novelraw Chapter 202
Chapter 202
Turning off the radio,
Pei Zhengnian fell into silence.
Sun Xuelin also remained quiet.
After a night passed, as the first ray of morning sunlight streamed through the window,
Pei Zhengnian finally moved.
"Pack up, we're preparing to check out of the hospital!"
Orders had come from above: lure the snake out of its hole, use this small clue to catch the person behind it all.
This was timed for when Pei's father cleared his name and returned to the capital.
Originally, Pei Zhengnian hadn't wanted to drag his family into this matter.
But, just as Commander Tang said, could hiding really solve the problem?
It was better to cut the Gordian knot, follow the small fish and pull out the big one behind it.
Only then would the Pei family have peace afterwards.
Since that was the case, Pei Zhengnian decided not to waste any more time.
Whatever Pei Zhengwei wanted, he would just "give" it to him.
Before leaving the hospital, there was one more battle to fight.
After all, without fail every day, Pei Zhengwei came to visit his dear younger brother.
Now that he was being discharged, shouldn't he first be placated?
Sure enough,
as soon as Pei Zhengwei arrived and saw Pei Zhengnian packing his things, a gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Zhengnian, are you being discharged?"
"Yes, big brother."
Pei Zhengnian didn't miss the fleeting joy in Pei Zhengwei's eyes.
"Father and the others will be back in the capital in a few days."
"I also need to stay in the capital to handle some matters."
"Once Mom and Dad arrive, our whole family can be reunited."
Unable to suppress the delight on his face, Pei Zhengwei said,
"Good, I'll be waiting."
After an unknown length of time performing this charade of brotherly affection, Pei Zhengwei finally left, satisfied.
Seeing Pei Zhengwei leave, Pei Zhengnian also hurried home without delay.
...
Shen Nanchu recovered exceptionally well.
She was discharged and returned home on the third day.
Jiang Jie, worried that Mrs. Pei might be overwhelmed, had originally wanted to send their family's Mrs. Wang over to lend a hand.
However, Mrs. Pei declined.
For now, with Xiong Lei helping out, Mrs. Pei could manage.
The moment Pei Zhengnian stepped into the small courtyard, he instinctively softened his footsteps.
Seeing Pei Zhengnian, Mrs. Pei was pleasantly surprised and lowered her voice.
"Is your wound fully healed?"
"It's almost completely healed. Where is she and the baby?"
Pei Zhengnian's eyes held a sense of urgency.
"Asleep, in that room!"
Mrs. Pei pointed towards the main room.
Pei Zhengnian lifted his foot to go over, then stopped.
"Mom, I'll go take a shower first."
He had just come from the hospital and still carried the smell of disinfectant.
It wasn't that Pei Zhengnian didn't want to see Shen Nanchu and the baby immediately, but he was afraid of bringing any germs from the hospital to the delicate little one.
The hot water washed away his weariness. Only after changing into clean clothes did Pei Zhengnian gently push open the bedroom door.
In the cozy room,
Shen Nanchu leaned against the headboard in deep sleep, a small swaddled bundle in her arms. Her breathing was even, a faint smile still lingering at the corner of her mouth.
The little one was wrapped up snugly, only a small section of a pale chin visible, its tiny chest rising and falling gently with each breath, like a docile kitten.
Pei Zhengnian walked softly to the bedside, his gaze resting on Shen Nanchu's face.
There were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly worn out from caring for the baby. Yet even so, a new mother's tenderness still shone through her features.
Pei Zhengnian's gaze shifted to the swaddling clothes. Carefully, he reached out a finger and gently touched the baby's little cheek.
The skin was soft as cotton, even more delicate than he had imagined, instantly filling his heart with a tenderness he had never known before.
The sleeping little one, thinking it was his own mother playing tricks again, couldn't help but grab Pei Zhengnian's mischievous finger with his tiny hand.
That small hand clutching the big one melted Pei Zhengnian's heart.
He froze his finger, not daring to move, afraid of waking the sleeping baby.
Looking again at Shen Nanchu's serene sleeping face beside them, Pei Zhengnian felt his heart soften into a puddle.
He remembered when he was injured, Shen Nanchu traveling a long distance to see him despite her heavily pregnant state; he remembered when the child was born, he was still at the hospital handling follow-up matters; he remembered all these years, how Shen Nanchu always used her "sharpness" to protect this family...
Guilt surged in his heart like a tide. Pei Zhengnian gently took hold of Shen Nanchu's hand resting outside the blanket.
Perhaps feeling the familiar touch, Shen Nanchu stirred slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing it was Pei Zhengnian, she half-closed her eyes again, her voice husky from sleep,
"You're back?"
"Mm."
Pei Zhengnian leaned down and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, his gaze falling on the child,
"Was he good? Did he fuss for you?"
"He's been very good, sleeps right after feeding."
Shen Nanchu hardly had to manage at all; the system took care of everything.
With little to do, she had binge-watched quite a few good shows these past few days.
Shen Nanchu shifted slightly, making some room for Pei Zhengnian, "Do you want to lie down for a bit?"
Pei Zhengnian carefully lay down on the edge of the bed, careful not to bump the child, but his eyes never left the swaddled bundle.
The little one seemed to sense his father's gaze, suddenly stirred, smacked his tiny lips twice, didn't wake up, and continued holding Pei Zhengnian's finger, sleeping soundly.
Watching this scene, Pei Zhengnian couldn't help but let a smile touch his lips.
Unfortunately, the smile didn't last more than a few seconds before the baby started crying.
Pei Zhengnian instantly became flustered.
"What, what do we do?"
Seeing the plea for help in Pei Zhengnian's eyes, Shen Nanchu laughed.
"He probably needs a diaper change. Change it, and he'll stop fussing once he's comfortable."
A diaper change?
A first in Pei Zhengnian's life.
However, fortunately, he was quick-witted and good with his hands.
With some guidance from Shen Nanchu, he managed to get the diaper changed.
By the end of this flurry of activity, beads of sweat dotted Pei Zhengnian's forehead.
This was harder than going on a mission.
After the diaper change, the little one woke up, opening his big round eyes, dark grape-like pupils fixed on Pei Zhengnian.
He occasionally let out soft "goo-goo" sounds, melting Pei Zhengnian's heart all over again.
Pei Zhengnian gently clasped the baby's tiny hand with his big one.
The little one didn't even fuss.
Shen Nanchu felt a pang of jealousy brewing inside.
"So you know this is your dad, and you stop wailing?"
The baby grinned, giving Shen Nanchu a big smile.
"Little rascal."
Shen Nanchu gently tapped the baby's tiny nose with the back of her finger, then looked up at Pei Zhengnian,
"We should give the child a name."
"We can't keep calling him 'little one' or 'baby' forever."
Pei Zhengnian nodded, his eyes resting on the child's handsome brows and eyes, his tone carrying a note of seriousness,
"I've thought of one. Pei Jianjun. 'Jian' as in building the nation, 'Jun' as in soldier. We're a military family; he should remember his roots. If he's willing later, he can also go to the army for some training."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Nanchu frowned and swatted the back of his hand,
"Pei Jianjun? That name is so old-fashioned! What if it's the same as the grandson of old man Wang at the village entrance? Besides, our son has just been born, and you're already wishing for him to suffer through military service?"
Shen Nanchu looked down at the little one on the bed, her tone softening,
"Our son is so handsome. He deserves a name that's both beautiful and meaningful. We can't just pick something so casually."
Pei Zhengnian: "..."