"Can you wipe that look off your face? And why did you come empty-handed?"
Lin Feng stepped forward and said to Zhou Cheng, "Hurry up and buy me a stroller, one that can fit two kids side by side."
"Diapers, formula, maternity pads—I need all of that."
"Go on!"
As Lin Feng drew closer, Zhou Cheng's eyes widened in shock. "I thought you were holding some kind of object... Holy shit, twins?!"
"The campus belle had twins for you?!"
Lin Feng showed off the two babies with a hint of pride. "To be exact, a boy and a girl. A dragon and a phoenix, you understand?"
Zhou Cheng gasped sharply.
Good grief, when this guy doesn't make a move, fine; but the moment he does, he nails it completely! Staring wide-eyed, Zhou Cheng looked the babies over for a few moments, then curled his lip in mild disgust.
"They look like little wrinkled monkeys... Let me hold one?"
The only response he got was a roll of Lin Feng's eyes.
He had originally wanted to give the guy a kick, but since he was holding babies, he had to be careful.
Zhou Cheng rubbed his nose sheepishly and smiled with a chuckle. "I just figured that the children of the campus belle and the campus hunk should look pretty like dolls to make sense..."
"Anyone can tell you've never been a dad and know nothing about babies."
Lin Feng spoke with utter disdain. "They'll fill out by the time they're a month old!"
"Hmph! Girls look like their mothers, and boys look like me. They'll definitely be better-looking than any doll."
Zhou Cheng: "..."
Right, right, right. You're a dad now, so you're a big shot. Did I even ask you? You're already dreaming that far ahead.
"Big Cheng, what kind of look is that?"
If he weren't holding the babies and lacking a free hand, Lin Feng would have definitely smacked him. "Hurry up and go buy the stuff for me. I really don't have a free hand here."
Zhou Cheng scratched his head.
"Since I'm already here, at least let me see your sister-in-law. Surely you aren't that pressed for time?"
Lin Feng paused. Had he forgotten to tell Lu Qingxue that his roommate was coming? Seizing that exact pause, Zhou Cheng chimed in triumphantly:
"I mean, you guys handled this whole thing... You even have a kid now, yet you won't let me talk about it or let me see her."
"No way. Don't tell me you don't want to make Lu Qingxue and the kids public?"
Before Lin Feng could reply, Zhou Cheng shook his head himself. "Judging by your reaction, probably not."
"Holy crap, don't tell me the great campus belle doesn't want to acknowledge you?"
"No way, seriously?"
Lin Feng was left utterly speechless by Zhou Cheng's cheeky attitude.
"See her, see her, room 501. Go on, hurry up."
Zhou Cheng patted Lin Feng's shoulder.
"For a brother, I'd walk through fire! Watch me!"
Zhou Cheng strode toward the hospital room. As soon as he pushed the door open, a bright smile spread across his face, and his voice boomed:
"Hello, sister-in-law!"
Lu Qingxue's face instantly flushed crimson. She looked at Lin Feng, feeling completely at a loss.
Lin Feng froze, cursing himself for not having a third hand to cover Zhou Cheng's mouth.
Zhou Cheng grinned broadly. "Sister-in-law, can we drink the full-month banquet and the wedding banquet together?"
Lu Qingxue bit her lower lip, her cheeks burning as if on fire. "For—for now, I haven't thought about that..."
Zhou Cheng nodded and cast a sympathetic look at Lin Feng.
"Sister-in-law, when the time is right, give our Brother Feng some official status!"
Smack!
Unable to take it any longer, Lin Feng kicked Zhou Cheng. "I told you to come help out. Go buy the things right now."
"Oh."
Rubbing his backside, Zhou Cheng walked out sheepishly.
"I... I was just helping."
More like making things worse!
Lin Feng carefully placed the babies back on the bed and said apologetically:
"Um... I didn't teach him to say that."
The red on Lu Qingxue's face faded. She cleared her throat, awkwardly nodding at random. "I—I know... We're just co-parenting..."
Lin Feng had openly invited his roommate over, and his roommate had even called her sister-in-law.
This showed that Lin Feng had no intention of playing the role of a sneaky "co-parent."
And yet, he claimed those words weren't his idea...
At that thought, Lu Qingxue's fingertips sank slightly into the blanket, her emotions a jumble she couldn't sort out.
