Cui Yun was steady and reliable; whenever Shen Hua felt lost, she need not worry as long as he was there. Yet Shen Hua realized belatedly that Cui Yun was actually more anxious than she was.
Many times, when she woke up during the night, he was not asleep. Holding a book in his hands, he was reading.
Shen Hua, resting her head on his arm, leaned over for a look and saw it was a book about childbirth. It was very thick; even the girl had taken it to weigh its heaviness.
The girl subtly rested her hand on his abdomen.
"Flat."
She could feel the stiffness in Cui Yun's body. Thinking of something, her ears felt a bit hot. She grabbed his hand again, placing it on her round belly.
"It's me giving birth."
Cui Yun's expression was tender as he tucked the blanket neatly around the girl.
"Childbirth is difficult for a woman; it is suffering. I ought to be clear about these things, to be mentally prepared."
"When taking care of Rong before, I even read childcare books."
