Chapter76

When Cen Zhen found out she might be pregnant, it was during the winter of that year.

She had just finished attending the *Starlight Gala*, and felt a bit hungry. After stepping off the stage, Chi Yu brought her some food, but when she ate it, she immediately felt like throwing up.

It was the end of the year, and various award ceremonies were coming one after another. Cen Zhen was working nonstop, sometimes not even having time to sleep, catching a few hours of rest only during flights.

There was no way around it; at 27 years old, Cen Zhen had become the highest-grossing female actress in the country. As Meng Fanchuan had once described her when she first debuted, “stunning across both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” she had indeed become a sensation over the years. Her rise had been unstoppable, and her fame skyrocketed.

Cen Zhen was dedicated to acting and had never been treated any differently because she was a wealthy wife. During one of her most challenging times, she shot a scene in Heilongjiang, where the temperature was minus twenty degrees Celsius, and she jumped into an ice river without a stunt double.

Her acting skills and professionalism had long been recognized by the public. Her reputation, built over the years, was impeccable. Now, Cen Zhen was not only favored by many directors but, judging by box office numbers, she was undoubtedly the most beloved actress among the audience.

At the end of the year, there were so many invitations for Cen Zhen, and Mo Xiang helped her choose a few, but even those were enough to keep her busy.

Now, feeling nauseous, Cen Zhen thought it was probably due to her recent hectic schedule and irregular meals. Chi Yu was worried and suggested she go to the hospital, but Cen Zhen refused, thinking she just needed a couple of days to rest.

However, after two days of rest, things hadn’t improved at all. In fact, they had even gotten worse.

Cen Zhen became unusually sensitive to the smell of oil and smoke. Sometimes, just seeing the food being served made her stomach churn.

At that time, she didn’t realize she was pregnant. She assumed it was just due to her busy schedule, lack of sleep, and irregular meals, causing her stomach issues.

After all, she had experienced something similar before. Two years ago, when she went to shoot in a mountainous area with poor conditions, she had developed stomach problems from exhaustion. Meng Fanchuan had forced her to rest for three whole months after that.

So this time, Cen Zhen thought it was just a stomach problem. She reassured herself that once things calmed down, she would take a proper rest.

When she returned home to North City at the end of December, Meng Fanchuan had just returned from Australia.

His F1 business had grown larger over the years, and Meng Songnian had also invested in it. Together, father and son founded “Mution Sports,” becoming the most influential sports culture operators in Asia. Last year, they successfully hosted the F1 Grand Prix in China, reaping both fame and fortune. They were also planning events like the Hong Kong International Equestrian Competition and an international skiing competition.

Meng Fanchuan had big ambitions. Instead of working with authorized events from others, he preferred to create his own event IPs. This year, he had been busy with these projects, and Meng Songnian had been a great help. Now, with the operations team almost ready, he was constantly traveling.

One was walking the red carpet in Guangdong, the other discussing partnerships in Australia. The couple had been apart for almost half a month this time.

Although they often had small separations over the years, Meng Fanchuan still couldn’t get used to it. Every time he returned home after being away, he had a strict rule:

**No going out for three days.**

This time was no different.

On the night Cen Zhen returned home, Meng Fanchuan immediately took her to the bedroom. It was snowing outside, and she still carried the cold air with her. Once they were together, her chill was quickly melted by his warmth.

Meng Fanchuan lifted Cen Zhen’s chin, forcing her to tilt her head and accept his kiss.

“Did you miss me?” he kissed her gently, one hand slipping under her shirt.

Cen Zhen, not shy at all, was still sensitive to Meng Fanchuan’s kisses and touches even after three years of marriage. Her legs grew weak as she hugged him, vaguely responding with a soft "Hmm." Her mind started to blur, and she eagerly met his lips with her own, entwining their tongues together.

They had been apart for a little over half a month, and both of them were craving each other’s bodies, eager and impatient. Just as they reached the bed and were about to take the next step, Cen Zhen suddenly frowned.

