His four wives were sound asleep. With their due dates approaching closer and closer, they found themselves more easily worn out than before. Watching their swollen bellies and peaceful expressions atop the bed, Xia Lei was content and blissful.
They were still waiting for his return before this. In Liang Siyao’s grip was a guidebook on navigating parenthood. Jiang Ruyi was still holding her crochet needles and wool while Fan Fan and Long Bing were too still holding books on baby nursing. They wouldn’t have been sleeping on the same bed if they weren’t waiting for him.
Xia Lei carefully pried the tools away from Jiang Ruyi’s grip, worried that she might turn around in her sleep and stab herself. But as he just managed to place the items on the bedside table, Liang Siyao and Long Bing stirred awake, opening their eyes to stare at him.
Liang Siyao yawned. “Hub...”
“Shh.” Xia Lei interjected, gesturing for her to keep quiet before he joined them in bed. Long Bing and Liang Siyao wiggled a little to make space, allowing him to take his place between them. Before he could even get comfortable, they both quickly inched over and laid their heads over his chest. One head on the left, one head on the right.
The three of them were like entangled veins.
“What did Sa’im and Qian Jun bring back this time?” Liang Siyao whispered into his ear. The hot puffs of air tickled the shell of his ear.
Xia Lei carefully lowered his voice to the best of his ability. “Nothing special. There’s no need to worry about this. Just focus your energy on taking care of your pregnancy and birth me a chubby son.”
Liang Siyao reached over and pinched the top of his thigh. “All you worry about is your son. What happened at the South China Sea was massive, there’s no way the Americans would rest their case. Everyone was worried sick for you.”
Truthfully, she had no idea what Xia Lei had ordered Qian Jun and Sa’im to investigate in Israel.
America? The country was no doubt the biggest hegemony in the world and basically invincible. However, it was not Xia Lei’s biggest threat. Xia Lei’s biggest enemy was the black-robed man. It was just that the man had refused to rant his worries to his wives. Knowing all about the situation would just bring them anxiety. It would do no good to their bodies and the children.
Long Bing too pressed her moist cherry lips against his ear. “After our child is born, I’ll come and join you in your operations. I don’t care what you say, I need you to promise me that.”
Xia Lei chuckled lightly. “If you come with me, who is going to nurse our child?”
Long Bing was taken aback. Then, she pinched his thigh. “This is all your fault! You made me pregnant and now I’m like a penguin. I still need to feed your baby penguin later on too!”
Xia Lei laughed. “Hey, what’s so bad about feeding our little penguin? You feed the baby and I’ll feed you well. Isn’t that fair?”
Long Bing gave a curt nod, then pecked his lips. All women loved the sweet talk. Leaving behind Bureau 101, the woman had taken a liking towards a calm life like this. After this, even if she was given dangerous missions, she might not be too keen on taking it on anymore.
Liang Siyao’s gaze landed on Xia Lei's groin, eyes glimmering with excitement. She cheekily drawled, “Hubby, are you hungry?”
“No, dinner was very filling tonight,” replied Xia Lei.
“You’re lying. You’re hungry.” Liang Siyao began to hike her leg higher against Xia Lei’s thigh. How naughty and eager.
Xia Lei finally picked up on her innuendo. The hunger she had meant was his hunger for sex. Suddenly, he felt a gush of blood down south. He panicked. “Siyao, no. You’re due soon. We can’t do that.”
Liang Siyao merely pouted. “If you’re not going to hand in your homework, are you planning to hand it to some other female teacher?”
“Teacher Liang wants to check your homework now,” whispered Liang Siyao coquettishly. She got up and one second later, Xia Lei’s underwear was stripped off.
“No, Siyao. This is too risky.” He was worried.
All Liang Siyao did was grin at him. “I’m just going through it, I’m going to mark it. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Xia Lei had nothing better to say, all words felt useless in this current situation.
Liang Siyao buried her face down south...
While Long Bing caught his lips in a fiery kiss…
Her style was never different. What they could do, they wouldn’t express with words. This was perhaps the only time things were initiated differently.
Next morning, Fan Fan and Jiang Ruyi stirred awake around the same time. Their awakening was welcomed by the sight of Xia Lei lying in the middle. He watched them quietly, a gentle gaze full of love.
“Good morning. How was sleep?” Xia Lei spoke softly.
Jiang Ruyi whimpered and snuggled against his chest. “When did you return last night? How come I didn’t notice that you were back?”
Xia Lei teasingly delivered a light slap to her ass. “You were sleeping like a pig. There’s no way you would notice that I was lying next to you.”
“Hmph! I became a chubbier because of your little monkey in my stomach and you still dare laugh at me? You’re a bully,” Jiang Ruyi whined cutely.
Fan Fan too shuffled closer to lie in his embrace like a kitten. “Hubby, why didn’t you wake me up when you got back?”
Xia Lei cooed, “You were so peacefully asleep, how could I bear to wake you up? You can sleep more and wake up later.”
Unfortunately, Fan Fan no longer had the urge to sleep. She took notice of the empty space beside her with curiosity. “Where’s Siyao and Ah Bing?”
Xia Lei answered, “They’re off to make breakfast. Once they’re done, we’ll get up and go eat breakfast.”
