Since Zhi Yi had already given her orders, Ling Jue had nothing more to say.
He nodded to indicate he understood.
Zhi Yi supported Zhi Yao as they walked back into the living room, advising her on matters related to pregnancy.
Although Zhi Yao had already given birth once, one could never be too careful when it came to childbirth.
...
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, five months had gone by.
However, Zhi Yao's belly hadn't grown much. If she wore loose-fitting clothes, one couldn't tell at all that she was pregnant.
At three months, the doctor had already confirmed that Zhi Yao was carrying a girl.
Upon hearing this news, the entire Ling Family went wild with excitement.
Whether it was Pei Chiyao or Ling Jue, or even Fifteen and Zhi Yao's Brothers, they were all overjoyed.
Ling Jue, with a grand gesture, even threw a lavish birthday party at home.
For whom, you ask?
Of course, it was an early celebration for the little fox in Zhi Yao's belly.
Although she was only 5 months along, Ling Jue declared that as the Ling Family's 3rd Little Princess, she deserved to be treated like royalty.
He announced that after the Little Princess was born, they would celebrate her birthday every month, commemorating another month of her safe growth.
This behavior left Zhi Yao both amused and exasperated.
To her surprise, both Pei Chiyao and Fifteen wholeheartedly agreed with the idea.
Zhi Yao gently caressed her belly, already envisioning how much love and attention this child would receive after birth.
She herself was also eagerly anticipating the arrival of this new life, ready to bring more warmth and vitality to their family.
This pregnancy had been almost effortless for Zhi Yao, apart from some morning sickness at the beginning.
But as time went on, she felt perfectly normal, finding everything she ate delicious.
If it weren't for her increased appetite, it would have been just like when she wasn't pregnant.
When she was carrying Fifteen, he had been quite active, but this baby was surprisingly well-behaved.
Pei Chiyao lovingly stroked Zhi Yao's slightly rounded belly and said, "As expected of my Little Princess, so obedient, knowing not to trouble her mother."
Zhi Yao couldn't help but roll her eyes, "She can't understand what you're saying, nor can she even hear you, you know?"
However, as if hearing Zhi Yao's words, the little one in her belly suddenly gave a kick.
This unexpected movement startled both Zhi Yao and Pei Chiyao.
"She moved," Zhi Yao said in surprise, touching her belly. The little fox inside moved a few more times before settling down again.
Pei Chiyao pressed his ear against Zhi Yao's abdomen, his eyes full of tenderness. "Baby, Daddy is looking forward to the day you're born."
...
The day the Little Princess was born was on a sunny afternoon.
As soon as she was born, she sported an adorable pair of fox ears and a small tail. From the color of her ears and tail, it was clear she wasn't a white fox, but rather had a light golden-brown hue.
Zhi Yi held her, playing with her for a moment before turning to Zhi Yao and saying, "Our Little Princess is a tea fox, one of the most beautiful in the Fox Clan."
Tea fox.
Zhi Yao was a bit confused.
She was a white fox, her mother was a Nine-Tailed Red Fox, and her father was a Snow Wolf, also white. So why... had their child been born with a tea color?
But then again, fox births had always been a bit like opening a mystery box. Her mother had no parents, so they didn't know what breed they were. Perhaps... one of her grandparents had been a tea fox?
"Have you decided on a name for the child?" Zhi Yi asked.
Zhi Yao looked at Pei Chiyao, and it was clear they hadn't.
Unlike with Fifteen, the Little Princess didn't have a name yet, simply because they were too indecisive.
They couldn't think of a name worthy of her.
Pei Chiyao had been poring over books for days, coming up with at least fifteen names, all of which were subsequently rejected.
Fifteen, having heard the story behind his own name, glanced at the current time – it was 1:24 PM.
"Why don't we call my sister Twenty-Four?" he suggested.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Fifteen received a glare from Pei Chiyao. "How could we give my Little Princess such a casual name?"
Fifteen: "..."
So his sister was a Little Princess, while he was just a commoner? Apparently, he didn't even deserve a proper name!
Seeing Pei Chiyao's indecision, Zhi Yi suggested, "Why don't we call her Little Lychee?"
Little Lychee?
Zhi Yi smiled gently, "Yao Yao craved lychees the most when she was pregnant with her, and it's a lovely name too."
It did sound nice.
Zhi Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, "I like this name."
She took Little Lychee into her arms, unable to resist tugging gently on her fox ears. "Little Lychee, from now on your name is Little Lychee. It's such a pretty name, isn't it?"
Pei Chiyao also found the name appealing.
He went ahead and decided on her formal name as well – "Zhili."
Fifteen had taken Pei Chiyao's surname, simply because Zhi Fifteen didn't sound as good as Pei Fifteen.
When Fifteen learned that his formal name was just Fifteen, he was so upset he didn't speak to Pei Chiyao for three days!
It was just... just too unfair!
He wanted to run away from home!
But when the soft, cuddly baby sister was placed in his arms, Fifteen instantly forgot his grievances.
She was... so cute!
Fifteen was two years old now, but his build was much larger than other children his age. Little Lychee was born quite small, so Fifteen could actually hold her comfortably.
Unlike other newborns who cry loudly, Little Lychee was born with a ready smile. She was contentedly sucking her thumb, her pure black eyes fixed unwaveringly on Fifteen, as if trying to see into his very soul.
Little Lychee's eyes were very much like Pei Chiyao's, pure as black opals, and Zhi Yao adored them.
Fifteen also loved his soft, cuddly little sister.
He gently squeezed Little Lychee's hand. "Sister, I'm your big brother. I'm your big brother."
Little Lychee giggled again, melting Fifteen's heart completely.
Pei Chiyao quietly held Zhi Yao's hand, watching this scene with deep emotion.
From birth, he had never experienced the warmth of a family. 'Family' had been an abstract concept to him, until this moment...
He lowered his gaze to look at Zhi Yao, who lay weakly in his arms, his voice choked with emotion. "Yao Yao, thank you..."
Zhi Yao smiled warmly. "Now our Mr. Pei is blessed with both a son and a daughter."
Pei Chiyao had been so lonely, lonely to the point where she was the only person in the world who loved him.
She couldn't bear to see him so isolated, so she wanted to give him another child.
Now, there were two more people in the world who loved him. At last, he too was surrounded by love.
Love is reciprocal. He poured all of his love into her, and in return, she would strive to draw closer to him, becoming his redemption.
