Chapter 75 Extra-Seven: Raising Baby 3

Auntie made a lot of late-night snacks. Wei Lai only ate half, leaving the rest for Zhou Sujin to help her finish.

“Husband,” she pushed the plate in front of him.

Zhou Sujin handed her a cup of water and picked up his chopsticks to eat the braised noodles.

“My mom is coming tomorrow.” Wei Lai almost forgot about this; after staying home for a few months on maternity leave, her memory wasn’t as sharp as before.

“What time will she arrive tomorrow?”

“The earliest high-speed train, around noon.”

Zhou Sujin said, “I’ll go pick her up.”

“No need to pick her up; Uncle He arranged for a car.” Wei Lai wanted him to focus on his own tasks tomorrow.

Zhou Sujin leisurely ate his noodles, “There’s nothing to do; I don’t need to go back to the company before the New Year.” He planned to stay home with her and Chen Chen.

Wei Lai stood up, moved her chair closer to him, and subtly gestured towards the noodles on the plate.

Zhou Sujin picked up the plate and offered her a bite of noodles.

Wei Lai wasn’t really hungry; she just suddenly felt like having him feed her.

The next day at noon, her mother had just arrived at the villa when her father called her.

Wei Huatian finally managed to hail a taxi after waiting, telling his daughter that if there was no traffic, it would take about an hour to reach the villa.

His daughter wouldn’t be going back to Jiangcheng for the New Year this year, so he came to see her and Chen Chen.

Her mother made glutinous rice dumplings, which he brought along.

“Dad, why didn’t you call me in advance? I could pick you up; it wouldn’t be a hassle.”

“It’s cold; it’s more convenient for me to take a taxi.”

Wei Lai paused for a moment, “Dad, my mom is also coming to see Chen Chen today; she just got home.”

Wei Huatian last saw his ex-wife at their granddaughter’s full moon banquet. They were all there when their daughter gave birth, and after seeing each other more often, their feelings gradually softened.

“You can chat with your mom for a bit first; we’ll talk when we get home.”

Cheng Minzhi was doing baby exercises with Chen Chen, who was especially enjoying it, occasionally laughing with his mouth wide open.

After Wei Lai hung up the phone, Cheng Minzhi asked, “Is your dad coming?”

“Yeah, he should be on a later train than you.”

Cheng Minzhi glanced at her daughter, wanting her not to feel burdened: “When Chen Chen gets older, your dad and I will definitely run into each other often; it won’t matter once we get used to it.”

She had once asked herself if she were given another chance to go back to before her divorce from Wei Huatian, knowing that he would have a new relationship after their divorce, would she endure and not get divorced?

After thinking it over seriously, she would still choose to divorce.

Even if she could endure for three or five more years, the outcome would still be the same.

After thinking about it many times, her heart gradually found peace.

“If I can go to the hospital to visit Yihan after she has a baby, what’s there that I can’t get through with Mom?”

At that time, Zhao Mei happened to be in the hospital room and saw her stunned for a moment. After realizing what was happening, she grasped her hand tightly. They didn’t bother with false politeness and didn’t say too much.

Cheng Minzhi came back to her senses and continued to do exercises with Chen Chen.

Wei Lai lay flat on the bed like her daughter, mimicking the same stretching movements. Chen Chen laughed even more, glancing at her from the side.

Her father arrived after an hour and a half.

Wei Huatian brought a large suitcase filled with things for his daughter and granddaughter.

“Dad, have a cup of hot water.”

“I’m not cold. The taxi was warm, and I took off my coat.”

Zhou Sujin was in a video meeting in the study, so she chatted with her father in the living room downstairs. After doing the baby exercises, Chen Chen fell asleep comfortably, while her mother stayed in the nursery with him.

Wei Huatian took out three big red envelopes from his bag. “Here’s your New Year’s money for the three of you.”

Wei Lai smiled, “What about me and Zhou Sujin?” She then asked, “Which one is for Chen Chen?”

“They’re all the same amount.”

“I thought I wouldn’t get any New Year’s money anymore.”

“That won’t happen.” Wei Huatian took a few sips of hot water, and a layer of mist covered his glasses. He put down the cup and took out a glasses cloth from his bag.

