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Shen Tang knew that Qin Xing liked spicy strips. In the resume he submitted, it was written that all the spicy strips Jiang Chengyu ate in elementary school were given to him by Qin Xing.
Putting down her phone, Shen Tang first locked the door. It wasn’t that she was afraid of Qin Xing trying to snatch them; it was just that an boss eating spicy strips in the office during work hours would damage his image.
Shen Tang opened a bag, and the unique aroma cured all the unhappiness in her life. She didn’t forget to flatter him: [Thank you, hubby, the spicy strips my husband bought are the best in the world. I hope there will be more surprises and small joys like this in the future (smiling without speaking)]
Jiang Chengyu: [I accept the first sentence.] He was afraid she couldn’t control herself, [Two bags are for two weeks, eat once a week, no more.]
Shen Tang vowed, how could she possibly eat spicy and unhealthy snacks as a meal.
Only then did she have time to reply to Wen Di: [Now I’m just looking forward to the part where Yan Heyu and Xiao Donghan tear each other apart, hurry up and write it.]
Wen Di: [Xiao Donghan won’t let me exaggerate the facts. I have to let him review it after I finish writing, and it’s only allowed if he agrees. I think he’s willing to authorize it just to see what kind of person he is in others’ eyes. He’s asking to meet me to sign some agreement. It’s really troublesome.]
If it weren’t for needing some classic acquisition cases he handled before, and some legendary experiences from his university days, where else could she find such a refined scoundrel character? Why would she need to look at his face for authorization?
Shen Tang: [That person, he’s used to calculating; it’s hard for others to get even a penny’s worth of advantage from him.]
Unknowingly, one bag of spicy strips was finished. The whole room was filled with the spicy aroma. She opened the window to ventilate and turned on the air purifier, wanting to disperse the smell as quickly as possible.
Shen Tang poured a glass of warm water and returned to her seat. Another bag lay on her desk. She stared at the bag. Before pregnancy, Shen Tang was barely self-disciplined. Occasionally, her late-night snacks were mostly fruit, and even with her favorite seafood barbecue, she could be resolute and not overeat. But now... her willpower was a bit fragile.
Shen Tang hardened her heart and wrapped the bag in newspaper. It was wrapped, but she still thought about it.
She had a sound nap at noon, and when she opened her eyes, Shen Tang unconsciously thought about when it would be a week later. It would be so excruciating to have to wait seven days to open the other bag. She was pregnant with twins, so eating two bags was only natural.
At 3:30 in the afternoon, Shen Tang extended her “demonic” claw towards the remaining bag.
________________________________________
In the evening, Jiang Chengyu came to pick up Shen Tang. He had the elevator card for her company and always went straight up to her office to find her. Today was no exception.
Shen Tang was in a meeting and didn’t know Jiang Chengyu was already waiting for her in her office. After the meeting, Shen Tang didn’t rush to leave; she was discussing with Sister Li where to have a celebratory dinner after Chu Ran’s new drama wrapped up.
“Sister Tang, there’s no rush, let’s talk about it tomorrow,” Yuanyuan interrupted them, “Mr. Jiang is waiting for you, don’t delay your date tonight.”
“?”
Shen Tang looked at her watch; it was only 5:20. Why was he here so early? Oh no.
“Let’s talk tomorrow.” She grabbed her notebook and quickly left.
Shen Tang hurried, pushing open the office door. Before she could clearly see what Jiang Chengyu was doing, she said, “Hubby, why are you so early today?”
Jiang Chengyu was looking at the two newspapers on the desk. When he got closer, there was still a slight smell of spicy strips. He looked up, “I also feel like I came at the wrong time.”
In the trash can, which she hadn’t had time to clean up, there were two empty spicy strip bags.
Shen Tang was torn between laughter and frustration, then turned her face away from Jiang Chengyu. She had gone to the meeting after finishing the second bag in the afternoon, planning to throw away the trash bag after the meeting. Who knew he would leave work early today?
Jiang Chengyu walked over and hugged her. Without any blame, he softly coaxed her, blaming himself, “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have sent you two bags at once.”
Shen Tang peeked at him: “Then will you still buy them for me in the future?”
Jiang Chengyu nodded. She was actually disciplined enough. If he didn’t buy them, she wouldn’t secretly buy them to eat, even if she wanted to; she just wanted to eat the ones he bought.
“From now on, every two weeks, on Monday, I’ll have the driver deliver one to you.”
Right up until the day she moved into the hospital before giving birth, Jiang Chengyu still bought her a bag as promised. Each time, it was wrapped in the day’s financial newspaper. She brought over a dozen newspapers to the hospital room to pass the time. These newspapers unknowingly became an invisible treasure.
