Extra 2

When Jing Xiaokang was three years old, Jing Ran took his son to get a haircut.

While Jing Li was cooking in the kitchen, the father and son returned home. When she came out of the kitchen, she saw a little mushroom head jumping around in the house.

Jing Xiaokang inherited Jing Ran’s nearsightedness and, at a young age, he wore a pair of black-framed corrective glasses. He had a mushroom haircut that, at first glance, looked remarkably similar to Jing Ran’s during his college days. Jing Li was surprised and asked Jing Ran, “Why did you give Xiaokang this haircut?”

Jing Ran straightforwardly replied, “It looks good.”

When Jing Xiaokang saw his mom coming out, he ran to her and hugged her thigh, asking, “Mom, is my hair pretty?”

Fearing that Xiaokang might end up keeping the mushroom head for over a decade like Jing Ran did in his childhood just because of a “looks good” comment from grandma, Jing Li immediately denied, “Not good-looking.”

Jing Xiaokang nodded and said, “Dad always says it looks good, but I don’t think so.”

Jing Li was instantly amused by Jing Xiaokang.

Jing Ran stared at Jing Xiaokang in silence.

“Mom, take me to get a haircut.” Jing Xiaokang pulled Jing Li towards the entrance.

Jing Li took off her apron and handed it to Jing Ran, saying, “Ranran, you go cook. I’ll take your son to get a new haircut.”

Jing Ran’s inner thoughts: Is the mushroom head not good-looking? Is the mushroom head not good-looking?

*

Jing Xiaokang reached the age to attend kindergarten. Following the school’s requirements, Jing Li took her son to the designated hospital for vaccinations. Just like his father, Jing Xiaokang shivered at the scent of the hospital’s disinfectant.

At the outpatient clinic’s entrance, he pulled Jing Li towards the exit, saying, “Mom, let’s go home.”

Jing Li lifted Jing Xiaokang and reassured, “Xiaokang, it’s okay; it’ll be over quickly.”

Jing Xiaokang cried and shook his head at Jing Li, “Mom, I don’t want to get a shot.”

Jing Li took tissues from her pocket, removed Jing Xiaokang’s glasses, wiped his tears, and comforted, “Oh, crying before even seeing the doctor. Why are you more timid than your dad?”

“Mmm, mmm, mmm…” Jing Xiaokang covered his eyes, still crying.

“Xiaokang, didn’t you say you want to protect Mom when you grow up?” Jing Li kissed Jing Xiaokang, their faces close, and gently said.

Jing Xiaokang nodded with teary eyes.

“Xiaokang, let’s go get the vaccination now. After that, you won’t get sick, grow up healthy, and become as strong as Dad, so you can protect Mom.”

Jing Xiaokang nodded in understanding, and agreed to get the shot.

After getting the shot, Jing Li bought Jing Xiaokang a strawberry-flavored lollipop. She watched the little one happily eating the strawberry candy, and remembered a similar scene from the past. That time, Jing Ran was pulling and resisting at the entrance of the hospital, refusing to see the doctor. In the end, she managed to coax him inside. After getting the shot, she had to buy him strawberry candy to comfort him.

Jing Xiaokang, with the lollipop in his mouth, looked up and asked, “Mom, what are you laughing at?”

Jing Li smiled and said, “I think you resemble your dad.”

Jing Xiaokang replied seriously, “I am Dad’s son, of course, I look like him. In the future, I will be as handsome and tall as Dad and protect you well.”

*

On Jing Xiaokang’s first day of kindergarten, he met the little neighbor from the Cheng family and they exchanged pastries as a sign of affection. In the evening, Jing Ran couldn’t come home on time due to a sudden overtime at work, so Jing Xiaokang sat at the entrance waiting for Jing Ran to come back.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jing Li said to Jing Xiaokang, “Xiaokang, go back to your room and sleep. You have to go to school tomorrow.”

Jing Xiaokang stubbornly replied, “I want to wait for Dad to come back.”

Jing Xiaokang was not usually clingy to his dad, but today he voluntarily brought a small stool and sat by the entrance waiting for him. Jing Li asked, “Why are you waiting for Dad to come back?”