“Dad, let me help you wipe them.” She loved doing this when she was little.

Wei Huatian handed his glasses and the cloth to his daughter, then picked up the cup.

Wei Lai wiped carefully. “Dad, do you want to eat hotpot? I’ll go with you tonight.”

Wei Huatian sipped his hot water, paused for a moment, and looked at his daughter. “Let’s eat at home tonight. You can cook, and your mom and I will try your cooking.”

After his divorce from his ex-wife, his daughter had always longed for the three of them to sit down together for a meal, but both he and Cheng Minzhi had avoided eating together with their child.

That morning, Zhao Mei had taken him to the high-speed train station. While waiting at a red light, Zhao Mei suddenly sighed and blamed herself for being selfish, saying she had wronged Yihan all these years. She had a nasty divorce from her ex-husband and hadn’t been in touch for years, even taking out her anger on the child at one point.

Had he not wronged Wei Lai as well?

Wei Lai was unsure of her mother’s intention. “I’ll ask my mom what she wants to eat later.”

Wei Huatian said, “I’ll go talk to your mom.”

Wei Lai looked down, wiping the glasses, hiding her moist eyes from her father.

Once the glasses were clean, Wei Huatian put down the cup, wore his glasses, and went upstairs.

Wei Lai didn’t follow him but stayed idle, taking out the money from the red envelopes to count how many bills there were.

Zhou Sujin came down after finishing his meeting. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s in Chen Chen’s room discussing what to eat tonight with my mom.” There was still a thick stack of money in the envelope, so she asked Zhou Sujin to help count it.

Zhou Sujin smiled gently and sat down to help her count.

The snow outside had stopped, and he asked her if she wanted to take a stroll in the backyard.

“Let’s go after I finish counting the money.”

On other important holidays, her father would send her red envelopes, but for the New Year’s money, he would never transfer it. No matter how far away she was, whether in China or abroad, her father would always bring the New Year’s money to her.

After counting the money, Wei Lai put on her down jacket, and Zhou Sujin took her to the backyard.

This year’s snow wasn’t as heavy as the year they got married, but it was enough to leave footprints.

Zhou Sujin asked, “How many clusters do you want to leave this year?”

Wei Lai laughed, “Six clusters. I’ll help Chen Chen leave some for now, and next year she can do it herself.”

The snow under their feet was soft and fluffy, crunching with a “crunch, crunch” sound.

After playing in the yard for over twenty minutes, Chen Chen woke up from her nap. Unaware of what her father and mother had discussed, her mother told her that they would eat home-cooked meals at home tonight.

She put on a long-lost apron and got busy in the kitchen.

With the help of an aunt, the dishes were prepared quickly.

Cheng Minzhi held Chen Chen and played in the piano room. Sitting in front of the piano, she played with one hand, unable to remember any sheet music, just pressing the keys in sequence repeatedly.

Chen Chen was captivated by the piano, not crying or fussing, listening very attentively.

In fact, Wei Huatian hadn’t said much to her, just asked, “Shall we have a meal with Lai Lai? What do you think?”

She was in the piano room holding her granddaughter while Wei Huatian was still in the nursery. He sent Zhao Mei a message: [Cheng Minzhi came to see Chen Chen today. We’ll have a home-cooked meal at home tonight with Lai Lai. She’s been looking forward to us having a meal together since she was little. Just letting you know.]

Zhao Mei replied: [You don’t need to say that.]

Wei Huatian put away his phone and went downstairs to help in the kitchen.

Wei Lai prepared a full table of dishes, making two of each that everyone liked.

Zhou Sujin clinked glasses with Wei Lai. “Here’s to Wei Lai’s Baiduo being listed soon.”

Wei Lai smiled, “Then let’s borrow Zhou’s good words.”

Wei Huatian looked at Cheng Minzhi and raised his glass. “To your health.”

Cheng Minzhi lifted her glass and returned the toast. “Thank you.”

At nineteen, they had been so distant and yet so close. Now, there were only these two sentences left.

During the meal, they talked about either Chen Chen or Wei Lai’s Baiduo. Wei Lai was relieved that the awkward silence didn’t occur; it was the most fulfilling Spring Festival she had ever had.

