Mother Huo froze for a moment, realizing she had forgotten something.
But honestly, she couldn’t be blamed—her grandchildren were just too adorable!
"It’s fine, I’ll call them later to share the good news," she said, her gaze lingering on the babies.
Just look at them—how could anyone resist such cuteness?
"Oh, Jiang Si, have you decided on the babies’ formal names and nicknames yet?"
The little ones were starting to stir, and Jiang Si gently squeezed their tiny hands.
Her eyes softened with affection. "Yes, it’s settled."
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Father Huo had been occupied with military drills for the past two months, leaving him no time for leave.
Today, he was finally home for a rare break.
With Mother Huo not having called in over a week, Grandma Huo had been restless, her sleep troubled.
"My eyelids have been twitching these past few days—I wonder how things are going over there."
"Don’t worry," Grandpa Huo reassured her. "You know how our daughter-in-law is. If anything were wrong, she’d have called by now."
"That’s right, Mom," Father Huo chimed in. "If Yue Ling hasn’t called, it means everything’s fine."
He couldn’t speak for other matters, but this much he was certain of—his wife would never hesitate to inform him if something happened.
Absolutely, guaranteed!
Grandma Huo knew Mother Huo was reliable, but her heart still couldn’t settle.
"I should’ve gone with her to Qiongzhou Island," she muttered, shooting a glare at Grandpa Huo and Father Huo.
"This is all your fault!"
Her health was perfectly fine—had they not stopped her, she’d be overjoyed on the island right now.
The two men, knowing they were at fault, avoided her gaze—one buried himself in the newspaper, the other busied himself adjusting his cuffs. Neither dared respond.
Just then, the phone rang.
Father Huo, being closest, picked up the receiver.
Hearing Mother Huo’s voice on the other end, his tone instantly brightened.
"Yes, yes, Mom and Dad are here. How’s Jiang Si? Wait—she’s given birth?!"
Before he could even ask when it had happened, Grandma Huo snatched the phone from him.
"Yue Ling, what did you just say? Jiang Si has already delivered?"
"Yes, Mom! She had twins—a boy and a girl!"
If Mother Huo sounded excited, Grandma Huo’s voice nearly cracked with joy.
"Old Master, did you hear that? Jiang Si gave birth to twins!"
Grandpa Huo nodded vigorously. "I heard, I heard!"
Truly, Old Third was blessed!
No—more accurately, the entire Huo family was blessed!
Though overjoyed, the elderly couple couldn’t help but worry about their granddaughter-in-law.
Since both babies were full-term, she must have endured quite an ordeal.
"How is Jiang Si now?" Grandma Huo asked.
"Don’t worry, Mom. She’s doing well," Mother Huo replied.
"The doctor checked on her this morning and said she’s recovering nicely. We might even be discharged in a day or two."
Grandma Huo blinked. "Discharged so soon?"
Wasn’t that too early?
Then it hit her. "Wait, didn’t she just give birth today?"
"No, the babies were born yesterday morning, around 10:10."
Mother Huo sounded a little sheepish. "Things were so hectic yesterday that I didn’t get a chance to call you with the news."
"You did the right thing," Grandma Huo said, acknowledging her daughter-in-law’s efforts while still concerned for Jiang Si.
"Hospitals are crowded, and Jiang Si needed someone by her side after the delivery.
You’ve all been working hard, especially you—at your age, you must take care of yourself."
"Don’t worry, Mom. I’m in great shape," Mother Huo assured her.
This wasn’t just to placate them.
In previous years, as soon as autumn arrived, she’d ache all over.
But this year, not only was she pain-free, she felt brimming with energy.
If not for having one more year until retirement, she’d have stayed on the island indefinitely.
She didn’t dwell on it, attributing it to the joy of the occasion.
Grandma Huo, relieved to hear Jiang Si was well, shifted the topic to the babies.
"And the children—they’re healthy too?"
"Oh, absolutely!"
Once Mother Huo started talking about them, she couldn’t stop.
"Mom, you have no idea how precious these two are!
One looks just like his father, the other like her mother—both have Jiang Si’s creamy, delicate skin, like fresh milk curds..."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted enthusiastically for over ten minutes.
Grandpa Huo, standing close, could catch snippets of the conversation.
Father Huo, however, was left fidgeting impatiently until he finally found an opening.
"Have the children’s names been decided?" he asked.
"Yes!
The older brother is Jingxing—Huo Jingxing.
The younger sister is Jingyan—Jiang Jingyan."
Originally, Jiang Si had wanted to name her daughter Jiang Lai—simple and smooth-sounding.
Even Third Uncle had approved, but he gently suggested that since the twins were a pair, one named Jingxing and the other just Lai might not sound cohesive.
It’d be better if both followed the "Jing" generation name.
Jiang Si agreed, and so the names Jingxing and Jingyan were chosen.
Father Huo asked for the characters and silently repeated them in his mind.
"Excellent names."
"Words matched by action, knowledge in harmony with deeds"—perfect for children.
Mother Huo beamed with pride. "Of course! And who do you think came up with them?"
Grandpa Huo, less versed in literary nuances, simply assumed Jiang Si hoped their great-grandson would excel in whatever he pursued—one profession after another, each mastered flawlessly!
As for their great-granddaughter, the name "Jingyan" alone spoke of wisdom and intellect.
She’d undoubtedly grow into a brilliant young lady.
"Oh, and their nicknames—Suisui for the brother, Zhaozhao for the sister."
The names were inspired by the phrase: "Year after year in peace, bright and fulfilled wishes."
A blessing for the twins to lead smooth, happy lives where all their dreams come true.
Everyone expressed their wholehearted approval.
Father Huo wanted to steal a few more words with Mother Huo, but she was already eager to return to her grandchildren.
"Alright, I’ve got to go now. The hospital’s been busy lately—I should head back."
With that, she hung up abruptly.
Listening to the dial tone, Father Huo sighed wistfully.
There was still… so much he wanted to say.
Resigned, he placed the receiver back.
When he looked up, Grandpa Huo was already changing his shoes.
Confused, Father Huo asked, "Dad, it’s mealtime—where are you going?"
"Ah, I just remembered something important..."
What could possibly be more urgent than dinner?
"Dad, why don’t you eat first? I’ll drive you afterward."
Grandpa Huo shot him an exasperated look. How could his son be so oblivious?
Finally, Grandma Huo intervened. "Let him go if he wants to."
If she didn’t let him go out and show off today, he probably wouldn’t sleep well tonight.
After all, when the Old Li Family welcomed their new grandson some time ago, the old man strutted around the courtyard for a full three days.
So Grandma Huo conservatively estimated that Grandpa Huo would be basking in this glory for at least five days this time.
But then again, she had plenty of old friends of her own too!
With that thought, how could Grandma Huo possibly sit still?
