Xiao Lang rushed to the hospital exhausted, not even having time to change out of his military uniform. He pushed open the door of the ward and saw Chen Xiaoru lying on the bed with a slightly pale face. He hurried over with a distressed heart.
"Xiaoru, thank you for your hard work." Xiao Lang held Chen Xiaoru's hand, his voice choked with sobs, his eyes filled with heartache and guilt. He wished he could bear all the pain for Chen Xiaoru.
Chen Xiaoru looked at his tired appearance, her eyes moistened. She shook her head gently and said with a smile, "I'm not tired. When I see you and the children, I don't feel tired at all."
Xiao Lang looked at her gentle smile, and the guilt in his heart deepened. He knew that he had been away from home for many years, and everything at home was placed on Chen Xiaoru alone. Now she had given birth to five children at once, how exhausted she must be!
"Silly girl, you say it's not hard, but look how much thinner you've become." Xiao Lang gently stroked Chen Xiaoru's cheek, his eyes full of heartache.
At this moment, he noticed that in the crib next to him, five little ones were lying side by side, sleeping soundly. He was instantly moved by the cute scene and walked over carefully, fearing to wake them up.
"Is this our child?" Xiao Lang's voice softened, a hint of disbelief and surprise lingering in his voice. He leaned over and carefully examined each child, liking them more and more, his lips curling up unconsciously.
"Yes, four brothers and one sister." Chen Xiaoru's voice was full of happiness and pride.
Xiao Lang looked at them one by one, gently touching this little face, touching that little hand, his heart as sweet as honey. He suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Chen Xiaoru: "By the way, what are the children's names?"
"They haven't been given full names yet. We just called them nicknames in the order of their birth. The eldest is Xiao Zerui, the second is Xiao Ze'an, the third is Xiao Zeyu, the fourth is Xiao Zechen, and the fifth is Xiao Ruoxi," Chen Xiaoru replied with a smile.
"Ruoxi... this is a good name, as gentle as you." Xiao Lang looked at his youngest daughter, his eyes softening.
Suddenly, he frowned, as if he had discovered something remarkable. Pointing at the crib, he asked Chen Xiaoru, "Wait, Xiaoru, are you sure there are five of them? Not six? Why does this third child look so familiar to me?"
Chen Xiaoru was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "You, you're confused right after coming back? Where did six of them come from?"
Xiao Lang scratched his head, puzzled. "But why do I feel that this third brother looks exactly like me when I was a child? Could he be my long-lost twin brother?"
Chen Xiaoru was so amused by him that she fell backwards and laughed heartily. Xiao's father and mother had also been attracted by the noise and couldn't help laughing when they saw their son's silly look.
"You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about! Are you looking for a beating?" Xiao's father frowned and raised his hand as if to hit Xiao Lang on the head.
Xiao Lang's neck shrank, and he quickly dodged, holding his head exaggeratedly, and laughed: "Dad, I was just joking! Liven up the atmosphere, liven up the atmosphere! Look at you, you took it seriously!"
As he spoke, he winked at Chen Xiaoru. He didn't look serious like a soldier at all, but just a naughty boy.
The atmosphere in the ward was more relaxed and cheerful because of the interaction between the father and son. The sunlight from the window poured in, warm and shining on everyone's face, bringing a smile to their face.
Chen Xiaoru watched the father and son making a fuss and laughed even more happily, almost crying. She said weakly, "You...you guys stop making trouble. I'm still...still weak..."
Mother Xiao glared at Father Xiao in anger, then walked to the bedside and gently held Chen Xiaoru's hand. Her eyes were so gentle, "Xiaoru, ignore them. These two are so unruly. They have been like this since they were little. The most important thing for you now is to have a good rest. You can't take care of your health."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Xiao Lang, her tone blaming: "And you, Xiao Lang! You just came back and you're already so disrespectful. Don't you know how to be more considerate of your wife? She just gave birth to a child and she's weak, and you're still teasing her!"
As Xiao's mother spoke, she gently patted the back of Chen Xiaoru's hand, as if to comfort her.
Xiao Lang immediately stopped smiling and promised seriously, "Mom, I was wrong. I promise to listen to Xiao Ru from now on. If she tells me to go east, I won't go west. If she tells me to catch chickens, I won't chase dogs!"
Chen Xiaoru was so amused by his funny look that she couldn't help but want to laugh again, but it hurt her wound and she hissed in pain.
Xiao Lang leaned over nervously: "What's wrong, Xiaoru? Did I hurt you? Let me take a look." As he said that, he was about to lift the quilt.
Chen Xiaoru quickly held his hand down, her cheeks flushed, and she scolded him, "What are you doing? There are so many people here!"
Xiao Lang finally reacted and scratched his head awkwardly. He looked at his parents and then at Chen Xiaoru, looking at a loss as to what to do.
Father Xiao snorted and turned his head away, but he was very happy in his heart. This silly boy finally knew how to be shy!
Mother Xiao smiled and shook her head, then said to Chen Xiaoru, "Xiaoru, don't worry about him. Let him worry about it. By the way, are you hungry? Mom made you some chicken soup. I'll go get you a bowl."
"Thank you, Mom." Chen Xiaoru said gratefully.
Xiao Lang immediately took over the conversation attentively: "Mom, you take a rest, I'll go get it, I'll go get it!" After saying that, he ran out like a gust of wind.
Looking at his son's happy appearance, Father Xiao couldn't help but complain again: "Look at this kid, he forgot his parents after getting a wife. He hasn't done anything yet, but he's already become a henpecked husband!"
After hearing this, Chen Xiaoru's face turned red like a ripe apple, but her heart was filled with sweetness.
Mother Xiao smiled and patted Father Xiao's arm: "Alright, stop being jealous. It's a good thing for a son to love his wife. Wasn't you the same back then?"
Father Xiao's face flushed, and he said stubbornly, "Who...who is jealous! I'm...I'm happy!"
The ward was filled with the sweet aroma of happiness, and the sounds of laughter were as gentle as a spring breeze. The five little ones seemed to sense the warm atmosphere, stirring their soft bodies in their cribs and babbling softly, as if responding to the adults' joy.
Xiao Lang came back with chicken soup and carefully fed it to Chen Xiaoru spoonful by spoonful. He looked at her pale face and asked distressedly, "Xiaoru, does it still hurt?"
Chen Xiaoru shook her head and smiled gently: "It doesn't hurt anymore. As long as I see you and the children, I'm not afraid of anything."
Xiao Lang held her hand and said affectionately: "Silly, I will always be by your side in the future and never let you suffer again."
"Yes. I believe you." Chen Xiaoru nodded gently, her eyes a little moist.
Xiao's mother watched from the side and said to Xiao's father with a smile: "Look at these two children, they are so good."
Father Xiao also smiled and nodded: "Yes, that's great."
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