Chapter 1
Four people waited outside for a long time, but there was no sign of a doctor coming out. Everyone felt a bit strange and thought something might have happened inside. Just then, they heard another round of a child's crying. The three of them exchanged glances, and it was the elderly lady who, with her experience, stood up happily and said, "Could it be that there are two? This time..."
The parents behind looked at their son with a mix of concern and affection. The mother, feeling both reproachful and tender, gave him a light pat on the back, then almost grasped his neck to push him down onto the chair beside her. With a tone of complaint, she said, "You are already a father, how can you still be so impulsive?" Meanwhile, the girl beside them had already rushed to the door of the delivery room, peering through the crack with a curious expression, even though she could see nothing.
His own son was still like this, yet Shen Zui felt an unusual happiness in his heart. He had a total of three children, all now nine years old, having graduated from the third grade of elementary school. When school resumed, they would be entering the fourth grade. Although they were born from the same pregnancy, there were very obvious and unusual differences among them. He did not know how this came to be, or rather, Shen Zui himself could not understand how such significant disparities could arise between them, considering that their living environment was the same. In this regard, he had always been very attentive.
Before Shen Zui could fully grasp the situation, Shen Lang had already stood up, rolled up the carpet on the floor, deliberately turned off the television, and walked towards his room. As he passed by his father, he coldly remarked, "It is best to make a decision on such matters as soon as possible to avoid dragging things out. I await your good news." Looking at the closed door of his son’s room, Shen Zui truly felt at a loss for words. Should he scold him? What should he even scold him for? Praise? How could he possibly offer praise in such a situation?
Just as the elderly couple was about to speak, they suddenly heard the sound of a baby crying from the delivery room. The sound was very loud, as if the child was announcing its arrival to the world. Upon hearing the child's voice, Shen Zui felt a sudden tension in his heart and quickly turned around, only to hear a cry of "ouch." He then hurriedly covered his neck with his hand, realizing that he had accidentally twisted his neck.
He parked the car directly in the community parking space, no longer bothering to take it into the garage, simply because he felt somewhat irritable. After a social engagement in the evening, his mood was even harder to lift
Take this summer vacation as an example. Originally, my plan was to send all three of them to their grandparents. One reason was that I was quite busy with work, though that was merely an excuse. More importantly, I wanted these three children to experience the love and care of their elders. The eldest and the second child left without any hesitation, but the youngest stayed for only two days before returning home, without providing any reason, which left me somewhat puzzled. However, it is fortunate that he came back, as I have benefited a bit from his presence.
Moreover, the third child does not speak much with the other children at school; they primarily communicate through glances. During a parent-teacher meeting, I learned from the teacher that several classmates were so frightened by the child staring at them for a while that they cried out loudly, causing very few students in the class to dare sit next to him. As a result, the teacher had no choice but to place him in the last row, yet the children sitting in front of him remained apprehensive.
Standing under the building of his own home, Shen Zui looked up at the dim light flickering from his window. A wave of sorrow surged in his heart, and he took a deep breath, wiping away the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes due to emotion and excitement. He gave himself a reassuring smile and then strode confidently into the elevator. After gently opening the door to his home, he saw his younger brother sitting cross-legged on the floor, with a thin blanket resembling a * picture * book underneath him, seemingly engrossed in watching television.
Upon hearing his son speak in such a manner, Shen Zui felt the veins on his neck bulge with anger, and he exclaimed in exasperation: "You little rascal, what do you know! The relationship between the two of us is very pure, not at all as you imagine it to be. From now on, refrain from saying such things. By the way, where did you learn all this? Who told you, your grandfather or your grandmother? I wonder why you can’t manage other things, yet you seem to handle this so smoothly?"
For this reason, Shen Zui was at a loss. This third child had always seemed somewhat special since childhood, though it was not particularly obvious. However, once he started school, it was as if a dividing line had been drawn. As his father, Shen Zui felt fortunate to witness the few expressions the child displayed. Others, including his grandfather, grandmother, and aunt, had hardly seen Shen Lang smile more than a few times. If it weren't for the medical examinations, Shen Zui would have suspected that the child was suffering from facial paralysis. Others, including his grandfather, grandmother, and aunt, had hardly seen Shen Lang smile more than a few times. If it weren't for the medical examinations, Shen Zui would have suspected that the child was suffering from facial paralysis
The sky outside has begun to gradually brighten, and the faint mist is also starting to dissipate. The sun is making its final preparations for rising, and everything is so orderly.
Outside the delivery room of the municipal hospital, a man who had been waiting for an entire night now displayed an anxious demeanor. At this moment, Shen Zui had long since cast aside his usual composure, and even the most composed individual would likely find it difficult to calm their heart at such a time
However, even so, among his few children, Shen Zui still feels that his favorite is the third one. Although the third child is quite indifferent and apathetic, he is more understanding and considerate. In this regard, he surpasses his older brother and sister by a significant margin. This does not mean that Shen Kai and Shen Nan are not understanding; on the contrary, both of them are very obedient. However, to some extent, Shen Zui and *Tu* *Shu* can still perceive a certain difference, and this difference is not small. Yet, what puzzles him is that he cannot articulate what exactly this situation is.
