Chapter 37

This man knew how to talk, making her feel warm inside.

However, she still didn’t know how to feel happy. Hesitating, she said, “Give me some time. I haven’t figured out how to talk about these things with you.”

Jiang Zhe didn’t rush her. “Alright, I’m not in a hurry. Whenever you want to talk, just tell me.”

Jiang Yu was deeply moved. “Jiang Zhe, you’re a really good person.”

Then she peered out the window. “By the way, what was your daughter crying about earlier?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the nanny walked in with the baby, looking puzzled. “Luo Luo has been crying non-stop tonight. She calms down when you hold her, but starts crying again when you leave.”

Jiang Zhe took the baby, but this time, even his embrace didn’t stop her cries. The little girl continued to wail loudly.

Jiang Yu too, found the crying hard to bear. Maybe because she had integrated with another version of herself, she was now much more sensitive to the sound of a crying child. The loud cries irritated her, making her inexplicably irritable.

Back then, she had agreed verbally but hadn’t fully understood his words. Now, she understood much more.

The little one continued to cry. Seeing Jiang Yu frown unconsciously, Jiang Zhe knew she was probably annoyed by the noise. He said, “I’ll take the baby out for a walk.”

Suddenly, Jiang Yu reached out her hand and said, “I don’t think I’ve held her much. Let me hold her.”

Jiang Zhe thought it wasn’t a good idea to give the crying baby to Jiang Yu, but since his attempts to soothe her weren’t working, he wondered if the baby might want her mother.

Although Jiang Yu hadn’t spent much time with the baby, like many mothers who have an innate maternal instinct, perhaps the baby’s love for her mother was also innate.

Jiang Zhe noticed that the baby had been looking in Jiang Yu’s direction. He handed the baby over to her.

Jiang Yu hadn’t held the baby much, as there were always people at home willing to take care of her, leaving Jiang Yu without the opportunity. This was Jiang Yu’s first time holding the little one.

When the baby’s soft, milk-scented body settled into her arms, Jiang Yu felt as if her heart was wrapped in syrup, filled with sweetness.

Being inexperienced, Jiang Yu was worried she might not hold the baby correctly. She asked Jiang Zhe, “Is this okay?”

The nanny said, “Of course, look, Luo Luo isn’t crying anymore.”

Only then did Jiang Yu realize that the crying had stopped.

She looked down at the tear-stained face of the baby, who was now calm and showed no signs of crying.

Jiang Yu had always thought the baby was adorable and beautiful but never felt a connection to her as her own child. Now, seeing the baby stop crying because of her hug, she felt a surge of maternal love.

Feeling a bit confused herself, she asked Jiang Zhe, “Why did she stop crying suddenly?”

The nanny quickly replied, “She knows you’re her mom.”

Jiang Yu, inexperienced in baby care, asked in surprise, “She can recognize me?”

“Of course. Don’t underestimate our smart little one.”

Jiang Zhe took a handkerchief to wipe the baby’s tears, saying, “Hold her for a while. If you get tired, let me know. She’s heavier than when she was born.”

The nanny added, “It’s a good thing she’s gaining weight.”

Seeing the harmonious scene in the study, the nanny wisely left, saying, “I’ll head out now. Call me if you need anything.”

Jiang Zhe said, “It’s late, nanny. You should rest. I’ll take care of the baby.”

Unlike the families the nanny had worked for before, here, the father was the main caregiver. He not only took care of the baby but also managed household chores efficiently.

Though the nanny had seen a lot in her years, she couldn’t help but admire Jiang Zhe. She wondered if her daughter, who was about to get married, would be as lucky to find someone like him.

The nanny soon left. After she did, Jiang Yu found that she couldn’t hold the baby for long. The little one, initially easy to hold, started to feel heavier.

She handed the baby back to Jiang Zhe and asked, “How much does she weigh now?”

“Almost fifteen pounds.”

Jiang Yu, having no concept of baby weight, asked, “Is that heavy or light?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “It’s normal weight.”

As soon as the baby was back in her father’s arms, she reached out for her mother again.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu felt a pang of guilt and said, “Let me hold her again. She seems to want me.”

Jiang Yu didn’t understand why the baby had such a natural attachment to her but felt a sweet sensation in her heart.

But the weight of this love was heavy.

Jiang Zhe avoided her hand, saying, “It’s late. I’ll give her a bath.”

Jiang Yu agreed, “Okay.”

“By the way, what did you want to talk to me about?”

Jiang Yu had entered the room just as the baby started crying, louder than usual, prompting Jiang Zhe to check.

“It’s nothing urgent,” Jiang Yu said. “The store plans can wait.”

“Alright, I’ll give her a bath first. Let me know if you need anything.”

Jiang Yu rolled her eyes at him, “Do I look like someone who doesn’t speak up?”

