The Early Spring - Extra Chapter 12

Side Story 12 - Nian Tao

The road to postpartum recovery was an exceedingly long one.

Shang Zhitao only began resuming strength training and light cardiovascular exercise following her postpartum checkup.

When Doctor Liang heard that she was planning to start recovery training, she drew up another meal plan for her, instructing her to follow it every day. The work of shaping and fat loss was handed over to Luan Nian.

Having a personal trainer like Luan Nian at home was truly wonderful. When it came to fitness, he knew even more than average personal trainers, spouting one system of theoretical knowledge after another.

On the first day Shang Zhitao did strength training, Luan Nian brought her through a cool-down first. As the two of them curled up inside Shang Zhitao's tiny home gym, Luan Nian did not miss the chance to mock her: "Now do you realize how great a large house is?"

"It's decent."

"Tomorrow we'll go look at floor plans."

"Haven't you already picked one out?"

"You have the right to change it. After all, that property will be purchased under your quota."

"Oh. So you mean you're gifting me a house, is that it?"

Shang Zhitao understood Luan Nian all too well. She didn't know exactly how much money he had, but she was familiar with his routine for giving gifts. It was a bit more subtle now than in the past, but it was still the same trick in a new wrapper.

"Mm." Luan Nian gave a soft grunt, instructing Shang Zhitao to bend her knees and stretch. Seeing her posture was off, he tapped her knee with a small wooden stick: "What are you doing? Train properly!"

It was either don't train at all, or train properly if you do.

Shang Zhitao hastily corrected her posture, following the trainer's instructions to the letter. As Luan Nian knelt down on one knee, Shang Zhitao caught sight of his upper trapezius muscle. Feeling an itch in her heart, she couldn't help but poke it with her finger.

Luan Nian turned back and tilted his head up to look at her. That glance was intensely profound. Only after a few seconds did he speak up: "Are we training or not?"

"We're training."

Luan Nian was also slightly distracted.

The process of nurturing new life was full of happiness; the only downside was being unable to do as one pleased. Luan Nian knew himself well. In matters of the bedroom, he was never one for gentle breezes and mild rains, so he had simply abstained altogether. As time dragged on, his mind began to wander, his thoughts constantly swaying between Shang Zhitao needs to recover properly and taking her right now. The former had always won out, because he genuinely felt that Shang Zhitao needed time to recover.

Both of them had become a bit half-hearted. Eventually, Shang Zhitao couldn't hold it in any longer and said to him: "How about I just do the elliptical by myself for a while?"

"?"

"I can't train properly with you here."

Shang Zhitao hooked her finger around his. This period had been excruciatingly hard to endure, to the point where Shang Zhitao barely dared to breathe. She felt as though she had returned to when she first met him, her head constantly filled with thoughts that couldn't be shared with outsiders.

"You can train properly if we do something else?"

"Perhaps."

"In your dreams."

Luan Nian turned and walked away. He had waited for so long already; would waiting a little longer kill him?

By the time little Nian Tao reached her hundredth day, her features had filled out. Whenever anyone called her name, she would giggle. When she laughed, her eyes narrowed into slits—a chubby little girl who was exceptionally adorable.

Luan Nian was usually stern, yet little Nian Tao was extraordinarily warm toward him. The moment she caught sight of him, she would thrash her little hands about and laugh out loud. Luan Nian was a neat freak; when he first started changing Nian Tao's diapers, he had even thrown up twice, but he gradually built up his tolerance.

Yet there was still one instance where Nian Tao peed right onto his body. He froze for a few seconds, holding Nian Tao by her armpits without moving an inch. Noticing something amiss, Shang Zhitao asked him: "What's wrong?"

"Take Nian Tao away first and change her pants."

"Oh." Shang Zhitao took Nian Tao over, noticing a wet patch across Luan Nian's lounge pants. Nian Tao wasn't doing much better either. She even began to feel wronged because her daddy was late in changing her pants, so her little mouth pouted, and she burst into a loud sob.

With his stomach churning violently, Luan Nian walked briskly to the bathroom and threw up.

While he was throwing up in there, Nian Tao was crying out here—the scene was utterly hilarious. After soothing Nian Tao, Shang Zhitao went to the bathroom to check on Luan Nian. He was rinsing his mouth, his face slightly flushed.

"Nian Tao won't think her daddy doesn't love her just because he's a neat freak. You've already done so well. It's just that sometimes you unexpectedly hit a trigger," Shang Zhitao told him.

Luan Nian flicked her forehead, then went over to see Nian Tao. He could stay with Nian Tao continuously without ever feeling bored. Seeing her daddy approach, Nian Tao seemed a little embarrassed over having wet her pants just now, so she sucked on her hand while beaming at Luan Nian. After a moment, she took her hand out of her mouth and offered it to Luan Nian, as if saying: Daddy, you try it too.

