Chapter Twenty: Deep Affection
Su Xiangdong carried the thermos inside, and paused at the doorway, momentarily stunned. His heart raced. The instant she turned around at the sound of his voice, her rosy face, like a flower blooming on a spring branch, struck his heart.
Her skin was porcelain white, her eyebrows were lightly drawn, and her delicate lips were slightly parted. Her gaze towards him held a mixture of shyness and trepidation. She gently bit her red lips with her pearly white teeth and slowly stood up from in front of the dressing table.
He mechanically placed the thermos on the table and washed his hands in the basin beside him. His heart was pounding violently in his chest. Looking at the beautiful woman so close to him, he couldn't say a word.
At this moment, silence spoke louder than words; in the dim light, no further language was needed. Everything unfolded so naturally and smoothly. He reached out and pulled the person into his arms; the sweet fragrance, tinged with a faint milky scent, instantly captivated his thoughts.
The kisses, the bed, the movements—though intense, never crossed any boundaries. He hadn't forgotten his two children. The man's heavy breathing and the woman's soft moans intertwined to create a beautiful feast.
The lights in the house had been turned off at the beginning. Shuyao had already told her third aunt that she didn't need to come over tonight.
Men who have just tasted the sweetness of sex are truly terrifying, especially when they encounter a beauty of Shu Yao's caliber on their first time. They simply can't stop themselves. Once they've tasted the sweetness, they want more and more, until she's so exhausted she doesn't want to move a single finger afterward. When the baby wakes up at night, he changes the diaper and puts the baby in her arms to nurse.
“No formula,” he explained, leaning down to kiss her as he saw her open her eyes. “You go to sleep, I’ll put the baby to sleep after you’ve eaten.”
The two little ones were very easy to soothe; they ate their milk obediently, and as soon as their diapers were changed, they fell fast asleep. The next day, when she woke up, he was already gone. Her aunt heard the children crying and rushed in from outside.
She was breastfeeding one baby, while her aunt picked up the other and patted and soothed it. "Xiangdong left early this morning. He said he had some things to do today. He might be back late tonight."
"oh."
"Nothing happened tonight, right? I didn't hear the kids crying." Didn't you say Xiangdong was a restless sleeper before? You don't even share a room with him when you're alone. Now that you have two kids with you, aren't you worried he might roll over on them?
"It's nothing." Her face flushed instantly, and she felt extremely embarrassed. But they were husband and wife, and she wanted to live a normal life with him. He hesitated to take this step, and she needed to give him a clear signal.
"Now that we have a child, everything has to come first. Xiangdong is a restless sleeper, so you'll have to be in the middle of him to keep him from rolling over onto the baby. I heard about a case a few years ago where a man slept so soundly that he crushed his baby, who was only a few months old, to death."
"Oh, I know."
After her aunt finished her rambling, she helped her take care of the two children and then went out to bring her food. She watched as the two babies gently patted their faces to cool down. She had tested the children many times to confirm that they were purebred.
She should be able to return to work in about ten days. These days, state-owned factories are quite considerate of their employees, so there's no need to worry. Breastfeeding women are reassigned to day shifts—four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon—so they don't interfere with childcare.
The weather was warm, so she and her aunt took the baby out for a walk. The little one was less than six months old and couldn't sit in a stroller, so being carried around was very novel for him, and he looked around with his big eyes.
"Oh my, the child has grown so much."
"They grow so fast, kids really do."
The neighbors all praised the children, and many people came over to play with them. Because of the past conflict with the Sun family, many people were curious about who the two children resembled.
"Your daughter looks like you, and your son looks like Station Master Su. Look at that nose, that little mouth, they're just like Station Master Su."
After hearing this kind of talk so many times, Shu Yao felt a little confused. In her previous life, her two children were very thin and weak when they were young, but now they were quite plump. As they grew up, her daughter looked a lot like her maternal grandmother, while her son actually looked a lot like his uncle. But looking at them now, they did seem to resemble Su Xiangdong somewhat.
Sun's mother didn't approach, secretly scoffing as she listened to everyone's comments. "Hmph, what's so great about them? Once my daughter-in-law marries into the family, we'll have a whole bunch of them."
Mr. Sun also heard the commotion outside. As soon as his wife came home, he asked, "Did you see those two children? How are they? Are they related to our family?"
"Everyone says he looks like Su Xiangdong, and I think so too. Humph, it has nothing to do with us. We should be thinking about finding a wife for our son as soon as possible. In the past, boys got married at fifteen, and our son is already over twenty."
