Chapter 103: Fu Lingying, The Precious Jewel

Ruan Li heard that typically, two siblings will have different personalities, with one being more lively and the other quieter.

She initially thought that since Fu Chengjing was already quite calm as a baby, this time she might have a more challenging experience. However, to her surprise, the little girl growing in her belly was even more well behaved than Chengjing had been.

During her pregnancy with Chengjing, he would occasionally stretch his arms and legs in the later months, but the little girl was quiet, barely moving at all. Ruan Li didn’t even suffer from morning sickness her only change was a craving for spicier food.

“Isn’t that too spicy?” Fu Huaizhou asked, eyeing the bright red broth in front of her.

They usually ate bland food Ruan Li to avoid breakouts and Fu Huaizhou simply out of preference. But now, spicy dishes had become a regular feature on their dining table.

“It’s fine,” Ruan Li said, enjoying her meal.

Fu Chengjing, curious, took a tiny bite of Ruan Li’s dish, only to have his face turn bright red from the spiciness. But with table manners in mind, he didn’t spit it out and instead dashed to the kitchen to grab ice cream to cool down the heat.

Seeing him teary-eyed made Ruan Li smile, and even Fu Huaizhou’s lips twitched into a brief grin. Chengjing tugged at Ruan Li’s clothes, pleading

“Mama, I don’t want a red baby sister. I want a fair, chubby one.”

Ruan Li chuckled, “Eating spicy food won’t turn the baby red.”

She remembered back when she was pregnant with Chengjing abroad, how Shi Mu had found a large supply of green plums for her to snack on. They also told her that eating grapes would make the baby’s eyes larger, so she ate plenty. Although Chengjing indeed ended up with large eyes, she now knew such things were just myths, aimed at expectant mothers filled with hopes.

After she became pregnant, Ruan Li started reducing her workload, so news of her pregnancy spread quickly. She didn’t intend to keep it a secret, and by the final months, she was already hinting at the baby’s gender on social media.

At a previous banquet, a few had caught a glimpse of Chengjing in a blurred photo, sparking curiosity about what kind of daughter she and Fu Huaizhou would have.

Ruan Li herself was curious about how their daughter would look. One night, she playfully grumbled to Fu Huaizhou, “Chengjing looks so much like you. If our girl ends up looking like you too, I’ll be mad.”

Holding her gently, Fu Huaizhou was unfazed by her hormonal mood swings, having gone through the experience with Chengjing before. He comforted her softly, “If she looks like you, she’ll be beautiful.”

Instead of being pleased, Ruan Li tugged at his shirt. “So you’re saying Chengjing isn’t beautiful?”

Momentarily at a loss for words, Fu Huaizhou quickly amended, “With you around, they’re all beautiful.”

With Chengjing as a precedent, Ruan Li’s second labor was much more relaxed. As the due date approached, Fu Huaizhou had everything prepared.

Chengjing, who was supposed to be at kindergarten, couldn’t stay away and insisted on coming to the hospital. Ruan Li was worried it might scare him, but he behaved like a big brother, gently comforting her swollen belly.

The only downside was that this second pregnancy also coincided with summer. Unlike her first labor with Chengjing, which happened quietly in the middle of the night, this time, the baby girl chose a beautiful morning.

Feeling contractions at dawn, Ruan Li was soon in the hospital, with Fu Huaizhou pacing nervously in the hallway. Seeing this, Chengjing, sitting on Shi Xun’s lap, complained, “Daddy, stop walking around I’m getting dizzy.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the delivery room opened. Fu Huaizhou’s first reaction was to check on Ruan Li, who looked tired but not too bad. He clasped her hand tightly, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Litchi. It won’t happen again.”

Too exhausted to question his sudden guilt, Ruan Li demanded, “Let me see the baby.”

In the hospital room, their newborn daughter looked nothing like the wrinkled, red-faced Chengjing at birth. Though small, she was fair and delicate, with tiny double eyelids hinting through her closed eyes.

Sitting on Shi Xun’s lap, Chengjing gazed at the tiny bundle in disbelief.

“Uncle, was I this pretty when I was born?”

Shi Xun exchanged a look with Shi Mu, recalling how the family had marveled over having a child back then, even though Chengjing wasn’t exactly the most photogenic newborn. Of course, he’d grown into a handsome little boy, quite the charmer at kindergarten.

Having regained some energy, Ruan Li didn’t want to disappoint her son, but Fu Huaizhou wasn’t as considerate.

“You looked like a little red monkey when you were born.”

This revelation hurt Chengjing’s pride, and he pestered Ruan Li for days, asking if there were any embarrassing photos of him.

“Mama, if you have any photos, please delete them,” he pleaded.

But he was soon distracted by his new baby sister. Every day after kindergarten, he’d rush to the master bedroom to check on the little girl.

“Mama, why is the baby asleep again?” he asked, poking her chubby cheeks.

Blushing slightly, Ruan Li shot an annoyed glance at Fu Huaizhou. What was supposed to be a feeding session for the baby had ended with Fu Huaizhou taking advantage, claiming that baby girls had smaller appetites while leaving her uncomfortably full.

“The baby’s tired after eating,” Ruan Li explained.

Wrinkling his nose at the saliva on his finger, Chengjing muttered, “She’s like a little piggy, always eating and sleeping.”

“You were worse,” Fu Huaizhou said, teasingly.

Used to his father’s jabs, Chengjing was about to sulk when Fu Huaizhou brought out several name calligraphy samples, placing them in front of him.

“Pick your sister’s name.”

Though he couldn’t read all the characters, Chengjing recognized his father’s elegant handwriting and quickly pointed to his favorite.

“This one!”

Curious, Ruan Li read out the chosen name: “Fu Lingying.”

Fu Huaizhou, smiling warmly, ruffled Chengjing’s hair. “Good choice.”

The name “Ling” in ancient poetry signifies beauty, while “Ying” refers to the finest jade. Coincidentally, it shared a similar meaning with Chengjing’s name, a connection Fu Huaizhou hadn’t anticipated.

Thus, it was clear to everyone who the most cherished and precious jewel of the next generation in Jing City would be.