Chapter 119 Twins
The ultrasound examination room at Xiangjiang Maternal and Child Health Hospital is on the fifth floor.
Lin Xili sat on a bench in the corridor to wait. The bench was made of hard plastic, and it was a bit uncomfortable to sit on for a long time.
She was wearing a loose-fitting light blue maternity dress. Although she was only six weeks pregnant, she was probably too nervous about becoming parents for the first time, so she chose loose clothing.
Huo Nanchen was in line at the self-service ticket machine. She watched his back as he waited in line; he was wearing a white shirt and dark trousers, and his figure was tall and straight.
Huo Nanchen returned with the registration slip. He sat down next to her, folded the slip, and put it in his pocket.
Neither of them spoke; they simply waited quietly.
People came and went in the corridor. There were pregnant women with big bellies walking slowly with their husbands' help, parents holding newborns with tired but happy smiles on their faces, and new parents like them with anticipation and nervousness on their faces.
"Number 37, Lin Xili." The electronic caller announced.
Huo Nanchen helped Lin Xili to her feet. His hand was steady, and his body temperature emanated through his shirt sleeve.
"Lie down," the doctor said gently.
Lin Xili lay down on the examination bed; the sheets were white and a little cool.
She lifted her skirt, revealing her lower abdomen. The doctor applied coupling gel; the gel was cool, and she flinched slightly.
Huo Nanchen stood beside the bed and took her hand.
The ultrasound probe applies very light pressure as it moves across the skin, the doctor's eyes are fixed on the screen, and his fingers are rapidly typing on the keyboard.
Time seemed to pass slowly. Lin Xili stared at the fluorescent light on the ceiling. Huo Nanchen's hand was clenched tightly, and she could feel the sweat on his palm.
Suddenly, the doctor stopped what she was doing, leaned closer to the screen, looked at it for a long time, then turned her head and smiled.
“Congratulations,” she said, “twin pregnancy.”
Lin Xili was stunned. She turned to look at Huo Nanchen, who was also looking at her. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by tenderness.
"Twins?" Lin Xili repeated, her voice slightly unsteady.
"Yes." The doctor adjusted the probe position. "Look here, two gestational sacs, both very clear, and currently developing well."
"The heartbeat is normal." The doctor brought up another screen, where two tiny dots of light were twinkling, one bright and one dim, like the gentlest stars in the night sky. "Listen to them."
She pressed a button, and two clear and rapid heartbeats echoed in the room, thump, thump, thump, almost in sync, but subtle differences could be discerned upon closer listening.
Lin Xili's tears welled up unexpectedly. She held Huo Nanchen's hand tightly and felt his hand trembling slightly.
The doctor examined him for a while, recorded various data, and finally printed out several ultrasound images, handing them to Huo Nanchen: "Everything is normal. Pay attention to nutrition, have regular prenatal checkups. Twin pregnancies carry a higher risk, so be extra careful."
Huo Nanchen took the photo, looked at it carefully, and nodded: "Thank you, doctor."
As Lin Xili walked out of the consultation room, her steps were somewhat unsteady.
Huo Nanchen supported her until they sat down again on a bench in the corridor.
He handed her the ultrasound images, in which the two tiny gestational sacs were clearly visible, with measurements next to them: gestational sac 1, diameter 1.8cm; gestational sac 2, diameter 1.7cm.
Lin Xili stared for a long time, then looked up at Huo Nanchen. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just smiled, and tears fell again.
Huo Nanchen gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. He didn't speak, but just looked at her. His eyes held a familiar calmness, but beneath that calmness lay a joy that could be described as overwhelming.
On the way home, traffic in Xiangjiang City was still congested, with cars stopping and starting intermittently.
Huo Nanchen drove very carefully, slower and more steadily than usual. Lin Xili sat in the passenger seat, holding the ultrasound images in her hand, glancing down at them from time to time.
“Dr. Huo has good genes,” Lin Xili suddenly said, her voice tinged with laughter and a slight nasal tone.