“To make wife cakes. I promised to give them to my little wife tomorrow,” Jing Xiaokang answered.

Jing Li “…..”

Jing Li remained silent for a moment and then lifted Jing Xiaokang, saying, “When Dad comes back, I’ll ask him to make wife cakes for you to take to school.”

“Really?”

Jing Li nodded.

“I want to send a WeChat message to Dad.”

Jing Li took out her phone from the pocket of her pajamas and handed it to Jing Xiaokang. Jing Xiaokang opened the chat page and wrote, [Dad, come back and make wife cakes for me. Love you!]

Jing Li couldn’t help but smile, “Flatterer.”

“Hehe…”

After soothing Jing Xiaokang to sleep, Jing Ran had just returned home. Jing Li took his work bag at the entrance and asked him to change his shoes.

After changing shoes, Jing Ran walked into the house and casually asked, “Is Xiaokang asleep?”

Jing Li followed behind, “Just fell asleep.”

Jing Ran pulled Jing Li into his arms, “Wife, give me a kiss.”

Following his lead, Jing Li offered her lips, and the two embraced and kissed…

Suddenly, it felt like something was pulling at their feet. They looked down, and Jing Xiaokang had somehow come out and was standing at their feet, tugging at their pants.

Even though Jing Li is the mother of a three-year-old, she still feels embarrassed when her son catches her kissing her husband. She said nervously, “Xiaokang said he wants you to make wife pastries.” After saying this, she fans her flushed cheeks with her hand and quickly walks back to the master bedroom.

Jing Ran watched Jing Li’s retreating figure and guessed that from now on, kisses might be confined to the bedroom.

Jing Ran squatted down, looked at Jing Xiaokang and asked, “Didn’t we agree to only have wife cakes once a week? You already had some today, why do you want more?”

Although the wife cakes are delicious, eating too many of them can cause excessive internal heat. Jing Ran was afraid that Xiaokang’s young body couldn’t handle it, so he only allowed him to have two pieces per week.

Xiaokang lowered his head and, with his fingers intertwined, said, “My Little wife likes to eat them, I promise to bring wife cakes for her to eat tomorrow.”

“Little wife?”

Jing Xiaokang walked to the sofa, took out a Polaroid photo from his blue Mickey Mouse backpack, and handed it to Jing Ran. “Dad, look, this is my little wife.”

Jing Ran looked at the photo with admiration and said, “Impressive! You already have a little wife at school.”

Jing Ran patted Jing Xiaokang’s head, stood up, and said, “Dad will make glutinous rice cakes for you. Kids shouldn’t eat too many wife pastries; it might make your throat sore.”

Jing Xiaokang noded in understanding.

“By the way, if you see Mom and Dad kissing at home, you should go back to your room, okay?”

“Why?”

“Mom is shy.”

Jing Xiaokang nodded and promised, “I understand.”

Jing Xiaokang tugged at Jing Ran’s suit pants and asked, “Dad, when can I have a little sister?”

The 6-year-old boy next door told Jing Xiaokang that his mom was pregnant and he was going to be a big brother. Jing Xiaokang was envious and also wanted to be a big brother. If it was a little sister, he would definitely treat her well.

Jing Ran patted Jing Xiaokang’s head and said, “Xiaokang, we won’t have a little sister in our family.”

Jing Xiaokang looked at Jing Ran in confusion and asked, “Why?”

“Because to have a little sister, Mommy needs to have a surgery to cut her belly. Do you want Mommy to have surgery? Daddy doesn’t want that.”

After hearing this, Jing Xiaokang shook his head vigorously and said, “I don’t want a little sister anymore. I don’t want Mommy to have surgery.”

“Then don’t mention wanting a little sister to Mommy in the future.” Jing Ran and Jing Li agreed to have only one child. Jing Ran was afraid that if Jing Xiaokang mentioned it a few more times, Jing Li might soften her stance.

“I won’t mention it. I won’t mention it anymore.” Jing Xiaokang covered his mouth with both hands, indicating that he won’t say such things.

