Chapter 83

Chapter 83

"Congratulations, Lieutenant General, you're expecting," the doctor said.

Lin Ze looked at the examination report. He had mentally prepared himself, thinking he would accept the news calmly, but he was still speechless with joy.

Li Xiujin squeezed his hand.

On the car ride home, the two embraced. Lin Ze leaned on his shoulder, his eyes a little red.

Upon arriving home, Li Xiujin scooped Lin Ze up and carried him out of the car.

"Xiujin..." Lin Ze's cheeks flushed. "I'm only fifteen days along, I can walk myself."

Li Xiujin paid no attention and carried Lin Ze straight back to the bedroom.

A servant hurried over to ask, "Why the sudden hospital visit? Is everything okay?"

Upon hearing Li Xiujin's reply, the servant exclaimed, "Pregnant again?"

"That's wonderful! Our Chong Yi is going to have a little brother or sister."

Li Chongyi, who had been asleep, was awakened by the commotion. Rubbing his eyes, he came out of his bedroom. Seeing his father closing their door and realizing he wouldn't be allowed to sleep with his mother again, Li Chongyi rushed forward. His small body pressed tightly against the door, and he tried to wedge his foot in to kick Li Xiujin.

"Li Chongyi, go back to your own room to sleep," Li Xiujin said.

"I want Mommy!"

"Your mother doesn't have time to cuddle you."

Li Chongyi opened his mouth and started to cry.

A vein throbbed on Li Xiujin's forehead. Sure enough, Lin Ze's voice came from behind him, "Xiujin, let him in."

As soon as Li Xiujin opened the door, Li Chongyi scurried to the bedside, kicked off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and burrowed into Lin Ze's arms. He complained sadly, "Daddy wouldn't let me in."

"Daddy just wanted you to get to bed early."

"No, he didn't! He did it on purpose!"

"How could that be..." Lin Ze smiled and stroked his sweaty forehead.

"Daddy is the worst daddy in the whole world."

"Saying that will hurt Daddy's feelings."

"If Daddy is sad, then I'll be happy." Li Chongyi snuggled into Lin Ze's arms, pressing his cheek against Lin Ze's neck. Lin Ze was about to say that Chong Yi was a big boy now and shouldn't be so clingy when he heard Li Chongyi add, "If Mommy is sad, I'll be sad too."

Lin Ze's heart instantly melted.

"If Chong Yi is sad, Mommy will be sad too."

Li Chongyi was so happy he wanted to climb on top of Lin Ze like he used to, but someone scooped him up and set him back down. "You mustn't lie on Mommy."

Li Chongyi struggled free and climbed back to Lin Ze. He knew Lin Ze would indulge him, but this time, Lin Ze was on the same side as the mean daddy.

"Chong Yi, Mommy can hold you next to me, but I can't let you lie on top of me anymore."

"Why?"

"Because..." Lin Ze said softly, "Mommy is pregnant."

"Pregnant? Will your belly get big like a watermelon?" Li Chongyi asked curiously.

"Yes."

"So I won't be the only baby anymore?"

"That's right."

"Will Mommy still love me?"

Lin Ze quickly said, "Of course. No matter how many children Mommy has, my love for you will never change."

Only then did Li Chongyi feel reassured.

"When will the little brother or sister come out of your belly?"

Lin Ze smiled. "We have to wait nine months..."

"How long is that?"

"After your third birthday."

Li Chongyi's eyes sparkled. He thoughtfully tucked the blanket around Lin Ze. "Then close your eyes and go to sleep quickly, Mommy."

Lin Ze was actually a bit surprised by his reaction. He glanced at Li Xiujin and then asked, "Chong Yi, aren't you angry that Mommy is having a child besides you?"

Li Chongyi shook his head.

Lin Ze hadn't expected him to be so sensible and felt gratified. But then Li Chongyi added, "When the little brother or sister is born, we can work together to kick Daddy out."

Lin Ze smiled helplessly.

"Do you believe I'll throw you out right now?" Li Xiujin said.

Li Chongyi clung tightly to Lin Ze. "Mommy..."

*

After Lin Ze became pregnant, Li Xiujin reduced some of his official duties. In the mornings, he would first take Lin Ze to the command center before going to the military headquarters himself.

One day, after a meeting, he had just arrived at his office when Yang Yu came to report, "Su Wang and Zhou Dingshan are here."

