Three hours later, at Xinghe Bay.
Lin Yang heard a knock on the door. He was a bit confused but still went to open it.
When the door opened, he saw his parents standing at the doorstep.
"Mom, Dad, how did you get here so quickly?"
"I told you to let me know when you get to the station, and I'd go pick you up!"
Lin Yang was surprised and opened the door wider, letting his parents in.
"You're really thinking things through now."
"Having a baby, such a big deal, and you didn't even tell your mom and dad?"
"Now you've waited until the baby's born, and you're just telling us?"
Lin Yang's mom complained as she changed her shoes, setting her bags on the floor.
"Mom, why bring all this stuff?"
"You should have just come! There's a market nearby, and it's easy to buy meat and other things."
It was one thing to bring some other things, but his dad was holding a chicken!
"Your mom insisted I bring it," Lin Yang's dad said innocently.
"What do you two men know?"
"This is real, free-range chicken! The nutritional value is different from what you'd buy at the market."
"A woman who's given birth needs to be well-nourished. She has to eat well!" Lin Yang's mom said seriously, speaking loudly.
"Mom, the baby is resting."
"Do you want to take a look?"
Lin Yang was amused, pointing towards the baby room.
Both his parents' eyes lit up.
"Let me see my adorable grandkids!"
The two quickly went to the baby room.
At that moment, Aunt Lan had already returned home. She had come earlier to familiarize herself with the house.
Shu Mengyao was sitting in the baby room, her heart racing in anxiety.
When she heard the footsteps approaching, her nervousness intensified, as though her heart would jump out of her chest.
She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
"You must be Mengyao, you're so beautiful!"
"You're just too skinny, you need to take care of your health."
As soon as Lin Yang's mom entered the baby room, she noticed Shu Mengyao sitting there. Despite having twins, Mengyao still looked very thin, which made her feel pity.
"Hello, Auntie, Uncle," Shu Mengyao stood up politely, greeting Lin Yang's parents.
She then quietly stood by Lin Yang's side, almost like a little shadow.
"Mengyao, if Xiaoyang bullies you, just tell me."
"I'll take care of him for you!" Lin Yang's mom immediately took Mengyao's hand, holding it in her own.
She glared at Lin Yang as she spoke.
"I don't know how you're taking care of a postpartum woman," she continued, "she's not even out of the month yet, and look at how skinny she is!"
"Let me take some time off from work to help you with your recovery," Lin Yang's mom declared, making the decision without hesitation.
This left Mengyao a little stunned.
"Mom, don't scare her," Lin Yang intervened.
"I've been making her food, but she just doesn't seem to gain weight."
Lin Yang was troubled by this issue. He had the Master Chef skill and a vast array of recipes in his mind, which he could use at any time.
Even before cooking, he would order a lot of food when they were in the hospital, worried about her nutrition.
But Mengyao's body seemed to not absorb it at all, as she hadn't gained any weight.
"Auntie, I've gained weight," Mengyao said, trying to prove herself.
"I even have a little belly now!"
Lin Yang's mom laughed at this, seeing how protective Mengyao was of Lin Yang.
It seemed their relationship was going well.
Suddenly, the baby began crying, and soon, both babies were crying together.
The room quickly became noisy.
"Oh, this is my precious grandson and granddaughter!"
"Why is the older one crying? Oh, my poor baby, let me see you!"
Lin Yang's mom hurried over to the crib, hearing the babies cry.
"The babies just ate, so they must need a diaper change," Lin Yang said with a smile.
"Diaper change?" Lin Yang's mom moved quickly, expertly changing the baby's diaper.
"Mom, I didn't expect you to be so skilled," Lin Yang commented.
"Of course. When you were born, I handled everything by myself."
"Your mom still has the energy for these things!" She grinned, then teased Lin Yang's dad.
Lin Yang's dad looked rather innocent in the background.
"Dad, is what mom said true?" Lin Yang asked, playfully stirring things up.
"Ahem, I just didn't want to upset the baby," Lin Yang's dad replied, looking away, clearly trying to avoid the conversation.
Shu Mengyao stood quietly behind Lin Yang, watching the family interact with a sense of longing.
She hadn't been home in a long time.
Shouldn't she… also find a chance to tell her parents?
"Mengyao, Auntie brought you some free-range chicken from the village."
"Tonight, I'll cook something really delicious for you!"
Before Shu Mengyao could think too much, she was pulled back into the present by Lin Yang's mom.
Shu Mengyao had actually been enjoying the food Lin Yang made, which was delicious in a way she had never experienced before. But it was too difficult for her to express this.
In the end, she simply nodded politely.
"Lin, come help me with the chicken."
"Son, come and give me a hand too."
Lin Yang's mom waved for him to come.
"Mengyao, stay with the babies, I'll be back in a bit."
Lin Yang held Shu Mengyao's hand, offering her a reassuring look.
"Okay!" Shu Mengyao nodded eagerly.
"Mom, what do you need my help for?"
As Lin Yang came out, he started to look for something to do, but his mom instead pulled him into the living room.
"Son, I think the girl is really nice. You two should get married soon."
"Don't wait until the babies grow up and think their parents aren't a family."
"By the way, take this card. It's some savings your dad and I have accumulated over the years."
"It's not much, but it's enough to help you with your family now that you're a father."
Lin Yang's mom spoke with deep sincerity, handing him a bank card.
Lin Yang looked at the card with a complicated expression. This was the money his parents had saved up over a lifetime.
It wasn't a huge amount, but it felt heavy.
"Mom, I can't take this card."
"I can earn money now and support the family, so don't worry about me."
Lin Yang handed the card back to his mom.