With Xia Yuan having paved the way as the pioneer, by the time Lin Youxi’s due date arrived, Mei Fang had become thoroughly adept—calmly preparing contingency plans for every possible scenario.

In the end, Lin Youxi’s delivery proceeded smoothly without any complications.

A second blossoming—another little princess.

Xiaoxixi weighed only 2.65 kg at birth, significantly smaller than her sister’s 3.4 kg, and her cries were noticeably weaker too.

This was partly due to Lin Youxi’s own physical constitution.

It meant Mei Fang and Lin Youxi would need to pay extra attention to Xiaoxixi’s health.

Although the elders seemed somewhat uneasy about children sharing names with their parents, the family ultimately settled the matter through a democratic vote.

After tallying the ballots, the official names were decided: Mei Xiaoyuan for Little Yuanbao and Mei Zhixi for Little Xixi.

Children are the crystallization of parental love and a testament to the enduring friendship between Mei Fang, Xia Yuan, and Lin Youxi. Thus, Mei Fang hoped their names would carry echoes of their mothers’ identities.

After giving birth, Xia Yuan had spent nearly two months recuperating at a postnatal care center in Pengcheng’s forested suburbs. By the time Lin Youxi delivered, Xia Yuan had already completed her zuoyuezi [postpartum confinement period], but not wanting her to endure the same loneliness, Xia Yuan chose to stay at the center with Lin Youxi.

Though initially dismayed by Little Yuanbao’s wrinkled, monkey-like appearance, Xia Yuan quickly accepted reality—after all, she’s my own flesh and blood, and I’ll cherish her.

Xia Yuan poured all her maternal love into Little Yuanbao, and under her devoted care, the baby grew plumper and more radiant by the day, filling Xia Yuan with increasing joy.

Another month passed. Throughout Lin Youxi’s zuoyuezi, both babies remained healthy, with no infections or unexpected test results.

Today was the day Mei Fang would bring his wives home to begin full-time parenting.

While the postnatal center had been comfortable, the presence of other mothers—and Mei Fang, that unemployed deadbeat who visited daily—made everything awkward. Their trio attracted far too much attention.

Before leaving, Mei Fang thoroughly disinfected their new family SUV and customized the seats for optimal comfort and spaciousness tailored to Chinese mothers. Even his father, Mei Lijun, who wanted to admire the new car, was shooed away with disdain.

“Well done, son. You’ve reached… maybe half of your dad’s level as a doting husband.”

Mei Lijun clasped his hands behind his back, adopting a bureaucratic air. “I took time off to visit my granddaughters, and this is the thanks I get…”

“Stop boasting. Were you ever this attentive to me?” Xiang Xiaoxia pinched him sharply. “I remember being heavily pregnant with Ah Fang and cooking for you.”

“Work was hectic back then! And the elders were unwell. Times have changed—we’re better off now.”

Mei Lijun patted his wife’s shoulder. “But truly… you’ve worked hard all these years.”

“Enough of this—the kids are watching.”

“So what? They’ve seen worse.”

Mei Lijun winked at their wide-eyed daughter. “Right, Xiao Ya?”

“Ugh… disgusting.”

Mei Ya pinched her nose and fled. If I want to ship couples, I’ll stick to my brother and sisters-in-law!

Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi, each cradling a baby, emerged at the center’s entrance under staff escort. Suppressing his adoration, Mei Fang helped them into the car, then kissed both wives on the cheek.

“This entire year—thank you both for your sacrifices!”

“It wasn’t just us. Ah Fang sacrificed too…” Lin Youxi smiled.

Xia Yuan teased, “Why does this feel like a reunion? Weren’t you here until 10 PM last night?”

“Homecoming rituals matter.”

Mei Fang gently stroked the babies’ impossibly soft cheeks. “Besides, it’s their first time going home. They must be excited too.”

“Ah, I’d almost forgotten… sigh… Where are we living now?”

“The mountain villa in Longkou is ideal—quiet yet close to downtown and the beach. Easy access for walks and shopping…”

“Sounds perfect. Youxi’s thoughts?”

