The news of the twin pregnancy soon spread, bringing even greater joy.
Madam Tao visited frequently, sending many gifts. Madam Yang was no different. Even the eccentric Madam You sent a silver lock and a jade pendant. All well-intentioned gifts were accepted, and they were invited to celebrate the full moon feast.
Su Miaomiao's belly gradually grew larger. While uncomfortable, and not comparable to not being pregnant, it wasn't overly dire.
Cheng Hao had also settled his career. He purchased a grand, three-story shop in the capital, specializing in foreign goods and exquisite decorative items. It was named Yipin Cangbao Ge, which truly meant that once it opened, it would be profitable for a decade. The items were extremely expensive, catering to the luxury market. Surprisingly, business was better than expected, and it was stable. Jia Wang was temporarily transferred to manage the shop and the account books, which he handled well.
Cheng Hao stayed home to accompany Su Miaomiao during her pregnancy, massaging her daily and doting on her. Su Miaomiao's condition improved significantly in the later stages, with the pampering and happiness benefiting her. She no longer caused any fuss.
Cheng Hao's space unlocked a mother and baby store and a bookstore, and he had been diligently studying various knowledge points. He wondered why a hospital hadn't been unlocked. Su Miaomiao was amused, almost laughing, and said, "What's the use of a hospital without doctors?" Cheng Hao replied, "Don't underestimate your academically gifted husband. We have books to consult, right? It shouldn't be a big problem to perform checks." Su Miaomiao told him to stop joking, laughing uncontrollably. "The doctor said my body is in excellent condition, so there won't be any problems!" Moreover, the doctor was reliable, serving the entire hundred-mile radius. This was Cheng Hao's only comfort. In the later stages, he became more nervous than she was, while Su Miaomiao remained in good condition.
In the tenth month, Su Miaomiao gave birth to a boy and a girl in just under half a day. The elder sister came out first, followed by the younger brother. As both children were born in the morning, the elder daughter was named Cheng Xi, with the character Xi from "dawn," and the son was named Cheng Chao, with the character Chao from "morning sun." The names were simple and evoked a sense of hope and vitality. Their nicknames were Chenxi and Zhaoyang.
The newborns cried loudly on the day of their birth. Cheng Hao, holding Su Miaomiao's hand, felt sweat on both their palms, but the sound of the babies' cries brought a sigh of relief. They couldn't help but shed tears, truly experiencing the miracle of new life. Cheng Hao resolved never to let Su Miaomiao go through this again; it was too difficult. Even with her good health, she had suffered greatly, nearly tearing his heart out. For a long time after the birth, his hands trembled, and he couldn't hold the babies. Ji Bo and Lai Fu each took one to clean. After confirming with the doctor that all was well, Cai Shi and Xi Shi went to help, one to assist with cleaning and the other to ask if the couple needed anything. Upon being politely declined, they went to attend to the babies.
Cheng Hao, once he calmed his nerves, assisted the midwife with the cleanup. Su Miaomiao weakly hooked his finger, smiling and saying she was fine. Cheng Hao could only lower his head and kiss her, still unable to speak. Su Miaomiao coaxed him, "Really, I'm fine. I'll be alright after a sleep." Her voice was still weak, but she was truly exhausted. Seeing him smile at her, she felt reassured and fell into a deep sleep.
As Su Miaomiao slept, she seemed to return to the past, watching herself and Cheng Hao from childhood to graduation. They had their sweet moments, sticking together like candy, and their arguments, but their clasped hands never let go. She was back in the old courtyard in the countryside, where their stern but kind grandfathers and grandmothers watched them play. She remembered the apartment building opposite, which they disliked, but it held their entire youth, the subtle interactions during their budding romance, their overt and covert jealousy and testing, the endless homework and extracurricular activities, but also the guiding light that was Cheng Hao. Indeed, it was Su Miaomiao. Later, their own home also held their shared stories, filled with many firsts.
As Su Miaomiao slept, she inexplicably began to cry. When she woke, she was still dazed and saw Cheng Hao sitting by the bedside, watching her silently, his eyes vacant, lost in thought, his emotions still unstable. Su Miaomiao reached out and tugged at him. His gaze immediately focused, softening into the familiar look she knew. He asked softly, "Are you alright?" She smiled weakly and said, "I'm great! I dreamt about our childhood and the old courtyard in the countryside. I feel like eating the jujubes from the courtyard." Cheng Hao gently stroked her hair and said, "We can't eat the ones from the courtyard, but we can eat other things, alright?" He then affectionately kissed her forehead. Su Miaomiao's eyes crinkled into a smile. "Okay, I'm not picky." She spoke playfully, feeling much better now. Her strength was gradually returning, and her spirits were high. She was truly fine. Even the midwife and doctor said it was smooth and the birth was relatively quick. Some women experienced tearing. She had strictly controlled her weight, so she was fine, likely also due to her constitution. The babies were also not overly large. The doctor and midwife said they were healthy and would grow well with care.
Cheng Hao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was awake and immediately ordered food to be brought up. Su Miaomiao could finally eat. Afterward, they looked at the babies. The two wrinkled infants were slightly fairer and more tender than average babies. Su Miaomiao couldn't tell who they resembled, but Ji Bo said they looked very much like them, especially the elder daughter, who was identical to his young master as a child, and the son, who resembled his mother, particularly his eyes. He spoke with such conviction. Su Miaomiao was delighted. Her appetite and everything else had fully returned. She was lively again. Cai Shi and Xi Shi doted on the children, and Cheng Kaichun and Cheng Fengtai also played with them. The younger ones, Cheng Xiaohua and the others, acted like proud aunts, uncles, and elder brothers. After the young couple's children were born, they were promoted to the elder generation. They were extremely fond of their little nephew and niece. Cai Shi and Xi Shi stayed until Su Miaomiao finished her confinement month before returning to their own homes. They were truly devoted. The babies were also well-cared for, growing plump and fair. They changed visibly day by day. Once their features developed, they were incredibly beautiful. Both children bore a strong resemblance to their parents, not in a perfectly identical way, but giving the impression of a family. The children also had good temperaments and were easy to care for. The older sister was somewhat aloof and sturdy, while the younger son was more delicate and prone to crying, but both were very intelligent.