As dawn's first light stretched across the city, a thin veil of mist began to dissipate, giving way to a day brimming with quiet anticipation. The sun was preparing to rise, casting a soft glow that hinted at the promise of a new beginning. Outside the maternity ward of Jiang City Hospital, a man who had been waiting anxiously through the night was now pacing the corridor, his previously composed demeanor shattered by the long hours of anticipation. Shen Zui's normally calm and measured manner had been entirely abandoned—under the circumstances, who could maintain such poise?
Shen Zui's face reflected a deep urgency, his gaze fixed on the door to the delivery room. He could see nothing beyond the closed doors, but his heart ached to break through, to shatter the barrier and see his wife, to be there, bearing witness. As he moved back and forth in restless anticipation, his attention was drawn to three familiar figures approaching: his aging parents and a young woman, his sister, walking down the corridor toward him. Shen Zui hurried forward to greet them. "Dad, Mom, Sister, why did you come so early?"
Before his parents could respond, a sharp, clear cry pierced the stillness from within the delivery room. The newborn's wails were loud and insistent, as if declaring their arrival to the world with unrestrained vigor. Shen Zui's heart skipped a beat, and he whirled around so quickly that he inadvertently strained his neck, clutching at it with a wince.
Seeing this, his mother reached out, both reproachful and tender, and gave his shoulder a soft pat. "You're a father now, yet you're still so rash!" she scolded, guiding him firmly to sit in a nearby chair. Meanwhile, his sister had already run to the door, peeking through the narrow crack with a curious gaze, even though there was nothing to be seen from outside.
They waited, all four of them, straining their ears as they exchanged uneasy glances. Time stretched on, their curiosity growing heavier with each second. Suddenly, a second cry echoed from within, and the old woman's eyes lit up. "Could it be... twins?" she whispered, her voice filled with uncontainable excitement. Her speculation was confirmed a moment later when yet another cry joined the first two in a rising chorus. The delivery room now hummed with life, and outside, the family waited breathlessly, exchanging glances of astonishment and joy.
At last, the doors swung open, and Shen Zui leapt to his feet, rushing forward, his earlier injury forgotten. It felt as if he were stepping from the shadow of night into the radiance of day—his heart thumping with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of fear. A nurse greeted him with a wide smile. "Congratulations! You're the proud father of triplets. Mother and babies are all doing wonderfully. The second one is a girl, and the other two are boys."
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Later, as Shen Zui parked his car in front of his apartment building, he left it outside instead of in the garage, feeling a mixture of fatigue and restlessness. After a long evening of entertaining clients, a hollow ache had settled within him. He raised his eyes to the faintly glowing light in his window, and his heart clenched with a bittersweet emotion. He took a deep breath, wiped away the moisture at the corner of his eye, and summoned a gentle smile before striding toward the elevator.
Opening his front door quietly, he saw his youngest son, Shen Lang, sitting cross-legged on the floor, a thin blanket beneath him, his gaze fixed on the TV. The boy was utterly absorbed, watching with an expression of profound stillness. Noticing his father's return, he made a move to rise, but Shen Zui waved him off. "No need, I've already eaten. Are you hungry? Want me to whip something up for you? Or maybe we can go out for a late snack?"
Shen Lang simply shook his head, his face devoid of expression. "I've already eaten, but tomorrow's allowance won't be enough. I need to buy groceries. Grandpa and Grandma called earlier. They said Brother and Sister are doing well. Grandma specifically noted that they're both as lively as ever, her words. She wants you not to worry. Oh, and they asked about you too." The boy finished his report with the solemnity of a messenger, then resumed his seated position, his posture rigid and unmoved, as if he were some ancient statue.
To a stranger, the scene might seem perplexing. The young boy's reserved, even cold demeanor lacked any semblance of affection or excitement upon his father's arrival. Shen Zui's other two children—his twins, Shen Kai and Shen Nan—were nine now, just like Shen Lang, and were outgoing and lively. They were enrolled in the same class, where they held the roles of class president and study monitor, respectively, and were constantly participating in various school activities.
In stark contrast, Shen Lang was different, his demeanor a world apart from his siblings'. Concerned, Shen Zui had once taken him for a full health evaluation, suspecting some underlying issue, but the doctors had reassured him repeatedly. There was absolutely nothing physically wrong with Shen Lang. The boy was, in fact, remarkably healthy. Yet, his reserved nature continued to baffle Shen Zui, becoming more pronounced as the years passed.
Whereas Shen Kai and Shen Nan were popular, full of energy, and well-liked by their classmates, Shen Lang was quieter, often sitting alone, communicating more through silence and glances than words. Even Shen Zui had heard from teachers that some children were unsettled by Shen Lang's intense gaze, with several having been reduced to tears after his silent, penetrating stare. Eventually, his teachers seated him at the back of the classroom, but even then, those sitting nearby remained apprehensive.
Despite all this, of the three, Shen Zui harbored a peculiar, almost instinctual fondness for Shen Lang. While the other two were equally obedient, they lacked the maturity and perceptiveness that Shen Lang showed at times. It was an unspoken difference that Shen Zui found himself both intrigued and moved by, though he couldn't quite pinpoint its cause.
When summer vacation began, Shen Zui had originally intended for all three children to stay with their grandparents. His work commitments provided a convenient excuse, but more than anything, he wanted the children to experience the warmth of their grandparents' care. The older two had left without protest, but Shen Lang, after only a couple of days, returned without explanation. Though his unexpected return left Shen Zui puzzled, he was also somewhat grateful.
Shen Zui shed his suit, stepped into the shower, and allowed the cool water to wash away the day's fatigue. Emerging refreshed, he stretched, then looked over at his son. "Xiao Lang, you don't get tired sitting like that?" he teased, reaching down to switch the channel to a sports show. "Shouldn't you be watching something else? These programs are a bit advanced for you, don't you think?"
His son regarded him with a rare glimmer of amusement, though his expression remained unchanged. "Dad," he said, voice as steady as ever, "looking at your vitality, I sometimes wonder if you're just putting up with loneliness. If so, why not bring someone home? Ms. Jiang, for instance, seems quite fond of you. She knows all about our situation and seems sympathetic. Plus, she's single. I think it's quite a good match—at least your bed wouldn't be so cold in winter."
Shen Zui's face flushed, his veins visibly pulsing in frustration. "You cheeky brat!" he scolded. "You have no idea what you're talking about. Our relationship is purely professional! Where did you pick up this nonsense? Your grandparents, I bet? You can barely read, but you're already becoming an expert in family affairs?"
Shen Lang met his father's gaze with calm indifference. "Dad, aren't you fooling yourself? It's a bit embarrassing, really. If things remain this way, my siblings and I are considering transferring to Grandpa and Grandma's place for good. I think they'd be delighted."
Without waiting for a reply, Shen Lang stood, tidied his blanket, and turned off the television before retreating to his room. He paused beside his father, adding softly, "Better to resolve these things sooner rather than later, don't you think?"
Shen Zui stared after him, words failing him. How could he respond? Should he scold him? Praise him? His thoughts churned helplessly.
But inside his room, Shen Lang slowly slid down against the wall, his back pressed against the cool surface, letting himself settle onto the floor. Today's exchange with his father, although veiled as jest, had been purposeful. Somewhere in their family's tangled history lay a mystery, and though Shen Lang only knew fragments, he felt compelled to uncover the truth—because it concerned his mother, and for that, he would not rest.