Extra Chapter Three: Little Wen Can (1)

During her postpartum confinement, Wen Jiu personally took charge only of feeding the baby; all other matters, big and small, were handled by Gu Zehuai himself. Moreover, the Gu family had hired four or five maternity nurses who took turns caring for the baby.

Gu Zehuai named their daughter Wen Can, hoping she would live a life filled with happiness, health, and unending brightness.

At this moment, Wen Can was crying loudly in Gu Zehuai’s arms. Despite all his efforts to soothe her, nothing worked. He could only pace back and forth in the room, holding the baby.

Wen Jiu sat by the bedside and reached out her hand. “Let me try.”

Miraculously, as soon as Wen Jiu took her, the baby stopped crying and instead smiled broadly, waving her little hands as if trying to touch Wen Jiu’s face.

Looking at the tiny baby who was less than a month old in her arms, Wen Jiu felt her heart melt with affection.

What was more interesting was that, except for the first time when Wen Can was placed beside Wen Jiu’s bed and cried herself breathless, every time Wen Jiu held her afterward, the baby would coo happily and cling tightly to her, refusing to be comforted by anyone else—not even Gu Zehuai.

Wen Jiu thought to herself, no wonder this little treasure was born through her own hard labor. Gu Zehuai had been thinking about Wen Jiu’s health, but since their daughter only wanted to be with Wen Jiu, it meant Wen Jiu would tire herself more.

Yet Wen Jiu found joy in it and was able to soothe the baby quickly each time.

Wen Jiu was resting in the old family home. Gu’s mother no longer went to the company and helped with childcare during the day.

Gu Yulin, their elder son, rushed upstairs to the nursery as soon as school was out every day, eager to see his little sister.

"Great-grandma, grandma, auntie, I’m back!" After greeting everyone, Gu Yulin went over to the bedside.

The baby had just finished feeding and was already asleep, but her lips twitched from time to time, sometimes even letting out little smiles.

Every time, Gu Yulin thought his sister was awake, but Wen Jiu would explain that she was just dreaming.

Gu Yulin would watch Wen Can’s sleeping face like this without feeling bored in the slightest.

Finally, when his sister woke up, Gu Yulin would tease her with toys, playing alone and coaxing her.

Madam Gu would laugh and tease, “Yuyu’s greatest joy every day is playing with his little sister.” Though elderly, Madam Gu could still hold a baby comfortably in her lap while sitting on the sofa and often took the chance to go upstairs to hold the little one.

Gu Yulin didn’t deny it but nodded eagerly. “Of course! She’s so adorable. I want to play with her every day and watch her grow.”

Everyone laughed heartily at this.

Indeed, the little Wen Can, now half a month old, had grown somewhat, no longer the wrinkled newborn she was at birth. Instead, she was even fairer and plumper, especially her pair of big, round eyes that mirrored Wen Jiu’s. Yet her nose and mouth resembled Gu Zehuai’s, particularly her nose, which, though not fully formed yet, promised to be a high-bridged one in the future.

Gu Zehuai made it a point to visit Wen Jiu and the baby first thing after work every day. Most of the time, Wen Can was asleep in the crib in their bedroom; only occasionally did a maternity nurse care for her in the nursery.

Though Wen Jiu had a natural delivery, she sometimes still found it difficult to move around, so Gu Zehuai helped her with washing and other personal care.

Even though they had been completely open with each other countless times, Wen Jiu still felt a bit shy standing in front of Gu Zehuai like that.

Gu Zehuai was natural but inevitably felt desire at times—mostly because of a long period of abstinence.

However, he never showed it, understanding that Wen Jiu’s current condition made any intimacy impossible.

Yet Wen Jiu noticed this and deliberately teased him, making Gu Zehuai tense all over until he ended up taking care of himself.

Gu Zehuai’s face darkened slightly as he whispered a warning in Wen Jiu’s ear, “Jiu Jiu, don’t run away when the time comes.”

Wen Jiu immediately hurried out of the bathroom, leaving Gu Zehuai alone inside.

The next day was the weekend. Shen Mengxia and Ye Chen arrived at the old family home, bringing gifts and some supplements for Wen Jiu.

Shen Mengxia had visited several times before, but this was Ye Chen’s first time.

Shen Mengxia went upstairs to Wen Jiu’s bedroom, while Ye Chen stayed downstairs in the living room, where Gu Zehuai brewed tea for him.

Gu Zehuai’s proud expression was unmistakable, and Ye Chen saw right through it, shooting him a glance.

As if it were anyone else’s secret! Shen Mengxia was surely carrying a daughter too!

Shen Mengxia entered the bedroom just as Wen Jiu was nursing the baby. Seeing her, Wen Jiu lowered her clothes, having just finished feeding.

“Jiu Jiu, I’m here! Let me see my goddaughter!” Shen Mengxia said, picking up Wen Can and sitting down on the chair by the bed.

The baby, now well-fed and in great spirits, smiled broadly in Shen Mengxia’s arms with no sign of crying.

After playing with her for a while, Shen Mengxia shyly said, “Jiu Jiu, I’m pregnant too.” Her face flushed slightly.

A few months ago, she had said they would wait another two years, but unexpectedly, she had conceived sooner.

Wen Jiu was delighted. “Really? Congratulations, Xia Xia! So soon!”

Shen Mengxia smiled. “I just found out yesterday. I’m one and a half months along.”

Wen Jiu seemed to realize something and immediately reached out to take the baby. “Since you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t hold her for too long.”

Shen Mengxia was about to protest that she wasn’t that fragile, but thinking better of it, she was cautious. The baby wasn’t heavy anyway, so she handed Wen Can over to Wen Jiu.