Chapter 38: Son and Daughter
The silent rain of tears outside the delivery room seemed to completely wash away the last trace of gloom and coldness in Huo Linshen's life. The birth of his son brought him an unprecedented sense of responsibility and a strange tenderness. He named his son Huo Minghao, taking the character "Hao" to represent its vastness and profoundness, and to express his deepest hopes.
However, fate seemed to treat them particularly well. Shortly after Huo Minghao started babbling and taking his first steps, and had just turned one year old, Su Lingwan was found to be pregnant again.
This time, while Huo Linshen was still nervous, he felt less flustered and overwhelmed than he had been when he first became a father. Instead, he felt a calmer sense of joy and anticipation. He still meticulously cared for Su Lingwan's daily needs, but without the same trepidation he'd felt the last time. Instead, he relished the process of waiting for a new life. He accompanied Su Lingwan to every prenatal checkup, watching the tiny, fluttering figure on the ultrasound screen with a gentle smile in his eyes. He would press his ear to her growing belly, feeling the fetal movements and "talking" to the little one inside. He even began to enthusiastically discuss with Su Lingwan whether this time she would have a brother or a sister.
Su Lingwan's second pregnancy was relatively smooth, and the delivery was also smooth. On a bright spring afternoon, they welcomed their new family member—a little girl weighing 16.82 kilograms and crying loudly.
When the nurse brought the rosy-cheeked little baby girl wrapped in a pink swaddle to Huo Linshen, this man, who had seen a lot of ups and downs, was stunned again.
Unlike the heavy sense of responsibility he felt when holding his son, the moment Huo Linshen held his daughter, his heart melted into a pool of water. An indescribable, extreme tenderness and a desire to protect her instantly filled his chest. The little girl was so petite, so fragile, with her eyes closed and her mouth slightly pouting, like a delicate bud that needed careful care.
He carefully took his daughter in, practically holding his breath, his gentle touch more cautious than any priceless business contract. He looked down at his little daughter in his arms, his eyes, always deep and piercing, now filled with an almost devout tenderness and a kind of... foolish fascination.
"Ling Wan, look at her..." He lowered his voice unconsciously, as if he was afraid of disturbing this little angel, "She looks like you, her eyebrows, her mouth, everything..."
Su Lingwan leaned against the headboard, watching Huo Linshen holding his daughter like a treasure, and couldn't help but smile. She named her daughter Huo Mingyue. "Yue" is a magical pearl in ancient legends, which means precious and beautiful. It complements her name "Mingzhu" and also carries her father's love for her.
And Huo Linshen also completely lived up to the reputation of "daughter slave" through his actions.
If the love for his son Huo Minghao is deep and guiding, and he places high hopes on his heir; then the love for his daughter Huo Mingyue is unprincipled and doting, and he wants to bring the whole world to her.
When Huo Minghao was little, Huo Linshen would put on a stern face, trying to intimidate him with his fatherly status. But when it came to Huo Mingyue, if the little princess pouted, let out even the slightest whimper of grievance, Huo Linshen would immediately drop everything he was doing—whether it was an ongoing international video conference or a multi-million dollar merger and acquisition document—and rush over to hold his daughter in his arms, coaxing her with gentle words. His level of patience was so great that even Su Lingwan would be ashamed of herself.
The once cold and rigid decor of his office and study was quietly transformed. On his expensive ebony desk, a small golden abacus (which he jokingly called "business acumen"), which his daughter had won at her 100-day celebration, was placed, along with a cute photo of her grinning and drooling. A corner of his cold filing cabinet was filled with soft stuffed animals. He even had a small play area set aside in his office, covered in thick carpet, equipped with a safe slide and a ball pit, so his daughter could play within his sight while he worked.
Huo Mingyue also seemed to have an innate understanding of how to manipulate her father. Her large, clear, bright eyes, reminiscent of Su Lingwan's, would simply gaze innocently at Huo Linshen and softly call him "Dad." Even if she scribbled on documents like drawing paper or climbed onto his lap to pull his tie during an important meeting, Huo Linshen would simply smile indulgently and pinch her nose, never showing any anger.
Once, Huo Mingyue took a fancy to a top-grade chicken bloodstone seal Huo Linshen had bought at an auction and kept in his study as a talisman. The vibrant red color was beautiful, and she insisted on playing with it. Without blinking, Huo Linshen had the priceless seal taken to a craftsman, who polished off the sharp edges to ensure it wouldn't scratch his daughter's delicate hands. The seal then became just another inconspicuous toy among little Mingyue's many toys.
Su Lingwan was at a loss for words: "Lin Shen, you will spoil her."
Huo Linshen was quite confident and held his sweet and soft daughter in his arms, kissing her on the cheek: "Of course I have to spoil my daughter. Raising a girl in wealth will prevent her from being easily deceived by some stinky boy outside in the future."
Su Lingwan: “…” His daughter was only a little over one year old, and he was already starting to worry that she had been abducted?
Huo Minghao, his older brother, seemed to have inherited his father's quiet sense of responsibility. He showed immense tolerance and protectiveness towards his sister, two years his junior. He would let his sister play with his toys first, and when she fell while learning to walk, he would clumsily help her up, even though he often lost his balance, causing the two of them to fall together. He would sit beside his sister's crib, watching her sleep, his little adult-like demeanor making the adults laugh.
Huo Linshen felt relieved when he saw his son's sense of responsibility at such a young age, but when he turned to look at his daughter, his eyes immediately switched to one of unconditional doting.
The family atmosphere, with the arrival of two children, has become incredibly vibrant and lively. The Repulse Bay Villa is no longer just the tranquility and luxury of the adult world; it is now filled with the sounds of children's laughter, babbling, and the clatter of toys.
At night, after coaxing the two little ones to sleep, Huo Linshen would hold Su Lingwan in his arms, standing at the door of the children's room, looking at his son and daughter sleeping side by side on the bed in the soft light of the corridor lamp.
Huo Minghao sleeps in a proper posture, like a little gentleman; Huo Mingyue sleeps with his arms and legs spread out, his little fists raised above his head, looking very adorable.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Huo." Huo Linshen whispered in her ear, his arms tightening. It was she who gave him such a perfect family.
Su Lingwan leaned in his arms, looking at the fruit of their love in the room, her heart filled with a peaceful sense of happiness. "With you, Haohao and Yueyue, I am very happy."
Huo Linshen lowered his head and kissed the top of her head.
He had thought he was living in eternal night until she appeared and brought the dawn.
And now, they have a son and a daughter, who are like the brightest stars in life, illuminating his once gloomy world with brightness and warmth.
The night view of the port city is still brilliant, and in this villa in Repulse Bay, the lights are always on and the love remains forever.
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