Chapter 258: Extra
So on the day he fully embraced his identity as a prospective father, he took Jiang Ning back to the villa in North City that belonged to her.
Father Jiang and Madam Jiang were out traveling, so for the time being, only Xie Jingyan and Jiang Ning were at home.
Along the way, Xie Jingyan’s eyes never left his mobile phone. Jiang Ning stretched her head over to look and found him reading “One Page a Day During Pregnancy,” “Latest Fetal Education,” “Pregnancy and Childbirth Encyclopedia,” “Accompanying Wife Through Pregnancy”…
And other books related to the pregnancy period and babies.
Jiang Ning coughed lightly: “Don’t be so nervous. It’s only two months along.”
Xie Jingyan instead frowned. The more he learned, the more he realized that it was extremely tough for a woman during pregnancy. Deep down, he faintly regretted that the accident had gotten Jiang Ning pregnant.
He wasn’t against having a child; compared to the child, he cared more about Jiang Ning’s safety.
But what was done was done, so he could only comfort himself. He put his arm around Jiang Ning and instructed: “Tell me right away if you feel uncomfortable. Tell me what you want to eat. And you’re not allowed in the kitchen anymore. I’ll get whatever you need, and I’ll drive you wherever you want to go.”
Jiang Ning stared at him in stunned silence: “Wait… I’m just a pregnant woman, not disabled. I’m not useless yet.”
Xie Jingyan was still worried: “Listen to me. Besides eating and drinking, don’t do anything else.”
Jiang Ning: “…But I still need to go to work.”
Xie Jingyan hesitated for a moment before saying: “You can go to work, but no more missions. Your bureau chief will understand. This is a special situation…”
Jiang Ning nodded, thinking Xie Jingyan was right. She would talk to Director Dong.
However, the pregnant woman’s vomiting, loss of appetite, and low spirits that Xie Jingyan worried about didn’t happen to Jiang Ning at all.
Her appetite was great. She could eat and sleep well, run and jump. Sometimes she even forgot she was a pregnant woman and would jump high up, making him anxious and on edge. Instead, he ate poorly and slept poorly. In just a few months, Jiang Ning became even rounder, while he started looking a bit low in spirits.
Those who didn’t know might think he was the one who was pregnant.
When Jiang Ning was six months pregnant, her belly swelled up like a balloon. Director Dong, afraid she would chase a villain again with a five-month belly like last time, forcibly arranged maternity leave for her until she gave birth to the child and finished her postpartum recovery before she could return.
Xie Jingyan could see Jiang Ning every day, and his heart finally settled.
As Jiang Ning’s pregnancy progressed, everyone around her worried about her. Jiang Li even canceled later activities to stay home and keep her sister company while waiting for the birth. After all, this was the Jiang Family’s first new life.
Jiang Yan didn’t show it on his face, but visiting Jiang Ning every day was enough to show how nervous he was. He even grabbed Xie Jingyan and warned him: “I’ve looked into the dangers of childbirth. It’s like passing through the gates of hell. I can’t guarantee my sister won’t have any accidents in this, but if something does happen, you must only save her, or I’ll fight you to the death.”
Xie Jingyan grew impatient listening to his nagging and slapped his hand away: “I know about my wife. No need for you to tell me.”
The child could be forgone, but he would definitely keep Jiang Ning.
Father Jiang and Madam Jiang ended their trip early and spent every day revolving around Jiang Ning, coming up with all sorts of delicious foods for her.
Jiang Ning was also a foodie. During the entire pregnancy period, she gained a full thirty pounds.
Her weight shot up from ninety pounds to one hundred twenty.
Besides her belly, her face had also become much rounder.
Every time she saw herself in the mirror, she would be speechless for a moment.
But fortunately, her skin was still smooth, her complexion healthy, her cheeks pink and rosy. Most importantly, the child wasn’t fussy. Throughout the pregnancy period, Jiang Ning had no major issues besides occasional leg cramps and swelling.
Sometimes when she felt the child kick her, she would quickly pull Xie Jingyan over to feel it.
