“Brother-in-law, get up quickly.” Tao Xinglai hurried over to support He Ran.

Seeing such a tough man cry for the first time, Tao Xinglai almost cried along with him.

He Ran steadied his emotions and asked the nurse, “When can my wife come out?”

“She’s still getting stitched up. The baby was big, so there was some tearing,” the head nurse, who knew He Ran, consoled him, “Dr. Jian is fine, just very tired. She’ll regain her strength during the confinement period.”

He Ran thanked her. As the head nurse went back into the operating room, he stretched his neck to peer through the door crack.

Tao Xihong sighed in relief, “Safe is good, safe is good.”

Grandma stood by the window, hands clasped together, muttering prayers of thanks to heaven.

Tao Xinglai was also quite excited, “Our family’s third little princess!”

He Ran turned his head, “Third?”

“The second one is my sister.” Tao Xinglai chuckled, “The first one is my mom!”

He Ran’s mood finally lightened somewhat.

Everyone else returned to the ward to wait, but He Ran stayed at the door, waiting for his beloved to come out.

During the half-hour wait, He Ran’s mind exploded like fireworks, bursting incessantly.

He had become a father, with a little girl.

Seven jin two liang (about 7.4 pounds) was quite heavy; this little glutton knows how to compete for nutrients.

Previously alone, roaming freely in this world, now with a wife and daughter, he had achieved the sense of ceremony in a man’s life.

He Ran stared at the operating room door, his eyes still slightly red.

Not long after, she was wheeled out. He Ran quickly stepped forward, but seeing Jian Xi’s pale face made his heart ache again.

Jian Xi had an IV in her hand, her hair soaked with sweat sticking to her forehead. Exhausted, she couldn’t even open her eyes.

He Ran didn’t dare to touch her, only followed the bed, bending down to whisper in her ear, “Wife.”

After calling three times, Jian Xi’s eyelids fluttered, finally opening to look at him. Then she whimpered pitifully, “Husband, it hurts so much.”

He Ran nodded vigorously, “I know, I know, you’ve been wronged.”

Once in the ward, the baby was still undergoing basic check-ups in the neonatal department. Tao Xihong and Grandma went to handle things there, while Tao Xinglai went to the hospital entrance to pick up Lu Hanxiao.

The department gave Jian Xi special treatment, arranging a private room for her. He Ran stayed by the bedside; residual pain came in waves, and whenever Jian Xi’s brows furrowed, He Ran tensed up.

“Where do you feel uncomfortable? Does it hurt badly? I’ll call the doctor.”

He was panicking like a bomb about to explode; every moan from Jian Xi nearly set him off.

“Don’t worry.” Jian Xi spoke softly, her fingers scratching his palm, “This is what childbirth is like, it’s okay, I can handle it. Stay with me.”

He Ran: “Alright, I won’t go anywhere.” Meaningfully, he said, “Wife, I’m sorry.”

Jian Xi faintly curved her lips, “We don’t say those three words between husband and wife.”

He Ran gripped her hand tighter. “You’re a hero.”

Jian Xi pursed her lips and smiled, “You made me a hero. Have you seen the baby?”

“Not yet.” He Ran said, “Still doing the check-up, Mom and Grandma are watching, don’t worry.”

Jian Xi lightly hummed, calling him, “Husband.”

“Hmm?”

“I forbid you from doing anything stupid.”

He Ran paused for a moment, the ferocity hidden between his brows an unceasing undercurrent.

Jian Xi saw right through him, understanding his thoughts.

Speaking slowly but clearly, “I forbid you from fighting, causing trouble, being barbaric, or learning Lu Hanxiao’s inhumanity.”

He Ran was silent for a while, attempting to brush it off with a half-dead smile.

Jian Xi’s finger, which had been scratching his palm, suddenly changed direction, poking him with her nail until he felt pain.

“Now that you’re a father, are you still going to be as mischievous as before?”

Upon hearing this, He Ran finally raised his eyes. The new title of “Dad” instantly smoothed out his deep-seated discontent.

