ACMS 66 (End)

Chapter 66 – Marriage Proposal【Main Story Complete】

It was rare for men to give birth, so this surgery wasn’t easy and took longer than a typical C-section.

Before the operation, the doctor had already explained the risks, and Shen Hechuan had signed the informed consent.

During the surgery, everyone waiting outside—Wu Huilan and the others—were extremely anxious.

Old Master Shen was already quite old, and they hadn’t planned to bring him along, but he insisted on coming, so they let him.

While they waited, Wu Huilan and Chen Li held each other’s hands for comfort.

“Don’t worry, the doctor is experienced,” Shen Zhenghe tried to reassure everyone. “Let’s just wait quietly. No need to panic.”

Wu Huilan gave him a glance. “Then stop shaking your leg.”

“…” Shen Zhenghe was momentarily speechless. He had a habit of shaking his leg when nervous.

When the door to the operating room finally opened, they quickly gathered around. The nurse smiled and said, “The surgery was very successful. And it’s a boy and a girl—both babies are healthy.”

Everyone sighed in relief. “That’s great! Is the parent alright too?”

Nurse: “They’re fine. He’ll be out shortly.”

By the time Qiao Le woke up, he had already been moved to the VIP maternity center at Lihua.

“Lele.” Shen Hechuan, who had been sitting at his bedside the whole time, was the first to notice he’d woken up. “You’re awake? How do you feel? Any discomfort?”

Wu Huilan and Chen Li, who had been playing with the babies, walked over when they heard him. “How are you feeling?”

Qiao Le moved a little. “Not much feeling… Have I already given birth?”

“You have. The anesthesia just hasn’t worn off completely yet. Once it does, you’ll start to feel some pain,” Chen Li said with a laugh. “The babies are healthy. You had fraternal twins—a boy and a girl.”

“Both?!” Qiao Le was shocked. “I’m that amazing?!”

They hadn’t paid much attention to the babies’ sexes, treating it like a surprise gift box. Who knew it’d be one of each?

“You really are amazing,” Wu Huilan said with a smile, and together with Chen Li, brought the babies over to show him.

The newborns were tiny, with fair skin and thick, dark hair. Though their eyes were still closed, they looked absolutely adorable.

Qiao Le gazed at them, heart melting. He reached out to gently touch their little cheeks, then their soft hair.

“Which one is older?” he asked, confused. The two babies looked so much alike, he couldn’t tell who was who.

Chen Li, holding one of them, said, “This is the older sister.”

Wu Huilan patted the baby in her arms. “And this is the younger brother.”

So they were brother and sister.

Qiao Le wanted to hold them, but since he had just had surgery, he asked Shen Hechuan, “Can you hold them for me?”

“Of course.”

Shen Hechuan carefully took the baby from Wu Huilan and held him in his arms.

During Qiao Le’s pregnancy, Shen Hechuan, as a new father, had learned how to hold babies, make formula, and change diapers.

He brought the baby over to the bedside so she could snuggle up next to Qiao Le.

Qiao Le gently rubbed his cheek against the baby’s head and squeezed her tiny hand. Seeing this, Chen Li placed the other baby on his other side.

Lying between the two babies, Qiao Le felt like he had won the lottery in life. He asked Shen Hechuan to take a photo of him and the babies.

“Sure.”

Shen Hechuan crouched beside him, switched the phone to selfie mode, and captured their first family photo as a family of four.

His cheeky move caught Qiao Le off guard, and he burst into laughter. Shen Hechuan seized the moment and snapped over a dozen more pictures.

Chen Li and Wu Huilan exchanged glances and smiled.

“The babies don’t have names yet,” Wu Huilan reminded him. “Let’s at least give them nicknames for now.”

They’d planned to come up with names earlier, but after some discussion, they decided Qiao Le should be the one to name them—such an important task should fall to him.

Qiao Le asked, “What’s today’s lunar date?”

Shen Hechuan: “June 1st.”

“Then let’s call the older sister Qiqi and the younger brother Liu Yi,” Qiao Le said, gazing lovingly at the sleeping babies. “Because today is such a special day.”

He looked up at Shen Hechuan. “What do you think?”

Shen Hechuan leaned down and kissed his forehead gently. “I think it’s perfect.”

Newborns mostly just ate and slept. Once the twins fell asleep, the staff moved them to another room. Chen Li and Wu Huilan also left to give the couple some private time.

Shen Hechuan sat by the bed and took Qiao Le’s hand. “You’ve worked hard.”

“It didn’t feel that hard,” Qiao Le said. “It felt more like I took a nap. My mind still feels a bit foggy.”

Because of his special circumstances, he had been under general anesthesia for the surgery and had quickly lost consciousness.

“You must’ve been worried watching from outside, right?” he asked Shen Hechuan. Shen had already been so anxious during the pregnancy—he could only imagine how much worse it was during surgery. But he’d been asleep and couldn’t even comfort him.

Shen Hechuan nodded and answered honestly, “It was probably the most terrified I’ve ever been in my life.”

Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and all the fears had been unfounded.

Qiao Le beckoned him closer. “Come here.”

Shen Hechuan leaned in, and Qiao Le hugged him, gently patting his back in comfort. “Don’t be scared. The babies and I are just fine.”

“Mm.” Shen Hechuan turned his head and kissed him.

—

The day Qiao Le was discharged from Lihua Hospital, the family held a small gathering to celebrate.

It was hosted at Pengshan No.1 Residence. Chen Li and her husband, along with Fang Jiaxu, were there and brought many gifts.

