I'm Going to Play Pai Gow

But Yu Zhen didn't make up her mind right away.

Then, in a firm tone, she said, "It's not enough that you take my child's surname. Your father has to take my child's surname too."

"Fine, no problem at all," Guo Zhou replied, even more firmly than Yu Zhen. "From now on, both my father and I will take your child's surname."

Still worried, Yu Zhen asked, "Then how will you support the child?"

"With that meager income of yours?"

"Hmph, my child is different."

"He will bear the surname Shen!"

"He is to be pampered and spoiled."

Guo Zhou continued resolutely, "No worries. Though my money isn't enough, my father has some retirement savings. I'll bring you my father's savings."

"I'll definitely raise the child like a young master."

Yu Zhen frowned and retorted, "Your father's retirement savings?"

"No, I mean..."

"Is it just your father's retirement savings?"

"What about your mother's retirement savings?"

Guo Zhou agreed without hesitation, "I'll give you that too!"

"Yu Zhen, set your mind at ease."

"With my father's retirement savings."

"And my mother's retirement savings."

"We won't be short on money."

"If it's still not enough, I'll steal other people's fish to support you."

Yu Zhen fell into deep inner conflict because the conditions Guo Zhou offered were quite tempting for her at this moment!

With Guo Zhou to support her, at the very least she wouldn't have to worry about making a living and could properly nurture the child in her womb, thus bringing it into the world.

Otherwise, in her current precarious state, she likely wouldn't have the resources to raise the child. Plus, without a proper status, the child would face gossip and scorn, and might not even survive.

So Yu Zhen said, "Alright, since you're so sincere, then... I'll let you raise my child!"

"Great!"

Guo Zhou wore a face full of joy.

That very day, he pulled strings and spent money to move Yu Zhen to a better residence. It was a small courtyard—not large, but elegant, fully furnished and equipped, perfectly matching the taste of a woman like Yu Zhen, who appreciated fine things.

"Not bad!"

Yu Zhen gave it high praise.

This little courtyard was only the beginning of Guo Zhou's efforts. In the days that followed, Guo Zhou took even more meticulous care of Yu Zhen, attending to her every need.

In their private setting, Yu Zhen's previous defenses against Guo Zhou—such as not letting him hold her hand or allowing any intimate contact—gradually crumbled, almost without her noticing.

Their relationship grew much closer.

Seizing the moment when Yu Zhen was emotionally vulnerable and her pregnancy was stable, Guo Zhou "drew his sword."

But as Yu Zhen's belly grew larger, those activities had to stop.

Guo Zhou then poured all his energy into taking care of Yu Zhen, ensuring she lived a life of complete ease, with everything done for her.

On the day of her delivery, Guo Zhou hired the best midwife in the area. He waited anxiously outside the door, his face etched with worry.

After all, in those times, childbirth was like stepping half a foot into the gates of death. At any moment, the mother could perish... and the child might not survive either.

As a man, Guo Zhou could do little.

He could only pace back and forth at the door, restlessly wringing his hands.

Inside the room, the midwife used her experience to encourage Yu Zhen.

"Push, push harder!"

"The child is almost out!"

"Lady Yu, give it your all! Look how well your husband treats you. For you and the child, his eyes are bloodshot from worry. Today, he brought me all the way from afar, going through great trouble."

"For your husband's sake, you must push harder!"

...

Yu Zhen, unable to see Guo Zhou from the delivery room, could still feel his devotion through the midwife's words.

These words gave her renewed strength.

No matter what, with Guo Zhou shielding her from life's hardships, as long as she gave birth safely today and both she and the child were well, raising the child with Guo Zhou's parents' retirement savings would mean no more worries.

After raising the child for three or five years, when the child was a bit older, she could take the child to find its real father.

Though all she knew was that the child's biological father's surname was Shen.

She didn't know his name, what he did, or what his family background was.

But his handsome face, extraordinary demeanor, and generous manner all suggested that the child's father was no ordinary man.

Before, the child's father might have abandoned her.

But now, with a child in the picture, how could he abandon her?

He might abandon her, but surely not his own child?

Thinking this, Yu Zhen's courage grew. She pushed harder and harder, and after rounds of effort, the child was finally born!

"Wah!" A sharp cry pierced the air.

The midwife exclaimed excitedly, "Lady Yu, it's a little young master!"

"Really?"

"Yes, look!"

The midwife handed the child to Yu Zhen, who began to coax it. The midwife then went out to dispose of the bloodied hot water.

As soon as she opened the door, Guo Zhou grabbed her sleeve.

"How, how is it?"

"Congratulations, congratulations!" The midwife's smile didn't fade. "Master Guo, mother and child are safe."

"Hahaha!"

"Hey, Master Guo, it's wonderful, but don't laugh too loudly. Your wife inside has just given birth; she needs rest now."

"Hahahahaha!"

"No, Master Guo, keep it down."

"Hahahahahahaha!"

The midwife: "..."

She sighed to herself, thinking that the beautiful wife had just given birth to a bouncing baby boy, so he must be overjoyed, right?

Understandable. After all, in these times, finding a wife in the capital wasn't easy. To marry such a beauty and have her bear a son would drive any man wild with joy!

But...

Wait a moment!

"I haven't even told Master Guo that it's a big, healthy son yet."

"Isn't he a bit too happy?"

So the midwife tentatively said, "Master Guo..."

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

The midwife: "..."

Alright, I'll wait until Master Guo calms down a bit.

She personally went to dump the dirty water. When she returned, she saw that the tension and worry on Guo Zhou's face had completely vanished, replaced by relief and ease.

And...

He seemed to be heading outside!

The midwife wasn't sure what was going on with Guo Zhou. Relying on her experience, she smiled and said, "Master Guo, just wait here a moment."

"Let me tidy up inside, and then I'll bring the little young master out for you to see..."

After saying this, the midwife emphasized, "Master Guo, Madam Yu has given birth to a little young master! From now on, the Guo family will have an heir!"

"Excited?"

"Happy?"

To her surprise again, hearing this news, Guo Zhou's face showed no change in expression. In fact, even his earlier excitement faded completely.

All that was left was...

Relaxation.

"Relaxation?"

It was the first time the midwife had seen a new father with such an expression.

And with that expression, Guo Zhou turned and walked away.

The midwife was even more bewildered. "No, Master Guo, where are you going?"

"To play Pai Gow!"

...