(TL: Hi y’all I’m back to finish the rest of the main story 🙂 Sorry for the wait)

Seizing the opportunity of Xia Yuan’s partial revelation to her parents, Mei Fang agreed to Teacher Yu’s suggestion to invite all three sets of parents to Pengcheng for a gathering.

After Lin Youxi communicated with her parents, Lin Guochuan and Liang Meijuan immediately booked tickets—clear evidence of Lin Youxi’s absolute authority at home.

As for Mei Fang’s side, his call to Xiang Xiaoxia was conducted with utmost reverence.

“Visit Pengcheng? These days? No holidays, and Xiao Ya’s studies are busy—”

“I’m free! I’m totally free!”

Mei Ya suddenly popped up, bouncing excitedly around Xiang Xiaoxia. “Mom! Mom! Listen—Youxi-jie said she’ll gift me an apartment to display my Warhammer miniatures!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you know how expensive Pengcheng properties are? Just for toys?”

Father Mei Lijun emerged, twisting his daughter’s head before addressing his wife: “Actually… we haven’t visited Pengcheng in over a year. Should see the twin towers our son built—so majestic!”

“You! Easiest to bribe among us all! What did he promise you?”

Mei Fang interjected via video: “Mom, I’m innocent! Haven’t spoken to Dad since—”

Ahem! AHEM!

Mei Lijun’s exaggerated coughing halted Mei Fang mid-sentence. “Anyway… please come if possible. Yuan Yuan and Youxi’s parents are all going.”

“You invited them together?”

Xiang Xiaoxia and Mei Lijun immediately grasped the gravity. Xiang Xiaoxia sobered: “This is an announcement, isn’t it? Explain properly beforehand.”

“How can I explain if you don’t come…”

Mei Fang maintained earnestness. “There is something to discuss, but not suitable for video.”

“…”

After exchanging glances, Mei Lijun subtly stopped Xiang Xiaoxia’s further interrogation.

“We’ll book tickets immediately. Which date?”

“Mid-next month.”

“I’ll get first-class seats now!”

“Get back here!”

Xiang Xiaoxia halted the overexcited Mei Ya. “Focus on your studies—adult matters don’t concern you. Stay home.”

“But this involves Brother’s lifelong happiness! Missing a few days won’t hurt!”

“Even if the sky falls and crushes your deskmate, you’ll keep studying.”

“Ugh! You sound just like my homeroom teacher!”

As Mei Ya fled Xiang Xiaoxia’s scolding, the latter grilled Mei Fang with increasingly pointed questions about “accidents,” which he deftly parried.

Thus, all three families confirmed their attendance in Pengcheng.

Mei Fang left a one-month buffer before the parental summit—designated as Critical Youxi Month.

With Xia Yuan already pregnant, Mei Fang focused entirely on ensuring Lin Youxi achieved the same status before the meeting. Understanding Lin Youxi’s yearning, Xia Yuan initially slept separately to give them privacy.

However, this arrangement lasted merely two days before Xia Yuan appeared at their door hugging a pillow, pouting.

“Your noises are too distracting! I can’t sleep at all.”

“Can I just lie here quietly?”

“Just watching is okay, right?”

“Can Ah Fang touch me a little?”

“Kisses are harmless, yes?”

“Ah Fang… make love to me too? It’s been so long…”

Mei Fang pinched her cheeks. “Absolutely not! No intimacy in the first 12 weeks—risks infection or miscarriage. Our baby must be healthy.”

“Waaah… You and Youxi don’t have to restrain yourselves. So unfair!”

Xia Yuan’s sulking killed the mood. After exchanging glances, Mei Fang and Lin Youxi crawled over to comfort her.

“We’ll stop for tonight. Just accompany you.”

“Don’t—don’t cancel because of me!”

Xia Yuan panicked. “I was just venting! Not jealous at all! Stop treating me like a kid needing attention!”

Lin Youxi gently rubbed Xia Yuan’s belly. “Expectant mothers’ emotional stability affects fetal health.”

“Alright alright… I get it. But I’m not angry—just… don’t let me delay the triad plan. That’d stress me more.”

After much persuasion, Xia Yuan finally restored their normal routine. That night, Mei Fang exhausted himself thoroughly.

Thus began the trio’s daily… rigorous activities.

Despite being billionaires, they insisted on hands-on preparation, only occasionally consulting professional nurses and nutritionists.

Mei Fang took charge of prenatal research, with Lin Youxi joining scholar mode. Yet alongside pregnancy studies, Lin Youxi secretly researched another topic.

Though unspoken, Mei Fang and Xia Yuan keenly sensed Lin Youxi’s desperation for a child—originally part of their triad blueprint.

Without Lin Youxi’s pregnancy, their parents would lack the moral dilemma necessary for acceptance.

The current premise—announcing their triad with two pregnancies—would collapse.

On the final day of this period, Mei Fang awoke early to Lin Youxi’s movements.

Watching her reach across him, he fetched the item from the nightstand and handed it over.

“Sorry for waking you.”

Lin Youxi whispered, mindful of the peacefully sleeping Xia Yuan between them. Mei Fang shook his head:

“Even if successful yesterday, testing requires at least 14 days.”

