By December, her belly had already grown quite large. After the early morning sickness passed, the later stages were calm and peaceful, with normal eating and drinking.

Perhaps because she was carrying twins, Shi Niannian’s belly was much larger than other pregnant women at the same stage. However, she was still thin—except for her belly, everything else remained much the same as before.

This made Jiang Wang even more anxious, always worrying about how those slender legs could support her belly. The company directly hired a professional agent to take over his responsibilities, while Jiang Wang personally took care of her every day.

As the days passed, Jiang Wang became more worried about the delivery than Shi Niannian herself. One night, after watching videos about childbirth online, he couldn’t sleep the entire night.

Shi Niannian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and went to comfort him: “Why are you so nervous? When the time comes, I’ll just be pushed into the delivery room, and after a while, three people will come out. It’ll be quick.”

Jiang Wang held her, nuzzling her neck: “I’m afraid you’ll be in pain, and afraid you’ll be scared being alone in there.”

When choosing the hospital earlier, they had discussed whether Jiang Wang would accompany her during the delivery. Shi Niannian hadn’t planned to have Jiang Wang in the operating room with her.

On one hand, the birthing process was indeed messy; on the other hand, given Jiang Wang’s tendency to overreact with concern for her, who knew what might happen if he went into the operating room.

Shi Niannian rubbed his face with both hands. Jiang Wang leaned back slightly, allowing her to do so.

She leaned closer, their foreheads touching, and said softly: “Then we’ll only have children this once, and I’ll only go through this pain once for you.”

Jiang Wang paused, then said in a deep voice: “Alright.”

Shi Niannian cradled her protruding belly with both hands, letting her body’s weight rest on Jiang Wang: “I still find it so amazing that there are two babies in here.”

Jiang Wang curved his lips but didn’t speak.

Shi Niannian turned her head: “Have you thought about names?”

“What?”

“Names for the babies, what to call them formally and as nicknames,” Shi Niannian said. “We have two here, we can’t just call them both ‘baby.'”

Since Shi Niannian became pregnant, Jiang Wang had focused all his energy on taking care of her. He truly hadn’t thought about what to name the two children after they were born.

He turned his head and kissed her: “I’ll think about it in a few days.”

That day, Jiang Wang went to the company to handle all the documents requiring his signature. By the time he returned home, it was already dark. He pushed open the door.

The lights that were usually on were all turned off, leaving the house in darkness.

Jiang Wang frowned: “Niannian?”

No one responded.

Just as he was about to call Shi Niannian, a soft yellow light came on behind him.

The young woman, wearing a small crown and holding a cake filled with candles, walked out smiling. She wore a white dress, and her hair, which had been cut short during the middle of her pregnancy, reached her shoulders, making her look gentle and soft.

She carried the cake step by step toward Jiang Wang. The candlelight made her eyes look as if they were filled with stars. She smiled and said: “Jiang Wang, happy birthday.”

Since his mother’s drowning in the river on his birthday, Jiang Wang had never celebrated his birthday again.

Later, even after accepting the fact of his mother’s death, Jiang Wang still felt that birthdays were meaningless, so he never celebrated them over the years.

Gradually, even the date of his birthday became unclear to him. His feelings toward his parents could both be described as detached. After finally turning the page on his mother’s death in his heart, this day seemed truly ordinary.

It was at this moment, looking at Shi Niannian in front of him, that he remembered today was that day again.

Jiang Wang took her hand, with a casual smile at the corner of his mouth: “You still remember.”

“Of course,” Shi Niannian looked a bit excited, pulling him to the dining table. “Auntie Zhang taught me how to make this cake. Try it quickly and see if it tastes good.”

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow: “You made it yourself?”

“Yes.” Shi Niannian nodded excitedly like a little dog, sitting in a chair with her chin in her hands, smiling at him and asking, “Am I amazing?”

He smiled and nodded: “Amazing.”

Jiang Wang bent down and directly blew out the candles. Shi Niannian didn’t have time to stop him and could only glare at him: “How could you blow out the candles without making a wish?”

“I don’t have any other wishes,” Jiang Wang said, looking at her with a serious expression. “The most beautiful life I could imagine, you’ve already given me.”

Shi Niannian was stunned, then leaned forward and tilted her head up to kiss him.

Jiang Wang cut a piece of cake and ate it. The cream was rich with a milky aroma, and the sweetness was just right. Shi Niannian’s academic excellence was reflected in all aspects—she could do anything well.

The cake she learned to make was also beautiful and delicious.

“Jiang Wang,” she called softly.

“Hmm?”

“From now on, I’ll celebrate your birthday with you every year, okay?” Shi Niannian said. “You have no wishes to make, but I have many. I can make them on your birthday.”

Jiang Wang lowered his gaze and leaned forward to ask: “What are your wishes?”

“I wish for my Jiang Wang to be happy every day. I wish for Jiang Wang to be healthy and for his ears not to hurt anymore.”

She supported her waist as she stood up, took his hand, and gently placed it on her belly, looking at him and saying softly, “And I also wish for more people to love him.”

Her Jiang Wang, her youth, her hero.

He deserved all the beautiful things in the world. He shouldn’t be alone, but should be the happiest person in the world.

As the due date approached, Shi Niannian took maternity leave and moved directly into the hospital.

Jiang Wang had already arranged everything at the hospital, hiring three people specifically to take care of her. The private ward was lively every day, with people coming to see Shi Niannian daily.