“Ah Fang decides.”

Lin Youxi soothed the fussing Xiaoxixi with soft tsk-tsk sounds, lulling her to sleep.

Mei Fang stared, mesmerized.

“What’s with the dazing, Ah Fang?”

“Youxi… you’ve become so gentle since Xiaoxixi was born.” His voice softened. “Like you’ve switched into ‘Mom Mode.’”

“Are you saying I lacked maternal instincts before?”

“No! That’s not—”

Lin Youxi unbuttoned her blouse to nurse Xiaoxixi. “So Ah Fang means I wasn’t gentle enough previously.”

“I definitely didn’t mean that either!”

His flustered denials made both wives burst into laughter—startling Little Yuanbao awake with a wail. As Xia Yuan hurried to feed her, Mei Fang stopped distracting them and started the car.

Lin Youxi glanced at him in the rearview mirror while nursing.

“Ah Fang… truthfully, you’ve been the hardest-working this past year. Thank you.”

“Not just planning our schedules, but constantly soothing our moods.”

“And at the center—no other father was as diligent as you.”

“Especially with two babies and two mothers.”

“Mm… I agree.” Xia Yuan nodded.

Mei Fang drove cheerfully, basking in their praise.

“Keep complimenting me—I won’t get arrogant.”

“Then…”

Lin Youxi murmured, “You’ve endured a lot too, haven’t you? Only a few months in the middle when we could…”

“Th-that’s fine, haha.”

Mei Fang chuckled. “I feel like I’ve outgrown that constantly horny phase. My focus now is raising Xiaoyuan and Zhixi well—giving them a happier childhood than ours! So, I—”

He launched into grand visions of parenting: developmental milestones, nutritional plans, activity schedules. But midway through, he noticed a critical issue—

His wives had tuned him out.

“Ah Fang, stop!”

Xia Yuan interrupted urgently. “We get your dad-passion, but—”

“We’re barely 24 this year. Have you completely lost interest in marital activities already?”

Her plaintive tone filled Mei Fang with guilt.

“N-no! That’s not it!”

“Then let’s see if little Ah Fang truly means it—”

“Youxi! You just finished zuoyuezi! Your body’s still weak, you shouldn’t—”

“I’m ready!”

Xia Yuan blurted, then lowered her voice. “At the center, I already… ahem… Didn’t want Youxi feeling left out.”

“Really? You should’ve told Ah Fang earlier. I wouldn’t have minded—better than wasting it…”

As their banter continued, Mei Fang’s self-reproach deepened.

I’m scum. Absolute scum.

Mei Fang, how could you degenerate like this?

After they gave birth, I only focused on the babies—completely neglecting the needs of these incredible mothers!

Not even a dog would be this inconsiderate!

“Ahem… so, should we celebrate tonight?”

Mei Fang glanced at Xia Yuan. “Maybe… gaming?”

“Yes! Yes!“

Xia Yuan hummed as she rocked the now-sleeping Little Yuanbao, her voice softening. “Haven’t played in ages—I’m probably rusty.”

“Youxi?”

“Obviously a trio queue.” Lin Youxi smirked. “I’ll support. Let Yuan Yuan carry.”

“Can Yuan Yuan carry, though? Doubtful.”

Mei Fang teased, “Back in our duo days, she was dead weight—I hard-carried every match. Doubt much has changed—”

“Hmph! Such arrogance!”

Xia Yuan raised a fist in protest—then remembered the baby in her arms and settled for a fierce whisper:

“Just you wait! Yuan Yuan-mama will teach Little Ah Fang a lesson!”

“Bring it on! Show me what you’ve got!”

——

Postpartum, the mothers focused on recovery and fitness. With professional guidance and Mei Fang’s meticulous care, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi regained their figures swiftly—slightly rounder yet more womanly, which Mei Fang praised as uniquely enchanting.

During breastfeeding, Lin Youxi occasionally had low supply, while Xia Yuan’s milk cafeterias were overproductive. Thus, Xiaoxixi sometimes sampled the other mother’s wares—with excess stored in the fridge by Mei Fang.