Xie Jingyan placed his hand on Jiang Ning’s belly. The little one inside seemed to sense his presence and pressed a hand against his palm. In that instant, Xie Jingyan truly felt that he was going to be a father…
The night Jiang Ning gave birth was in the early morning.
Her belly suddenly hurt terribly. She pushed Xie Jingyan, who was sleeping beside her, to get up. He hurriedly packed all the prepared items for the pregnant woman into the car.
After sending Jiang Ning to the hospital, he finally remembered, with cold hands and feet, to call Jiang Ning’s family.
The Jiang Family all arrived at the hospital. Sui Tang and He Shang came too.
She hurried to Jiang Ning’s bedside and shared her experience with her.
But Jiang Ning was in so much pain that her face turned pale, and she didn’t hear a word.
At six in the morning, Jiang Ning was finally wheeled into the delivery room.
She wanted a natural birth, not a cesarean, because she wanted to go back to work as soon as she finished her postpartum recovery.
The group waited outside for several more hours.
At eleven in the morning.
The delivery room door opened, and the nurse came out beaming, holding the child: “Congratulations, it’s a son.”
Xie Jingyan rushed forward and asked: “What about my wife? How is she?”
The nurse was stunned for a moment, then explained: “The mother is also doing well. She’ll be out soon.”
Father Jiang and Madam Jiang finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward to dote on their eldest grandson.
The two, whether from watching too many short dramas or what, insisted on sticking close by.
As if afraid someone would swap their eldest grandson.
Jiang Ning stayed in the hospital for three days before being brought back home.
Xie Jingyan had Jiang Ning name the child.
Jiang Ning thought for a while but gave up: “I can’t come up with one. You do it. But I thought of a nickname for him: An’an, how about that?”
Jiang Ning excitedly told Xie Jingyan. He nodded: “Sounds good. Then his full name will be Xie Anchan.”
Jiang Ning had no opinion upon hearing this. A name was just a code.
When An An was born, he was wrinkled and shriveled, but after growing out of it, he became fair and chubby like jade snow, as pretty as a New Year picture doll.
He looked exactly like Xie Jingyan, a living replica.
Father Jiang and Madam Jiang adored their eldest grandson so much that they were basically at Jiang Ning’s place every day. The two elders even nearly fought over who would hold the child.
Jiang Ning tried to persuade them a few times, but seeing it was no use at all, she just let them be.
After coming out of confinement, she went out to work.
She left the child with Xie Jingyan and her own parents to look after.
Occasionally Xie He would come over and buy lots of cute little clothes for An An.
She absolutely loved her big nephew.
He was so pretty.
When taken out, everyone who saw An An would praise him, saying he was so pretty they thought he was a girl.
At seven months, An An could already call “mommy.” Even knowing it was unconscious, Jiang Ning was delighted, hugging her son and kissing him nonstop, making the chubby An An giggle without stopping every time.
When An An was one year old, Jiang Li got married.
To Meng Su.
They had a shotgun wedding and didn’t notify any of the family at all.
This left Madam Jiang a bit confused. She looked at Xie Jingyan, then at Meng Su, and muttered, “Then the way you all address each other gets a bit complicated…”
Should Jiang Ning call Jiang Li “aunt” or keep calling her “older sister”?
In the end, Meng Su said to go with whatever the bride’s side used.
Xie Jingyan gave Meng Su a fake smile: “Oh, congrats then, ‘brother-in-law.’ First marriage at over forty, and dropping a generation in seniority.”
Meng Su: “…”
Wasn’t it because of this issue that Jiang Li refused to be with him no matter what? He had begged humbly for so long before she finally softened and agreed.
Not daring to hesitate, they went straight to get their marriage certificate.
Whether “uncle” or “brother-in-law,” it didn’t matter to Meng Su.
As long as he was with Jiang Li, that was fine.
When An An was two, Jiang Yan, single for thirty-two years, finally found his match.
But not with Shen Jinhe—it was a new little employee who had just joined his company.
Jiang Ning had met that little employee. She smiled like a little sun, not strikingly stunning but clean and refreshing, the kind you like at first sight.
