The afternoon sun in the northern frontier shone warmly through the paper windows onto the soft couch by the window. Shen Zhao leaned against a large bolster, covered with a thick brocade quilt, one hand unconsciously resting on her noticeably protruding belly. Since An An was diagnosed with twins, her belly had grown rapidly, and her movements had become increasingly cumbersome.

"Sister-in-law—" she drawled, her voice tinged with a hint of coquetry, as she looked expectantly at An'an, who was sitting to the side embroidering little clothes. "Tell me again, how should I hold a newborn baby so soft and squishy without hurting them? I... I'm a little scared." As she spoke, she touched her round belly, her face showing both anticipation and a touch of nervousness.

An'an put down her needlework and looked at Shen Zhao's excited yet nervous expression, and couldn't help but smile. She got up and sat on the edge of the couch, picking up a rag doll filled with soft cotton fabric that she had prepared beforehand to demonstrate: "Come on, look, you have to do it like this... one hand supports the little head and neck, these are the softest and most important parts; the other hand firmly supports the little bottom and back from below, like holding a precious little winter melon." She gently lifted the rag doll and showed it to Shen Zhao, "After holding it, let their little heads rest gently in the crook of your arm, against your heart, listening to your heartbeat, they will feel at ease."

Shen Zhao watched intently, mimicking An An's actions, carefully picking up another small doll and trying to support its "little head" and "little bottom," her movements clumsy yet adorable: "Is this how it is? Sister-in-law? Am I using too much force?"

“Yes, that’s it. Be a little lighter and gentler.” An’an smiled and gave pointers. “You’ll get better with practice. Once they’re born, you’ll naturally know how to hold them. It’s a mother’s instinct.”

Shen Zhao hugged the rag dolls, looking down at them, imagining two rosy-cheeked babies in her arms. A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips, her face radiating maternal warmth. She played with the dolls for a while, then suddenly remembered something. Two blushes rose on her cheeks, and her eyes darted around. Seeing the maids standing at a distance outside the door, she approached An'an, her voice low and filled with girlish shyness and curiosity:

"Sister-in-law... um... there's something else..." She hesitated for a moment, her voice barely audible, "It's just... it's just that after the baby is born... um... how long... um... can... can..." She stammered, her face growing redder and redder, unable to say the rest, only looking at An'an with her big, watery eyes.

An An was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening. Looking at Shen Zhao's shy expression, she couldn't help but chuckle and playfully tapped her forehead with her fingertip: "You little rascal! You really have a lot on your mind! You even remembered this?"

Shen Zhao was even more embarrassed by her laughter, buried her head in the pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "Oh, sister-in-law! Don't laugh at me! I... I was just asking... that bastard Lu Qi, he... he definitely can't wait to..." She was too embarrassed to finish her sentence.

An'an stopped laughing, her face slightly flushed, but her tone carried the composure and advice of someone with experience: "This can't be rushed. Childbirth is a major event, especially with twins, it takes a lot out of you. You'll have to wait until after your postpartum period, until your body is fully recovered. And in the first few months, your mind will be focused on the babies, and you won't be able to think about anything else. This depends on your own recovery and how you feel; don't let him do whatever he wants." She paused, lowered her voice, and spoke with the experience of someone who had been through it all, "However... if you really can't resist him, and you feel okay... it's not entirely impossible, but remember to be extra... um... gentle... don't push yourself."

Shen Zhao blushed deeply, burying her face in the pillow and refusing to lift it, only letting out a muffled "Mmm," her ears burning red. Her heart felt like it was pounding with a rabbit's quiver, a mixture of embarrassment and a sweet anticipation. Just as she was lost in thought, a strange, bubbly sound, like a small fish blowing bubbles, suddenly came from her stomach, gently nudging her.

"Oh!" Shen Zhao looked up in surprise, grabbed An An's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Sister-in-law, feel it! It moved! It moved again! The two little rascals are kicking me!"

An'an felt the tiny, vibrant bumps through her belly, and a gentle smile bloomed on her face. The warm sunlight shone in, filling the room with the joy of new life and sweet anticipation for the future.