"Let them in."

After the three finished discussing official matters, Zhou Dingshan suddenly asked, "I heard Lin Ze is pregnant again, is that true?"

Li Xiujin nodded.

"Actually, the Prime Minister and I came here today with another matter we'd like to discuss," Zhou Dingshan said.

"I intend to cultivate Chong Yi to succeed me in the future," Su Wang said.

Li Xiujin frowned. "Isn't it a bit too early to talk about this now?"

"For generations, the successors we've cultivated have started receiving a comprehensive education from age three. It's not early."

"This matter, I can't decide on my own," Li Xiujin added.

"Of course, we need to discuss it with Lin Ze," Zhou Dingshan said. "The two of us came today just to mention it to you first and hear your opinion."

"My view is to let Li Chongyi grow up like an ordinary child. After that, he can decide for himself what he wants to do."

These words took Su Wang and Zhou Dingshan slightly aback, as they had initially thought he was a more controlling type of parent.

"That's a fair point," Zhou Dingshan nodded. "Su and I just thought Chong Yi showed great potential, so we wanted to groom him from a young age. As for whether he wants to, he's still too young to decide. It's up to you and Lin Ze."

"Go home and talk it over with Lin Ze."

"If you agree, after Chong Yi's third birthday, we'll have him brought to the Central Headquarters. He'll live and study there from then on."

"If you disagree, then we can revisit the matter after Chong Yi is an adult."

Work kept Li Xiujin a little later, so he had the driver pick up Lin Ze. By the time Li Xiujin got home, Lin Ze had already returned and was in the kitchen making bread with Li Chongyi.

Lin Ze, wearing an apron, was using a piping bag to decorate square loaves of bread with flame patterns. Li Chongyi was still too short to see the counter, so he clung to Lin Ze's leg, asking repeatedly, "Mommy, is it done yet?"

"It'll be ready soon," Lin Ze said, leaning down slightly to talk to him. "Are you getting tired standing there? Why don't you go wait on the sofa?"

Li Chongyi shook his head. "Not tired!"

"Alright," Lin Ze said with a gentle smile.

After finishing the decorations, Lin Ze lifted him up a little so he could see.

Li Chongyi clapped his hands. "Good!"

Lin Ze wanted to put the finished bread in the oven, but Li Chongyi said, "Mommy, let me."

"But it's heavy. Can you carry it?"

Li Chongyi nodded vigorously.

Lin Ze reluctantly let him carry it, watching closely from the side.

Fortunately, though it was a bit of a struggle, Li Chongyi managed to lift it and place it in the oven.

Lin Ze turned on the oven, and both their heads—one big, one small—leaned close to the oven's glass door.

"We can eat it in thirty minutes."

As Lin Ze led Li Chongyi out, he noticed Li Xiujin standing at the kitchen door.

"Xiu Jin, you're home? You're late today. Did you have a difficult case?" Lin Ze asked with concern.

Li Xiujin shook his head. "Just dealt with some backlogged matters."

"Are you hungry? The bread will take a while, but dinner is already ready."

"Mommy, I'm hungry," Li Chongyi said, looking up.

"Let's eat first," Li Xiujin said.

After dinner, the bread was finally ready.

This was the first time Lin Ze had made it with Li Chongyi, and surprisingly, it was a success. The bread had doubled in size, was golden brown, and gave off a rich, buttery aroma.

"Mommy, let me try it."

"It's still hot. Can you wait a minute?"

"That's okay, I can handle it!"

Seeing him hopping around impatiently, Lin Ze had no choice. He tore off a small piece, blew on it repeatedly to cool it down, and then fed it to him.

"Delicious!" Li Chongyi's eyes sparkled as he looked up, opening his mouth wide. "I want more."

Lin Ze then blew on another piece to cool it and fed him again. He ate half a loaf of bread—a piece as big as his face—and this was right after dinner. Worried he might get a stomachache, Lin Ze wiped his mouth. "Alright, Chong Yi, no more for today."

Fortunately, Li Chongyi was full. Before Lin Ze could finish cleaning him up, he ran to the TV to watch his favorite cartoon.

Once he was gone, Lin Ze remembered his husband.

Knowing Li Xiujin didn't like sweets, Lin Ze planned to put the bread away in the fridge.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiujin questioned, "Why did you only feed Li Chongyi and not me?"

