Chapter 70: Chengcheng Part 2

It wasn’t until the nurse drew closer that she finally saw her daughter’s rosy little face.

The Little One was already fast asleep.

She nestled quietly in the blankets, her tiny face radiating contentment. It was clear she felt perfectly comfortable.

So adorable.

Could this tiny bundle really have come from her own body?

It seemed utterly unbelievable.

In that instant, Cheng Zhanya made up her mind. Even if the child had some defect, she would pour every ounce of her love into her.

Instinctively, Cheng Zhanya reached out to take the baby. The nurse moved with gentle care, noticing her awkward posture and quietly adjusting it for her.

“Your little one is so cute,” the nurse said.

Cheng Zhanya thanked her, her eyes gradually reddening. Unable to hold back any longer, she asked the question that had haunted her: “Is there something wrong with our baby?”

The nurse seemed caught off guard by the question.

She paused for a moment before replying, “Your baby is perfectly healthy.”

“Even though she was born premature, she’s still very healthy.”

The nurse looked puzzled.

What could have given the mother this misconception that the child was unwell?

Perplexed, she tilted her head.

“Really?” Cheng Zhanya asked, surprise evident in her voice.

“Absolutely. I’ve never seen such a spirited newborn. Her cries were loud and went on forever.” Realizing she might have misspoke, the nurse lightly covered her mouth and let out an awkward chuckle. “Anyway, she’s very healthy. Congratulations.”

“But…”

Cheng Zhanya turned her head to look at Lin Hanbing.

The baby was healthy, so why did Lin Hanbing have that expression on her face?

Sensing the tension, the nurse tactfully slipped out of the room, leaving them in peace.

She had a shift to get back to.

Cheng Zhanya stared at Lin Hanbing for several seconds. “Chengcheng is so healthy. Why do you look like that?”

She had assumed the premature birth meant the child had some physical defect. The thought of her daughter suffering for the rest of her life because of her mother’s negligence had made it hard to even breathe.

In just a few short minutes, Cheng Zhanya had ridden an emotional rollercoaster.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She shot Lin Hanbing a fierce glare.

Lin Hanbing spread her hands helplessly, her face full of grievance. “Darling Yaya, I haven’t even said a word yet.”

“You haven’t said anything, but that look on your face says it all.”

“I thought…”

Cheng Zhanya trailed off, her voice choking up.

“I thought something was wrong with the baby.”

Lin Hanbing pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry.”

That simple apology carried so much weight. Cheng Zhanya understood completely and silently buried her face in Lin Hanbing’s waist without a word.

Waaah—

A loud, piercing cry suddenly rang out in the room.

The Little One in her arms had woken up at some point and was now crying pitifully, her mouth wide open.

It was Cheng Zhanya’s first time as a mother, and the baby’s wails left her flustered and at a loss. She looked anxiously at Lin Hanbing, her eyes and face broadcasting a desperate plea for help.

As if to say, What do we do?

And that’s exactly what Cheng Zhanya blurted out. “What do we do?”

Lin Hanbing, also a first-time mother, seemed a bit awkward herself.

Earlier in the day, the elders had been there.

The experienced grandparents had handled things, so Lin Hanbing hadn’t needed to think too much. She’d been focused solely on her sleeping wife.

She hadn’t actually held the baby yet.

Now, all the knowledge she’d learned in school slipped her mind.

Considering that Cheng Zhanya had just given birth, Lin Hanbing hesitated for a moment before taking the baby into her own arms.

Her daughter was such a tiny, soft bundle.

Lin Hanbing didn’t dare hold her too tightly, afraid of accidentally hurting her.

But the Little One kept crying loudly.

Thank goodness they were in a private room; otherwise, they might have gotten complaints.

It was so noisy.

Lin Hanbing felt like her eardrums were about to burst.

She looked down at her daughter, frowning slightly as fragments of her school lessons began to come back to her.

Gradually, she adjusted her posture.

Sure enough, the crying quieted a little.

But right after, an even louder wail erupted, tears streaming down the baby’s face.

Kids are such a hassle.

Lin Hanbing’s expression twisted in discomfort as she gazed at her daughter’s cute little face and sighed.

Oh well. She was their own flesh and blood.

She’d just have to endure it.

The two new mothers were at a complete loss for a moment.

They exchanged helpless glances.

The same bewildered emotion appeared on both their faces.

What… what now?

After a while, Cheng Zhanya suddenly remembered what the nurse had said. She tugged at Lin Hanbing’s sleeve and whispered, “Is Chengcheng hungry?”

Lin Hanbing paused for half a second, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly. “Want to try nursing her?”

Cheng Zhanya’s face flushed red. She reached out. “Give Chengcheng to me.”

Lin Hanbing obliged, gently placing the baby in Cheng Zhanya’s arms. Her gaze never left her wife for a second.

Cheng Zhanya’s face grew even redder. A bit annoyed, she said, “Don’t look.”

Her hand slipped under the hem of her clothes. Under Lin Hanbing’s gaze—intense as fire—she hesitated to lift it.

Lin Hanbing chuckled. “You’re a mom now, and you’re still this shy.”

How could it be the same?!

Cheng Zhanya bit her lower lip, silently retorting in her mind.

Her daughter was still crying, and it tugged at her heart.

