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Zhu Xingyao sat in the living room hugging Tang Dou. She nervously stroked Tang Dou back and forth, not paying attention to her strength. Tang Dou pitifully nestled on her lap, almost getting rubbed bald. She was trying hard to recall their last intimate encounter when she had said it was a safe period and didn’t let him use protection—it was the last day of the safe period, so it wasn’t very safe...
Although, in the end, he still used protection.
But...
Could they have made a mistake? Could it be this accurate?
She touched her flat belly, her feelings were complex—nervous, afraid, yet somewhat expectant.
There was a pharmacy in the neighborhood. Jiang Tu practically ran there, fearing leaving Zhu Xingyao alone at home for too long. It was dinnertime, and the pharmacy had no customers. He went straight to the counter and told the clerk.
The clerk naturally recognized Jiang Tu. She quickly took out several brands, blushing as she recommended them.
Jiang Tu asked, “Which one is more accurate?”
The clerk replied, “They’re all pretty accurate; I haven’t heard of any being inaccurate unless used improperly.”
Jiang Tu bought several types. He brought a bag full of pregnancy tests home. Zhu Xingyao quickly released Tang Dou and turned to look at him. Tang Dou finally got relief, shaking its fur on the sofa and meowing, sounding quite pitiful.
Jiang Tu stood in front of the sofa, opened one test, glanced at the instructions again, and handed it to her, “Wanna try?”
Zhu Xingyao looked at him, took the pregnancy test, and softly said, “Okay.”
After thinking for a moment, she took two more and headed to the bathroom.
Jiang Tu waited by the door. Before closing the door, Zhu Xingyao suddenly asked, “Tu Ge, if...” If she wasn’t pregnant, would he be disappointed? She originally wanted to ask him this but held back. Smiling slightly, she said, “Wait for me.”
The door closed.
Jiang Tu waited quietly. After four or five minutes, the door opened.
Zhu Xingyao bit her lip, her eyes complex, slowly raising her hand—one line.
They stared at each other.
Jiang Tu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, bending down to hug her tightly and whispering, “I’m not disappointed. We agreed to wait a year; it’s only been half a year, and we’re not in a rush. If you really are pregnant, it’s my fault. You’ve got so much work ahead, and it wouldn’t be good.”
If she really was pregnant, it would indeed be his mistake, his lack of caution. He worried she wasn’t prepared and would face immense psychological pressure. After all, Zhu Xingyao’s situation was different from others; she overcame her mental barriers to decide to have a child.
Zhu Xingyao hugged him tightly. Whatever she thought, he knew.
She whispered, “Actually, just now, I was a little bit hopeful.”
So, she felt a little bit of disappointment too.
Jiang Tu smiled, whispering in her ear, “So, next time, I’ll make it happen soon.”
Zhu Xingyao blushed and looked up at him. When wasn’t he serious? She pushed him, “Hurry up, let’s cook. I’m hungry.”
After such a commotion, it was already 7:30, and they didn’t eat dinner until around 8 o’clock.
After dinner, Jiang Tu washed the dishes while Zhu Xingyao browsed Weibo and chatted with Lin Jiayu and Li Xixi in the living room.
Lin Jiayu: “The movie premiere is coming up. Are you coming to watch it?”
Less than a month remained before the film’s release. The official Weibo account of Our Time had already announced the countdown, scheduled for nationwide release on August 25th. On Zhu Xingyao’s iPad, the film trailer was playing. The production quality was excellent, possibly due to Lin Jiayu’s screenwriting, staying true to the original.
Zhu Xingyao happened to see “Jiang Xing” crossing the gate rails of First Middle School. She paused, remembering that scene wasn’t in the novel—it must have been added by Lin Jiayu.
Yao Yao Tian Shang Xing: “Did he really miss the concert because he couldn’t catch up?”
Lin Jiayu: “Yes, because Aunt Shu suddenly started talking about old times, mentioning how Jiang Tu fought with the debt collectors that night. Given his personality, he surely would’ve rushed over. Later, I probed him, and he didn’t deny it.”
Lin Jiayu probably found typing troublesome and sent a voice message instead.
Zhu Xingyao clicked on her long voice message.