Jiang Chengyu started his vacation yesterday, staying by her side in the hospital room. Shen Tang had been exceptionally tired these past few months, whether walking or sleeping. Jiang Chengyu massaged her calves to help her relax. He looked at her, a woman who loved beauty so much, yet for these past few months, she had been almost barefaced, wearing flat shoes every day, afraid of gaining weight herself, yet also afraid the babies wouldn’t get enough nutrition.
That night, Shen Tang barely slept; she felt an indescribable discomfort. Jiang Chengyu didn’t sleep much either. In a state between waking and dreaming, the taut nerve made his chest feel stuffy, and the feeling of oxygen deprivation became clearer. He was full of anticipation for the arrival of their two children, yet also worried about Shen Tang. Lying on the operating table, she faced unpredictable dangers that could arise at any moment, and he couldn’t share any of that burden.
On the bed, Shen Tang turned over again, rustling. Jiang Chengyu got up from the adjacent cot. “Are you uncomfortable again?” In ten minutes, she had turned over several times.
“Did I wake you up?”
“No. I was already awake.” Jiang Chengyu sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand, “If you’re uncomfortable, let’s get up. I’ll walk with you in the corridor to get some fresh air.”
Shen Tang picked up her phone to check; it was only 3:50. “You sleep, I’m fine, I’m not uncomfortable.”
Jiang Chengyu couldn’t sleep, so he chatted with her. Shen Tang asked him, “Have you pretty much decided on the babies’ nicknames?”
“Yes, I’ve thought of quite a few.” The son’s nickname remained the same, two options. The daughter’s nicknames increased by eight, making a total of twenty-two candidates, but his favorite was still “Little Ningmeng.”
Jiang Chengyu asked her, “Do you have any preferred nicknames?”
Shen Tang nodded, “I do have one.”
“What name?” Jiang Chengyu was curious and expectant.
Shen Tang: “For the daughter, how about ‘Little Ningmeng’?” During her pregnancy, the juice she drank the most was lemon juice. She used to dread lemon juice, having to drink it to maintain her figure, but after becoming pregnant, drinking lemon juice became a pleasure.
Upon hearing “Little Ningmeng,” Jiang Chengyu paused. He had never mentioned to her what backup nicknames he had for their daughter. Shen Tang noticed the subtle change in his expression, “Does it not sound good?”
“It sounds good.” Jiang Chengyu said, “I also chose this name for our daughter.”
So, their daughter’s name was decided. Jiang Chengyu went to the cabinet to get his document bag, found the notebook he used to jot down names, and asked Shen Tang to decide which nickname to use for their son.
“Why are there only two names for the boy?”
Jiang Chengyu: “I couldn’t think of any better-sounding ones than these two.”
Better sounding? Among the alternative nicknames, the first was Jiang Dabao (Big Treasure). Let’s forget that one. Shen Tang decided to use the second: “Let’s call him Xiao Jingrui.”
Outside the window, the east gradually revealed the first hint of dawn. Jiang Chengyu took his clothes to shower, meticulously shaving his beard, something he had never done with such care before. He put on a new white shirt, and his cufflinks were also newly bought. Since being admitted to the hospital, he had been like this every day, always prepared to welcome his beloved daughter and son into the world.
When he came out of the bathroom, Shen Tang was already awake. Jiang Chengyu rubbed his chin against her cheek. “Does it prickle?”
“If you use force, a little.” Shen Tang kissed his chin, “Just be gentle when you kiss the babies. You won’t prickle them.”
Finally, two days later, the babies were eager to meet them. It was also early in the morning. Jiang Chengyu had shaved and put on a new white shirt. He had prepared a dozen of them, enough to last.
Before Shen Tang entered the operating room, all her family members had arrived. Li Zheng had taken leave to come; she was more eager than anyone else to see her younger brother and sister.
“Grandma, when they arrive, the sister will be mine, I’ll teach her how to draw.”
Madam Jiang: “I can also teach drawing.”
“Haha.” Li Zheng couldn’t help but laugh, then immediately received a slap.
The hospital room door was pushed open again, and four people entered one after another. Walking at the front was Chen Nanjin, followed by the twins Chu Xiaoyue and Chu Xiaokuo. Xiao Zhen was the last to enter.
Madam Jiang and Elder Jiang went to greet them warmly. This was their second meeting with Chen Nanjin and Xiao Zhen. Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang’s parents had met before when they got their marriage license. They didn’t tell the children; only the four of them sat down and chatted.
Over there, Chu Xiaoyue went to find Li Zheng. She and her brother were on summer vacation and accompanied their mother. Chu Ran had told them on Shen Tang’s first day in the hospital, and they had arrived in Beijing early, but only came to the hospital today. She affectionately rested her chin on Li Zheng’s shoulder, wanting to say a few words to Shen Tang, but feeling inexplicably nervous. She decided against it.
