According to Liu Fen’s thinking, since they discovered Liang Huan’s dishonesty, they should have chased her away with a broom and forbidden her from visiting again.

Tang Hong’en told her to hold steady and wait for his arrival in Beijing.

Tang Hong’en didn’t delay too long. After arranging his work over the next two days, he came. By the time he arrived in Beijing, Xia Xiaolan was already showing signs of labor.

Zhou Cheng appeared calm when he said he would drive, but his hands were trembling.

Tang Hong’en arrived just in time.

“What’s there to panic about? We’ve already arranged everything with the hospital and the doctors. Zhou Cheng, go start the car. Ah Fen, bring Xiaolan’s prepared maternity bag. I’ll help Xiaolan to the car, and we’ll call Zhou Cheng’s family after we reach the hospital.”

Though still ten days before her due date, Xia Xiaolan was experiencing contractions and labor pains. For someone carrying twins, reaching this point was quite remarkable. Going into labor half a month early wasn’t considered premature, and this hospital visit would likely result in a normal delivery.

Xia Xiaolan was genuinely frightened.

Old Tang’s timely return immediately steadied both the soon-to-be father Zhou Cheng and the soon-to-be grandmother Liu Fen. Even Xia Xiaolan felt reassured seeing him.

She had become sensitive, overthinking, and particularly delicate. When Tang Hong’en supported her, Xia Xiaolan’s eyes began to water.

Why had she become so easily moved to tears?

How embarrassing!

Tang Hong’en didn’t mock her. After helping her into the car, he encouraged her:

“Nothing is more important than you giving birth right now. You’re the most important person in our family at this moment. If anything makes you uncomfortable, you must speak up. Whether you have complaints about me, find your mother annoying, or are unhappy with Zhou Cheng, tell us everything. Once you’ve said it, don’t dwell on it anymore. Let’s focus on delivering these babies first, then we can settle accounts, okay?”

As the father-in-law encouraged his daughter to act freely, Zhou Cheng silently drove without objecting.

What was there to object to? Wasn’t making Xiaolan comfortable the priority right now?

Although Zhou Cheng truly didn’t understand how he had upset his wife, if his father-in-law said he had, then so be it.

Xia Xiaolan felt quite embarrassed.

Old Tang was being too sensitive, wasn’t he?

“No, I find all of you very agreeable. During my pregnancy, everyone has been revolving around me, accommodating my tastes and schedule. I have nothing to complain about!”

If there was nothing to complain about, why was she holding something back?

Tang Hong’en didn’t believe her.

He worried that Xiaolan was afraid of giving birth but too embarrassed to say so. On the way to the hospital, he and Liu Fen sat on either side of Xiaolan. During contractions, Xia Xiaolan didn’t moan, but sweat kept rolling down her face.

Tang Hong’en hadn’t even worried this much about his son Ji Jiangyuan.

Ji Jiangyuan was male; men didn’t have to experience childbirth. Having a daughter meant a lifetime of worry.

The hospital wasn’t far.

As soon as Zhou Cheng delivered them, someone took Xia Xiaolan for examination. Zhou Cheng was so anxious his forehead was covered in sweat. When they finally reached the ward, he got a chance to be close to his wife. Just as he stood by the bed holding Xiaolan’s hand, about to say some heartfelt words of encouragement, his father-in-law sent him away:

“You still need to notify your family, hurry up and go!”

Zhou Cheng left pitifully. Xia Xiaolan’s contractions came in waves, and during a painless moment, she couldn’t help but giggle.

Tang Hong’en was speechless:

“How has this Zhou fellow offended you? I feel sorry for him.”

Xia Xiaolan was puzzled, “Haven’t you always disliked Zhou Cheng?”

Tang Hong’en spoke honestly: “I do dislike him, but I’m reasonable. If he did something wrong, I could break his legs, but this time you’re being a bit unreasonable.”

Another contraction hit Xia Xiaolan, but her mouth remained defiant:

“I haven’t done anything!”

Tang Hong’en sat down and looked at her seriously, “Your mistake is precisely that you haven’t done anything. Xiaolan, don’t test human nature, it can’t withstand testing. If you use such matters to test Zhou Cheng, even though he’s not that kind of person, you might force him to become one. She’s your own cousin, how do you expect Zhou Cheng to handle this?”

When there were signs, they should have been nipped in the bud, not allowed to grow.

Testing Zhou Cheng’s self-awareness – what would count as passing the test?

Xiaolan was waiting to see if Zhou Cheng would be tempted; whatever he did would be wrong. Such suspicious doubts had already planted small cracks in the most intimate trust between husband and wife.

Tang Hong’en felt Xia Xiaolan hadn’t handled this well. It would have been better to let her temper flare, to explicitly tell Zhou Cheng not to look at other women, to be jealous of anyone except close female relatives… Though that would be dramatic, at least it would be honest!

Sweat dripped from Xia Xiaolan’s forehead: “You just said I was the most important person—”

“Yes, you are the most important person. You’re pregnant, your feelings matter most. Your mother and I, even Zhou Cheng, don’t want childbirth to affect your wellbeing. I care about the babies in your belly, but you’re the one I love most. Silly girl, don’t you understand? You’re mine and Ah Fen’s daughter, Zhou Cheng’s wife, but first and foremost, you’re yourself. Being a daughter, wife, and mother isn’t as important as being yourself.”

Tang Hong’en’s words didn’t make Xia Xiaolan cry, but Liu Fen, who had just finished asking the doctor detailed questions and returned with Zhou Cheng, heard his words and was moved to tears.

Even Zhou Cheng felt grateful to his father-in-law at this moment.

Regardless of whether his father-in-law liked him or not, he was fair when it mattered and truly loved his wife.

So it was about Liang Huan after all?

An irrelevant passerby whom Zhou Cheng had never properly looked at had affected his wife’s emotions so much.

Zhou Cheng entered the ward and held Xia Xiaolan’s other hand, “It’s alright, test me as you wish. I believe I can pass any test for the rest of my life.”

Xia Xiaolan squeezed Zhou Cheng’s hand back.

Old Tang was right; she had been too sensitive this time. Zhou Cheng hadn’t done anything, yet she had looked at him through the lens of “you might be unfaithful.” Zhou Cheng had been carefully taking care of her during this time without being able to defend himself – he must have felt wronged too.

A loud drum needs no heavy beating; Tang Hong’en didn’t say more. There was no time to say more, as Xia Xiaolan’s contractions were becoming more frequent.

Within an hour, Zhou Cheng’s family arrived. Guan Hui’e brought poached eggs, and the doctor suggested she eat something to have strength for delivery later.

She had been admitted to the hospital at noon. At three in the afternoon, Xia Xiaolan was taken to the delivery room, and by nine in the evening, she safely delivered two baby boys.

The nurse brought out the swaddled babies and offered congratulations:

“Mother and sons are doing well!”

Zhou Cheng’s legs almost gave way.

Tang Hong’en wasn’t much better; these two men were less composed than the women present.

Zhou Cheng only got a brief look at the babies, as there were too many family members in the hallway eager to hold them. He wasn’t in a hurry; his sons weren’t going anywhere. He anxiously waited outside the delivery room until finally, Xia Xiaolan was wheeled out.

Xia Xiaolan was completely exhausted. Not only was she swollen and unkempt, but she was also drenched in sweat with her hair plastered to her face. Yet Zhou Cheng’s gaze remained as passionate as when they first met. He placed a kiss on Xiaolan’s forehead:

“You’ve become a mother, and I’ve become a father. You’ve worked so hard, my dear wife!”