Still at the hospital, Zhōu Shíyì immediately shared the good news with his mother.
At first, Shí Fanyin didn’t dare to get too excited, worried that the doctors might have made a mistake.
She had seen Zhōng Yì’s last ultrasound report, which clearly stated it was a single fetus.
Zhōu Shíyì said, “No mistake.”
He took a photo of this latest examination report and sent it to his mother.
He had wanted to forward it to the family group chat as well but ultimately restrained himself.
After reviewing all the reports, Shí Fanyin called out loudly from the Shufang, “Zhōu Yúnlián!”
It was Saturday, and Zhōu Yúnlián hadn’t gone to the company. He was just about to hold a meeting with the family office team when suddenly he heard the shout echoing through the hallway.
Usually, when his wife called him by his full name, it was always with anger, but today her voice was filled with rare excitement and joy.
Before he could respond, the swaying figure had already reached the door.
“Zhōng Yì is carrying twins! The single fetus split into twins these past few weeks! They’re still at the hospital.”
She couldn’t hide her happiness as she spoke to her husband, her face glowing with a smile.
“Our son finally got what he wished for; these past few months, he was almost crazy wanting twins. Probably dreaming about them too.”
Zhōu Yúnlián was stunned for a full four or five seconds, unable to believe he was going to have twin grandchildren.
After a while, unsure how to express his feelings, he finally said, “Both babies are developing well, right?”
“They’ve been checked; everything’s normal.”
The couple, married for over thirty years, spoke to each other so calmly for the first time.
Zhōu Yúnlián imagined two identical children running around, whether boys or girls — the feeling of happiness was indescribable.
He tried to control his expression but couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh.
When he first found out he was going to be a father, he hadn’t been this surprised.
After some time, he planned to call Mǐn Tíng’s father.
What exactly to say, he hadn’t figured out yet.
The OldYuanFamily had twins — a boy and a girl — and his family had twins too; not much difference.
At the same time, at Jiang Jìngyuān’s house, Zhōng Zhuóhuá also received a call from her daughter.
Jiang Jìngyuān was downstairs, just watering the HuaCao he had nurtured for his wife, when he suddenly heard a rapid series of “thuds” on the stairs.
“Jiang Jìngyuān? Where are you?”
“What’s going on?”
“Zhōng Yì is carrying twins!”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá hurried down the steps, darted in front of her husband, and hugged him tightly.
With their daughter not nearby, she could only hold her husband firmly.
Jiang Jìngyuān caught his wife and thought to himself that he and Zhōu Yúnlián were finally of some use.
Aside from informing both sets of parents, Zhōu Shíyì and Zhōng Yì planned to keep the news private for now, waiting until the twins were a bit older before going public.
After returning home from the hospital, Zhōu Shíyì still hadn’t calmed down.
Zhōng Yì changed into her loungewear, poured a glass of hot water, and lazily sank into the sofa on the balcony.
She sipped her water, basking quietly in the warm winter sunlight, savoring that joy.
Zhōu Shíyì went to the Shufang to handle emails. Opening his inbox, his mind was still buzzing; he sat quietly for a few minutes.
He set an alarm for five minutes later, then leaned back in his chair.
The midday sun streamed cheerfully through the grid windows, falling onto the first small trinket he had ever given Zhōng Yì.
They had been young then, never imagining having children so far ahead, but he had thought about walking through life with her.
Next time he traveled for work, he’d have to bring three gifts.
Then he thought again — four gifts, two for Zhōng Yì.
The dream of the Christmas Town seemed closer and closer.
“Buzz buzz.”
The phone vibrated; the alarm at 9:05 had gone off.
Zhōu Shíyì always felt like he had just leaned back when the five minutes were already up.
He gathered his thoughts and forced himself to focus on work.
When replying to Du’s email, he added a sentence at the end: “You attend all the year-end banquets on my behalf.”
Du was at his computer and saw the email immediately.
He understood that Zhōu Shíyì didn’t want to attend these events during the conception period because they inevitably involved drinking, and refusing meant explaining.
But now that he was going to be a father, why not attend?
After thinking it over, only one possibility remained — Zhōu Shíyì was still disappointed about not getting twins earlier.
Du replied, “Understood.”
Zhōu Shíyì quickly amended: “I’ll go to the Jinghe Group’s banquet myself.”
Half an hour later, after finishing all emails, Zhōu Shíyì went to find Zhōng Yì in the bedroom.
She was dozing on the sofa, basking in the sun without him realizing when she had fallen asleep.
