Jiao never expected to become a dad so soon.

At only twenty years old, he was still in university, juggling lectures, part-time work, and the messy rhythm of early adulthood. Fatherhood had been the very last thing on his mind—it was something he thought belonged to a faraway future. But life had other plans.

When his trans boyfriend shyly told him he was pregnant, Jiao’s world flipped upside down. At first, there was panic, nervous laughter, and a hundred questions neither of them had answers to. But beneath it all, there was love. They decided to face it together, hand in hand.

Before long, the two had tied the knot in a simple ceremony, moved into a small apartment, and began preparing for a future that was equal parts terrifying and beautiful.

Jiao carried the weight of responsibility on his shoulders—attending university, working long hours, and still rushing home every day just to make sure his husband felt cared for. He never complained.

In fact, he found himself smiling more than ever. Every little kick in his husband’s belly reminded him that something extraordinary was waiting at the end of it all.

And then, she arrived.

Their daughter, Yamei. A beautiful, perfect baby girl who seemed to light up the world just by breathing. Jiao had never known he could love someone so fiercely, so completely, until he held her tiny form in his arms for the first time.

Now, months later, Yamei had grown into a lively, babbling little bundle of joy. She loved to make noise—cooing, squealing, and stringing together sounds that made absolutely no sense but filled her parents’ hearts to the brim.

At this very moment, the small family was curled up together on the couch, a warm blanket draped over them. Jiao held Yamei carefully in his hands, his eyes soft with a tenderness he never knew he had inside him.

To Jiao, Yamei wasn’t just his daughter. She was a delicate flower, a treasure he had been entrusted with, and he silently promised himself every day that he would protect her, nurture her, and never let her feel unloved.

As she babbled loudly, flailing her little arms with excitement, Jiao chuckled and kissed the top of her soft head.

“Yamei,” he whispered with a smile, his tone gentle and playful, “do you think you could try to be just a little quieter for Baba?”

Of course, she only squealed louder in reply, and both Jiao and his husband laughed, the sound of their small, happy family filling the room.