#83: Parenting Chronicles (Part 2)

Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui fell asleep in Jiang Chengyu’s arms, each resting a tiny head on his shoulders, nestled against his neck. A faint milky scent wafted from them. Their small mouths were slightly open, their breathing even. Jiang Chengyu dared not lower his head, fearing his chin would prickle their tender little faces. The children slept so peacefully that he was reluctant to put them down. The arm strength he had built from rock climbing in his youth came in handy, allowing him to toss Shen Tang and hold the children for any length of time.

Shen Tang now loved taking photos, casually documenting the children’s daily moments. Even if a child suddenly mastered a new movement, it felt like a huge achievement in her eyes. She recorded a short video of Jiang Chengyu holding the two children as they slept.

“Are you tired?” Shen Tang watched the video and asked him. Jiang Chengyu hadn’t held the children for two weeks, and an hour wasn’t enough. “Not tired.”

Shen Tang turned off her phone and went to the master bedroom bathroom for a bath. When she came out, Jiang Chengyu was already back in the room, unbuttoning his shirt, its tail pulled out and loose. Shen Tang helped him take off his watch. Jiang Chengyu unbuttoned with one hand, looking down at her. Her dried hair was fluffy and soft, emitting a faint scent. Two buttons remained unfastened, and he freed his hand to cup her waist.

During his business trip, she had lost more weight, almost back to her pre-pregnancy figure. Her waist was slender and lithe. “Starting next week, you can go to the company for a few hours every day. Being away from work for too long can make you slow to react. Staying at home all the time also gets boring.”

Shen Tang suddenly looked up; she had been thinking the same thing and had planned to tell him before bed. “I’ll go for half a day, check on the company in the morning, and spend the afternoon with the babies at home.”

Jiang Chengyu: “As you wish. I’ll also try to reduce my social engagements and spend more time with the children.”

Shen Tang stepped back, moving towards the bedside table. Jiang Chengyu matched her pace, moving slowly. Shen Tang gently placed his watch on the bedside table and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jiang Chengyu reached up and turned off the light. Suddenly, they couldn’t see anything, but they found each other’s lips by instinct.

Shen Tang’s eyes slowly adjusted to the dark room. Jiang Chengyu’s kiss was a little more assertive than usual. From her pregnancy until now, they hadn’t truly connected. When the babies were still in her belly, every intimate moment was an ordeal for Jiang Chengyu. He had to control his strength. During pregnancy, their intimate moments were like long-distance runs, requiring endurance and patience, giving Jiang Chengyu more time to talk to her. But now, after this brief separation, it was a passionate sprint, requiring explosive power and speed to reach the finish line. Jiang Chengyu had no extra thoughts to talk to her.

The crisp scent on the pillow was the same as on his body. Shen Tang clung to his shoulders, looking up at Jiang Chengyu, water dripping from the wisps of hair on his forehead onto her neck. “Hubby,” Shen Tang called out to him.

Several seconds passed. “Hmm,” Jiang Chengyu answered her. So patiently and devotedly, he gave himself to her. Nothing could distract him. Shen Tang gazed into his eyes, and Jiang Chengyu gazed into hers. Every thrust he gave made Shen Tang’s heart throb. This was a state they hadn’t experienced in nearly a year.

Thump! Shen Tang’s head hit the headboard. She arched her back, biting Jiang Chengyu’s shoulder. Her head ached a little. But what hurt more right now wasn’t the bump on her head, it was the current he sent through her, a tingling sensation that spread through her limbs, indescribably exhilarating.

Jiang Chengyu finally quieted down, propping himself on one elbow on the bed, his other arm embracing her back. “Did you hurt your head?” He wanted to kiss the spot where she bumped her head, but she was nestled against his neck, out of reach. Shen Tang didn’t want to speak; her soul had been knocked out of her by that sensation and hadn’t returned yet. She moved from his left shoulder to the other side, her nose brushing against his chin, her lips grazing his Adam’s apple. Jiang Chengyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He took a quiet breath.

“Tangtang.” Jiang Chengyu called her softly. Shen Tang hadn’t quite recovered, still leaning in his arms. Jiang Chengyu asked, “Do you want me to do push-ups with you as added weight?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m alright.”

Shen Tang hugged his neck, wrapped her legs around his waist, and her body completely lifted off the bed. Jiang Chengyu propped himself up with both hands, his arm muscles taut, bearing her full weight hanging from him. This was her second favorite intimate gesture, after being tossed high in the air. Shen Tang loved his sense of strength.

Jiang Chengyu adjusted his breathing, preparing himself. The previous activity had already drained a lot of his stamina. Even so, with Shen Tang hanging from him, he managed to do dozens of push-ups. Shen Tang gestured to him: “Enough, enough, you’ll get tired later.”

Jiang Chengyu gently lowered her back onto the bed, his palm caressing the top of her head. “Does it still hurt?” Shen Tang shook her head; his weighted push-ups had cured that little pain. That night, Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu, utterly satisfied, embraced and slept.

