Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Wanting a Daughter
Huo Tingdong asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Were you waiting for me?”
Lin Qi made a soft sound of acknowledgement: “I was sleepy, but without you here, I couldn’t sleep peacefully.”
Huo Tingdong turned off the lights, leaving only a small nightlight on—a very cozy ambiance.
She hugged him contentedly, her eyelids heavy, yet she still murmured like a kitten: “Just now… while waiting for you, I was thinking about what names we should give our baby in the future.”
The man chuckled: “Oh? Did you come up with anything?”
Lin Qi responded, “If it’s a boy, we could name him Huo Linzhou. The meaning of the name is ‘to reign over the nine continents.’ How about that?”
Huo Tingdong asked, “What else?”
Lin Qi said, “If it’s a girl, then I’d name her ‘Wanqing.'”
Huo Tingdong replied, “I’ll go along with your choice.”
Lin Qi suddenly perked up: “And there’s more, there’s more!”
Like reciting a menu, she rattled off a string of names: “For boys, I also thought of several—Lingjun, Wang Shu, Jiayue, Zijin…”
Huo Tingdong cut her off abruptly: “Zijin?”
Lin Qi raised her brows in surprise: “Hmm? What about this name?”
Huo Tingdong said, “It sounds beautiful. Is it meant for a girl?”
Lin Qi replied, “Yes. Since we don’t know if it’ll be a boy or a girl, I’ve thought of plenty of names for both. Zijin, Zijin—lush green garments, soft yearning in my heart.”
Huo Tingdong said, “Huo Zijin… it sounds wonderful. If it’s a girl, we’ll name her that.”
Lin Qi sensed something: “Are you hoping for a girl?”
Huo Tingdong admitted, “Hmm, actually, I’ve always liked girls more. Boys are fine, girls are better, and I’d love her even more.”
He didn’t try to hide his preference.
Lin Qi couldn’t help but laugh: “What if it’s not a girl?”
Huo Tingdong gently tapped her nose: “Whether it’s a girl or not isn’t up to you—it’s up to me. Don’t worry about it so much.”
He declared suddenly, “I feel certain it will be a girl this time.”
Lin Qi couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous: “Oh, really? Are you suggesting some father-daughter telepathy? Your eyes are more accurate than an ultrasound, aren’t they? Just by looking at my belly, you can tell if it’s a boy or a girl?”
Huo Tingdong caught the hint of playful jealousy in her tone and hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she was truly jealous or just teasing.
He offered a serious explanation: “Han and Momo are both boys. For so many years, the Huo Family has only produced sons. Even if fate turns the tables, it’s about time for a daughter, isn’t it?”
Lin Qi said, “I can already foresee it—if we really do have a girl this time, I’ll lose my place in the family! Afterward, in your eyes, it’ll only be about your daughter. Father and daughter will be on the same side, and of course, she’ll be closer to you, not me! Haha!”
Huo Tingdong said, “Haven’t you still got Han and Momo?”
She was momentarily speechless.
Huo Tingdong argued confidently: “You three—mother and sons—will be on one team. My daughter and I will be on another team. Is that not allowed?”
Lin Qi was so amused that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Fine! You win. You always talk like a sow wearing a bra—layer upon layer of nonsense.”
Huo Tingdong laughed at her remark: “Where did you even learn that expression?”
Lin Qi said: “When I was renting a place before, I overheard our neighbor arguing with the property manager. I thought it was funny, so I remembered it.”
Huo Tingdong ruffled her hair: “Rest assured, in my heart, you’ll always be the most important. No one could ever compare.”
Lin Qi asked, “Am I ranked first in your heart?”
Huo Tingdong replied, “Not first—you’re the only one.”
Lin Qi couldn’t help but feel a bit of sweetness in her heart!
So he did know how to say sweet things after all!
He just didn’t say them before!
She had seen couples madly in love, showering each other with affection, and it hadn’t made much of an impression on her. But now that it was happening to her, she realized—love really could make things feel so sweet!
Lin Qi laughed: “Really? That’s how you say it now, but after the baby’s born, who knows if it’ll still be true.”
Huo Tingdong said, “It will. Thousands and thousands of daughters wouldn’t compare to just one you.”
Lin Qi exclaimed: “Thousands and thousands? You can’t afford to raise that many!”
Huo Tingdong retorted, “Why not? Are you questioning my capabilities? I manage over ten thousand employees, don’t I raise them just fine?”
He captured her hand and smiled deeply: “There’s no such thing as me not being able to afford it—the question is whether you can give birth to that many.”
Lin Qi huffed indignantly: “I’m not some sow. Even sows can’t give birth to thousands and thousands! Besides, with just Han and Momo at home, those two little troublemakers are enough for you to handle.”
She patted his hand: “Alright, let’s not argue anymore. Let’s think about names together! I’ve come up with so many, and you haven’t shared your opinion yet!”
Huo Tingdong said, “Didn’t I already share my thoughts?”
The man suddenly chuckled and, under the blanket, his large hand gently stroked her round, firm belly: “Zijin, did you hear that? This is the name your mommy picked for you!”
Lin Qi laughed in exasperation: “Are you so certain it’s a girl? Besides, there are two babies in there—what should the other be named?”
Huo Tingdong said, “Well, we don’t know yet if it’s twins or one boy and one girl. If the other is a boy, then let’s call him Linzhou.”
Lin Qi couldn’t suppress her laughter: “It looks like you’re really convinced this time there’ll be a daughter.”
Huo Tingdong said, “Do you believe me or not? There’ll be at least one girl this time.”
Lin Qi replied, “I don’t believe you! Did a daughter visit you in a dream?”
Huo Tingdong said, “No, I usually don’t dream when I sleep. Besides, do men even have such dreams about babies?”
Lin Qi paused for a moment: “True.”
Huo Tingdong leaned down, looking at her belly with infinite tenderness, as though he could peer through her skin and see the little ones inside: “Zijin, do you like this name?”
“…”
“Make sure you behave well inside mommy’s belly. Daddy loves you.”
Lin Qi looked over at him.
Under the soft glow of the nightlight, Huo Tingdong’s angular profile appeared gentle, his gaze toward her belly infused with deep affection.
His almond-shaped eyes were long, and when he smiled, the corners of his eyes deepened, even softening the sharp edges of his brows.
So this is what he looks like when he smiles!
He rarely smiled, and it was only in her presence that he occasionally allowed himself such moments.
Perhaps, as the head of the sprawling Huace enterprise, he was accustomed to maintaining a strict demeanor at work, but in private, in their world of two, he could let go of his defenses and show these rare smiles.