Lin Jiayu: “Let me tell you, Jiang Tu is quite sneaky. He definitely has many secrets. Some things, if you don’t point out, he will never bring up voluntarily. Once you point them out, regarding matters concerning you, he generally admits them, or gives an affirmative answer indirectly, which can confuse people. If someone’s a bit slow, like Jiang Lu, they might not get it.”
Jiang Xiaolu was mysteriously implicated once again.
Li Xixi was online, frustrated: “I’m attending an event, and the host is so boring, spouting a long string of advertisements. I can’t listen to the voice message. Lin Jiayu, can you type it out?”
Lin Jiayu: “Didn’t I ask him if he liked you? He was silent for a long time, then said, ‘Who doesn’t like Zhu Xingyao?’ Doesn’t that sound a bit sour now? He sat behind you, later became your desk mate, seeing all those love letters and snacks in your desk every day, who knows what he felt.”
Just then, Jiang Tu emerged from the kitchen and heard it.
Zhu Xingyao turned to look at him and pressed the voice message: “Jiang Tu heard it. What should I do?”
Jiang Tu showed no emotion on his face, sitting beside her.
Lin Jiayu: “... Ah?” She sent a row of bloody emoticons.
Li Xixi: “What did you guys say?”
Lin Jiayu: “Then I’ll go busy myself. ** A moment is worth a thousand gold coins. You guys busy yourselves.”
Li Xixi: “I suspect you guys are doing something naughty. I’ll listen to it later myself.”
Zhu Xingyao: “...”
It wasn’t even 9 o’clock yet. What **...
She looked at Jiang Tu and asked cheerfully, “Husband, are you hiding many secrets from me?”
Jiang Tu calmly asked, “What?”
“You heard everything, right? Do I need to say it?” She straddled his lap, cupping his face, looking down and saying, “Confess honestly, and I’ll be lenient.”
Jiang Tu said, “I did fight with Chen Yi, but he deserved it.”
Zhu Xingyao asked, “What did he do?”
Jiang Tu fell silent for a moment, saying, “He fantasized about you.”
Zhu Xingyao focused on him, as if recalling something. She leaned down and kissed his lips, “Back in high school, I always worried you’d get into fights. I was actually quite scared because Chen Yi was from the outside world, and we were just students. Later, when you beat Zhang Sheng, I only worried. I was really scared. What if the pen really pierced your throat?”
“Hmm... You probably wouldn’t die, just get hurt,” Jiang Tu said.
Zhu Xingyao frowned, finding his words unlucky, and continued, “Thinking about it now, Tu Ge, you’re very handsome.”
Jiang Tu smiled, “If I weren’t handsome, I probably couldn’t have chased you.”
Zhu Xingyao instinctively refuted, “No!”
“You’re shallow, I know,” Jiang Tu lifted her horizontally and walked towards the bedroom.
“What, what are you doing? It’s only nine o’clock.” They hadn’t seen each other for some time, and every reunion felt like a honeymoon. She anticipated yet feared it, “And you’re shallow too! If I weren’t so pretty, you definitely wouldn’t be so obsessed.”
Jiang Tu paused, looking down at her, “I care more about the feeling. That first night, the lights were flickering, so your appearance was somewhat blurry.”
Zhu Xingyao responded, “Even though it was blurry, you still fell in love at first sight.”
Jiang Tu laughed, “That’s why I said it’s about the feeling.”
People aspire to beauty. At that time, Zhu Xingyao represented beauty to him, the object of his affection.
Late at night, amidst overwhelming passion, Zhu Xingyao’s hair kept falling repeatedly. Jiang Tu helped move her strands aside from behind, exposing her delicate white neck, leaning down to kiss it. Zhu Xingyao softly begged for mercy, and he chuckled, turning her around.
At the moment of turning, Zhu Xingyao furrowed her brows tightly, whimpering. She tilted her neck, gazing at his eyes with a dazed look—they were as dark as if ink-washed. She clung to him, “Husband, everyone says our genes are great. Do you think our child will be exceptionally beautiful? You’re so handsome.”
“Yes,” he panted.
Zhu Xingyao said, “But, but the character can’t be entirely like you... We need to... balance it...”
Amusement filled Jiang Tu’s eyes. He paused his actions, looking down at her, “How to balance?”
“Hmm... Balance it a bit with Jiang Lu. He’s casual, laid-back, with a bigger heart, which makes life happier...”
Jiang Tu rarely ruined the mood, saying, “Then intelligence and emotional quotient would drop a bit. Is that okay?”
