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Shang Zhitao gained weight rapidly during her pregnancy.
By the second trimester, she was already nearing 140 pounds. Being tall, the added weight made her look significantly more robust than before.
During her prenatal checkups, the doctor would scold her: “Are you eating too much? You need to control it! If this continues, the baby will grow too large, and you’ll have to have a cesarean section! You need to take responsibility!”
Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can be intense, and even a strong woman like Shang Zhitao couldn’t help but cry after being reprimanded by the doctor. As soon as she stepped out of the examination room, tears began streaming down her face. Luan Nian, seeing her cry, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Between sobs, she recounted the doctor’s words, her voice tinged with grievance: “You know I don’t eat much, and I eat healthily. I walk every day. What can I do if the baby grows fast?”
She didn’t understand why others—Lin Chun’er, Xiao Mei, Lumi, and He Yun—only had big bellies during their pregnancies while their arms and legs remained slim and elegant. Why did she have to look so clumsy?
She even consulted Dr. Liang, who reassured her: “Everyone’s body is different. You’re fine just the way you are. You look so cute.”
Dr. Liang and Da Zhai weren’t concerned about whether Shang Zhitao looked good or not—they cared about her health. After all, Shang Zhitao had decided to have a child later in life, and in a few more years, she would be considered a high-risk, older mother. So, Dr. Liang specially prepared a diet plan for her, instructing Da Zhai and Luan Nian to follow it strictly. The plan ensured she could satisfy her cravings while keeping her blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control during pregnancy.
After becoming pregnant, Shang Zhitao was treated like a national treasure. Everyone around her took care of her. At work, Sunny meticulously tracked her working hours, making sure she took breaks every hour to walk around. Every young colleague in the office became her walking companion, taking turns accompanying her downstairs for fresh air. At home, everyone catered to her needs.
Everything felt smooth and easy—except for her rapid weight gain. Criticism from the doctor left her feeling down, and when she was upset, she blamed Luan Nian: “It’s all your fault!”
…
Luan Nian let out an impatient huff and handed her a tissue to wipe her nose. “Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about!” Shang Zhitao’s tears flowed freely, and she grabbed another tissue to wipe her eyes. “I’m fat and ugly now.”
“You’re overthinking it,” Luan Nian pointed out, addressing her self-deprecating remark. “You’re just fat, not ugly.”
Though Luan Nian was telling the truth—Shang Zhitao actually looked radiant with her rounded belly and newly cut “first love” hairstyle, resembling an adorable penguin—his blunt honesty only infuriated her further. What had been soft sniffles turned into loud, uncontrollable sobs. Passersby in the bustling hospital couldn’t help but glance at the cute, crying pregnant woman standing before her husband.
It took Luan Nian a long time to calm her down. When they returned home, Shang Zhitao collapsed onto the couch, sulking.
“Do you want to eat something?”
“No, I don’t deserve it.”
“You may not, but our daughter does!”
That comment only made Shang Zhitao angrier. She sat up abruptly and began berating him: “Now I know why I’ve gained so much weight—it’s all because of you! You’re home four days a week, constantly asking me if I want to eat something! It’s like you’re fattening me up like a pig!”
“When you’re not around, I eat healthily. But when you’re here, I eat way too often…”
“And why do you have to make food so delicious? Can’t you just cook something plain for once? If you made it taste bad, wouldn’t I eat less?”
“So are you eating too much or too little?” Luan Nian finally snapped back at her. Shang Zhitao paused, pretending not to hear, and continued her tirade.
She went on for a long time.
Luan Nian, in a good mood, let her vent. Occasionally, he couldn’t resist chiming in: “I can cook, but you can choose not to eat.”
Shang Zhitao glared at him, and he playfully pinched her cheek.
Pregnant Shang Zhitao was like a ripe peach, and Luan Nian felt as though he had a completely different wife. Sometimes, seeing her flushed, round face, he couldn’t resist pinching her cheeks. But despite her growing belly, she maintained her usual poise outside the house, sitting and standing with perfect posture.
