Zongheng's Tense Pregnancy Log
The night was gentle, and the city lights shone brightly outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Xu Ying carried a freshly stewed pork rib soup out of the kitchen, its rich aroma filling the dining room. She had specially made Zong Heng's favorite soup today, adding his favorite corn and carrots, and stewed it for a full three hours until the bones were tender.
Several dishes were already laid out on the table—stir-fried seasonal vegetables, sweet and sour pork ribs, and garlic vermicelli shrimp, all of which were his favorites. She had even opened a bottle of red wine, the two stemmed glasses gleaming softly under the warm yellow light.
Zong Heng was sitting at the dining table replying to emails, his brows slightly furrowed, his long, slender fingers typing rapidly on the laptop keyboard. The blue light from the screen reflected on his face, making his features appear even sharper. He was wearing loungewear, the collar slightly open, revealing his collarbone, making him look less sharp and more relaxed than usual.
Xu Ying put down the soup bowl and deliberately "accidentally" bumped into his arm.
"Mr. Zong, dinner's ready." She drawled, lightly tapping his screen with her fingertip, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness. "Is work more important than me?"
Zong Heng looked up, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. He closed his notebook, reached out and pulled her into his arms, asking, "Jealous?"
Xu Ying sat down on his lap, pinched his earlobe with her fingers, and deliberately rubbed it twice: "How could I dare? You are a CEO who makes millions every minute. I can't afford to delay your money-making."
He chuckled softly, his breath brushing against her ear, his voice deep and resonant: "Then don't make me sleep in the study tonight, hmm?"
Xu Ying's ears burned, and she pushed him away, saying, "Come on, let's eat first."
Zong Heng didn't let go; instead, he held the back of her neck, gently caressing it, the warmth of his fingertips making her heart race. His gaze fell on her lips, his voice carrying a hint of danger: "Eat first, or eat you first?"
"Zong Heng!" She glared at him, her cheeks burning, and struggled to stand up from his arms. "If you keep doing this, I'm really sleeping in the study tonight."
He raised an eyebrow, finally letting go of her, and leaned back lazily in his chair, his gaze still burning: "Fine, whatever my wife says."
Xu Ying straightened her pajamas, which he had messed up, and sat down, pretending to be calm. She picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of sweet and sour pork rib into his bowl: "Try it. I improved the recipe today, so it's not as sweet."
Zong Heng picked up a rib, took a bite, and nodded: "Mmm, delicious."
She smiled contentedly, picked up a piece for herself, and ate it in small bites, but her eyes kept glancing at him.
Zong Heng noticed her gaze and looked up at her: "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." She lowered her head and took a sip of soup, speaking as if casually, "By the way, I went to the hospital for a check-up today."
Zong Heng paused, his chopsticks still, and frowned slightly: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, it's just a routine check-up." She said casually, her fingertips lightly tapping the rim of the bowl. "The doctor said..."
"What did you say?" He put down his chopsticks and looked at her intently.
Xu Ying looked up, met his eyes directly, and smiled slightly: "The doctor said that I am in very good physical condition and am very suitable for pregnancy."
With a "clatter," Zong Heng's chopsticks fell onto the table.
The air froze for two seconds.
Zong Heng bent down to pick up the chopsticks, wiped them with a calm expression, and said indifferently, "Hmm, let's wait another two years."
Xu Ying narrowed her eyes: "What?"
He placed a piece of pork rib into her bowl and said calmly, "I've been too busy with work lately and haven't had the energy to take care of the child. Besides, you're still young, there's no rush."
Xu Ying put down her bowl, crossed her arms, and stared straight at him: "Zong Heng, we've been married for two years."
"I know."
"I am 27 years old."
"Yes, they're still very young."
"You said last week that you wanted a daughter."
Zong Heng finally looked up, meeting her intense gaze, and coughed lightly, "I mean... the future."
Xu Ying took a deep breath, suddenly stood up, and glared down at him: "Zong Heng, do you not want to have a child with me?"
His expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal. He reached out and took her wrist, his voice softening: "Yingying, sit down first, let's talk properly."
She shook off his hand, her eyes slightly red: "What are we talking about? How you brushed me off? Or that you never even considered having a child with me?"
Zong Heng frowned, suddenly stood up, and pulled her into his arms with such force that she could hardly breathe. His voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of suppressed emotion: "Xu Ying, listen carefully—I want a child with us more than anyone else."
