CH 107

The next day, they rented a car to get to Phi Phi Island and then took a boat, finally beginning their honeymoon trip in earnest. After deciding to come the previous day, Shen Tiantian had done some online research. The scenery matched the photos she’d seen online, with lush greenery resembling a giant emerald. Passing through a stretch of rocky cliffs, they caught a glimpse of the shore, where over a dozen small boats were docked along the golden sandy beach crowded with tourists.

They didn’t plan to stay on the island and carried only a small bag with personal items. By the time they got off the boat, it was already past ten. Despite it being November, the heat in Thailand was still intense. Shan Yi used a tissue to wipe the sweat off Shen Tiantian’s forehead and suggested, “Let’s find a place to get a drink.”

Shen Tiantian nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked around. “It’s beautiful here.”

Shan Yi responded with a hum, gently holding her hand as they walked further inland. Along the roadside, vendors were selling fresh coconuts, attracting a crowd of tourists. Shen Tiantian unconsciously licked her lips at the sight.

Noticing this, Shan Yi shook her head indulgently and led her over. Shen Tiantian happily drank the coconut juice, her eyes crinkling with delight. She noticed Shan Yi’s empty hands and offered her the coconut with a smile. “Have a sip.”

Shan Yi smiled slightly, leaned in to drink from the same straw Shen Tiantian had used, her eyes fixed on her wife the entire time with a tender intensity that seemed to swallow her whole.

Shen Tiantian blushed and quickly looked away.

In the past two years, she should have gotten used to her wife’s affectionate behavior, but every time she felt Shan Yi’s burning gaze, her scalp tingled, a mixture of numbness and pleasure.

Shan Yi placed a black fisherman’s hat on her head, wrapped her arm around her waist, and continued to walk with her through the crowd.

The sun was scorching, so they took frequent breaks until nightfall, enjoying the night scenery before taking a boat back. In the following days, they visited Koh Samui and Pattaya, with their final destination being Bangkok. Initially, Shen Tiantian missed her daughter, but she quickly got caught up in the fun and forgot her worries, enjoying their vacation for over half a month. It wasn’t until the night before their return, lying in bed, that she thought of her daughter again.

“We’ve been gone so long. Do you think our daughter will still recognize us when we get back?” Shen Tiantian asked, picking at her fingers, feeling guilty.

“She will,” Shan Yi reassured. With daily video calls and only half a month away, there was no way their almost one-year-old daughter would forget them.

“Our flight is in the afternoon, right?”

Shan Yi confirmed, “Yes.”

Shen Tiantian pondered for a moment. They still had over ten hours left, which felt like a long wait.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a video call on WeChat. It was Shan Yi’s mother. Shen Tiantian quickly answered.

“Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?” There was a one-hour time difference between Thailand and home, meaning it was already eleven at night there. Fortunately, Hanhan was a bit older now and didn’t wake up as frequently as when she was a newborn, so it shouldn’t be too tiring.

“Hanhan has been crying a lot, probably missing you two. I thought a video call might help calm her down,” came the tired voice of Mother Shan, indicating she had no other options left.

In the next second, the little one appeared on screen, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She was still sniffling when she saw her parents on the screen and immediately reached out for a hug, prompting her grandmother to hand her the phone.

“Ma-ma-ma…”

Drooling and calling out for them in a pitiful, tear-streaked manner, the little one looked heartbroken.

Shen Tiantian had already been thinking about her daughter, and seeing her red, tear-streaked eyes and little face made her heart ache. Her voice softened immediately, “What’s wrong with our little Hanhan?”

“Ma-ma…ma-ma-ma…” The little one hugged the phone, pressing her chubby face against it. The screen was filled with pink and flesh tones, making it hard for Shen Tiantian to see her daughter’s expression, but from the sound of her voice, she could tell that Hanhan was happy and had gradually stopped crying.

Shan Yi leaned over, amused. “She’s hugging the phone again.”

Half an hour later, after watching their daughter fall asleep and having a few more words with her mother-in-law, Shen Tiantian ended the call. Leaning against Shan Yi, she said somewhat dejectedly, “I really want to hold her.”

“You can hold her all you want when we get back tomorrow.”

Shen Tiantian nodded, gave her a kiss, and said, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Maybe it was because she was eager to go home, but Shen Tiantian fell asleep quickly and woke up very early the next day. She snuggled in Shan Yi’s arms for a while before getting up to wash up. After getting dressed, Shan Yi slowly got up, hugged her already prepared wife, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Shen Tiantian felt like cursing. She hadn’t brushed her teeth yet.

