Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Does installing a new door carry any positive symbolism?

"Because I don't like having people around when I swim."

Jiang Jining sat down and noticed Aunt Tao had prepared fruit in advance. He speared one for Xi Wang and asked what he wanted to know: "Why did you decide to be with Bian Jiacheng? Was it to repay him for helping you with the surgery?"

Xi Wang had no intention of hiding anything from him: "Partly. But more importantly, I like Jiacheng. He's a good guy."

So good it felt almost unbelievable.

Xi Wang had never imagined such a thing would happen to him. Back then, Bian Jiacheng said that after the surgery, he would stop pursuing him and keep his distance, only acting as his creditor.

Xi Wang had the surgery with an IOU.

The surgery was very successful, and his wound healing ability was better than expected.

Bian Jiacheng took him out of the hospital and immediately returned home. Then, he completely changed his attitude, never mentioning their relationship again. He let Xi Wang recuperate at the villa, where Xi's father had already been staying for half a month.

Bian Jiacheng managed to hide it from everyone this way.

No one knew.

Xi Wang hadn't felt such happiness and liveliness in many years. He himself had occasionally yearned for a life like this. He watched his father—always cheerful—being teased by Bian Jiacheng. The two of them would bicker and play-fight.

He suddenly wanted to let Bian Jiacheng have his wish too.

So, one day when Bian Jiacheng came home after a long day at work, dead drunk from social engagements, Xi Wang took over the housekeeper's task of caring for him. He accepted that light, dragonfly-skimming-water kiss and responded to it.

Even that drunk, Bian Jiacheng remembered his wound wasn't fully healed. Held back by some internal principle or sense of propriety, he didn't dare kiss him too deeply, just gentle pecks, one after another. Then he held him all night like a teddy bear.

From then on.

Xi Wang felt the burden on his shoulders lighten. His skin became fairer, and his health and complexion improved day by day.

Whenever Xi's father bumped into the two of them being affectionate, he would suddenly have a relapse of his old habit: "A-Wang, when are you and Orange going to have a baby?"

Xi Wang: "..."

"Dad, I'm your son. I can't give birth."

Bian Jiacheng would always laugh heartily and pat Xi's father's shoulder like they were buddies.

Jiang Jining found it interesting. After thinking for a moment, he sincerely said to Xi Wang: "How about when Ya'er is born, you and Jiacheng take her to show Uncle Xi? Just say she's yours? That would fulfill his wish."

Xi Wang immediately widened his eyes, "That's not good, A Ning."

His boss would definitely not be willing!

Using Dou Ya'er as a baby prop is far too precious.

But if Bian Jiacheng knew about this good idea, he would definitely try to sneak the little one over to play with.

Xi Wang secretly thought he absolutely must not let him do that.

But Jiang Jining was still gentle and understanding: "It's fine. But we should wait until Ya'er is a bit older. Newborns are a little too small, and I wouldn't feel at ease."

"When is the due date?" Xi Wang had been calculating an approximate date. Since he didn't know Jiang Jining's specific pregnancy week, he wasn't too sure. Remembering this now, he immediately asked.

"Around July 13th." Jiang Jining shared eagerly: "Just over a month and a few days left."

Xi Wang thought his mindset was really good. They chatted a bit more until they heard Bian Han calling from outside the fence: "Dinner's ready, kiddo!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jining got up and walked over. He saw Bian Han scrutinizing the particularly stylish random password lock fence gate, her expression practically screaming 'speechless'.

"Really knows how to spoil him."

Bian Han took Jiang Jining's hand: "I'm talking about you, and you're still smiling."

Almost everyone who came to Xie Ting these days had to ask why there was a partition door between the courtyard and the backyard. Bian Han was dumbfounded when she first discovered it and had privately complained to Bian Jiacheng about Fu Yuze's proclivities.

Who would have thought Jiang Jining didn't feel wronged at all.

Even having his path home restricted didn't make him feel mistreated in the slightest.

"It's okay." Jiang Jining explained from a new perspective: "This way, he feels more at ease. If I really wanted to leave, it wouldn't stop me anyway... He couldn't very well fill in Jingming Lake. He discussed this with me the whole time. When the workers came, he was still worried I might be unhappy."

Bian Han's ears were getting calloused from hearing him defend Fu Yuze. "It's not that I dislike him. As long as you like him, that's enough."

Fu Yuze as a husband probably ranks in the top tier.

Everyone has a sense of that.

Jiang Jining watched Xi Wang go off alone to find Bian Jiacheng. He and Bian Han returned to the reception area together and happened to run into a familiar person again. He smiled and greeted her: "Auntie."

"Hey, Guai Guai—"

This was the first time the aunt had met Bian Han.

Remembering this, Jiang Jining proactively introduced them: "This is Fu Yuze's aunt. This is my mom."

The aunt's way of speaking was as pleasant as ever: "Ms. Bian is still so beautiful and young. You look only two or three years older than Ning'er. Saying you're his sister would be more accurate."

The Fu family relatives are each more eloquent than the last.

But none could compare to the heart-melting effect of Jiang Jining's proactive "Mom." This was the first time she heard her own kid call her that, and it sounded truly, exceptionally wonderful.

The kind of wonderful you'd want to record and listen to ten thousand times as a wake-up alarm.

After finally welcoming Jiang Jining back.

Bian Han didn't wait long before confessing everything to him.

According to Fu Yuze's account—

Afterwards, apart from still being shocked, Jiang Jining didn't show any extra negative emotions. For several days in a row, he held the complete set of "By the Monarch's Side" and read from morning till night, even sneaking up in the middle of the night to go to the study and devour it, like a high school student addicted to a novel.