“I know. But first-day testing exists.”

Lin Youxi smiled weakly before padding to the bathroom.

Mei Fang waited outside, eagerly greeting her return—only to be met with a bitter headshake.

“Still negative.”

“The next two weeks are all possibilities. No need for daily tests—a week’s difference means nothing…”

“Mhm.”

Lin Youxi nodded before heading out. “I’ll make breakfast. Sleep more.”

Mei Fang caught her arm. “Let me cook today—I’ve learned the nutritionist’s recipes.”

“It’s fine. I enjoy cooking for you.”

As Mei Fang persisted, Lin Youxi’s smile tightened.

“No need… your cooking sucks. Yuan Yuan dislikes it.”

Mei Fang held firm. “Rest today… please?”

Suddenly, Lin Youxi wrenched her arm free, her tone chilling.

“Stop pitying me. Okay?”

“…”

The outburst stunned Mei Fang—their years of harmony had erased memories of conflict.

Regaining composure, Lin Youxi tucked her hair behind an ear and softened:

“I’ll handle breakfast. Really, I’m fine.”

“Okay…”

Mei Fang watched her leave, his raised hand dropping helplessly.

He understood Lin Youxi’s pressure acutely—yet lacked guaranteed solutions, especially within this timeframe.

With Xia Yuan’s pregnancy advancing inexorably, failure here would drastically imbalance their triad’s justification.

Not that children were mandatory…

But Lin Youxi’s mental state was key.

Observing Xia Yuan’s blissful sleeping smile, Mei Fang’s emotions grew complicated.

---

Mei Fang groomed the expectant Xia Yuan, whose pregnancy brought noticeable sluggishness—drowsiness, slower cognition, occasional forgetfulness.

“Ah Fang… any luck for Youxi today?”

Mei Fang’s strained headshake drew fleeting disappointment from Xia Yuan, quickly overwritten by radiant optimism.

“It’s fine! We’re young! My child will still be the eldest sibling—just by a bigger margin!”

True enough… but if Youxi heard this—

As Mei Fang hesitated, the slightly ajar door creaked open to reveal Lin Youxi.

Had she—had she overheard?

“Um…”

Lin Youxi’s expression remained placid.

“Breakfast’s ready.”

“Yay! Coming!”

Lin Youxi nodded and left.

Xia Yuan seemed oblivious to any potential hurt—or simply couldn’t conceive of Lin Youxi taking offense.

Understandable… having never witnessed Lin Youxi’s earlier outburst.

Rubbing his temples, Mei Fang pondered solutions.

Discuss with Yuan Yuan?

But her priority was safe delivery. Burdening her might only cause unnecessary stress…

“Ah Fang? What’s wrong?”

Xia Yuan blinked up at him. “You look troubled.”

“Nothing…”

Mei Fang resumed hairstyling.

“Wait.”

Xia Yuan stopped him, rising from the vanity stool to face him solemnly.

“Wh-what?”

“You’ve got a hair on your face.”

“Where?” Mei Fang rubbed randomly.

“Let me.”

Pulling him close, Xia Yuan suddenly pecked his cheek.

Mwah.

“…”

“Well? Well? Sweet enough for you?”

Xia Yuan hopped giddily, childlike despite her impending motherhood. Mei Fang patted her head.

“Gonna be a mom at twenty-plus, yet still so childish.”

“Answer the question! No dodging!”

“Sweet. Very sweet.”

Mei Fang smiled. “Stop jumping—unsafe.”

Guiding her down, Xia Yuan beckoned:

“Listen to the baby, Ah Fang.”

Kneeling, Mei Fang laid his ear against her belly as she sat sideways.

“Hear the heartbeat?”

At one month? Impossible…

Suppressing skepticism, Mei Fang chuckled:

“Heard something else.”

“What?”

“Big Baby’s hungry growling.”

“Meanie.”

Xia Yuan’s warm lap soothed Mei Fang’s anxiety as she stroked his hair.

“Like this, Ah Fang?”

“Mhm…”

Leaning down, Xia Yuan whispered:

“There… infused you with super Yuan Yuan energy. After breakfast… take Youxi on a date.”

Her voice gentled. “She’s suffering silently… but I can’t comfort her now…”

Mei Fang startled. “You heard this morning?”

“Mhm…”

Xia Yuan nodded. “She needs your warmth more than I do right now. Plus—”

Her following murmurs made Mei Fang nod thoughtfully. As she straightened, Mei Fang rose—knees numb—and sighed deeply.

Xia Yuan cocked her head. “Why the sigh?”

“Just… time flies.”

“Always the one teaching Yuan Yuan… yet today got taught by Yuan Yuan. So embarrassing.”

“What’s embarrassing? Just means Ah Fang’s eternally youthful… still a little kid at heart.”

Xia Yuan clasped her hands over her lap, morning light bestowing an unexpected maternal grace.

“But me? I’m now a mature mother.”

This sudden dignified aura struck Mei Fang with profound awe.

The girl I’ve watched over since childhood… is no longer that naive ten-year-old…