The Sweetest Marriage Ch.348

Chapter 348 – Overjoyed

Many things have multifaceted perspectives. When you’re stuck in one viewpoint, it helps to look at it from a different angle.

Seeing things from a new perspective, you realize that what troubled, confined, or even hurt you wasn’t what you thought it was. The real harm came from yourself, self-imposed constraints and limitations.

For Chen Li, recent issues prompted him to see things differently, and suddenly everything became clear. His career flourished, renowned internationally. He had a loving partner who reciprocated his affection, providing endless security, and together they nurtured a lovely son. His family and friends cared for him, and even strangers silently supported him.

His life seemed perfect now. So why should he confine himself in the past’s minor difficulties and miss out on the present happiness?

True, fate had shut all the doors and windows in his first twenty years, but now it had not only opened them but also provided a panoramic sunroof. Why linger in the closed house of the past when he could enjoy the present view?

Understanding this, Chen Li felt a weight lift off him entirely.

“Aping,” Chen Li turned to Lan Xiping. “I understand it now.” His facial muscles moved, forming a broad smile.

Lan Xiping didn’t inquire about what Chen Li had realized. Instead, seeing Chen Li’s handsome smile, he extended his hand. “Chen Li, congratulations.”

Chen Li grasped Lan Xiping’s offered hand. “Thank you, Aping.” Gratitude not just to him but to everyone who stood by me.

The two remained silent for a while. Chen Li stared at the USB in his hand, lost in thought, while Lan Xiping took out his phone and posted a message in a WeChat group named “Washing Away Lead Flowers.”

[Lan Xiping: There’s good news to announce. Chen Li… he’s recovered, completely moved on from that past.]

[The Most Handsome Tree: !!!]

[Cookie: Really?]

[Cookie: That’s fantastic!]

Both of them were currently idle at home, eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new little life. So, once Lan Xiping posted this message, they immediately received and excitedly responded, almost disbelievingly.

Gradually, more people in the group saw the message, but they didn’t respond right away. Joy surged, leaving them momentarily unsure of what to do.

When they finally regained their composure from the burst of news, their fingers swiftly tapped on their phone screens.

[CS: Please congratulate Chen Li for me, wishing him a renewed life.] It was just a short sentence, but Xie Chunsheng edited, erased, and rephrased it several times before posting it.

As soon as he sent it, he couldn’t wait and immediately called Chen Yunlan, wanting to share this surprising news with him.

The dial button was pressed, and Chen Yunlan picked up almost instantly, his voice sounding slightly unsteady. “I… I know, Xiaoli, he’s… he’s okay.” Chen Yunlan was now crying tears of joy, his eyes brimming, his hand holding the phone trembling.

Xie Chunsheng also choked up, saying, “Yes, Xiaoli is okay, really okay!”

Similar scenes of joy unfolded in many places in the capital. Zhuge Yu, Master Sun, Grandfather Qu, and others, upon seeing this message, just like Chen Yunlan and Xie Chunsheng, shed tears of joy on the spot. Xiaoli had finally recovered. It wasn’t easy, truly not easy at all!

Wei Chen was among the first to see the message. Instead of replying, he immediately called Chen Li.

As Chen Li heard his phone ringing, he snapped out of his reverie. Seeing Wei Chen’s call, he eagerly answered. “Achen.” His voice had an uplifted tone, unable to contain his happiness.

“Mm.” Wei Chen’s response held a hoarse quality, tinged with a slight tremor.

“Li Li, where are you now?” Wei Chen asked.

“You wait for me at home, I’m almost there,” Chen Li replied, wishing he could fly to Wei Chen’s side right away and embrace him tightly.

Wei Chen’s facial muscles trembled slightly due to his restraint, making it difficult for him to display even a faint smile. Yet, the warmth in his eyes softened his expression.

He restrained himself and replied faintly, “Okay. I’m waiting for you at home.”

As time passed, they say time feels like an eternity, but now, both Chen Li and Wei Chen felt like every second was dragging on.

Finally, when the familiar neighborhood came into Chen Li’s view, he became restless in the car. His large eyes stared fixedly at the house that belonged to him and Wei Chen, as if trying to capture half of the sunset outside the car window. When the car stopped, he practically leaped out, rushed to the elevator, and even used a running pace.

As the elevator doors opened, Wei Chen stood outside, his gaze tender as if it could drown in affection.

Chen Li jumped into Wei Chen’s arms, laughing joyfully. “Achen, Achen, I’m better, I’m really better now.”

Wei Chen’s strong arms held Chen Li, and his eyes overflowed with tenderness and fondness. “Hmm, I know.”

“Achen, Achen!” Chen Li excitedly called Wei Chen’s name, his eyes shining as if they held all the beauty in the world.