"Then why..."
“Because I’m afraid.” He interrupted her, his palm on the back of her neck, his forehead against hers, his breathing a little erratic. “I’m afraid you’ll be in pain, afraid you’ll suffer, afraid you’ll be at even the slightest risk.”
Xu Ying was stunned.
Zong Heng closed his eyes and spoke in a low voice that was almost inaudible: "When you were in your senior year of high school, you had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius. I carried you to the hospital, and you cried on my back, saying that your head hurt... At that time, I thought to myself, I can never let you suffer again in this life."
Her heart skipped a beat, her nose stung, and she gripped his shirt tightly: "Fool, how can that be the same?"
“It’s the same for me.” He cupped her face and wiped her eyes with his thumb. “Give me two more years. Once I’ve arranged everything, you just need to be a happy mother, and I’ll take care of the rest, okay?”
Xu Ying stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
Zong Heng's heart tightened—every time she smiled like that, it was never a good thing.
Sure enough, she tiptoed to his ear and gently blew a breath: "Zong Heng, have you forgotten... that having a child isn't something you can decide alone?"
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was slightly hoarse: "Xu Ying."
She took a step back and, in front of him, slowly and deliberately unbuttoned the top two buttons of her loungewear, revealing the hickeys he had left on her collarbone the night before. She smiled like a sly cat: "Let's not sleep in the study tonight, let's sleep in the master bedroom?"
Zong Heng's eyes darkened suddenly, and he scooped her up in his arms, saying, "You asked for this."
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains into the bedroom, casting dappled patterns on the soft bedding. Xu Ying curled up under the covers, only half her face visible, her breathing even and deep, as if she were fast asleep.
Zong Heng stood by the bed, slowly and deliberately tying his tie, his gaze fixed on her. A slight smile played on his lips as he gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek and whispered, "Pretending to be asleep?"
Xu Ying's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't move.
He leaned down, his thin lips close to her ear, his voice low and teasing: "Who was it last night who said 'I'd sleep in the master bedroom if I didn't sleep in the study'? Isn't it a bit late to pretend to be asleep now?"
Xu Ying suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed his tie, and pulled him closer: "Zong Heng, you clearly promised last night!"
He leaned over her, his tie disheveled from her grip, but he didn't look embarrassed at all; instead, it made his features appear even more striking. He chuckled softly, "What did I promise?"
"You said—" she paused, her ears burning, "You said you'd do whatever I say!"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, his fingertips gently stroking her chin. "You actually believe what you said in bed?"
"You!" She was so angry that she raised her foot to kick him, but he grabbed her ankle and pressed her down even tighter.
"Xu Ying," his voice was slightly hoarse, with the languor of early morning, "are you sure you want to cause trouble for me now?"
She glared at him, but when she met his deep gaze, her heart suddenly raced.
Xu Ying took a deep breath and decided to change tactics. She loosened his tie, gently smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt with her fingertips, and softened her tone: "Zong Heng, let's have a good talk."
He narrowed his eyes, didn't move, but didn't get any closer either.
“I know you’re worried about me,” she said softly, “but have you ever thought that what I want isn’t just a child, but a future with you?”
Zong Heng's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent.
She continued, "You said you'd wait another two years, but what about two years from now? Your career will only get busier, and my design studio is also on the rise. Will we have to say 'wait a little longer' again then?"
He was silent for a moment, then finally sat up and rubbed his temples: "I just don't want you to work too hard."
“But I’m not afraid of hardship.” She propped herself up, knelt beside him, and gently poked his shoulder with her fingertips. “Besides, do you think I would let you bear it all alone?”
He turned his head to look at her, his eyes swirling with emotion.
She leaned closer, her nose almost touching his, her voice as soft as a feather: "Zong Heng, let's have a child, okay?"
Zong Heng stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled and reached out to pinch her chin: "Xu Ying, you're cheating."
She blinked, looking completely innocent: "What's wrong with me?"
“Your negotiation skills are getting better and better,” he said, his thumb lightly brushing her lips. “You’ve become quite adept at it.”
She smirked smugly: "Will that work?"
He didn't answer, but instead lowered his head and kissed her.
This kiss was different from the intense one last night; it was gentle and lingering, like a silent compromise, or perhaps a promise. Xu Ying was dizzy from his kiss until he released her, his forehead pressed against hers, and whispered, "It worked."
