When it comes to this kind of thing, Pei Chen always seems to have extra energy.
Maybe it was because he heard the girl say tonight that she wanted another baby, which made the man even more excited.
From the bed to the carpet, the room, warmed by the heater, was filled with the traces of their presence, warm and cozy like spring.
Although the room was well soundproofed, Liang Zhiyi was always afraid that the noise would be heard by the housekeeper. She bit her lip, her eyes wet and misty, but the man was bad to the core. The more he saw her like this, the more he wanted to tease her, making her feel both embarrassed and annoyed, her heart pounding in confusion.
Picked up from the carpet, Liang Zhiyi collapsed into his arms like a suffocating little fish finally breathing in some air. She muttered something softly, her voice incredibly tender.
Pei Chen didn’t hear her clearly. He lifted her chin, kissing her red lips with a grinding motion, and asked hoarsely, “What did you say?”
The girl’s face was flushed, and she murmured softly, “Husband, I’m done…”
“Done?”
Pei Chen let out a low laugh, raising his hand to grip her cheeks with a bit of force. His dark eyes were clouded and deep, “Done so soon? Who said you could be done, hmm?”
“Mm…”
Her long lashes fluttered as she whimpered, and Pei Chen picked her up in one swift motion, placing her on the bay window. His rough palm gripped her, while he lightly bit her neck, his voice deep:
“I’m not done yet.”
“Keep going.”
Wuwuwu, how could the usually gentle Pei Chen become so domineering and ruthless like this…
…
The clock ticked toward midnight, the heavy rain just beginning to subside.
In the end, Pei Chen slowly became gentle again. After finishing, he tenderly carried her to the bathroom for a wash, softly coaxing her, promising to control the duration next time. But the girl didn’t believe a word of the nonsense he spoke when he was full, angrily calling him a “hypocrite.”
Liang Zhiyi said that she remembered back in university, one day she saw some girls gossiping about Pei Chen on the school forum. “They said that looking at President Pei’s appearance, they felt he must be particularly cold in certain aspects.”
When Liang Zhiyi heard that at the time, she couldn’t help but laugh, marveling at how deceptive his appearance really was.
Pei Chen had naturally pale skin, deep-set eyes, and sharp, cold features like they were carved from stone. His personality was usually very calm, and when he didn’t smile, his gaze felt icy. If Liang Zhiyi weren’t with him, she too would think he was an aloof and unattainable man.
She poked his chest with her finger, humming softly, “Some people are anything but cold. Those girls have no idea what this man is really like.”
Pei Chen held her hand, pursed his thin lips, and looked at her with burning eyes, saying in a low voice, “It’s fine, as long as you know.”
Back in the bedroom, the two lay down again. Liang Zhiyi was already exhausted, clinging to him like an octopus. Pei Chen stroked her head and chuckled, “Tired already?”
Liang Zhiyi murmured, “President Pei is too good at this. Please, don’t be so vigorous in the future.”
Pei Chen kissed her cheek, and with her eyes closed, she mumbled, “Pei Chen, I’m so sleepy…”
“Sleep then, Zhizhi. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
As he watched her sleep in his arms, his expression softened, his heart filled with warmth.
Back in their second year of high school, when she got sleepy in the mornings, she would lay her head on the desk and nap, looking just as soft and adorable. But at that time, he could only suppress his feelings, pretending to focus on his textbook while his attention was entirely on her.
Fortunately, now she was lying in his arms.
Time had passed, but he hadn’t lost her. She was still his Mrs. Pei for life.
—
After Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi decided to have a second child, they approached the process more scientifically, keeping her health in mind.
Both sets of parents were very supportive of their decision. In Chinese tradition, having more children is seen as a blessing, and given their financial situation, raising another child wouldn’t be a burden.
After the Spring Festival, spring returned once more.
One weekend, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi, realizing it had been a while since they last visited the old Lin couple’s noodle shop, decided to go see them. They brought Pei Su and Pei Che along for some noodles.
That morning, the family of four walked into the noodle shop and immediately saw Uncle Lin rolling out dough.
