Guan Xue felt her mother was overthinking things. "Mom, Huo Tinghan and I have discussed it—we're not planning to have a second child."
So this hypothetical scenario didn’t apply.
Huo Tinghan chimed in, "Yes, yes, we’ve talked it over."
If his wife said no, then it was no.
He was fine either way.
"What? You’re not planning for a second child?" Guan's Mother nearly choked on her breath.
This stubborn child! The only thing she’d inherited was her looks—none of her mother’s high emotional intelligence or social grace!
How could she say something like that directly in front of Mother Huo and the other elders of the Huo family?
Besides, these days, everyone was having two or three kids.
The young couple were both highly educated, good-looking, and well-off—not having more children would be a waste!
If Guan Xue weren’t about to be wheeled into the delivery room, Guan's Mother would’ve smacked her upside the head to knock some sense into her.
Mother Huo, standing nearby, noticed the rapid shifts in Guan's Mother’s expression.
But when it came to childbirth, she was remarkably open-minded.
In her view, whether to have children—and how many—was entirely up to the couple.
She wouldn’t interfere or pressure them.
"Dear in-law, let the children decide for themselves," Mother Huo said earnestly. "There are advantages to having just one child—look how outstanding Guan Xue turned out under your care."
Grandma Huo added cheerfully, "That’s right. We elders can’t help much anyway, so let’s respect their wishes."
With things put so plainly, what could Guan's Mother say except feel grateful?
Knowing her daughter had such an understanding and considerate in-law family, she was content.
Seizing the moment of agreement between the two mothers, Guan Xue quickly interjected, "Mom, could I ask you for a favor?"
She and Huo Tinghan could only focus on one thing at a time, and she was afraid that after giving birth, her brain would be too foggy to remember to register the baby’s household registration.
Mother Huo had expected something more serious, but upon hearing this, she readily agreed.
"Don’t worry about it. Just settle on a name—we’ll handle the registration."
"By the way, have you picked a name yet?"
"We have."
Guan Xue had no talent for naming, so she’d left it to Huo Tinghan.
Under everyone’s curious gazes, Huo Tinghan solemnly pulled a notebook from his briefcase.
"If it’s a boy, he’ll be Huo Jingting—‘ting’ as in pavilion. If it’s a girl, we’ll switch to the feminine ‘ting’ with the ‘woman’ radical."
The name made it clear they really had no strong feelings about having a second child.
Perhaps because expectations were low, the elders unanimously agreed the name was decent—simple and at least not unpleasant.
"Yes, it’s a fine name," they nodded in approval.
"Then it’s settled," Mother Huo said, committing the name to memory before casually asking, "What about the baby’s nickname?"
"Soymilk."
"What?" Mother Huo thought she’d misheard.
Huo Tinghan repeated, "Nickname: Soymilk."
The room fell silent.
"Did… did you come up with that?" Mother Huo took a deep breath.
"Yep," Huo Tinghan said confidently.
Mother Huo shot him a glare.
Since it was his idea, she held nothing back.
"What kind of nickname is ‘Soymilk’?" she scolded. "Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? People will think you’re ordering a drink, not calling your child!"
Why not something like Pingping, An’an, Tuantuan, Yuanyuan—anything would’ve been better!
"Soymilk is a great name," Huo Tinghan adjusted his glasses, dead serious. "It’s white, plump, and nutritious. Plus, my wife and I both love soymilk."
So it was based on their personal preferences?
Before Mother Huo could retort, Grandma Huo tugged her sleeve. "Let it go. Soymilk isn’t so bad—better than Steamed Bun, Dumpling, or Fried Dough Stick."
If she recalled correctly, the couple was also fond of fermented mung bean juice.
Mother Huo: "…"
Little did she know, Huo Tinghan had initially wanted to name the baby "Fermented Juice," but he’d reconsidered, knowing not everyone could stomach the stuff.
Thank goodness he’d changed it—otherwise, the backlash today would’ve been far worse.
With the baby’s names settled, Guan Xue relaxed.
To avoid disturbing her, the family stepped outside.
By noon, Guan Xue’s cervix had dilated past five centimeters.
Just before being wheeled into the delivery room, she finished crunching the last of her data.
At 11:25 a.m., she was taken in.
The birth went smoother than expected.
Before 1:30 p.m., the delivery room doors opened.
A nurse emerged with a swaddled bundle, announcing Guan Xue had given birth to a boy—7 pounds, 4 ounces, plump and healthy.
Most importantly, both mother and child were safe.
Still, childbirth was no easy feat.
When Guan Xue was wheeled out, she looked drenched, as if pulled from water.
Exhausted, she needed rest above all else.
Once assured of their well-being, the family prepared to leave.
Downstairs, the two little ones, having spent the morning playing wildly with Huo Tingzhou, were now fast asleep in the backseat.
Seeing Jiang Si approach, Huo Tingzhou asked softly, "Did Fourth Sister-in-law give birth yet?"
"Yes," Jiang Si smiled. "A healthy baby boy. Both are doing well."
With the family’s newest addition, the ride home—and the entire afternoon—was filled with joyous chatter.
Gradually, the two children caught on: they had a new baby brother.
But since they hadn’t seen him yet, curiosity gnawed at them.
Even at bedtime, their wide eyes stayed fixed on their mother.
"It’s late now, time to sleep, okay?" Jiang Si murmured, gently patting their blankets.
Suisui blinked and mumbled, "Bro… bro…"
Too quiet to catch, Jiang Si leaned closer.
Zhaozhao wriggled over, pressing her face against Jiang Si’s chest.
"Mommy—" she cooed.
"Yes?" Jiang Si sat down, undoing Zhaozhao’s tiny braids and ruffling her hair.
Encouraged, Zhaozhao lifted her face. "Want brother~"
Suisui echoed, "Want brother~"
"Ah?"
Jiang Si massaged her temples. Any other request she might’ve humored, but this one was impossible.
Not only did she have no plans for a second child—even if she did, Huo Tingzhou had already had a vasectomy.
As the kids kept insisting, Jiang Si sighed and plopped them into Huo Tingzhou’s arms.
"You handle bedtime!"
When it comes to soothing children, he was clearly the more experienced one.
She, on the other hand, went to take a shower.
Sure enough, by the time Jiang Si finished bathing and returned to the bedroom, the two little ones were already sprawled on the bed, their tiny lips slightly parted, sleeping soundly!
Strangely, the children were surrounded by two layers of thin quilts.
Jiang Si was puzzled and about to speak up when—
In the next moment, she was swept off her feet, lifted by the waist.
Startled, Jiang Si instinctively wrapped her arms around Huo Tingzhou’s neck.
Realizing he was about to carry her back into the bathroom, she couldn’t help but poke his chest and whisper, "Put me down—I’ve already showered!"
"I haven’t," Huo Tingzhou replied, tightening his grip as he pushed open the bathroom door with one hand. The room was still misty with lingering steam.
Jiang Si shot him a reproachful glance, her cheeks warm. "You haven’t showered… What does that have to do with me?"
Huo Tingzhou suddenly leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, his voice low and husky. "Keep me company. Okay?"
Jiang Si: "…"
Since when was this a question of "okay"? He hadn’t even given her a choice.
Soon, the sound of rushing water filled the bathroom.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder—better late than never.
