Chapter 72

Jiang Li called Jiang Wanlan, saying the certificate was obtained and they needed to get the baby vaccinated. Jiang Wanlan felt a slight pang: “You didn’t mention this plan in the morning.”

Jiang Li: “It’s on the way, and it’s time.”

Jiang Wanlan: “How  can getting a shot be on the way?

“Baby, wait for me.”

After Jiang Li’s birthday, Jiang Wanlan and Lu Jing took a day off. However, as parents, they didn’t want to disturb the sweet moments of the young couple getting the certificate, so the little one could join in for the vaccination.

Jiang Li: “Alright, we’ll be waiting for you at the entrance of the Third Military Hospital.”

Jiang Wanlan hung up and hurried to join them. At the hospital entrance, he saw a family of three, with Cen Lang holding the child, who seemed unaware of what was about to happen.

Jiang Li saw his dad and called out, “Dad, come in.”

Jiang Wanlan hesitated: “Do we just go in like that?” Jiang Li looked puzzled; was there something else?

Looking at his son, Cen Lang, and then at Lu Jing, Jiang Wanlan found them unyielding.

Lu Jing couldn’t hold back a smile, recalling something amusing. He said, “Your dad suggests taking Wangxing to buy toys before the shot.”

“When you were Wangxing’s age, your dad took you for vaccinations. We left home together in the morning, and by the time I finished work, he still hadn’t entered the hospital.” Unearthing some embarrassing history, Jiang Wanlan scolded, “Lu Jing!”

Jiang Li inquired, “Did Dad get lost?”

Lu Jing faced the pressure: “I dropped him off at the paediatric clinic to get a number.”

As soon as he left, Jiang Wanlan hugged Jiang Li, hearing the cries of children getting shots inside. Afterwards, he went out to buy toys for little Jiang Li.

How can you get a shot without toys to comfort you?

Many of the toys were too complicated for little Jiang Li, but Jiang Wanlan pointed at the flashy toy shelf, asking, “Do you like these? Dad will buy them.” Little Jiang Wangxing nodded in a daze; children love colourful things.

Jiang Wanlan bought a bunch of toys. Passing by a baby clothing store on the way back to the hospital, he thought of changing clothes for the child, as they might get sweaty after crying.

The tiny clothes were adorable, perfect for little Jiang Wangxing. Now, could they proceed with the vaccination?

Jiang Wanlan also bought fruit puree, vegetable puree, and formula, and the little one fell asleep. Since the baby shouldn’t be vaccinated while sleeping, Jiang Wanlan waited in the mall until he woke up, deciding to do it the next day if needed.

Until Lu Jing called near noon, asking, “Is the vaccination done?”

Jiang Wanlan: “Not yet.”

Lu Jing: “Still in line?”

Jiang Wanlan: “I haven’t even queued yet.”

Lu Jing: “…”

Lu Jing rushed to the mall, holding several shopping bags and carrying the child. “Let’s go to the hospital; they might not have finished work yet.”

Little Jiang Wangxing woke up at the hospital entrance, realising it was time for the shot. Lu Jing: “If you’re scared, don’t watch.” Jiang Wanlan: “I want to watch.”

The nurse, charmed by little Jiang Wangxing, smiled at him. Despite nearing the end of their shift, they reopened the list to give him a shot, not wanting such a cute child to cry. The needle went into his little arm, and Jiang Wangxing’s eyes slowly turned red as he looked at his dad with a pitiful gaze. Jiang Wanlan said, “Don’t cry, baby. We’ll go buy more toys.”

In a few words, a glimpse of past happy times was outlined.

Cen Lang seized the key point: “Our little Jiang doctor didn’t actually cry.” Lu Jing nodded, “Yeah.”

He was always easy to soothe; even if he cried, a couple of comforting words while being held would do the trick. Cen Lang benefited from this, as the incident of falsifying coordinates, which severely affected credit scores, seemed to be easily put aside after a night in the doghouse.

Jiang Li asked Jiang Wanlan, “Dad, was it difficult for you to get vaccinated when you were a child?”

Jiang Wanlan restored his image in his doctor’s son’s heart: “No.” He carried a bit of Young Master Jiang’s baggage from childhood.

After meeting Lu Jing, he found himself doing things aimlessly outside, perhaps subconsciously thinking that Lu Jing wouldn’t scold him. Instead, Lu Jing might even propose a solution.

Jiang Li: “Let’s go buy toys.”

Cen Lang chuckled. “After buying them, let’s see if Jiang Wangxing cries during the vaccination.”

Lu Jing nodded. “Let’s see which of the three generations is the bravest.”

It seemed everyone was interested in the little one’s reaction.

Jiang Wanlan: “…”

Maybe let’s pretend to be asleep, little one.

Jiang Li bought a musical drum for the little one and then went to the vaccination room to wait.

At the Third Military Hospital, doctors, professors, and medical students of the same year were familiar with Jiang Li.

In the interstellar era, it was hard to distinguish ages between adults who were just one generation apart.

Passersby saw the young one and his four tall and handsome adults, not knowing whether to envy the adults or the little one. Anyway, it looked like a combination of life-winners.