Zhu Xingyao: “...”
Their younger brother just had a sharp tongue, wasn’t he quite smart? Otherwise, how could he be captain and win championships?
Jiang Xiaolu was implicated again.
...
On August 25th, Our Time premiered in Beijing. The prototype male lead, Jiang Tu, refused to attend. Zhu Xingyao happened to be resting at home during this period. She held back laughter and gave the premiere tickets to Xiao Kui and Xiao Tian as a vacation and reward, “You and Xiao Tian go watch it. Just reimburse the flight and hotel expenses from me. You’ve worked hard recently; consider it a trip. Don’t you like the male lead?”
Xiao Kui always knew Zhu Xingyao treated employees well, with good benefits. Happily taking the tickets, she asked, “Stars, aren’t you and Mr. Jiang going?”
Zhu Xingyao truthfully said, “He doesn’t want to go. I think... maybe he’s shy.”
Xiao Kui exclaimed, “Is Mr. Jiang capable of being shy? He looks so cold.”
Zhu Xingyao couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re right. His shyness isn’t obvious.”
But she just knew he was embarrassed, even though he himself wouldn’t admit it.
Xiao Kui stood at their doorstep, peeking inside secretly, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, “Then I’ll leave. I’ll bring you a birthday gift!”
Zhu Xingyao winked, “Gift money isn’t reimbursable, okay.”
Xiao Kui thumped her chest, “Of course!”
After seeing Xiao Kui off, Zhu Xingyao went to the kitchen and whipped up a glass of mango juice. Holding the juice, she walked into the study, “Tu Ge, I’ve given the tickets to Xiao Kui. You don’t have to accompany me to Beijing anymore.”
Jiang Tu pulled her onto his lap, asking, “Are you unhappy about it?”
Zhu Xingyao sipped the mango juice, “No, I’m too lazy to take flights. I’ve flown so many times in the past six months. Wait until my birthday, then we’ll go watch it. You can’t refuse me; I want to watch...”
Jiang Tu fell silent for a moment, softly saying, “Okay.”
After a while, Zhu Xingyao handed him the juice, “I made too much; I can’t finish it.”
Jiang Tu drank from where she held it, frowning, “Too sweet. What kind of mango is this sweet?”
“A friend of Mom’s got it from a farm. It seems to be a small Tainong mango.”
Jiang Tu reluctantly finished the half glass of juice, and Zhu Xingyao happily carried the cup to wash.
The box office soared from the first day of release, and the reviews were also excellent. As an adapted youth film, the results were remarkable. Those days, Jiang Tu was cold-faced at the company because everywhere he went, he heard people talking about the movie and discussing him. Lao Yuan’s girlfriend was a girl from the company’s publicity department, three years younger than him, and they were preparing to get married. The day after they watched the movie, Lao Yuan said jealously, “My girlfriend said the male lead isn’t as handsome as you. I feel like her eyes light up whenever she sees you now.”
Jiang Tu coldly said, “You could choose not to watch. There’s nothing good to see.”
Lao Yuan laughed, “How could that be possible? I must watch it. Not only did I watch it, but I also invited relatives and friends to watch... Look, look, the prototype of this movie is my college classmate. Some people even asked me for your...” Seeing Jiang Tu’s cold expression, Lao Yuan changed his tone, laughing loudly, “Your wife’s autograph.”
“Next time we meet, ask her yourself.”
“How about treating her to dinner tomorrow? My girlfriend wants to meet her too.”
Jiang Tu paused, saying, “Another day. Tomorrow is her birthday; we already have plans.”
This year, for her birthday, Zhu Xingyao just wanted to spend it as a couple. She firmly asserted, “By this time next year, I might already have a big belly. So this birthday will be our last two-person birthday after marriage. You’ve never celebrated my birthday alone before; let’s just be the two of us this year.”
On August 29th, the official Weibo account of Our Time specially posted a birthday video @Zhu Xingyao, with birthday wishes from the main creative team and actors.
She was surprised and asked Lin Jiayu, “Was this your suggestion?”
Lin Jiayu quickly replied, “No, it was the publicity department’s idea. After all, it brings heat and buzz to the movie. Of course, Tang Xin and I wholeheartedly agree, and the blessings are genuine. Everyone likes you very much.”