“Go wash up quickly. We still need to have breakfast,” she urged.

Shan Yi chuckled, “Yes, ma’am.”

Shen Tiantian blushed and didn’t respond, pushing her into the bathroom before starting to pack their things. Once they were ready, the couple held hands and went downstairs for breakfast. After a brief rest at the hotel, they checked out and took a taxi to the airport.

In the waiting lounge, Shan Yi noticed a small coffee shop and, thinking her wife might not have slept well, said, “Wait here, I’ll get us something to eat.”

Shen Tiantian nodded, belatedly asking, “What are you getting?”

“Just some food.”

Shen Tiantian blinked, “Okay, but hurry back.”

Shan Yi laughed, “Missing me already?”

“Go quickly,” Shen Tiantian said, her ears turning red as she looked away. She realized Shan Yi was becoming increasingly cheeky.

At 3:50 in the afternoon, they boarded the plane. During takeoff, Shen Tiantian felt a wave of dizziness and soon fell asleep on Shan Yi’s shoulder.

After a flight of just over two hours, they arrived at City A’s airport. Shan Xu, knowing they were returning, had been waiting for them. As soon as they exited the airport, they got into the car heading home.

Having been happy for so long, Shen Tiantian had almost forgotten the feeling of loneliness. After just half a month away, she missed home terribly. Seeing the familiar surroundings and knowing she would soon hold her daughter’s soft little body filled her with excitement.

The car smoothly arrived at the Shan family’s garage. Shen Tiantian got out first, leaving her luggage behind as she quickly entered the house. The little one, who had been fussy moments ago, immediately reached out for a hug. Shen Tiantian was even faster, scooping her up and smothering her with kisses.

Shan Yi watched the mother-daughter reunion, feeling a bit sidelined.

Mother Shan, seeing them return, beamed. “You’re back? Take a rest first.”

“Yes, we’re back,” Shen Tiantian replied, carrying her daughter to the sofa and taking the bowl from the maid. “Has Hanhan been naughty again?”

Mother Shan sighed, “She just wouldn’t eat.”

“Oh, Hanhan, were you being naughty?”

“Ma-ma-ma-ma…” The little one, displeased that her mother’s attention was diverted, clung tightly to her and tried to climb up further.

At ten months old, Hanhan could make some sounds. “Mama” was the word she practiced the most. Though her pronunciation wasn’t perfect yet, she could call her mother clearly enough.

Shen Tiantian lifted her chin, making sure her daughter couldn’t grab her face. The little one got anxious, bouncing her legs and continuously calling out “mama,” which made Shen Tiantian laugh. She intended to tease her daughter a bit more, but little Hanhan, unable to reach her mother’s face, let out a wail.

Shen Tiantian was taken aback. This little rascal’s temper had grown again.

Shan Yi, amused, took Hanhan and gently soothed her. Her long curls dangled in her daughter’s grip, instantly halting the crying.

Shen Tiantian: …

“Daughters need to be coddled,” Shan Yi said, even though she was often competing for attention.

“Alright.”

Shan Yi then said, “Go rest.”

Shen Tiantian nodded, dragging her tired body upstairs, with Shan Yi carrying the little one close behind.

After closing the door, Shan Yi placed their daughter on the bed and kissed her chubby cheek. “Go comfort your mommy.”

The nearly one-year-old didn’t understand, merely cooing a few times. Shan Yi smiled, helpless, then moved close to Shen Tiantian and kissed her a few times as well. “Are you too tired?”

“No,” Shen Tiantian shook her head. “Just a bit sleepy.”

She also felt slightly hurt that her daughter seemed to reject her.

Shan Yi, knowing her wife’s thoughts, smiled and said, “Then take a nap with our daughter.”

Shen Tiantian glanced at the little one, who suddenly crawled towards her and placed a milky-smelling hand on her face. “Mama, mama…”

Hearing her daughter’s call, Shen Tiantian’s heart melted. She forgot all about her sulking and eagerly pulled Hanhan into a tight embrace, kissing her several times until Shan Yi remarked dryly, “Shen Tiantian, don’t you think you should consider your wife’s feelings?”

“???” Shen Tiantian was puzzled, but then laughed as she realized. “Are you jealous of our daughter again?”

“No,” Shan Yi said, feigning seriousness. “Kids have weaker immune systems. Too much saliva could make them catch a cold.”

Shen Tiantian’s face fell. “Are you saying I’m dirty?!” She knew who enjoyed kissing her the most.