Averting her face to hide her embarrassment, Cheng Zhanya lifted her shirt. In the next instant, the Little One latched on precisely to the source of nourishment.

The crying stopped immediately.

The room fell quiet, filled only with the soft sounds of the baby suckling.

“Mm—”

It hurt!

Cheng Zhanya winced in pain.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Hanbing asked.

“Chengcheng’s latching so hard,” Cheng Zhanya gasped softly. “It hurts a bit.”

“Let me see.”

Lin Hanbing’s curiosity piqued.

Watching her daughter feed so eagerly stirred some mischievous thoughts in her.

Cheng Zhanya swatted her hand away, both shy and irritated. “No peeking.”

Breastfeeding in front of someone for the first time was embarrassing enough. Even though Lin Hanbing was Chengcheng’s other mother, it still felt awkward.

Did she really need to stare so intently?

Cheng Zhanya had always been thin-skinned.

She couldn’t get used to it just yet.

Lin Hanbing pressed her lips together, thinking her wife seemed a little spoiled.

Cheng Zhanya: “…”

She was the one calling her shy for being a mom, but look at Lin Hanbing—motherhood had made her childish instead.

Ignoring her, Cheng Zhanya gently shifted her waist, trying to escape Lin Hanbing’s gaze.

But in her haste, she forgot she’d just given birth. Her waist and lower body hadn’t recovered yet, and the slight movement sent pain shooting through her.

Luckily, it had been a natural birth.

After sleeping a full day and night, her body had recovered somewhat.

To make herself more comfortable, Cheng Zhanya decided to push past the embarrassment and keep nursing in that position.

Even without looking, she could feel those intense eyes on her.

Lowering her gaze to the baby, who looked utterly content, Cheng Zhanya somehow managed to block out her shame.

She focused entirely on feeding the child.

Completely absorbed.

Though the Little One was tiny, she had quite an appetite. It took a full ten minutes before she finally slowed and stopped.

The Little One let out a satisfied burp, then drifted off to sleep again in no time.

Cheng Zhanya straightened her clothes and turned to Lin Hanbing. Her face was still flushed, but she finally smiled.

It was the first smile since giving birth.

Even though her body ached.

Gazing at her healthy daughter filled her with satisfaction.

Chengcheng had finally arrived.

Reflecting on the hardships of those months, Cheng Zhanya felt a profound sense of relief.

It had all been worth it.

Lin Hanbing had been by her side every step of the way. No one could take on the pregnancy sickness for her—only the one carrying the child truly knew the ordeal. All Lin Hanbing could do was treat Cheng Zhanya even better to ease things a little.

But the agony of childbirth? She hadn’t been able to share even a fraction of it.

That helplessness left her with a deep sense of failure.

“Are you hungry?”

Lin Hanbing gently placed her daughter in the nearby bassinet and asked Cheng Zhanya softly.

Reminded by her, Cheng Zhanya suddenly realized she was ravenous.

“Yeah, starving.”

Like an honest child, Cheng Zhanya nodded obediently. “Have I been asleep for long?”

Giving birth was incredibly taxing. Cheng Zhanya hadn’t eaten anything and had slept for a day and night. Now she was famished.

“Not long,” Lin Hanbing said.

“Just a day and a night.”

Cheng Zhanya chuckled lightly. She could see the worry in Lin Hanbing’s eyes and knew it must have been torture while she was out.

She opened her arms. “Hanbing.”

Lin Hanbing understood immediately. As she embraced Cheng Zhanya, the fear on her face finally surfaced.

She had been so scared.

Even though the doctors said Cheng Zhanya was stable, she hadn’t woken up. Lin Hanbing couldn’t relax.

Thank goodness, she was awake now.

Only then did Lin Hanbing let her suspended heart settle.

She would never let Cheng Zhanya go through this again.

“What do you want to eat?”

After holding each other for a while, Lin Hanbing patted her back gently, her voice brimming with tenderness.

“Rest a bit more. I’ll go buy something.” Lin Hanbing ruffled her hair. “Mom and Dad will come tomorrow. For tonight, you’ll have to make do with takeout.”

Cheng Zhanya was too hungry to care.

She said, “Nothing specific. You pick.”

“Got it.”

Lin Hanbing kissed her forehead, helped her settle comfortably, and said, “Wait for me to get back.”

Cheng Zhanya murmured in agreement. Exhaustion still lingered in her expression, but after sleeping so long, she wasn’t sleepy yet.

The door lock clicked softly as it shut.

In the bassinet, the Little One slept soundly now that she was full.

Cheng Zhanya gazed at her daughter’s little face—so pink and tender, not yet fully formed. It was hard to tell if she resembled her or Lin Hanbing more.

But on closer inspection, her sleeping features faintly echoed Lin Hanbing’s outline.

The more Cheng Zhanya looked, the more she adored her. Her heart bubbled with joy.

She hoped their daughter would inherit her looks and Lin Hanbing’s brains—smart and capable.

No matter what, though, their daughter would be exceptional.

She was certain of it.

Cheng Zhanya reached out tentatively and poked her daughter’s soft cheek.

So squishy.

So cute.

Even now, it still felt surreal to Cheng Zhanya.

She had really given birth to a daughter.

To her and Lin Hanbing’s daughter.