---

When Chen Chen was five months old, Wei Lai returned to work. As the weather gradually warmed, their family moved back to Jiangcheng from Beijing.

Zhou Sujin still didn’t know how to entertain their daughter. Every time Chen Chen was in his arms, she would only last three to five minutes before growing impatient. He was already familiar with all her movements, and after becoming impatient, she would start to cry without any tears.

“Honey, you need to talk more.”

After saying this, Wei Lai couldn’t help but chuckle. He probably didn’t know what to say to their daughter; even after holding back for a long time, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“How about you play the piano for Chen Chen?”

Zhou Sujin hadn’t touched a piano in nearly twenty years, but he picked it up again to cheer up his daughter.

Jiang An Yuncheng didn’t have a piano, so he bought a grand piano for the living room.

The originally empty and spacious living room had gradually been filled over the past two years since they moved in.

When Chen Chen was thirteen months old, Zhou Sujin was already able to play level ten pieces proficiently.

“Daddy.”

Chen Chen couldn’t say “piano,” only calling out the simple “Daddy” and “Mommy.”

Today, Wei Lai dressed their daughter in a light brown onesie. With the hood on, her round, bright eyes looked even bigger.

Zhou Sujin half-squatted down and picked his daughter up with one arm.

Leaning against her father, Chen Chen suddenly didn’t want to listen to the piano. “Daddy.” She looked down to find Zhou Sujin’s other hand.

Zhou Sujin immediately understood; his daughter wanted to stand in his palm. He spread his palm flat and placed her little feet on it to support her.

Chen Chen burst into giggles, her little hands gripping her father’s collar tightly. Her left big toe pressed against the toe of her right foot, occasionally wiggling.

Zhou Sujin observed every expression and tiny movement of his daughter with great attention.

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.”

Each time she called out like this, it usually wasn’t because she was hungry or thirsty.

Zhou Sujin asked his daughter, “Do you want to eat?”

Chen Chen responded with great enthusiasm, “Mm!”

It was about time for her to have some solid food, and the nanny had already prepared it.

Zhou Sujin placed his daughter in her baby chair, and just as he tied on her bib, the doorbell rang.

Auntie went to open the door, and the unexpected guest was Lu Yu, holding a toy he bought for Chenchen.

Zhou Sujin casually pointed to a chair at the dining table, inviting Lu Yu to sit down, and he began feeding his daughter solid food.

“Why are you back in Jiangcheng again?”

Lu Yu replied, “On a business trip.”

He had only been to Jiangcheng once this year.

After finishing work in the afternoon, he drove aimlessly through the streets and alleys of Jiangcheng, where he could see Wei Lai Baiduo on every road.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of the Yuncheng Building, where he spent some time in Yuan Hengrui’s office having a cup of coffee.

The Jiang’an Group was ranked fifth this year.

“The daughter of Zhao Yihan is older than Chenchen, right?”

“Yeah, one and a half months older,” Zhou Sujin glanced at him and added, “She can already walk and talk.”

Lu Yu nodded. “That’s good.”

After a while, he said, “I also plan to find a suitable person to marry.”

Earlier in the afternoon, while wandering the streets of Jiangcheng, he passed by a café where he had had coffee with Chen Jiarui. During their time pretending to be a couple, she had accompanied him on his business trip to Jiangcheng.

“Do you remember Chen Jiarui?” he asked Zhou Sujin.

Zhou Sujin thought about the name. “Your college classmate?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

Just as Lu Yu was about to say more, Zhou Sujin suddenly got up to fetch a warm towel to wipe his daughter’s face. He looked back at the baby chair, and Chenchen’s eyes were almost closed; she was rubbing them vigorously, probably tired and wanting to sleep.

“You can put Chenchen to sleep; I’ll come by again when I have time.”

In the parking garage, Lu Yu leaned back in his chair and struggled for several minutes. He picked up his phone and sent a message to Chen Jiarui: 【When are you free? Let’s go have dinner.】

The message failed to send, marked by a red exclamation point.

It turned out that over the years, it wasn’t that she hadn’t posted on social media; she had already deleted him.

Upstairs, Zhou Sujin had washed his daughter’s face and dried her little hands before picking her up.

Chenchen leaned against him and fell asleep peacefully.