“It’s our daughter who might mind,” Shan Yi shook her head, then leaned in to kiss her. “But I don’t.”

“Get lost.”

Shan Yi laughed heartily. Instead of leaving, she took off her jacket and climbed into bed, wrapping Shen Tiantian in a hug.

Three days after their honeymoon ended, Shan Yi returned to work, leaving Shen Tiantian at home with their daughter. Sometimes, feeling bored, Shen Tiantian would take Hanhan to visit Shan Yi at work, and they would return home together in the evening.

One day in the car, Shen Tiantian casually brought up the idea of opening a store.

“Are you sure you want to open a store now?” Shan Yi asked.

Shen Tiantian nodded firmly. “I’m sure.” With their little one almost a year old, staying at home all day seemed like a waste. She didn’t want to fall out of touch with society and thought it would be good for their daughter to get out more.

Shan Yi nodded faintly.

That’s it?!

Shen Tiantian frowned, feeling dissatisfied. “I’ve noticed that since I had the baby, you don’t pay as much attention to me anymore.”

Shan Yi paused, a smile tugging at her lips, but said nothing.

Shen Tiantian’s frown deepened.

As they stopped at a red light, Shan Yi turned to her and smiled. “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see a storefront.”

Shen Tiantian, still brooding, didn’t immediately grasp the meaning. “What?”

Shan Yi hesitated, wanting to surprise her but unable to bear her wife’s sulking, so she confessed, “I bought you a storefront. It’s right below my office.”

Shen Tiantian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I’ll take you to see it tomorrow.”

“Really?!”

“Yes.” The light turned green, and Shan Yi restarted the car, turning left toward the Shan residence.

Perhaps because of the store opening, Shen Tiantian had many thoughts racing through her mind, and eventually, Shan Yi pressed her for a “reward.” Afterward, Shen Tiantian was so exhausted that she fell asleep without cleaning up, and even the little one, who often woke up at night, slept through till morning.

In the morning, Shen Tiantian was awakened by sudden stomach discomfort. She quickly threw off the covers, rushed to the bathroom, and had a bout of vomiting.

The sensation was all too familiar.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her mouth agape in disbelief, and her hand instinctively moved to her belly. Calculating the time, Shan Yi’s estrus period had passed two months ago, and combined with their honeymoon period, she guessed she might be pregnant again.

“Shan Yi!!!” Shen Tiantian gradually snapped out of her shock and suddenly shouted angrily.

The person called immediately got out of bed and followed the sound to the bathroom, her voice still husky from just waking up, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Tiantian, full of anger, looked at the gentle woman and suddenly felt deflated, like punching cotton. She listlessly said, “Go buy two pregnancy tests.”

Shan Yi was slightly stunned, her gaze slowly drifting to her wife’s belly. “Pregnant?”

Shen Tiantian let out a muffled “hmm.”

She had just decided to work, and now she was pregnant again…

Well, she’d just have to go through with it… She suddenly remembered her resolute words, feeling aggrieved, and buried herself in Shan Yi’s chest. “What should I do?”

“What do you think?”

Shen Tiantian gritted her teeth, “Have the baby.”

Shan Yi said softly, “I respect your decision.”

Shen Tiantian retorted fiercely, “I can’t work now. You’ll have to support me.”

“Yes, I’ll support you for life,” Shan Yi said indulgently.

“And in the next life?”

“I’ll still support you in the next life.”

Shen Tiantian couldn’t help but laugh, “You said it.”

“Yes, I said it,” Shan Yi said, hugging her. “Let’s go to the hospital for a checkup first.”

For safety’s sake, Shen Tiantian didn’t object. Accompanied by Shan Yi, she went to the hospital, where it was confirmed that she was 52 days pregnant, almost two months.

Shen Tiantian hummed, “You have to love me even more in the future.”

Shan Yi replied, “When have I not loved you?”

Shen Tiantian was momentarily speechless and then said, “Then love me a bit more.”

“I’ll love you a bit more each day.”

Shen Tiantian was pleased, stood on tiptoe to kiss her, and couldn’t pull herself away for a long time.

When the kiss, warm and wet, ended, Shan Yi licked her lips as if savoring the taste, “Let’s go home.”

The warm sunlight stretched their shadows long and far. Shen Tiantian’s lips curled into a happy smile as she lightly said, “Okay, let’s go home.”

She was no longer alone. She had a family, a daughter, and a second child healthy and growing inside her. In about seven months, Hanhan would have a little sister.

She was very happy.