“Damn, where’s my baby girl? How did she just pop out? Didn’t they say it would take a few days?” Lu Hanxiao’s voice thundered like a train, clanging and piercing.

He Ran stood up, coldly saying, “Can you have some dignity? This is my He family’s seed!”

“Tch, so impressive.” Lu Hanxiao rolled his eyes, but indeed, it was pretty impressive.

He Ran: “Lu, aren’t you ashamed, coming empty-handed? I won’t even give you a chair to sit on.”

Lu Hanxiao: “Go away.”

He walked to the bedside, scrutinizing Jian Xi for a moment, “Oh dear, this little face is so white, no color at all.”

Jian Xi turned her head, “You’re too noisy.”

He Ran grabbed Lu Hanxiao by the collar and dragged him towards the door, “Don’t bother my wife.”

“Don’t touch my neck, it tickles!” Lu Hanxiao, afraid of being tickled, complied.

At this moment, the nurse pushed the baby bed into the ward, “Family, come sign here.”

He Ran followed, listening to the nurse explain some precautions. Tao Xihong and Grandma surrounded the baby, taking care of things.

Lu Hanxiao deliberately teased him, “Her skin is fair, like her mom; double eyelids, like her mom; small mouth, like her mom; tender ears, also like her mom. Buddy, this baby has nothing to do with you.”

Tao Xihong laughed and said, “Xixi looked wrinkled when she was born; her skin became fair as she grew up.”

Grandma also chimed in, “And He Ran, forget it, he’s like a little piece of charcoal.”

Tao Xinglai pointed to himself, “Me, me! Like me! I’ve always been fair. During the Children’s Day performance, girls in my class were short, so they pulled me to fill in. We tied two braids and performed as Snow White!”

Laughter erupted in the room.

After finishing clarifying the nurse’s instructions, He Ran stood by the door, looking at the little push bed. The pink bundle of blankets was high and soft.

Tao Xihong gently smiled, “Come, see your daughter.”

He Ran took slow, nervous steps.

Never had there been a moment in his life like this; before even seeing her little features clearly, his heart melted completely.

He approached the crib, his first impression... a bit ugly.

Her face might not be bigger than his palm, but it was plump. Her eyes were closed, but her eye contours were particularly long, likely to be big eyes.

He Ran couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to gently rub her chubby cheeks with his fingertips.

This child’s mouth twitched, seemingly disdainful.

As soon as He Ran removed his hand, she returned to her sleeping state.

Lu Hanxiao trembled with laughter, lowering his voice, “Your daughter thinks you’re ugly.”

He Ran rubbed his fingertips, relishing the wonderful sensation just experienced, willingly accepting, “Among our family of three, I’m the ugliest. I’m happy with it; can you do anything about it?”

Lu Hanxiao poked his arm, genuinely saying, “I’m really jealous today. We might need to break ties for half a month to calm my resentment.”

Listening to their humorous banter, Jian Xi turned her body, gazing at the little bundle, feeling a sense of fulfillment.

As long as they got past this hurdle, everything afterward would be smooth sailing.

Jian Xi had good physical fitness, delicate skin, regular diet, and after a few days of rest, her energy gradually caught up.

Tao Xihong hired a professional and helpful postpartum nurse. Except for breastfeeding, Jian Xi rested relatively well.

On the day of discharge, Jian Xi could already walk briskly.

He Ran spread his work as much as possible. Jian Xi had concerns, and only when she saw him by her side could she fully relax.

However, Tao Xinglai had been acting a bit strange recently, visiting Jian Xi more frequently.

“After the full moon, Mengmeng grows especially fast.” Tao Xinglai liked her more and more, professionally holding the little one and taking a selfie. “Let me show off on Weibo.”

Jian Xi: “The baby grows fast, changing every day. When you post on Weibo, add a mosaic.”

“Rest assured, I don’t want to be hunted down by Brother-in-law.” Tao Xinglai edited the picture, posted it on Weibo, and “Likes surpassed five hundred within seconds.”