Regardless, Zhu Xingyao had a high-profile birthday on her 28th, trending on hot searches.
Zhu Xingyao reposted the Weibo post, expressing, “Thank you very much to the crew and actor teachers for your blessings. We will continue to be happy [yearning].”
Li Xixi and several leading actors reposted their blessings. Her Weibo comments quickly broke ten thousand.
“Jiang Xing is in the movie, Jiang Tu is in reality. You’ve already got a real-life fairy tale male lead, so you’ll definitely be happy forever.”
“We must last long. This is the time I believe in love the most.”
“I’ll start practicing now. I wonder if after a thousand years, I can get a male lead like this? First, you need to be pretty, then talented, then lucky. Nowadays, finding a good man requires searching with a lantern.”
“I originally set my sights on K God, but it turns out K God also has a girlfriend. I’m so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad, so mad!!!”
...
Zhu Xingyao was amused by the comments. Jiang Tu took away her phone, “Don’t look at your phone while going downstairs; you’ll misstep.”
Zhu Xingyao snatched it back, muttering, “With you watching, I won’t fall.”
At 9:15 PM, Jiang Tu parked the car in the underground garage of the mall. Zhu Xingyao placed a baseball cap on his head. Jiang Tu turned to look at her, “Is this necessary?”
One of Zhu Xingyao’s hobbies after marriage was buying clothes, glasses, and hats for him. Whenever they went out together, if she felt like it, she would match their outfits into couple outfits. Slowly, bit by bit, she transformed his previously lifeless existence into an interesting worldly烟火.
She dressed Jiang Tu casually, making him wear contact lenses because when he wore a shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, his presence was too prominent. Most people going to watch the movie had read the book and followed the gossip, so they would definitely recognize him.
“Wow, husband, you look so handsome like this, and you look very different from before. Li Xixi was right. If you ventured into any circle, you’d be top-tier. Jiang Lu is an example, the god of the esports circle, and he’s not even as handsome as you.” Zhu Xingyao happily placed a matching couple hat on her own head.
Jiang Tu laughed.
At 9:30 PM, they entered VIP Hall 8 of the cinema. There were fewer people in the VIP hall, but since Zhu Xingyao had just trended, she was still afraid of being recognized, disturbing their couple time. She deliberately exchanged the movie tickets for seats in the last row corner.
After the lights dimmed, Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu removed their caps.
The opening song was Waiting for Stars , the version sung by Zhu Xingyao and Li Xixi.
Zhu Xingyao clutched a tissue in her hand, whispering, “I’m afraid I’ll cry watching it.”
Jiang Tu’s features were cold and hard, especially calm in the dim light. Watching the movie felt like revisiting the hardships of those years. Sure enough, Zhu Xingyao cried, sympathetically saying, “Tu Ge, when you fought, did it hurt like this?”
And many times.
At this moment, a nearby girl suddenly turned her head over.
Zhu Xingyao quickly buried her head in Jiang Tu’s embrace. Jiang Tu lowered his head, pulling her into his arms.
He softly said, “It’s been a long time; I don’t remember anymore.”
Even if he remembered, the scars had slowly healed.
The girl next to them stared for a moment, but the dim light obscured her view. She turned to whisper to her boyfriend, “I just heard someone call ‘Tu Ge.’ It’s not from the movie...”
The girl’s boyfriend said, “Too immersed in the movie!”
“The couple next to us looks so good. Even though I couldn’t clearly see their faces, their figures and aura seem perfectly matched,” the girl softly commented, then said, “When will you ever prepare such heartfelt birthday gifts for me? If you give me a red envelope to dismiss my birthday next month, I’m breaking up with you!”
Her boyfriend: “...”
No wonder friends in social circles reminded men: Don’t take your girlfriend to watch Our Time . Your girlfriend might fly away, and your life won’t be easy for at least the next six months because of constant comparisons. If you don’t prepare a good birthday gift next time, get ready to be dumped.
By now, even Weibo had a trending hashtag: #Don’tTakeYourGirlfriendToWatchOurTime# .
The movie reached the scene where the letter was written with the left hand.
Jiang Tu frowned.
The handwriting on the letter was his, and so was the card—it bore the unique marks of age and wear.
Zhu Xingyao timidly explained, “I only gave a few. The production team asked if I could contribute them...”
