Chapter 486: Love Is Always Feeling Indebted

Chapter 486: Love Means Always Feeling You Fall Short

Ye Xiaoxiao had thought Lu Hanchuan would be over the moon upon hearing the news, but instead of smiling, he looked dead serious.

Xiao Xiao put down the prenatal checkup report, her lips pursed, visibly upset. "Why aren't you happy?"

Lu Hanchuan didn’t answer—not from joy or anger.

He simply hadn’t expected Xiao Xiao to keep this a secret, and the worry in his heart, originally just a fraction, had now exploded tenfold.

Ye Xiaoxiao had always considered this a happy surprise, but without the expected praise, her grievances swelled, and tears rolled down like drops.

Lu Hanchuan reached out to embrace her, lowering his head to kiss away a tear.

"Don’t cry… I’m not unhappy."

Xiao Xiao sniffed accusingly, "You *are* unhappy."

How could Lu Hanchuan explain that it wasn’t unhappiness but guilt and worry?

"Really, I’m not. I just feel like I’ve been a lousy father, only now finding out our Xiao Xiao is carrying twins."

Xiao Xiao lifted her head, her eyes still glistening. "Then… do you blame me?"

Lu Hanchuan: "I don’t blame you."

Xiao Xiao searched his face for confirmation, and Lu Hanchuan cradled his wife’s face. "Next time, don’t keep things from me, okay?"

Xiao Xiao: "...Okay."

Lu Hanchuan wiped her tears. "Need to freshen up?"

He got a clean towel and gently cleaned her face before the two sat down to look over the ultrasound results together.

Lu Hanchuan didn’t get her reasoning—would he really have been happier if she’d waited until birth to spring it on him?

Ye Xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes. "Let’s keep this between us for now, don’t tell anyone else."

Lu Hanchuan pulled her hand away and held it in his. "Don’t rub your eyes, you’ll make them red."

Xiao Xiao: "Say you promise."

Lu Hanchuan: "Your parents will definitely come to the island before you give birth. Are you sure you want to hide it from them? Wouldn’t it be better to let them be happy sooner?"

Xiao Xiao grumbled. "You didn’t seem *especially* happy finding out early."

Lu Hanchuan coaxed her, "Where did I seem unhappy? I’m thrilled out of my mind."

Despite his words, his eyes kept scanning the report.

Xiao Xiao had been bold enough to hide something this important—he needed to double-check everything.

Though he didn’t understand the jargon, he could get the gist.

"So not just twins… but one of each?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "My grandmother once had twins too, though only one made it. So it runs in our family."

She’d learned this during a family conversation over the New Year, so while she felt lucky to be carrying twins, it wasn’t a total shock.

Lu Hanchuan was already worried, and Xiao Xiao had to bring up how only one of the twins survived back then.

Conditions were tough in those days, and indeed, many twin pregnancies didn’t survive.

But now it’s different—Xiao Xiao will definitely be fine.

Lu Hanchuan hardly got any sleep that night.

The next morning, Xiao Xiao noticed he was treating her even more carefully, like she was made of glass.

On top of that, Lu Hanchuan had already started contacting doctors for the surgery and preparing the island’s operating room to ensure the safety of the C-section.

What really worried her was that Xiao Xiao even caught him reading medical textbooks.

"What are you doing? You’re not actually studying medicine now, are you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao leaned over beside Lu Hanchuan, asking in disbelief.

Lu Hanchuan remained calm. "Can’t a guy read in his spare time?"

Ye Xiaoxiao plopped down beside him, giggling. "But everyone says you don’t like reading."

Lu Hanchuan: "Who said that? Don’t put me in a box."

Ye Xiaoxiao laughed even harder. "Well then, hit the books. Maybe we can take the postgraduate entrance exam together."

Though he struggled at first, after persisting for a month, Lu Hanchuan gradually got the hang of it.

At the very least, he got better and better at caring for a pregnant woman.

…

By the end of June, Lu Hanchuan got word that his good friend Han Xing was getting married.

After all these years, Han Xing had finally found a steady girlfriend and was finally settling down.

Lu Hanchuan had to settle for phone congratulations and send a gift, as he couldn’t attend in person.

Han Xing didn’t mind. "We’ll grab drinks when you’re back in the capital. You’re not planning to stay there forever, right?"

Han Xing and the others had long known that Lu Hanchuan’s stay on Changjing Island was just for experience—he would eventually be transferred back.

"No set date yet. I’ll reach out when I return."

Han Xing: "You’re on."

Lu Hanchuan: "Congratulations."

Han Xing hung up the phone, grinning from ear to ear. After years of friendship, this was the first time he found Lu Hanchuan’s words so pleasant.

Ye Xiaoxiao also heard about Han Xing’s wedding. "He didn’t waste any time."

Lu Hanchuan: "If he didn’t hurry up, Old Mr. Han would’ve tanned his hide."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Look who’s talking!"

Lu Hanchuan: "Why not? I’m gonna be a father."

Before getting married, Lu Hanchuan was always getting grief about settling down. But ever since he got a girlfriend, that pressure let up.

Moreover, he is about to become a father and will have two little rascals at once, way ahead of his buddies.

He has every right to give others a little side-eye.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "So what wedding gift did you prepare for him?"

Lu Hanchuan: "Cash, obviously."

That’s just how bros roll.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded slowly, "Whatever makes you happy."

Ye Xiaoxiao turned and left. She’d just gotten a telegram a few days back from Miao Cuifang, who decided to come to the island early to accompany her.

Ye Xiaoxiao then used the newly installed external phone at home to call Miao Cuifang back.

"Xiao Xiao, you’ve got a phone now!"

Miao Cuifang sounded thrilled—this way, she could check on Xiao Xiao every day.

After going so long without hearing her daughter’s voice, Miao Cuifang was so emotional she almost teared up.

"Mom, don’t cry. People’ll think something’s happened to me."

"Hush now, don’t talk like that. Everything’s fine."

Miao Cuifang had gotten a little "superstitious" herself.

"I know, I’m doing well, and the baby is healthy. The baby’s due around August or September. You don’t need to come so early."

Miao Cuifang: "Can’t a mother just want to see her daughter? Your dad and I are both coming."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You and Dad aren’t busy anymore? What about Jia Jia?"

Miao Cuifang: "It’s all taken care of. Jia Jia will stay with her grandma, plus there’s a nanny, so it’s all good."

Shen Qiuyu’s folks are dependable and treat their daughter and granddaughter well.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Sure, come on over then. We’d love to have you."