Because of this, Shen Jinhe got completely drunk at a bar. When Jiang Ning went to find her, she was hugging several male models and wailing, “Am I not good enough? I chased him for years, and he turns around and falls for a little girl. Waaah, scumbag, blind bastard. Good thing I didn’t stupidly wait for him—I’ve got countless little babies around me!”
Jiang Ning sighed helplessly.
It could only be said to be fate.
For her younger brother’s matter, Jiang Ning had no method.
When An An was three, Xie He started dating. Her partner was a coffee shop owner, a very artistic person.
Jiang Ning feared Xie He would be fooled by a scumbag, so she always brought An An, disguised, pretending to go to that coffee shop for coffee.
An An opened his big dark eyes, tilting his fair little face innocently: “Mommy, can I have juice?”
His voice was soft and fluffy. Jiang Ning looked down at him, and he blinked his pretty eyes, looking up at her pleadingly.
Jiang Ning’s heart melted.
Xie Anchan really was a little angel from the human world. From young to old, he was very obedient, with particularly stable emotions—not fussy or noisy, polite and gentlemanly. Jiang Ning thought of herself at three, like a mud monkey, and felt a bit ashamed.
So she cleared her throat lightly and pinched her son’s cheek: “Yes, Mommy will order you a glass of orange juice.”
Hearing it was his favorite orange juice, An An clapped his little hands happily, his eyes curving into crescents with a smile: “Thank you, Mommy.”
Just when Jiang Ning thought An An’s emotions would stay stable forever, on the day she sent him to kindergarten, he hugged her and cried his heart out.
Xie Jingyan frowned beside them: “Xie Anchan, let go, then go into school with the teacher.”
An An hiccuped through his tears, eyes red, refusing to let go. Pouting, he looked at Jiang Ning: “I don’t want to be apart from Mommy.”
Xie Jingyan with a stern face: “Crying like that—what’s that about? You’re at the age, so you should go to school.”
An An buried his head in Jiang Ning’s waist, staying silent.
Jiang Ning soothingly stroked his fluffy head: “Baby, Mommy will pick you up after school this afternoon, okay? Go in and be good for class first. Your tuition for this semester is 150,000—hurry in, don’t waste the money.”
An An: “…”
With Jiang Ning’s promise to pick him up after school, he finally went in reluctantly with the teacher.
He even turned back to wave at Xie Jingyan and Jiang Ning, his childish voice saying: “Bye, Daddy and Mommy.”
Jiang Ning waved at him with a beaming smile.
Seeing Xie Jingyan unmoved, she kicked his leg lightly with her little foot, glared at him, and only then did he reluctantly raise his hand to wave at An An.
“Don’t you think his personality is too soft?” Xie Jingyan couldn’t help but say.
Jiang Ning said calmly: “No, I think it’s great like this. He’ll definitely be a warm guy in the future.”
Xie Jingyan: “…”
He felt a bit of a headache.
But everyone in the whole family doted on Xie Anchuan especially, but fortunately, his personality hadn’t gone astray.
He sighed.
Jiang Ning gave him a glance: “You’re just too idle, that’s why you’re observing An’an. He’s still a three-year-old baby. Should he be cold like a big block of ice? As parents, we shouldn’t give him pressure; we should create enough happiness in his childhood. As long as he’s safe and healthy, that seems enough. Besides, An’an’s personality isn’t soft at all. He’s only like this in front of me.”
She sighed: “He’s really my little leather jacket.”
Xie Jingyan: “…”
He took Jiang Ning’s hand and led her back. The summer sun was blazing; the two walked along a tree-lined path when Xie Jingyan suddenly said: “Want to go back to Ninth Middle School and take a look?”
Jiang Ning was stunned for a moment, then smiled: “Sure.”
Xie Jingyan smiled brightly at her.
He wanted to go see that alley where he first met Jiang Ning again.
The school Jiang Ning had attended.
Their desks.
The roads they had walked.
The beef noodle soup they had eaten together, the temple they had visited together.
Too many wonderful memories, all in Jin Cheng.
Oh, right, they also needed to visit a very important friend.
In the past, it was always him and Jiang Ning; this year, they would bring along a little guy to introduce to him.
—
The sun was just right, the wind rustled through the treetops; the palpitations of summer were a grand reunion.
Grateful that we met.