She gently pushed Meng Fanchuan’s shoulder. “Wait, I don’t feel well.”

It was a sudden feeling, and she couldn’t quite describe it. It felt as though something was stuck in her chest, making her unable to swallow or vomit, and her stomach was in turmoil.

Meng Fanchuan noticed her sudden pale face and quickly suppressed his own desire, asking patiently, “What’s wrong?”

Cen Zhen initially wanted to tell him that her stomach had been bothering her lately, but when the words came to her lips, she hesitated. The thing was, Meng Fanchuan was so quick to overreact. Once, when she accidentally cut her hand with a script, he had immediately called the doctor to come to the house.

Cen Zhen still remembered the slightly speechless expression on the doctor’s face. If she told Meng Fanchuan the truth now, he would probably insist on calling the doctor in the middle of the night.

“I’m just a bit tired,” Cen Zhen mustered up some energy and hugged Meng Fanchuan, kissing him actively, trying to continue from where they left off.

Meng Fanchuan pushed her back gently. “If you’re tired, you should go to bed early.”

He wasn’t that inconsiderate to have his wife, just back from a business trip, carry the burden of making love. It wouldn’t feel right, and it wouldn’t be enjoyable.

He went to the bathroom and ran her a bath, then came out and carried her inside. “You go soak in the tub and relax.”

Cen Zhen smelled a pleasant fragrance and asked, “What’s that smell? It’s really nice.”

“Chi Yu said you don’t sleep well when you’re out. A few days ago, when I came home, the family’s perfumer happened to be here. I asked her casually, and she gave me some essential oil. She said it can help with sleep.”

Cen Zhen pursed her lips and turned to kiss Meng Fanchuan on the cheek. “Thank you, hubby.”

“Thank me with something more practical.” Meng Fanchuan casually wrapped his arm around her waist. “Why haven’t you replied about the endorsement deal?”

Cen Zhen intentionally replied, “You should ask Mo Xiang about that. Maybe she thinks it doesn’t match my image?”

Meng Fanchuan chuckled in frustration, “I ask you to be the spokesperson, and I still have to ask Mo Xiang?”

Cen Zhen blinked her eyes. “I’m very busy, Mr. Meng. There are so many brands asking me to be their spokesperson every day. Even my dear husband has to wait in line.”

Meng Fanchuan: “……”

When Mution Sports was first established, no one had thought about having a spokesperson. It wasn’t until they were creating their own event IP that someone suggested finding a spokesperson to help with publicity. At that time, the company had considered several international stars, all of them male.

This aligned with the public's stereotypical view of sports, as competitive sports were often associated with power and masculinity.

But Meng Fanchuan refused. He specifically requested that his wife be the spokesperson.

Cen Zhen was indeed famous, with many passionate fans across the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and even in Asia, but internationally, her fame was still lacking a bit of heat.

When someone boldly suggested this, Meng Fanchuan nonchalantly said, “Then we’ll use Mution to build her fame.”

“Other people find a spokesperson to help with publicity, and here you are, using your own fame to boost mine,” Cen Zhen asked as she leaned against his chest, tilting her head.

“How is that using my fame?” Meng Fanchuan lowered his head and kissed her lips. “This is called ‘wife singing, husband following.’ I’m happy to see you look beautiful in the company’s posters. I get to see you every day, coming and going from work.”

Cen Zhen smiled and pursed her lips. “Why not ask Nuo Nuo? She’s quite popular now.”

Mentioning that sister of hers made Meng Fanchuan feel a bit of a headache. She was a young lady with a family background but instead of sticking to her family duties, she ventured into the entertainment industry. She struggled for two years, but with her harmless face, she became quite popular. As for her acting, no one dared to praise it.

Who would have thought that she became famous by playing a vicious female character who was portrayed as a silly and innocent one?

“I passed by Star City not long ago and went to visit her on set…” Meng Fanchuan sighed. “Forget it. When you have time, maybe you can give her some lessons.”