Her eyes lit up: "Really?"
"Hmm." He sighed helplessly, "But I have conditions."
"you say."
"First, I must accompany you throughout your pregnancy, and you can't miss a single prenatal checkup."
"good."
"Secondly, hire the best postpartum nanny, and you are not allowed to stay up late."
"OK."
"Third—" he paused, his gaze darkening slightly, "If you feel any discomfort during the process, tell me immediately. Don't push yourself."
She laughed and hugged his neck: "Mr. Zong, are you going to give me a list of behavioral guidelines for pregnancy?"
He scoffed, "Otherwise what? Do you think I'd let you run wild?"
She leaned in and kissed him: "Yes, sir."
Zong Heng finally stood up, straightened his tie, and looked back at her: "Don't go to the studio today, stay home and rest."
Xu Ying, wrapped in the blanket, lazily replied, "Okay—"
He walked to the door, then stopped and looked back at her: "Xu Ying."
"Um?"
“If it’s a daughter,” he paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, “it would be best if she looked like you.”
She paused for a moment, then laughed out loud: "What if it's a son?"
He raised an eyebrow: "Then teach him not to be like you, glaring at people all the time."
"Zong Heng!" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but he caught it easily.
He smiled and closed the door, his voice coming from outside: "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll bring it to you."
Xu Ying snuggled back into the covers, unable to suppress the smile on her lips. She touched her lower abdomen and muttered softly, "Silly girl, I'm clearly more excited than anyone else."
Outside the window, the sun shines brightly, a gentle breeze blows, and even the air seems to be filled with a sweet scent.
Six months later, Xu Ying stared at the two red lines on the pregnancy test and held her breath for a moment.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Zong Heng came out, drying his hair, and saw her sitting motionless on the edge of the bed, clutching something in her hand. He frowned slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"
She slowly raised her head, her eyes somewhat unfocused, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing something: "Zong Heng, I think... I'm pregnant."
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Zong Heng's towel fell to the ground.
He strode over, knelt on one knee in front of her, took the pregnancy test from her, and stared intently at the two clear lines.
"Are you sure?" His voice was a little hoarse.
Xu Ying nodded, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her nightgown: "I was two weeks late, I took the test this morning."
Zong Heng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms, so tightly that she could hardly breathe.
“Zong Heng…” she gently pushed him.
He then loosened his grip slightly, cupped her face in his hands, and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Complex emotions surged in his eyes—shock, ecstasy, uncertainty—which finally all melted into a soft light.
"Xu Ying," he called her name softly, as if to confirm something, "we're going to have a child."
Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she nodded.
Zong Heng's thumb brushed against the corner of her eye, then he suddenly laughed: "Why are you crying?"
"I didn't cry." She stubbornly insisted, but he picked her up and spun her around.
"Zong Heng!" she cried out, clutching his neck tightly in fright.
He laughed, then suddenly stopped, carefully placing her back on the bed, his brow furrowed: "Won't this hurt the baby?"
Xu Ying chuckled: "You're still just a little bean sprout, what could you possibly hurt by spinning around like that?"
Zong Heng didn't speak, but gently placed his hand on her lower abdomen, his palm warm. His gaze was softer than ever before, even carrying a hint of piety.
"Xu Ying," he said softly, "we're going to be parents."
Her nose tingled, and she suddenly felt that this moment was incredibly real.
He's really here, and they're really going to have a child.
On the first day after confirming the pregnancy, Zong Heng canceled all his meetings and took Xu Ying to the hospital.
Blood tests, ultrasounds, consultations... he stayed by his side the whole time, his brow never unfurrowed.
Looking at the report, the doctor smiled and congratulated, "Six weeks pregnant, everything is normal."
Zong Heng asked, "She hasn't had a good appetite lately. Will that affect the fetus?"
Doctor: "Early pregnancy reactions are normal. Just pay attention to a light diet."
He then asked, "She turned over a bit too suddenly last night, could she have crushed something?"
Doctor: "No."
Xu Ying, listening nearby, felt her face flush and secretly tugged at his sleeve: "Don't ask anymore!"
Zong Heng frowned: "This is a big deal."
The doctor suppressed a laugh: "Your father is very meticulous."
On the way home, Zong Heng drove with one hand and held Xu Ying's hand with the other, glancing at her every now and then.