Before

Both vaccine shots were administered by the family doctor. This time, it was Little Jiang Wangxing’s first visit to the hospital. He curiously looked around at the doctors and nurses in white coats.

As soon as Jiang Li entered the hospital, his medical school peers shared his picture in a private group, expressing, ‘Oh, Auntie has melted. I really want to pinch his son’s cheeks.’

Today, the hospital isn’t busy, and someone in the group chat speaks up.

“Forget it. You didn’t dare ask for Jiang’s contact in school, but now you’re chatting with him at work.” “Hits close to home. Even if the most outstanding flower gets married and has children, I still only dare to admire from afar.” “Not me, I dare.” “Jiang Li’s roommate, right? You sly shark.”

The vaccine room has many rows of chairs for parents and children to observe for half an hour. It’s quite spacious, and Jiang Wangxing receives many visits from his doctor uncles.

“Come, hand sanitizer. We know the rules for Jiang the academic overlord.” Wang Tianhu hands over a bucket of hand sanitizer, and everyone takes a bit to wash their hands before queuing to shake the little hands.

The child is held by Cen Lang, and while everyone is eager to wash their hands, they become a bit hesitant when they reach him. Two top Alphas act like guards, and their invisible pressure is palpable.

Jiang Li: “Let me hold him.”

Cen Lang smiles: “Do I look scary?”

“Absolutely not.” Wang Tianhu bravely steps forward, pinches the child’s little hand, and Jiang Wangxing grabs his index finger. Oh, this feels so good, instantly dispelling the fear of the strongest Alpha. Jiang Li introduces, “This is Uncle Wang Tianhu, Uncle Wang.”

Little Jiang Wangxing blinks, tilting his head to look at him.

Reluctantly, Wang Tianhu withdraws his fingers and invites the next guest to shake hands.

Little Jiang Wangxing is not shy at all. He shakes the index finger of each uncle, and when they retract their hands, he looks up at them as if memorising each uncle.

“The vaccines are here. Who wants to get vaccinated?” The nurse sister holds two syringes, asking cheerfully.

Cen Lang takes off the child’s thin jacket, rolls up the soft sleeves, revealing the chubby arms, and secures the child’s hands and feet.

Jiang Wanlan is dumbfounded: “Two shots at once?” Does even a joyful day require paired injections?

Jiang Li: “Yes, it’s okay. It’s very safe.”

Nurse sister: “I’ll do one side; who wants to do the other?”

The doctor uncles push responsibility onto each other, trying to elect the one with the best technique. It used to be automatic that Jiang, the academic overlord, would do it; the others don’t compare.

“Gu Yunkai, you knew first, so you do it,” Li Ruiyun suggests.

Gu Yunkai suddenly receives several envy-filled glances. Why envy me? You’re the child’s dad. Gu Yunkai internally mocks Cen Lang and takes the vaccine and disinfectant cotton swab.

“Academic overlord, how about you disinfect yourself?” Gu Yunkai suggests.

Jiang Li thinks for a moment, takes the cotton swab, and disinfects Jiang Wangxing’s arm in a clockwise motion from the center. It’s refreshingly cool, making Little Jiang Wangxing burst into laughter. The next second, both needles pierced the skin simultaneously.

The little one pauses his smile, looks at the doctor in a white coat holding a pillow, then gazes at the uncles who interacted with him.

It was not surprising for Cen Lang’s child, who has a natural regal gaze. In just a few seconds, everyone is drawn into eye contact.

The uncles step back, fearing the pressure.

Seeing the uncles are useless, Little Jiang Wangxing lifts his head and glances at Cen Lang above, eyes welling up with tears: “Daddy…?” Cen Lang: “Daddy’s here.”

After the injections, Jiang Li helps stop the bleeding with cotton. “It’s okay, baby. Daddy will hold you.”

Jiang Wanlan takes off the clotting cotton, dresses the child, and picks him up.

The little one’s tears retreat before flowing out, staying peacefully in his father’s arms. The doctor’s uncles bid farewell after a three-minute spectacle. Jiang Li sits in the observation room, holding his son, waiting.

Jiang Wanlan takes out the toys he bought, showcasing them one by one, but the little one is not interested. Jiang Wanlan pities him, saying, ‘My child is so listless.’

Just then, another human child comes for vaccination.

A chubby one-year-old boy starts crying even before the needle goes in. He continues crying until his parent brings him to the observation room, sitting across from Jiang Li, as if concentrating all the world’s sorrow.

Little Jiang Wangxing suddenly pops out of his father’s arms, looks over, and learns face-to-face. ‘Ah woo, ah woo…’

There’s not a tear in sight, and there’s a two-second interval between each sound.

Jiang Li: “…”

Jiang Wanlan: “Why is he crying?”

The parent opposite also looks over.

The crying is not as loud, and Little Jiang Wangxing blinks his big eyes, a bit perfunctory and a bit serious: “Ah woo.” The child opposite glances at Jiang Wangxing and cries even louder.

Jiang Li occasionally:

Jiang Li quickly takes him outside, away from the crying child, and the little one’s crying immediately stops. My child, it’s hard for Daddy when you act like this.”