The two finished their activities well past midnight.
Yu'er could no longer stand and lay on the bed, limp and unwilling to move.
"I'm hungry," Guo Xuyang said, wiping the sweat from Yu'er's forehead.
"You can heat it up yourself. I really can't move. I don't have any strength left in me."
Yu'er lifted her hand, intending to stroke Guo Xuyang's cheek, but ultimately couldn't.
"Heh heh, you're too playful," Guo Xuyang said, kissing Yu'er's lips. He then sat up and pulled a blanket over her.
"I'll bring you some lamb soup to replenish you. You should sleep first."
Yu'er didn't respond. She had already fallen asleep.
When Guo Xuyang went downstairs, he discovered a large pot of steaming lamb soup on the table.
"You're down, hurry up and eat," Xia Li called out as Guo Xuyang descended.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Guo Xuyang asked, sitting down to eat.
"Your noise woke me up. You don't have any consideration for appearances." Xia Li chided him.
"We have a guest at home."
"Xiao Si? It's okay. She's a deep sleeper, she shouldn't be woken up," Guo Xuyang replied.
"I was sleeping soundly, but your noise made it impossible to fall back asleep." Xiao Si's voice came from behind him. She had gone to the kitchen to get something.
"Um, I'm really sorry," Guo Xuyang said, touching his nose.
"You, with your thick skin, actually know how to feel embarrassed? It's not the first time." Xiao Si retorted.
"What other times?" Xia Li asked, like a curious child.
"Sister Si, why are you speaking our language?"
"Your Sister Si is a monster, with a strong learning ability," Guo Xuyang said with a smile, trying to change the subject.
"What's a monster?" Xiao Si indeed took the bait.
"A monster is a demon or a ghost, with special abilities, who can transform into a beautiful woman to seduce men."
"I'm not a monster. I do have special abilities, that's true, but I don't seduce men."
"Sister Si, you're not a monster, you're a beautiful spirit," Xia Li added from the side.
This statement wasn't wrong. Xiao Si had a great figure, was tall, and well-proportioned, and could certainly be considered a beauty.
"A spirit? Do they eat people?" Xiao Si asked intentionally.
"They eat people, specifically men," Xia Li laughed.
"Men are too smelly. Women are tastier, with delicate skin."
"Sister Si, please spare me. I'm not as delicious as this lamb soup. Why don't you try it?" Xia Li said, serving a bowl of lamb soup and placing it in front of Xiao Si.
"Mmm, this lamb soup you cooked is delicious," Xiao Si said after tasting it.
"If it's delicious, drink more," Guo Xuyang said. "It's indeed a bit late for dinner."
"I wasn't going to eat, but you disturbed my sleep, so I had to come down and cook. Where is Yu'er?" Xia Li asked.
"She's asleep. Tired," Guo Xuyang replied.
"I don't know how you have so much energy. Can your body handle this every day?"
"It's fine. As long as the lamb soup keeps up, my kidneys are just right."
"Keep bragging. I wonder who it is that's always complaining about a sore back and knees and begging for mercy?" Xiao Si gave him a sideways glance.
"Can't you leave me some face? Besides, that time has passed. Can we please not bring up old matters?"
"You two?" Xia Li looked between Guo Xuyang and Xiao Si, asking in a low voice.
"What are you thinking? She and I don't have that kind of relationship," Guo Xuyang said.
"Exactly. He doesn't think I'm good enough. I wasn't talking about me."
"Then who was it? Someone so formidable that they could make Yang Zi beg for mercy?" Xia Li's gossipy heart began to burn.
"Why are you asking? Eat your food. I'm telling you, this matter is dropped today. When Xiao Xi finds out, she'll interrogate me again." Guo Xuyang glared at Xia Li, speaking to Xiao Si.
"You're afraid of someone? That's truly surprising."
"It's not fear, it's love. Xiao Xi's belly is so big, it wouldn't be good if she had any prenatal complications."
"Xiao Xi is due soon too, isn't she? Counting the days, it should be close," Xia Li said.
Guo Xuyang pondered. It was true, after his escapades with Xiao Xi in the capital, they went to Shanghai and met Xiao Yu and Xiao Hong. Xiao Hong was due soon, so Xiao Xi should be too. No, Xiao Xi got pregnant after they arrived in the provincial capital, later than Xiao Hong. But judging by the situation today, it would likely be within this period. He needed to start looking for nannies. If his mother had to care for them alone, she would be exhausted. He wanted Xia Li to go, but Xia Li was also pregnant. Currently, the only ones not pregnant were Xiao Si and Yu'er. If necessary, he could transfer Lin Ziqi back to help for a while. Guo Xuyang's thoughts drifted, unsure of who to ask.
"What are you thinking? Why did you stop talking?" Xia Li asked again.
"Ah? I wasn't thinking of anything."
"If you weren't thinking of anything, why did you stop talking?"
"Look, Elena and Mom are taking care of Xiao Bao. Xiao Hong is about to give birth, and then Xiao Xi, Yang Yang, and Zi Xuan will follow one after another. I'm wondering if we should hire some nannies to take care of them," Guo Xuyang said.
"Nowadays, people hire confinement nurses. Why look for nannies? You could directly contract a confinement nurse company to be responsible for their deliveries and postpartum care."
"That's one way to do it. Tomorrow, we'll go see if there are any suitable confinement nurse companies."
"If you ask me, you should just buy a professional confinement nurse company. It would be less hassle. These women will need such services sooner or later, they're all lined up. With your own confinement nurse company, you'll have peace of mind, and Mom won't have to be so tired."
"Alright. Tomorrow we'll scout the surroundings and see if we can find a suitable one. If we find one, we'll acquire it directly to specifically handle your postpartum care."
"Hurry up and eat, before it gets cold. We'll talk about this tomorrow."
"I'm full. You guys eat slowly. I'll take some to Yu'er and see if she'll eat anything else?"
"Does it need to be reheated?"
"No need to heat it. This temperature is just right. If it's too hot, she won't be able to eat it."
"Then you go up. Don't worry about cleaning up when you're done. I'll come and collect it in the morning."
"Okay. You guys should rest early after you finish eating." Guo Xuyang said, taking a large portion of lamb soup upstairs.
"He's quite good to Yu'er," Xiao Si remarked.
"Yes, he's good to all these women. He's just a bit of a philanderer. Sister Si, who was that person you were talking about earlier, the one who could make him beg for mercy?" Xia Li's gossipy heart still wanted to know.
"None of these women can last until the end."