Shu Mengyao looked up at Lin Yang, then down at the bowl of soup. Finally, she took a deep breath, as though summoning all her courage.
Instead of waiting for Lin Yang to feed her with the spoon, she grabbed the bowl directly and gulped it down in one go.
"Burp… I finished it," Shu Mengyao announced, her small face scrunched up from the lingering bitterness of the soup. She tilted her chin slightly, clearly waiting to be praised.
She had drunk too quickly, leaving a ring of soup around her lips. The sight of her like this was both adorable and amusing.
Lin Yang couldn't help but laugh. He leaned closer, gently wiping the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
The sudden proximity made Shu Mengyao feel flustered, her heart pounding wildly. Yet, she didn't pull away. She just sat there, staring at him with wide eyes.
"How did drinking soup turn you into a little kitten?" Lin Yang teased, his voice tinged with amusement.
Hearing that, Shu Mengyao's cheeks turned even redder. She had been so focused on downing the soup that she hadn't paid attention to her appearance. She pouted slightly but said nothing, overwhelmed by embarrassment.
It was the first time she had let herself be so unguarded in front of a man.
"By the way, I heard from Wang Chao that you haven't been to school for six months?" Lin Yang asked casually, sensing her unease and trying to shift the topic.
Shu Mengyao let out a bitter smile.
"Yes. At first, when I found out I was pregnant, I didn't really feel anything. I just couldn't bring myself to… you know, let a life end like that. So, I kept going to school as usual, pretending nothing was wrong. When people noticed I'd gained weight, I just brushed it off. But I was carrying twins, and my belly kept growing. Eventually, it became impossible to hide. So, I took leave and rented a small apartment to stay out of sight."
Her gaze fell to her belly, now noticeably smaller after giving birth. Thankfully, the twins had been born safely, making all the effort and sacrifices worthwhile.
Lin Yang listened quietly, his heart aching. Shu Mengyao had endured so much to bring the twins into the world. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back.
"You've been through so much. But don't worry, from now on, you won't have to face anything alone. I'll be here, and we'll face everything together," Lin Yang said solemnly.
Hearing his words, Shu Mengyao's tears welled up and spilled over. She had been strong for so long, bearing everything alone, unable to share her burdens with anyone. Now, she finally had someone to lean on.
Her quiet sobbing soon turned into full-blown crying as tears streamed down her face, soaking Lin Yang's shoulder.
"Lin Yang… I'm so lucky to have you," Shu Mengyao murmured between sobs.
In that moment, it felt like a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Uh… I'm not trying to interrupt or anything…"
A nurse's hesitant voice came from the doorway, breaking the moment. She stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or step inside.
Shu Mengyao quickly sat up and wiped at her face.
"I—um…" she stammered, unsure of what to say.
"It's okay. It's normal for postpartum women to get emotional," the nurse said kindly, smiling. Then, she added, "But you're lucky to have such a patient and caring husband."
"H-husband…" Shu Mengyao blushed, sneaking a glance at Lin Yang.
To her surprise, Lin Yang was looking at her too. Their eyes met, and she quickly averted her gaze, her heart racing.
The nurse continued, unaware of the couple's silent exchange.
"I'm here to take the babies for their routine checkups—weight, general health, and so on," she explained while wheeling in the stroller.
"Uh…" Shu Mengyao looked at the twins reluctantly, clearly not wanting to part with them. She tried to get up but lacked the strength.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Lin Yang asked, noticing her hesitation.
"Don't worry. We're professionals; your babies are in safe hands. In the meantime, you can use this time to grab some lunch for the new mom," the nurse suggested warmly.
Despite her reassurances, Lin Yang could tell Shu Mengyao was still anxious. "If you're worried, I'll follow them," he said gently.
After a bit more coaxing from the nurse, Lin Yang finally helped Shu Mengyao settle back into bed. "You rest for now. I'll be back soon," he said.
As he turned to leave, Shu Mengyao reached out and tugged at his sleeve.
"Where are you going?" she asked, her eyes wide with worry, making her look like a helpless kitten.
"I'm just going to grab some lunch for you. I'll be back before you know it," Lin Yang reassured her.
Shu Mengyao hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Lin Yang… don't leave me, okay?"
Lin Yang smiled warmly, gently ruffling her hair. "Silly, I'm only stepping out for a moment. How about this? Let's keep a video call going the whole time. That way, you can even tell me what you want to eat."
Shu Mengyao's face lit up at the idea. She nodded, finally letting go of his sleeve.
Lin Yang set up the video call before heading downstairs to the hospital cafeteria.
"Lin Yang, I want that one!" Shu Mengyao's voice came through the phone, excitedly pointing at dishes on the screen.
Lin Yang chuckled and patiently got everything she wanted, along with a meal for himself. Then, without waiting for the elevator, he sprinted up the stairs to return to her as quickly as possible.
When he pushed open the door, Shu Mengyao was sitting on the bed, her gaze fixed on the entrance. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with a radiant smile.
"Lin Yang, I'm so hungry," she said, her voice soft and sweet.