"Focus on driving," she said helplessly.
"I'm watching where I'm going," he said stubbornly, but couldn't help asking, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No," she said with a smile, shaking her head. "Don't be so nervous."
He hummed in agreement, but his fingers tightened even more.
—When Xu Ying got home, she discovered that Zong Heng had somehow managed to have all the sharp corners of the tables covered with anti-collision strips, laid non-slip mats in the bathroom, and even changed her slippers to non-slip ones.
"When did you prepare this?" she asked in surprise.
“Last week.” He said it casually, but couldn’t hide the smugness in his eyes.
Xu Ying was both amused and exasperated: "I hadn't even confirmed my pregnancy last week!"
"Just in case," he said matter-of-factly.
During her first formal prenatal checkup, Zong Heng was even more nervous than Xu Ying.
In the ultrasound room, the doctor applied gel to Xu Ying's abdomen, which made her shiver slightly from the cold. Zong Heng immediately grasped her hand: "Cold?"
"It's nothing," she said, shaking her head with a smile.
The doctor slid the probe, and a blurry image quickly appeared on the screen.
"Congratulations," the doctor said with a smile, "it's twins."
Xu Ying was stunned: "What?"
Zong Heng stood frozen in place.
The doctor pointed to the screen: "Look, there's a gestational sac here, and another one here—two babies."
Xu Ying suddenly gripped Zong Heng's hand tightly, her voice trembling: "Two? We have two babies?"
Zong Heng didn't speak, but stared intently at the screen, his Adam's apple bobbing.
The doctor explained with a smile, "Fraternal twins could be siblings, or they could be brothers and sisters."
Xu Ying's eyes welled up with tears. She turned to look at Zong Heng, only to find that his eyes were also red.
"Zong Heng?" she called him softly.
He snapped out of his reverie and his first words were, "Won't she have a hard time?"
The doctor smiled and said, "Twins are indeed more tiring than singletons, but the mother is healthy, so there won't be any problems."
On the way home, Zong Heng was unusually silent.
Xu Ying nudged his arm: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
He shook his head, then suddenly stopped the car on the side of the road, turned to look at her: "Xu Ying, if it's too painful, then we..."
She interrupted him: "Zong Heng, this is our child, and I am very happy."
He was silent for a moment, then reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and husky: "I'm afraid you'll suffer."
She leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and whispered, "With you here, I'm not afraid."
After learning that it was twins, Zong Heng's "anxiety about becoming a father" escalated.
He bought more than a dozen pregnancy guides, reading them every night before bed and even taking notes.
One night, Xu Ying woke up and found the bedside empty. She got up to look for it and found the study light on.
Zong Heng sat at his desk, with "The Complete Guide to Raising Twins" spread out in front of him. He frowned and was drawing circles with a pen in his hand.
She walked over and hugged him from behind: "Why aren't you sleeping?"
He was startled and quickly closed the book: "Did I wake you up?"
“No,” she leaned on his shoulder, glancing at the pages of the book, “'Risk of premature birth in twins'? Don’t scare yourself.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose: "We need to prepare in advance."
She smiled and kissed his cheek: "The doctors all say I'm very healthy, what are you worried about?"
He turned around, pulled her onto his lap, and sighed, "Xu Ying, I can't control myself."
She cupped his face in her hands and said earnestly, "Zongheng, we will be alright, and the baby will be alright too."
He looked at her, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her, gently and restrainedly.
"Go back to sleep," he said, pressing his forehead against hers.
She refused to move, saying, "Hold me."
He chuckled, then scooped her up in his arms and carried her steadily back to the bedroom.
The next day, Xu Ying discovered that Zong Heng had secretly contacted a postpartum care center, ordered the best postpartum care package, and hired a professional nutritionist to provide full support starting from the second trimester.
Since it was confirmed that they were twins, Zong Heng's "protective instinct" has been at its peak.
Xu Ying wanted to drink coffee, but he confiscated it: "The doctor said you can only have one cup a day, and you've used up your limit for this week."
She protested, "I'll just take a sip!"
“No.” He pushed the cup away expressionlessly. “Unless you kiss me, I might consider letting you smell it.”
Xu Ying: "..."
Even more outrageous is their sleeping habits. Zong Heng used to like to pull her into his arms, but now he lies flat on his back, as if afraid of pressing on her stomach.