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On Monday, Shen Tang waited for the two darlings to wake up, played with them for half an hour, then changed into a long winter dress, put on exquisite makeup, carefully dressed up, and went to the company. She had been away from the company for almost four months. Nothing had changed, not even the plants in the hallway were different from before her leave, but as she stepped through the company doors, there was still a hint of unfamiliarity. Perhaps a sense of long-awaited return was more fitting. Knowing she was coming today, Qin Xing even arranged a small welcome ceremony.

Shen Tang suddenly felt like she had jumped from a delicate aquarium back into the ocean; she felt alive again. She looked at Yuanyuan, the young girl looking a little wronged. Yuanyuan felt inexplicably wronged in her heart when she saw someone she hadn’t seen in almost four months. That longing was known to no one else.

The bodyguard had moved out of her residential complex since Shen Tang went on leave. It turned out he had a house in a high-end residential area not far from Jiang Chengyu’s villa complex. Yuanyuan walked a few steps and hugged Shen Tang, “Sister Tang, I missed you so much.” Yuanyuan’s longing for Shen Tang was genuine, though fortunately, she had seen Shen Tang once in between when she visited the babies at the hospital. But for the past three months, she hadn’t had a chance to see her.

“Welcome back.”

Standing next to Shen Tang was the bodyguard. She glanced at him, and for a moment, she really wanted to extend her hug with Shen Tang to also hug him. It would be another way of greeting after a long separation. However, she was too timid. In the end, she just smiled at him.

The bodyguard took half a step forward, leaned down, and gently hugged Yuanyuan. “Thank you for helping with some work these past few months.” He was not only Shen Tang’s bodyguard but also helped with other tasks. During Shen Tang’s leave, he hadn’t come to the company, and Yuanyuan had handled everything. Then he released Yuanyuan. His movements were so gentlemanly.

Boom! Yuanyuan heard the sound of her world collapsing. “Waa waa waa~” Everyone in the company knew about Yuanyuan’s little crush for the past few months. Seeing her finally reach a moment of clarity and happiness, they started teasing her. They were also happy for her. Only Shen Tang knew what determination the bodyguard had to summon to take that step. For his first thirty years, he had no attachments, his life barren. Cold and taciturn was his normal state. Being responsible for her and Jiang Chengyu’s safety was his job and duty; he was without emotion or love, and didn’t know how to express himself. Yuanyuan had known him for six years, and finally, his iron resolve had softened.

“You all go back to work,” Shen Tang said, and Yuanyuan was finally able to extricate herself from her awkwardness.

Just as Jiang Chengyu had said, being away from work for too long made her slow in handling tasks. After a whole morning, she finally started to get the hang of it. Sister Li said it was normal. When she returned from maternity leave, she felt as if pregnancy had made her stupid for three years; it took her over half a month to get back into the swing of things.

“Aren’t the two babies especially interesting?” Shen Tang started talking about Little Ningmeng and Xiao Jingrui and almost couldn’t stop. She now looked forward to the day the two children would speak and walk.

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Xiao Jingrui learned to walk at one year and five days old. Before he was one year old, there was no deliberate effort to teach him to walk. That day, Xiao Jingrui held onto the sofa and stood up by himself. His favorite toy had rolled far away, and he carefully let go of the edge of the sofa, wanting to pick up the toy. Without holding onto anything, he suddenly took two steps forward. He himself was stunned that he could walk. His small eyes looked bewildered.

Shen Tang was recording a video of him and Little Ningmeng, suppressing the excitement in her heart, afraid that a loud noise would scare the child. “You’re doing great, baby.” Xiao Jingrui wobbled, unsteady on his feet, and with a “plop,” he sat down on the soft cushion, laughing to himself. Little Ningmeng turned to look at her brother, not understanding the situation, and also “giggled.”

“Hubby, our son can walk! Come here quickly.” She was thrilled, shouting towards the kitchen. It was the weekend, and Jiang Chengyu was off for half a day, spending time with the children at home. He was currently making juice for the two children. Hearing what Shen Tang said, he left the kitchen to the auntie and quickly walked out. Every little progress the children made was a grand event in his and Shen Tang’s eyes. It was worth recording and celebrating.

Jiang Chengyu wiped his hands. “Let’s take them to the lawn in the courtyard.” Outside, the sun was setting, and a gentle breeze was blowing. The nanny brought the mats and various toys to the lawn. Little Ningmeng sat on the mat playing with toys, showing no interest in watching her brother practice walking. It was as if she was afraid her parents would make her practice walking; she simply lay down on the mat, covering her eyes with her small hands. She adopted an attitude of “no matter what, I’m not walking.”

Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang half-squatted on the lawn, their arms outstretched, fingertips touching, so that if Xiao Jingrui fell while practicing walking, they would have enough time to catch him before he hit the ground. Shen Tang threw his son’s favorite toy to Jiang Chengyu. “Baby, what’s in Daddy’s hand?” Jiang Chengyu held the toy, his other hand instinctively straightening, forming a natural protective barrier for his son.