“Huh? Didn’t she already find a good teacher?” Cen Zhen asked.

Meng Fanchuan really didn’t know. “Who?”

“Director Xie’s nephew, he’s only 24, and recently he’s become extremely popular,” Cen Zhen smiled. “She quietly told me that she plans to seek him out for guidance.”

“……”

Meng Wen Nuo’s rebellious nature was even stronger than Meng Fanchuan’s. Meng Songnian couldn’t do much about her. She was the only daughter. He couldn’t hit her or scold her. After all, he barely managed to get through the rebellious phase of his second son and didn’t expect that his youngest daughter would turn out to be the biggest challenge.

“Let her be,” Meng Fanchuan had a free-spirited attitude toward his sister. Life was short, so of course, she should do whatever she wanted. If she failed, it wouldn’t matter. She could always come back and continue being Miss Meng San.

But after a brief pause, he still asked, concerned from an older brother’s perspective, “What’s that nephew of Director Xie like?”

Cen Zhen thought for a moment. “I don’t know much about him, but I’ve heard that he’s quite rebellious.”

Meng Fanchuan wanted to ask more, but Cen Zhen pushed him out of the room. “If you keep asking, the bathwater will get cold.”

Meng Fanchuan: “……”

It was his fault. Every time he was with Cen Zhen, he couldn’t stop talking.

He remained calm and tried to stay, “It’s not like we haven’t bathed together before.”

Hearing this, Cen Zhen pushed him out even faster.

They had bathed together before, and she knew exactly what he was like, so she firmly refused to bathe with him.

Meng Fanchuan was pushed out of the room and had to return to the bedroom. He was preparing to ask for a glass of milk and some fruit while waiting for Cen Zhen to come out, when suddenly his phone rang.

It was a message from Chi Yu: “Young Master, Zhen Zhen hasn’t had much of an appetite these past few days. She keeps throwing up after eating. I suggested she go see a doctor, but she said it’s fine. After thinking it over, I thought I should tell you.”

Meng Fanchuan read the message and frowned slightly. He remembered Cen Zhen saying she was just tired. Something clicked in his mind, and he immediately became alert.

……

Twenty minutes later, Cen Zhen finished her bath and came out feeling much more comfortable.

“Are you going to wash?” She sat down in Meng Fanchuan’s arms.

But then she heard him ask, “Has your period come this month?”

Cen Zhen was caught off guard by the question. She tried to recall, and with how busy she had been, she realized she had forgotten all about her period.

“What’s today’s date?” she blurted out, but quickly got the answer herself. “The 29th…”

Cen Zhen froze for a few seconds, muttering, “It seems like it’s really late.”

“Is it possible you’re pregnant?” Meng Fanchuan suddenly became very calm.

Cen Zhen widened her eyes. She wanted to deny it, but just as the words came to her lips, she remembered that night at the beginning of the month when Meng Fanchuan had gotten incredibly jealous. She hesitated, “...No, it can’t be that coincidental, right?”

They exchanged looks.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, that night had definitely been crazy.

Meng Fanchuan held Cen Zhen’s hand, comforting her, “I’ve called the doctor over. Whether or not you’re pregnant, you need to see someone about this vomiting.”

Cen Zhen didn’t need to ask; she knew that it was Chi Yu who had told Meng Fanchuan. But at that moment, she didn’t have the energy to inquire further. Her mind was consumed with the thought: Could it be true? Could it really have happened with just one time?

No, it wasn’t just one time.

That night… better not to mention it.

An overly jealous man was completely unreasonable.

The doctor arrived quickly. Over the years, Cen Zhen had a dedicated team that took care of her whenever she had a headache or a fever. For simple issues, the chief physician would come over to see her personally.

Meng Fanchuan briefly explained Cen Zhen’s symptoms and his own suspicions.

“Let’s check if she’s pregnant,” he said directly.