Qiao Le didn’t hold back and happily accepted the flowers and presents.

Surrounded by the person he loved, and people who loved him, his heart was filled with contentment.

Since school hadn’t started yet, Qiao Le decided to stay at Pengshan No. 1. With so many family members around, it was also easier to take care of the babies.

Suddenly, there were two new little ones in the house. Qiao Man was both shocked and curious, and like a little shadow, he followed the twins everywhere. Wherever Qiqi and Liu Yi were, that’s where he was.

Qiao Le hadn’t yet told him where the babies came from—he planned to wait until he was a bit older.

After the babies were born, Shen Hechuan reduced his social engagements even further. He even turned down most of his friends’ invitations.

After several failed attempts to meet up, Pei Wenjing finally complained, “What’s going on with you? Hiding at home all the time? If it’s that bad, just bring Qiao Le along—everyone knows him anyway.”

“I don’t have time. Next time.” Shen Hechuan had the phone in one hand. “Put it on my tab.”

“Why should I— I’m not broke—”

Before he could finish, a baby’s cry interrupted him.

“Where’s that baby crying from?”

Shen Hechuan quickly walked toward the nursery. “My son.”

“Your what?!” Pei Wenjing’s voice was followed by the sound of something falling. “You have a son?! Where the hell did that come from?!”

Shen Hechuan didn’t explain much. He just tossed out a “Talk later” and hung up.

In the nursery, Qiao Le was changing Liu Yi’s diaper while Auntie Yang stood nearby. “Let me do it, let me.”

“It’s fine, I’ve got it.” Qiao Le finished quickly. Shen Hechuan came over and asked, “He peed?”

“Liu Yi pooped,” Qiao Man announced from the side.

Qiao Le laughed at him. “You’re standing so close—doesn’t it stink?”

Qiao Man pinched his nose and giggled. “It’s a little stinky.”

After the diaper change, Auntie Yang made formula to feed Qiqi and Liu Yi. The two quickly drifted off to sleep again, while Qiao Man kept watch by the crib, unwilling to leave.

Shen Hechuan’s phone kept ringing. When he finally answered, Pei Wenjing demanded to know what was going on. Shen Hechuan sent him a photo of Qiqi and Liu Yi from the album.

Pei Wenjing was shocked when he saw the picture—so much so that he considered rushing over immediately, but was coldly refused by Shen Hechuan.

On the day of the babies’ one-month celebration, Pei Wenjing finally got to meet them.

He couldn’t believe those two little ones had come from Qiao Le. But Qiqi resembled Shen Hechuan, and Liu Yi looked like Qiao Le. He had no choice but to believe it.

With a bit of time, Qiqi and Liu Yi had grown even more beautiful. They clearly inherited the best of both their parents’ genes.

—

After summer break, Qiao Le returned to school.

As soon as Chen Hao saw him, he asked about his health. “Are you fully recovered after the surgery?”

“Yes,” Qiao Le nodded. “Just need a little more time, and I’ll be able to reapply for the club.”

Chen Hao was thrilled. “That’s great. You should still take it easy, though.”

“I will.”

Chen Hao suggested, “Want to get hot pot tonight? My treat—to celebrate your recovery!”

“No thanks,” Qiao Le smiled. “I already have plans tonight.”

He and Shen Hechuan had agreed to have dinner together.

After school, Qiao Le went to a flower shop near campus and picked up the bouquet he had pre-ordered. When Shen Hechuan arrived with the car, he climbed in with the flowers in hand.

Seeing the roses, Shen Hechuan instinctively took them. “They’re beautiful.”

“You’re handsome too.” Qiao Le buckled his seatbelt. “What are we eating?”

“You’ll see when we get there,” Shen Hechuan replied as he started the car.

“So mysterious,” Qiao Le gave him a sideways glance.

Shen Hechuan took him to the Swan Lake Restaurant at the top floor of the Radiance Tower—the same spot Qiao Le had once booked.

But this time, there were no other guests in the restaurant. It was just the two of them.

Shen Hechuan pulled out a chair for him, gesturing for him to sit.

Familiar place, familiar setup—but this time, their roles had changed.

Once seated, Shen Hechuan walked around to sit across from him.

The pianist’s fingers flew over the keys, playing a soft and elegant melody. From the opening notes alone, Qiao Le recognized the song—Love Paradise.

A classic wedding tune.

Fresh flowers, fine wine, candlelight—everything was in place. Even the fireworks outside the riverbank.

Qiao Le’s heart skipped a beat. A strong sense of anticipation surged within him.

Sure enough—

Under a sky filled with fireworks, Shen Hechuan opened a velvet box with a ring inside.

“Our wedding happened too suddenly,” he said. “I’ve always owed you a proper proposal. This time, I want to ask you again.”

“Ask me what?” Qiao Le looked steadily at him.

Shen Hechuan spoke clearly and deliberately. “Qiao Le, will you marry me?”

Qiao Le’s gaze fell on Shen Hechuan’s cuff—he was wearing the cufflinks he had given him.

Suddenly, he remembered the day they registered their marriage at the civil affairs office. They hadn’t even done the oath ceremony.

At the time, he’d thought their marriage was just a contractual exchange. He didn’t take it to heart. Even their photo had been taken only because the staff reminded them.

But today, Shen Hechuan said he still owed him a proposal.

Will you marry me?

I will.

Qiao Le smiled, removed the old ring from his finger, and held out his hand. “I will.”

Shen Hechuan slid the new ring onto his finger, then lowered his head and kissed his ring finger.

“I love you.”

For this lifetime, without reservation.

—End of Main Story—