Su Bingcheng took his granddaughter from Su Lang and stepped aside with Jiang Chengzhou.
Xu Yueyun handed Xiao Lili to Su Lang, saying, “You take care of your wife and child. I’ll go back and have Auntie Yu make some crucian carp soup.”
Having the elders around would only make the younger daughter-in-law uncomfortable. Besides, Xu Yueyun assumed that since her younger daughter-in-law had given birth before, she should know how to feed the baby.
The door to the hospital room closed.
Su Lang “held” the child and sat down next to Lin Zhilan.
Luckily, Lin Zhilan knew something about gynecology. She took the baby and asked Su Lang to fetch a hot towel.
She took the towel, turned her back, and unbuttoned her nightgown.
“Let me help you.”
“Don’t move,” Lin Zhilan said hurriedly. “I can do it myself.”
Even though he had already seen her in every state, Lin Zhilan still felt the need to preserve some privacy.
Su Lang didn’t insist. Instead, he stacked a couple of pillows to prop up her lower back, letting her sit more comfortably.
After three days in the hospital, Lin Zhilan returned home to begin her postpartum confinement.
For several days in a row, visitors streamed through the door.
They all brought gifts—shrimp and crab from the sea, chicken, duck, fish, pork—everything imaginable.
Some people dropped off their offerings and left, giving no chance to refuse.
After discussing it with her son and daughter-in-law, Xu Yueyun boiled a big pot of red-dyed eggs and delivered them door-to-door to share the happy news. Only then did things settle down.
That time of year, the island’s temperature hadn’t fully risen yet—neither hot nor cold—so Lin Zhilan’s confinement was fairly comfortable.
When the month was up, she finally indulged in a long, hot bath, feeling as though she had shed an old layer of skin.
Now, the only thing troubling the whole family was Su Li’s temperament.
That child was an absolute terror.
At ten days old, once his jaundice faded, it became clear he had a fair, delicate complexion, and the more they cared for him, the fairer and cuter he grew.
Even Jiang Chengzhou, who had been the most unwelcoming toward him, now stopped by after school to take a look.
But in stark contrast to his appearance, the boy cried far too much.
He had a loud voice, boundless energy, and would wail at the top of his lungs if his diaper wasn’t changed quickly enough or if he got hungry.
During the day, the elderly couple and Auntie Yu all took turns caring for him, while Lin Zhilan only returned at set times to nurse.
At night, it was solely Su Lang’s responsibility.
Neither coaxing nor scolding worked—the more you scolded him, the harder he cried.
Lin Zhilan’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet, and the other two kids had to go to school the next day.
So Su Lang could only take the baby outside to soothe him.
Once outdoors, the boy would stop crying, staring around with wide, curious eyes.
Su Lang had figured out the pattern—three laps around the drill ground, and the child would fall asleep.
But as Li grew older, by about three months, it took five laps to get him to sleep.
Lin Zhilan needed to regain her strength, so everyone tried to spare her from caring for the baby.
Xu Yueyun and Su Bingcheng had been enthusiastic at first, but even they grew a little afraid of their little grandson—his voice was so loud, his crying so piercing that it buzzed in their ears. No matter how much grandparents doted on a grandchild, there were limits.
As Lin Zhilan finished her bath, Su Lang came back carrying their son. She said sympathetically, “Poor Captain Su. Is this little guy here to collect some kind of debt from us?”
Su Lang laid Su Li down in his crib.
When the boy slept, he looked like an angel. Su Lang couldn’t help defending him. “He’s not collecting debts. When he grows up… he should understand.”
Lin Zhilan sighed wistfully. “I hope so. Otherwise, the image I’ve built as a loving mother in front of Chengzhou and Linlin is about to crumble.”
Su Lang chuckled softly, his eyes catching a glimpse of his wife in her nightgown.
Three months after childbirth, Lin Zhilan’s figure hadn’t fully returned to its prepregnancy slimness, yet she now had a supple, fuller charm she’d never had before.
She was drying her hair, head down, wet strands slipping through her fingers and clinging to her temples, making the nape of her neck look pale and smooth as if it had just been dipped in milk.
Her nightgown was slightly open at the collar, the skin beneath her collarbone flushed a delicate pink, glowing so softly under the lamplight it was almost dazzling.
Su Lang’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. He averted his gaze, went to the wardrobe to grab his clothes, and left to take a shower.
He was always quick in the shower, but tonight he was even faster.
In less than ten minutes, he came back in, his hair still dripping and smelling of steam.
Lin Zhilan was sitting sideways on the bed, leaning over to tuck a thin blanket around Su Li in his crib.
Su Lang pressed up behind her.
His damp chest pushed against her back; one hand curled around her side just above her waist, where that soft spot fit perfectly into his palm.
He lowered his head, his nose brushing aside her loose hair, and pressed his lips to the bare skin just behind her ear.
Lin Zhilan turned her head to look at him.
Su Lang blinked and flashed her a smile that made her heart race.
Su Lang grinned smugly. “Zhilan, I can see fire in your eyes when you look at me.”
Lin Zhilan looped her arms around his neck and got to her feet, then flipped him onto his back on the bed. “There’s fire, but I’m also a hungry wolf.”
Su Lang let out a low laugh, reached up to cup the back of her head, and his warm breath washed over her. The moment their lips and teeth met, both of them trembled.
Ever since their son was born, they hadn’t been this close for so long.
Gradually, Su Lang took control, pressing his wife beneath him…
“Wah——”
A robust, full-throated cry exploded from the crib beside them.
Su Li had woken up, God knows when, and was wailing with unbridled energy.
The couple froze.
Lin Zhilan came to her senses first. She pushed Su Lang’s shoulder away, her face flushed crimson.
It was unclear whether it was from the lingering heat of the moment or the embarrassment of being interrupted by the baby. Hiding her face behind the back of her hand, she let out a soft, muffled laugh, then shoved him again. “Go tend to the child.”
Su Lang buried his head in the hollow of Lin Zhilan’s shoulder and stayed motionless.
Ignored, Su Li only cried harder.
He had the attitude of “If you don’t come soothe me, I’ll cry till dawn.”
“Su Lang,” Lin Zhilan nudged him again. “Then let me get up.”
“No need,” he said, his nose still pressed against the spot he had just kissed. With a sigh, he added, “Zhilan, you were right. This kid is here to collect a debt.”
Lin Zhilan’s shoulders shook with laughter. She reached up and gently stroked the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair in comfort.
Su Lang lingered against her for a few more seconds before getting up and walking toward the crib.
Su Li, lying on his back, paused mid-cry at the sight of his father’s face.
Father and son locked eyes.
Su Lang stared down at him expressionlessly.
Su Li’s mouth puckered as if he was about to start crying again.
Su Lang hastily leaned down and scooped up the plump little boy.
The moment Su Li settled into his arms, he stopped crying, his shiny, grape-black eyes fixed wetly on his father. He wrinkled his brow and let out two fussy “Eh eh” sounds.