"Okay." No, the old man was somewhat disappointed. If Shu Yao hadn't left, the twins would belong to the Sun family now, and he would be a grandfather. Forget it, he'd better hurry up and marry one of them; he wanted a grandson next year too.
Shu Yao wasn't afraid of the Sun family seeing the two children; twins never really looked like members of the Sun family. There was no genetic testing back then, so you couldn't tell just by looking at them. "I'm the child's mother," she said, "if I say they're not yours, then they're not yours."
Of course, the most crucial factor was Su Xiangdong's attitude. If he had seemed reluctant or unenthusiastic, everyone would have speculated. But he acted perfectly normal, like a clueless new father, so everyone who saw him praised him, saying his son looked exactly like him.
When Su Xiangdong returned home in the evening, she washed her hands as soon as she entered the door and went inside to see them. The two children were awake; she held one in her arms while the other lay beside her, happily kicking its legs as it listened to its mother's voice.
He picked up his son, and the little guy was overjoyed to see his father. "Seeing Daddy so happy, look what Daddy brought you!"
Bamboo dragonflies, again, two of them. Shu Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud, and gently scolded, "You can't play with these now, they'll poke your eyes."
"Oh." He quickly put it away, picked up his son, and sat down next to her. "Mom said you can't play with it, but you can have it when you're older."
With the child present, the two felt less awkward. However, the couple, who had just been intimate, still couldn't help but blush when their eyes met. Their fair cheeks flushed, turning a rosy pink like ripe fruit, making them look incredibly tempting.
He seized a moment to steal a kiss, which made her turn and glare at him. He then hugged his son and laughed heartily. He had been in this state all day, so happy and blissful that he would pinch himself every now and then.
Okay, the pain wasn't a dream. They really were husband and wife now, not just in name. She said she was willing to spend her life with him, to share life and death, and when he hesitated, she took the initiative to extend an olive branch. She proved her feelings with her actions, and he liked this way of expressing her love; he liked it so much that his heart couldn't stop racing.
Before, he slept in a cold bed with cold blankets, unable to sleep alone. Now, after putting his two children to sleep, he has his fragrant wife in bed. He can reach out and hold her soft, warm body in his arms. The tenderness and excitement in his heart are beyond words.
He was thirty-one years old, at the peak of his male physique. A strong, middle-aged man who had just lost his virginity, holding this perfectly legitimate and reasonable woman in his arms, was experiencing a surge of intense physical desire.
Feeling his burning kiss on the back of her neck, Shu Yao relaxed and let him do as he pleased. Later, she responded by turning around and hugging him. No words were needed; their actions spoke volumes.
When it's over, men usually relax and enter a state of post-coital bliss. Most will get up for a cigarette, and a few who don't smoke will fall asleep contentedly. But he held his wife tightly, occasionally giving her a gentle kiss.
"Okay, let go of me and go wash up."
"Honey, I'm so happy." I really don't know what to say; the happiness and contentment in my heart are unlike anything I've ever felt before. "I love you" is too cheesy to say, so I can only convey my feelings to her. I'm so happy living with you; my life now makes me so happy.
"I understand." A person who has lived a lifetime should be calm and serene. But now, he stirred up a storm of emotions within me, a feeling completely different from my first marriage.
Sun Yaozu always treated her like an older sister, someone he could rely on. During her postpartum period, he would praise her for being capable by doing the laundry and cooking. But now, he wouldn't praise her for being capable, but he would take care of everything for her. During her postpartum period, he would not only do the laundry and cooking, but he would even bring her a glass of water.
I was so naive before, so happy and willing to work hard whenever I heard praise. But when someone truly cares for you, it's never just words.
The two became husband and wife smoothly, and Shu Yao's life was very leisurely. When she heard that the Sun family next door was getting married, a neighbor lady came over to gossip with her while she was taking her child for a walk.
"I heard they paid a lot of dowry," the old woman clicked her tongue, "but neither the Sun family nor the Meng family admits it. Well, how could the Sun family admit to having so much money? But nothing stays secret forever, anyway, many people are saying it."
Shu Yao knew, of course, that Sun Yaozu had suddenly become much wealthier after the passing of the Sun family elders. She had even questioned him about it at the time, but he had given evasive answers. Since it wasn't illegal income, she didn't pursue the matter further. Now it seemed that only a small portion of it had been given to him; the majority had been given to Meng Xi.
Well, the Sun family is rich and powerful. But in her past life, she watched helplessly as her child fell seriously ill, unable to contribute any of that money. She reluctantly took out the small yellow croaker, tearfully selling this only piece of evidence.
