Chapter 107:

After Xie Yun’s wedding leave, he took the second long leave of his official career.

If it was a matter of sick leave, apart from some overseas missions, the Emperor would allow him at most ten days.

So, Xie Yun waved his hand and directly applied for sick leave, taking more than half a month off.

As the snow began to melt, after resting for two days, Sang Yao’s body had recovered quite well.

At least she could get out of bed and move around.

She didn’t suffer much during pregnancy and childbirth.

Everything went very smoothly, even the imperial physician said that the baby she was carrying was well-behaved and wouldn’t cause her any trouble.

Because she was always easily tired after giving birth, Xie Yun had not placed the child next to her for the past two days, wanting her to rest well.

So, for several days in a row, Sang Yao had not seen her own child much.

On this day, when she woke up from a nap, it was already dusk. Xie Yun brought lotus seed porridge for her, intending to feed her, but Sang Yao couldn’t wait.

She couldn’t bear it anymore and asked, “Where’s the baby?”

Xie Yun said, “In the side room, someone is taking care of her.”

She was a bit impatient and even complained to him, “Since she was born, I can only look at her once a day. You must be looking at her several times a day, that’s not fair.”

“Quickly bring her over.”

Xie Yun put down the bowl and said to her, “Who said that? I only look at her twice a day.”

He bent down and kissed her forehead, saying gently, “I’ve been by your side all this time. Why are you still blaming me?”

His mother said that women should pay special attention during the first month after childbirth, so he didn’t dare to leave her for a moment these two days.

Sang Yao hugged him perfunctorily and kissed him back, then said, “I’m sorry, Xie Yun. I want to see her.”

After giving a few instructions outside, the nanny soon brought the baby over.

Xie Yun shifted his body slightly, and his gaze followed Sang Yao’s as they fell on the baby wrapped in forged cloth.

Sang Yao held back her voice.

She had never held her properly, and her movements were very careful.

Warm and gentle.

Although the baby was chubby, she almost had no weight when picked up.

Sang Yao dared not exert any force, afraid of hurting her.

There was a moment of silence between them as they watched the baby in Sang Yao’s arms.

The little one was sleeping soundly.

Unlike when she was just born, the baby now looked much better.

Her redness had faded a bit, and her tiny lips were slightly curled up as she slept.

Sang Yao whispered, “She seems much prettier now.”

Xie Yun nodded and looked at the baby in Sang Yao’s arms, saying gently, “She looks a lot like you, Yao Yao.”

Sang Yao stared at the still slightly wrinkled baby, unable to see any resemblance.

She hesitated, “I’m not that ugly, am I?”

As soon as she said that, as if understanding, the baby moved in Sang Yao’s arms and opened her eyes.

Sang Yao quickly explained, “I was joking with you, baby. I didn’t say you were ugly.”

Seeing the baby about to cry, Sang Yao quickly imitated Yu Zhi’s way of comforting Tao Tao and gently shook her.

After a while, the baby quieted down.

Sang Yao called her softly, “Jiu Jiu.”

The baby couldn’t speak, just stared at Sang Yao blankly.

Sang Yao smiled and said to Xie Yun, “You should call her too.”

The word “Jiu Jiu” sounded appropriate when Sang Yao said it, but it felt strange when he said it.

Xie Yun remained silent for a moment.

Sang Yao whispered, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Xie Yun said, “This name…”

Sang Yao immediately said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to call her that.”

She shook the baby gently and said, “It’s okay, baby. Maybe your daddy doesn’t like the nickname mommy gave you. Mommy can’t force him.”

Xie Yun: “…”

He said, “Jiu Jiu.”

Sang Yao was satisfied only then. She teased, “Xie Yun, you’re so cute.”

Xie Yun nodded, “Thank you.”

After holding the baby for a while, Sang Yao looked up and asked Xie Yun, “Have you held her?”

Xie Yun replied, “No.”

He hadn’t even touched her yet, not because he didn’t want to, but because he felt she was fragile and might break at a touch.

“Do you want to try?”

Xie Yun curled his fingers and looked at the fragile baby in Sang Yao’s arms.

He had learned how to hold a baby before, but he didn’t dare to try it on Jiu Jiu.

“I’d better not, wait until she’s a little older.”

Sang Yao pushed Jiu Jiu towards Xie Yun and said, “She’s very light.”

After hesitating for a moment, Xie Yun reached out and took her.

When Xie Yun held her, his first feeling wasn’t the immediate touch of kinship, but the evidence of his and Sang Yao’s love and mutual support.

But shortly after Xie Yun held her, the baby pouted and started crying.

The scene became a bit chaotic.

Xie Yun stiffened and Sang Yao hurriedly took the baby back, shaking her as before, but she kept crying.

Xie Yun stood up abruptly. “I’ll call the wet nurse.”

Sang Yao stopped him and guessed, “Maybe she’s hungry.”

Xie Yun nodded. “Possibly.”

It couldn’t be that she didn’t like him as her father.

Sang Yao straightened up as if preparing for something momentous and proposed to Xie Yun, who looked serious, “Or… should I feed her?”

