The road to postpartum recovery was extremely long.

Shang Zhitao began strength training and non-intense aerobic exercise after her postpartum examination.

When Dr. Liang heard she wanted to do recovery training, he created a diet plan for her to follow daily. The task of body shaping and fat reduction was left to Luan Nian.

Having a fitness instructor like Luan Nian at home was truly wonderful. He knew more about fitness than ordinary trainers, with extensive theoretical knowledge.

On Shang Zhitao’s first day of strength training, Luan Nian first helped her warm up. The two of them nestled in Shang Zhitao’s small fitness room, where Luan Nian couldn’t resist teasing her, “Do you now see the benefits of having a larger house?”

“It’s fine.”

“We’ll look at floor plans tomorrow.”

“Didn’t you already pick one out?”

“You have the right to change it. After all, that house is being purchased under your eligibility.”

“Oh. So you’re saying you’re giving me a house as a gift, right?”

Shang Zhitao understood Luan Nian too well. She didn’t know exactly how much money he had, but she was familiar with his pattern of giving gifts. He was more tactful now than before, but the essence remained unchanged.

“Mm.” Luan Nian made a sound of agreement as he guided Shang Zhitao to bend her knees for a stretch. When her form wasn’t correct, he tapped her knee with a small wooden stick, “What are you doing? Practice properly!”

Either don’t practice at all, or practice with proper form.

Shang Zhitao quickly corrected her attitude, following the trainer’s instructions precisely. When Luan Nian dropped to one knee, Shang Zhitao noticed his upper trapezius muscle and felt a tingle inside. She couldn’t resist poking it with her fingertip.

Luan Nian turned back and looked up at her, his gaze intense. After several seconds, he finally spoke, “Are we training or not?”

“We are.”

Luan Nian was also somewhat distracted.

The process of nurturing life was blissful, but the downside was the inability to act freely. Luan Nian knew himself—he had never been gentle in physical intimacy, so he simply avoided it altogether. After a long time, minds would wander, with thoughts oscillating daily between “Shang Zhitao needs proper recovery” and “I want to take her right now.” The former always won because he genuinely believed Shang Zhitao needed time to recover.

Both of them were somewhat perfunctory. Finally, Shang Zhitao couldn’t hold back anymore and said to him, “Why don’t I use the elliptical machine by myself for a while?”

“?”

“I can’t practice well with you here.”

Shang Zhitao’s fingertip hooked onto his. This process was excruciating—Shang Zhitao hardly dared to breathe. She felt as if she had returned to when they first met, her mind filled with thoughts that couldn’t be shared with others.

“Would doing something else help you practice better?”

“Perhaps.”

“Dream on.”

Luan Nian turned and left. He had waited so long already—would waiting a bit longer kill him?

By the time little Nian Tao reached her hundredth day, she had developed distinct features. She would giggle whenever someone called her name. When she laughed, her eyes would crinkle, a chubby little girl, especially adorable.

Though Luan Nian was typically stern, little Nian Tao was particularly enthusiastic toward him. Whenever she saw him, she would flap her little hands and laugh. Luan Nian had a cleanliness obsession; initially, he even vomited twice when changing Nian Tao’s diaper, but gradually he got used to it.

Yet there was one time when Nian Tao urinated on him. He froze for several seconds, holding her by the armpits without moving. Noticing his unusual reaction, Shang Zhitao asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Take Nian Tao first and change her pants.”

“Oh.” Shang Zhitao took Nian Tao and saw that Luan Nian’s lounge pants had a wet spot. Nian Tao wasn’t in a better state either. She even began to feel upset because her father was late in changing her pants; her little mouth pouted, and she burst into tears with a “wah.”

Luan Nian’s stomach churned, and he quickly went to the bathroom and vomited.

He was vomiting there while Nian Tao was crying—the scene was too comical. Shang Zhitao comforted Nian Tao before checking on Luan Nian in the bathroom. He was rinsing his mouth, his face slightly red.

“Nian Tao won’t think her father doesn’t love her just because he has a cleanliness obsession. You’re already doing very well. It’s just that sometimes, for unknown reasons, it triggers that point,” Shang Zhitao said to him.

Luan Nian flicked her forehead, then went to see Nian Tao. He could stay with Nian Tao continuously without feeling bored. When Nian Tao saw her father coming, she seemed a little embarrassed about wetting her pants earlier. She smiled at Luan Nian while gnawing on her hand. After a while, she took her hand out of her mouth and offered it to Luan Nian, as if saying, “Daddy, you try it too.”