Lin Ze was taken aback, then chuckled helplessly. He tore off a piece, intending to feed him, but ended up being pulled onto Li Xiujin's lap.

Lin Ze's ears grew warm. "Xiu Jin, Chong Yi is older now. What if he sees us like this..."

"I don't care."

Lin Ze had no choice, so he fed him just like he had fed Li Chongyi earlier.

But Li Xiujin kept his mouth tightly shut.

"You blew on it to cool it down for him earlier."

"But now it doesn't need... Fine, I'll blow on it for you too..." Lin Ze pretended to blow on it a couple of times. Only then did Li Xiujin open his mouth to eat it. As he ate, he nuzzled into Lin Ze's chest, sniffing.

"Su Wang and Zhou Dingshan came to see me today. They said they plan to groom Li Chongyi to take over in the future."

Lin Ze, feeling both numb and weak from his rough, warm breath, struggled slightly. "What... what do you mean?"

"They think Chong Yi is promising and want to bring him to the Central Headquarters for training."

Lin Ze: "Chong Yi is only two."

"Mhm."

"If he's taken to the Central Headquarters as a successor, how will we see him?"

"There will be designated visiting times."

"So, even though we're his biological parents, we'd have to apply in advance to see him?"

"Yes."

"But right now, they're considering our opinions. If we disagree, the matter will be shelved for now."

Lin Ze let out a bitter laugh. "I can't bear the thought of Chong Yi leaving us so young. But for him, it truly is a smooth path..."

"If our family circumstances were poor, this would be a great opportunity for Chong Yi to make something of himself. But given our current situation, whether we refuse or agree, it won't really affect Chong Yi's life."

Lin Ze nodded but remained distracted by the matter for several days.

He even asked Li Chongyi about it.

"Chong Yi, do you like Grandpa and Uncle Su?"

Li Chongyi thought seriously for a moment: "I love Grandpa."

"How about you go live with Grandpa from now on?"

Li Chongyi: "Will you come live with Grandpa too, Mommy?"

Lin Ze shook her head: "Mommy can't do that."

"Then I don't want to!"

"If you live with Grandpa, the house will be even bigger than the one we live in now. There will also be many people to keep you company, help you with your studies, and take care of your daily life."

Li Chongyi still shook his head.

Lin Ze absentmindedly stroked his head and stopped asking. Asking Li Chongyi now whether he wanted to or was willing made no sense—he was still too young.

This decision could only be made by Lin Ze and Li Xiujin together.

Su Wang and Zhou Dingshan had finally selected such a young child to train as a successor, surely because they currently saw no one else they considered capable. Officially speaking, both Lin Ze and Li Xiujin were public servants. Since Li Chongyi had the aptitude, of course he should be dedicated. Moreover, this path would bring Li Chongyi nothing but benefits.

But... Lin Ze's heart ached at the thought.

He knew Su Wang and Zhou Dingshan would take good care of Li Chongyi, but it certainly wouldn't be the same as growing up in a warm family. Lin Ze had no desire for him to achieve great success either. Even if he ended up doing nothing in the future, he and Li Xiujin could still provide for him...

When Li Xiujin got home from work, Lin Ze told him the decision he had made.

"I don't agree."

Li Xiujin, guessing he couldn't bear to part with their son, held Lin Ze in his arms: "I've already turned them down. I told them to wait until Li Chongyi is sixteen before bringing it up again."

"But won't this hinder Chong Yi's development?"

Li Xiujin gave a soft laugh: "I wasn't trained from childhood either, yet I still reached this position. If Li Chongyi truly has the ability, it won't set him back."

Some of the worry left Lin Ze's expression.

Nearby, Li Chongyi, completely unaware he had almost been sent away, was fast asleep. Li Xiujin kissed Lin Ze: "Alright, the decision is made. Don't think about it anymore."

Lin Ze nodded.

"Lie down. Let me see how our baby's growing."

Lin Ze complied, unbuttoning his clothes to reveal his slightly rounded belly, his face warming slightly: "Xiu Jin, it's only been three months..."

Li Xiujin examined it carefully, growing fonder the more he looked. He leaned down to kiss Lin Ze's abdomen. Originally, he had only intended to kiss the belly, but somehow, he ended up spreading Lin Ze's legs and kissing...