Chapter 125: Would She Have a Child?  

Song Qingqian reminded Jiang Rou,  

“This dress incorporates the edging techniques of a qipao. It’s not easy to make. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort.”  

“It’s fine, I have time. I can learn slowly. I’ll eventually make it.”  

Jiang Rou seemed to have forgotten Song Qingqian’s previous reminder—she would only teach once. There was no such thing as learning slowly.  

However, this time, Song Qingqian did not bring it up again.  

Thus, the two of them reached an agreement.  

Moreover, the fabric Jiang Rou bought for Zhou Xiaohua was pink with small floral patterns, almost identical to what Song Qingqian had drawn on the design sheet.  

It was a perfect match.  

—  

Next, Jiang Rou looked at the design sketches for the little boy.  

There wasn’t much variation in boys’ clothing designs—styles generally revolved around the same few options.  

Even so, Song Qingqian had drawn quite a few sketches.  

There was a shirt paired with suspender trousers. 【Illustration】  

A short-sleeved and shorts set. 【Illustration】  

A short-sleeved top with suspender pants. 【Illustration】  

And finally… a navy uniform design.  

When Jiang Rou saw that sketch, she had already made up her mind about what to choose.  

However—  

She did not decide immediately.  

“Xiao Chuan, come here for a moment.”  

Jiang Rou called out toward the courtyard.  

Zhou Xiaochuan quickly ran over, with a little shadow trailing closely behind him, following his every step.  

Jiang Rou spoke carefully,  

“These are the clothing designs Auntie Song drew. There are several styles. Take a look—choose the one you like the most.”  

She then handed the sketches to Zhou Xiaochuan one by one.

Zhou Xiaochuan was momentarily dazed.  

Was this… something he could choose?  

For as long as he could remember, he had never worn new clothes, let alone had the privilege of choosing them himself.  

What he wore had always been the old, tattered hand-me-downs from other children after they had outgrown them.  

But now—  

He actually had new clothes. And not only that, he could even pick the one he liked.  

On the surface, Zhou Xiaochuan appeared calm, but deep inside, his heart was pounding wildly.  

His dark eyes slowly moved across the sketches.  

He examined them carefully, deliberately, as if savoring this rare happiness.  

Yes…  

It was happiness.  

A kind of happiness he had never known before.  

When Zhou Xiaochuan’s gaze landed on the navy uniform, his eyes lit up instantly.  

He liked this one!  

Zhou Xiaochuan pressed his lips together nervously.  

He had never been in a position to ask for anything. This was the first time.  

Opening his mouth to make a request was something he was entirely unaccustomed to.  

But…  

The room was silent.  

Jiang Rou, Song Qingqian, and Zhou Xiaohua—all three of them quietly watched, waiting for Zhou Xiaochuan to speak on his own.  

In the stillness, Zhou Xiaochuan took a deep breath.  

He pointed at the sketch. “This one.”  

“What?”  

Jiang Rou asked in confusion, as if she hadn’t understood.  

Song Qingqian, observing their exchange, frowned slightly. She couldn’t shake off a strange feeling.  

They were mother and son, yet there was a distinct lack of closeness between them.  

And…  

Jiang Rou was deliberately pretending not to understand.  

The atmosphere grew tense.  

Jiang Rou continued to feign confusion.

Zhou Xiaochuan had no choice but to add: “I like this one.”  

“Alright.”  

This time, Jiang Rou smiled in satisfaction.  

“Since Xiao Chuan likes this one, we’ll make this one. Alright, you can go back to playing now.”  

As soon as Jiang Rou finished speaking, Zhou Xiaochuan finally felt relieved. He immediately walked out of the courtyard, and Zhou Xiaohua followed closely behind, her little footsteps pattering as she went to admire the beautiful roses again.  

Inside the house—  

Song Qingqian still looked at Jiang Rou with a puzzled expression.  

Jiang Rou, however, remained calm as she slowly organized the design sketches, handing over the finalized one to Song Qingqian.  

When Song Qingqian took the sketch, she could no longer hold back her thoughts.  

She asked: “You already guessed from the beginning which one Xiao Chuan liked the most.”  

“Yes, I knew.” Jiang Rou admitted without hesitation and explained: “Xiao Chuan admires Zhou Zhongshan a lot and has deep respect for soldiers. This sailor suit looks very similar to a navy uniform. He was bound to choose this one.”  

“If that’s the case, why did you make him choose? Why did you insist on making him say it himself?”  

Song Qingqian frowned in confusion.  

“Because Xiao Chuan is a boy. In the future, he will face many situations where he has to make his own decisions. Even though he’s still young now, he should start getting used to it.  

As for why I wanted him to say it out loud… Don’t you think Xiao Chuan is a bit withdrawn? I want him to feel involved, to help him become more open.  

Children are like the morning sun at eight or nine o’clock—how can he stay so silent and reserved?”  

Jiang Rou’s thoughtful reasoning covered aspects that Song Qingqian, who had never been a mother, had never considered.  

For the first time, Song Qingqian realized that raising a child wasn’t just about providing food, clothing, and necessities. Even the smallest daily details, especially psychological aspects, required careful attention.  

It truly wasn’t an easy task.  

Still somewhat doubtful, Song Qingqian continued to ask—or rather, to seek guidance.  

“But you treat Xiao Hua differently. Why didn’t you make her choose for herself?”  

“Xiao Hua… Qingqian, you don’t understand her. If I let Xiao Hua choose, she’d like everything and want them all. Asking her to pick just one favorite would be too difficult. It would only be a waste of time.”  

A child could want everything!  

Hearing this, Song Qingqian raised her phoenix eyes, momentarily in disbelief.  

That timid little girl—who was so shy she could barely speak and seemed so fearful—wanted everything?

Song Qingqian found it difficult to imagine.  

Yet, she also thought the little girl’s contrasting personality was quite adorable.  

After deciding on the style, the next step was taking measurements.  

The first to be made was the little girl’s dress.  

Jiang Rou called Zhou Xiaohua over first.  

After spending some time in the sun, Zhou Xiaohua’s chubby little cheeks had turned rosy.  

She had started to grow more familiar with this unfamiliar environment. Her gaze was no longer filled with shyness, and her soft, endearing side gradually began to show.  

When Jiang Rou called for her, she looked at Song Qingqian with her big, watery eyes, full of curiosity.  

Song Qingqian gave her a smile.  

Zhou Xiaohua immediately lit up with joy!  

[Pretty Auntie looks so nice when she smiles too.]  

She couldn’t wait to share this exciting discovery with Jiang Rou.  

Jiang Rou affectionately stroked her small, round face.  

Song Qingqian then took out a small box filled with various tools—wooden rulers marked with measurements, a soft measuring tape, and triangular white chalk.  

Everything needed was neatly prepared.  

Holding the measuring tape, Song Qingqian began taking measurements, starting from the little girl’s shoulders.  

Jiang Rou stood beside her, pen in hand, jotting down the numbers.  

“Xiaohua, turn around.”  

“Xiaohua, lift your arms.”  

“Xiaohua, don’t move.”  

Jiang Rou occasionally reminded Zhou Xiaohua to follow Song Qingqian’s instructions.  

Meanwhile—  

Song Qingqian’s hands, moving with the measuring tape, traced across Zhou Xiaohua’s small frame, adjusting and comparing the measurements.  

Her fingertips brushed against the little girl’s body.  

And in that moment, she suddenly realized—  

A child’s touch was unbelievably soft.  

Measured in tangible numbers, a child was so incredibly small and delicate.  

As this thought settled in—  

Song Qingqian found her mind drifting.  

Would she have a child in the future?  

A child with He Donglai?