name

As autumn deepened, the sycamore leaves outside the window began to turn yellow and fall. Lin Xueyin's due date was approaching, and her belly was bulging, making her movements increasingly difficult. However, she felt more stable than ever.

The company of her parents and the slow melting of the ice between her and Song Zhiyuan eased the fear and anxiety in her heart.

Song Zhiyuan appeared in the ward more often. He no longer just asked the doctor questions as a matter of routine, but would move a chair and sit by the bed, sometimes processing some documents, and sometimes just accompanying her in silence.

There was still not much talk between the two of them, but the silence was no longer suffocating. Instead, it revealed a strange, peaceful tacit understanding.

That afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window, shimmering warmly into the ward. Lin Xueyin leaned against the headboard, absorbed in a baby-raising book Song Zhiyuan had brought her a few days earlier. Song Zhiyuan sat on the sofa beside her, flipping through a report, occasionally glancing up at her.

The sunlight outlined her soft facial lines, her long eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyes, and her focused expression made her look serenely beautiful. Song Zhiyuan's gaze lingered on her face for a longer time without him noticing.

"Name," he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the room. His voice was not loud, but it made Lin Xueyin look up from between the pages of the book and look at him blankly.

Song Zhiyuan closed the report in his hand and met her gaze calmly: "What do you think of the child's name?"

name?

Lin Xueyin was stunned. This question was too sudden, and too... intimate. It meant they needed to discuss together, giving a symbol of hope to the upcoming little life, the one that would connect their bloodlines. This felt more like a pair of real parents than when she was forced to sign the marriage certificate.

She subconsciously touched her round belly, and the little one there seemed to sense something and moved slightly. A strange feeling came over her heart, a mixture of maternal tenderness and a hint of indescribable throbbing.

She lowered her head, avoiding his overly focused gaze, her fingers twisting the pages of the book unconsciously, her voice very soft: "I...I haven't thought about it."

"You can think about it now." Song Zhiyuan's tone was steady, with a sense of guidance rather than command.

Lin Xueyin was silent for a moment. She hadn't really thought about it. The days before had been filled with fear and uncertainty. She couldn't even grasp her own future, so how could she think of a name for an unexpected child?

"If it's a boy..." she hesitated, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. "How about calling him 'An'? 'An' for peace and safety." This was her simplest, yet most sincere wish at the moment. She hoped the child would have a safe and smooth life, free from the setbacks she had endured.

"Song An." Song Zhiyuan repeated in a low voice, as if savoring the rhythm and meaning of the two words. His face was expressionless, but his eyes seemed to soften for a moment. "Okay."

Lin Xueyin was a little surprised by his straightforward acceptance of her suggestion, and a small ripple of emotion welled up in her heart. She mustered her courage and added, "What if it's a girl?"

This time, Song Zhiyuan didn't answer immediately. He pondered for a moment, his gaze fixed on the high, blue sky outside the window, and slowly said, "'Xi', the 'Xi' of morning light."

The morning light represents light and hope, dispelling the long night and ushering in a new life.

Lin Xueyin silently recited the name in her heart: "Song Xi..." It was beautiful, and also carried a kind of upward force. She had to admit that the name he chose was more structured and meaningful than hers.

"Okay." She nodded slightly.

The ward fell silent again, but the atmosphere was different. An invisible bond, called "shared anticipation," quietly drew them closer, thanks to the two names they hadn't yet decided on.

After a while, Lin Xueyin couldn't help but ask softly: "Do you like boys or girls?"

After asking, she felt a little regretful, thinking she had asked a stupid question. A family like his might value boys more?

Song Zhiyuan turned back to look at her, his eyes deep. He answered irrelevantly, but with an unprecedented solemnity: "Everything is fine. It's my child."

His answer was unbiased, only full of acceptance and confirmation. This actually made Lin Xueyin breathe a sigh of relief.

The names were decided, the boy would be named Song An and the girl would be named Song Xi.

This event felt like a small milestone. It wasn't about coercion or a transaction; it was simply their first real "cooperation" as parents. This cooperation was insignificant, yet profoundly significant.

From then on, Lin Xueyin felt the baby in her belly become more real. She would sometimes touch her belly, silently calling those two names in her mind, imagining what the child would look like after birth. And Song Zhiyuan's occasional glances at her belly, besides the usual scrutiny, seemed to be filled with an indescribable paternal focus and anticipation.

Lin Guodong and Su Yuzhen were delighted to learn that the couple had named their child together. They saw this as an important sign that their relationship was easing and moving towards a normal relationship.

"Song An, Song Xi, these are great names!" Su Yuzhen said to Lin Xueyin with a smile, "You can tell they put a lot of thought into it."

Lin Xueyin's face felt slightly hot, but she didn't refute.

The chill of late autumn deepened, but the hospital ward was warm and cozy. The unborn little life, like a soft yet powerful bond, was, in its own way, gradually melting away barriers and mending cracks, quietly laying a warm foundation for this story that began in the cold winter.