One night, Xu Ying was awakened by his rustling movements and asked groggily, "What's wrong?"
"Go take a shower," he said in a hoarse voice.
She instantly snapped out of her daze, and by the moonlight, she saw his taut jawline. Her ears burned: "Actually... the doctor said that it's okay to adjust things appropriately during the middle stage..."
"Xu Ying." He took a deep breath and pinched her cheek. "Don't bother me, go to sleep."
He ended up staying in the bathroom for half an hour before coming back.
The next day at breakfast, Xu Ying teased him on purpose: "President Zong, taking too many cold showers can easily lead to a cold."
He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Wait until you give birth, then I'll see how I deal with you."
Xu Ying blushed and pushed him away: "Let's eat!"
One evening, Xu Ying was leaning back on the sofa flipping through a dictionary when Zong Heng sat at her feet and clumsily massaged her swollen calves.
"How about we name the boy Zongye and the girl Zongqing?" she suddenly suggested.
Zong Heng raised an eyebrow: "What's the significance of the word 'also'?"
She closed the dictionary, her eyes sparkling: "I think it's very simple. Life should be simple."
His eyes darkened, and he cupped the back of her head to kiss her, but stopped abruptly just before their lips met, instead lightly pecking at her forehead: "Xu Ying, you really are..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xu Ying suddenly made a "hmm" sound.
Zong Heng immediately tensed up: "What's wrong?"
"The baby kicked me." She pulled his hand and pressed it against her belly. "Can you feel it here?"
A slight movement came from his palm. Zong Heng froze, then knelt down on one knee, pressed his face against the palm, and warned fiercely, "You brat, don't mess with your mother."
Xu Ying chuckled: "What if it's a daughter?"
“That won’t do either.” He looked up seriously. “Daughters need to be pampered; they can’t be this naughty.”
"You favor girls over boys, Mr. Zong?"
“My son needs to learn to protect his sister,” he said matter-of-factly.
Xu Ying suddenly remembered something and tilted her head to ask, "What if there are two boys or two girls?"
Zong Heng paused for three seconds: "Then let's have another pair."
"You wish!" She grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.
In the midst of their playful banter, Xu Ying suddenly frowned and clutched her stomach. Zong Heng's expression instantly changed, and he scooped her up in his arms: "To the hospital?"
"No..." she said awkwardly in a low voice, "I'm hungry."
He let out a long sigh, gritted his teeth, and went to the kitchen to cook noodles, only to burn the pot again.
Xu Ying sighed as she smelled the burning odor: "Forget it, let's just order takeout."
Zong Heng made a phone call with a dark expression: "Invite the Michelin chef to our house now."
That night, the five-star chef was forced to work overtime, while Mr. Zong took careful notes in the "New Dad's Guide": "Pregnant women are prone to hunger at night and need to prepare snacks."
She felt helpless, but she didn't stop them.
After all, this is his way.
His love has always been driven by action.
Two weeks before her due date, Xu Ying was awakened in the middle of the night by a mild abdominal pain. She opened her eyes and found that Zong Heng had already sat up, his hand on her swollen belly, his brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" His voice was low and hoarse, as if he had just woken up, but he was unusually awake.
"It's nothing, it's probably Braxton Hicks contractions..." She had just finished speaking when another, more intense throbbing pain struck, and her fingers instinctively clenched the sheets.
Zong Heng immediately threw off the covers, his movements incredibly fast: "To the hospital."
"Wait, not that fast..."
“Xu Ying.” He interrupted her directly, his eyes brooking no argument. “Now, immediately.”
Ten minutes later, Xu Ying, bundled up tightly, was shoved into the car. Zong Heng floored the accelerator, driving so fast that she instinctively grabbed the handrail: "Slow down! I'm not about to give birth!"
"Shut up, take a deep breath." He held her sweaty hand in one hand, his knuckles white.
Xu Ying suddenly wanted to laugh—this man, who was decisive and ruthless in the business world, was so nervous at this moment that he didn't even look in the rearview mirror and ran two red lights.
In the hospital corridor, Zong Heng paced back and forth like a restless, trapped beast. When the nurse reminded him for the third time to "please sit down and wait," he gave her a cold glance, which startled her into immediately shutting up.
