It was fate, in a way, that this reunion after a long separation would bring good news to the Xiang siblings simultaneously the following month.
Chen Jiaojiao and Xiang Wan were both pregnant.
Melody's surgery was a success. After recovering in the hospital for over half a month, on the day she was discharged, everyone gathered at Lu Qingxu's house for a meal.
Several pregnant women and one patient sat around a table, eating nutritious meals and drinking milk.
The men gathered separately, drinking and bragging.
Talking about their pregnant wives, they became more and more excited and boastful. Lu Qingxu eventually couldn't stand it and kicked them under the table.
"Can we change the topic? As normal men, isn't having a child a given? Why do you all treat it like a glorious achievement? You're all becoming more pathetic as you get older."
"Keep it down, all of you. Don't mention this in front of us again. You know our Melody just got out of the hospital and is sensitive. Constantly talking about it isn't trying to upset us, is it?"
Lu Mingzhe put an arm around his brother, telling him to relax.
"Didn't the doctor say Melody's tumor was benign and has been removed? With a bit more observation, she'll recover soon. Isn't having a child just around the corner for you? Why be so sensitive?"
"I invited everyone here today specifically to share some joy with you, understand? Don't be too cautious; you still need to do what you need to do, or you'll never have children."
Lu Qingxu ignored him. "In short, don't mention this in front of me again. I don't want to hear it."
Lu Qingxu and Melody stayed in Nancheng.
He no longer frequented nightclubs. Apart from waiting for his dividends, Lu Qingxu was now uninterested in anything else, dedicating himself to taking care of Melody at home.
A little over a month after her surgery, she underwent further recovery checks. After observation until the end of the year, the doctor announced that Melody was completely free of cancer cells and had fully recovered. They wouldn't need to visit the hospital anymore.
It was a snowy noon.
Back in the car, Lu Qingxu was overcome with emotion and wept.
The car had already started, preparing to back out of the parking space, but tears streamed down his face, one after another.
Although he felt it was embarrassing to cry like this in front of Melody, he couldn't help it.
Seeing him sitting there, crying silently, Melody, who had accompanied him to the hospital so often she felt like a half-doctor, felt not only love for him but also gratitude.
He was clearly younger than her, yet he doted on her like a daughter, indulging her without restraint.
He had indeed gone through a lot.
Seeing his tears continue for a minute or two, Melody leaned over, turned his head, and hugged him, patting his shoulder.
Suddenly, out of the blue, she asked, "Do you want to get married?"
This question was more effective than anything else. Lu Qingxu instantly stopped crying.
He looked up at her, "What did you say?"
Melody: "I'm proposing to you. Do you want to marry me?"
He gazed into Melody's beautiful eyes for a few seconds, and then Lu Qingxu's tears began to flow again.
"Although you shouldn't be the one proposing, I'm still so happy. You have no idea how long I've waited for this day. I love you so much, Melody. Marrying you is my honor..."
"Then let's go buy rings. Are you still crying?"
Lu Qingxu, filled with excitement, took her to a department store. They chose a pair of simple bands at the counter, and that was it.
He was afraid she would change her mind.
Returning home, he intended to do as usual: help her with her coat, hang it up, cut some fruit for her, and then let her rest.
However, as soon as he took off his coat at the door, Melody grabbed his sweater collar and pulled him into the room.
Melody, with her 1.70-meter height, a pair of black Martin boots, a black sweater, and a cool expression, moved with a sharp grace that always captivated Lu Qingxu.
He was willing to be at her mercy.
"Why are you dragging me into the room?"
Once inside, Melody kicked the door shut behind her with her foot, then pushed him towards the bed, looking at him with seductive eyes.
"What do you think?"
At this point, Lu Qingxu knew exactly what she meant.
Since she rarely took the initiative to this extent, he was thrilled.
But he still gestured towards the curtains.
"Aren't you going to close the curtains?"
"Do you want to?"
Melody looked at him, reached out with her long arm, found the remote, and pressed a button. The curtains slowly closed. Then she leaned back towards him.
"Is that okay now?"
It was more than okay. Lu Qingxu was content.
"Is there anything you need me to do?"
Melody instructed him, "Remove these unnecessary obstacles yourself."
He met Melody's gaze and removed the unnecessary obstacles one by one.
"And mine too."
He then helped Melody remove her own unnecessary obstacles. He instinctively reached for something in the bedside cabinet, but Melody stopped his hand.
"Didn't you forget you already put on my engagement ring?"
"No."
"Then should we apply for the marriage license tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Then what are you still looking for? Don't you want to have a child with me?"
Lu Qingxu desperately wanted to have a child with Melody; he wanted it so much it was overwhelming, but he had always been worried about her health.
"Can I? Can I want that?"
"Of course. You're the only man I have, who else would want it?"
"But..."
"Are you still treating me like a patient? Didn't the doctor say I was fine today? Or do you despise me?"
Although Melody's ovaries had been removed, Lu Qingxu loved her to the core. He found her perfect in every way and would never despise her.
"No, you're the only one who could possibly despise me. How could I ever despise you? Then it's settled, we'll try for a child too!"
Both of them were eager, wishing they could conceive today and have a baby tomorrow. They figured sowing more seeds was always beneficial.
They ended up going a bit too far.
The next day, as they went through various applications and ran errands, Lu Qingxu's legs felt as if they were floating.
Knowing that yesterday was a crucial check-up point for Melody, Mom Zhan and Mom Lu wanted to hear the results that evening and arranged to visit them at their home.
Seeing Lu Qingxu's poor complexion, they thought he was exhausted from accompanying Melody to the hospital. Mom Lu suggested hiring a nanny and driver for them.
Lu Qingxu refused.
"No, we're fine. We don't want anyone else to disturb us."
"But you look so tired lately."
Melody told Mom Lu the truth.
"I don't have to go to the hospital anymore, so he won't be so tired. Besides, it's not because he's tired from accompanying me to the hospital."
Mom Lu, thinking he was ill, asked, "Then what's wrong with him? Why does he look so..."
"We're planning to have a child."
The air grew awkwardly silent for two seconds. Mom Lu's face flushed, wishing she could disappear into a hole.
Having lived most of her life, how could she be so unobservant...
Awkwardly, she went to help Mom Zhan push her wheelchair, saying, "Sister Zhou, it's getting late. Perhaps we should head back."