The elders on both sides were also overjoyed. Liang Tianming, who had always doted on his daughter, could barely contain his excitement. He immediately arranged for several nutritionists to attend to her at home. Pei Yongxia and Gong Qinxin also became even more attentive, with Gong Qinxin frequently sending nourishing soups and tonics to their house for her.
The relationship between Liang Zhiyi and her mother-in-law, Gong Qinxin, had always been good, like having an extra mother who cared for her. However, she didn’t want Gong Qinxin to tire herself out. “Mom, you’re doing too much. There’s already so much food at home. You’ve been working hard taking care of Dad too.”
Gong Qinxin smiled warmly. “It’s no trouble at all. I bought these herbs from the local people on the mountains back in my hometown. Now that you’re carrying two babies, you need more nutrients. Look at you, you’re still so slim.”
“I’m eating a lot these days,” she said with a laugh, turning to Pei Chen. “Don’t believe me? Ask Pei Chen.”
Pei Chen smiled. “Mom, you don’t need to worry about her nutrition. She hasn’t even finished the things you brought last time.”
Gong Qinxin nodded, pleased. “In the early stages of pregnancy, it’s better to eat small meals frequently to avoid nausea. Zhiyi, if there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you.”
Liang Zhiyi smiled and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Mom.”
With so much love and attention from everyone around her, and Pei Chen’s meticulous care, the two babies in Liang Zhiyi’s belly were growing healthy and strong.
Because she was carrying twins, Liang Zhiyi needed to go for checkups more frequently, and her days were naturally more exhausting. Fortunately, she had always been in good health, so it wasn’t too overwhelming.
Liang Zhiyi once asked Pei Chen if he preferred two boys or two girls, but he said he would love them no matter what, as long as they were hers. They decided not to find out the babies’ genders, keeping it as a surprise.
As the hot summer finally gave way to early autumn, Liang Zhiyi was now six months pregnant, her belly clearly showing.
Though most of her focus was now on the babies, there were still moments when she and Pei Chen shared sweet, romantic times together, just like when they were dating.
On a weekend evening, the two of them were curled up in the home theater, watching a movie. As the film progressed, their thoughts gradually shifted towards each other.
When the movie ended, Pei Chen stopped kissing her, propping himself up on his arms to look at her. His dark eyes were intense, swirling like ink, and his thin lips glistened slightly.
“Honey…”
She gazed up at him with dewy eyes, her voice soft and tender.
Just that one word, and he knew exactly what she wanted. He leaned down, carefully scooped her up, and began walking towards the bedroom.
“Honey, I’m pretty heavy now. Maybe you should put me down?” she murmured softly, looking at him.
Pei Chen brushed a kiss against her lips. “You’re not heavy. No matter what, I can always carry you.”
Back in the bedroom, under the dim lighting, he kissed her again. Even though she was pregnant and their intimacy was less frequent, she always surrendered easily in his presence.
Pei Chen was mindful of her body and the baby growing inside her. With her eyes closed, she allowed herself to be completely lost in his gentle touch.
Late into the night, as he held her close, his warm lips brushed against her ear, and his voice was husky:
“Zhizhi, are you uncomfortable?”
“No…”
She nestled against him like a little kitten, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue.
His dark lashes fluttered as he lightly bit her earlobe, whispering softly in her ear, “Zhizhi, I really wish I could fully enjoy this.”
Yes, compared to before, it wasn’t nearly enough for him. But he had to put her well-being first.
Liang Zhiyi understood, and she missed the way things used to be as well. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes alluring as she whispered:
“Once the baby is born, I’ll make it up to you, okay?”
“Okay.”
He smiled, his breath hot against her ear. “For two days and two nights straight.”
Her face flushed deep red, a mix of shyness and playful anger. “Can someone really manage that?”
“After holding back for so long, who knows?”
Pei Chen looked at her with a predatory gaze. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
His words sent a shiver through her, making her heart flutter.
Oh no, she was starting to look forward to it too.
After all, Pei Chen was incredibly skilled, and since Liang Zhiyi was not a shy or bashful person, the unspoken understanding between them made their intimate moments both exhausting and joyful. But now, they both had to hold back.
As the babies grew, the challenges of carrying twins became increasingly apparent.
Her belly was larger than it would be with a single baby, making walking a struggle. At night, the babies kicked her stomach, and sometimes her legs would swell. By the seventh month, she was so fatigued that she could no longer go to the office. Pei Chen, heartbroken to see her in such discomfort, insisted she stay home to rest and focus on her pregnancy.
One night, the discomfort kept her awake, and she couldn’t help but cry out of frustration. Pei Chen comforted her, gently wiping away her tears. Watching her suffer tore at his heart. “Zhizhi, don’t cry, don’t cry…”
For a moment, he even regretted wanting her to have the babies, feeling helpless that he couldn’t share any of her pain.
But Liang Zhiyi wasn’t one to be unreasonable or overly dramatic. Her emotions flared up quickly and subsided just as fast. Listening to him tell her stories and talk about amusing things, she soon calmed down and eventually fell asleep in his arms.
