Since He Changning had only just woken up and his body was still weak, Shang Yushang had strictly ordered him to stay in bed and rest. Not even one step was allowed. And so, He Changning found himself truly going through a proper postpartum recovery—confined to bed like a new mother.
With a pale face and a helpless smile, He Changning considered turning on the charm—maybe if he acted cute, Shang Yushang would let him get up and move around a bit. Even just a couple of steps would be nice. He also wanted to see his sons. Ever since he woke up, he’d only caught a few glimpses of them—and always from his bed. Shang Yushang hadn’t allowed him to hold the babies, afraid he’d accidentally strain his wound. So despite all the pain and struggle he’d gone through to bring those two boys into the world, it had already been almost ten days since their birth and he hadn’t held them once. It made He Changning both frustrated and helpless. The birth had really scared Shang Yushang to his core.
A man who had always faced everything with a calm, unshakable expression had been completely shaken when He Changning hovered at the edge of life and death. Ever since then, he’d treated Changning like he was made of glass—so precious he couldn’t even let their own sons touch him.
He Changning wrapped his arms around Shang Yushang’s neck and nuzzled his cheek affectionately. “Jianzhi,” he murmured sweetly, “I’ve been stuck in bed for ten days. Can I please get up and walk a little?” He gave him a pitiful, pleading look, hoping this man would finally show some mercy and let him set foot on solid ground. His legs were practically aching to feel the floor beneath them.
Shang Yushang furrowed his brows, eyes dark and deep as he looked down at his spoiled little darling, who was rubbing up against him and acting all cute. He sighed inwardly. This man had him completely wrapped around his finger. He couldn’t even keep a straight face when he tried to be stern. But honestly, for He Changning to obediently stay in bed for ten whole days was already quite impressive.
“You can get out of bed,” Shang Yushang finally relented, “but you have to promise to behave. No rushing, just slow, careful steps. Bai Mo said your body is still extremely weak—if you move too fast you might end up with lasting health problems. So wear something warm, and take your time getting up.”
He Changning’s eyes lit up with excitement, his voice bubbling with happiness. “Okay, I promise!”
So Shang Yushang helped him into a set of pajamas, then added a thick cotton robe over it before slowly propping him up. He gently lowered one leg at a time onto the floor, then let He Changning sit and adjust before carefully supporting his waist to help him stand, inch by inch.
After quite an effort, He Changning finally managed to stand up. He’d never realized how exhausting simply standing could be. But he did it. Holding himself steady, regaining his balance—it all left him drenched in sweat.
Shang Yushang immediately wiped his forehead with a towel, eyes full of concern and heartache. “Your body is still too weak. Look at you—soaked in sweat just from standing. Maybe you should lie back down.”
He Changning hurriedly stopped him. “No! I finally got to stand—let me take a couple steps. Just a few, with you holding me. I’ll be fine, Jianzhi.”
Shang Yushang sighed. “You really leave me no choice. Just a few steps, alright? Once your body recovers, I won’t stop you from walking or even running—whatever you want. Just be good for now.”
He Changning clutched his sleeve. “Got it.”
Shang Yushang supported him as they slowly took a few steps around the room. When he noticed He Changning’s breathing becoming labored and his pajamas getting damp from sweat, he immediately scooped him up and tucked him back into bed, worried he’d catch a chill from all the exertion.
Once the sweat had dried, Shang Yushang wiped his body with a warm towel and helped him change into fresh sleepwear. Only then did he sit down beside him, gently stroking his hair and planting a kiss on his cheek.
“Changning,” he said softly, “don’t rush. If you just take your time and rest, you’ll recover. Be good and stay in bed for now. Once you’re well again, I won’t stop you from doing anything you want.”
He Changning blinked his big eyes helplessly. “Sigh… I’m really falling apart. I can’t even walk a few steps without breaking down. What if I end up stuck in this bed for the rest of my life?”
Shang Yushang frowned. “Don’t talk nonsense. You’ll get better. It’s just that you lost too much blood during labor—your body’s still too weak. Once you’ve recovered, you’ll be running around like a little rascal again.”
He Changning pinched his face. “You’re the rascal, not me. I’m refined and cultured, thank you very much.”
Shang Yushang gave him a teasing look. “Oh? Then who was it snooping on Xiao Wu and A’Yin’s conversations—and getting a front-row seat to all their juicy drama?”
Speaking of this, He Changning perked up with interest. “So… just how far have those two gone? I’d really like to know who’s on top and who’s on bottom between them. But knowing Xiao Wu’s simple and honest nature, I bet he got sweet-talked into being on the bottom.”
Truth be told, He Changning really had quite the foresight.
