Marlon - Side Story

Ever since the Olympic Games concluded, the fairy-tale romance between Ma Long and Duan Nanzhou had been a hot topic online for quite a while.

Later on, bored netizens began digging into why the couple still hadn't had any children, especially since the little one in the neighboring household of Xu Xin and Yao Yan was already crawling all over the place.

Consequently, a thread urging them to conceive started to gain traction. As for Ma Long and Duan Nanzhou themselves, they honestly didn't feel much about it. They didn't even feel like they had been married for very long; every single day still felt as sweet as a newlywed honeymoon.

Of course, neither of them was opposed to having children, but previously they had still been in the rising phases of their careers and had tried their best to avoid that possibility. Although the parents on both sides were somewhat anxious, knowing that both of them were steady and sensible people, they didn't say much.

However, after the conclusion of this Olympic Games, the two of them got a little wild and didn't take any precautions. And so—

"Ma Long!"

Duan Nanzhou's serious voice echoed from the bathroom. Ma Long, who was still tidying up the living room, was startled and ran over in a panic, wondering what could have happened.

"I think I might be pregnant?" Duan Nanzhou wasn't entirely certain, but she felt the possibility was very high because her period had always been extremely punctual, yet this time it was two or three months late.

Ma Long was frozen in place, completely at a loss as to what to do. Guided by his wife's calm demeanor, he rushed off to the hospital for a series of examinations, which confirmed the pregnancy.

"Zhouzhou, be careful!" Ma Long now wanted to monitor Duan Nanzhou's every movement, terrified that something might go wrong and harm either her health or the baby. This was probably a common affliction among first-time fathers.

Next came the notification of their parents on both sides, followed by another round of warm inquiries and all sorts of solicitous care.

Thus, Duan Nanzhou became the "most fragile" person in the household. Ma Long, who was already considerate, grew even more cautious, transforming instantly into a full-time "babysitter."

Duan Nanzhou tried to persuade him not to be so overly careful, but Ma Long simply let it go in one ear and out the other, completely immersed in his own actions. In the end, Duan Nanzhou simply let him be, otherwise, Ma Long wouldn't have any peace of mind.

Just like that, Duan Nanzhou enjoyed her dear husband's meticulous service all the way until she gave birth and her body had mostly recovered. Only then did Ma Long rein it in a bit, becoming slightly less exaggerated.

...

To be honest, after giving birth, Duan Nanzhou didn't even have to take care of the baby much herself. On one side was a confinement center offering full service, on another were considerate parents from both sides, and finally, there was a newly minted full-time mil-dad.

And so, Duan Nanzhou simply lay back and enjoyed her peace of mind, casually watching her husband flail around in panic every day as he learned how to take care of the baby.

At the same time, she filmed and recorded Ma Long's life as a full-time mil-dad—if she ever posted that footage online, it would practically drop the jaws of all their fans.

When the baby grew to an age where she didn't quite require twenty-four-hour care anymore, Ma Long finally returned to his team for good. After all, life required it, and competitions demanded it.

As for Duan Nanzhou at this moment, aside from occasionally visiting the TV station to handle some work or dealing with it online directly, she had basically entered a true "retirement life."

With more time at home to look after the baby, Duan Nanzhou didn't wrong herself either. Knowing she was completely unsuited for hands-on baby care, she believed professional matters should be left to the professionals, while she would just handle some daily education and the like.

On the days Ma Long was back with the team, he still insisted on video calling at least once a day. The first half of the video call would be spent gazing at their little darling. After coaxing and entertaining the kid for a while, he would insist that Duan Nanzhou take him into her private room to continue the call.

After that came all sorts of coquettish pampering from Ma Long toward his wife, alongside private conversations between the young couple. In particular, Ma Long would complain about how he had been back training with the team for so long without getting to see Duan Nanzhou, missing her and the baby terribly every day.

Sometimes, Duan Nanzhou would deliberately ask:

"Are you missing me or the baby?"

"Of course I'm missing you! The baby is just a bonus..." Ma Long replied without a moment's hesitation. Of course he missed his dear wife, especially since returning to the team meant sleeping on a single bed every night and not being able to hold his wife in his arms to sleep!

...

One day, Ma Long was training with the team.

He saw Liu Guoliang walk in carrying a little toddler dressed in pink, chatting and entertaining the child along the way.

At first, Ma Long didn't pay much attention, right up until the little kid crisp and clear shouted out:

"Daddy!"

"Huh?" Only then did Ma Long realize it was his own little darling. He hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to take her into his arms, only to find that Liu Guoliang refused to let go no matter what.