The doctor nodded, asked Cen Zhen a few questions, and then skillfully drew her blood. He then told Meng Fanchuan, “I’ll send the blood sample back to the clinic. Please wait for my call.”

Meng Fanchuan had never waited for a call with such anxiety. Every minute seemed so slow. Cen Zhen could tell he was nervous, so she asked, “You don’t seem like you want me to be pregnant?”

Meng Fanchuan: “……”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want it. It was just so sudden, and Meng Fanchuan wasn’t prepared for it.

These years, he and Cen Zhen had been living a happy life in their own world. They did whatever they wanted, went wherever they wanted. If they had more children…

Meng Fanchuan mentally pictured his father, Meng Songnian, and the years of love and conflict between them. He also imagined his older brother, Meng Qinghuai, battling wits and strength with his son every day. In his heart, he thought—maybe being a dad wasn’t a must.

But then he thought, what if the child was like Cen Zhen?

What if it was a little Zhen? Just thinking about those three words made his heart melt.

Meng Fanchuan pulled Cen Zhen into his arms. “Whether I want it or not is secondary, the important thing is you.”

His career had been on the rise these years. The sudden news of a pregnancy was, after all, something that had to be decided by Cen Zhen herself.

“If you’re willing, I’m willing. If you’re not, we’ll talk about it later,” Meng Fanchuan expressed his stance.

But Cen Zhen just laughed. “Why so serious? It’s not even confirmed yet.”

No sooner had she spoken than Meng Fanchuan’s phone rang.

Both of them held their breath as they looked at the screen.

Meng Fanchuan took a deep breath before answering the call. The doctor on the other end told him the test results. Meng Fanchuan slowly turned to Cen Zhen.

He thought he would remain calm, but when he heard the results, an uncontrollable wave of emotion appeared in his eyes.

Before he could speak, Cen Zhen could already tell everything from his gaze. After hanging up the phone, she excitedly threw herself into his arms, saying, “Fanchuan, you’re going to be a dad?”

Meng Fanchuan himself couldn’t believe it.

His hand remained on her back for a long time, until he finally pulled her in tightly and kissed the top of her head. “Yes…”

He was going to be a dad.

At thirty, Meng Fanchuan had gained a new identity, all because of Cen Zhen.

---

Meng Fanchuan hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy. He had heard before that during the early stages, you shouldn’t tell anyone because it could be bad luck, so he kept it from both their parents.

Cen Zhen also paused her work. She had a movie scheduled to start shooting in the second half of the year, directed by the familiar Xie Qingzong. She politely told him that she might need to take a break. Xie Qingzong was straightforward and immediately said he was willing to wait for her, and they would start shooting in the first half of next year.

Everyone was kept in the dark, and it wasn’t until Zhuang Jiayi saw something during an event before the New Year that she figured it out.

In late January, just before New Year’s Eve, the Ya Wan Group opened a new International Sports Center in North City. This project was a collaboration with Mution Sports and could host large-scale events. Meng Fanchuan was in charge, so on the day of the opening ceremony, Cen Zhen volunteered to support her husband by attending.

By then, Cen Zhen had signed a contract with Mution Sports as their official spokesperson, openly endorsing her husband’s career.

So when she playfully asked to attend the event, Meng Fanchuan had no choice but to agree. He knew she had taken a break from some work and was feeling bored, so he followed her around.

The topic of a popular actress endorsing her husband’s business was bound to attract attention. That day, many media outlets attended the sports center’s opening. As the spokesperson, Cen Zhen stood beside her husband, who was also the boss, to cut the ribbon. Every smile captured by the cameras made the internet swarm with affection.

"This must be the sweetest couple in the entertainment industry. It’s been three years, and I still can’t get over them."

"Who isn’t? From the time Zhen Zhen was just a newcomer, I’ve been rooting for them. Now my Zhen Bao is a top actress, and Young Master Meng still loves her just the same."

"Wow, wow, wow, does Brother-in-law have to keep his hand glued to his wife’s waist like that?"

