Together, From Now On We Will Live Well

The two of them sprinted all the way. Fortunately, tonight was New Year's Eve, and the main avenue of the imperial city was bright as day, so they didn't have to worry about running into anyone.

As soon as they arrived at Feng Manor, they handed the horses to the servants and strode inside, but still arrived too late.

"Serena has already given birth—it's a boy!" The steward greeted them excitedly, grinning so wide his mouth couldn't close.

With a little master in the house now, everyone in the manor was overjoyed.

"Brother Jinling, little brother, little brother, Feng Jin wants to see little brother." Feng Jin, sharp-eyed, spotted William and immediately reached out to him, wanting to be carried to see Serena and the baby.

"Me too, me too..." Little Eight's eyes darted to Warren Yu. The two little rascals ignored Autumn and Winter's explanations and stubbornly reached out to William Wang and Warren Yu: begging to be carried!

"Alright, I'll take you to see your little brother." William Wang's eyes flashed with a smile as he picked up Feng Jin.

William did feel a bit regretful that he hadn't witnessed Serena's child's birth firsthand, but regret wouldn't change anything now...

With Prince Nolan there, he probably had no chance to see Serena and the baby—unless he brought Feng Jin along!

It had to be said, William knew Prince Nolan all too well. As soon as Prince Nolan heard that William and Warren Yu had arrived, he immediately told the shadow guards to drive them away.

It's New Year's Eve—if you're not home celebrating with family and friends, what are you doing at Feng Manor? If they had nothing to do, he wouldn't mind finding them some work.

"Young Master Feng Jin and the Little Prince have come too." The shadow guard didn't dare lift his head, and his voice was much quieter than before.

Prince Nolan grunted in displeasure. "Take them to see the baby."

"Yes, sir." The shadow guard immediately raised his voice and dashed out. Of course, when he saw William Wang and Warren Yu, he wouldn't put it that way. Instead, he said, "Miss Feng is doing well, just fainted from exhaustion. The young prince is awake—why don't the four of you go see him first?"

Childbirth is exhausting. Although Warren Yu and William were worried about Serena, they knew they couldn't see her during her confinement period—a traditional time for new mothers to rest and recover. The two didn't insist, and Feng Jin and Little Eight had no say—they obediently went to see the baby.

"Little brother is so ugly." That was Feng Jin's first comment upon seeing the baby. Then he patted his own chest and promised, "But I don't mind. I'll protect you from now on, little brother."

Pfft... William couldn't help but laugh. He didn't bother explaining about looks, but corrected Feng Jin: "You can't call him 'little brother'—he's your little nephew." He seemed to recall hearing Feng Jin call him 'little brother' in the outer courtyard, but he'd been too preoccupied with Serena and the baby to correct him then.

"I can't call him little brother? Then what should I call him?" Little Eight tilted his head and looked at William Wang.

He wanted the handsome big brother to hold him too—this uncle holding him now was so stiff and uncomfortable.

"Little Prince, you can call him little brother." William Wang answered warmly, squatting by the cradle with Feng Jin in his arms, gently teaching Feng Jin and the baby how to greet each other—so gentle it could melt.

After sending Warren Yu and William away, Prince Nolan also had Sean Xuan blocked, lest anyone disturb Serena. Once the midwife finished cleaning up, Prince Nolan drove everyone else out, sitting by the bedside to watch over Serena, completely unconcerned about the stuffy air and unpleasant smell in the room.

When Serena woke, she saw Prince Nolan resting with his eyes closed, leaning at the bedside. She stared for a few seconds before he startled awake. The moment he opened his eyes, he met Serena's gaze. Their eyes met, and he couldn't help but smile: "You're awake? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"I'm awake. Not hungry, not thirsty." Serena slowly shook her head, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint smile. She had always feared that Prince Nolan wouldn't be present when she gave birth, and that she'd have to worry about him being in danger at sea. Now...

She finally didn't have to worry anymore. Her child was born, and his father was here. Nothing could be better than this.

"At this moment, you being here... it's wonderful." Yes, no matter what lay between them, with Prince Nolan by her side now, Serena felt a warm glow in her heart.

"From now on, whenever you need me, I'll be there." With the realm in his hands, nothing in the world was more important than Serena and their child.

Serena smiled softly, shifted, and rested her head on Prince Nolan's leg, asking quietly, "Where's the baby?"

Prince Nolan's hand naturally fell to Serena's forehead, gently stroking her. "William and Warren Yu came; Sean Xuan is entertaining them. They're all looking at the baby."

"Oh..." Serena answered softly. Though she wanted to see her child, she didn't insist on having him brought in right away.

The weather was cold; it was best for the baby to stay out of the wind. If he caught a chill, even as a physician, she'd be heartbroken.

"Have you thought of a name for the baby?" Serena looked up at Ninth Royal Uncle, her eyes full of expectation...

"Have you thought of a name for the baby?" Serena looked up at Prince Nolan, her eyes full of expectation...

"A name for the baby?" Prince Nolan's hand paused. Could he admit he'd never considered it?

