Chapter 55

How could I not feel pain with a 10-centimeter-long incision on my stomach?

Yu Li was pale and lay motionless on the hospital bed, tears falling into her hair and onto her pillow.

Yan Shiting's heart clenched, but there was nothing he could do but hold his hand, wipe away his tears, and whisper words of comfort.

With someone comforting her, Yu Li let herself cry for a while.

He only stopped when the ward door was opened.

Lin Jiarong, holding a baby, came in.

Seeing Yu Li's obviously tear-filled eyes, she paused for a moment, then stepped forward with the baby in her arms.

Lin Jiarong bent down so that Yu Li could see the baby in her arms even without moving. "Come on, look at the baby. We've weighed him, he weighs 6.8 jin."

"He just had his milk and is sleeping so peacefully now."

Yu Li's attention was diverted.

He glanced at the baby sleeping soundly with his little fists clenched, and for a moment he was in a daze.

This little thing really did come out of his belly.

Lin Jiarong added, "His mouth and nose look like yours, and his eyes look like Da Yan's."

Upon hearing this, Yu Li carefully examined the baby's appearance.

The baby's eyelashes were long and thick, just like Yan Shiting's, and very straight. The shape of his lips, as well as the cupid's bow on his upper lip, were indeed like his.

Yu Li's heart softened, and with great effort, she raised her hand and gently poked the baby's face.

The skin under the fingertips felt exceptionally soft, like a freshly steamed bun.

Seeing his actions, Lin Jiarong smiled and asked, "Have you thought of a name yet?"

Yu Li smiled and said, "Actually, I've already thought of a nickname a long time ago."

He looked at Yan Shiting and said, "Call her Yuanyuan."

If it weren't for this child, he and Yan Shiting would never have been able to be together.

The arrival of this child shattered so many things.

"You can think of a name, brother."

Yan Shiting's eyes flickered slightly as he grasped Yu Li's hand.

He whispered, "Okay."

-

It wasn't until the next day that Yu Li felt less pain at the incision site.

But the pain only subsided a little.

Fortunately, he was luckier than the pregnant woman; his uterus was completely removed, and apart from the pain from the incision, he did not experience any other symptoms.

He lay in bed resting, and Dr. Xu came to check on the incision and gave him some instructions.

Now that Yu Li can eat some liquid food, while he takes a nap, Yan Shiting goes back to the manor to cook minced meat porridge.

The incision was still painful, and Yu Li didn't get to take a long nap.

After he woke up, Lin Jiarong carried Yuanyuan in.

The little one was awake in the pale yellow swaddling clothes. He had just drunk his milk and was behaving himself without crying.

He blinked his big eyes and stared at Yu Li.

Yu Li reached out and poked him again. He flapped his short little arms and grabbed Yu Li's index finger with his tiny hand.

Yu Li smiled and wagged her finger: "Little Yuanyuan."

Watching the interaction between the two, Lin Jiarong's eyes crinkled into a smile.

She placed Yuanyuan next to Yu Li and gently patted the swaddled baby. Soon, Yuanyuan closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

Newborn babies sleep most of the time, and will get sleepy again after waking up for 20 or 30 minutes.

After Yuanyuan fell asleep, Lin Jiarong glanced at Yu Li and said in a low voice, "When I first met Dayan, I wondered if he only married you because he cared about the child."

Lin Jiarong smiled and said, "But I've seen his behavior all this time, and I know he's sincere towards you, so I'm relieved."

Yu Li was a little embarrassed.

At least from the beginning, Yan Shiting married him because she cared about the child.

It was only after spending more time together that I developed feelings for him.

Thinking about this, Yu Li couldn't help but feel a little curious.

When did Yan Shiting start liking him? After Grandma Yan's funeral?

But Yu Li was just curious.

The answer to this question doesn't matter, as long as he and Yan Shiting love each other now and in the future.

In the afternoon, when Yan Shiting brought minced meat porridge to the hospital, Yu Li had already fallen asleep again.

Yuan Yuan's swaddling clothes were placed next to him, and he rested one hand on the swaddling clothes. Both of them were sleeping soundly.

Yan Shiting walked to the bedside, placed the thermos on the bedside table, and looked at the sleeping father and son.

Apart from her eyes, Yuan Yuan resembles Yu Li in every other way.

Now, when he closes his eyes to sleep, his face is almost identical to Yu Li's.

Yan Shiting stared at the father and son quietly for a long time.

Not long after, Yu Li woke up.

He rubbed his eyes and whispered, "Brother."

Yan Shiting patted his head. "The porridge is ready. Want some?"

Yu Li paused for a moment before nodding.

Worried that the noise of drinking porridge would wake Yuanyuan, Yan Shiting reached out, wanting to take Yuanyuan away.

However, Yan Shiting paused for a moment as soon as his hand touched the swaddling clothes.

He frowned slightly, recalling the way he used to hold Yan Sui when she was a child, and awkwardly picked up Yuan Yuan, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Yes, take it.

Yu Li could only think of this word.

He couldn't help but laugh, but unfortunately, he didn't know how to hold a baby.

Just as the couple were at a loss, Lin Jiarong walked in.

She understood immediately upon seeing Yan Shiting's posture and quickly stepped forward to provide guidance.

It didn't take long for Yan Shiting to learn how to hold a baby.

Yu Li ate her porridge while looking over.

The pale yellow swaddled baby was held securely in Yan Shiting's arms, creating an indescribable harmony.

After finishing the porridge, Yuanyuan, who was being held by Yan Shiting, also woke up.

