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With the design finalized, the renovation plan for the children’s room quickly took shape. Assistant Lin hired a reliable construction team, and since the renovations involved mostly soft furnishings and custom furniture, the project was expected to take just two weeks.
The team arrived early one morning. Zhujia discussed the schedule and daily timelines with them, ensuring that Little Wen’s naptime would be undisturbed by noise.
Despite their efforts, some noise was inevitable during the first few days of construction. To avoid disrupting Little Wen, Zhujia decided to take him out after breakfast. She brought him downstairs to the living room, where a baby stroller was waiting. Placing him in the stroller, she wheeled him to the dining room to have breakfast together.
The breakfast spread was sumptuous—Zhujia’s favorite Cantonese dishes! A few days earlier, the household had stocked up on classic Cantonese dim sum, which only required simple preparation to recreate an authentic morning tea experience.
Looking at the array of exquisite dishes—abalone sauce chicken feet, crab roe shumai, tender pork rice rolls, shrimp dumplings larger than Little Wen’s fist, crispy egg tarts, salted egg custard buns, hand-made beef meatballs, long and crunchy youtiao, and warm soy milk—Zhujia’s appetite was fully awakened.
Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, the sound of footsteps came from the living room. Looking up, she saw Mo Yichen walking in—someone she hadn’t seen in a few days.
Dressed in a light gray tracksuit, his usually sharp and aloof features softened with a hint of boyish charm. His damp hair suggested he had just taken a shower. He walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Zhu Jia was slightly surprised. She had never seen Mo Yichen at home this late before—he usually left for work early in the morning. Taking a bite of her custard bun, she asked vaguely, “Why aren’t you at work yet?”
“It’s my day off.” Mo Yichen sat upright, slightly lowering his gaze as he took a sip of the soy milk beside him.
Zhu Jia had been living in this house for nearly a month, and this was the first time she saw Mo Yichen take a day off. So, even the overbearing CEO archetype in novels had breaks! Of course, if he didn’t, how would he ever have time for romance with the heroine?
“You have something on your mouth,” a deep voice interrupted her wandering thoughts.
Zhu Jia grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth haphazardly. She glanced at Mo Yichen, her eyes still a little dazed. “Is it gone?”
Mo Yichen frowned slightly, took a packet of wet wipes from the table, and pulled one out. Standing up, he leaned slightly toward Zhu Jia. Her mouth, which had been wiped roughly with the napkin, was now tinged red. After breakfast, her lips looked even redder and more vibrant than usual.
Gently, Mo Yichen wiped the corner of her mouth with the wet wipe a couple of times. “Done,” he said softly, retracting his hand. His expression unreadable, he straightened up and returned to his seat.
Looking at the wet wipe in Mo Yichen’s hand, Zhu Jia realized it must have been the custard from the bun. No wonder a napkin hadn’t been enough—only a wet wipe could handle it.
Zhu Jia stole a glance at Mo Yichen across the table. He didn’t seem as unapproachable as when they first met. Though his perpetually grumpy expression still made it look like someone owed him money, he seemed a bit more approachable now.
“What’s your plan for today?” Mo Yichen asked casually.
“I thought about taking Xiaowen out for a walk and some sun. But I’m not sure where to go around here for something like that.”
Mo Yichen paused briefly before saying, “I’ll take you.”
Zhu Jia’s eyes lit up instantly. Having lived here so long, Mo Yichen must know the area well. It would be great to have someone familiar with the place show them around. “Perfect! Let’s go after breakfast,” she said, rubbing her hands in excitement. Despite having been here for some time, she hadn’t really explored the surroundings.
After breakfast, Zhu Jia fed Xiaowen, changed his diaper, and got ready to leave. Mo Yichen was already waiting at the door. At the entrance, a row of strollers lined up neatly. Zhu Jia picked a lightweight yet sturdy high-view stroller for Xiaowen.
She dressed in a white tracksuit, paired with a sunhat and a small chain bag for her phone, while Xiaowen’s essentials were stored in the stroller’s bottom compartment. She gently placed Xiaowen in the stroller, secured him with the safety belt, and let Mo Yichen take over, pushing the stroller out of the villa.
It was Zhu Jia’s first time walking around the neighborhood. Previously, she had only gone out by car. The villa area was peaceful, with only the chirping of birds and distant barks of dogs breaking the silence. Most residents were at work or school, leaving the large houses quiet except for a couple of maids tending to gardens.
“Where are we going?” Zhu Jia tilted her head to look at Mo Yichen. He looked strikingly approachable in his tracksuit, shedding his usual aloof demeanor for a fresher, more youthful vibe. If he were on a university campus, people would probably mistake him for an exceptionally handsome senior.
“A nearby park,” Mo Yichen replied, his tone indifferent as he pushed the stroller.
The park was a ten-minute walk from the neighborhood entrance. Unlike the quiet villa area, the park was bustling with life. Groups of middle-aged men and women in matching outfits practiced tai chi in the square with precision. On the grass, a few toddlers ran around, chased by their grandparents.