Ma Long looked at Liu Guoliang with a puzzled expression, his face practically spelling out, "Why won't you give her to me?" As a result, Liu Guoliang simply ignored him, hugged the child tighter, and replied:

"Nanzhou let me hold her!"

Ma Long: ......

Ma Long knew that if they brought their little darling to the Chinese national table tennis team, this would undoubtedly be the outcome. The child probably wouldn't even get to stay in her parents' hands before being passed around the entire team.

After all, their little darling not only inherited the good looks of Duan Nanzhou and Ma Long, but she also combined their best features to be exceptionally pretty. Coupled with a soft, adorable personality and a sweet, charming voice, she was wildly cherished by all the adults.

This time, Duan Nanzhou bringing their little darling to the national table tennis team was essentially walking straight into a tiger's den. Thus, from the moment they arrived at the entrance of the Sports Administration and saw Liu Guoliang's eyes lighting up, she decisively handed the child over.

Fortunately, the little Ma family darling had another virtue: she wasn't afraid of strangers. She only cast a slightly puzzled glance at her beloved mother, watched her hand her over without the slightest hesitation, and then looked at the rather roughly-honed older uncle right in front of her, finding the situation somewhat peculiar.

And so, Liu Guoliang paraded the little darling around the team to show her off, finally bringing her before her biological father for a second round of bragging. As for her biological mother? She had already gone off to the women's team to gossip with her girlfriends.

By the time Liu Guoliang carried the baby over to the women's team, the gossiping session came to an abrupt halt, because this flock of godmothers had already swarmed around them, fighting over who got to hold the baby.

One second they were close girlfriends; the next second they only had eyes for the little darling, leaving Duan Nanzhou completely abandoned and ignored on the side.

Duan Nanzhou: ......

After that, members of the national table tennis team were practically itching to hold and tease the little baby, with the younger athletes in particular staring as if their eyes were glued to the little darling.

As for the baby's biological parents, they could only hug each other for comfort since nobody else was paying attention to them. Left with no choice, they chatted about their relationship and stole kisses and hugs, completely disregarding the fate of their little darling. They truly were biological parents!

...

Ever since that day trip to the national table tennis team, Ma Long and Duan Nanzhou's home frequently welcomed strange uncles and aunts, all of them arriving with their sights set entirely on the little baby.

Sometimes, even when the biological parents weren't home, these visitors would form groups and head straight to the grandparents' house to see the little darling. After all, who could possibly dislike such a soft, adorable, and sweet little girl? Practically every uncle, aunt, older brother, and older sister in the national table tennis team felt their hearts melt the moment they laid eyes on her.

Regarding these outrageous events, Ma Long and Duan Nanzhou felt they could endure them. After all, they had always known their little darling was exceptionally lovable—it was just a bit more exaggerated now!

Until one day—

"Long, what do you think about the two of us becoming in-laws?" Xu Xin asked, looking at Ma Long with an expression of utmost sincerity.

"Get lost!"

Ma Long didn't even have to think; he fired back with just two words.

Xu Xin choked for a moment, but persisted with his script, wanting to persuade such a hard-hearted Ma Long.

After all, their little Kabao had given him an order, stating that he wanted to play with the little sister from Ma's household and make her his wife.

At the time, Xu Xin and Yao Yan had also been stunned, looking speechlessly at their son and asking him if he even knew what a wife meant before making such demands.

As a result, the little guy had replied that it was just like his mom and dad—being able to stay together every day and even having little babies!

Pounded down by his son with no other recourse, combined with his own genuine fondness for the soft and adorable little darling of the Ma family, Xu Xin figured that while no one knew what the future held, getting in line early for his boy wasn't a bad idea, right?

And so, Xu Xin came over with a thick skin. Receiving that response didn't surprise him at all; he merely intended to continue exercising his shamelessness and chatterbox traits to reason it out with his good brother. Who knows, it might actually work!

Ma Long: Get lost.

Consequently, Xu Xin was placed on the blacklist of people forbidden from seeing the child. Yao Yan nearly laughed herself to death when she saw the notification Ma Long had sent to Xu Xin. Wearing an expression of schadenfreude as she looked at her husband, she immediately turned around and took Kabao over to Duan Nanzhou's house as a guest, since Nanzhou hadn't banned her from visiting.

Xu Xin: ......

As for the childhood betrothal that Xu Xin had been daydreaming about, it ultimately didn't receive approval, though who could really predict the future?

Xu Xin only wanted to say to his son: Kabao, you better step up your game! Win back some face for your old man! (Jiayou!)

Ma Long: Get lost!