Chapter 489: Little Milk Buns

Chapter 489 The Sweet Little One

Miao Cuifang's eyes brightened the moment she saw Qiao Yunhu walk in.

This guy wasn't bad either—tall and handsome.

His chiseled features carried a composed demeanor that radiated reliability.

Unlike Qu Miao’s delicate and refined looks, he clearly had that northern ruggedness.

Miao Cuifang glanced between them, thinking how all of Xiao Xiao’s classmates were so good-looking. Thankfully, Xiao Lu outshone them all, or else she’d have felt threatened.

Once dinner was over, Qiao Yunhu took his luggage and left with Qu Miao.

He told Xiao Xiao not to go running off and assured her he’d come find her if anything came up.

Ye Xiaoxiao agreed—she wouldn’t have been running around with her baby bump if it weren’t for welcoming a good friend.

Qiao Yunhu left still uneasy. As he and Qu Miao walked, Qu Miao offered to carry his luggage.

Qiao Yunhu declined, “I can manage it myself.”

Qu Miao let it go.

He could clearly handle himself—no need to worry.

Qiao Yunhu had expected the facilities here to be outdated, but upon arriving at the recovery center, he was surprised to find the equipment state-of-the-art.

“Is this the island’s hospital?”

Of course, he didn’t think all this had been prepared just for Xiao Xiao’s C-section.

Qu Miao explained, “More of a clinic. These instruments were shipped to the island within the last year, mainly for some patients who occasionally stay here.”

Coming from a military family, Qiao Yunhu had his own information channels.

He’d heard rumors before about Beijing officials secretly recuperating elsewhere—maybe this was the place.

His accommodation was still some distance from the recovery center’s wards. He only got a quick look at a few examination rooms and the operating theater.

Then Qu Miao led him to his room—a single room in a small courtyard housing male doctors, essentially staff housing.

Though the place was simple, the room was tidy and clean.

“This is your room. For meals, you can go to the cafeteria, but Xiao Xiao already said you’re welcome to eat at her place. Rest for now, and if you need anything, just come find me. I’m right next door.”

Qu Miao’s instructions were clear, and Qiao Yunhu understood perfectly.

It seemed Ye Xiaoxiao had planned her island surgery well in advance. Before coming, he’d worried there’d be nothing here, which would’ve been risky for the mother.

Now he felt reassured—not only about the smooth completion of the surgery but also that Xiao Xiao had thought this through, not just impulsively settling on the island.

Everything was ready for the surgery; now it was just a waiting game.

Ye Xiaoxiao herself was calm, but everyone else seemed more nervous than her.

Originally, Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo would return to another place to sleep at night, but now Miao Cuifang couldn’t bear to leave, insisting on bunking with Aunt Zhao to keep Xiao Xiao company.

She couldn’t stop worrying. “Are you sure nothing will go wrong?” Miao Cuifang kept fretting late at night.

While she understood C-sections, how could it not hurt at all?

Ye Xiaoxiao held her mother's hand, "It's really fine. Vaginal delivery would be riskier with twins."

Miao Cuifang: "I know, honey. I'm just worried."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Do you want to stay with me tonight then?"

Miao Cuifang stroked Xiao Xiao's face, "That's okay, I'll keep you company during the day."

Xiao Xiao had reassured her mom repeatedly, telling her not to worry.

During the day she comforted her mother, and at night she had to comfort Lu Hanchuan.

Though Hanchuan didn't say anything, you could tell he was anxious.

"Why are you more nervous than me?"

Lu Hanchuan snuggled closer to Xiao Xiao, admitting without embarrassment, "Isn't it normal for me to be nervous when my wife's in labor?"

Ye Xiaoxiao wrapped her arms around Lu Hanchuan's neck, "Fair point. Keep worrying then..."

Lu Hanchuan nuzzled her as he coaxed, "You should sleep early."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I'll sleep when you do."

Neither could sleep, they talked for hours before finally falling asleep together.

...

The day before Ye Xiaoxiao's scheduled surgery, she went for some pre-op tests.

A bunch of people came to the island too - Third Brother with the specialists he'd arranged, Xiao Xiao's mother-in-law Mrs. Yun Chengxiu.

Xiao Xiao had known these people were coming. Even with Ye Changning's busy schedule, how could this brother miss such an important moment?

What shocked Xiao Xiao was that Ye Changsheng actually came with Su Tong.

"You two, seriously..." Ye Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled.

Su Tong hugged Xiao Xiao first, "I made a special trip to see you. How could I miss such an important occasion?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Then I want to hear your story."

Su Tong looked confused, "What story do you want to hear?"

Ye Xiaoxiao hugged her best friend, "Don't act clueless. Of course I want to hear your love story with my fourth brother."

Su Tong immediately blushed, "Once the baby's here, I'll tell you properly."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "Deal."

Other than Xiao Xiao, the rest of the family were still in the dark about Su Tong and Ye Changsheng's relationship.

Ye Xiaoxiao nudged Su Tong, "Is this like bringing my fourth brother home to meet the parents?"

Su Tong: "I told him not to say anything. I'm not ready yet."

Ye Xiaoxiao also understood - after all, this isn't exactly the right time.

Moreover, Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo hadn't prepared anything, and the older couple might feel unprepared if Su Tong suddenly arrived.

It'd be better to wait until things settle down and find a more suitable day to talk about it.

Ye Xiaoxiao teased her best friend, "So you two are sneaking around together now."

Su Tong looked at Xiaoxiao affectionately, "If you weren’t pregnant, I’d smack you."

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head smugly, "Guess you’re out of luck."

Because everyone was so focused on Xiaoxiao, no one else caught on about them.

The elders assumed Su Tong was here to visit Xiaoxiao and just happened to come with Ye Changsheng.

Only Ye Changning seemed to notice something, but he didn’t press further.

Right now, the most important thing was Xiaoxiao—no one had time to think about anything else.

On the day Xiaoxiao entered the operating room, a crowd gathered outside.

Lu Xingzhou couldn’t come due to his status, but Yun Chengxiu was very concerned about her daughter-in-law and fussed over Xiaoxiao the whole time after arriving.

Even Qu Miao thought it was a bit much, "Uncle, Auntie, maybe take a break?"

Miao Cuifang: "No need, no need. Don’t worry about us, Xiao Qu—go if you need to."

Qu Miao shook her head, "I don’t have anything to do either."

Since no one was willing to leave, they all remained standing outside.

The most nervous one was probably Lu Hanchuan, who stood frozen by the operating room door the entire time.

Su Tong secretly observed Lu Hanchuan from the side, ready to tease Xiaoxiao about her guy later once she came out.

Though Lu Hanchuan looked like he was waiting intently, Su Tong thought he was being way too chill.

The surgery went smoothly, and forty minutes later, the operating room door opened—two little bundles of joy were brought out.