Over the past ten-plus years, Uncle Lin had aged significantly, his hair now completely gray. But his spirit was still strong, and he looked lively and full of energy.
Uncle Lin looked up, and his eyes lit up instantly. “Oh, Little Liang and Little Pei are here!”
Hearing the commotion, Aunt Lin also came out of the kitchen, smiling brightly. “Oh, it’s been so long! And you brought the little ones too…”
“Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin—”
Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen greeted them, then patted the two little ones on their heads. “How do we greet them?”
Today, the little buns were dressed in cute little yellow duck outfits. Looking at the elderly couple, they politely said:
“Hello, Grandpa Lin! Hello, Grandma Lin!”
“Aww, so well-behaved…”
In the past, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi would often bring their two sons to this noodle shop, and the old couple was particularly fond of them.
Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen had brought some health supplements and fruit for the couple, refusing to take no for an answer. The old couple accepted them, saying, “You always bring something when you come, you’re too kind.”
“It’s nothing. Every time Pei Chen and I come here, it feels like we’re eating at home. Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin, you’re like parents to us.”
The elderly couple’s faces were full of smiles, nodding in appreciation.
Over the years, whenever they saw Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen, it felt as if they were seeing their own children. Though they weren’t related by blood, their bond was even stronger than that of family.
Aunt Lin smiled and asked them, “So, what would you like to eat? The usual?”
Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi said they would have the pork trotter noodles, and then they turned to the two little ones, “What do you want to eat?”
“I want pork trotter noodles too.”
“Me too, I want pork trotter noodles…”
Uncle Lin chuckled, “Looks like the whole family loves pork trotter noodles. Alright, you all sit down, the noodles will be ready soon.”
The family of four sat down, and after a while, the elderly couple brought out the noodles. They mentioned that they made the noodles softer for the little ones and added a few extra pieces of pork trotters to each bowl.
The couple insisted that this meal was on the house. Aunt Lin smiled and said, “Since you say it’s like coming home for noodles, there’s no need to pay, right?”
Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi smiled, “Thank you, Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin.”
As they ate their noodles, the elderly couple watched them with smiles on their faces, reminiscing about how quickly time had passed. “It feels like just yesterday you were still in your school uniforms eating noodles, and now, here you are with children of your own.”
“Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin, Zhiyi and I were thinking—your noodle shop has been open for so many years, how about I rent a bigger place for you? This way, your business could do even better.”
Over the years, Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi had come to regard the elderly couple as family. Now that the couple was getting older and needed more care, Pei Chen suggested renting a shop with a better environment and hiring a few employees, so they wouldn’t have to work so hard, and their quality of life could improve.
Uncle Lin was touched and replied warmly, “Xiao Pei, Xiao Liang, thank you so much for your kind offer. We really appreciate it, but your Aunt Lin and I think things are just fine as they are.”
The elderly couple explained that they simply wanted to keep running their small noodle shop. When the time came that they could no longer work, they planned to close the shop and move into a retirement home.
They mentioned that they had saved enough money from the noodle shop over the years. They intended to keep only a portion for their living expenses and donate the rest to charity, helping those in need.
The couple believed that the meaning of life wasn’t in wealth and riches, but in growing old together with the person they loved, supporting each other, and living a simple, contented life—just having enough to eat and wear was enough happiness for them.
Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen were deeply moved by their words and didn’t press the issue further, deciding instead to visit the elderly couple more often in the future.
After finishing their meal, they chatted for a long time. When it was time to leave, the two little ones obediently said goodbye to the elderly couple. Aunt Lin smiled and said, “Come by for noodles again when you have time.”
“Sure.”
As they walked out of the noodle shop, Liang Zhiyi strolled along the familiar street and remarked to Pei Chen, “Every time we come here for noodles, it feels like I’m back in high school. I still remember the first time you brought me here.”
Back then, it was just Pei Chen coming alone. Then, he started bringing her along, and now, they were bringing their two little ones. As the years passed, this noodle shop had witnessed their love story.
