After giving birth and eting a new group of people, Tian Sangsang needed to return ho to begin her postpartum confinent period after a brief nap. It had been a long day, and by the ti she went back, it was already evening. Walking was still quite painful, but at least it was much more bearable now.
Tian Sangsang wrapped her down jacket tightly around herself, refusing to give the wind any chance to invade. A woman needs to care for herself. Giving birth takes a toll on one’s energy, and she must replenish during her confinent. Not only that, she must protect herself from cold and sorrow.
She needed to love herself more. It didn’t matter that she didn’t have a husband—she had friends, she had her son.
The down jacket she had worn before fit her perfectly, but she had deliberately picked a larger size this ti.
Now, things were different. When she wore it, it felt loose and empty.
She lowered her head and gazed at her belly. The "cargo" had been unloaded. As she touched it, her hand landed on a pile of flabby flesh. No matter—she could train to make it smooth and flat again. It just felt... unreal.
She turned her head and saw that the "cargo" from her belly was now tightly held in Zhao Chun’s arms. Warmth surged in her heart. She was a happy mother now. A mother’s love fosters strength. She had two sons now, and she needed to be stronger.
From Zhao Chun’s perspective, however, it felt completely different. The oversized down jacket made her appear even smaller and more fragile. For the first ti, he clearly perceived just how delicate and vulnerable she was.
With a new mber in the household, sleeping arrangents suddenly beca a dilemma.
Little Tangyuan hadn’t woken up yet and was placed in the crib by Zhao Chun. Zhao Chun offered, "How about I take Tang Yuan’er ho and care for him? I’ll bring him back during the day. After your confinent period, you can take care of him again."
In her current state, she indeed couldn’t manage taking care of the baby. At night, the baby would wake up, cry, pee, poop, and need diaper changes or baths—none of which she was capable of doing right now. Tian Sangsang hesitated reluctantly, biting her lip. "Then how about you move into my house? Being in a room next door is better than being across the courtyard. Hearing him cry will help ease my anxiety."
The baby was the priority, and Zhao Chun nodded, "Alright."
"Yanyan."
ng Shuyan’s eyes widened.
Zhao Chun imdiately corrected himself, "Little Bun."
ng Shuyan perked his ears.
Zhao Chun said, "Little Bun, Uncle needs to take care of your brother. Your mom is doing her confinent and can’t look after you tonight. How about you sleep in a room by yourself tonight? You’re grown up now, and Uncle believes you’re a brave kid."
ng Shuyan nodded and said, "Chun Zisu, I understand."
Tian Sangsang was reluctant to let her son sleep alone, but then she thought about how he was already five years old and needed to beco independent. Really, there was no reason for him to keep sleeping with her—this was sothing every child had to experience. She wished she could protect him forever but knew she had no choice but to let go and give him his own space.
At night, ng Shuyan lay alone in the big bed, his small body tucked under the thick blanket. He didn’t turn off the lights, his little mouth pursed, and tears glistened in his eyes.
The lights were still on. In the past, these lights were not for him to turn off. At this mont, the little boy finally realized that he was alone in the room. Mommy had given birth to a little brother; she was very weak. Chun Zisu was taking care of the little brother; it was very tiring. Therefore, he needed to be more sensible. He could take care of himself.
ng Shuyan slowly shuffled out of bed to turn off the lights but paused when he heard the creak of the door opening.
Wearing dark cotton fleece pajamas, Zhao Chun smiled warmly. "Little Bun, not asleep yet?"
ng Shuyan froze for a mont before lowering his head sheepishly. "Chun Zisu, I don’t want to be called Little Bun anymore."
He wasn’t going to compare himself to his little brother anymore. He wasn’t little—he could sleep alone now.
"Alright, Yanyan." Zhao Chun thought to himself, calling him Yanyan still felt the most natural.
He sat by the bed. "You be good and sleep. Uncle will turn off the lights for you."
ng Shuyan lay down properly, and Zhao Chun tucked him in snugly.
