Jiang Nan Fang waved him away, "It's fine, you rest."
Then he went to the window, his back to her, and started making phone calls to arrange various work matters.
After the work matters were settled, his assistant called, saying he had found five top-tier confinement nannies from the best domestic help companies in the southern city and was bringing them over for an interview.
These were people who would be in close proximity with Jiang Nan Fang, so they had to be treated with utmost seriousness.
Zhan Bei Jue conducted the interviews himself.
His assistant stood at the doorway with the candidates, while he stood inside.
The first confinement nanny presented her health report and various qualification certificates.
Zhan Bei Jue looked at her age, only 27. Although she was a graduate with a master's degree from a prestigious university, she had never been married or had children. Her knowledge was purely theoretical. How could she possibly care for a pregnant woman?
He immediately passed on her.
The second one's age was suitable, and her work experience was quite long. However, she was over 50. She was primarily from out of town, and her Mandarin was very non-standard, with many pronunciations Zhan Bei Jue couldn't understand.
He didn't want Jiang Nan Fang to feel uncomfortable, having to strain herself to understand what was being said. So, he passed on her as well.
The third one was good in every aspect.
She was 32, married with children, had a long work history, and decent education. However, her psychological resilience was poor.
It was the first time she had seen such a handsome and imposing employer. She stammered while speaking to Zhan Bei Jue, her teeth chattering, and he passed her on.
In short, none of the five were suitable.
His assistant hurried to say, "Then I'll go look again. President Zhan, don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Once the assistant left, Jiang Nan Fang felt he had been excessively strict and wanted to say something to him.
However, he turned around, his brow furrowed, and his expression not looking good as he slowly sat down in a chair.
"What's wrong? Where are you feeling unwell? You look so frightening."
"I suddenly have a bit of a backache."
It was Zhan Bei Jue's first time experiencing a backache. He reached behind himself and massaged it.
Jiang Nan Fang tried to sit up to show her concern.
"Did you strain a muscle when you were holding me just now? Let me give you a massage."
"No need. You stay put. Don't get up. I'm a grown man, what's a little strain going to do? You don't need to worry about me."
While waiting for the new batch of confinement nannies to be brought over, Jiang Nan Fang closed her eyes to rest. Zhan Bei Jue took out his phone and searched for precautions after experiencing fetal distress.
As everyone knows, one should not casually search for medical information on their phone when feeling unwell.
There were all sorts of symptoms and cases, and the doctors always described things in the most alarming way. He felt as though the previous incident was about to repeat itself, and Zhan Bei Jue's mood worsened with every search.
Finally, unable to sit still, he closed his phone with a heavy heart and began pacing by the window.
Looking at the distant scenery, he couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like for Jiang Nan Fang to be pregnant with quadruplets all by herself when he wasn't around.
Having to work to make a living while pregnant must have been incredibly difficult. What was he doing at that time?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt like he wasn't human. The more he thought about it, the more he felt he had failed her and the children. He glanced back at her lying on the bed, as fragile as a piece of paper.
His nose stung, his eyes welled up, and he couldn't help but feel like crying.
He walked to the bedside and sat down, burying his head on Jiang Nan Fang's shoulder.
Jiang Nan Fang was lying comfortably when she felt Zhan Bei Jue come over and hug her.
A hug was fine, but after a few seconds of silent hugging, the clothes on her shoulder became wet.
He was crying.
Oh my goodness.
After being declared infertile by the doctor, conceiving a child was a momentous occasion. She should be overjoyed, so why was he crying?
Besides, he was Zhan Bei Jue, how could he cry?
Jiang Nan Fang patted his back, comforting him not to cry.
"Even though I experienced fetal distress, it didn't hurt at all. And didn't the doctor say there were no major issues? Don't act like something terrible has happened."
The more she comforted him, the more Zhan Bei Jue felt she was wonderful, the more he regretted his past actions, the more he felt he wasn't human, and the more he couldn't hold back his tears.
It was as if his tear ducts had become loose, and eventually, he started to sob, his tears soaking Jiang Nan Fang's shoulder.
Jiang Nan Fang could feel his heartfelt crying. Thinking about how difficult it had been for them to reach this point, she considered trying to feel sad too.
Just as she was building up her emotions, she heard him sob, and suddenly found it amusing. She couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Zhan Bei Jue finally looked up.
He looked at her with his tear-reddened eyes, his voice thick with a nasal tone.
"You're not angry with me? You can still laugh?"
His appearance was indescribably delicate and endearing, like a completely different person from before.
Jiang Nan Fang couldn't stop laughing, her body shaking with mirth.
"I tripped myself, you didn't push me, so what do I have to be angry about? Is that why you're crying?"
She was still laughing?
Zhan Bei Jue didn't know what was happening to him, but he felt an overwhelming sense of grievance. His nose twitched, and big, tear-like drops of water rolled down his cheeks silently again.
"I just feel like I'm not a good father, and I've failed you and the children. I'm so afraid this will be another fleeting moment. Can you please stop laughing?"
Jiang Nan Fang wiped her tears as she laughed.
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore. I'm sorry. I'll lie down and rest obediently and protect this child. Don't be afraid, I promise you."
Perhaps because the child wasn't on him, he felt an uncontrollable anxiety when faced with danger, which was why he was so upset.
Jiang Nan Fang tried to understand him, hugging him and patting him, coaxing him until he finally stopped crying after quite some time.
The calmed Zhan Bei Jue felt quite embarrassed.
He was a grown man, and even the biggest work-related crises had never made him shed a tear. What was happening to him today?
It was too humiliating. Before anyone could see, he quickly went to wash his face.
As he emerged from the bathroom, he happened to encounter the doctor entering to check on Jiang Nan Fang.
"How are you feeling? Are you alright?"
Jiang Nan Fang said she was fine, then secretly glanced at Zhan Bei Jue and gave the doctor a meaningful look.
The doctor took a good look at Zhan Bei Jue, noticing his red nose and eyes, typical symptoms of excessive crying, and was slightly surprised.
"Mr. Zhan, are you feeling unwell?"
Zhan Bei Jue wished he could kick her out immediately. "No."
Jiang Nan Fang exposed him, "Yes, he has a backache. And I saw him rubbing his neck just now. Don't be shy, tell the doctor what's really wrong."
Zhan Bei Jue still wanted to pretend he was fine, but then a wave of intense nausea surged up from his stomach.
He couldn't help but swallow a couple of times and rubbed his chest with his hand.
The doctor seemed to understand. "Mr. Zhan, are you feeling sick to your stomach?"
"Perhaps the disinfectant smell in the hospital is too strong. I'm not used to it."
"Are there any other symptoms?"
"Are you examining me or her? Ask her, why are you asking me so much?"
The doctor, an experienced obstetric director of many years, couldn't help but smile at his reaction.
"In my opinion, Mr. Zhan might also be sick."
"Ah?"
Jiang Nan Fang immediately became worried.
Zhan Bei Jue quickly rushed over, sat beside her, hugged her head, and pressed it onto his shoulder.