Xu Ying's parents rushed over. Seeing their son-in-law's condition, Xu's mother couldn't help but comfort him, "Xiao Zong, Yingying has a strong constitution, she'll be alright..."
"I know," he replied curtly, his eyes fixed on the delivery room door.
Suddenly, a cry of pain came from inside, and Zong Heng froze, turning to rush inside. Two nurses quickly stopped him: "Family members are not allowed in!"
"Get out of the way." His voice was as cold as ice.
"That's the rule—"
I said, "Get out of the way."
Finally, the hospital director arrived in person, wiping his sweat: "President Zong, please put on a sterile gown before going in..."
Inside the delivery room, Xu Ying's hair was wet and plastered to her face. She paused for a moment when she saw Zong Heng enter: "What are you doing here...?"
Before she could finish speaking, another contraction struck, and she dug her nails into his palm in pain. Zong Heng's face was even paler than hers, but he steadily supported her back: "I'm here. Breathe, follow me."
The doctor suddenly shouted, "I can see the head! Push harder!"
Xu Ying gritted her teeth, and Zong Heng suddenly leaned down and said hoarsely in her ear, "Xu Ying, after you give birth to these two little rascals, I'll take you to see the aurora borealis, just the two of us."
She smiled, her eyes red-rimmed: "You...you keep your word..."
A loud cry from a newborn baby echoed through the delivery room.
"Congratulations, it's a boy!" the nurse announced with a smile.
Zong Heng frowned after just one glance: "Why is it all purplish?"
The doctor was both amused and exasperated: "Newborns are all like this!"
Before they could even catch their breath, the doctor shouted, "The second one is coming out!"
This time it was even faster; five minutes later, the little sister was born.
When the nurse placed the two swaddled babies side by side next to Xu Ying, Zong Heng suddenly knelt down on one knee, pressed his forehead against the back of her hand, and his shoulders trembled slightly.
Xu Ying gently touched his hair: "Zong Heng?"
He looked up, his eyes red: "Xu Ying, let's never have any more children."
In the VIP ward, Xu Ying leaned against the headboard, watching Zong Heng scrutinize the two little ones in the crib with a serious expression.
“The doctor said it will grow out,” she said, suppressing a laugh. “You might have been like this when you were born.”
Zong Heng snorted softly, then suddenly pointed at his brother: "This kid looks like me." He then pointed at his sister, "Our daughter looks like you."
Xu Ying leaned closer to look: "They're all wrinkled, how did you know?"
He stated confidently, "It's my intuition."
In the middle of the night, his younger sister, Zong Qing, suddenly burst into tears. Zong Heng sat up with a start and rushed to hug her, only to have his hand urinated on.
"Xu Ying!" He stiffly held his daughter up. "She peed!"
Xu Ying was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open: "Then change the diaper..."
"How do I change it?!"
Five minutes later, the nurse was awakened by the emergency call bell. She opened the door and saw Mr. Zong, who was worth billions, changing his daughter's diaper in front of a parenting video, using the method of defusing a bomb.
Zongye seems to have a natural talent for dealing with his dad. Every time Zongheng puts him to sleep, he wakes up as soon as he's put down and starts howling at the top of his lungs.
"This little brat did it on purpose, didn't he?" Zong Heng said with a dark face.
Xu Ying said slowly, "Maybe it's like you, stubborn."
Zong Heng narrowed his eyes, suddenly hugged his son to his chest, and threatened in a low voice: "Zong Ye, if you keep making a fuss, I'll drink all of your sister's milk powder."
Amazingly, the little one actually stopped crying.
Xu Ying stared in disbelief: "What kind of parenting technique is this?!"
Zong Heng raised an eyebrow smugly: "Genetic suppression."
After being discharged from the hospital, Zong Heng took even better care of her. One night, when Xu Ying groggily opened her eyes, the bedroom was still dimly lit. Moonlight streamed in through the gauze curtains, casting a soft, silvery glow on the floor.
"Woo-wah—woo-wah—"
The baby's cries came from next door, each one louder than the last. She instinctively reached out to her side; the other side of the bed was empty, still retaining a trace of warmth.
Zong Heng has already gotten up.
Xu Ying rubbed her eyes and dragged her still tired body out of bed. Her ankles, which had been swollen in the later stages of pregnancy, had recovered, but she still felt a little unsteady on her feet. She leaned against the wall and slowly walked towards the nursery.
She was stunned the moment she pushed open the door.
