Chapter 85
Extra 2

Regarding whether the baby should be called “Defense,” Lin Qiao was joking. But the little one was serious about coming out on the day of the thesis defense.

Ji Duo took her to the hospital, and soon after, Xu Li and Old Mr. Ji arrived. They waited outside, and before the day ended, they heard the sound of a baby’s cry.

The baby was brought out, a little girl with red skin and a red mouth with closed eyes. She was so tiny and soft. Ji Duo stared at her silently for a long time, not daring to reach out. Old Mr. Ji didn’t dare to move either. In the end, Xu Li took the baby and held her.

Ji Duo quickly went in to check on Lin Qiao. To be honest, she looked quite disheveled. Since Ji Duo had known Lin Qiao, he had never seen her so weak and messy. Her face was pale, her eyes tightly closed, and her clothes and hair were completely soaked, making her look like she had just been pulled out of the water.

For a moment, Ji Duo even hesitated, feeling a bit afraid to approach.

Fortunately, Lin Qiao quickly opened her eyes, and he returned to his usual self, gently wiping the sweat from her face with a towel. “It’s a little girl.” His movements were light, and his voice was equally soft, with a rare hint of tenderness.

Lin Qiao placed her hand on his, softly responding with a “Mm.” She had already heard from the midwife.

In fact, given the current hospital’s lack of regulation, an ultrasound could reveal the gender, but neither she nor Ji Duo chose to find out.

Some things, since they are gifts from heaven, should be left to heaven to decide. The surprise of a blind box is also a kind of joy. However, while the gender might not be important, the child absolutely cannot be named “Defense,” and Ji Duo was very firm on this.

The next day, a meeting was held in the hospital room to decide the name of the new baby in the Ji family. Ji Duo presided, with Lin Qiao, Old Mr. Ji, and Xu Li participating, and Ji Ze and Ji Ling observing.

The old man was clearly well-prepared. He took out a piece of paper, put on his reading glasses, and began to read. There were names with profound meanings, some that were trendy, and even some that were typically boys’ names but could be used for a girl. After reading each name, he couldn’t help but look up at his son and daughter-in-law. Both of them maintained serious expressions no matter what name was read, but their eyes always held a smile, giving no indication of which name they preferred. They truly were a couple. The old man sighed and put the paper away.

Ji Ling had just finished her college entrance exams. Without Ye Minshu’s interference, she boldly applied to the Film Academy and had already secured her place. She was currently at a leisurely point in her life, so she raised her hand to answer the question, “How about calling her Gege?”

Everyone living in Yandu knew what “Gege” meant.

The old man’s face turned stern, clearly not approving, and he looked at his son and daughter-in-law, who remained silent.

Lin Qiao also found it hard to say. Thanks to a certain TV series, whenever she said those two words, she couldn’t help but follow it with “Jixiang.”

There were too many jokes for her to take seriously.

In the end, this suggestion was passed over, but since Ji Ling had proposed it, Ji Ze, who had also come to see the child, was eager to try. Then, he was met with a calm look from his uncle.

It was too calm, the same look he had when he asked about naming liquid soap “Muzi.”

Ji Ze swallowed his words back.

Lin Qiao noticed and smiled slightly, “If not ‘Defense,’ how about ‘Graduation’ or ‘Thesis’?”

Although she and Ji Ze had a childhood engagement, they had never met before. When she first arrived in Yandu, the first person she met was Ji Duo, and he was also the person she married. Sometimes, Ji Duo would still get jealous over this.

To lighten the mood, the old man seriously pondered, “Why not call her Prof Ji? Aren’t you going to pursue a PhD in the fall?”

Prof Ji?

A little girl, just born, having to bear such a burden at her age?

Lin Qiao suspected that Xu Li had suggested the names with good meanings. Sure enough, when the little one heard this, she cried. When she cried, everyone in the hospital room gathered around.

Xu Li, experienced as she was, reached under the towel and felt, “She peed.”

A group of people then collectively watched the little girl get her diaper changed. There were so many hands involved that one person held a corner of the diaper while two others cheered on, shouting “666.”

After the diaper was changed and the little girl was put to sleep, Ji Duo suggested, “How about calling her Ji Nian?”

As he said this, he looked at Lin Qiao, “Her nickname can be Nian Nian.”

Ji Nian, meaning “commemoration,” was it to commemorate her graduation defense yesterday, or…

Lin Qiao looked up at him. His expression was stern, but his eyes were only focused on her and the baby beside her.

Later, she found out that while she was asleep, Ji Duo had placed the baby next to her pillow and taken a photo as a keepsake. In the photo, the mother and daughter had their faces close together, and their sleeping expressions were identical. It was the softest moment in Ji Duo’s life.

