; I only fainted because I was a little tired.”

Qiao Jing gave it some serious thought and felt that Tang Yan was indeed being a bit overprotective.

“I’ll send him a message and talk to him for you. But the last time you fainted, it was quite scary. Not just for Tang Yan–I was scared too.

Later on, I had someone send over some tonic medicine to help stabilize the pregnancy, which I had concocted myself.”

Lin Xiuxiang responded with a nod, stopping in front of a restaurant.

“Then I’ll thank you in advance, Qiao Qiao. Oh, and I specifically picked out this place because I heard it has great food.

After we finish eating here, let’s have fun until nine before heading home!”

Just as the two were about to enter the restaurant, the ringing of a cell phone sounded.

She furrowed her brow, thinking it was Zhan Qipei, and was prepared to hang up and send him a message.

Lin Xiuxiang stopped walking, waiting for Qiao Jing to finish the call before they went inside.

Seeing the caller ID, Qiao Jing was taken aback.

Su Manhan?

She quickly pressed the answer button.

“Hello, Madam Zhan?”

Su Manhan responded, and after hearing her own title, she pretended to be angry and complained.

“What Madam Zhan? Just call me ‘Mom’ directly.”

Qiao Jing pursed her lips, said nothing, and waited for the other party to continue.

Su Manhan did not get a response, but she did not dwell on the issue of what to call her and revealed the purpose of the call.

“I called to ask you to come home for dinner tonight. There’s a small family gathering, and my sister and her family will be there.

That means your aunts will be here too. Where are you now? I’ll have Qipei pick you up.”

Qiao Jing glanced at the person beside her, her face showing difficulty.

“Do I need to go over now?”

She didn’t want to offend Su Manhan, nor did she want to let Xiangxiang down.

If she had to leave Xiangxiang halfway through shopping, she would feel as if she had broken a promise, after all, she had already agreed to the other party.

Su Manhan heard the hesitation in Qiao Jing’s tone and realized something was amiss.

“What’s the matter? If you come over now, you can rest for a while before eating dinner, but if you’re busy, you can come later.”

Just as Qiao Jing was about to tell Su Manhan that she would come later, Lin Xiuxiang’s phone also began to ring.

After exchanging glances, Lin Xiuxiang went to the side to answer her call.

Su Manhan, not receiving an immediate response, guessed that Qiao Jing must be busy.

“Are you busy right now? It’s fine if you come over later.”

Qiao Jing pursed her lips, just about to speak, when Lin Xiuxiang returned with her phone in hand.

Lin Xiuxiang was frowning deeply. After typing a message on her phone, she lifted it to show Qiao Jing.

Qiao Jing looked up at the line of text.

“Tang Yan told me to go home. I said I wanted to play with you a little longer, but he insisted, saying he’s already on his way to pick me up.”

After reading the message on the screen, she felt relieved of her burden and replied to Su Manhan.

“I’ll take a taxi over.”

Su Manhan, worried that Qiao Jing would hang up, hastily called out several times.

“Wait! I’ll have Qipei come over to get you, how can we let you take a taxi? It’s too dangerous for a girl to be out there alone! Just wait, I’m arranging for someone to pick you up right now.”

After Qiao Jing finished the call, Lin Xiuxiang walked over with a frown.

“Qiao Qiao, Tang Yan didn’t tell me and just came to pick me up. Now I have to go back whether I want to or not. Who were you just talking to? Where are you going?”

Qiao Jing put away her phone and took Lin Xiuxiang towards the entrance of the mall.

“Madam Zhan wants me to have dinner at Purple Garden. I was planning to postpone it for a little while, but now that Tang Yan is coming to pick you up, there’s no need to delay.”

Lin Xiuxiang showed a smile, her eyes filled with relief.

“Madam Zhan used to be so unkind to you, but now not only has her attitude towards you changed, she’s actually really nice to you. I’m relieved to see that, I was worried you were being bullied by her!

Should I have Tang Yan drop you off first?”

Just as she finished speaking, a sleek black Maybach silently pulled up.

The car window rolled down, and Zhan Qipei’s handsome face appeared.

“Get in.”

Qiao Jing furrowed her brows, feeling a bit strange.

It had only been a short while since she hung up the phone, and Zhan Qipei had already arrived. Could it be that he was already on his way when he made the call to her?

Lin Xiuxiang also picked up on this and whispered closely to Qiao Jing.

“Qiao Qiao, Young Master Zhan is here right after the call ended, could it be–”