Under the warm yellow nightlight, Zong Heng sat in a rocking chair with his back to the door. His tall figure was elongated by the light, casting a gentle shadow on the wall. He held a swaddled baby in his left arm and a baby bottle in his right, gently coaxing the baby, "Don't cry, little darling, or your mother will wake up."
The voice was deep and helpless, yet it carried an indescribable air of doting affection.
Xu Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Zong Heng turned around abruptly, and when he saw it was her, his brows immediately furrowed: "Why are you up? Go back to sleep."
She ignored him and walked straight over, looking down at the baby in his arms. It was little Qingqing; the little girl's face was red from crying, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, and she was sobbing, looking extremely aggrieved.
"Is she hungry?" Xu Ying reached out to take it.
Zong Heng turned aside and said, "Go back to sleep, I'll feed you."
"You have a meeting tomorrow."
"It's been pushed."
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow: "President Zong, you said last month that you couldn't let personal matters interfere with your work."
Zong Heng remained unfazed: "Are my son and daughter's affairs private matters?"
She couldn't help but laugh out loud, reaching out to poke his cheek: "You're so stubborn."
Zong Heng grabbed her finger and gently bit it: "Go to sleep."
Xu Ying didn't move. Instead, she sat down on the carpet next to him, leaned against his legs, and looked up at the father and daughter: "I want to watch you."
Zong Heng had no choice but to untie his robe with one hand and wrap her in it as well. Xu Ying leaned against his warm embrace, listening to his steady heartbeat, and suddenly felt incredibly at ease.
Little Qingqing finally got to drink the milk, and her crying gradually stopped. She sucked on the milk with her little mouth, her big eyes were still wet, but she had already begun to look around curiously.
“She’s just like you,” Xu Ying said softly.
Zong Heng looked down at his daughter, then at Xu Ying: "How do you resemble me?"
"Stubborn," Xu Ying laughed. "She won't give up until she gets her milk."
Zong Heng snorted: "Who does that son resemble?"
Xu Ying pointed to herself: "Me? I'm so well-behaved."
As if to refute her mother's words, Xiao Ye in the crib suddenly burst into tears.
Zong Heng raised an eyebrow: "Good boy?"
Xu Ying: "..."
She got up to hug her son. As soon as he was in his mother's arms, he calmed down a lot, though his little mouth was still pouting in grievance. Xu Ying gently patted his back and hummed a lullaby.
Zong Heng watched this scene, his Adam's apple bobbing.
“Xu Ying,” he suddenly said.
"Um?"
"Thank you."
She paused for a moment, then turned to look at him: "What are you thanking me for?"
Zong Heng's gaze fell on the two children, his voice a little hoarse: "Thank you for giving me a home."
Xu Ying's eyes welled up with tears.
She walked back and leaned on his shoulder: "Silly boy, this is our home together."
Little Qingqing was already asleep, with the pacifier still in her mouth, occasionally sucking on it. Zong Heng carefully took the bottle away and gently wiped her little face.
"Let me hold her," Xu Ying said, trying to take her daughter from her arms.
Zong Heng shook his head: "You hold the son."
"Why?"
"My daughter is heavier."
Xu Ying was both amused and exasperated: "She only weighs two ounces more than her brother!"
Zong Heng said matter-of-factly, "Two ounces is still heavy."
Xu Ying couldn't do anything about him, so she could only sit next to him with her son in her arms. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the two children's little faces, creating a serene and beautiful scene.
"Zong Heng".
"Um?"
Do you remember the first time we met?
He chuckled: "How could I not remember? When you picked up the book, I thought, how can this girl be so patient?"
"Do you know what I was thinking at the time?"
"What?"
“I was thinking—” Xu Ying deliberately dragged out her words, “This guy is so fierce, he’ll never find a girlfriend.”
Zong Heng narrowed his eyes dangerously: "Xu Ying."
"Um?"
"You're finished."
Before she could react, he lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was gentle and lingering, with a milky scent and a hint of mint.
Xiao Ye stirred in her mother's arms, while Xiao Qingqing smacked her lips in her father's embrace.
The moonlight quietly enveloped the family of four, as if time itself slowed down and stretched out at that moment.
After a long while, Zong Heng finally released her, his forehead pressed against hers: "Xu Ying."
"Um?"
"I love you."
She smiled and closed her eyes: "I know."
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