Xie Yun’s expression changed slightly. His gaze involuntarily shifted to Sang Yao in front of him and he asked, “Won’t she bite you? And there’s the wet nurse.”

Sang Yao looked down at the crying baby with her toothless gums showing and said, “She probably won’t bite yet.”

She began to unbutton her clothes. Xie Yun stood still for a moment, then asked, “Do you need me to help?”

Sang Yao nodded.

Xie Yun stepped forward without hesitation, ready to help Sang Yao undress. Sang Yao said, “Don’t look at me, go out first.”

…

He went out.

Sang Yao: “…”

She said, “Why aren’t you moving?”

Xie Yun, with a stern face, calmly said, “Yao Yao, you may not know this, but if the milk ducts are not cleared in time after childbirth, it can be very uncomfortable.”

Sang Yao did feel uncomfortable. She asked, “So, if I feed her, will it be better?”

Xie Yun shook his head and said seriously, “You can’t feed her every day, and feeding her also requires a certain method.”

“There are records in ancient books on how to massage to alleviate discomfort in this area. I’ll be watching, and if she can’t do it, I can help you.”

After listening to him for a while, Sang Yao’s discomfort made her believe in Xie Yun’s motives to some extent. She hesitated for a moment and then said, “Well, okay.”

II

At first, Sang Yao really didn’t find Jiu Jiu attractive.

But babies change every day.

As Jiu Jiu grew, a somewhat extraordinary beauty began to emerge.

Jiu Jiu was a very easygoing baby.

She didn’t cry much.

After eating, she would nestle in her mother’s arms and sleep on her own, always cheerful.

Her round eyes would squint when she smiled, and she was not shy at all.

Moreover, the baby was born with a lovely appearance, so everyone in the mansion liked her very much.

She indeed resembled Sang Yao more in her appearance.

After two years old, it became more evident.

With delicate features and vibrant colors, although she was still young, she already showed signs of becoming a beauty.

However, unlike her mother, who was both colorful and cute, her eyes resembled Xie Yun’s.

They couldn’t be seen on ordinary days, but only when she was angry could one see her father’s inherent coldness.

But she was still young, and with her chubby, snow-white face, she had no intimidating presence at all, only cuteness.

And her full name was simply reduced to one character, Yang.

Xie Yang.

Like a river, like the sea, deep and boundless, it was a character personally chosen by Xie Yun.

The child loved to act cute and was very clingy, especially to Sang Yao.

Every night when she was about to be sent away, she would grab Sang Yao’s clothes and refuse to let go, looking very pitiful.

As the evening approached, Xie Yun leaned against the table, looking at the child who was not even as tall as his legs, and said calmly, “Aren’t you going out yet?”

Xie Yang glanced at Xie Yun, didn’t want to talk to him, and continued to hold Sang Yao’s hand pitifully, tears in her eyes as she said, “Mother, don’t you like Jiu Jiu anymore?”

Before Sang Yao could speak, Xie Yun said indifferently, “Your mother indeed doesn’t like clingy children.”

Sang Yao snorted lightly at Xie Yun, then squatted down and pinched Jiu Jiu’s chubby cheeks, saying softly, “How could that be?”

Xie Yun coughed lightly.

Sang Yao’s heart tightened, and she hastily continued, “It’s just that there are only two beds in the room today, and if there are too many people sleeping, the bed will collapse. The baby needs to learn to sleep on her own.”

Jiu Jiu pouted and said, “Then, mother, if you don’t like clingy babies, you must not like clingy husbands either.”

She said confidently, “You should just drive away daddy, and Jiu Jiu can sleep with mother.”

“Daddy will learn to sleep on his own sooner or later.”

Xie Yun couldn’t take it anymore.

He stepped forward, swung his arm, and directly lifted the little radish in front of him with one hand.

“Xie Yang, has your father ever taught you how to write the words ‘delusional obsession’?”

He strode forward and opened the door.

Jing Lian was waiting outside.

He skillfully held Jiu Jiu and politely said, “Miss, it’s time to sleep.”

Jiu Jiu flailed her little arms and struggled, saying, “I don’t want to sleep! Mother, save me!”

Sang Yao stood up, frowned, and said to Xie Yun, “Be gentler…”

The door slammed shut with a bang.

Dim light filtered in through the windows. Xie Yun stood against the light, his expression somewhat dark.

Although he hadn’t done anything, Sang Yao suddenly felt uneasy.

She quietly took two steps back and said, “Let’s… let’s bathe first.”

Xie Yun had been away from the capital for nearly half a month and had just returned.

Since his return, Jiu Jiu had gotten used to sleeping with Sang Yao and refused to sleep alone, clinging to her every day.

No matter how much of a beast Xie Yun was, he wouldn’t do anything in front of the child.

So, up to now, it had been more than twenty days since he had slept with Sang Yao.

Even their intimate moments were constantly interrupted by Jiu Jiu.

Xie Yun didn’t approach her but leaned against the desk, motioning for her to come over with a wave of his hand, and said slowly, “Come here yourself.”