Shang Yushang tapped the tip of his nose. “You’re curious about everything. But it sounds like things are going well between them. Lao Ba said Ai’n has already moved into Xiao Wu’s room. As for who’s on top… hard to say. Xiao Wu might look naive, but he’s not dumb. Still, Ai’n’s definitely the slyer one—whether he can charm Xiao Wu into bed depends on his own skill.”
He Changning’s eyes sparkled mischievously, a wicked little smile tugging at his lips. “Just wait and see who walks funny afterward. That’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
Shang Yushang kissed the corner of his mouth. “I still remember how you ended up stuck in bed for two whole days. Even then, you still walked so gracefully. Didn’t you, sweetheart?”
Before He Changning could explode, Shang Yushang sealed his lips with a kiss, swallowing every protest and complaint.
The room was silent except for heavy breathing and the sound of lips and skin meeting with wet, lingering kisses.
After a long while, Shang Yushang finally let him go. Resting his forehead against He Changning’s, he drew in deep breaths until the pounding of his heart returned to normal. Then he planted a firm kiss on He Changning’s lips and pulled him into a tight embrace, eyes full of blissful satisfaction.
He Changning didn’t insist on getting out of bed anymore—but on one condition: Shang Yushang had to eat postpartum meals with him.
Shang Yushang, ever the devoted husband, didn’t hesitate to agree. “What’s the big deal? It’s just postpartum food, not poison.”
But clearly, Shang Yushang had underestimated the full power of these meals. After two days of trying to tough it out, he finally begged for mercy. “Changning, baby, can we talk? Please don’t make me eat another bite of that stuff, okay?”
Faced with bowl after bowl of bland herbal broth, endless eggs, flavorless meat porridge, and mushy vegetables boiled so long they’d fall apart under chopsticks, Shang Yushang was completely defeated.
Meanwhile, He Changning ate every bite without so much as a frown. He even cleaned his plate exactly as Aunt Qin instructed every single time.
Shang Yushang was in awe. “Changning, how do you even eat this stuff?”
Honestly, He Changning didn’t really have a choice. The meal plan had been custom-designed by Bai Mo to suit his condition, and both Aunt Qin and his dad followed the instructions to the letter. If he ate too little or looked reluctant, Aunt Qin would tear up silently, and his dad would just hold his hand and stare at him full of guilt—like skipping a bite was some unforgivable crime. The emotional pressure was so overwhelming that he had no choice but to force the food down, smiling the whole time just to reassure them so they’d go off cheerfully to look after the babies.
With a helpless sigh, He Changning said, “If you had to face two pairs of sad, guilt-ridden eyes staring you down every day, you’d give in too. Not to mention the surprise inspections from Grandma. Honestly, I can’t not eat it.”
Shang Yushang laughed without an ounce of sympathy. “What can I say, baby—you’ve had it rough. But once your recovery month is over, you can eat whatever you want. No more bland food, I promise.”
He Changning pinched his cheek. “And you still laugh? I’m at my wit’s end, and you think this is funny?”
Shang Yushang hugged him close, kissing the corner of his lips. “I know, baby. You’ve been amazing. Once your confinement’s over, anything you want—your husband will make it happen.” His hand slid slowly down He Changning’s back. “Anything at all.”
He Changning’s cheeks turned red as he bit Shang Yushang’s lip lightly. “You’re incorrigible.”
Shang Yushang kissed his lips and said softly, “Once your body’s fully healed, we can do anything you want. You said you’d make it up to me, remember? I haven’t forgotten.”
He Changning ran his fingers through Shang Yushang’s short hair, gave him a peck on the lips, and didn’t even bother responding to his shameless teasing—just shot him a glare. Then, with a hint of regret, he said, “Bai Mo told me I probably won’t be able to get pregnant again. Honestly, I really wanted a daughter… and somehow ended up with two boys.”
“What’s wrong with boys?”
“That’s just it—they’re great. But that’s exactly why I thought it’d be perfect if we had a little girl too.”
Shang Yushang’s eyes were full of tenderness—and something more complex. The fact that another man was willing to bear his children in the first place spoke volumes about how deeply He Changning loved him. And he was lucky—blessed, even—to be loved so much. But the trauma of nearly losing Changning during childbirth had left a mark on his soul. For a moment back then, he had felt like he died too. He couldn’t bear to go through that again. If Changning had really left him that day, he knew he wouldn’t have made it either. He would’ve just raised the kids until they were grown… then gone to follow him.
But now, seeing He Changning’s face glowing with joy and hope, his heart twisted. The knot of worry only grew tighter. “Changning, we don’t need to rush. The boys are still so young. When they’re older and you’ve recovered more, we can talk about this again. There’s no hurry.”
