RIRW – Chapter 188

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Zuo Dan felt that although Father Chen spoke so lightly, how could he not have any regrets in his heart?

But he could control his emotions and be content with the present… or maybe he wasn’t truly content, but he made himself feel content.

Regarding this, Zuo Dan had no solution. She could only try to make up for this lonely father with affection.

As she was feeling a bit melancholy, Chen Zhisen suddenly said, “Dandan, have you picked a nickname for the baby? I thought about it last night.”

“…Dad, the baby’s nickname is Erbao.”

Chen Zhisen nodded, “That’s a nice name. It’s quite fitting if it’s a boy. But if it’s a girl, it might not be suitable. Girls should have a more precious-sounding name.”

Zuo Dan looked at him. “Dad, if you want to name the baby, just say so.”

Chen Zhisen laughed. “Girls are like pearls in the palm, little jewels in the eye. The nickname can be Zhuzhu. What do you think?”

“Zhuzhu… sounds like Zhuzhu (Pig Pig)?” Zuo Dan suddenly laughed, then turned to look at Shen Yiming. “Comrade Yiming, would it be okay to call your daughter Zhuzhu?”

Shen Yiming looked up at his father-in-law and wife and replied, “As long as you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind? It’s cute. A girl named Zhuzhu sounds good.” Zuo Dan laughed. “Dad, what about her formal name?”

Chen Zhisen shook his head. “You two should choose it. I already named Youlin. If I name this one too, I worry Yiming might feel left out. Daughters are dear to their fathers’ hearts. If this really is a girl, Yiming should have his own ideas.”

Shen Yiming’s ears twitched, and a smile appeared on his face. He suddenly felt his father-in-law was quite thoughtful.

Zuo Dan didn’t quite believe it. “Dad, you’re overthinking. Yiming used to say he didn’t even want a daughter, afraid she’d be like me. Hmph!”

Chen Zhisen just smiled and said nothing.

During the whole National Day holiday, Zuo Dan didn’t leave the house. Meanwhile, more and more of the household equipment was being moved in. Chen Zhisen’s private doctor, Smith, even acted as an obstetrician once to check on Zuo Dan. Everything was going well.

Obviously, Zuo Dan’s body had been well-nourished these past few years and was in even better condition than during her first pregnancy. As for the dizziness earlier, it was likely just due to emotional fluctuations from the previous few days.

Zuo Dan knew it was all because she had been worrying about Guo Caiping, which affected her mood.

Knowing Zuo Dan was in good condition, Chen Zhisen felt relieved, though he still asked Xiao Qiu to arrange for a foreign doctor to come over.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust domestic doctors—it’s just that most were public hospital staff, so it wouldn’t be convenient to invite them home. It was simpler to bring in someone from their own circle. After all, their family kept several doctors on retainer every year.

At this point, Shen Youyou also knew there was something inside his mother’s belly. After Zuo Dan finished her checkup, he touched her belly and said, “Sister, sister.”

“Sister? You already know that?” Zuo Dan laughed.

Shen Youyou said, “Daddy, sister.”

Zuo Dan immediately realized this had been taught by Shen Yiming. She pursed her lips and laughed secretly. Shen Yiming really was all talk and no action.

Chen Zhisen, worried Shen Youyou might bump into Zuo Dan, said, “Youyou, let’s go play with the puzzles.”

As soon as he heard the word “puzzle,” Shen Youyou got excited. He now knew what it meant. Every time he finished a puzzle, he’d get rewards.

Zuo Dan said, “Dad, don’t keep buying him stuff. Every time he finishes a puzzle, you buy him something. He already has too much. If I really give birth to a girl, who’s going to inherit all his toys?”

Chen Zhisen replied, “Why should anyone inherit them? Those are his spoils, earned through his own effort. They should be kept for him, to teach him that you have to earn the things you love through hard work. If we have another boy, I’d teach him the same. Letting the younger one take the elder’s things isn’t fair to either.”

Oh, Dad, not everyone can afford to raise kids with such generosity. “…And what if it’s a girl?”

“If it’s a girl, then even more so—no hand-me-downs. A girl should be raised with care and dignity, taught good manners, good habits, and a sharp mind. With these, she’ll be able to safeguard the wealth left to her and live a carefree life.”

Hearing this, Zuo Dan looked at Shen Youyou, who was tugging at Chen Zhisen to go play puzzles, and felt guilty. My son, sorry your mom didn’t make you a daughter.

Shen Youyou didn’t sense any of this and just pulled on Chen Zhisen. “Grandpa, puzzle! Grandpa, puzzle!”

Chen Zhisen laughed and stood up. “Okay, Grandpa will go play puzzles with you. Today let’s do a little horse. Grandpa will get you a real pony. When you grow up, you can ride it.”

Zuo Dan: “…” She could finish the Great Wall at this rate!