Jian Xi also picked up her phone, “Is that so? Let me take a look.”

She scrolled through a few comments and laughed, “Your fans are quite amusing. Look at this one—’Dear Tao, let’s have a baby. I’m 1.9 meters tall, our kids can participate in the Olympics in the future,’ haha.”

Tao Xinglai beamed, “It’s truly overwhelming love. By the way, when will Brother-in-law return? I miss his braised pig trotters.”

Jian Xi: “Soon, I guess. He went to settle accounts with clients.”

“How much can he earn in a month doing this now?”

“Last month was over seventy thousand, this month might be a bit less.”

Tao Xinglai raised his head, “His value isn’t higher than mine; my Brother He is worth more than that.”

Jian Xi shrugged, “I don’t pressure him. Besides, it’s enough to use.”

While chatting, she scrolled through Weibo and suddenly exclaimed, “Hmm.”

Tao Xinglai chewed on strawberries, making popping sounds, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Xi opened her eyes wide, read it two or three times, then slowly raised her head, “...Someone reposted your Weibo.”

Thinking it was no big deal, Tao Xinglai slumped his shoulders, “After all, I’m popular.”

“No.” Jian Xi’s tone was somewhat dazed, “Qiao Yinghou reposted it.”

Hearing that “Qiao” character, Tao Xinglai dropped the entire plate of strawberries with a clatter. He was terrified, “Qiao Shu? Why did she repost mine? Is there something wrong!”

Judging by his tone, it seemed like they had some history.

Jian Xi was momentarily confused.

If Tao Xinglai was considered popular, then Qiao Shu was universally famous. Known for being quite aloof, she was always a pure stream in the industry, with background, prestige, and talent, winning Best Actress for an action film.

Even Tao Xihong’s middle-aged fairy group were her old fans.

Tao Xinglai didn’t bother picking up the strawberries, fumbling with his phone, “This woman is trouble. Did she criticize me? I need to call Li Xiaoqiang quickly and have him buy some water armies.”

Before he finished speaking, Tao Xinglai unlocked his phone and was dumbfounded.

Two minutes ago, Qiao Shu retweeted the photo of Tao Xinglai holding the baby.

And commented with two words: “Want to?”

The top hot comment was a fan expanding those two words into a sentence: “Tao Xinglai, I want to have your baby.”

More provocatively, Qiao Shu personally liked that top hot comment.

Jian Xi acted as a little broadcaster, “Your Weibo followers have increased by 200,000 compared to just now.”

Tao Xinglai: “...”

Exploded!

His phone kept ringing non-stop like a bomber.

Calls from his agent Li Xiaoqiang, the agency president, and countless media platforms.

Tao Xinglai was bewildered; he didn’t dare stay long, fearing paparazzi would disturb Jian Xi, so he climbed over the wall and ran away through the back gate of the neighborhood.

———

He Ran rushed home for dinner and immediately went to see his daughter as soon as he entered.

Jian Xi was breastfeeding, her large shirt pulled down slightly, revealing the collarbone of her right shoulder. She cradled Mengmeng, gently patting her, head bowed with full tenderness.

He Ran moved quietly, barefoot into the bedroom, first kissing Jian Xi’s cheek, then bending down to kiss his precious daughter.

Jian Xi looked up and smiled at him.

He Ran’s gaze naturally lowered, stopping at her large expanse of soft chest, swallowing, he asked, “Baby, does your mom’s milk taste good?”

Jian Xi: “...”

He Ran’s tone was sincere, “I want to drink too.”

Jian Xi: “...”

He swore, heaven and earth as witnesses, “After six months of abstinence, my cock wants to rebel. Seeing you makes me naturally hard.”

Jian Xi: “...”

He leaned closer; unable to lick her milk, he licked her lips for a substitute high, solemnly declaring, “The doctor said that six weeks after natural birth, we can do it.”

Jian Xi: “Which doctor said that?”

He Ran raised her free hand and pressed it down below, moaning and calling out:

“...Naturally hard Dr. He.”