Luan Nian marveled at women’s strange ability to exercise self-discipline.
When he was around, he took care of her; when he wasn’t, Da Zhai and Old Shang stepped in. Even though she was pregnant, Shang Zhitao didn’t slack off at work. She only left the office slightly earlier than before because she needed to go home and sleep—she was incredibly sleepy. Otherwise, she carried on as usual.
Luan Nian pitied her for overworking herself, but she was happy. Working alongside her colleagues brought her joy.
As her pregnancy progressed, Shang Zhitao dragged Luan Nian to take maternity photos. Reluctant as always, he complained, just as he had in the past. But when Shang Zhitao shot him a sharp glare, he finally relented, kneeling on one knee to kiss her belly.
On the day Little Nian Tao was born, Shang Zhitao was meeting with a client.
She was five days past her due date, with no signs of labor. So, she accompanied her younger colleagues to meet with an important client. The meeting went well, and after sending over the electronic contract, the client began preparing to process the payment. Shang Zhitao stood up to shake hands with the client when she suddenly felt a warm gush beneath her.
Her water had broken.
She quickly found a place to semi-recline and dialed 120.
Luan Nian had just gotten off the plane and rushed home to grab the maternity bag before heading to the hospital. For the first time in his life, he realized his hands were trembling.
On the way to the hospital, his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Da Zhai tried to reassure him: “Everything’s fine. Don’t worry—she’s already dilated.”
“Okay, thank you.”
When Luan Nian arrived at the hospital, pandemic restrictions prevented him from entering the delivery room. He couldn’t see Shang Zhitao, so he called her instead. When she answered, her voice was strained as she fought through the pain. “Hello?” Luan Nian asked if she was in pain, and suddenly, this tough, unyielding man broke down in tears. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he told her, “I’m right outside. I’m here with you.”
Hearing Luan Nian’s choked-up voice made Shang Zhitao’s eyes water. “Then tell me you love me,” she said.
“I love you.”
“And call me ‘wife.’”
“Wife.”
“Now say, ‘Wife, I love you.’” Shang Zhitao was hit by another contraction and couldn’t continue. Before hanging up, she heard Luan Nian say, “Wife, I love you.”
At that moment, Luan Nian no longer found those words corny. He wanted to pour out every sweet phrase Shang Zhitao loved to hear, anything to make her feel even a little more comfortable.
Luan Nian stood there for a long time, refusing to sit despite the elders urging him to rest. The entire duration of Shang Zhitao’s labor, he remained standing. When he finally saw her lying there, weak and exhausted, his eyes welled up again.
Having a baby was an extraordinary experience.
Shang Zhitao didn’t want to rest and asked Luan Nian to bring Little Nian Tao over for her to see. Luan Nian, who had never held a baby before, awkwardly cradled Little Nian Tao. She was so tiny, sleeping with her eyes closed, and his heart melted instantly. His fingertips lightly brushed against her face—the baby’s skin was impossibly soft and delicate, like touching cotton. Luan Nian had never felt his heart so tender.
“I think Little Nian Tao looks a bit like you,” Luan Nian said, squatting beside Shang Zhitao’s bed and placing the baby near her hand. Both of them gazed at Little Nian Tao, unwilling to blink.
Shang Zhitao looked back and forth between Little Nian Tao and Luan Nian, realizing he had been fibbing earlier. Little Nian Tao was clearly his spitting image. Shang Zhitao grew dissatisfied. After carrying her for ten months and enduring such a difficult delivery, how could the baby not resemble her at all but instead look exactly like her father?
“You said she looks a little like me. Where exactly?” Shang Zhitao asked.
Luan Nian thought carefully, a hint of smugness on his face as he gave an obvious brush-off: “Look at her… ears. They’re just like yours. And her hair too.”