These strange little behaviors of the child filled Luan Nian with a sense of novelty.

He even felt that a multitude of brilliant creative ideas had begun springing up in his mind.

...

Yet Luan Nian would still push her hand down and scold her with a stern face: "Don't keep sucking your hand. It's a bad habit."

Nian Tao thought Luan Nian's stern face was meant to tease her, so she giggled a few times before holding her laughter back, only to burst out laughing again a moment later, looking like a silly little thing. Amused by her, Luan Nian gently pinched her little cheek: "Are you really that happy?"

Little Nian Tao let out an soft coo, as if saying: Happy.

Going back more than ten years, Shang Zhitao wouldn't have believed for the life of her that Luan Nian would turn out to be this kind of father. Back then, she had even thought he might never get married or have children in his entire life.

Sitting on the living room sofa, she watched Luan Nian doing squat-and-stands while holding Nian Tao.

Nian Tao loved it when Luan Nian played with her like this, thrashing her little hands and feet around. Every time he stood up, she would let out a small cry, as if saying: Do it again!

Luan Nian never relaxed his self-imposed standards; even while caring for little Nian Tao, he would still fit in a few sets of exercises. Watching him bend his knees to squat, Shang Zhitao noticed the fine lines of his glutes, and her mouth suddenly felt a bit dry.

She picked up the glass beside her and gulped down a drink of water, yet still felt unsatisfied. Her gaze rested on his back, then drifted lower, halting at his glutes right as Luan Nian happened to turn around, catching Shang Zhitao red-handed.

"What are you looking at?" Luan Nian asked her.

Shang Zhitao imitated his raised eyebrow, then held an index finger to her lips: "Shh." Nian Tao was here, so they had to watch their words; nothing unsuitable for children could be spoken.

Holding Nian Tao in one arm, Luan Nian pulled out his phone with his other hand and sent her a message: Mind your eyes.

No.

Shang Zhitao tossed her phone aside, walked over to him, and took Nian Tao into her arms. The little girl was rubbing her eyes, already sleepy. Nian Tao had always been a great sleeper, hardly ever making her parents worry about bedtime. She fell asleep quickly too; after nursing, her head turned to one side, and she was out. Shang Zhitao placed her in the crib, turned around, and walked to the bedroom doorway, standing there quietly as she looked at Luan Nian.

It wasn't even dark yet! she said to herself, finding a flimsy excuse that barely held water.

Luan Nian never cared whether it was dark or light outside.

Stepping up to her, he pulled her into his embrace and said to her: "If I don't do something today, I'll really look incompetent."

His kiss arrived like a surging wave, his moist lips enveloping her earlobe as his tongue probed inside. Shang Zhitao's legs went weak, and she tumbled into his arms.

Having gone without it for so long, a trace of shyness welled up instead. Hiding her face in the crook of his neck, she let out a tiny sound, sounding somewhat helpless: "Nian Tao..."

"I know."

Luan Nian whispered by her ear: "Quietly."

Pushing Shang Zhitao back into the sofa, he noticed her tension as his body covered hers, stopping to gaze down at her deeply.

He pecked at her lips again, bit by bit, pecking her tension away until it vanished without a trace. With one more peck, Shang Zhitao wrapped her arms around his neck.

She didn't dare make a sound, her head sinking into the sofa cushion, her chest heaving as Luan Nian rested his hand over it, feeling even fuller than before.

"Shang Zhitao," he called her name by her ear. "I like it."

He reined in his strength, forcing himself to slow down and be gentle, making things easier for Shang Zhitao. Sensing his goodwill, Shang Zhitao hugged him tightly: "Luan Nian, make it like before, okay? I can handle it."

"Like this?"

Shang Zhitao let out a soft whimpering moan, her hand covering her lips trembling slightly, her eyes glinting with moisture.

She loved it too much.

"Another round?" Luan Nian's fingertips roamed along her back; now that the floodgates were open, he wanted to drain the reservoir completely.

His hand moved to where it belonged. Shang Zhitao's breathing grew ragged, resting against the sofa as her eyes met his.

The heatwave surged uncontrollably, giving full expression to their longings. It felt like a sweat-drenched, wondrous dream.

Little Nian Tao was still fast asleep while they snuggled together, chatting in hushed tones. Luan Nian asked her: "Were you ever unhappy after giving birth?"

"I was." Shang Zhitao pointed to her belly, which hadn't fully recovered yet: "Seeing this made me feel anxious. I felt like I had become unattractive. For a period of time, I couldn't accept myself."

Luan Nian placed his hand on her belly and gave it a squeeze; it was quite fun to play with.

"You've always liked dazzling things. I thought you weren't interested in the postpartum me," Shang Zhitao voiced her thoughts.

"You're out of your mind." Luan Nian bit her shoulder lightly: "You look great right now."