In daily life, Jiang Jining was also very happy.

It was only at this moment that Bian Han truly felt pardoned, moved by the direct acknowledgment as the creator-mother!

The title 'Mom' is truly great.

Soon, the days arrived at an even greater July.

Bian Han was very true to her word and coordinated with Fu Yuze. She told him and Jiang Jining to decide on Dou Ya'er's birth date and inform Bian Jiacheng, the uncle, as soon as possible.

It's time to claim the prize.

On July 12th, Bian Jiacheng received Jiang Jining's hospital admission notification. He left a meeting halfway through, requested leave for Xi Wang and Shishu's manager, then drove them straight to the integrated VIP maternity suite.

A nurse was helping Jiang Jining put on his wristband and performing fetal heart monitoring. Everything was safe and sound.

"Have a seat."

Fu Yuze didn't even look up, his hands busy braiding the hair of the little kitten that had just been bathed. He had just finished signing a large stack of surgical consent forms and risk agreements, grateful that he and Jiang Jining had completed their voluntary guardianship agreement shortly after they reconciled.

There was no need to notify Bian Han to rush over just yet.

"You really only notified me?" Bian Jiacheng put down his suit jacket, placed his hands on the foot of the hospital bed, and listened to the strong, rhythmic heartbeat of Dou Ya'er coming from the monitor. It actually made him start to feel nervous too, as if his own child was about to be born. He squeezed Xi Wang's hand and rubbed his own chest to calm down. "What were you two thinking?"

Xi Wang withdrew his hand and sat on the stool beside Jiang Jining's bed after the nurse left. He looked at the newly placed IV line with concern and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Jiang Jining thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "A little bit."

Dou Ya'er showed no signs of wanting to make an appearance yet. The pain was just from the needle prick.

"A Ning gets nervous with too many people around." Fu Yuze hadn't notified all the elders. He brought Jiang Jining to the hospital first to get acclimated for half a day, especially since the next three days were all auspicious dates.

The hospital had made preparations well in advance. The final decision rested with the two fathers.

"We just happened to take three days off." Bian Jiacheng felt he was incredibly foresighted. Leaning his arms on the guardrail at the foot of Jiang Jining's bed, he lifted his chin towards him. "Little A Ning can have Dou Ya'er on whichever day he wants to meet her."

Jiang Jining blinked. "I want to have the baby today."

Bian Jiacheng was surprised by his bravery. He glanced at the oversized delivery kit not far away and then at Fu Yuze, who was so calm he could probably defuse a bomb with his bare hands. "You two aren't serious, are you?"

Not notifying anyone!

Fu Yuze nodded. "The first surgery this afternoon."

Xi Wang: "!!!"

Bian Jiacheng: "..."

This is insane!

Jiang Jining's hand was warmed in Fu Yuze's palm. Talking with a group of people who were equally clueless about childbirth made him feel much more relaxed. "A-Han has been super nervous these past few days. When she comes to Xieting, she doesn't even drink anymore. Grandma and Grandpa, afraid I'd worry, keep calling Fu Yuze to ask about the date... It's made me a little scared too. I thought it might be better to meet Ya'er sooner."

Fu Yuze said to Bian Jiacheng and Xi Wang, "I'll be in the delivery room. Once the baby is out, I'll need you two to lend a hand."

"Okay."

Bian Jiacheng was so excited his palms were sweating.

Walking over to Xi Wang, he found him unusually quiet. Feeling his shoulder muscles tense as a rock, Bian Jiacheng looked down and chuckled. "Why are you more nervous than I am?"

Xi Wang: "..."

How could he not be nervous?

He was actually part of Jiang Jining's frontline delivery team.

At 2:30 PM Beijing time, Fu Yuze escorted Jiang Jining through the first door of the operating room.

The two would meet up again shortly. Before changing into sterile gowns and disinfecting, he sent a text message to Bian Han.

*

"I'm going in."

Fu Yuze handed his phone directly to Bian Jiacheng. The latter squeezed his shoulder, wanting to offer encouragement like he did for Jiang Jining, but then realized something was off. "Damn, why are you covered in sweat??"

It hasn't even started yet.

How long has he been like this?

Bian Jiacheng's feelings were quite complex. He patted Fu Yuze on the back a couple of times with one arm, offering a word of comfort. "It's okay. Ningning is focused on meeting your son. You've been putting on a good act, Old Fu."

Jiang Jining definitely didn't know Fu Yuze was this nervous.

Fu Yuze's Adam's apple bobbed once. He closed his eyes, trying once more to ease the wildly growing anxiety and unease. Thinking of Jiang Jining made him feel invincible again. He turned and followed the nurse into the sterilization area inside the operating room, remaining silent throughout the entire aseptic preparation process.

Until he saw the vast operating table, where Jiang Jining was curiously blinking at the light overhead.

"Mr. Fu, you're here."

Hearing this, Jiang Jining quickly turned his head. Seeing and confirming it was him, his eyes curved into a smile. His pale red lips moved a few times before gently pressing together.

Fu Yuze approached, crouched down, and brushed his hair aside. "What did A Ning want to say? I'm listening."

"Just now, they had me take all my clothes off." Jiang Jining whispered somewhat shyly into his ear. "They'll put them back on when I leave, right? If the doctor forgets, you have to remember to help me..."

Fu Yuze's heart was pierced by his naive, straightforward words. He kissed his ear and said, "Okay. I'll definitely remember."