Your Highness, your wife doesn't want you anymore!

Jin Si Nian embraced Nan Zhi, resting his chin on the top of her head, and whispered, "Zhi Zhi, I have to go on a business trip the day after tomorrow."

Nan Zhi suddenly looked up at him, a hint of panic in her eyes: "For...for how many days?"

"If all goes well, it will take three days; at the latest, it won't take more than a week."

The older brother found out that Old Liu from Qingshui Village was mentally confused and disoriented; he needs to bring a psychiatrist over there.

There are too many suspicious points surrounding my father's car accident back then, and the driver disappeared without a trace for so many years. This trip is bound to uncover some of the truth.

We can't let this trip go to waste.

After he finished speaking, the little girl in his arms quieted down and didn't say a word.

Jin Si Nian's heart suddenly tightened.

In the past, when he said he was going on a business trip, Zhizhi would not feel reluctant to let him go or try to stop him, nor would she think about him or send him messages urging him to come back.

But she would quietly help him pack his luggage and carefully remind him to be careful.

But today she remained silent, her eyes lowered, showing no emotion whatsoever.

He subconsciously assumed that the girl was reluctant to let him go, but was too shy to say it directly.

Jin Si Nian tightened his arms around her, gently placing his palm on her protruding belly, and said accommodatingly, "Zhi Zhi, if you don't want me to go, it's okay if I don't go."

He knew all too well how sensitive she was right now. Pregnancy makes one's emotions vulnerable, and if he suddenly left for several days without seeing her, she would definitely feel sad and wronged.

If Zhizhi becomes depressed, where will he go to cry?

What I fear most is that Zhizhi tries to process her emotions on her own, but now that she's pregnant, her negative emotions will be amplified many times over.

Nan Zhi quickly shook her head, stammering, "I didn't... I didn't mean to stop you from going."

"Yes, it's important business. You should go."

After she finished speaking, she gently broke free from his embrace, got up, and walked to the tatami mat by the window to sit down.

The weather had turned cool and chilly in the autumn air, and she could no longer sit in the outdoor wicker chair, swinging her legs and enjoying the breeze as she used to.

Like a clingy tail, Jin Si Nian immediately followed, squatting down by the tatami mat and looking up at her, giving in again: "Are you really okay? If you can't bear to part with it, then I won't go."

"I'll go find my elder brother to exchange people and have him go to Qingshui Village in person."

He knew in his heart that his older brother would most likely beat him up on the spot...

Nan Zhi crossed her arms, her little face slightly puffed out, and mumbled awkwardly yet sensibly, "I'm not that...that insensible."

Her eyes were downcast, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

In the past, Jin Si Nian often went on business trips, sometimes for three days and at most ten days.

Back then, whenever he said he was leaving, she would secretly feel happy, thinking that finally no one would control her, she could do whatever she wanted, and she wouldn't be forced to exercise. She felt liberated and had some rare free time.

But things are different now.

The thought of the next few days, with no one to hold her as she sleeps at night, no one to apply pregnancy oil to her, no one to get up in the middle of the night to cook her a midnight snack, no one to soak her feet and massage her, and no one to accompany her to yoga class...

Nan Zhi pursed her lips, a secret reluctance welling up inside her.

She wasn't as happy and excited as she used to be, not at all.

There was even a little sadness.

Hmph, it's all his fault for going on that business trip at this time!

Jin Si Nian simply squeezed onto the tatami mat, knelt down in front of her, gently wrapped his arms around her waist, and pressed his forehead against hers, softly comforting her: "I'll be back as soon as possible."

Nan Zhi lowered her long eyelashes and asked softly, "When...when are you leaving the day after tomorrow?"

"The flight is at 10 a.m.," Jin Nian replied softly.

The little girl pursed her lips, mustered her courage, and said, "I...I'll go to the airport to see you off."

She didn't actually want to break up with Jin Nian...

Jin Si Nian immediately shook his head gently and refused: "No need, sweetie. Your belly is getting bigger and bigger now, and the airport is a long way away. It would be too much trouble for you to travel by car for so long. I'm worried about that."

These words made Nan Zhi frown instantly, a deep sense of awkwardness rising in her heart.

It wasn't like this before.

In the past, when he went on business trips, he couldn't wait for her to see him off at the airport, clinging to her for a farewell hug, and even wanting to take her with him several times.

She used to deliberately stay in bed to avoid doing "that" with him in the hotel. He would always pick her up from the bed and deliberately go two hours early.

But they went straight to a hotel to check in; going so early wasn't to wait for their flight at all.

Now that she's offered to take him home, he's flatly refused, showing absolutely no interest.

Nan Zhi was unwilling to give up, so she took another step back: "Then, then I'll help you pack your luggage."

Jin Si Nian shook his head again, his tone gentle yet stubborn: "No need, I can take care of it myself."

He didn't actually need to bring many clothes, just a few changes of clothes. Most of the space in that large suitcase was used to pack his little pajamas, dresses, and other small clothes.

It's because his daughter, Zhizhi, didn't want to go on business trips with him before, and at that time, he had a high need for sex and could only use Zhizhi's little clothes to satisfy it.

But these repeated rejections only made Nan Zhi more confused and aggrieved.

He had clearly said that he wanted her to pack his clothes himself whenever he went on business trips.

She had always been curious why he always packed only two or three simple items of clothing, yet insisted on using the largest suitcase, leaving most of the space empty.

Is it just because she's pregnant?

As the thought crossed her mind, Nan Zhi's shoulders slumped slightly, her head hanging low, her soft voice filled with deep grievance: "No...you won't let me deliver it, and you won't let me...you pack for you..."

"You...you weren't like this before."

Her eyes were slightly red, and her nose was sore, like a little dumpling being neglected by its owner, her heart filled with sadness at being treated differently.

Jin Si Nian felt a pang of anxiety upon seeing this. He hadn't expected that his deliberate thoughtfulness would only cause the little girl to overthink and feel hurt.

He quickly tightened his arms around her, hastily relenting and comforting her: "It's my fault, don't be sad."

"I'll do whatever you say. You can go to the airport to see me off, okay?"

"I'll pack the suitcase myself, okay?"

They haven't even parted ways yet, and Zhizhi is already so heartbroken.

If they really break up, Zhizhi will definitely shed tears.

Nan Zhi immediately got up from his arms, her little face still showing lingering grievance, but she insisted, "I...I'll help you open the box."

Nan Zhi, wearing soft slippers, ran quickly towards the changing room.

Jin Si Nian sat there, watching her slightly clumsy back as she swayed gently from her pregnant belly, a helpless yet indulgent smile in his eyes.

Zhizhi now feels good about helping him open a box.

The next instant, alarm bells rang in his mind.

and many more.

He had never thoroughly cleaned this box since he returned from his last business trip.

The box was mostly filled with a few pieces of his child's personal clothing that he had secretly hidden and taken with him last time.

It’s over.

Jin Si Nian's body stiffened abruptly, his composure vanished instantly, and he practically sprang up from the sofa and rushed into the dressing room.

"Child, wait!"

"Don't touch my box!"

By the time he spoke up to stop him, it was too late.