The little boy had felt a bit sad originally, but now that an adult was there, he felt a little cared for and soon drifted off to sleep. Zhao Chun realized tonight that this little boy was very sensitive. He wouldn’t inexplicably insist on being called "Little Bun" or ask to be fed; those behaviors must’ve erged out of fear or insecurity. As an uncle—a caregiving elder—he wouldn’t unfairly favor one child over the other.
After patting ng Shuyan’s head, he stood up and turned off the lights, quietly closing the door behind him.
Walking through the pitch-black living room, Zhao Chun stretched lazily.
The light in Tian Sangsang’s room was still on, and Zhao Chun paused mid-step.
He raised his hand to knock on the door but furrowed his brows, finding the gesture inappropriate.
He stared blankly at the door in front of him. To his surprise, the door swung open automatically, though he hadn’t uttered "Open Sesa."
Their gazes t.
One second of silence.
Zhao Chun’s expression collapsed, and he shouted, "Sangsang! What are you doing up? Get back to bed now!"
"It’s alright."
Tian Sangsang had taken her precautions. She was wearing warm sleepwear, covered herself with a cotton coat, wrapping herself securely from top to bottom. Besides, she knew her own body well—she was simply tired, not unwell.
"But you shouldn’t get out of bed! It’s your first day."
Zhao Chun looked around nervously and was relieved that all the doors were closed, keeping the wind out.
During the past few days, he had written letters to his mother asking about postpartum care and dietary precautions. On top of that, he had overheard the advice given by Ye Binyi and the others earlier today. By now, his knowledge had thoroughly sunk in from constant exposure and repetition.
The scenes from today still haunted him. The joyous celebrations at the wedding contrasted sharply with the nerve-wracking monts in the delivery room—a world of ice and fire. He swore to himself never to have a baby in this lifeti. Wait, correction—he couldn’t have a baby in the first place. He swore he’d never let his wife go through childbirth again. Oh, correction again—he didn’t plan on marrying anyone. He only wanted to be a lifelong "psychological monk."
Okay, that wasn’t right either—what he ant was, childbirth was just too exhausting for won. If a man didn’t treat his wife well, he might as well take a rope and hang himself.
What was Jinghuai doing now, he wondered? Delightful spring evenings filled with beauty and joy, indulging in romantic pleasures.
Suddenly, Zhao Chun’s expression darkened.
Lost in his own thoughts, Tian Sangsang let out a helpless chuckle. "Is Yanyan asleep yet?"
Zhao Chun nodded. "I checked; he’s asleep."
Tian Sangsang breathed a sigh of relief. "What about Tang Yuan’er?"
"He’s asleep too."
This ti, Zhao Chun exhaled a breath of relief.
But that relief didn’t last long.
Because later that night, Little Tangyuan suddenly woke up, wailing and crying his heart out.
Zhao Chun paced around the room with him in his arms, checking him over carefully. He was dry—no pee, no poop. But despite his efforts, he couldn’t soothe him back to sleep.
"Tang Yuan’er, Little Tangyuan, be good, don’t cry. What’s wrong?"
When Tang Yuan’er was asleep, he was silent like a grain of rice. But once he started crying, it was like an explosion. Poor Tang Yuan protested against his dad’s caregiving skills with cries that seed to say: "Uncle, I’m hungry! I want milk! Hungry, hungry!"
Zhao Chun felt both heartache and panic, worried the baby’s cries would wake everyone up.
Looking at Little Tangyuan’s face, Zhao Chun wondered if he was hungry.
This realization brought him a sense of relief. He took out a bottle and, holding Little Tangyuan, headed outside.
A mother’s instincts are sharp; hearing her baby cry made her unable to sleep, her heart tightening with worry. Tian Sangsang slipped on her clothes and carefully got out of bed, eting Zhao Chun at the door just as he was about to go make formula.
"You’re awake," Zhao Chun said softly. "He’s probably hungry. I was just about to prepare formula."
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