“Are you going to the company again after that?” asked Jiang Ruyi.
Xia Lei kissed her forehead. “No, the Jing Ke and Phantom drones are done. I’m available for a while now so I’ll be home to keep everyone company. Isn’t that great?”
“Really?” Jiang Ruyi lit up.
Xia Lei smiled. “Yes, it’s true. From today onwards, I’ll be home by your side.”
Fan Fan blew a puff of air against his ear.” You’re so nice. What would you like as a reward?”
Xia Lei chuckled. “Come on, I’m not some kid. There’s no need for a reward.”
“Hmm…” Fan Fan thought momentarily, her pink tongue peeking out of the corner of her lips. She expertly wetted her pink lips. “We’ve been out of reach recently due to the pregnancy. I’m sure you’re crazy hungry, right?”
Xia Lei was speechless.
Fan Fan tossed a look at Jiang Ruyi, causing the latter to flush red. Despite that, her movements were sharp, catching his lips in a kiss to swallow his retorts.
Fan Fan clumsily clambered over and began to reward her lover…
Liang Siyao and Long Bing urged to check his homework while Fan Fan and Jiang Ruyi opted to reward him. How could Xia Lei not be satiated?
Just as things were getting intense, the door was pushed open. Liang Siyao was stunned at the scene welcoming her. Her shock had only lasted for a brief moment before regaining her composure. She giggled and snorted, “Oh, come on! It’s so early in the morning. Hurry up or the porridge I made is going cold!”
Fan Fan and Jiang Ruyi rolled their eyes at her and continued on like she didn’t exist.
Xia Lei’s family was as harmonious as ever.
Keeping true to his words, Xia Lei stayed home after breakfast. Discounting off one night, he was only left with 699 days to live. There were so many things to do and so little time to spare, every second was precious but he was willing to make time for his women. Eternal separation might arrive after 699 days. How could he not treasure moments like this?
In the morning, Xia Lei serviced his wives with massages. After that, he accompanied them on walks in the garden. Every moment was not without laughter. They talked about the future and they talked about their children. Love was in the air. He even sat beside them as they did their online shopping, purchasing a large haul of baby items and other items like handbags, clothes, cosmetics and so on. They were preparing for their labour, Xia Lei genuinely couldn’t wait to be a father soon.
“Hubby, you bought me so many girly items. What if I give birth to a son?” In the middle of browsing tabs, Jiang Ruyi whined to Xia Lei.
Xia Lei grinned. “I have a good feeling that you’re pregnant with a little princess.”
“What if your hunch is wrong?” Jiang Ruyi wasn’t so keen on believing him.
With a twitch of both his left and right eye, the unborn child within Jiang Ruyi’s womb was presented before him. The development of the baby had reached maturity. It’s genital structure was already formed. It really was a little princess. He scanned the stomachs of the other three pregnant women. There was a little boy in Long Bing’s womb, a little girl in Fan Fan’s womb and a little boy inside of Liang Siyao. He was long aware of this, but he had never once made it clear to them.
“Hubby... What do we do if it’s a son? We can’t use all these little girl items on him,” complained Jiang Ruyi. Truthfully, she wished to birth a son to take on Xia Lei’s family name and continue the bloodline. After all, she was raised very traditionally.
Xia Lei hugged her pretty shoulder. “Then we could just buy a few male items, just in case. That way, you will not be deprived of anything regardless of the baby’s gender.”
Jiang Ruyi pulled her lips into a tight line. “Isn’t that very wasteful?”
Xia Lei smiled. “It’s not. If you can’t use it now, you can still use it later. You can give me another child later on. Wouldn’t that work?”
“Ptui! I won’t go through this again!” Jiang Ruyi blushed a pretty pink. While her words were sharp, her heart was literally thumping.
“Aiyo, we’re not even done with this pregnancy and you’re already planning for a second child?” huffed Fan Fan.
“Jeez, what do you take us as?” Liang Siyao joined in the chaos.
Long Bing merely regarded them with a smile and offered nothing else. All she could think of was the mental image of a boy and a girl fighting for a toy in front of her. The imagination flooded her heart with happiness and unprecedented warmth.
Xia Lei barked out in laughter and replied, “After the children are born, I’ll pour my seeds again. Your second child will be coming very soon.”
“Fuck you! We’re not baby factories!” Liang Siyao punched his sides. “Beat the shit out of him!”
Jiang Ruyi and Fan Fan raised their fists.
Long Bing hesitated for a moment but gave in. She just reached over and caressed Xia Lei a few times.
After the harmless punches, Xia Lei still gladly brought them in closer and kissed their faces.
They loved each other. This was a warm family full of love indeed.
Glancing down from the horizons, this mansion occupied a very small portion of Bailu Town. Yet, this roof had housed the hopes and dreams of the Chinese people. Xia Lei had planted four seeds at home, four very miraculous seeds. Even if he had vanished off the surface of this world someday, the seeds he planted would thrive and grow. They’d continued growing into a large booming tree that would become the pillar of China!
And it really felt like there was a pair of eyes taking in everything silently. Nothing could escape its eyes, there was just no secret under its stealthy watch.