"Cradle name? You've already decided?" Ninth Royal Uncle sobered instantly. Compared to Serena, he really had failed as a father.

Though he was looking forward to this child, he hadn't truly made the child a priority. State affairs and Serena consumed all his energy; he could only spare a sliver of attention for the child. Naming him hadn't even crossed his mind.

Serena didn't even have to ask; she knew he hadn't thought about it. Her brows furrowed slightly in disappointment. "You're his father, so you should name him. But there's no rush—when he turns a month old, it's fine. For now, let's just use his cradle name."

"Cradle name? You've already decided?" Prince Nolan sobered instantly. Compared to Serena, he really had failed as a father.

Serena had never meant to blame him, so she answered readily: "I thought, if it was a boy, I'd call him Little Dumpling; if a girl, Sweet Dumpling; if twins—two boys or two girls—the second one, no matter the gender, would be Little Treasure." No matter what kind of treasure, they were all her precious children, bound to her by blood.

You can tell how much Serena longed for this child just from the cradle names. Ninth Royal Uncle's eyes stung. He rubbed Serena's head and, in a deep, slow voice, said, "Alright, for now he'll be Little Dumpling. Later, we'll have a Sweet Dumpling and a Little Treasure too—to complete our trio of treasures."

Serena had never meant to blame him, so she answered readily: "I thought, if it was a boy, I'd call him Little Dumpling; if a girl, Sweet Dumpling; if twins—two boys or two girls—the second one, no matter the gender, would be Little Treasure." No matter what kind of treasure, they were all her precious children, bound to her by blood.

You can tell how much Serena longed for this child just from the cradle names. Prince Nolan's eyes stung. He rubbed Serena's head and, in a deep, slow voice, said, "Alright, for now he'll be Little Dumpling. Later, we'll have a Sweet Dumpling and a Little Treasure too—to complete our trio of treasures."

No matter how much time passed, he could never get used to Serena's coldness and distance. Every polite smile felt like a knife slowly carving his heart.

When Prince Nolan said this, he was both cautious and hopeful, his gaze burning as he looked at Serena. Though his face remained calm, inside he was deeply anxious.

No matter how much time passed, he could never get used to Serena's coldness and distance. Every polite smile felt like a knife slowly carving his heart.

Prince Nolan kept watching Serena, waiting for her answer. As always, Serena said nothing. The warmth in his eyes slowly faded, and he slumped, mocking himself in silence: As expected, it still wasn't enough. Serena still refused to forgive him.

What on earth did he have to do? Prince Nolan grew restless inside, but forced himself to stay calm, afraid that in a fit of anger he might hurt Serena.

"Serena..." Prince Nolan was about to leave to cool off, but as soon as he spoke, Serena caught his hand. Then he heard her say, "Alright. In the future, we'll have a Sweet Dumpling and a Little Treasure too. A family of five together."

Serena's voice was very soft, but Prince Nolan heard her clearly: "Serena, you—you said what?"

"I said yes—from now on, our family will always be together." Serena closed her eyes, trying to blink away her tears, but they slipped down her cheeks...

Just like when she refused him before, saying "yes" now took all the strength she had.

"I said yes—from now on, our family will always be together." Serena closed her eyes, trying to blink away her tears, but they slipped down her cheeks...

"Qingchen, you—you... you're finally willing to forgive me?" Ninth Royal Uncle was wild with joy. Calm and reason flew out the window—he just wanted to hold Serena tight and tell her how happy he was.

Nolan Dongling, you must never make me heartbroken again!

"Serena, you—you... you're finally willing to forgive me?" Prince Nolan was wild with joy. Calm and reason flew out the window—he just wanted to hold Serena tight and tell her how happy he was.

Finally, she was back—his Serena!

Her greatest regret was that, after finally reaching for happiness, she hadn't cherished it. She'd tortured herself—and Ninth Royal Uncle too.

Except for the matter of Bella Qin, nothing else made her angry, and even then, she was angry with herself, not Prince Nolan. But during childbirth, when she felt death so close again, she wondered: if she died in labor, what would be her greatest regret?

When Ninth Royal Uncle whispered in her ear that he'd give up descendants and keep only her, she knew she couldn't leave this man.

When Prince Nolan publicly declared that future heirs might be hard to come by, Serena knew there would never be another man who could love her this much, or tolerate all her stubbornness and rage.

"From now on, we'll both live well, just like you said—let the past stay in the past." Serena smiled through her tears.

Since she'd decided to stay, she wouldn't keep picking at old wounds. She didn't want Ninth Royal Uncle chained by guilt or overindulgence, either. If remorse and over-tolerance warped their bond, even together they wouldn't be happy.

"Silly girl, I was the one who did wrong—it has nothing to do with you." Ninth Royal Uncle wiped away Serena's tears, his voice hoarse. "Don't cry—you're in confinement, tears are bad for your eyes."

Serena's coldness these past weeks had truly hurt him, but he understood her pain—and knew his own faults.

When Sean Xuan first appeared, Serena, afraid he'd mind, told him right away and broke off the engagement immediately. It was his own indecision that hurt Serena...