Rebirth from the Ashes Chapter 793 Life After Marriage (2)

Shen Xi let out a soft chuckle as she nestled her head into Li Yuan's arms, rubbing against him to discover the coziest nook. "Goodnight."

In the previous days, she barely caught any shut-eye, yet he had remained mostly awake through the nights, tending to her and the infants. Shen Xi's heart overflowed with warmth ever since delivery, though the demands of motherhood were truly draining her.

The delivery had been natural, and both tiny ones emerged healthy. She hadn't endured excessive hardship.

Li Yuan softly responded and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Goodnight."

At last, that night allowed the pair undisturbed slumber straight through to the next afternoon. Shangguan Yanqiu tapped on the door, feeling pity for Mianmian since nothing quelled his endless wails.

With Mianmian in his arms, Fu Qingxuan attempted to intimidate him. "I'm gonna toss you out if you keep bawling, you little troublemaker. Why do you cry so much? Can't you take after Tangtang?"

This fussy little guy was tough to satisfy. He had his milk, wasn't ill, yet he howled relentlessly. Xixi was worn out and had just drifted off, but that didn't halt his racket.

"Why is Mianmian crying once more?" Fu Qingli entered, followed by Lu Zhen. Lu Zhen stepped in with a straight face, appearing even more severe than Fu Qingli.

"The brat's a real headache. Hear him go. We can't calm him at all." Fu Qingxuan felt like hurling Mianmian aside.

"Hand him over." Fu Qingli approached swiftly, took the little fellow into his hold, and swayed him gently. "Mianmian isn't a headache. Your uncle is, though. No more tears."

Fu Qingxuan huffed. "He's a headache alright. He only wants Xixi. Nobody else can…"

Before his words ended, the sobbing child began to quiet down, though still hiccuping faintly.

Fu Qingli gazed at him. "Do you know the reason Mianmian cries?"

"Cause he's terrified of you," Fu Qingxuan blurted out.

How was anyone to know? Nobody had managed to soothe the infant. Fu Qingxuan, Mom, Dad, and the servants had all attempted it, to no avail. So why did Mianmian hush in Qingli's embrace?

"Cause he doesn't like you." Cradling the baby, Fu Qingli pivoted and eyed his son, whose gaze sparkled with eagerness. "Want to meet your little cousin?"

Even though Lil' Zhen still kept Fu Qingli at a distance now that he was with his mom, the boy never seemed happy around him. Yet for once, Lil' Zhen agreed to return home. Though unspoken, he clearly aimed to see his new baby siblings.

Lu Li had brought Guoguo to see the newborns during Xixi's labor. Lil' Zhen missed out, being in China then. Since coming back, Guoguo kept raving about how adorable the little ones were.

Though Lu Zhen's eyes lit up, he maintained a poker face and nodded. Anxious about missing a glimpse, he rose onto his tiptoes with thrilled anticipation.

Fu Qingli crouched down and held Mianmian close to Lu Zhen for a clear view. "Meet Mianmian, your baby brother. Your baby sister Tangtang is sleeping soundly right there."

Mom mentioned Tangtang resembled Xixi perfectly. She was such a peaceful infant, just eating and dozing without any drama. Neither quakes nor Mianmian's cries could rouse her.

Guoguo had dubbed the girl Tangtang, inspired by Tangguo.

Mianmian had ceased his crying.

The door to Li Yuan and Shen Xi's room swung open, but with the crying halted, Shangguan Yanqiu urged Li Yuan back inside. "Rest well with Xixi. Sleep as long as you need. Mianmian's quiet now."

Li Yuan retreated and peeked at the girl tucked snugly under the blankets, deep in sleep. He nodded. "Sure."

They were advised to enjoy solid rest. Still, in the night's depths, the slightest sound would jolt her awake. She'd bolt upright hunting for the babies, only calming once she learned they were safe with Mom.

This repeated several times. At dawn's first light, she finally conked out and stayed asleep.

Shangguan Yanqiu departed.

Li Yuan shut the door and slipped back under the covers. The girl wriggled and shifted in his hold, murmuring drowsily before her breaths evened out steadily.

When mealtime neared, the girl in his arms fluttered her eyes open gradually. Clutching her stomach, she rasped at him, "I'm hungry."

Li Yuan smiled and touched foreheads with her. "Time to rise and eat. Mom prepared your favorite dish."

"Okay." Shen Xi remained lying there.

Li Yuan inquired brightly, "Should I fetch the meal here for bed-eating?"

Shen Xi twisted playfully in his embrace and shook her head. "No. I want to get up and eat."

Shen Xi needed to lay eyes on the babies; it felt like ages since she last saw them. Goodness, how she yearned for them terribly.

Li Yuan rose from the bed first, then gently pulled her up. After dressing her in her clothes and slipping on her shoes, he positioned himself before her. "Do you want me to carry you out?"

A bright smile bloomed on Shen Xi's face as she stretched out her arms for him to pick her up.

Lunch had been prepared.

The moment Shen Xi and Li Yuan emerged from the room, the family swarmed around the little ones.

Tangtang was wide awake, and Fu Qingxuan was cherishing every second with her.

Mianmian lay on the sofa, alert and unusually quiet without tears. Lu Zhen was playfully waving a teaser wand to amuse him.

Shen Xi, "…"

Was he seriously mistaking Mianmian for Toffeecito?

Still, Mianmian was quite the little crybaby. Only she could calm him down once the waterworks started. Today, though, he was behaving perfectly.

"Aunty, Uncle." As Shen Xi and Li Yuan drew near, Lu Zhen politely greeted the pair.

"Let me take a good look at you." Right before the child, Shen Xi leaped from Li Yuan's embrace to inspect her son.

Li Yuan caught Shen Xi's wrist. "He's finally settled. He'll demand all your focus if you approach now."

The child was peculiar like that. Lil' Zhen ought to keep playing with him in this precious calm moment.

"Fine, then I'll go see my precious daughter." Shen Xi pivoted toward the giggling baby cradled in Fu Qingxuan's arms.

"No way am I giving her up." Clutching Tangtang, Fu Qingxuan dashed off. "Tangtang adores Uncle best, doesn't she? Want to play with Uncle, Tangtang?"

Shen Xi, "…"

He ought to remember Tangtang was her child.

"They've just been fed. Come eat while the kids are peaceful." With lunch served, Shangguan Yanqiu beckoned the couple.

From that day forward, the whole family vied for time with the two infants. Fu Qingxuan rushed home at every opportunity, dreaming of taking Tangtang to the lab and anywhere else. Mianmian, however, wasn't his favorite—the boy wailed right in his face each time.

Fu Qingli adored Mianmian, though. Besides Shen Xi, the toddler only took to Fu Qingli and Lu Zhen. Everyone else, even his own dad Li Yuan, got the cold shoulder.

Having finished his newest film, Fu Qingye freed up his calendar to tend the garden and mind the children at home. Mianmian was initially standoffish toward Fu Qingye, but soon fell under his spell. Tangtang remained sweet-tempered, warming up to all.

Song Wenye and Yu Yuanxi held off visiting until their baby marked the full moon celebration.

Yun Jinping and Shen Zhangqing stayed away from the Fu residence, choosing instead to bond with their grandkids in China.