The Early Spring - Extra Chapter 9

Side Story 9 - Nian Tao

When exactly did Luan Nian begin wanting to become a father? It probably started when that grandson of a bitch, Chen Kuannian, kept sharing daily photos of his child in the group chat, and the kid was actually quite cute.

Luan Nian used to have no real concept of children; he had even felt that remaining unmarried and childless was ideal, leaving a person free and untethered. But now his perspective had shifted. Sometimes, when he opened his eyes and caught sight of Shang Zhitao's sleeping face, he felt that having a child might actually be quite nice.

He prepared to have a serious talk with Shang Zhitao.

After completing an intense ritual upon the table, while warmth and languor still lingered within their bodies, he asked Shang Zhitao: "How about we have a baby?"

Shang Zhitao looked at him in shock: "Did you quit smoking and drinking strictly for this?"

"I did it so I could live to be a hundred," Luan Nian talked nonsense.

Shang Zhitao sat up and looked at him.

"But the prerequisite is that we ought to be responsible parents," Shang Zhitao expressed her viewpoint with utter seriousness.

"You don't even know how to cook; being a good mother is indeed a bit out of reach for you," Luan Nian taunted her. Seeing that she was about to get flustered, he added unhurriedly: "I know how to cook. I can make up for your shortcomings."

Shang Zhitao was nearly infuriated to death by Luan Nian. She kicked out at him, only for him to catch her by the ankle: "Starting right now?"

"What?"

"Making a baby."

Luan Nian pulled her into his arms, setting her down so they sat gazing at each other on the sofa. Outside, the heavy rain slapped against the windowpanes, throwing Shang Zhitao's heart into utter disarray.

"I will not allow my child to have an incomplete family, nor will I allow her parents not to love each other, or not to love her..." Shang Zhitao put it this way.

"So? Do you plan on getting a divorce? Stop dreaming, Shang Zhitao." Luan Nian cupped the back of her head, pulling her toward himself: "Just try getting a divorce."

"No, I..."

Luan Nian blocked her lips, showing a rare softness. Lip pressed against lip, the tip of his tongue ventured in and out, sweeping past the corner of her mouth: "You know me well enough. There are only things I choose not to do, but never things I fail to do well."

His hand slid under her T-shirt, and Shang Zhitao tumbled into his embrace, softly breathing out a single word: "Okay."

Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she felt his slow immersion into her, followed by a sudden surge of power.

This was the very first time they hadn't used protection. Shang Zhitao had chatted with Lumi about how a person as reckless and undisciplined as Luan Nian had nevertheless always insisted on protection. This feeling was extraordinary, as if they had drawn far, far closer than ever before, leaving not a single gap between them.

Both possessed an extra flare of passion, though neither could explain why. Partway through, they slid down onto the floor, an impact that truly took the life out of Shang Zhitao; she let out a soft groan, as if something had stolen her breath away.

This bout of lovemaking resembled the rain outside—at times fervent, at other times lingering and deep. Luan Nian's glossy black eyes locked onto her gaze in the dark. Whenever he caught her brows knitting or her voice shifting, he would ask her: "Like it this way? Hmm?"

He was exploring her.

He possessed an exploratory passion toward Shang Zhitao. He could not stand being in the same space as her while doing nothing; what he loved most was indulging his desires as he pleased, just like this. He hated even more when lovemaking turned procedural; his creative spark prompted him to bring forth the new from the old, and he felt fully confident that even in his sixties or seventies, he could still behave like a total scoundrel with Shang Zhitao just like this. Perhaps it wouldn't be as intense then, but the passion deep in his heart would remain intact.

Shang Zhitao surrendered herself to him completely; her trust in him was absolute. Yet this was taking a bit too long.

So making a baby was this exhausting.

Shang Zhitao thought to herself.

They carried on playfully until the sky turned pitch-black.

The rain was still falling, and Shang Zhitao found a wall to do a headstand against.

"What are you doing?"

"They say doing this makes it easier."

"Are you out of your mind? Is there any need for you to do a headstand?" Luan Nian pulled her down: "What kind of nonsense do you have stuffed in your head?"

He gave Shang Zhitao a fierce scolding, but halfway through, he couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a chuckle. His hand forcefully rubbed Shang Zhitao's head as he uttered: "Look at you, aiming high!"

He got up to fix a bite to eat for her and Luke.

When they were together, it was like this; once parted, it became quite another matter.

Luan Nian caught an early Tuesday flight, leaving while the sky was still dark. Shang Zhitao was still asleep; he kissed her cheek, feeling a sudden, slight reluctance to leave her side.

Shang Zhitao pulled at his hand, murmuring softly: "Stay safe."

"Alright."

"Come back early." Holding his hand against her cheek, Luan Nian's heart softened, and he repeated: "Alright."

Arriving in Beijing, he headed straight to the company. In the hallway, he caught sight of Lumi, whose belly was slightly rounded: "You're pregnant?"

Lumi raised an eyebrow at him: "How about that? A step ahead of you—are you feeling just a tiny bit unconvinced?"

Luan Nian curled his lip and shrugged, intending to throw a caustic remark her way, but then he remembered her relationship with Shang Zhitao. Instead, he flashed her a rare smile: "Have you been in touch with Flora lately?"