Waking up in the evening after a long nap, Gu Jianing felt completely refreshed.
Indeed, sleep is also the source of life.
Beside her, Sheng Zexi was no longer there—she had no idea when he had gotten up.
“You’re awake,” Sheng Zexi appeared at the door, as if he had heard her stirring.
As Gu Jianing tried to sit up, Sheng Zexi quickly stepped forward to support her.
Ever since Gu Jianing’s pregnancy had progressed, getting in and out of bed had become more difficult.
But as long as Sheng Zexi was around, he would always be there to help her.
By now, he had grown quite skilled at it.
His movements were gentle.
Gu Jianing’s heart warmed. Sometimes, love for someone is reflected in these small, everyday details.
As her pregnancy advanced, she also needed to use the bathroom more frequently.
In the past, she could sleep through the night without waking, but now, she had to get up multiple times.
Every time she stirred, Sheng Zexi would wake up and accompany her to the bathroom.
The toilet was in the courtyard, requiring a short walk outside.
Sheng Zexi worried it might be unsafe for her to go alone at night.
So he always accompanied her, sometimes two or three times a night, never missing a single time.
Gu Jianing felt bad, knowing he still had to wake up early the next day for training, so at first, she tried to refuse.
But Sheng Zexi was adamant.
“During missions, I’ve gone days and nights without sleep—it’s nothing new.”
“Accompanying you to the bathroom won’t affect me.”
“Not going with you would only make me worry.”
“And besides, you’re the one carrying the baby—you’re the one who’s truly working hard.”
What had Gu Jianing thought when she heard those words?
She thought, perhaps this was why a woman would willingly choose to bear a child. The most fundamental reason, she realized, was that the father loved the mother.
And what is love? Love is tenderness, it is care, it is the constant feeling of wanting to give more, of feeling like it’s still not enough, of always striving to be better to her.
Gu Jianing believed that most women needed love—whether it was romantic love, familial love, or the love of friendship. These forms of love were like nourishment to a flower, helping her grow into the best version of herself.
Perhaps this is the best explanation for the saying: “To love someone is to nurture them like a flower.”
Supporting Gu Jianing as she got up, Sheng Zexi then helped her into her clothes before leading her out of the room.
By then, Grandpa Sang had already returned.
When Gu Jianing sweetly called him “Grandpa,” the old man nodded repeatedly with a smile, repeatedly urging Sheng Zexi to take good care of her.
The Sang family had a housekeeper—assigned to Grandpa Sang due to his status and age.
By now, the housekeeper had already prepared dinner.
“Ning girl, try this. Aunt Zhao is an excellent cook, and she has experience caring for pregnant women. She made some dishes especially suited for you,” Grandma Sang said warmly.
“Okay.”
At the dinner table, Grandpa and Grandma Sang kept serving Gu Jianing food, worried she might hesitate to eat.
Gu Jianing returned the kindness, serving them in turn, which delighted the elderly couple, their faces beaming with smiles.
Sheng Zexi, watching this scene, could only laugh helplessly: Somehow, it feels like Ningning is their precious granddaughter, while I, the actual grandson, must have been picked up off the street.
But seeing how well Ningning got along with his grandparents, seeing how much they doted on her—Sheng Zexi felt even happier than if they had doted on him.
Later, after dinner, when he jokingly complained about it to Gu Jianing,
she playfully glared at him. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
Sheng Zexi: “Know what?”
“Why your grandparents are so good to me.”
“Then tell me, why?”
“Love me, love my dog, of course.”
Sheng Zexi froze for a moment before breaking into a smile. Yes, it really was love me, love my dog.
The next day was the anniversary of Sang Yuwan’s passing.
Sheng Zexi brought Gu Jianing, along with his grandparents and offerings, to Sang Yuwan’s gravesite.
Gu Jianing looked at the photo on the tombstone—a small black-and-white image, yet still clearly revealing Sang Yuwan’s delicate features.
There was no doubt that her mother-in-law had been a beauty in her youth.
A pity that those whom the gods love die young.
Since the elderly couple visited often, the gravesite was kept meticulously clean.
Now, Sheng Zexi took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the tombstone.
“Mom, it’s me, Xiao Xi. I’ve come to see you.”
“I’m married now. You have a daughter-in-law.”
“Her name is Gu Jianing. She’s as beautiful as you were, and she’s kind and brave too.”
“We’re also expecting children. In a few months, our twins will be born.”
“Mom, you’d be happy for me, right?”
“If your spirit is watching over us, please protect Ningning, Grandpa and Grandma, and me—keep us safe, healthy, and well.”
Sheng Zexi murmured softly, saying many things.
His expression remained calm, but Gu Jianing, who knew him well, could see the longing and fleeting sorrow in his eyes.
Listening to their grandson’s words, Grandpa and Grandma Sang couldn’t help but tear up.
When Sheng Zexi finished speaking, Gu Jianing stepped forward to pay her respects.
“Mother-in-law, hello. I’m Gu Jianing, Brother Xi’s wife…”
She also chattered on, sharing about their lives and recent happenings, as if chatting with family.
Finally, she said, “…Don’t worry, we’ll be just fine.”
“Good, good,” Grandpa and Grandma Sang murmured, wiping their eyes and nodding repeatedly.
After an hour at the cemetery, the four prepared to leave.
Just then, they heard footsteps approaching.
Gu Jianing turned and saw a middle-aged man in a military uniform—his features sharp and dignified, his presence imposing—walking toward them with a bouquet of white bellflowers.
Upon closer look, one could see a faint resemblance between the man and Sheng Zexi.
Gu Jianing had a vague guess.
She glanced at Sheng Zexi and, sure enough, his face darkened the moment he saw the man. Disgust flashed in his eyes, and his entire demeanor instantly turned defensive, as if all his thorns had sprung out at once.
The newcomer was Sheng Xinhào.
He stepped forward, nodding at Grandpa and Grandma Sang, then placed the bouquet before the tombstone.
Gazing at the photo on the grave, Sheng Xinhào’s eyes flickered with nostalgia and sorrow.
“Awan, I’ve come to see you.”
The moment he finished speaking, a soft scoff came from behind.
“How touching of General Sheng to remember my mother despite your busy schedule. I thought with your new wife and son, you’d have forgotten all about her.”
Sheng Xinhào turned and saw Sheng Zexi, his sharp brows and arrogant glare radiating defiance.
Sheng Xinhào had to admit—this eldest son resembled his younger self the most, both in looks and excellence.
But he was also the most disobedient.
Every time they met, it ended in conflict.
And now, these words!
Sheng Xinhào’s face darkened. “Sheng Zexi, no matter what, I am your father! Is this how you speak to your father?”
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