Xiao Jingrui wanted to grab the toy but was afraid to walk over. He stood in front of Shen Tang, trying to walk forward several times, but before he could even extend his little foot, he quickly turned and buried himself in Shen Tang’s arms. After many encouragements, Xiao Jingrui finally took that brave step. At first, he walked, his two little arms having nowhere to rest, his small eyes filled with nervousness and helplessness. After two steps, he wanted to run forward, wanting to get into Daddy’s arms as quickly as possible. As his body leaned forward, his steps couldn’t keep up, he lost his balance, and before he could fall face-first, Jiang Chengyu instantly got up, scooped up his son, and lifted him high into the air. Xiao Jingrui happily kicked his legs in the air. He thought he could walk.

They practiced this back and forth countless times. Jiang Chengyu showed no impatience; each time, he caught his son before he fell and held him in his arms. Xiao Jingrui loved being lifted high, and later, his courage grew. From taking two steps to three, then he could wobble five or six steps on his own.

Jiang Chengyu edited a message and sent it to Li Zheng: [Xiao Jingrui started walking at one year and five days old. At most, he walked six steps.] Li Zheng would draw a series of comics for her younger brother and sister whenever she had time, documenting their growth.

Jiang Chengyu kissed his son. “Say ‘Daddy’.” Xiao Jingrui said seriously: “Mommy.”

“...” No matter how he taught him, Xiao Jingrui only called for Mommy. Shen Tang burst out laughing. Neither her son nor her daughter called him “Daddy” yet; they only said “Mommy” or “Grandma.” Handing his son to the nanny to play with toys, Jiang Chengyu went to pick up his daughter.

Little Ningmeng saw Daddy approaching and kept backing away. Her crawling speed was astonishing. Jiang Chengyu often turned his head and she would have crawled far away, sometimes even crawling under the table and refusing to come out. Xiao Jingrui saw this and imitated her. The siblings could play under the table for half a day, babbling, and no one knew what they were saying.

“Baby, come to Mommy,” Shen Tang also came over to hug Little Ningmeng. Little Ningmeng looked at Mommy, then at Daddy, not knowing how to hide, she crawled in circles on the spot. Shen Tang knelt on one knee on the mat, reaching out to hug her daughter. Little Ningmeng deliberately teased her mother, giggling like she was playing hide-and-seek, just not coming over. She was so engrossed in playing with her mother that she forgot Daddy was behind her.

Little Ningmeng unconsciously retreated backward, directly into Jiang Chengyu’s arms. Jiang Chengyu scooped up her two little legs, his other arm encircling his daughter’s front, holding her in his embrace. Little Ningmeng giggled even more happily.

Jiang Chengyu coaxed his daughter: “Daddy and Mommy will walk with you, just like big brother, okay?” Little Ningmeng couldn’t express herself in any other way, struggling to get down, wanting to crawl and play on the mat, softly and sweetly calling, “Mommy, Mommy.” She reached out for Shen Tang. She just wouldn’t walk.

Jiang Chengyu didn’t force his daughter to learn to walk. Right now, he wanted to hear the children call him Daddy. He had taught his son for half a day, but his son only called him Mommy. He sat cross-legged on the lawn, put his daughter on his lap, and taught her to call him Daddy.

Little Ningmeng: “Grandma.”

“...” After trying more than ten times, Jiang Chengyu temporarily gave up.

Shen Tang was now half a photographer, taking pictures everywhere she went. She recorded a few minutes of video of Jiang Chengyu and the two children. Xiao Jingrui was excited about learning to walk and entertained himself. He would walk a few steps, crawl for a while, then get up and wobble a few more steps.

Shen Tang reached out: “Baby, come here.” Xiao Jingrui held his mother’s hand, walked steadily over, and threw himself into his mother’s embrace. Little Ningmeng picked up her toy and crawled over from a distance. Jiang Chengyu scooped up his daughter with one hand, letting her stand on his leg and play.

Little Ningmeng rubbed the toy in her hand against Jiang Chengyu’s shoulder, having a great time, her voice tiny, soft, and gentle, “Daddy.” After a few seconds, she called out again, “Daddy.” Jiang Chengyu froze for a moment. Shen Tang also heard it; she turned to him in surprise, “Our daughter called you Daddy!” Jiang Chengyu hugged his daughter, gently kissed her forehead, and said softly, “Thank you, baby.”

Children couldn’t sit still for long. Within two minutes, they were struggling to get out of their arms, crawling and playing on the lawn, their laughter continuous. Jiang Chengyu patted his leg, inviting Shen Tang to sit on it. Shen Tang got up, leaning her back against his chest. Jiang Chengyu rested his chin on the top of her head, encircling her in his arms.

[Little Ningmeng called me Daddy today, twice.] He sent another message to Li Zheng.