Chapter 158: Contentment

Chapter 158

Contentment

Since the General had returned home, the wet nurses had found themselves with much more free time. He often took care of the children himself, trying to make up for the time he had been away. Fortunately, the General, in addition to being tall and strong, was quick on his feet, or else he wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the three mischievous little ones. Today, he had taken them to bathe. After undressing each of them, he placed them together in a warm bath. When the children were with their father, they were noisy and playful. Although he had just returned, the bond between them grew quickly. Not forgetting to keep their attention, the father of three dropped some toys into the water and then used zhao jiao to clean them one by one. Feeing ticklish, Xiao Hua Hua giggled as her father washed her, the big round eyes and sweet smile, inherited from her mother, making her father smile fondly. At the same time, he had to reach out with his other hand to catch Da Ge, who had stood up, ready to climb out of the tub.

"Bao Bao, wait until I finish washing you all first."

Da Ge, always the mischievous one, grew bored of waiting and splashed water at his father. Song Qilin pretended to be shocked, making the children laugh together. Then the siblings teamed up, splashing water at their father until everyone, including the General, was soaked by the time the bath was done.

Nie Shuang, having just finished her bath, saw her husband carrying their triplets into the room and immediately moved to help. She took Xiao Hua Hua, dressing and combing her hair, while the father quickly dressed the other two to prevent them from getting cold. After finishing with Bei Bei, he turned to dress Bao Bao, but Da Ge threw off his towel and ran around the room, avoiding his father.

Song Qilin chased after his son. The weather was starting to warm up, and he considered letting Bao Bao play a bit longer when Nie Shuang’s voice floated over.

"Bao Bao, put your clothes on quickly, or you’ll catch a cold."

Both father and son froze. After his mother’s reminder, Bao Bao cooperated and stood still for his father to dress him. Instinctively, Da Ge seemed to know that while he could be playful with his father, his mother was the one he must listen to. Once the children were dressed, Song Qilin lifted them onto the bed. Nie Shuang went to fetch a clean cloth to dry her husband and brought him a fresh set of clothes. As she helped him change, she complimented him.

"You take care of the children so well. See, they’re already close with their father again in no time."

Song Qilin smiled at the corners of his mouth, surprised by her words. He had half-expected her to scold him for getting soaked while bathing and playing with the children. Though she was meticulous, she wasn’t one to nag, and her kind words made him feel even more cherished. How could he ever want to be away from such an intelligent and loving wife? The children, sitting nearby, watched their mother take care of their father with wide eyes. Noticing their curious gazes, Nie Shuang turned to them and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Look at them... It’s as if they’ve never seen the two of us together before."

Song Qilin took her hand and leaned in closer.

"They practically haven’t. We’ve hardly spent any time together like this."

His tone was so tender that Nie Shuang felt her cheeks flush, lowering her head in bashful embarrassment.

"I’ll tell them a bedtime story, and then we can call the wet nurses to put them to sleep."

The usual routine was for the three children to lie together on a wide bed while their mother told them bedtime stories. However, now that their father had returned, his large frame took up a significant portion of the bed, and he also claimed the spot next to their mother. Before the children could protest, their father scooped each of them up one by one to rest on his chest. Xiao Hua Hua loved it, nestling her soft cheek against her father’s chest and listening comfortably to his heartbeat. Bei Bei, who was easygoing, was content wherever his father placed him. As for Bao Bao, he tried to crawl over to lie on his mother’s lap alone, but Song Qilin quickly pulled him back to snuggle with his siblings.

Nie Shuang began telling the stories she remembered from her own childhood—some were folk tales, others fables. Whether the children fully understood them or not, they listened intently. Their mother’s voice was soothing, and after a bath, lying on her soft bed, wrapped in her warm, fragrant presence, was the most peaceful time of their day. Song Qilin lay there, gazing at his wife as she told the stories, feeling a deep sense of tranquility.

Before the story ended, the children had already started to drift off. The wet nurses came in, right on time, to carry them to their beds. Left alone, the couple sat together, leaning against the bedpost. Song Qilin gently placed a hand on Nie Shuang’s round belly, caressing it tenderly. His wife, now glowing with the radiance of pregnancy, let her fragrant, long hair fall gracefully as she leaned against his broad chest, letting him hold her in his arms.

"Do you want...?"

Nie Shuang asked softly. Song Qilin, thinking he misheard, looked down at the woman in his arms in disbelief. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her long lashes casting shadows as they lowered. His heart raced, blood rushing through his body, filling him with warmth. How could he resist his beautiful wife, who was as lovely as a blooming flower? Yet, she was pregnant, so he restrained himself. When Nie Shuang saw that he didn’t answer, she lifted her face, only to be met with a warm kiss. He kissed her tenderly, but with a fiery passion hidden beneath.

"Nie Shuang..."

He breathed heavily, clearly struggling. She reached up and kissed his firm jaw, trailing down to his neck. Her slender hand slid inside his robe, feeling the strong muscles of his chest. Song Qilin let out a low, hoarse groan.

"Nie Shuang...I can’t hold back anymore..."

His sharp eyes, half-closed in desire, looked incredibly enticing to her. She parted his robe and pressed her lips to his nip. The soft touch of her lips and tongue nearly drove Song Qilin to madness—his wife was too irresistible! His large hands gently grasped her full breasts, kneading them softly until her nipples hardened. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, showering her with light kisses. His stubble grazed her delicate skin, causing her to squirm away from the tickling sensation. The low chuckle that followed was filled with joy, as he relished being close to her again.Nie Shuang reached down and grasped his hardness, causing Song Qilin’s breath to hitch. He covered her hand with his, guiding her movements to the rhythm he needed. She learned quickly, adjusting to the pace he desired, while he reciprocated, bringing her to heights of pleasure. The two remained entwined, savoring the closeness. Song Qilin was extremely careful. Though she couldn’t move freely, the room was filled with intense heat. That night, the couple fell asleep in each other’s arms, completely content.