"Huh? Doesn’t anyone know that Brother-in-law’s account is the top fan club of Hazelnuts?"

"LOL, Brother-in-law is the biggest wife fan."

"Brother-in-law, what are you doing in public? Hugging and holding her like that—how shameless! (But I love watching it!)"

"Why is Zhen Zhen wearing flat shoes today? But it makes her look even more delicate next to Brother-in-law."

……

The netizens had caught on. Zhuang Jiayi, who had attended the ribbon-cutting, also noticed something was off.

When had this star daughter-in-law ever worn flat shoes? She always wore high heels to major events, and with her son’s excessive care the whole time, Zhuang Jiayi immediately sensed something was off. After the event, she didn’t rush, waiting until the couple went home for dinner before asking at the dinner table, “Zhen Zhen, are you pregnant?”

Cen Zhen was so startled she nearly choked, and Meng Fanchuan quickly patted her back. Before he could respond, Meng Songnian, clearly surprised by his wife’s question, asked Meng Fanchuan, “Really?”

Meng Fanchuan had originally planned to keep it a secret for another month, but since it was already noticed, he admitted, “Mm.”

Zhuang Jiayi’s face lit up with joy. “When did this happen?” Then she scolded Meng Fanchuan, “How could you be such a husband? Zhen Zhen’s pregnant, and you still let her go and endorse things?”

Meng Fanchuan didn’t have the chance to defend himself, or perhaps Zhuang Jiayi didn’t want to hear his defense. In the blink of an eye, she was already sitting next to Cen Zhen, asking with concern, “Have you had an ultrasound? How far along are you?”

Cen Zhen felt a bit embarrassed and nodded. “Almost two months.”

Zhuang Jiayi mentally calculated, “So, there’ll be another baby in the family in September?”

Meng Fanchuan casually coughed. “It’s not just one.”

Zhuang Jiayi froze. “What?”

This news was just as unbelievable for Meng Fanchuan and Cen Zhen. After confirming the pregnancy, they went for an ultrasound on a quiet night, just to check on the baby’s development. To their surprise, the doctor told them, “Mrs. Meng is expecting twins.”

They were both shocked. Later, after thinking it over, Cen Zhen recalled that there were indeed twins in her father’s family, and perhaps she had inherited that gene, which led to this unexpected twin pregnancy.

That night, Meng Fanchuan was so excited he didn’t sleep. He kept looking at Cen Zhen’s flat belly, kissing it over and over, feeling that life was just so miraculous.

In ten months, would he have two sons, or two daughters?

Or, if he were greedy, maybe a son and a daughter?

Upon hearing this news, the excited ones became Zhuang Jiayi and Meng Songnian. After that, they stopped hiding it. Meng Fanchuan called Xiao Yunqi, and even the older brother and his wife heard the good news.

Meng Wenruo, who was filming far away in Star City, had already bought gifts, saying they were for his future nephew or niece.

Sometimes, when Cen Zhen asked Meng Fanchuan if he wanted a son or a daughter, he would say it didn’t matter, then tell her, “Old Meng wants a grandson.”

“Why?”

Every time Meng Fanchuan thought about why Meng Songnian wanted a grandson, he couldn’t help but laugh. “He said the first time he saw you, he thought if the child’s eyes look like yours, it would be very beautiful. People usually say sons look like their mothers, so he wants a grandson.”

Cen Zhen didn’t know about this. She recalled her first meeting with Meng Songnian in Hong Kong, when he was expressionless, cold, and serious. So, he had been thinking about this back then?

Cen Zhen laughed. “What if it’s a granddaughter? Wouldn’t he be disappointed?”

“Disappointed? He’s already been worn out by my eldest brother’s family to the point of wanting to retire early. He’s said more than once that a granddaughter would be better.”

“Anyway.” Meng Fanchuan gently hugged Cen Zhen. “This is our child. As long as we like it, it doesn’t matter to anyone else.”

Cen Zhen contentedly lay in Meng Fanchuan’s arms, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and peace.