She knew that her pain was just as hard for him to bear. Seeing her like this made his heart ache too.
Pei Chen’s care for her was incredibly meticulous and thoughtful—he remembered her eating habits, and whenever she craved something or wanted to do something, he would go out of his way to get it for her or accompany her. He often surprised her with little gestures of love, making sure she was happy every day.
At night, when she was uncomfortable and whimpered in her sleep, she would wake up to find him massaging her legs, soothing her pain.
It reminded her of when they were in their second year of high school. She was suffering from cramps during her period, and without a word, he had finished writing her pep talk for her.
This was a man who had loved her consistently for over a decade.
So, even though pregnancy was painful, thinking of him always made her feel blessed. To have such a loving partner, to be cherished like this for a lifetime, was her good fortune.
Moreover, besides Pei Chen, she also had her loving parents and many good friends who frequently came to visit her at home.
Surrounded by so much love, she felt more gratitude and happiness than anything else.
Time flew by, and as autumn gradually turned into winter, November arrived, bringing with it the time for her to give birth.
Since she was carrying twins, the babies required a lot of nutrients in the later stages of pregnancy, which placed even more strain on her. To ensure the health of both the mother and the babies, her delivery was scheduled for the thirty-seventh week.
The risks of giving birth to twins were greater, and complications like obstructed labor could lead to maternal asphyxia or intracranial hemorrhage, with the delivery potentially lasting over ten hours.
Although natural childbirth offers a quicker recovery, Pei Chen was adamant that nothing should jeopardize Liang Zhiyi’s health. After discussing it with her and the doctors, they decided on a cesarean section.
Both sets of parents agreed that prioritizing Liang Zhiyi’s well-being was most important, making the cesarean section the safest option.
On the morning of the delivery, both sets of parents arrived at the hospital, along with Ji Fei’er, Liang Tongzhou, and Zhi Mian.
Before Liang Zhiyi was wheeled into the operating room, Pei Chen held her hand, speaking to her gently, “Zhizhi, don’t be afraid. Just think of it as taking a nap. Don’t worry about anything, okay?”
She smiled softly and whispered, “Pei Chen…”
“Yes?”
She looked at him, her eyes shining with a soft glow.
“When I wake up, I want the first thing I see to be you.”
The person she most wanted to rely on was him.
He kissed her on the forehead, gazing into her eyes, his voice tender and warm, “Okay, I’ll be right here with you the whole time.”
Finally, the time came, and Liang Zhiyi was taken into the operating room.
Everyone else waited outside.
Pei Chen sat with his head bowed, his hands pressed against his face, feeling as if each second was an agonizing eternity. He was on edge, every minute dragging on like a year.
Normally, he handled things with a calm and rational mindset, but when it came to Liang Zhiyi, his emotions always overwhelmed his logic.
Pei Yongxia tried to comfort him. “Son, it’ll be fine. Zhiyi and the babies will all be safe. Don’t worry too much.”
Liang Tianming also approached, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “It’ll be okay, Pei. Just relax, everything will be alright…”
Because of Zhong Xinrou’s connections, the surgeon performing Liang Zhiyi’s cesarean section was one of the top OB-GYN specialists in the hospital, known for her expertise and extensive experience. The cesarean section would also be quicker and less risky than a natural birth.
Pei Chen clung to the hope that the surgery would go smoothly.
Time ticked by slowly.
Two hours later, the doors of the operating room finally opened.
Everyone rushed forward.
As the sound of a baby’s cry filled the air, two nurses came out, each holding a newborn, their faces beaming with joy.
“Congratulations, you have two healthy baby boys! The elder is 5.3 pounds, and the younger is 5.25 pounds. Both the mother and the babies are doing well…”
Everyone was overjoyed. Upon hearing that both mother and babies were safe, Pei Chen felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. He looked down at the two tiny babies as if they were the most precious treasures, his eyes slightly reddened with emotion.
Liang Zhiyi was wheeled back to her room, still asleep from the anesthesia.
The babies were handed over to Gong Qinxin and the others to care for. Pei Chen, however, stayed by Liang Zhiyi’s side, never leaving her for a moment.
A few hours later, Liang Zhiyi began to wake up.
She opened her eyes, and sure enough, the first thing she saw was Pei Chen.
When he noticed she was awake, he gripped her hand tightly and asked softly, “Zhizhi, how are you feeling? Are you okay?”
With him there, Liang Zhiyi’s heart felt at ease. She shook her head and whispered that she was fine, but her thoughts immediately turned to the babies. “Pei Chen, are the babies healthy? Are they boys or girls?”
He smiled, “They’re very healthy, and they’re two boys who look exactly alike.”
Upon hearing this, Liang Zhiyi’s eyes softened into a gentle smile.
“That’s wonderful…”
Boy or girl, they would love them just the same.
Pei Chen leaned down to kiss her, gazing at her with deep affection and tenderness.
“Now, there are two more little men in this world to protect you, Zhizhi.”
He and their sons would protect Liang Zhiyi for the rest of their lives.