Actually, it was Lin Jiayu who asked. Zhu Xingyao thought that since it was her youth, sharing a few more secrets wouldn’t hurt. When she grew old and her memory faded, watching the movie would help her recall those precious moments.
In the end, Our Time closed its box office run at 1.666 billion yuan—a remarkable feat for a coming-of-age film.
As for those youthful days, they seemed to slowly drift away.
In October, Zhu Xingyao and Jiang Tu attended three weddings in a row.
One was Lao Yuan’s.
One was Li Xixi and Xu Xiangyang’s.
And one was Lin Jiayu and Lu Ji’s.
Time flew by, and winter arrived. Zhu Xingyao’s workload had gradually decreased. She started taking folic acid prescribed by Ding Yu back in August and had been diligently preparing for pregnancy for several months. With only two months left in 2019, she told Hua Ling that she planned to reduce her work next year.
On a cold winter night, Zhu Xingyao finished her bath, wearing a bathrobe as she walked out. She climbed onto Jiang Tu.
As usual, Jiang Tu reached under the pillow for something, but she hugged him instead. Softly, she said, “Husband, do you want to make it real?”
The first time they pretended about pregnancy, Jiang Tu had said that if he made it real, it would happen quickly.
Indeed, it did.
On December 31st, everyone gathered to celebrate the New Year together. Unbeknownst to them, the post-90s generation was no longer young. They had used their own hands and feet to gradually establish themselves in this realistic society—moving further from youth and closer to happiness.
At 18, one feels very young; at 20, one still feels quite young.
Zhu Xingyao was 28. Looking in the mirror, she felt she was still very young, still beautiful and dazzling.
She turned around and leaned on Jiang Tu, “I hope after having a baby, I can still look this pretty.”
Jiang Tu smiled, “You will.”
They were stuck in traffic. The car’s air conditioning was on, but being stuck for too long made Zhu Xingyao feel a bit uncomfortable. However, she didn’t tell Jiang Tu. They were ten minutes late, and Lin Jiayu had already ordered dishes. When the fish dish arrived, Jiang Tu picked a piece for her.
Zhu Xingyao took a bite, furrowing her brows slightly.
Jiang Tu asked, “Is there a bone?”
There shouldn’t be—he had carefully checked.
As Zhu Xingyao swallowed the fish, she suddenly felt nauseous. Covering her mouth, she rushed to the restroom in the private room.
Jiang Tu’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly followed her.
He closed the door and supported her as she bent over and gagged. Frowning, he asked, “What’s wrong?” As soon as he spoke, he suddenly thought of something. He pressed his lips tightly and gently patted her back.
Even Li Xixi and Lin Jiayu ran to the door, worriedly asking, “What happened?”
Jiang Tu said, “It’s nothing.”
Lin Jiayu: “She threw up; how is that nothing?”
After Zhu Xingyao finally calmed down, her eyes were red. Jiang Tu wiped her mouth. She looked up at him, and their eyes met, conveying mutual understanding. She softly said, “Tu Ge, should we go home... and test it?”
“Without finishing dinner?” Jiang Tu looked down at her.
She shook her head, “I really want to know if it’s true.”
Jiang Tu held her hand, turned the doorknob, and walked out. Lin Jiayu and Li Xixi were still standing outside.
He calmly said, “We’re going home first. There’s something we need to do.”
Zhu Xingyao felt a bit embarrassed and nodded towards Lin Jiayu and Li Xixi.
Jiang Tu went to fetch her bag and coat, draped it over her, and took her away.
The private room fell silent for a few seconds.
Li Xixi turned to look at Lin Jiayu, stroking her chin, “I think Stars might be pregnant.”
Lin Jiayu exclaimed in surprise, “Maybe!”
They returned home smoothly. Zhu Xingyao took the remaining three pregnancy tests from last time and walked into the bathroom, just like before, with Jiang Tu waiting outside the door.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Zhu Xingyao’s eyes sparkled, her lips pressed together as she slowly raised both hands, holding two pregnancy tests—both showed two lines. One line was faint, but undeniably, this time she was truly pregnant.
Her lips curved upward slowly.
Jiang Tu’s throat tightened. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms; his chest swelled with emotion.
Zhu Xingyao looked up at him, smiling, “Tu Ge is amazing. When you come for real, it’s always true.”