He fetched a pillow and placed it properly before lifting her to lie flat.
Zhōng Yì, drowsy, opened her eyes upon seeing him but closed them again.
Zhōu Shíyì sat on the other end of the sofa, resting her feet on his lap.
Zhōng Yì turned inward, her back to the sunlight.
“Hubby, next Tuesday is the 30th.”
Zhōu Shíyì smiled faintly, “You remember even when you’re this sleepy?”
December 30th was his birthday.
His parents had married on February 29th, and he was born at the end of the year.
His birthday was followed immediately by New Year’s Eve — not an easy date to forget.
Zhōng Yì said, “No matter how sleepy, I remember. I promised to celebrate your birthday properly this year.”
Zhōu Shíyì said, “I already got a surprise; no more gifts needed.”
Given her special condition, he didn’t want her to worry about gifts.
But Zhōng Yì had already prepared one.
“I haven’t congratulated you on becoming a twin dad yet,” she said, changing the subject from the birthday.
Zhōu Shíyì smiled, “Thank you.”
After confirming the twins, he couldn’t help but wonder whether they’d be boys or girls.
If boys, how to raise them without driving them crazy; if girls, how to spoil them without being overindulgent.
But if daughters, how could he not spoil them?
Just like Chén Chén, almost three years old, still needing Zhōu Sùjìn to hold and soothe him during naps and nighttime.
And NuoNuo, Mǐn Tíng couldn’t bear to hear her cry even once.
He once held her hand, clutching it in his palm: “Go to sleep.”
Zhōu Shíyì crossed his legs, leaned back on the sofa, and closed his eyes to rest.
Even now, his heart hadn’t fully settled.
The dream of Christmas Town floated before his eyes again.
He didn’t know when he had fallen asleep.
But he had no more dreams.
On Monday night, Zhōu Shíyì received a call from his mother, asking if he wanted a birthday celebration the next day.
Last year, Zhōng Yì had been busy, and they’d both forgotten.
Zhōu Shíyì replied, “No need. Zhōng Yì remembered and even mentioned my birthday a few days ago.”
When he returned from the Shufang to the bedroom, Zhōng Yì was already asleep.
He glanced at his watch — only 8:50 PM.
Her schedule was now basically like a child’s: sleeping early and waking early.
Zhōng Yì woke up to a pitch-dark room.
She reached for the phone on the bedside table; it was just past 5:30 AM.
Since getting pregnant, she and Zhōu Shíyì each had their own blanket; no matter how much they turned or got up, they didn’t disturb each other.
She half-sat up, quietly opened the bedside drawer, and took out a velvet box.
Inside was a pair of couple rings.
The one she had bought for him before the wedding barely matched her Diamond Ring, so it couldn’t really be called a couple ring.
All the rings before had gone through trials and tribulations, each carrying some kind of imperfection.
This pair of plain bands was something she bought during their honeymoon in Boston, catching her eye instantly.
Closing the velvet box, Zhōng Yì moved next to Zhōu Shíyì but didn’t immediately put the ring on him.
His alarm usually went off at 6:00, and she planned to put it on just a few minutes before the bell.
Leaning against his shoulder, she lay down, already missing sleeping in his arms after just over a month apart.
Breathing in his familiar scent, twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhōng Yì propped herself up on her elbow and gently took his left hand.
Just as she took off his original ring, the man sensed movement, groggily opening his eyes and rasping, “What is it? Can’t sleep?”
He instinctively wanted to pull her into his arms.
Zhōng Yì held his hand firmly, “Happy birthday. Even in those three years apart, I never forgot your birthday.”
As she spoke, she slid the newly bought ring onto his ring finger.
Zhōu Shíyì snapped fully awake and with the other hand switched on the bedside wall lamp.
Under the light, he clearly saw the new plain band.
“Thank you.” He kissed her hair. “When did you buy this?”
“Long ago.”
Zhōng Yì tucked his original ring back into the box. “I bought it in Boston. You were at the company handling work, so I went out for a walk.”
Then she added, “Your ring is engraved with my name, just like your company’s name. Also, congratulations on your company’s seventh anniversary.”
“The ring’s not expensive — not even a fraction of the Diamond Ring you bought me,” she said.
Zhōu Shíyì pulled her into his arms, “To me, it’s the most precious.”
Zhōng Yì said, “Mine has your name on it.”
When it came to rings, Zhōu Shíyì’s most vivid memory was of a thin platinum band she once wore.
That was nine years ago when she had a boyfriend.
Now, he too had a ring not bought out of necessity for a wedding, but because it held meaning for both of them and was bought out of affection.