Diaper changes, midnight wake-ups, temperature checks—every night was a cycle of lulling the babies to shallow sleep, always alert for discomfort.

Exhausting, yet Mei Fang embraced his role as Super Dad with joy.

——

Four months later: Spring 2019.

Nearly weaned, Little Yuanbao now toddled in a walker, enthusiastically babbling “mama, baba”—melting Mei Fang’s heart. Meanwhile, Xiaoxixi could sit up independently, observing the world quietly.

Compared to her vivacious sister, Xiaoxixi was serene, rarely crying. She seemed content to study her surroundings alone.

With the babies less clingy, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi regained some freedom, resuming personal projects.

Their careers weren’t abandoned—just scaled back. After all, having purpose brought joy.

Xia Yuan revived her VTuber persona Yuan-chan, sharing snippets of Yuanbao’s life on Weibo. Fans quickly deduced her hiatus was due to childbirth.

In contrast, the already-private Lin Youxi maintained a low profile, focusing on internal developer conferences at Yuanxi Interactive. Drawing on 12 years of coding experience, she lectured on best practices and maintenance habits.

As for the company’s mastermind, Webmaster Mei Fang? He’d fully morphed into a little-padded-jacket devotee, blissfully playing Super Dad at home.

“Look here, Xiaoyuan! Look at Daddy—”

“Ba… ba…“

Cradling Xiaoxixi in one arm, Mei Fang clapped encouragingly as Little Yuanbao crawled toward him.

Her hair had grown into a tiny wolf-cut, and several milk teeth had emerged. Noticing his gestures, she locked onto him instantly.

“No crawling! Daddy will help you up—there! Yes! Stand strong! Good girl! Daddy’s proud!”

Little Yuanbao waddled forward eagerly—then headbutted Mei Fang’s chin. Ignoring his own pain, he fretted over her forehead, but she just giggled, drooling, eyes crinkled with delight.

Her extroverted antics terrified the introverted Xiaoxixi.

Wide-eyed, she stared at her sister, then buried her face in Mei Fang’s shoulder—peeking out only when Yuanbao withdrew.

Amused, Yuanbao kept repeating the poke-and-retreat game, her mischievous giggles making even Mei Fang intervene.

“Alright, Xiaoyuan, stop bullying meimei—here, have a pacifier.”

As he placated Yuanbao, Xia Yuan descended the stairs post-stream, witnessing the scene.

“What’s so fun? Let Mama join!”

She clapped at Mei Fang. “Xiaoyuan, Zhixi—come to Yuan-mama! Only one at a time!“

Yuanbao grinned around her pacifier, while Xiaoxixi peeked out—only to retreat upon seeing Xia Yuan.

“What? You’re all clinging to Baba now? Yuan-mama gets nothing? I’ll cry!”

Despite her coaxing, neither baby budged.

Seeing her pout, Mei Fang hurried to mediate.

“I want you!”

He set both babies down.

Yuanbao immediately scampered off to hug a teddy bear, while Xiaoxixi gaped as her parents cuddled—her shocked expression priceless.

Just then, Lin Youxi returned home, scooping up the bewildered Xiaoxixi.

“What are you doing? Zhixi’s crying.”

“Oh? Oh! She is! How rare.”

Mei Fang wiped Xiaoxixi’s tears, then suddenly method-acted, whimpering:

“Wuwu… Does Zhixi love Baba that much? Getting jealous? But Baba has many babies to care for… It’s so hard… Baba’s gonna cry too!”

“Baba! What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Xia Yuan huffed—then noticed Yuanbao crawling over to offer her teddy bear, as if consoling her.

And so, another day passed for this family of five.

——

Author’s Mental State While Writing This Chapter:

When will I have such perfect childhood sweethearts?!

When will I have such perfect girlfriends?!

When will I have such perfect wives?!

When will I have such adorable daughters?!

Hey, you’re just a 27-year-old virgin! Go to sleep—dreams are free.

Goodnight, everyone.