Jiang Tu lowered his head and smiled, looking at her seriously, “Are you nervous?”
“At first, I was a little nervous, but now... I’m excited.” She honestly said.
“That’s good.”
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long after, Li Xixi and Lin Jiayu messaged on WeChat, “What’s the result? Can you tell us? We’re anxious too.”
Yao Yao Tian Shang Xing: “Two lines. Hmm... You guys keep trying [stars].”
Li Xixi: “I’ll reserve this spot. If you have a son, I’ll definitely have a daughter and marry her off to him. With your looks, if you have a son, he’ll probably be outrageously handsome.”
Before Lin Jiayu could say anything,
Li Xixi said, “Lin Jiayu, don’t interrupt. Lu Ji and Jiang Tu won’t agree anyway.”
Lin Jiayu: “... I didn’t say anything.”
Zhu Xingyao laughed, put down her phone, picked up Tang Dou from Jiang Tu’s lap, and earnestly told it face-to-face, “Hmm, you might have a younger brother or sister. No competing for attention, okay?”
Tang Dou didn’t understand, struggling to jump down and snuggling back onto Jiang Tu’s lap.
Jiang Tu picked up Tang Dou. Zhu Xingyao laughed and sat down, leaning against him. Jiang Tu said, “I’ve told Mom and Dad. They’re very happy. Mom said she’ll go to the hospital tomorrow to get an appointment for us to check.”
After the examination, everything was normal except for slightly low progesterone levels.
Zhu Xingyao obediently took her medication and folic acid on time. Morning sickness followed, making it difficult for her to eat anything. With two performances scheduled before the Lunar New Year, which she couldn’t cancel, she lost weight instead of gaining any. Jiang Tu felt heartbroken. Thinking about her enduring ten months of pregnancy, he realized not having children initially wasn’t a bad decision either.
After those two performances ended, Zhu Xingyao temporarily stopped taking on new work. First, because she lacked energy, and second, because she constantly worried something might go wrong.
She was very careful and meticulous in taking care of herself.
Jiang Tu was even more cautious and meticulous.
With a doctor mother and a skilled mother-in-law,
Zhu Xingyao felt like the world revolved around her. Jiang Tu placed his hand on her slightly protruding belly. The doctor said that after four months, fetal movements would gradually be felt. When Zhu Xingyao felt it for the first time, she quickly grabbed his hand and pressed it against her belly.
Unfortunately, the baby didn’t cooperate.
No movement.
Zhu Xingyao softly said, “Next time, I’ll call you again.”
Several times in a row, the baby didn’t give Jiang Tu any face. He sighed helplessly, “I wonder if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“What difference does it make?”
Jiang Tu said, “If it’s a boy, when he’s born, let’s teach him a lesson.”
Zhu Xingyao leaned against him, laughing heartily.
The due date was set for September 15th, but the baby’s position wasn’t ideal, and natural childbirth might be risky. Zhu Xingyao was a bit scared. After discussing with Jiang Tu and Ding Yu, they decided on a cesarean section. The baby didn’t wait until the due date and broke water early in the morning on September 13th.
While Zhu Xingyao was in the operating room, many people waited anxiously outside—her husband, parents, friends, and even Li Xixi rushed back.
Jiang Tu stood quietly near the operating room, his gaze fixed intently on the door. Though he couldn’t see inside, he wanted to be close to her. Time ticked by second by second. His emotions were tense, hard to imagine the pain she was enduring. And afterward, the slowly healing wound—she loved beauty, applying lotion carefully every night. A scar on her abdomen...
Would she feel sad and dejected?
All the suffering and wounds Zhu Xingyao endured in this life seemed to stem from him.
Suddenly, he felt that what he gave her was far from enough.
In the morning, sunlight shone through the glass into the corridor.
The operating room door opened.
The nurse saw him and smiled, “Congratulations! Your wife gave birth to a boy, six pounds and four ounces.”
Jiang Tu’s tightly clenched fist loosened slightly, his voice hoarse, “Can I see my wife now?”
The nurse said, “Not yet. Wait here a bit longer; it won’t be long.”
After waiting a while,
The baby and Zhu Xingyao were wheeled out of the operating room together.
Jiang Tu was the first to rush over. Seeing Zhu Xingyao’s pale face, he cupped her cheeks with dry lips, “Star, you’ve suffered.”