When the soft little one, Ji Nian Nian, opened her eyes, she revealed a pair of dark and shiny phoenix eyes, just like Lin Qiao’s, with upturned corners. However, after that, she wasn’t soft anymore; after Lin Qiao went back to school, she put on quite a show, almost bringing the house down. Her tiny hands and feet were so small, yet she waved them vigorously. When Lin Qiao moved to the school, she didn’t hesitate, but her steps faltered as she left.

“You go ahead,” he said, holding the baby, his body stiff but still speaking.

When she went to school, he took a few days off to stay home and help the child through this adjustment period.

“Mommy’s here, don’t worry.” Xu Li understood that the baby was looking for her mother’s scent and even found a piece of Lin Qiao’s clothing to drape over her son.

With both of them soothing and comforting the baby, Lin Qiao finally managed to leave the house, quickly returning after completing her registration. When she entered, Nian Nian had already stopped crying. The tiny girl was lying on her father’s shoulder, being held in the cool shade of the eaves, seemingly asleep. The bright sunlight only touched a corner of the man’s military pants, and amidst the interplay of light and shadow, his expression was anything but gentle. Though his expression remained stern, his movements were gentle beneath it, and his deep voice softly hummed a tune.

Lin Qiao slowed her steps and listened. It was “Childhood.”

Someone had sung it to her before, and she had asked him if he would sing “Childhood” for her if she liked it.

At that time, the man had frowned, but later he learned it…

Lin Qiao suddenly didn’t rush forward. She stood by the door, listening to him hum, “Why hasn’t the girl from the next class passed by my window yet?”

However, the man had sharp hearing and noticed she had returned. His voice stopped, and he looked at her across the sunlit courtyard.

Lin Qiao walked over and glanced at the little girl in his arms, “You haven’t put her down at all?”

“She just fell asleep.” Ji Duo’s expression didn’t show that he had been holding the child for hours.

Lin Qiao reached out and took the baby. Back in her familiar embrace, the little one snuggled closer and slept even more soundly.

Ji Duo finally moved his shoulder, which had become stiff from holding the same position for so long.

“You really are a handful,” Lin Qiao said, patting her daughter’s little bottom and leaning down to kiss her sleeping face.

Ji Duo kept his gaze on her gentle, smiling eyes. “Mom went to buy groceries. What should we have for lunch?”

“Anything is fine,” Lin Qiao replied softly, then looked up at him with a bright smile. “You sing very well.”

Ji Duo paused, looking at her phoenix eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.

Lin Qiao was serious. “A sincere song is always beautiful.” Even without any technique, she could hear a heart that genuinely wanted to make her happy.

As for the fact that their leader could sing to soothe a child, the new driver, Xiao Yuan, found it quite bizarre.

Of course, Lin Qiao, his sister-in-law, surprised him even more. The military had no shortage of beautiful young military wives, and he had seen more than one.

But a young, beautiful woman who could manage her husband well and was pursuing a PhD at twenty-two or twenty-three—Lin Qiao was the first and only one.

Motherhood had added a touch of gentleness and charm to Lin Qiao, creating a deeper bond with the world beyond just love. However, she didn’t slack off in her studies. With Xu Li helping to take care of the child, Lin Qiao started preparing to apply for funding as soon as she began her PhD.

PhD students could apply for research grants, especially with the support of their advisors and an impressive resume from their master’s studies. It didn’t take much effort for her to get the funding approved. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to start her project. Along with the funding, the academy also provided her with a laboratory. However, doing her own project meant she had to build her own team, and since she wasn’t a teacher at the school, this was a disadvantage.

Fortunately, she could use undergraduates. Qi Huaiwen was in his senior year, and she had met many students while substituting for her advisor. Most of the students she invited agreed to join, though some wanted to start working on projects with their advisors early. In the end, the team was formed, consisting of six people, including herself, two seniors, including Qi Huaiwen, and three juniors.

These six students, all under twenty-four, made a breakthrough in the research of PAN-based carbon fiber the following spring that other institutions and organizations had not achieved.

In this report, Lin Qiao finally stood in the leading position. In just a year and a half, she led her research team and their achievements back to the lecture hall. After several failed attempts to introduce it in recent years, their breakthrough provided the country with a new possibility for independent research and development.

Although it was just a PhD student’s project, the significance of their research results was substantial. After the report, Zhang Changning was the first to applaud, followed by another professor beside him, and soon, the hall filled with applause.

When shaking hands with Lin Qiao, someone couldn’t help but remark, “Young people are indeed the rising sun, with limitless potential.”

This “rising sun” sentiment resonated with many, and after today, Lin Qiao would likely be more than just a rising star in the research community.

Despite his busy schedule, Ji Duo still found time to take photos of Lin Qiao and her team. This time, he brought a little something with him.

So, during the group photo, in the lecture hall, with the banner behind them, they stood shoulder to shoulder, holding a little girl who was sound asleep.