These strange behaviors of the child fascinated Luan Nian.

He even felt that his mind was beginning to fill with brilliant ideas.

…

But Luan Nian would still push down her hand and scold her with a stern face, “Don’t always chew on your hand. It’s a bad habit.”

Nian Tao thought Luan Nian’s stern face was him teasing her, so she giggled a few times, then held back her laughter, only to laugh again after a moment, like a little fool. Luan Nian was amused by her and gently pinched her little face, “Are you that happy?”

Little Nian Tao made an “oh” sound, as if saying, “Yes, I am.”

Looking back more than ten years ago, Shang Zhitao would never have believed Luan Nian would be such a father. Back then, she even thought he might never marry or have children in his lifetime.

She sat on the living room sofa, watching Luan Nian hold Nian Tao while doing squats.

Nian Tao enjoyed playing this way with Luan Nian, flapping her little hands and feet. Every time he stood up, she would make a sound, as if saying, “Again!”

Luan Nian never abandoned his self-discipline, doing several sets of training even while looking after little Nian Tao. Shang Zhitao watched him bend his knees into a squat, noticing how good the lines of his buttocks looked, and suddenly felt her mouth go dry.

She took the cup beside her and gulped down a glass of water, still feeling unsatisfied. Her eyes fell on his back, then wandered down a bit, stopping at his buttocks just as Luan Nian turned around, catching Shang Zhitao in the act.

“What are you looking at?” Luan Nian asked her.

Shang Zhitao imitated his raised eyebrow, then put her index finger to her lips, “Shh.” Nian Tao was present, so they had to be careful with their words—nothing inappropriate for children.

Luan Nian held Nian Tao with one hand and took out his phone with the other, sending Shang Zhitao a message, “Watch your gaze.”

“No.”

Shang Zhitao tossed her phone aside and walked up to him to take Nian Tao. The little one was rubbing her eyes, already drowsy. Nian Tao always slept well, rarely causing her parents to worry about her sleep. She also fell asleep quickly—after drinking milk, she would turn her head to one side and sleep. Shang Zhitao put her in the crib, turned around, and walked to the bedroom door, standing there quietly watching Luan Nian.

It wasn’t even dark yet! she told herself. Finding an unconvincing excuse.

Luan Nian never cared whether it was dark or light.

Walking up to her, he pulled her into his arms and said, “Not doing something today would truly make me seem incapable.”

His kiss came vigorously, his moist lips enveloping her earlobe, his tongue exploring. Shang Zhitao’s legs weakened, and she fell into his embrace.

It had been so long that she felt a hint of timidity. Burying her head in the crook of his neck, she let out a small sound, seemingly helpless, “Nian Tao.”

“I know.”

Luan Nian whispered in her ear, “Quietly.”

Pushing Shang Zhitao onto the sofa, he sensed her tension as his body covered hers, so he paused to look at her deeply.

Then he pecked at her lips, one kiss after another, dissolving her tension until it disappeared. One more kiss, and Shang Zhitao wrapped her arms around his neck.

She dared not make a sound, her head sinking into the sofa cushion, her chest heaving. Luan Nian covered it with his hand; it was fuller than before.

“Shang Zhitao,” he called her by her ear, “I like it.”

He restrained his strength, forcing himself to slow down, to be gentler, to make it easier for Shang Zhitao. Sensing his kindness, she held him tightly, “Luan Nian, can we do it like before? I can handle it.”

“Like this?”

Shang Zhitao let out a soft moan, her hand covering her lips, trembling slightly, her eyes moist.

She loved it too much.

“One more round?” Luan Nian’s fingertip wandered on her back. Once the floodgates opened, he wanted to release the deluge completely.

His hand went to where it should go, and Shang Zhitao’s breathing became irregular. She leaned against the sofa, her eyes fixed on his.

The heat wave came uncontrollably, longing expressed to the fullest. Like having a sweaty, beautiful dream.

Little Nian Tao was still asleep as they embraced, chatting quietly. Luan Nian asked her, “Have you felt unhappy after having the baby?”

“I have,” Shang Zhitao pointed at her stomach, which hadn’t fully recovered, “Seeing this makes me anxious. I feel like I don’t look good anymore. For a while, I couldn’t accept myself.”

Luan Nian placed his hand on her stomach and squeezed it—quite entertaining.

“You’ve always liked dazzling things. I thought you wouldn’t be interested in postpartum me,” Shang Zhitao expressed her thoughts.

“You’re crazy,” Luan Nian bit her shoulder, “You look very good now.”