Zhu Xingyao was actually quite afraid of pain. She pouted, pulling his hand and blinking.
He leaned his head closer.
She weakly whispered in his ear, “Not bitter. From now on, it’s all sweet.”
Ding Yu was a doctor, and the surgery was performed by her good friend at the hospital—an expert surgeon who stitched the wound meticulously. After checking the situation, she finally relaxed. Most of the elders’ attention focused on the baby, discussing whom the baby resembled.
Li Xixi immediately claimed her future son-in-law, “This is my son-in-law. No one is allowed to snatch him. I’ll have a daughter next year.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Zhu Xingyao softly asked, “Tu Ge, do you agree?”
Jiang Tu’s eyes twinkled with a smile, “That depends on whether he likes her or not. I can’t make any decisions for him. His life is his own.”
In this world, only Zhu Xingyao completely belonged to him.
Zhu Xingyao spent her confinement period at her parents’ house. The confinement nanny was carefully selected by Jiang Tu and Ding Yu. The nanny was very diligent, but many things were personally handled by Jiang Tu. Even the nanny praised, “I’ve never seen such a meticulous man.”
Zhu Xingyao couldn’t help but laugh, but she didn’t let Jiang Tu wash her body. She said she would wait until her wound healed a bit before letting him see.
She was very insistent.
Jiang Tu had no choice.
Jiang Tu named the child with a single character: Yao.
Little Jiang Yao grew rapidly. He resembled Jiang Tu more, but his eyes were more like Zhu Xingyao—bright and black.
Zhu Xingyao rested at home for half a year, focusing on taking care of him. Jiang Tu tried to finish his work before leaving the office and hurried home to be with them.
When he returned home, Zhu Xingyao was playing with their son in the children’s area. Hearing the door open, she turned her head and carried her son towards the entrance, “Baby, your daddy is home.”
By then, Little Jiang Yao was already over eight months old.
He was fair-skinned, not a chubby baby, but his round face was adorable.
Jiang Tu put down his things, washed his hands, and then took his son from her arms. Bending down, he kissed her cheek, “Tired?”
With an aunt helping her take care of the baby, plus her mother-in-law and mother frequently visiting to assist, Zhu Xingyao wasn’t tired at all. She shook her head and smiled, “Not tired. He’s so fun now. I recorded many interesting videos of him. You can watch them tonight.”
In the evening, Jiang Tu went to the children’s room to put his son to sleep. Little Jiang Yao held his milk bottle, sucking until his little face turned red. Jiang Tu couldn’t help but chuckle, lightly touching his soft little cheek, whispering, “Little Jiang Yao, when you grow up, listen to your mom, okay?”
He reached out to support his milk bottle, making sure he drank the last drop, not wasting any.
Then, he picked him up.
Little Jiang Yao burped on his father’s shoulder, drooling onto his shirt. Probably teething, he gnawed on the collar of his father’s shirt. Jiang Tu frowned, pulling him away, softly saying, “No.”
The little guy scowled unhappily, staring at him and babbling.
Zhu Xingyao walked in from behind, softly laughing, “His scowl looks so much like yours.”
“Really?” Jiang Tu looked at his son, “Why is he frowning at such a young age?”
“He might have understood what you said.”
“Really?”
“He’s very smart.”
Jiang Tu chuckled, placing his son on the bed, turning to hug her, “He must be very smart, like you.”
Zhu Xingyao said, “Like you.”
Little Jiang Yao rolled over, crawling towards his dad, grabbing his pants and standing up, excitedly babbling incomprehensible sounds.
Zhu Xingyao translated randomly, “He might be trying to call Daddy and Mommy.”
Jiang Tu picked up his son again, “Usually, babies start talking around ten months. It should be about time.” He stared into his son’s eyes. The little hand grabbed, and he turned his face away.
Dodging.
Children always seemed curious about his glasses.
His son was no exception.
Zhu Xingyao removed his glasses and placed them on the table.
Little Jiang Yao couldn’t reach the glasses and unhappily glanced over. Zhu Xingyao caught her son’s chubby little hand and kissed it. Jiang Tu looked down at her, “Go back to the room first. I’ll put him to sleep and come back.”
Since Little Jiang Yao was born, Jiang Tu’s sleep had been light. Whenever the nanny got up at night to feed and change the baby, he would wake up to check. On weekends, he mostly took care of the baby himself.