Countless nights she cried, dreaming that her mother didn't recognize her. She was asked to produce the small yellow croaker from the house, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. The Sun family clearly had the means, yet they ignored her and her son's plight. Now, for Meng Xi's sake, they readily produced it, revealing once again the true colors of the Sun elders.
Rationally, she knew it wasn't worth getting angry or hurting them; hadn't everything in her past life already explained things? But emotionally, she still felt terrible. From the age of twelve, when she entered the Sun family, the old couple made her call them "father" and "mother." After liberation, Sun's mother treated her with a smile, always saying that she was their own daughter.
In the end, she was the only one who devoted her entire life to the cause. The others only provided words. And she had to smile and respond to their flattering words, no matter how tired she was. If she was unhappy, she would immediately face a lecture.
She was taught how to be a wife, a mother, and a daughter-in-law. It was under these strict rules that she repeatedly lost her will.
"Yaoyao, my wife."
She looked up when she heard his voice, and there he was, holding their daughter. She hadn't even noticed when he had returned.
"What are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought." He looked at her closely for a moment. "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
The daughter babbled and smiled at her with her fair little face. The aunt was holding her son in her arms, and the little guy was just as happy to see his mother.
She has children, and someone who cares for her so much. Everything from her past life is gone; she doesn't need to trap herself in those emotions. To waste herself on someone unworthy is such a foolish thing to do.
"No." She stood up, smiling, and took her daughter into her arms. She bent down and kissed the baby's delicate little face. "My daughter is so beautiful, she's getting prettier and prettier."
Su Xiangdong saw the gloom in her eyes fade, and since she didn't want to talk about it, he didn't ask further. Sun Yaozu next door was getting married, but she didn't seem jealous or resentful. If she still had any feelings for Sun Yaozu, she wouldn't be so resolute.
Everything was normal that night. They slept in the same bed, and she snuggled into his arms, wrapping her arms around his strong waist. He gently patted her back and placed light kisses on her hair.
He didn't ask anything; she would tell him if she wanted to. She could handle anything when she was alone; she always thought of herself as strong and capable. She hadn't cried even when cleaning toilets for Sun Yaozu in her past life, but now she couldn't hold back her tears.
"I'm not crying about anything else, I'm crying because I feel I'm not worth it."
He gently stroked her hair, and a tender kiss landed on her forehead. "The Sun family are shrewd businessmen. Their own daughter married off to an old man for profit, so how could they possibly treat you sincerely? Don't be sad or upset over someone like that. They bought you, not your parents."
She had only shed a few tears, but his words made them flow even more. How could he understand her so well, knowing exactly what was causing her pain? She had no relatives or friends here, and for someone to treat her like this was truly the greatest blessing of her life.
"Okay. Just this once, I won't be sad again."
"That's right, it's not worth it for a family like that."
On the day Sun Yaozu remarried, she had just returned to work. Early in the morning, she heard gongs and drums next door, so she got up, washed up, ate breakfast, and breastfed her two children before leaving.
"Third Aunt, if they get hungry in the morning, make them some formula. Let them get used to mixed feeding."
"I know. If you don't want formula, then rice water will do, it'll help for a while."
Most families do it this way; it saves money. She fed her child this way in her past life too, but rice water is definitely not as nutritious as formula. If the child can eat solid food, she should stick with formula. For a year, she can just eat all of her own salary, as long as the child is healthy.
"Third Aunt, please take care of the child. We're leaving now," Su Xiangdong said, pushing his cart.
"Go with peace of mind. I've raised children for half my life. Don't worry about me."
The two pushed their bikes out the door, glancing at the commotion next door without paying any attention to anyone else. Shu Yao, who worked from eight to twelve, remained remarkably calm thanks to her past life's experience.
"Hey, Shuyao," Sister Xu came over to talk to her during a break from work. "Meng Xi is getting married today, marrying your ex-husband. Did you know that?"
“I know. Our two houses are practically next to each other, and we heard the noise.”
"This Meng Xi..." Sister Xu didn't know what to say, she just felt that things were very strange. "Meng Xi and Sun Yaozu were classmates. Did they have an affair before he came here? Sister, tell me properly, did you find out about this and that's why you got a divorce?"
Shu Yao was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond. She wasn't sure if they were having an affair, but she knew their relationship was definitely not innocent. Meng Xi's daughter was four years younger than her child, meaning that at the latest, they would be truly involved in something beyond three years.
Women are very perceptive with each other. Her silent and restrained state made Sister Xu suddenly furious.
"It really is true. Sister, you're so patient, you didn't say anything. If it were me, I would have torn Meng Xi's mouth apart, I'm so angry."