Little Ji Nian Nian, who almost got named “Prof Ji,” grinned, showing a few newly sprouted rice grain teeth, melting everyone’s hearts. After the photo was taken, the other team members gathered around to hold her. The little girl wasn’t shy at all and was happy to be held by anyone, especially the handsome big brothers and sisters.

So, besides her parents, she also took group photos with others, including Qi Huaiwen, who held her for quite a while.

Ji Duo watched his daughter, who happily enjoyed the attention, and felt a subtle twinge of jealousy.

However, when the photos were developed, Xu Li hugged the child and kissed her repeatedly, saying, “Our Nian Nian is so photogenic. She looks great with anyone.”

“The key is to have courage.” Old Mr. Ji nodded in agreement. “With so many people around, did she get scared?”

“Who would be scared with your son around?” Xu Li laughed. Seeing the little one getting restless in her arms, she quickly put her down on the padded floor. “Go ahead and play, Grandma won’t hold you.”

“Ah!” The little one, just starting to talk, immediately called out.

She crawled around the mat several times, then stood up by holding onto the coffee table, pointing at Lin Qiao in the photo, “Ma.”

“Oh my, our Nian Nian knows who Mommy is!” Xu Li was delighted.

The little girl then pointed at Ji Duo, but after a few attempts, she couldn’t produce the correct sound.

Xu Li tried teaching her a few times, but she still couldn’t get it right. Eventually, she got impatient and turned to play with the sofa cushions.

Xu Li couldn’t help but complain about her son, “This second son, the baby will be calling him ‘Dad,’ and he won’t even know.”

There have been some issues in the military recently, and Ji Duo has not been home for almost half a month.

Lin Qiao was equally busy. Shortly after her research presentation, her lab received a significant national grant to support further research in the PAN-based carbon fiber field. As a result, she had to expand her team and recruit another batch of undergraduates. Since she had the capability and the project, she could directly supervise master’s students after her PhD graduation. Some of the undergraduates were essentially her future students. Both parents were busy, so the little girl was taken back to the old house, where Xu Li and Old Mr. Ji took care of her, bringing her back to Lin Qiao in the evenings.

As she approached her first birthday, she had already started eating solid foods and didn’t fuss much for her mother during the day. The little one being at the old house was convenient for Ji Ze and Ji Ling. Whenever they didn’t have classes or work, they often returned to see their sister. Sometimes, Ji Ze would bring his friends and childhood buddies.

Nian Nian was already very familiar with this brother. Upon seeing him, she would hug his leg, and once picked up, she would climb onto his shoulder with her little legs.

Ji Ze, being playful, would put her on his shoulder, and the little girl would immediately point outside, wanting to go out.

“Since you like kids so much, why don’t you get married earlier? You’re already twenty-six or twenty-seven,” a childhood friend teased him.

Ji Ze didn’t think much of it, “Just because I like kids, I have to get married? My uncle didn’t have Nian Nian until he was in his thirties, right, Nian Nian?” He jostled the little girl on his shoulder.

The little girl immediately giggled and reached out to grab the fruit tree leaves in the yard.

Since launching dishwashing liquid and shampoo two years ago, Ji Ze’s business has grown significantly. A couple of months ago, he even advertised on TV, and his products completely dominated the northern market. Some estimated his wealth, noting it was comparable to those handling national projects, and naturally, people introduced potential partners to him.

Unfortunately, it seemed the men in the Ji family weren’t in a hurry to get married. Ji Duo wasn’t in a rush back then, and now Ji Ze wasn’t either, focusing solely on his career.

However, the little girl in the Ji family was truly adorable and not afraid of strangers. Ji Ze’s friends loved to play with her whenever they visited.

While playing with the child, they didn’t forget to tease Ji Ze, as Nian Nian called him “brother,” but by age, she should have called them “uncle.”

Eventually, Ji Ze chased them away. After they left, he took an apple to tease the little girl, “Come on, Nian Nian, say ‘brother.'”

Nian Nian found this too difficult and couldn’t do it.

He then pointed to a photo of Ji Duo on the coffee table, “What about ‘Dad’? Can you say ‘Dad’?”

This time, the little girl made a couple of sounds that somewhat resembled the word.

Ji Ze continued to tease her into saying “brother,” but Nian Nian couldn’t manage it. Frustrated, she bit into the apple but couldn’t take a bite and started crying.

“She’s so young, how could she say that?” The old man quickly took his granddaughter and glared at his grandson.

Ji Ze looked embarrassed. As he turned away, the old man scraped some apple puree with a spoon to feed his granddaughter. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he whispered, “Nian Nian, say ‘grandpa.'”

Unfortunately, by the time Ji Duo finished his duties, the little girl had only learned to say “mom” and “dad,” calling everyone “mom” and “dad.”

So when Ji Duo came to pick up his daughter, as soon as he entered, he heard his daughter clearly call his nephew “Ba.”