Jing Ran held Jing Xiaokang’s hand and said, “Come to the kitchen and see how Dad makes glutinous rice cakes. When you’re a little older, I’ll teach you how to make snacks.”

“Great, then I can make a lot of snacks for my little wife to eat by myself, without bothering Dad.”

Jing Ran smiled and said, “It’s okay, it’s okay to always rely on Dad.”

*

When Jing Xiaokang was 4 years old, Chen Wenbin and Fang Zhenzhen had a baby girl. Jing Xiaokang went with his mother to the health center to visit Auntie Fang and the baby girl. Jing Xiaokang looked at the baby girl’s tender face, poked her face with his finger, and the baby smiled.

Jing Xiaokang pulled Jing Li and said, “Mom, mom, bring this little sister home.”

The adults present all laughed. Chen Wenbin’s mother smiled and said, “Mrs. Jing is so young, don’t you plan to have another child to accompany Xiaokang?”

Jing Li smiled somewhat awkwardly, about to say something when Jing Xiaokang said, “I don’t like the little sister Mom gives birth to. I like little sisters born to other people.”

Jing Li: “…”

What kind of statement is that?

After visiting Fang Zhenzhen, on the way home, Jing Li asked Jing Xiaokang, “Xiaokang, why don’t you like the little sister Mom gives birth to?”

Jing Xiaokang said, “Dad said a little sister needs to be born by cutting Mom’s belly. I don’t want Mom to have surgery.”

Jing Li didn’t expect Jing Ran and Jing Xiaokang to say such things and asked, “Do you want a little sister?”

Jing Xiaokang nodded and shook his head, and said, “I don’t want one.”

Jing Xiaokang was still young and didn’t know how to hide his emotions. He obviously wanted it, but he said he didn’t want it because he was afraid that his mother would be hurt.

Jing Li bent down to pick up Jing Xiaokang and explained in simple words, “When Mom was carrying Xiaokang, mom health wasn’t good, so mom had to undergo surgery in the belly. Now Mom is healthy, and can have a little sister without surgery.”

Jing Xiaokang asked excitedly, “Really?”

Jing Li nodded, “Really.”

“Can I have a little sister tomorrow then?”

Jing Li smiled, “Tomorrow is too soon, at least wait until next year.”

Jing Xiaokang puzzled, “But Dad seems not to want a little sister.”

Jing Li responded, “Dad also likes little sisters, he just loves Mom and doesn’t want Mom to endure hardship.”

“Is it very hard to have a little sister?”

“It shouldn’t be particularly hard, after all, Mom also gave birth to Xiaokang.”

Jing Xiaokang nodded in understanding.

*

Four months later, Jing Li handed a pregnancy test with two bars to Jing Ran.

Jing Ran’s first feeling was stunned, because after Jing Li gave birth, they had been taking measures, so how did she get pregnant?

Jing Ran couldn’t calm down and asked: “Why…”

“Hehe…” Jing Li, with a smiling face, handed him a small raincoat from home, and said, “Take a look.”

Jing Ran observed it seriously and noticed some small holes in the raincoat packaging, and asked, “Did you do this?”

Jing Li said somewhat aggrieved, “Who told you to be so stubborn and not let me get pregnant? I had to resort to this method. Don’t you want a little girl?”

“But what if it’s not a little girl?” Jing Ran felt this was too risky; he didn’t want Jing Li to go through such hardship again.

“In that case, I’ll still be pregnant. You wouldn’t want me to have an abortion, would you?”

Jing Ran sat on the edge of the bed, with Jing Li stood in front of him. He reached out and hugged her waist, kissed her belly, and said, “Lili, I’m afraid you’ll be in pain.”

Jing Li comforted him, holding his head, and said, “Silly, I’m not like you. I’m not afraid of pain at all, and besides, it really doesn’t hurt.”

“Lili, you’ve worked hard.”

“Not hard.”

*

A few months later, Jing Li gave birth to a baby girl, bringing joy to the family. The happiest were Jing Ran and Jing Xiaokang, father and son, who took meticulous care of the little sister without burdening Jing Li.

The name of the little girl that Jing Ran gave five years ago was finally used, and it is “Jing Zhilin.”