The contractions began on the morning of the due date. Before being wheeled into the delivery room, she spent some time in the ward.

Jiang Wang watched as she was in so much pain that beads of sweat formed on her forehead. His eyes reddened, and his voice choked: “Don’t be afraid, baby. I’ve invited the best doctors. Everything will be fine.”

Shi Niannian smiled weakly, and in turn, raised her hand to stroke his hair: “You’re the one who shouldn’t be afraid.”

When she was being wheeled into the delivery room, Auntie and Xu Ningqing arrived together. Auntie held Shi Niannian’s hand and gave her many instructions.

Xu Ningqing patted Jiang Wang’s shoulder without saying anything.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second.

Jiang Wang stood silently by the wall, chin slightly raised, staring fixedly at the illuminated operating room light.

Unable to see Shi Niannian, not knowing what was happening inside—this state of no control made Jiang Wang irritable and anxious. From birth until now, he had never been more afraid than at this moment.

Although Shi Niannian had received good results at every prenatal check-up, even though the most professional doctors had been invited, he still couldn’t help but feel terrified, unable to accept any possible “what if.”

This state reached its peak when the first cry of a baby was heard.

And it finally returned to normal when the nurse came out to say “mother and children all safe.”

Two baby boys.

Auntie held his hand and patted the back of it, finally putting her heart at ease, repeatedly saying: “That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful.”

When Shi Niannian was wheeled out, her small face was drenched in sweat. She was completely exhausted.

Jiang Wang knelt beside her, hugging her with his face buried in the side of her neck.

The nurse brought out two babies, two small bundles wrapped securely, crying loudly and wailing. Auntie was overjoyed, gently holding the babies’ little fists.

The more she looked, the cuter she found them. Just as she was about to say something to Shi Niannian, she saw Jiang Wang still kneeling beside her in the same position, his face buried deep in the crook of her neck.

After a long moment, he finally raised his head, eyes red, massaging Shi Niannian’s palm. He lowered his head and said chokingly: “Thank you, Niannian.”

Because of her, that family he completely didn’t want to remember seemed to finally come to an end. He now had a true family of his own.

A family with Shi Niannian and two children.

This family would rewrite all the broken memories of family in his mind, rewritten together by him and Shi Niannian.

When Shi Niannian woke up again, it was already the next morning. The curtains in the ward were still drawn tightly, letting no light in. She stared at the ceiling for about ten seconds before turning her head to the side.

There she saw Jiang Wang sleeping with his head on the edge of her bed.

The man’s features were resolute and straight. Tall as he was, sleeping hunched over at the edge of the hospital bed looked quite uncomfortable.

Shi Niannian didn’t know how long she had slept. Her body felt a bit stiff from sleeping. As soon as she moved her arm, Jiang Wang woke up, almost reflexively taking her hand.

He looked at her for about two seconds before reacting, asking hoarsely: “You’re awake?”

“Yes.” Shi Niannian squeezed his hand back. “Did you sleep here?”

Jiang Wang silently rubbed his eyes, then after a moment said: “It’s fine. How are you? Are you still in pain?”

Shi Niannian shook her head and reached out to him.

Jiang Wang moved closer, allowing her to touch his face. Shi Niannian placed her palm against his cheek, looked at him for a long while, and said: “When I was in the delivery room, you cried, didn’t you?”

Jiang Wang pressed his lips together without answering.

Shi Niannian didn’t mind. She smiled tenderly, pinched his face, and muttered: “You cry more than I do.”

His gaze was deep and without much joy. Shi Niannian looked at him as her smile gradually faded. Before she could ask “What’s wrong,” Jiang Wang bent down, cupped her face, and kissed her.

Shi Niannian blinked, struggling to find a more comfortable position, letting him kiss her.

He kissed her very gently, holding her lower lip, licking and leaving a moist trail. After a long time, he stopped, but didn’t move back.

Their lips still touched, and when he spoke, they brushed against each other, creating a blush-inducing intimacy.

He said softly, “I’m sorry for making you suffer.”

Shi Niannian kissed him again, not responding to his words, but pushing him away slightly to look to the side: “Where are the babies?”

Jiang Wang still maintained the close position from before, his voice hoarse: “In the room next door.”

“Have you seen them? Are they cute?”

Earlier in the ward, the nurse had brought the two babies for her to see, but she was in so much pain and exhaustion that she hadn’t seen them.

Jiang Wang had been so concerned about Shi Niannian that Auntie and Xu Ningqing had spent quite some time with the babies. He had sent people to take care of them while he stayed by Shi Niannian’s side without leaving.

He said: “I’ll have them brought over for you to see.”

Soon, the two babies wrapped in small blankets were brought into the room and gently placed in the twin stroller that had been prepared earlier.

The two little ones were chubby, neither crying nor fussing, sleeping quietly. Previous tests had shown they were fraternal twins, but perhaps because they had just been born, the two babies still looked quite similar at this point.

Jiang Wang helped Shi Niannian sit up at the edge of the bed.

Her heart melted at the sight of the two soft little ones. She reached out to gently hold their small hands: “Who do you think they look like?”

Jiang Wang’s gaze softened as he looked at the two babies: “Like you.”

Shi Niannian looked carefully: “I can’t see the resemblance.”

He said, “It’s good if they look like you.”

“Then let them look like me,” she smiled, nestling in his arms. “They should love their father as much as I do.”