He stared up at Yan Shiting with his eyes open, occasionally glancing in Yu Li's direction.

Although it's understandable that a newborn baby can't see clearly, it's hard not to wonder if he's trying to recognize his two fathers with that look in his eyes.

Yu Li smiled and reached out to pinch Yuan Yuan's cheek.

"The name has been decided." Yan Shiting suddenly said in a deep voice.

He looked at Yu Li and said, "Let's call him Yu Shiqi."

Since his nickname is related to him and Yu Li, let his formal name be a blessing for the child.

This child came at just the right time; I hope he will be healthy and well for the rest of his life.

-

After staying in the hospital for more than a week, Yu Li was finally discharged.

The incision healed very well, and when Yu Li was discharged from the hospital, she was able to walk normally.

Yuanyuan will be one month old at the end of May.

Yu Li also needs to return to school to participate in her graduation defense.

During her hospitalization, she didn't have time to study. After being discharged, Yu Li spent most of her time studying, except for playing with Yuan Yuan.

He needs to make up for the knowledge he has missed during this period.

Fortunately, the thesis has been finalized, so I'm not overwhelmed with the task of writing it now.

One night, close to her thesis defense, Yu Li was still reading in her study at 10 p.m.

Yuanyuan had already been coaxed to sleep by Lin Jiarong.

Yan Shiting carried the milk to the small study and urged Yu Li to go and rest.

After finishing her milk, Yu Li turned her gaze back to the book in front of her: "Let's read the last bit."

Yan Shiting frowned slightly, then bent down and picked Yu Li up horizontally.

"It's getting late," he said in a deep voice, then carried Yu Li out of the study.

Yu Li tried to buy some time: "It's okay, I don't think the wound hurts anymore."

Yan Shiting remained silent, his pace unchanged.

Helpless, Yu Li wrapped her arms around Yan Shiting's neck and looked up to kiss his cheek in a pleading manner.

"Starting tomorrow, I will balance work and rest and get more rest."

Yan Shiting then gave a soft "hmm".

Yuanyuan's full moon celebration and Yu Li's graduation defense happened to be on the same day.

After discussing it, the group at the manor decided to hold the full moon banquet in the evening, so that Yu Li could make it back in time after her thesis defense.

The defense went very smoothly. Yu Li returned to the manor and saw that some familiar people had already arrived.

In addition, he also saw two somewhat unfamiliar middle-aged men.

One of the men was wearing gloves and holding a piece of jade.

Yu Li was a little confused. Yan Shiting stepped forward and introduced, "Xiao Yu, this is my father's good friend, Uncle Lu. Next to Yuan Yuan is his partner, Uncle Xu."

"They were traveling around the world before, and only rushed back after hearing about Yuanyuan's full moon celebration."

Yu Li remembered it in an instant.

Yan Shiting's father's good friend was probably the one who couldn't bear to see the Yan family fall apart, so he taught Yan Shiting how to do business.

In a way, he was also Yan Shiting's mentor.

After Yan Shiting introduced Yu Li, Mr. Lu and Mr. Xu also noticed the two of them.

They walked over together, and when they saw Yu Li, Mr. Xu took out a red envelope and handed it to her.

"I hope you don't mind that this gift is a little late."

Yu Li wanted to decline, but Yan Shiting accepted it for him.

He could only thank him.

The two gentlemen smiled and went to play with Yuanyuan again.

The full moon celebration was not attended by many people; most of the attendees were relatives and friends of Yan Shiting and Yu Li.

They all gave Yuanyuan some gifts, mostly gold, jade or gemstones. Mr. Xu even gave Yuanyuan 10% of his company's shares.

Xu Changke was also invited by Yan Sui, and the two of them gave Yuanyuan a longevity lock.

This longevity lock was specially designed by someone before the banquet. The ruby ​​is set on the pure gold lock, making it particularly eye-catching.

Yuanyuan seemed to really like the longevity lock, and kept holding onto it.

At the banquet, Yan Shiting's mentor pulled Yan Shiting into drinking quite a bit of wine, praising him for his good work and reminiscing about catching fish in the river with Yan Shiting's father when they were young.

By the time the banquet ended, Yan Shiting was somewhat drunk.

Yu Li carried Yuan Yuan upstairs, intending to find a box to put away the gifts they had received that day.

Yan Shiting stayed close to him, saying, "There's a cabinet I often use in the small study. Put it there."

Yu Li nodded, placed Yuan Yuan on the small bed in his and Yan Shiting's room, and went to the small study.

He found the cabinet where Yan Shiting kept his things, opened it, and first saw a stack of well-preserved photos.

To Yu Li's surprise, he was in every single one of those photos.

A group photo of the four of them from their dorm having dinner together during their freshman year; a group photo from their spring outing in the second semester of their freshman year; a photo of him participating in the New Year's competition in his sophomore year...

On the back of each photograph is the date and what he did.

Finally, there is a photo of him and Yan Shiting.

Yu Li remembers that it was after the New Journey competition that the photographer suggested that the winners take a group photo with the sponsors' representatives.

The sponsor of that competition was the Yan family.

The others either took photos with Jiang Miao or with other representatives of the Yan family.

Only he was pushed to Yan Shiting's side, a place no one dared to approach.

And then, this group photo was taken.

In the photo, he is looking straight ahead with a gentle smile, while Yan Shiting turns his head slightly and focuses his gaze on him.

Yu Li's hand holding the photo slowly tightened. He turned the photo over and saw three powerful characters on the back:

I like you.

Yu Li's heart began to race, and she froze in place.