Little Nian Tao’s hair was thick and shiny, almost as if she’d spent her time in the womb focusing on growing hair rather than looking cute. As for her ears, they hadn’t fully developed yet! What kind of child was this?
Both parents stared at their daughter, and Shang Zhitao sighed, “How can someone be so ugly yet so adorable?”
“Who are you calling ugly?” Luan Nian frowned slightly. “Where’s the ugliness?”
The nurse came twice to shoo him away, but Luan Nian stubbornly refused to leave. Finally, the nurse threatened, “If you don’t go now, you won’t be allowed back tomorrow!” That got him moving. Still uneasy, he double-checked the arrangements for the caregiver to stay overnight and worried about Shang Zhitao’s episiotomy pain, instructing the caregiver to take good care of her.
Once outside the hospital, he sat in the car for a long time without starting it. The day felt like a dream.
Luan Nian was a little excited, eager to share something with someone. He posted in a group chat with his friends: “I’m a father now. I have a daughter.”
Tan Mian was quick to respond, immediately initiating a video call. Everyone joined one by one, with Luan Nian being the last to connect—his eyes still red.
Everyone paused for a moment. Song Qiuhán asked, “Did you cry?”
Luan Nian didn’t respond at first, then nodded after a while. “Yes.”
“A tough guy shedding tears?” Tan Mian scrutinized his eyes. “Am I seeing this right?”
“No shame, no shame. Which one of us hasn’t cried when becoming a dad? Oh wait, except Tan Mian—he hasn’t become a dad yet.” Even in this moment, Chen Kuannian couldn’t resist teasing.
“Shut up,” Tan Mian shot back. “Where are the photos? Pictures of Little Nian Tao!”
Luan Nian sent them over, saying, “My genes are just too strong.” With Shang Zhitao not around, he finally admitted outright that Little Nian Tao looked exactly like him in every way.
Everyone studied the photos closely—it was true. She was a carbon copy of Luan Nian.
“Tell us your feelings,” Song Qiuhán prompted.
“My feeling is… life is fucking amazing. Marry someone you love, and if you both agree, have a child. It’s the best feeling ever. Better than anything else I’ve experienced.”
“Alright, buddy. We’ve heard your heartfelt speech,” Chen Kuannian joked, then asked, “How’s Ms. Shang Zhitao doing?”
“She’s a little tired.”
“We’ll come tomorrow,” Tan Mian offered.
“No need. Wait until she’s discharged. Otherwise, you’ll only get a quick glimpse of her and Nian Tao.”
“Then we’ll come in five days.”
“Okay.”
Luan Nian didn’t dare go home, fearing he might be unreachable if anything happened. Instead, he stayed in the car, listening to music. Worried that Shang Zhitao might feel lonely, he texted her: “I’m in the hospital parking lot. Don’t be afraid. If anything happens, I’ll be there in a flash.”
“What could possibly happen? Go home and sleep.”
“No.” Luan Nian replied, then added after a moment, “Shang Zhitao, thank you. You’ve worked so hard.”
“It wasn’t hard, Luan Nian. Taking care of the baby from now on is all on you.”
“Alright.”
“Do you know? I’m so happy today. Happy and heartbroken at the same time. I never knew people could feel so contradictory.” Luan Nian said.
“I’m satisfied with today, except that Nian Tao doesn’t look like me.”
“It’s okay. When she grows up, her expressions can resemble yours.”
“Are you even speaking human language?”
Luan Nian chuckled, pulling up a family photo to look at. In the picture, Shang Zhitao’s face was slightly swollen, his lips pressed against her forehead, and Little Nian Tao was sleeping peacefully. There was also a photo of their three fists pressed together. These were the kinds of photos Luan Nian used to avoid taking, but now they felt so natural. He didn’t find them awkward at all—in fact, he loved them, absolutely loved them.
Life unfolded before him like a new painting, and this time, Luan Nian took a close look.
The painting was beautiful, encompassing nearly all of his most cherished visions of life.
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