Pei Chen smiled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Little Niangao turned his head, his bright, shiny eyes filled with curiosity as he asked, “When was the first time you came, Mommy and Daddy?”
Liang Zhiyi smiled, “That was a long, long time ago.”
“Why didn’t you bring Little Niangao along?”
Hearing the little one’s question, Pei Chen’s lips curved into a smile, and he gently replied, “Because at that time, both Niangao and Doubao weren’t born yet. Mommy and Daddy were still students and hadn’t gotten married.”
Little Niangao tilted his head and innocently asked, “Then why didn’t you get married earlier? That way, I could have come to eat pork trotter noodles sooner.”
Pei Chen and Liang Zhiyi couldn’t help but laugh, “Yes, Mommy and Daddy should have gotten married earlier so that we could have had Doubao and Niangao sooner.”
Hearing Pei Chen’s words, Liang Zhiyi pouted playfully and whispered to him, “It’s mainly because someone was too slow to propose. You can’t blame me.”
Pei Chen looked down with a smile, “Yes, that’s my fault.”
The girl smiled sweetly, “But it’s okay, as long as the ending is good.”
No matter how difficult the journey, as long as you reach your desired destination in the end, it’s all worth it.
—
Spring turned into summer, and Lincheng’s vegetation was tinged with a vibrant green, with the trees already full of leaves by early summer.
As the gardenia flowers in the rooftop garden bloomed in abundance, there was also good news from Liang Zhiyi’s belly—
A hospital visit confirmed that she was more than a month pregnant.
That night, as she lay in bed, Liang Zhiyi touched her belly, still a little surprised, “I thought it would take at least another six months to get pregnant. How did it happen so quickly? I’m starting to think I’m just naturally fertile.”
Pei Chen held her in his arms, placing his hand over hers, his voice deep and amused, “Actually, it’s pretty normal.”
Pei Chen explained that studies show a man’s reproductive quality is at its peak at thirty. The genetic information is of the highest quality, and the sperm are the most active. Given how frequently she was, well, ‘watered,’ pregnancy was inevitable.
Hearing this, Liang Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed red, and she playfully scolded him, “Annoying, you’re just praising yourself…”
But, ahem, she had to admit, he did put in a lot of effort.
After some light banter, she asked him, “Pei Chen, are you not as happy and excited about this pregnancy as you were the first time?”
“Who told you that?”
Pei Chen kissed her on the forehead, his dark eyes gazing deeply into hers, “As long as it’s our child, how could I not be happy? It’s just that I’m not as nervous and panicked as the first time, worrying that I won’t be able to take care of you properly.”
The girl smiled, “It’s okay. This time, we both have experience.”
Indeed, after having one child, there wasn’t the same level of anxiety as before.
After learning about her pregnancy, both sets of parents were very concerned. Considering that she was pregnant while also taking care of Pei Su and Pei Che, it was hard on both her and Pei Chen. Zhong Xinrou even hired a professional nutritionist to manage her diet.
Meanwhile, Gong Qinxin continued her previous practice of regularly bringing over nourishing soups and tonics for her to drink. Originally on the slimmer side, after a month or two of this diet, her weight started to increase, and most noticeably, her cheeks became softer and rounder, giving her a more plump and healthy appearance.
“Pei Chen, do I look fat?”
She pinched her cheeks, pouting slightly as she asked, worry evident in her voice.
The man smiled and kissed her cheek, “How could you be fat? I think you look great, especially adorable.”
Liang Zhiyi glanced at herself in the mirror, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “Alright, I suppose I do look pretty cute.” If that means being a little chubbier, so be it—after all, the baby in her belly needs proper nutrition.
Right now, she was the treasure of both families, treated like a national treasure, and unlike her first pregnancy, this time she had two “little men” by her side to protect her.
Pei Su and Pei Che were thrilled to learn that their mom was pregnant, gently touching Liang Zhiyi’s belly and joyfully declaring, “It’s a sister.”
The girl smiled, “So Doubao and Niangao really want a little sister?”