At this moment, he forgot the existence of the two children.
He had once worried about whether the children would one day cause them to neglect each other.
After the birthday celebration, Beicheng experienced heavy snowfall.
This time last year, he had woken up to find the space beside him empty; she had gone back to the Laboratory Building in the middle of the night to work on the testing center.
Now, they already had children.
The snow fell intermittently for two days, and the day it cleared was the Jinghe Group’s year-end banquet.
Zhōu Shíyì arrived late, waiting at home until Zhōng Yì fell asleep before heading to the hotel where the banquet was held.
Mǐn Tíng had just put down his wine glass and was about to leave.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
Zhōu Shíyì said, “I still have to learn from you, how could I not come?”
Everyone started chattering, teasing him.
“You didn’t have twins smoothly — honestly, how many times did you cry at home recently?”
Zhōu Shíyì took a glass of red wine from the waiter’s tray but held back from telling the truth.
“Looks like you’ve been pretty upset; you’ve lost weight.”
“You should learn from Shen Chi.”
Last year, Mǐn Tíng had announced in the group chat the birth of his dizygotic twins; Shen Chi had replied seriously, “Passing on good luck to the twins.”
Of course, no one would really expect to pass on luck, but the attitude was sincere.
Someone comforted Zhōu Shíyì, “Just think of Yán Tínglín as another embryo — he was born himself, takes care of himself, and you don’t have to worry about him.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Zhōu Shíyì sipped his wine slowly, laughing along.
Everyone thought he was forcing a smile.
He swallowed his drink and asked Mǐn Tíng, “When’s a good time to visit your place?”
Mǐn Tíng said, “To see Shí Shí and NuoNuo?”
Zhōu Shíyì nodded, “And to see how you handle two kids at once.”
Mǐn Tíng wanted to say, “You don’t need to take care of two at once.”
But he didn’t want to crush his spirit, so he swallowed the words.
Not having twins was one thing.
But dreams — he had to let him keep dreaming.
From then on, Zhōu Shíyì visited once or twice a month, sometimes staying only an hour or two.
When Mǐn Tíng had family gatherings with many people, Zhōu Shíyì and Zhōng Yì would join and stay from morning till night.
Later, as Zhōng Yì’s belly grew and she had difficulty moving, Zhōu Shíyì stopped visiting.
Now, with the twins kicking strongly, the two babies were lively and active.
One side of Zhōng Yì’s belly would flatten just as the other side bulged.
One punch, one kick.
Zhōu Shíyì looked at the swollen belly, wishing he could press it to make them stop moving so much.
Luckily, they were dizygotic twins with their own space; otherwise, he worried they’d be fighting in the womb.
His mother had said she suffered greatly when she was pregnant with him.
His mother-in-law also said that when she was carrying Zhōng Yì, she had been punched and kicked in the belly.
So who knows whom these two babies had taken after.
Maybe both.
***
At five months, the twins were developing well.
Zhōu Shíyì then informed the elders in both families that Zhōng Yì was carrying twins.
He found Mǐn Tíng was not surprised at all and privately messaged him: “You knew early?”
Mǐn Tíng: “Yeah.”
Zhōu Shíyì: “Your father-in-law told you?”
Mǐn Tíng: “Not me, my third uncle. Your dad called my dad. Not just me; the whole family knows.”
Zhōu Shíyì:
So what had they been hiding all this time?
Never expected his father to be so impatient at his age.
Mǐn Tíng: “Even if your dad hadn’t said anything, you visit my house so often, it’s obvious if you’re not stupid.”
Zhōu Shíyì:
He suddenly chuckled.
By mid-June, the two babies were eager to arrive.
They had hoped to go full term, but due to poor amniotic fluid conditions, they had to have a premature C-section.
Outside the operating room, the most worried person was Jiang Jìngyuān.
He had gone through an early birth with his daughter and still bore a deep fear no one else could understand.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá sat beside her husband, her hand nearly bruised from his tight grip.
Until the nurse came out and announced, “Mother and babies are safe.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá immediately felt the hand holding hers loosen.
Zhōu Shíyì heard the words “mother and babies are safe” and silently exhaled.
Shí Fanyin turned and saw her son’s eyes moist with tears.
She gently patted his back, “We’ve picked their nicknames.”
Zhōu Shíyì asked, “What are they?”
“ZuoZuo and YouYou. Sounds good, right?”
“Just now?”
Shí Fanyin: “No way! Your mother-in-law and I chose many nicknames. These two are the cutest.”
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