Fortunately, Little Jiang Yao was usually lively, but when it came to eating and sleeping, he was always well-behaved.
The little guy kicked his legs on the bed, rolling over several times, attempting to get up and play again. The third time Jiang Tu flipped him back and covered him with a small blanket, he became obedient.
Jiang Tu dimmed the lights, patting his tummy. Ten minutes later, the little guy fell asleep.
He leaned down, gently kissing his chubby little face, touching his soft hair, went out to instruct the nanny, then returned to the master bedroom. Zhu Xingyao was bathing, and after a while, she came out in a bathrobe, her hair loose, finishing her skincare routine. More than half an hour had passed.
Jiang Tu was watching several videos of Little Jiang Yao from earlier, a slight smile on his lips.
She flung herself into his arms. He had already showered, his scent clean and refreshing.
Jiang Tu placed the tablet on the table, embracing her slender waist, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the airport.”
During her pregnancy, Zhu Xingyao hadn’t gained much weight. After giving birth and completing her confinement, she weighed 100 pounds, and within two months, she naturally returned to her pre-pregnancy weight. Her waist slimmed back down, without a single stretch mark. Aside from a faint pink scar, she remained the same as before.
Six months after their son’s birth, she resumed work.
Tomorrow was her day to leave for a performance, lasting another half month.
“Alright.”
Zhu Xingyao increasingly found it harder to leave home, feeling a bit sad each time she departed.
Jiang Tu flipped over, covering her, looking down and smiling, “Next time you return, he might start calling Mommy. I’ll teach him.”
“I’ve been teaching him every day. Before he sleeps tonight, video call me—I want to teach him myself.” Zhu Xingyao wrapped her arms around his neck, “Just teach him to say Daddy. That way, it won’t confuse him.”
Jiang Tu kissed her, “Alright.”
He gently kissed her abdominal scar. His breath gradually descended. Zhu Xingyao shyly pressed her foot against his shoulder, but he pinned her down. During her pregnancy, Jiang Tu hadn’t dared to touch her much, restraining himself for over half a year. After the little one was born, he restrained himself for a few more months.
Zhu Xingyao couldn’t move, surrendering to his excesses, both indulging in the moment.
During the half-month separation, nightly video calls never ceased.
When she returned, Little Jiang Yao was already over nine months old. It was Sunday at 1 PM. Jiang Tu let the nanny rest and took care of the baby himself. The little guy was thrilled to see his mother. Zhu Xingyao dropped her luggage and hurried over, lifting him up and showering his little face with kisses, “Call Mommy, Ma-Ma...”
She pronounced each syllable clearly, teaching him. Jiang Tu waited a few seconds, but she didn’t come over to kiss him.
He paused, frowning and walking over, bending down to kiss her cheek. Suddenly, Little Jiang Yao reached out and smacked his head.
Jiang Tu narrowed his eyes, “This little guy is rebelling.”
Zhu Xingyao couldn’t help but laugh. She turned her head and kissed his lips. The little guy immediately stretched out both hands to hold her face, and unexpectedly, a small voice called out, “Mama!”
Zhu Xingyao froze.
Jiang Tu looked down at her, eyes twinkling with a smile, “Son called you.”
“Wuwuwu, call me again, baby.” Overwhelmed, she leaned in to kiss her son.
Unfortunately, for children a few months old, calling out was purely based on mood.
Little Jiang Yao didn’t call again and turned to find his father, reaching out for a hug.
Jiang Tu took him, looking down at her, “Go to bed and adjust to the time difference. I’ll call you for dinner.”
Zhu Xingyao looked up, “Bring our son to sleep with us. It’s almost his nap time.”
That afternoon, as the sun set in the west, Jiang Tu slightly pulled back the curtains. The remnants of the sunset filtered through the gaps, casting light into the bedroom. Turning around, he saw Little Jiang Yao sitting up, rubbing his eyes, and looking at him.
Zhu Xingyao woke up too. She leaned down to kiss her son’s soft little head, whispering, “Call Daddy.”
Little Jiang Yao blinked, looking at Jiang Tu.
After a few seconds, his little hand patted once, revealing a few tiny milk teeth as he smiled, “Ba-Ba...”
Little Jiang Yao was very cooperative, calling both Mommy and Daddy on the same day.
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