“Yes, we do…”
Although she and Pei Chen hoped for a daughter, they believed in letting things happen naturally. Even if it turned out to be a boy, they would love him just as much.
Since her previous pregnancy had been with twins, this time around, Liang Zhiyi found it much easier. The early pregnancy symptoms were not as severe as before, and an ultrasound confirmed that she was only carrying one baby this time, making the burden much lighter than it had been the first time.
Although it was easier, no pregnancy is entirely without hardship. There were moments when she felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry, but Pei Chen was as considerate and caring as ever, supporting her through it all.
It was his love that gave her the courage to go through this “sweet pain” once more.
As the baby in her belly slowly grew, the year quickly passed by.
By early February of the following year, it was finally time for her to give birth.
Since it had been over three years since her first C-section, a check-up confirmed that her surgical scar had fully healed. After discussing it with Pei Chen, they decided to attempt a natural birth this time, knowing that recovery would be easier afterward.
However, this meant more discomfort for Liang Zhiyi. Although Pei Chen was distressed by the idea, she reassured him that she could endure it.
After several hours of labor, the girl was finally wheeled into the delivery room. Both families waited anxiously outside, and Pei Chen felt as if he were reliving the same anxiety he had felt four years earlier—his heart burning with worry.
He knew that even a small injury used to make her cry, and the pain of childbirth was a thousand times worse. The thought of what she was going through in the delivery room made his heart ache unbearably.
Fortunately, a few hours later, Liang Zhiyi successfully gave birth naturally—
Everything was perfect, as if blessed by the heavens. She had indeed given birth to a girl—a five-pound little princess.
Everyone was overjoyed.
Pei Chen rushed to her side, holding her sweaty hand, his slightly reddened eyes filled with tenderness and love. “Zhizhi… I love you.”
He was so grateful that she had given him a warm, complete family with both a son and a daughter.
She and the children were the most important things in his life.
An exhausted Liang Zhiyi heard his words and looked at him, a happy smile appearing in her eyes.
After giving birth, the young mother was wheeled back to her room to rest, with Pei Chen staying by her side.
When she woke up, Liang Zhiyi held her daughter in her arms. The baby was even smaller than Pei Su and Pei Che had been when they were born. Zhong Xinrou remarked that the baby looked exactly like Liang Zhiyi did as a newborn—especially adorable.
As Liang Zhiyi and Pei Chen gazed at their baby, their hearts were filled with joy and contentment.
After a while, Liang Zhiyi chatted with Pei Chen, reminding him not to neglect their two sons during this time. She didn’t want them to feel like their parents only had eyes for their little sister now.
Pei Chen nodded, assuring her that he understood.
That night, as Liang Zhiyi rested in her hospital room, the baby was kept in the adjacent room to avoid disturbing her sleep.
Once Liang Zhiyi fell asleep, Pei Chen went to check on their daughter.
The little baby, delicate and soft as carved jade, lay there so small and fragile that Pei Chen was almost afraid to hold her too tightly. As he gazed at her, his paternal love overflowed.
There’s a saying that daughters are their fathers’ little treasures, and since he already had sons, Pei Chen had especially hoped that Liang Zhiyi would give birth to a little girl who was as adorable as her mother.
Now that his wish had come true, he found himself unwilling to put his daughter down once he picked her up.
Pei Chen walked around the room, holding the baby, when suddenly, Little Doubao and Little Niangao walked in.
Seeing his dad holding the baby, Little Doubao tugged at Pei Chen’s shirt and looked up at him, asking in his sweet, childish voice, “Daddy, can you stop holding the baby?”
Pei Chen realized that he had been so focused on his daughter that he hadn’t considered how his sons might feel. They must have thought that he didn’t care about them anymore.
Feeling a pang of guilt, Pei Chen was about to apologize when Little Doubao blinked and said in his soft, innocent voice, “I want to see my sister, but I can’t see her when you’re holding her like that.”
Next to him, Little Niangao also tilted his head up, looking at his father with eager eyes, “Daddy, can you put her down? I want to see my sister too.”
Pei Chen: …??!!