Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mission Accomplished (Please Recommend and Add to Your Favorites)

After returning home, Li Jie saw Geng Geng asleep on the sofa and gently picked her up to carry her to the bedroom.

"You're back?" Geng Geng murmured, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Yes, I'm back. Didn't I tell you on the phone that I would be late today and that you shouldn't wait up for me?" Li Jie said softly, looking at the yawning Geng Geng in his arms.

"Hehe, I had some good news to tell you, which is why I waited. Who knew I’d drift off to sleep? Anyway, put me down first."

Li Jie slowly set her down and asked, "What good news couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"Congratulations! You're going to be a father!"

When he heard this, Li Jie’s mind went blank for a moment, followed by an explosion of wild joy. Excited and flustered, he pulled Geng Geng into an embrace and asked urgently, "Really? Is it true? How many months along?"

"I wasn't feeling well a few days ago, so I went to the hospital for a check-up. The results show that I'm pregnant—two months," Geng Geng said with a shy, endearing smile.

"Do your parents know yet?" Li Jie asked, having regained his composure.

"I haven't told them yet. I wanted to be the first to tell you."

As the excitement settled, Li Jie regained his calm. In his original world, he was a bachelor; he never expected to become a father in a mission world. He felt a sense of trepidation regarding this new life. The more ties he formed in this world, the harder it became to face the fact that he would eventually have to return to his own world.

"Should you quit your job? Stay home and focus on the pregnancy; you are our family's top priority now."

"Mmm, I plan to resign tomorrow. I also need to study how to be a good mother."

Seeing it was getting late, Li Jie urged Geng Geng to get some rest. After washing up, he smiled at her sleeping face before lying down and drifting off to sleep.

...

"Ding. Congratulations, host. The mission has been completed. Return to the original world immediately."

"No! No!" Li Jie shouted, but it was to no avail.

Li Jie opened his eyes to see the familiar room and Geng Geng beside him. He let out a sigh of relief; it was just a dream. But that moment would come eventually, and all he could do was cherish the present.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly through the window. Li Jie kissed the forehead of the still-sleeping Geng Geng and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

After eating, they went to the *Renwu* magazine office to handle her resignation. On the way, Geng Geng felt reluctant to leave; the editor-in-chief, Editor Jiang, had been a mentor to her, and her colleagues had always been very kind.

Li Jie suggested, "Why don't we just buy the magazine? You can drop by whenever you like, and when you're busy, you can just stay home and rest."

Geng Geng was tempted but shook her head. "I can handle the photography, but managing the magazine is beyond me. I'm afraid I'll ruin it. The editors have poured so much effort into it."

"Hey, what’s there to worry about? We’ll buy it and keep everything as is. If you don't know how to run it, we’ll hire a professional manager or keep the current structure."

"Oh? Is that so? I suppose that could work," Geng Geng said, tilting her head in surprise.

"Alright, I'll handle it and let you know once it's done."

After finishing the paperwork, they went to the Xinhua Bookstore. After some research and consultation, they bought a stack of books on pregnancy and early childhood education. Li Jie also planned to have his company look into developing an app for pregnancy knowledge if one didn't exist, to save them from feeling overwhelmed.

When Li Jie called Lu Changzheng to tell him the news, Lu was ecstatic, shouting that he was going to be a grandfather. He insisted on coming to Beijing to visit and bringing someone to help with Geng Geng’s care. He didn't mention Li Jie’s stepmother, and given their distant relationship, it was for the best.

Geng Geng also called her own parents, who were overjoyed. They had been married for three years, and the news was long-awaited. Her parents planned to visit over the weekend, and since Geng Geng was very close with her stepmother, she was happy to have her help.

Li Jie felt this arrangement was fine; having his mother-in-law around would be comforting, and they could keep the nurse Lu Changzheng sent as well.

...

Outside the delivery room, Li Jie paced back and forth, his anxiety visible.

"Xinghe, don't worry. Technology is so advanced now; it's just childbirth, there won't be any problems." Lu Changzheng smiled at the son he had watched grow up, who was now about to become a father himself.

His mother-in-law also chimed in to comfort him.

*Clang!*

The operating room doors opened. The doctor said, "Mr. Lu, congratulations! Both mother and child are healthy. You can see them soon."

Li Jie’s heart finally settled. When he saw Geng Geng after the delivery, he held her hand. "Wife, you've worked so hard!"

Geng Geng replied weakly, "It wasn't hard. Have you seen the baby? He looks just like you."

"Then he's bound to break a lot of hearts when he grows up!" Li Jie chuckled foolishly.

"You've just given birth, get some rest. You look so pale."

Geng Geng nodded and drifted off to sleep, with Li Jie staying by her side.

"Ding. Congratulations, host. The mission is complete. Your rewards will be granted upon returning to the original world."

"The mission is complete. You may return at any time. If you do not choose, you will be forced to return within 48 hours."

Hearing the system prompt, Li Jie froze. The joy of becoming a father vanished instantly. The system's notification meant he only had 48 hours left in this world. He was filled with confusion; he had fully integrated into this identity, experiencing precious family bonds and beautiful love.

Li Jie didn't know what would happen to this world once he left. Hoping for an answer, he asked the cold, elusive system: "System, what will happen to this world after I leave? Will I be able to return here in the future?"

*Ding!*

...