Over the years, no matter what she did, her greatest confidence came from Meng Fanchuan’s love. Whether it was announcing her relationship with him right after debuting, or now, taking a break from her career to have a child, her courage never wavered, and she had never hesitated.

In September of the same year, Cen Zhen quietly entered the hospital in North City.

The Meng family had begun preparations a month in advance, assembling the best medical and nursing teams to provide Cen Zhen with the best conditions for delivery. The media outside had caught wind of it. After all, Cen Zhen had barely worked that year, and whenever she did make an appearance, Meng Fanchuan was always by her side. Sharp-eyed fans noticed Cen Zhen’s slightly rounded belly in various photos and began asking on Meng Fanchuan’s Weibo if he was about to become a father.

Meng Fanchuan didn’t have the time to reply to netizens.

However, the closer it got to the due date, the more anxious he became.

He finally understood how his older brother, Meng Qinghuai, had felt when his wife gave birth. Meng Qinghuai had stood outside the hospital all night, unable to relax.

Now, it was his turn.

Although the doctors repeatedly assured him that they would reduce Cen Zhen’s pain, Meng Fanchuan still wasn’t at ease. He wanted to be there for the delivery, but Cen Zhen had ruthlessly kicked him out.

He was overreacting. Cen Zhen was afraid that he would lose his patience and keep changing the medical team before the baby even arrived.

So, Meng Fanchuan had no choice but to wait outside. That night felt like an eternity. He paced back and forth in the corridor, and maybe it was because he’d spent so much time with Cen Zhen, but he had picked up her bad habit of overthinking. His mind kept coming up with ridiculous scenarios, and the more he thought, the more chaotic it became. He closed his eyes for a moment, turned around, and cursed himself.

He had no idea how much time had passed, and when he finally lost track of time, the door opened.

The nurse came out carrying two little bundles. Meng Fanchuan, standing on the other side, saw this scene, and his heart started pounding wildly. It felt like an unreal dream. He should have rushed over immediately, but his feet seemed frozen to the spot.

“Congratulations, Mr. Meng. You’ve got the perfect match—son and daughter.”

“……”

……

Meng Fanchuan would always remember the joy and cheers in the hallway that day. Family, elders, and friends came to congratulate him, but he was lost in a wave of happiness, staring at the two little pink bundles. He felt that his life had been worth it.

He had done what he loved, married the woman he loved, and now he had a son and a daughter.

What kind of virtue did he accumulate in his past life to meet Cen Zhen in this life and receive such a blessing?

Half an hour later, Cen Zhen was wheeled out. Meng Fanchuan, Zhuang Jiayi, and Xiao Yunqi, who had been waiting outside, all went to greet her as she came out.

The two mothers and the doctors confirmed Cen Zhen’s condition. Meng Fanchuan remained silent, simply holding Cen Zhen’s hand and kissing it. His reluctance, his gratitude, his happiness—every word he wanted to say was conveyed in that kiss.

Cen Zhen was awake. The medical team was excellent, and with their scientific approach to childbirth, she cooperated, finding the process much easier than she had imagined.

“Where’s the baby?” she asked.

Meng Fanchuan replied, “They’ve gone back to the room. My dad’s staying with them.”

When they had just sent the baby back to the room, Xiao Yunqi had initially said she would go and stay with the baby, but Meng Songnian volunteered, so Xiao Yunqi didn’t argue. After all, she also wanted to wait for her daughter to come out.

Cen Zhen widened her eyes, feeling a little uneasy imagining the scene. “Do you think Dad can handle it?”

Meng Fanchuan chuckled softly. “He’s been waiting for a long time. Let him be.”

What no one knew was that in the special VIP room prepared for Cen Zhen, Meng Songnian was patiently waiting for his newly born grandson and granddaughter to open their eyes.

The influential Chairman Meng, with one baby in each arm, felt immensely satisfied in his heart—

He now had a grandson and a granddaughter. Surely, one of them must have eyes like their mother’s, right?