The eldest, Shen Kai, and the younger sister, Shen Nan, are completely different from the third brother, Shen Lang. Back when I was still in my original state, I even took him to the hospital for several full-body check-ups because I thought he had some special ailment. However, the results showed that there was absolutely nothing wrong. Instead, the hospital informed me that my son was exceptionally healthy.
As the three children gradually grew up, the differences became increasingly apparent. The eldest and the second child held the positions of class monitor and academic committee member, respectively, in the same class, and they actively participated in various activities. Although they were only in the third grade, they appeared exceptionally lively. However, the youngest child’s academic performance was quite different, showing a significant gap compared to the older siblings. Overall, his performance was neither particularly good nor bad; it neither brought joy nor frustration. It was consistently the same, never providing any unexpected surprises. At times, Shen Zui even wished that his son would perform poorly in his studies, just to break the monotony of his feelings. Yet, this wish remained unfulfilled, leaving him with a slight sense of regret.
Shen Zui was walking back and forth when he saw an elderly couple and a girl who resembled him in age and appearance coming from the other side of the corridor. Upon seeing his parents and younger sister arrive, Shen Zui hurriedly went to greet them, "Mom, Dad, sister, why did you come so early?"
The little boy sat back down on the floor, his face showing no particular expression. "I have eaten by myself, but I won't have enough money for tomorrow; I still need to buy groceries. Also, Grandpa and Grandma called today. My older brother and sister are safe over there, though they seem a bit mischievous; this is Grandma's exact words, and she wants you to rest assured. They also asked about you and a few other things, and that's all. " After finishing, he remained sitting there cross-legged, perfectly still, like a stone Buddha.
Not long after the words were spoken, the sound of another child's crying was heard. This was quite something; the child who had just stopped crying also began to wail again. The sounds were truly ear-piercing, and the delivery room became lively. Those outside were also eagerly looking on.
If others were to see the two of them, the first impression would certainly not be that they are father and son. Is it possible for a father and son to be like this? The son is so cold and indifferent that one cannot sense even a hint of warmth; not even a trace of joy can be seen on his face when the father returns.
Upon seeing his father return, the child was just about to stand up when Shen Zui quickly waved his hand at him, saying, "No need, I have already eaten outside. Are you hungry? Would you like your dad to cook something delicious for you? If that's not feasible, how about I take you out for a bit of fun?"
Shen Lang looked at his father, not directly answering his question, but rather teasingly said, "Dad, looking at your spirit and your current physique, I really have my doubts about how you've been living these years. If it's not working out, just find someone, so you don't end up with other issues, leaving the three of us in a rather pitiful situation. I think Aunt Jiang would be a very good choice; she seems quite interested in you, understands and sympathizes with our family's situation, and she is currently living alone without any burdens. I think you two are quite suitable; at least when you come back to sleep in winter, the bed won't be too cold, what do you think?"
While lost in thought, I took off my clothes, took a refreshing shower, and stepped out feeling quite invigorated. I stretched my arms wide and said, "Xiao Lang, don’t just sit there so obediently; aren’t you tired at all? Just looking at you makes me feel quite uncomfortable. Besides, look at your age; do you really understand these things?" Saying this, I snatched the remote control from the floor and switched to a sports channel.
Shen Lang looked coldly at his father, "Dad, don't you think this is a bit self-deceptive? How pale it is! We have already reached a consensus here; if it doesn't work out, we can make it together and transfer to Grandpa's place. After all, the teaching environment there is not much worse than here, and Grandpa and Grandma would be quite pleased with our decision. Although we haven't communicated this yet, I believe Grandpa and Grandma won't have much opposition."
When the door was pushed open, Shen Zui, disregarding his own neck, stood up abruptly and rushed forward. At that moment, he felt as if he had just stepped from darkness into light, a sensation that filled him with excitement and agitation, yet also instilled a sense of fear, leaving his heart in a state of turmoil and uncertainty.
Seeing Shen Zui in this state, the nurse joyfully looked at him and said loudly: "Congratulations, you have triplets, and both mother and babies are safe. The second one is a girl, while the other two are boys"
Shen Zui's face revealed a hint of urgency, occasionally casting eager glances at the inside of the delivery room. Although he could see nothing at this moment, he wished he could rush in and smash that damned door to pieces, so that he could see the condition of his wife inside.
However, upon entering the room, Shen Lang slowly leaned his body against the wall and gradually slid down to the floor. The reason he played this joke on his father today was not without cause. Whether his father did it intentionally or not indicated a certain issue, one that caused heartache for the entire family. Perhaps only his older brother and sister were unaware of it. Although he was aware, he did not fully grasp the entire sequence of events and the facts. Delving into this matter might bring him profound pain. Nevertheless, regardless of the circumstances, he wanted to know, simply because that was his mother.