Huo Nanchen glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It's a matter of probability."
“I know.” Lin Xili carefully put the photo into her bag. “But I still think it’s because of your good genes. Xining Xijue is so good, our child will definitely be too.”
"Um!"
Back home, Lin Xili changed into slippers and went straight to the balcony.
She stood in front of the blue snowflakes for a long time before Huo Nanchen walked to her side and gently put his arm around her waist.
"That's nice," Lin Xili said softly, leaning against him.
"Mmm," Huo Nanchen replied, gently resting his chin on the top of her head.
In the evening, Huo Nanchen was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Lin Xili sat on the sofa in the living room and called Grandma Huo.
When the call connected, the old man's kind voice came through: "Xi Li, how did the checkup go?"
"Grandma," Lin Xili's voice was filled with undisguised joy, "it's twins."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Grandma Huo's slightly trembling voice came through: "Really? Two?"
"Yes, we can see both gestational sacs, and the heartbeat is very good."
"That's great, that's great," Grandma Huo repeated. "Is Nan Chen there? Let him answer the phone."
Lin Xili took her phone to the kitchen. Huo Nanchen was chopping scallions, his hands were wet, so she put it on speakerphone.
“Grandma,” Huo Nanchen said.
"Nan Chen, you need to take good care of Xi Li. Twins are hard work, so you'll have to put in a lot of effort. If you don't understand something, you can ask your older brother and sister-in-law. They have experience in giving birth to Xining and Xi Jue."
"I know."
"Also," Grandma Huo paused, "you can start thinking about the child's name now. No rush, take your time, and choose a good name."
"good."
"Also, find some time to come back to the old house for a meal. Your father will definitely be very happy to know that."
"Okay, Grandma!"
After exchanging a few more words, the phone call ended. Huo Nanchen continued cooking, while Lin Xili leaned against the kitchen door frame and watched him.
“You’ll have a hard time,” Huo Nanchen suddenly said, without looking up, continuing to chop the scallions.
“You too,” Lin Xili said. “You have to take care of three.”
Huo Nanchen stopped what he was doing, turned to look at her, their eyes met in mid-air, and then they both smiled.
After dinner, Huo Nanchen cleaned up the kitchen, while Lin Xili sat at her desk and began organizing her prenatal checkup records.
She scanned the ultrasound images into her computer, created a folder, and named it "Baby's Growth Record".
She also jotted down the doctor's instructions in her notebook: take folic acid supplements, increase protein intake, exercise appropriately, and attend prenatal checkups on time...
After Huo Nanchen finished tidying up, he walked behind her and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
"Prenatal checkup records," Lin Xili said. "I want to write them down carefully. I'll show them to them when they grow up."
Huo Nanchen leaned over and looked at the folder on the screen. It contained several photos and notes that she had just typed.
His fingers gently caressed her shoulder: "So detailed."
"Hmm." Lin Xi closed the notebook. "Just as detailed as your medical records."
"Um!"
"Nan Chen".
"Um?"
"Do you think it will be two boys, two girls, or one boy and one girl?"
Huo Nanchen was silent for a moment, then said, "Anything is possible."
“I hope it’s a man and a woman,” Lin Xili said, “like Xining and Xiyu.”
"Let it be." Huo Nanchen put his arm around her. "As long as she's healthy."
He had said this many times, and Lin Xili knew that for him, health was indeed the most important thing.
Having experienced those life-or-death moments, he understands the fragility and preciousness of life better than anyone else.
She nestled in his arms, feeling his steady heartbeat and warm body temperature.
"It's late, let's go to sleep," Huo Nanchen said.
"good."
In the bedroom, Lin Xili lay on the bed, Huo Nanchen's hand gently resting on her lower abdomen.
The area was still flat, but they all knew that two tiny lives were growing inside.
"Goodnight," Huo Nanchen whispered in her ear.
"Goodnight." Lin Xili closed her eyes.
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