Zhu Jia looked around in fascination. The world in this novel wasn’t all extravagant and detached from reality; it also had ordinary, down-to-earth moments like this.
She squinted in contentment. The sunny, lively park made her feel grounded. This was what life was supposed to be like.
“Do you come here often? It’s so close to home,” Zhu Jia asked, glancing at Mo Yichen.
“This is my first time,” Mo Yichen replied, stopping to study the park map. “Let’s head this way.” He gestured toward a fork in the path.
“What? First time? Haven’t you lived here for years?” Zhu Jia thought he was joking but quickly realized he wasn’t as he studied the map earnestly. Apparently, Mo Yichen had moved here long ago after leaving his family home, yet he had never ventured out for a casual walk.
“Hmm,” Mo Yichen replied nonchalantly. He had moved here during university and was too busy with his studies, then work, to explore. His life revolved around gym sessions, sports, and work-related socializing. Wandering aimlessly in a park had never been on his agenda.
Zhu Jia decided not to press further and was soon distracted by an artificial lake that appeared ahead. White swans glided leisurely across the shimmering water, their reflections casting glittering patterns on the surface.
Around the lake was a sprawling lawn dotted with picnic mats and tents. Families sat enjoying the serene morning. Zhu Jia made a mental note to bring a picnic mat next time.
As they strolled by the lake, a gentle breeze swept over the water. With a temperature just over 20 degrees Celsius, the weather was perfect for a relaxing outing.
Zhu Jia wanted to lift Xiao wen out of the stroller to play, but when she peeked in, she saw him sound asleep, looking as peaceful as a piglet. Smiling helplessly, she abandoned the idea and continued enjoying the scenery.
“Let’s go over there and have a look.” Zhu Jia casually grabbed Mo Yichen’s arm with her right hand, pointing to the opposite side of the lake with her left. On the far side of the artificial lake, there were several small, charming houses. Mo Yichen felt the soft warmth of her hand on his arm, and for a moment, his muscles tensed involuntarily.
They walked around the lake and finally reached the other side. There were three small shops in a row, each with a clean, white exterior. Each little house had a red triangular roof.
Zhu Jia walked over to have a look. The first shop sold fish food and rented out boats, suggesting that visitors could row boats and feed the fish in the lake. The second shop was a snack stand, with sausages grilling at the entrance. A parent and child, around five or six years old, were waiting for the sausages. The third shop was a small coffee shop, and through the glass windows, Zhu Jia could see a few round tables with two or three people chatting inside.
Zhu Jia bought a bag of fish food and waved at Mo Yichen, who was pushing the stroller. He walked over to join her.
“Let’s feed the fish,” Zhu Jia said, her small face flushed under the sunlight, her eyes bright and full of childlike innocence.
Mo Yichen felt a little uncomfortable, his face slightly turned away. This “Zhu Jia,” whose background was still a mystery, only made him more curious. Her thoughts were always so transparent, written all over her face, yet she also seemed full of contradictions, out of sync with her life experience. He still couldn’t understand what secrets she was hiding.
Never mind, he thought. After all, they had only spent a year together. As long as she remained as honest as she was now, he wouldn’t pry into her privacy.
They reached the lake, and now that he paid closer attention, he noticed that the water was full of koi—large, plump, and colorful. Zhu Jia scattered some fish food, and immediately, the koi swarmed to the surface, competing for the food. Zhu Jia threw some farther out, and the koi rushed toward it.
“Round, these are koi. They’re fighting over food,” a young woman’s voice came from the side.
Zhu Jia turned her head curiously and saw a young woman with short hair holding a chubby little girl. The girl had bangs, wore a small flower hat, and had a very cute face. The little girl pointed at the koi in the lake, making excited sounds.
Zhu Jia smiled slightly at the little girl and her mother, who returned the smile warmly.
“Your child…”
“Your child…”
They both spoke at the same time, paused for a moment, then laughed in unison. After all, when moms want to make friends, the first topic is usually about their children.
Zhu Jia chuckled, “Your daughter is so cute! How old is she?”
The woman with short hair spoke briskly, “She just turned six months. Is your child still sleeping? Is this a boy or a girl?”
“He’s a boy,” Zhu Jia glanced at Xiaowen, still soundly asleep in the stroller, enjoying the fresh air.
The woman with short hair then noticed the tall man behind them pushing the stroller. His cold expression made her feel slightly intimidated, and she hesitated to continue the conversation with Zhu Jia.
Zhu Jia noticed the woman’s change in demeanor and didn’t want her chance of making a new friend to be ruined by Mo Yichen’s frown.
Zhu Jia leaned closer to Mo Yichen, linking her arm with his, and gently said, “This is my husband. He’s a good person, just a bit shy. Don’t mind him.”
Mo Yichen: …
The woman with short hair: … Did she misunderstand the word “shy”?