Shen Tang herself was having a difficult time, seeing Chen Nanjin and Xiao Zhen without any ripples. The Jiang family, and many elders from Jiang Chengyu’s maternal grandmother’s side, were all there. She didn’t force herself to be polite to Chen Nanjin and Xiao Zhen because they were present. She didn’t even lift an eyelid when they entered.
The elders of the family were accustomed to Shen Tang’s previously stubborn and aloof personality, so even if she ignored her parents in front of so many people, no one felt uncomfortable or awkward. Instead, they felt that Shen Tang should be like that. However, between elders, the necessary courtesies still had to be observed, so they politely greeted Xiao Zhen and the others.
Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu were whispering to each other, acting as if it had nothing to do with them. Jiang Chengyu let her pinch his hand to release her discomfort.
“Don’t be afraid when you enter the operating room. I’ll be waiting for you at the door. When you recover, I’ll accompany you to do whatever you want.”
“You have to pick me up and toss me around a bit every day.”
“Okay.”
Shen Tang straightened his collar and carefully tidied it for him. “Congratulations, my Mr. Jiang, today you get to see your Little Ningmeng and Little Jingrui.”
Jiang Chengyu kissed her forehead, “Thank you.”
Chen Nanjin stood beside them. The young couple had endless things to say, and he couldn’t interrupt them. From the hospital room until she entered the operating room, Chen Nanjin and Xiao Zhen followed. They knew their daughter disliked them and didn’t want to see them, but today was different from getting their marriage license.
Before entering the operating room, Xiao Zhen leaned down and gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “Don’t be afraid, Mom will be waiting outside for you.”
Chen Nanjin secretly sighed, “When you were born, Dad waited outside the operating room for you. Today, Dad is waiting for you and the babies.”
Shen Tang squinted, saying nothing. She impatiently turned her face to the other side.
Jiang Chengyu squeezed her hand tightly.
The surgery time felt more prolonged and agonizing than the entire pregnancy. Jiang Chengyu stared intently at the operating room door, his vision blurry. He couldn’t clearly see who walked past him, nor could he clearly hear what others were saying beside him.
The operating room door opened again, and two nurses came out holding babies. Li Zheng instantly stood up and couldn’t help but exclaim, “My little brother and sister!”
Jiang Chengyu grabbed Li Zheng’s arm before getting up. He walked a few steps to the nurses and asked, concerned, “How is the babies’ mother?”
“Everything is normal so far, but she still needs to be observed.”
With that simple sentence, his taut nerve, which had been on the verge of breaking, finally relaxed. Jiang Chengyu’s voice was hoarse: “Thank you.”
Li Zheng didn’t manage to hold the babies, so she stood obediently beside Jiang Chengyu, leaning in to look at him. “You don’t need to turn your face away, I saw it. I won’t laugh at you for crying today. Grandma said my dad also cried when I was born, his face was full of tears.”
Jiang Chengyu said nothing, only patting his niece’s head.
His daughter and son were in Madam Jiang and Xiao Zhen’s arms. The babies had their eyes closed and dark hair; it was impossible to tell which was the boy and which was the girl.
“It’s a big brother and a little sister,” Li Zheng told him. His Little Ningmeng was the little sister.
Jiang Chengyu brought Shen Tang back to the hospital room. Seeing her safe and sound, he then went to properly hold the two children. The relatives had seen the two children and waited until Shen Tang was safe, then they sensibly left, giving Shen Tang enough quiet space.
Xiao Zhen wanted to stay longer but was pulled away by Chu Xiaoyue. Chu Xiaoyue, with a grown-up demeanor, lectured her mother, “Mom, there will be plenty of time in the future. My sister doesn’t want to see you at all. She’s weak right now, don’t bother her, otherwise, you won’t even have a chance to see those two babies later.”
Xiao Zhen had no choice but to give up and reluctantly left the hospital.
The hospital room finally quieted down. Li Zheng was taking pictures of the two children, planning to draw the first day of their birth when she got home tonight, and publish it as a series later.
The two little ones were sleeping soundly. Jiang Chengyu picked up his daughter and kissed her forehead, so gently, all his tenderness contained in that kiss. Holding his daughter, he couldn’t bear to put her down. Jiang Chengyu looked at his daughter, hoping she would grow up to resemble Shen Tang.
Shen Tang lay in bed, getting an IV drip, watching the quiet and warm scene. Before having the babies, she couldn’t imagine what he would be like as a father; he was even more patient and gentle than she had imagined. Putting his daughter down, Jiang Chengyu then picked up his sleeping son and kissed him. From now on, he and his son would protect his Tangtang and Little Ningmeng.
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