During the National Day holiday, Shen Yiming wasn’t idle either—he brought home a small car.

A very old second-hand car. The paint was peeling, and it clearly had seen many years.

Shen Yiming had always wanted to save up for a car, but he never quite managed to. Now that Zuo Dan was pregnant again, it wasn’t ideal for her to be bumping around all day. A car was simply more convenient. So, he borrowed money from Zhang Yue. Last time, the two of them had done business together and made a decent profit.

This was Shen Yiming’s first time borrowing money, but he felt it was worth it. After all, this second pregnancy was different. When she was pregnant with Shen Youyou, she could stay home and rest. Now, she had to go to school every day, and just biking took half an hour. Having a car was just more convenient.

When Zuo Dan saw the car, she was excited and looked it over inside and out. Now she had both a house and a car in the capital!

“It used to be a factory vehicle. The factory’s not doing too well, so they’ve been clearing out old assets. This one’s ours now. It’s a bit old, but I checked—the engine is fine. We won’t look shabby driving it to school. I’ll add some cushions later. For now, this’ll do. When we’re better off, we’ll get a nicer one.”

Shen Yiming beamed.

Chen Zhisen was also there. “Yiming, you’re treating me like an outsider. It’s not like the family doesn’t have cars. You youngsters don’t need to worry about this stuff.”

Shen Yiming smiled softly. “Dad, your car is too flashy.”

Chen Zhisen said, “I have more than one, you know.”

“…Dad, we appreciate your kindness,” Shen Yiming said. “But we’re adults now. We should rely on ourselves.”

Chen Zhisen sighed. “No matter how grown-up you are, in my heart you’re always children. I want you to be able to depend on me. Besides, I’m retired now. I want to support you however I can. I never considered you outsiders.”

Zuo Dan said, “…Dad, well, men need to strive for success. Isn’t that how you’re teaching Shen Youyou?”

“But you’re my daughter,” said Chen Zhisen. He looked at Shen Yiming. “When you have a daughter, you’ll understand how I feel.”

Shen Yiming looked up at the sky. “Dad, there are still a few things this car needs. Could I trouble you to help install them?”

Chen Zhisen laughed. “Of course. Let’s model it after my setup.”

With Chen Zhisen’s help and extra hands, the car was quickly ready. The next day, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming drove to school in their little car.

Sitting in the car on the way, Zuo Dan smiled and said, “My dad really dotes on his daughter. Comrade Yiming, I hope you understand.”

“I can tell,” Shen Yiming nodded. Just thinking about having a daughter made him feel different.

Zuo Dan said, “Comrade Yiming, you better learn to love your daughter—don’t you dare favor boys over girls.” Let’s see you deny it now, ha!

Shen Yiming: “Comrade Zuo Dan, I love you more than I love myself. I clearly prefer girls over boys.”

Zuo Dan blushed. “Stop saying sweet things just because I’m pregnant.”

Shen Yiming drove quietly. He realized Zuo Dan’s personality had changed a bit with this second pregnancy—quite different from the first time. Judging by her temperament, it probably was a girl.

They didn’t drive into the school grounds but parked nearby.

Driving saved time on the road, so even after walking to the classroom building, they weren’t late.

They arrived before class started.

As Zuo Dan entered the classroom, she instinctively glanced over and saw Zhu Min lying on her desk in deep thought. She quickly averted her eyes.

Xiang Honghua sneaked over to her and whispered, “Dandan, I’ve got some news.”

“What news?” asked Zuo Dan.

Xiang Honghua said, “Someone in our class might be pregnant.”

Zuo Dan’s heart skipped a beat. Surely she didn’t mean her? “…How do you know? Who?”

“Who else? Zhu Min,” Xiang Honghua whispered carefully, then lowered her voice even more. “I heard from Sister Sun Hong—she’s had a kid herself—she says Zhu Min really looks like she’s pregnant. She told our dorm to be cautious and not upset her.”

“….” Zuo Dan relaxed slightly, but then tensed again. Wait, Zhu Min doesn’t even have a boyfriend yet, does she?

Xiang Honghua said, “Should we do something? After all, we’re class officers. Isn’t it wrong to ignore this?”

Pregnancy was a sensitive issue. Mishandling it could even lead to a tragedy. Zuo Dan didn’t feel it was necessary to intervene. More importantly, she didn’t want to. Being pregnant herself, she believed in certain superstitions—like how pregnant women shouldn’t harm other pregnant women, or it could affect their own child’s fortune.

“It’s not confirmed, so how could we interfere? Let’s just observe for now.”

Xiang Honghua nodded. She always treated Zuo Dan as her anchor—whatever Dandan said, she followed.

Afterward, Zuo Dan did start watching Zhu Min more closely.

She noticed Zhu Min did look a bit paler and more lethargic than usual.

In fact, she looked even more like a pregnant woman than Zuo Dan herself.