“You’re lying! My figure is out of shape,” Shang Zhitao felt somewhat aggrieved.

Luan Nian lifted his neck to look—her side-lying posture was truly beautiful, like a Western oil painting, with a sensual beauty.

Luan Nian didn’t respond to her comment about her figure being out of shape, only holding her tightly against his chest, the point where their bodies touched was his answer.

Between husband and wife, many things need not be stated too clearly.

Luan Nian’s interest in Shang Zhitao remained, and after such a long time, it showed signs of increasing rather than decreasing.

They both greatly enjoyed this afternoon.

Shang Zhitao didn’t need to hide her anxiety, and Luan Nian didn’t need to suppress his desire. Between the two of them, everything was open and honest.

“If something’s bothering you, you should tell me. Don’t overthink things alone. We’ll get through this time together. Your mental and physical health is more important than anything.” Luan Nian was somewhat concerned that Shang Zhitao might experience postpartum depression, so after she gave birth, he became unlike himself, taking care of Nian Tao and her wholeheartedly, hoping she would feel happy.

“Alright, thank you.”

=====

When Nian Tao was seven months old, Shang Zhitao handed over the company in Ice City to Sunny. Luan Nian drove, taking Shang Zhitao, little Nian Tao, and Luke together to Beijing.

The registration process for her branch company was complete, and she needed to stay in Beijing for a long time to organize the branch’s operations.

Luke enjoyed this journey, even knowing the destination, and sat watching the scenery outside the whole time.

Sometimes he would happily bark once.

Luan Nian occasionally looked at him through the rearview mirror, sometimes mocking him, “Silly dog.”

Little Nian Tao slept well in her car seat. When awake, she would entertain herself, neither fussy nor noisy, particularly easy to care for.

Shang Zhitao frequently turned to look at her. When she noticed her mother watching, she would raise her little face, drooling, and say indistinctly, “Mama.”

At such times, Luan Nian would be dissatisfied, “From the moment you were born, I took care of your every need, changing your diapers and feeding you, yet in the end, you call ‘Mama’ first. Aren’t you ungrateful?”

Nian Tao would just giggle, then chew on her hand again, enjoying it thoroughly.

Three people and a dog drove straight to Beijing in one go.

Luan Nian’s house had been unoccupied for a long time. Dr. Liang, concerned they might feel uncomfortable, took two days off from the laboratory and specifically hired people to clean the place inside and out. Before that, upon learning they were returning, he created a playroom for little Nian Tao. He also laid crawling mats in the first-floor living room, installed railings, and bought a small tent.

When they entered, they discovered that the style of Luan Nian’s home had greatly changed—what used to be a cold house now looked soft and pink. Luan Nian frowned slightly, consoling himself that it could be considered fresh, forcing himself to accept it.

Seeing Luan Nian’s expression, Shang Zhitao promptly reported to him, “Mom, Luan Nian doesn’t like it.”

“Luan Nian doesn’t like it? Well, he can go live somewhere else!” Luan Mingyu snorted, glancing at the already sleeping little Nian Tao, “Alright, you all rest. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. Why don’t you stay tonight?” Shang Zhitao was a bit concerned.

“The driver will take us back. It’s fine. The three of you stay together as a family!” Dr. Liang patted Shang Zhitao, “We’ll have a meal together tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

After getting Nian Tao settled, Luan Nian went out to walk Luke. Back in his old territory, Luke suddenly became very majestic, as if returning to his one or two-year-old self, showing off and rushing about in the community.

One puddle of urine after another, marking his territory. He even barked at Luan Nian, “Don’t go home! Let’s play a little longer!”

Amused by his silly behavior, Luan Nian decided to run two laps around the neighborhood with him before returning.

When he entered the house, sweat still clung to his body.

After showering upstairs, he saw that Shang Zhitao had already tidied up and was lazily leaning against the headboard. The thin strap of her nightgown had fallen, revealing her beautiful shoulder. Luan Nian suddenly recalled the countless passionate nights they had spent in this room. Those moments flooded his mind, eventually converging at a certain part of his body.

Their gazes met, both feeling a bit uncomfortable, realizing they weren’t the only ones reminiscing.

He knelt on one leg by the bed, grasping her ankle, pressing his lips to the sole of her foot, taking her toes into his mouth, then slowly moving upward.

Going to where he wanted to go.

Shang Zhitao’s body fell back onto the pillows, closing her eyes to the strange merging of past and present.

And before him, she blossomed, just as before.