As Wei Chen carried Chen Li into the house, he nodded gratefully at Lan Xiping, who responded with a smile but didn’t follow them inside. This moment belonged to Chen Li and Wei Chen; there was no need for him to intrude.

Once inside, Chen Li eagerly pressed his lips against Wei Chen’s, passionate and fiery.

Lost in their passion, they forgot about their little one, who sat on the carpet, calling out “Da da” and reaching out for a hug.

But in their current state, the two dads were too engrossed to notice their child’s actions.

Qiuqiu wasn’t happy, but he didn’t cry. He slowly shifted towards the direction of his two dads. Later, finding it too slow, he suddenly plopped onto the floor, then used his limbs to crawl towards his dads!

This was the first time that little Qiuqiu crawled. Initially, it wasn’t very smooth, and he stumbled a few times. However, he didn’t give up and continued to crawl towards his two dads. As he crawled, it became smoother. After a few minutes, he finally reached the feet of his two dads, hugged his big dad’s long legs, and looked up, calling out, “Da da!”

This close voice naturally called both dads back from their trance. When both dads looked at Qiuqiu, their gazes met his watery big eyes. Simultaneously, a question arose in their minds — how did Qiuqiu get here?

Both dads had completely missed an important moment in Qiuqiu’s life. When they realized it, they were excited. Wei Chen, especially, lifted Qiuqiu up, surprised, and asked, “Qiuqiu, did you just crawl over here?”

Qiuqiu giggled and laughed, his eyes squinting with joy.

After that, no matter how much Wei Chen and Chen Li coaxed, Qiuqiu refused to crawl again. He either sat on the ground, wiggled his bottom a few times, and then panted without moving, reaching out for someone to pick him up, looking genuinely tired.

Also, Qiuqiu became clingy, always sticking to Chen Li. Wherever Chen Li went, Qiuqiu’s gaze followed. When Chen Li got closer, Qiuqiu grabbed his legs until Chen Li bent down to pick him up. Then Qiuqiu would happily rub his chubby face against Chen Li’s, leaving Chen Li’s face covered in drool.

Chen Li let Qiuqiu rub against him and occasionally pinched Qiuqiu’s cheeks. Qiuqiu became a little unhappy, made a few “Ah Ah” sounds, and then put Chen Li’s fingers into his mouth.

Qiuqiu didn’t have many teeth, so when Chen Li’s fingers touched his soft gums, Chen Li couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Wei Chen came out from the kitchen with the prepared dishes. Seeing the father and son’s interaction, he couldn’t help but shake his head. Although there was no smile on his face, the gleam in his eyes overflowed with happiness.

Qiuqiu smelled the aroma and reached out towards the dining table, fixing his gaze on it, unable to look away.

Now almost nine months old, Qiuqiu could eat more varieties of food. Being a food enthusiast himself, he found it hard to stop now that there were more choices available.

Although Wei Chen tried to control it, Qiuqiu’s appetite was still expanding.

His limbs were chubby like lotus roots, each part plump and fleshed out. Holding him for a while could exhaust someone without much stamina.

At the moment, Chen Li had placed Qiuqiu in his exclusive baby chair, where Qiuqiu was tapping the bowl with a spoon, waiting for his own portion.

Wei Chen always fed Qiuqiu before having his meal, and this time was no exception.

Qiuqiu was exceptionally well-behaved during meals. Even before the spoon reached his mouth, he opened it wide, making a joyful noise and taking in all the food from the spoon. After swallowing, he opened his mouth wide again, waiting for the next bite.

They didn’t resemble other parents who often worried about how to feed their children.

Although Qiuqiu loved eating, he didn’t eat very fast. It seemed like he savored the taste, chewing slowly and swallowing gradually. It was a good habit, but the only downside was that Wei Chen had to feed him for quite a while. Even after feeding Qiuqiu, when the food on the table had cooled down, Wei Chen would eat as if nothing had changed.

But today, this little meatball didn’t need his big dad’s help. Glancing at the delicious food on the table and then at Chen Li, Wei Chen offered the spoon to Qiuqiu’s mouth. However, Qiuqiu didn’t open his mouth and instead gazed at Chen Li with his watery eyes.

It was evident what he meant. Chen Li had to put down his own utensils and took Qiuqiu’s meal from Wei Chen. “Achen, let me do it. He’s relying on me today.”

“Alright,” Wei Chen agreed.

Chen Li brought the spoon close to Qiuqiu’s mouth, and Qiuqiu eagerly opened up, making a happy noise as he started eating.

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**TN

“washing away lead flowers” – referring to ancient lead-based make-up. It’s part of a Daoist idea of washing away all worldly concerns to reveal one’s true self without pretense.