The morning was filled with excitement and chatting as both Shen Yi and Lu Xinyi’s families arrived to see a glimpse of the newest princess of the Shens. They were eager to see and meet her, especially Shen Huang who couldn’t wait to snap the first picture of his granddaughter that he could brag later to his business partners.
After taking a picture of his granddaughter, he posted it on the official social media account of the Shen Group. The news spread like a wildfire, and it became the talk of the town within a day.
Somewhere far from the capital, Li Yuren saw the photo of Lu Xinyi’s child on his phone. He read the article, and the corners of his lip lifted when he learned that Lu Xinyi and the baby were healthy.
“She’s so small,” Shen Yi breathed out as he and his father watched Lu Xinyi hold her newborn baby, with Lu Xiulan and Xiao Lan taking a peek over her shoulder to say hi to their princess.
“Hi baby! You’re so pretty like me. I’m your Auntie Xiulan.”
“Ahhh, so cute.” Xiao Lan squealed. “If I knew a daughter could be this good, I would have asked my husband to give me a girl.”
“Look, look. She’s waking up.” Lu Xiulan nudged Xiao Lan’s side.
Little baby girl opened her eyes and yawned big in Lu Xinyi’s arms.
“Whoa, her eyes are like Xinxin’s.” Lu Xiulan gasped.
“It should be. Shen Yi dominated all aspects, eh?” Xiao Lan scoffed beside her. Indeed, Shen Yi’s daughter had inherited more from him than from his wife.
“I remember when you were born, you’re a little bigger than your daughter.” Shen Huang told Shen Yi. “You were so cute back then.” He then took a side glance to his eldest son and sighed. “I wonder what happened.”
“Mom’s genes started to kick in, and I became more handsome after that,” Shen Yi said with a poker face—which made Kang Wei laugh harder than he should be when he overheard the conversation between father and son.
“No, you didn’t. You inherited your s.a.d.i.s.tic streak from her,” Shen Huang countered. His eldest son was a spitting image of his ex-wife while Xue resembled his deceased brother more than him.
“I’ll keep it in mind to tell her what you said today when we meet again,” Shen Yi scoffed, enjoying the way how his father grew fl.u.s.tered upon mentioning his mother. Really, he couldn’t understand why they divorced when it’s clear that they still cared for each other.
Shen Huang coughed and decided to change the topic from his ex-wife. He still hadn’t completely moved on from her anyway.
“So did you and Xin’er have decided what name she’ll have?” His question took everyone’s attention. Lu Xinyi gave him a slight nod, giving him the honor to announce the name of their baby girl.
“Yes, her name is Shen Lingqing,” Shen Yi told everyone proudly.
“Lingqing…”—Shen Huang tested the name in his tongue—”means ‘ethereal’. A fitting name for a beautiful baby girl.” He beamed a smile.
“So have you held her yet?” He wondered as he noticed the conflicted look on his son’s face. Shen Yi shook his head. He only took a glimpse of his baby girl and let the nurse give her to his wife.
‘I’m worried she’ll wake up and start crying…” he told his father. Shen Yi had no idea how to deal with crying women especially his wife and now ‘Qing Qing’—who received the term of endearment from her mother.
“Isn’t it what babies do?” Shen Huang chuckled. It was now Shen Yi’s turn to feel uncomfortable. He had no idea how to deal with a baby even if it was his own child. Nodding slowly to his father’s words, Shen Yi was content to watch his wife and daughter in the meantime.
“When I took the twins in and adopted them, I thought being a father was easy. Later on, I realized that every man can be a father but can’t be a dad to their own children. Now that Qing Qing is here, I’m not sure if I can do this…”
Shen Huang looked over his eldest son before turning his eyes back on the baby in his daughter-in-law’s arms. He’d never thought there would be a day he would see his son this happy and content.
“I wish I knew how to answer you. Years of being a father to you and Xue, I still wondered if I did the right thing. I don’t think any man would be ready for this. A father, a single word… yet a role filled with responsibilities and commitments. Add the fact that it’s for a lifetime once you earned it.”
“So even with Xue, you weren’t ready?” Shen Yi’s eyes were wide as he regarded his father.
Shen Huang nodded and smiled.
“Neither with Xue, especially you. When you were born and they gave you to me to hold, I was scared to the bones. You were so small and looked so fragile that the moment I held you in my arms, I promised myself that I’ll protect you with my life.” He paused before speaking knowingly, “Yi, you’re also a father now so I know you would understand.”
Indeed, the first time Shen Yi saw his daughter, his entirety was filled with such eagerness to protect her.
“Don’t worry, if ever should you and Xin’er need help to look out for Qing Qing. That’s what family was for anyway.”
“Oh, don’t you mean the Tang will come over us to help us instead?” Shen Yi raised a brow to his father.
“What’s the difference?” Shen Huang laughed with a cheeky grin. “At least you still get help.”
One by one Lu Xinyi’s visitors bid goodbye to give her more time to rest. She also hadn’t eaten anything for the past twenty-four hours and was starving. When Tang Lingfei heard that she’d given birth, she immediately cooked b.u.t.ternut Squash and Carrot Soup for her granddaughter.
“Go and hold Qing Qing. Every little girl needs their daddy.” Shen Huang gave him a push.
“Hi, CEO Daddy. Wanna hold Qing Qing now?” Lu Xinyi grinned as she looked up to him.
Even before Shen Yi was able to change his mind, Lu Xinyi already pa.s.sed their bundle of joy in his arms. She already finished feeding Qing Qing, and now, it was her turn to eat something. However, before that, she’d sensed the uncertainty behind his mask of indifference.
Shen Yi looked terrified, and she stifled a laugh at his expression because her normally stoic and cold husband looked like he was about to freak out and run. She leaned against his shoulder as they sat there with their newest addition to their growing family.
“It’s fine, hubby. You’ll not fail as a father if that’s what you’re worried about. See? She loves you already and nothing you do will hurt her. You aren’t going to mess up.”
Shen Yi said nothing as he looked from their daughter to her and back to Qing Qing.
As Lu Xinyi started to have her fill with her soup, Shen Yi held Qing Qing carefully while talking to his father and younger brother. She had fought like a warrior to bring her baby into the world, and she deserved some reward.
While the Shens took their turn to look after the baby and Shen Xue took the liberty to film his older brother as Shen Yi was forced to wipe his daughter’s b.u.m clean for the first time much to his horror.