SGEIRS -Chapter 504 Wanwan’s Full Name

Meng Jinyao saw the embarrassed look on his face and let out a soft laugh. “I really didn’t expect this, Gu Jingxi. I always thought someone as outstanding as you wouldn’t procrastinate, but I never imagined that back then, you even dragged your feet when doing homework.”

Gu Jingxi felt a deep sense of frustration. That was so many years ago—who on earth was digging up his old stories now? He had almost forgotten them himself, and now someone was reminding him. His image in A-Yao’s mind might be ruined.

He asked in puzzlement, “A-Yao, who told you this?”

Meng Jinyao giggled. “My clever husband should be able to guess. After all, there aren’t many people who know about your past and would relay your stories to me.”

Gu Jingxi thought for a while and guessed, “Could it be Mother?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Not Mother. Try again, husband.”

Gu Jingxi considered it. Stories from that long ago would only come from someone close to him. He shook his head lightly. “I can’t guess. Give me a hint, A-Yao.”

Meng Jinyao said, “I heard it from A-Ning.”

Gu Jingxi was bewildered. “When I was studying, she wasn’t even born. How could she know about my past?”

Meng Jinyao glanced at him. “Husband, have you forgotten who her maternal uncle is?”

Gu Jingxi fell silent instantly. Of course, he had forgotten… and there was that troublemaker Qi Mobai. But that guy was already grown, so why did he still pull him into such schemes, making the younger generation know his old stories?

Meng Jinyao continued, “It seems our little Wanwan’s temperament will really be like yours. But actually, it’s good. When I look at Wanwan, I can imagine what you were like as a young boy.”

Gu Jingxi recalled his youthful behavior and instinctively shook his head. “Better if he doesn’t grow up like me.”

Meng Jinyao said, “I think it’s fine. You were talented and smart—becoming the top scholar at just over ten years old.”

Hearing that, Gu Jingxi felt a little embarrassed to respond. He was good at studying, and his teachers praised him, but back then, he was far from easy to manage and often worried his parents. It was probably better if his son didn’t inherit that side of him; otherwise, he’d be repeating his father’s struggles. When that happened, it would be a real mess—fate turning in cycles.

The next day.

Princess Jingning arrived. She had accompanied the Empress Dowager to the temple for a few days and hadn’t been able to attend yesterday’s wash-and-feast ceremony. She came today to visit but had household matters to attend to, so she didn’t stay long. After seeing Meng Jinyao and Wanwan and chatting with Meng Jinyao for a while, she left.

After her friend departed, Meng Jinyao felt bored. Since giving birth, she hadn’t left her room, and the maids and elderly attendants were carefully looking after her.

Feeling alert enough, she suggested to a maid that she wanted to go to the doorway to get some air. The maid immediately dissuaded her, saying that during the postpartum period, she couldn’t be exposed to drafts. Even though spring breezes weren’t cold, her body hadn’t fully recovered, making her vulnerable to colds, which could lead to lingering postpartum illness.

Meng Jinyao had no choice but to stay inside, learning from Wanwan’s wet nurses how to care for the baby and understand his various needs. Although two wet nurses attended Wanwan meticulously, she still wanted to know more.

By evening, when Gu Jingxi returned, it was already time for dinner. After checking on the sleeping child, he instructed the maids to set the table in the inner room. These past two days, he had been setting meals in the inner room to prevent A-Yao from catching a draft in the main hall.

During dinner, Gu Jingxi suddenly asked, “A-Yao, do you think Wanwan has some grudge against me?”

Meng Jinyao was puzzled. “Why would you say that, husband?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “Every time I come back, he’s always asleep.”

Meng Jinyao couldn’t help laughing. “What are you imagining? He’s still so little. Of course he sleeps after eating and eats after waking. When he grows a bit, he won’t be like this. If you want to accompany him while he’s awake, it will be at night. The wet nurses say he wakes a few times then.”

Gu Jingxi said, “At night, I have to accompany his mother—I won’t have time for him.”

The sudden confession of devotion made Meng Jinyao a bit shy. She glanced at him teasingly and said, “Eat more and talk less nonsense,” then picked up a slice of meat from her plate for him.

Gu Jingxi took her wrist and fed the meat directly into his own mouth.

Meng Jinyao was dumbfounded. Seeing the gentle, smiling look in his eyes, she glanced at the nearby maid, who had already lowered her head and wasn’t watching. She scolded him lightly again, withdrew her hand, and continued eating.

After dinner, Gu Jingxi instructed the maids to prepare water for a bath.

After bathing, Gu Jingxi returned to the room and found Meng Jinyao asleep. He glanced at the pillow on the bed and suddenly had an idea. Recalling how the wet nurses held Wanwan, he gently lifted the pillow.

Half-asleep, Meng Jinyao sensed someone beside her. When she opened her eyes, she saw her husband bending over, hugging the pillow. Surprised, she asked, “Husband, why are you hugging the pillow?”

Her sudden voice startled Gu Jingxi. He looked down at her, seeing her eyes filled with curiosity. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said, “Nothing… just… just looking. Are you sleepy? Let’s sleep first.”

Meng Jinyao glanced at how he was holding the pillow and quickly understood. She let out a soft laugh. “Husband, you’re secretly practicing how to hold the baby, wanting to hold Wanwan, right? I just remembered—you haven’t held Wanwan before. You didn’t because you didn’t know how, isn’t that it?”

Gu Jingxi nodded awkwardly.

Meng Jinyao smiled. “There’s a big difference between hugging a pillow and holding Wanwan. You don’t need to practice with a pillow. I’ll teach you how to hold him tomorrow.”

Gu Jingxi nodded again, quietly put the pillow down, got into bed, and prepared to sleep.

Just as he lay down, Meng Jinyao said, “Husband, you should give Wanwan a formal name. Mother asked about it when she came to see him today.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “I’ve already thought of Wanwan’s full name.”

Meng Jinyao asked, “What is it?”

Gu Jingxi said gently, “Wanwan belongs to the Xiu generation. After much thought, I’ve decided on Xiuheng.”

Meng Jinyao repeated, “Gu Xiuheng?”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Hang—like the jade pendant, symbolizing beautiful jade. A gentleman is like jade. I hope he will grow into a virtuous, poised, and graceful young gentleman. What do you think of this name, A-Yao?”

Meng Jinyao pondered for a moment, thought of her husband, and also hoped that Wanwan would grow up to be a refined gentleman like him. She nodded repeatedly. “I think it’s perfect.”

Gu Jingxi said, “Since A-Yao agrees, Gu Xiuheng it shall be. We’ll tell my mother and the rest of the family tomorrow.”