Chapter 476: Chapter 476
"Well, Lily, sad to say this, but you and Fatty are very unlikely to have twins or triplets. The Li Clan, even on your father’s side, doesn’t carry the genes for multiple births. I gave birth twice with multiple babies because your stepfather’s genes are very strong. His father is a set of triplets, and their great-grandfather is also a set of triplets." Ling Li explained
Lily’s shoulders slumped dramatically, her lips pouting.
"Ah! That’s too sad!"
Then, with sudden indignation, she wagged her finger at her mother and Ren.
"And please, you and big brother, can you stop calling him Fatty? He hates it, and honestly, so do I!"
Ren burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her sleeve.
"But it suits him so well! He’s round and cheerful, like a dumpling."
Lily rolled her eyes, cheeks flushed.
"He’s not a dumpling, he’s my boyfriend! Call him by his name, or at least something dignified."
Ling Li smiled knowingly, her gaze warm but teasing.
"Names carry weight, Lily. If you wish him to be seen as more than ’Fatty,’ then you must help him carry himself with dignity. But don’t worry — whether dumpling or dragon, he is family."
Ren’s brows furrowed as she remembered her mother’s earlier words. She leaned closer, her voice curious but tinged with hope.
"But Mom, you only said Lily and Fatty don’t have the chance. Does it mean Shun and I have the possibility?"
The twins paused in their play, their wide eyes turning toward their mother as if they, too, awaited the answer. Lily, still pouting from her mother’s earlier remark, crossed her arms and leaned in, eager to hear the reply.
Ling Li chuckled softly, shifting the triplet in her arms before answering. Her gaze moved between Ren and Lily, her voice calm yet thoughtful.
"Ren, the truth is... yes, you and Shun have a possibility. The bloodline of the Phoenix Sutra carries unusual strength. Sometimes, that strength manifests in multiple births. It is rare, but not impossible."
Her eyes softened as she looked at Ren.
"But remember, child, such blessings are not without burden. The heavens grant them only when they believe their parents can endure the trials that come with raising more than one soul at a time. It is not just joy — it is responsibility.
And I remember, Shun’s maternal aunts are also a pair of twins, and this makes the chance higher."
Ren’s lips parted, her eyes shimmering with excitement. She clasped her hands together, whispering almost to herself:
“Twins... or even triplets... Shun, and I could be blessed."
Lily groaned dramatically, flopping back against the cushions.
"So unfair! Shun and Ren get the possibility, but Quan Ye and I don’t? Mom, you’re breaking my heart!"
Ren laughed, nudging her sister playfully.
"Don’t worry, Lily. Even if you don’t have twins, you’ll still have adorable children. And knowing Fatty, they’ll probably be round and cheerful like him."
Lily sat up, cheeks flushed.
"Stop calling him Fatty!"
The twins, catching the word, burst into giggles.
"Fatty! Fatty!" they sang, twirling in circles.
Lily buried her face in her hands, groaning. Ren laughed so hard she nearly toppled over, while Ling Li shook her head, amusement flickering in her eyes.
Ling Li’s voice cut through the laughter, gentle but firm.
"Enough teasing. Whether one child or many, each is a blessing shaped by destiny. Do not chase what the heavens may or may not give. Instead, prepare your hearts to love whatever gift comes."
The nursery quieted. The triplets stirred softly in their cradles, their tiny cries weaving into the twins’ laughter. Ren’s eyes glowed with hope, Lily’s cheeks remained flushed with indignation, and Ling Li’s calm presence wrapped them all in warmth.
The fragrance of herbs still clung faintly to Four Eyes as he stepped into the nursery, his hair damp from the bath. The twins, Kim Kim and Chin Chin, immediately abandoned their toys and ran to him, their gowns fluttering like little banners.
He bent down, scooping them into his arms with practiced ease.
"Were both of you behaving today?" he asked, his voice warm but carrying the weight of expectation.
Kim Kim puffed her chest proudly.
Chin Chin nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.
"We even helped keep watch of our younger sisters!"
Four Eyes smiled, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads before setting them down.
"Alright, that’s good. Dad is very proud of you. Now let me see your younger sisters."
The twins tugged at his sleeve, eager to show off the triplets.
Kim Kim pointed at the cradles, her voice ringing with excitement.
"Yes, Dad, look at them! They are no longer crumpled than yesterday!"
Four Eyes froze, blinking.
Chin Chin tilted her head innocently.
"Were Kim Kim, and I also this ugly when we were infants?"
Four Eyes opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He is truly helpless when it comes to his twins.
Ling Li, nursing one of the babies, laughed softly, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Kim Kim, Chin Chin, all newborn babies look the same way. They are wrinkled because they’ve been soaked in embryonic fluid inside the mother’s womb to keep them alive."
Kim Kim furrowed her brows, deep in thought. Suddenly, she darted to the door.
"Kim Kim, where are you going?" Chin Chin called after her.
"To the library!" Kim Kim shouted without stopping.
Chin Chin gasped, then chased after her.
"I’m coming too! Wait for me!"
Four Eyes rubbed his temple, speechless once again.
’Having genius children is not too easy,’ he thought, shaking his head.
Ren and Lily, watching from the side, burst into laughter.
Alright, Paps is here, let’s go too," Ren said, tugging Lily along.
When the sisters left, Four Eyes knelt beside Ling Li. His hand brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear.
"Dear, it’s been hard on you," he whispered, his voice low and tender.
Ling Li chuckled, her eyes soft with exhaustion yet glowing with joy.
"It’s alright. I just never imagined that I would have a pair of twins and triplets in my whole life."
She handed him one of the babies who had just finished nursing. Four Eyes cradled her carefully, his gaze tender.