He Changning looked straight into his conflicted eyes. He knew exactly what Shang Yushang was thinking. He kissed his lips and said, “Jianzhi, don’t overthink it. I’m fine. I told you—I’ll always be with you, even in the next life.” He paused. “Besides, Bai Mo said the damage from this pregnancy was so severe that the chances of conceiving again are basically zero. I was just talking. Don’t stress over it.” He bit gently on Shang Yushang’s lip and added, “Jianzhi, I’m sorry for scaring you. And I love you—I’d never leave you behind.”
Shang Yushang held his lover tightly, carefully avoiding his wounds, and showered him with kisses. Their hands caressed, bodies entwined, hearts entangled—as if time itself would melt away in their embrace.
Twenty days later, He Changning was finally allowed to get out of bed and move around. That added a new daily task to Shang Yushang’s list—accompanying his wife for light exercise every day.
Newborns during their first month mostly do three things: eat, sleep, and pee—then repeat.
At birth, their skin was red and wrinkled from the amniotic fluid, not exactly cute. But babies, especially newborns, change by the day. In just a couple of weeks, they’d grown noticeably. Their skin was now soft and smooth, plump and fair. Their little limbs were chubby like lotus roots, and when they opened their eyes, those big round black eyes sparkled with life. Long lashes fluttered as they blinked, pink lips blew tiny bubbles, and their soft babbles sounded like they were trying to speak. It was nearly impossible to resist such adorable little creatures—especially for the loved ones who treasured them most.
Old Madam Shang now came to the villa every morning, helping Aunt Qin and Gu Cheng feed the babies, change diapers, bathe them—everything, personally. Once the babies were asleep, she’d head upstairs to chat and check on He Changning.
Worried about her health, He Changning and Shang Yushang had tried to persuade her not to come every day—or at least move into the villa if she was that concerned. But the old lady wouldn’t hear of it. Every day without fail, she came early, cared for the babies, visited Changning, stayed for dinner, and then returned to the main house.
As she put it: “Elders need to stay active if they want to live longer. Now that I have great-grandchildren, I have every reason to stay healthy for as long as I can—at least until they’re all grown. Then I can retire in peace.”
The couple had no choice but to respect her wishes. Still, for the sake of her health, they made sure each meal was nutritionally rich and well-balanced, so that while her heart was full, her body could keep up too.
Naturally, the busiest people in the whole house were the kitchen staff. They weren’t just cooking one meal a day, and each person needed different food. He Changning, still recovering from childbirth, was the top priority and received the most careful attention. Then came Old Madam Shang, Aunt Qin, and Gu Cheng—all “VIPs” requiring specially prepared, nutritious meals. Only after that did the rest of the younger folks, including Shang Yushang, get fed. So the chefs were definitely the busiest team in the house.
Ever since the two little ones were born, the members of the shadow team (the elite security squad) had developed a shared, unspoken obsession: every day, someone would either sneak or stroll openly into the nursery to stare at the babies. They’d lean over the crib, eyes locked on the tiny faces, sometimes gently poking the babies’ soft cheeks—and then just grinning like idiots, looking like they were about to drool.
Because of this, the boss had to discipline them more than once. But even so, the behavior didn’t stop—it actually got worse. In the end, the boss himself ended up defecting and became one of the baby-peeping crew.
Old Madam Shang didn’t seem to mind, though. Her only instruction was that they weren’t allowed to disturb the babies’ rest. Everything else? She let them be. After all, the Shadow Team would one day serve her great-grandchildren too—it wasn’t a bad idea to let them bond early.
The couple was aware of it too, but they didn’t try to stop it. He Changning even found it amusing. “Tell me, why is it that none of the Shadow Team are married? Right now, only Xiao Wu seems to have something going on—and even that’s still up in the air.”
“There are rules. Anyone who wants to get married and have kids is considered ready to retire. The organization will arrange a new identity for them. If they want to join Shangshi, we’ll give them the best possible job and benefits. If they don’t, they’ll still receive a generous payout—enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. But the thing is, the people who make it into the Shadow Team don’t usually want marriage and kids. To them, becoming part of such a mysterious and elite group is the ultimate honor. It’s not something just anyone can do. Even those called ‘top-tier assassins’ are considered bottom-rung when it comes to the Shadow Team. That tells you how insane the selection process is. For some of them, becoming a Shadow Team member is a life-long dream—being accepted by the organization is the ultimate achievement, something most people can only dream of. So for them, things like marriage and kids just… don’t matter that much.”
“I see.” He Changning chuckled. “Still, they’re clearly human deep down. Just look at how obsessed they are with sneaking peeks at the babies. They definitely still yearn for a bit of ordinary life.”
Shang Yushang wasn’t quite convinced. “Not necessarily. I think they’re just curious about what a baby born from a man looks like—and while they’re at it, they want to leave a good impression on the kids. Remember, the Shadow Team’s going to be handed over to those two in the future.”
He Changning’s lips twitched. “They really are your people. That kind of thinking? Absolutely one of a kind.”