"Nonsense! My figure is out of shape." Shang Zhitao felt a bit wronged.

Luan Nian raised his head to glance at her. The angle at which she lay on her side was truly stunning, resembling a Western oil painting with a voluptuous, full-figured beauty.

Luan Nian didn't answer her claim about her figure being out of shape, choosing instead to press her tightly against his chest, letting the point where their bodies pressed together serve as his answer.

Between husband and wife, many things didn't need to be stated too explicitly.

Luan Nian's interest in Shang Zhitao was still right there, and after such a long gap, it showed every sign of having grown even stronger.

Both of them thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon.

Shang Zhitao didn't need to hide her anxieties, nor did Luan Nian need to suppress his desires; everything between them was completely open and honest.

"If anything is troubling you, you must tell me. Don't overthink things by yourself. As we get through this period together, your physical and mental health are more important than anything." Luan Nian had been slightly worried that Shang Zhitao might suffer from postpartum depression, which was why he hadn't seemed like his usual self after she gave birth. He had poured his heart into taking care of Nian Tao and her, hoping she would feel happy.

"Alright, thank you."

When Nian Tao was seven months old, Shang Zhitao handed the Harbin company over to Sunny. Driving the car himself, Luan Nian took Shang Zhitao, little Nian Tao, and Luke along as they set off for Beijing.

The registration process for her branch company was complete, and she needed to stay in Beijing for a long time to streamline the branch's operations.

Luke clearly loved this trip, even knowing where their destination was, sitting there the entire way watching the scenery outside.

Occasionally, it would let out a happy bark.

Luan Nian looked at it through the rearview mirror from time to time, occasionally teasing it: "Silly dog."

Little Nian Tao slept soundly in her baby seat. Whenever she woke up, she would play by herself without throwing a fuss, making things exceptionally worry-free.

Shang Zhitao kept turning back to look at her. Sensing her mother looking over, she would tilt her tiny face up, drooling as she slurred: "Mama."

Whenever this happened, Luan Nian would express his dissatisfaction: "I've been taking care of your every need since the day you were born, and yet 'Mama' is the first word out of your mouth. Don't you have a conscience?"

Nian Tao would just giggle, going back to sucking on her hand with relish.

Three people and a dog drove all the way to Beijing in one go.

Luan Nian's house had been unoccupied for a long time. Fearing they wouldn't be comfortable, Doctor Liang had taken two days off from her lab specifically to hire people to clean it inside and out. Prior to this, upon learning that they were returning, she had set up a toy room for little Nian Tao. She had also spread crawling mats across the first-floor living room, installed playpens, and bought a little tent.

Stepping through the door, they found that the style of Luan Nian's home had undergone a drastic transformation: what was once a cold, minimalist home now looked soft and pink. Luan Nian's brow furrowed slightly as he comforted himself that this could count as refreshing, forcing himself to accept it.

Seeing Luan Nian's expression, Shang Zhitao decisively tatted on him: "Mom, Luan Nian doesn't like it."

"Luan Nian doesn't like it? Well, he can go live outside then!" Luan Mingrui huffed, glancing at little Nian Tao, who was already asleep: "Alright, you guys get some rest. We'll come by again tomorrow."

"Thank you for all your hard work, Mom and Dad. Don't leave tonight." Shang Zhitao felt a bit concerned.

"The driver will take us back. It's fine. You three enjoy your time as a family!" Doctor Liang patted Shang Zhitao: "We'll eat together tomorrow."

"Thank you, Mom."

After settling Nian Tao in, Luan Nian went out to walk Luke. Back on its old turf, Luke suddenly acted exceedingly majestic, as if returning to its one- or two-year-old self, strutting arrogantly and charging around the neighborhood.

Peeing one stream after another, it staked out its territory. It even barked at Luan Nian: Don't go home! Play a bit longer!

Amused by its silly behavior, Luan Nian simply took it on a leash to jog two laps around the neighborhood before heading back.

When he walked through the door, sweat droplets still hung on his body.

After going up to the second floor to shower, he saw that Shang Zhitao had already finished getting ready and was leaning lazily against the headboard. The thin shoulder strap of her nightgown had fallen, revealing a lovely shoulder. Luan Nian was suddenly reminded of the countless wild nights they had spent in this room; those moments rushed into his mind all at once, ultimately converging at a certain point in his body.

Their eyes met, both feeling a bit unnatural—it turned out Luan Nian wasn't the only one remembering.

Kneeling on one leg by the bedside, he held her ankle in his hand, pressing his lips to the sole of her foot, taking her toes into his mouth before slowly moving upward.

He went to the place he wanted to go.

Shang Zhitao's body sank into the pillows; closing her eyes, the past and present merged together in a strange overlap.

And she bloomed fully before him, just as she always had.