Chapter 13: Building Blocks

Bai Hui finally felt relieved. She poked her forehead, “Go play with Zhuzhu. I’m going to cook a couple of dishes.”

Xu Zhen washed his hands and leaned against the door, “What do you want to do this time?”

Bai Hui sighed, “Forget it. It’s rare for her to come back. Don’t argue with her.”

“Didn’t we say before? If she goes chasing after that Qin Yuan again, she’s not to recognize me as her father. She didn’t see us for over a year, and now she’s suddenly back. What’s the deal?” Xu Zhen snorted coldly.

“Alright.” Bai Hui tied the apron around his waist. “How many times have you gone to see her secretly this past year? Now that she’s back, get along with her. Don’t argue with her. This is Zhuzhu’s first time here. You cook a couple of dishes. Doesn’t Niannian love your braised pork ribs?”

“Who wants to cook for her.” Xu Zhen said, though he didn’t mean it, and put his hands behind his back to tie the apron strings.

Bai Hui didn’t expose him. Her gaze fell on the two figures by the sofa. “Contact that Doctor Chu again in a few days. I’m worried…”

Xu Zhen frowned and nodded. “I’ll ask him in a few days.”

————

“Zhuzhu, are you building blocks with the little pig? Can I play with you?” Xu Chunian squatted in front of Zhuzhu.

Zhuzhu hesitated, clutching the pig doll in her hand and holding out a small block next to her.

Xu Chunian’s eyes, the same color as the pig, crinkled. She took the block from her hand. “Thank you, baby.”

She looked at the shape on the blueprint. “Zhuzhu is making a little cake. Let me see. Where should this piece go?”

Zhuzhu pointed with her little finger to the half-finished cake model she was building.

“Ah, so smart.” There was a perfect gap there.

The pictures on the model were all pigs.

“Zhuzhu, can you help me find a block with a pigtail pattern?” Xu Chunian studied the cake pattern.

Zhuzhu rummaged through the pile of blocks and found a block with a pigtail pattern and handed it to her.

Xu Chunian was also quiet for a change. Even she didn’t realize that her eyes softened unconsciously when she looked at Zhuzhu.

Bai Hui had scolded her many times before, saying that she had a prickly personality and couldn’t sit still, but she spent the whole afternoon building blocks with Zhuzhu.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and Xu Chunian’s stomach started to rumble.

She hadn’t eaten her father’s braised pork ribs in a long time. She had been in college since she was 18, and she only went home during long breaks. Xu Zhen was busy with work and rarely cooked. They had a housekeeper, and he only cooked himself on special occasions.

Xu Chunian finished building the blocks in her hand. “Zhuzhu, I’m going to sneak some delicious food for you.”

She stood up and walked towards the kitchen, Zhuzhu watching her back intently.

Xu Chunian entered the kitchen and saw the freshly made braised pork ribs.

“Hungry?” Bai Hui glanced at her.

“Hungry.” Xu Chunian pouted and affectionately wrapped her arms around her father’s barrel chest. “Daddy, your cooking hasn’t gotten any worse over the years.”

“Get away from me, it’s hot.” Xu Zhen pushed her away in disgust.

“Oh, oh.” Xu Chunian turned and hugged her mother. “Mommy, I’m hungry. Food.”

Bai Hui poked her forehead, knowing her personality. “Get it yourself.”

“Okay.” Xu Chunian let go of her, washed her hands, and picked up a braised pork rib and put it in her mouth.

“Sizzle.”

“Hot! You little rascal.” Bai Hui clicked her tongue.

Xu Chunian chewed the rib a couple of times, then picked up another one and walked out of the kitchen.

Xu Zhen looked at her graceful back, his eyes deep. “Strange, I feel like I’m seeing Niannian when she was little.”

He shook his head and turned to wash the pot.

They hadn’t seen a scene like this in a long time.