Right at that moment, the sound of a cart rolling down the hallway echoed through the air.
A nurse pushed a cart full of medicine into the room, breaking the quiet.
"Lu Qingxue, right?"
"Yes."
"Take good medicine. Use it for a sitz bath to clean your lower body."
A large bottle of liquid medicine was placed on the bedside table. The nurse turned to leave, then paused to add a warning: "A postpartum mother is in a state of depleted Qi and blood. It's best to have a family member help with the sitz bath."
"Just last time, a new mother felt fine, tried to wash up by herself in the bathroom, and fainted right on the spot, hitting her forehead hard enough to need several stitches."
Lin Feng was stunned. It was that serious?! "I understand. I'll take good care of her."
Watching the nurse leave, Lin Feng turned back to see Lu Qingxue's darting, evasive eyes. "Um... a sitz bath means... you have to take off... your clothes..."
At that, Lin Feng's gaze grew shifty as well.
He had agreed so casually without thinking about this part at all!
"I can do it myself."
Lu Qingxue pulled back the blanket, intending to get out of bed, but the moment she stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
"Ah..."
She quickly closed her eyes, her hands gripping the edge of the bed for dear life.
Seeing Lu Qingxue's instantly pale face, Lin Feng hurried over and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Lean—lean on me!"
Lu Qingxue leaned half against Lin Feng's chest. The solid, firm touch instantly washed away her panic and fear.
Then, she caught a faint scent of soap coming from Lin Feng.
The dizziness and slight nausea faded away significantly.
Following that, a faint blush crept onto Lu Qingxue's cheeks.
That absurd night had happened because she was arguing with her parents, drowning her sorrows in alcohol. She had gotten so drunk and fuzzy-headed that she couldn't even remember the details.
Going by actual memory, this was the closest she had ever been to a boy...
Shy feelings began to bubble up.
Looking at Lu Qingxue's flushed face, Lin Feng let out a sigh of relief.
"You've recovered, right?"
Lu Qingxue: "..."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Carefully steadying herself, Lu Qingxue reached for the bottle of medicine and headed toward the bathroom.
Lin Feng panicked a little.
"Are you really going to wash up by yourself? What the nurse said... just now you... how can you do that?"
"Could it be... you want to help?"
Lu Qingxue's voice was softer than a mosquito's buzz.
Lin Feng's mouth opened and closed. After a pause, he offered in a quiet voice, "What if I blindfold myself and act as a human handrail? Would that work?"
"Trust me, I absolutely won't peek!"
Lin Feng was practically ready to raise his hand and swear an oath.
Lu Qingxue bit her lower lip. Remembering her momentary loss of physical control just then, she finally nodded.
A mask, a silk scarf, a towel...
Lu Qingxue's fingers wrapped around Lin Feng's face, tying the blindfold so tightly that only his nose was left exposed to breathe.
"I can't see. Really can't see. Not a single ray of light."
Lin Feng's muffled voice came from behind the towel.
Lu Qingxue couldn't help but smile, as radiant as a hundred flowers blooming at once.
"Alright, let's go."
Inside the bathroom, Lin Feng rested both hands on Lu Qingxue's shoulders, listening to the splashing sound of her mixing the medicine in the water.
And the rustling sound of clothes being removed...
He suddenly regretted it—he should have plugged his ears as well!
In this pitch-black darkness, not only were his senses sharper, but his imagination was also running a bit too wild...
The face behind the towel grew blazing red.
*Ugh! You beast... get a hold of yourself!*
This was the first time Lin Feng understood the true meaning of self-loathing.
Lu Qingxue's face was equally red, flushed with extreme shyness.
Of course she knew Lin Feng couldn't see, but standing in front of a man like that...
Lu Qingxue still felt completely awkward all over.
Hurriedly finishing the sitz bath, Lu Qingxue's face was flushed all the way down to her neck.
"I'm done, let's go out."
Hearing that, Lin Feng finally let out a massive sigh of relief!
"Hold onto me, lead the way."
When Lu Qingxue returned to the hospital bed, Lin Feng untied the blindfold from his head and hesitated. "You probably need to use that medicine for more than just today, right? It's really inconvenient without a woman to help."
"How about I call my mom to come over?"