"Don't force what doesn't belong to you. I'm very happy now. Sister, please stop doing this. Don't talk about it outside. I don't want to have any entanglements with that couple."
"I..." Sister Xu patted her shoulder. "Little sister, you've really been wronged. If you hadn't lived with the Sun family, with your looks and temperament, would Sun Yaozu have even gotten his hands on you? He doesn't know how to cherish such a good person like you..."
"Isn't this a good thing? I cut my losses in time, and now I'm very happy."
"That's true."
Sister Xu was even angrier than she was, and her impression of Meng Xi worsened. Knowing full well that he already had a fiancée, what you two did was utterly immoral.
"No way, are they both crazy? If they want to be together, they should find someone and get married. Why force you to marry first, and then have affairs outside?"
Shu Yao remained silent, truly unsure of what to say. In her past life, Sun Yaozu had told her that they were true love, having liked each other since their school days.
Sun Yaozu got money from his parents and spent it all outside. Compared to that, he must have liked Meng Xi a long time ago. You bastard, if you like her, go marry her! What kind of man keeps me trapped in your house like a slave for life?
"Damn it, this is incredibly immoral."
Sister Xu left, grumbling and cursing. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Luckily, she hadn't given Meng Xi any gifts; she shouldn't have associated with someone like that.
Shu Yao rode her bike home at noon, washed her hands, and quickly fed her two babies. "Would you like formula?"
Auntie shook her head helplessly: "He won't drink it. He won't even take the bottle, so I had no choice but to feed him some with a spoon."
The little one was starving, gulping down his food. Her son was too hungry to sleep, but her daughter was quietly asleep in the room. She had just finished feeding her son when her daughter woke up. She quickly went into the room, picked her up, and let the little one nurse.
"Sweetie, why aren't you drinking from the bottle? Mommy has to go to work. You and your brother drank formula this morning when you were hungry. The bottle is so much better, okay? Be a good girl and drink it, alright?"
The little guy ignored her and swallowed his food like his brother. Su Xiangdong had just returned and brought his son in from outside.
"What should we do? How about I find a way to transfer you to a unit where you can breastfeed in between?"
"No need. They're not used to it at first, but they'll get used to it in a few days. They're getting bigger, and my breast milk is almost not enough for them. They need to get used to formula, otherwise they'll drink rice water."
He nodded; his wife was right. Two babies needed breastfeeding; how could she manage on her own? Helping the children adapt was essential; they couldn't rely solely on her.
The couple were talking when the sound of a suona horn came from next door. They glanced over instinctively, then ignored each other. After lunch and a short rest, they hurried off to work.
After about three days, the two little ones probably finally realized that their mother really wasn't there in the mornings. They started to accept the bottle and gradually got used to mixed feeding.
Seeing the two children obediently drinking from their bottles, Auntie San finally felt relieved. The couple was also relieved and no longer needed to rush home after work.
That evening, he made formula for the two babies, following his wife's advice to use warm water. The two lay down, each with their own bottle, happily drinking from it. After finishing, they tossed the bottles aside and fell fast asleep. He gently removed the bottles, and the two little ones were curled up, sleeping soundly.
"Look, honey, how cute she is."
Shu Yao was doing her skincare routine when she glanced back and smiled. The little guy was fatter than in his previous life, chubby and especially endearing. His little legs were curled up, and his little mouth was sucking, it was simply adorable. No wonder his father loved him so much, lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) with a silly grin on his face.
"Stop looking at it, hurry up and wash the bottle, we'll need it tonight."
"Okay."
He went to wash the baby bottles and brought in the potty for the night. After washing his hands, he went to bed. He couldn't resist holding his wife; Shu Yao only washed her face and moisturized her skin all night, doing nothing else. When in a good mood, she was equally enthusiastic and never refused.
"daughter in law,"
"Um?"
"You smell so good, your skin is as soft as tofu." When emotions run high, words that are usually too shy to say are whispered out with each kiss.
"I like you so much."
Such exercise is particularly beneficial for couples to enhance their relationship. In a short period of time, the two have gone from exchanging flirtatious glances to being inseparable.
Listening to his husky, passionate voice profess his love, kiss after kiss landed on her face. Every gesture spoke of tenderness and affection, a man's greatest attachment.
The children wake up twice at night. The first time, he gets up to change their diapers and make them formula. The second time, it's almost five o'clock. She lies there half asleep, feeding the two little ones, and falls asleep while they're eating.
After he finished eating, he picked up the two babies and went back to sleep, cuddling his wife. His aunt cooked breakfast for them in the morning, so they didn't have to worry about that.
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