Jiang Zhe just smiled and left with the baby.

Jiang Zhe left, and without anything pressing to do, Jiang Yu followed.

Outside, she saw the baby in the stroller, and Jiang Zhe was in the bathroom running water.

After turning on the shower, he came out and saw Jiang Yu playing with the baby.

Jiang Yu was using a toy seahorse to entertain the baby, who reached for it but couldn’t grasp it. Jiang Yu, seeing the baby’s frustration, handed the toy to her, creating a beautiful mother-daughter scene that made Jiang Zhe pause and watch until Jiang Yu noticed him.

“Aren’t you supposed to be giving Luo Luo a bath?”

“Yes, the water is still running.”

Realizing it had been a while, he rushed to the bathroom, where the tub was now full.

He turned off the water and came out to pick up the baby.

Seeing his skillful way of bathing the baby, Jiang Yu felt she wasn’t needed and asked, “Can I help with anything?”

Jiang Zhe glanced at the clothes on the chair and said, “If you could pick out some clothes for Luo Luo to wear after her bath, that would be great.”

Jiang Yu was happy to help. “Of course.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Mommy.”

“Not a problem.”

There weren’t many rooms in their home, and since the baby slept with her father, their clothes were stored in his room. The wardrobe was neatly divided between Jiang Zhe’s and the baby’s clothes.

Jiang Yu looked at the clothes in the wardrobe. Some were quite flashy, while others were more normal. She couldn’t understand who had such poor taste.

She chose a cute yellow dress from the pile and brought it out.

When she reached the bathroom, she saw Jiang Zhe gently bathing the baby. She asked, “Who bought those tacky clothes for the baby? Was it you?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “Your parents.”

Jiang Yu: “…”

She started to doubt her parents’ taste. Did she grow up wearing such ugly clothes? She couldn’t remember at all.

To cover her embarrassment, she quickly changed the subject. “Our house seems a bit small. The baby can sleep with us for now, but she’ll need her own space soon. What do you think we should do?”

Jiang Yu was considering whether they could convert part of Jiang Zhe’s study into a room for the baby. But she wasn’t sure if he would agree.

Jiang Zhe said, “We could move to a bigger house. But if you don’t want to leave here, we could convert your room for the baby.”

Jiang Yu retorted, “If my room goes to the baby, where do I sleep? On the sofa?”

Jiang Zhe: “…Could it be that, as husband and wife, we might sleep together?”

“You can’t just take my room,” Jiang Yu protested.

“Your room is bigger and has better lighting.”

Jiang Yu realized Jiang Zhe was being sneaky. “You kept the best room for yourself.”

The little one was now clean, smelling sweet with the scent of baby wash. Jiang Zhe, hearing Jiang Yu’s unreasonable accusations, said, “Is it possible that I moved in first?”

Initially, given their relationship, they slept in separate rooms. Later, he wanted to share a room, but she wasn’t willing.

Jiang Yu relented, “Alright.”

“We’ll decide when she’s a bit older.” She didn’t want to discuss it further.

When Jiang Zhe was dressing the baby, he noticed Jiang Yu had chosen a dress rather than comfortable sleepwear. It was one of those dresses bought by her mother.

His parents had limited experience in child-rearing as he was mostly raised by his grandparents. While the dress was pretty, it wasn’t the most comfortable for the baby.

Nevertheless, he dressed the baby in the dress, planning to change her into something more comfortable later.

The baby looked adorable in the dress. Jiang Yu noticed the wardrobe lacked many pretty clothes. She took out her phone and said to Jiang Zhe, “Jiang Zhe, the baby doesn’t have many nice clothes. I’ll buy some.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Yu opened an online shopping app and started browsing baby clothes. She found many beautiful outfits, but when she was about to place an order, she noticed a review from another mother saying the clothes were too scratchy for a young baby. The style was similar to the one she had just dressed the baby in.

She looked at Jiang Zhe and asked, “Do you think Luo Luo is uncomfortable in this dress?”

“I read that these clothes aren’t suitable for such young babies.”

Jiang Zhe replied, “It’s okay. We can change her later.”

Jiang Yu realized why he hadn’t changed her yet.

She felt sympathy for the baby, realizing her dad was making her wear uncomfortable clothes to please her mom.

“Maybe we should change her now. It might not be good for her skin.”

The baby was so well-behaved, not crying or fussing.

Jiang Yu felt touched.

Despite her inexperience, both the father and daughter were willing to cooperate with her.

Under Jiang Yu’s urging, Jiang Zhe changed the baby’s clothes. Afterward, he argued, “It’s not that bad. It’s nice to dress her up occasionally. Little girls should look pretty.”

Jiang Yu teased, “So if she’s not dressed up, you won’t like her?”

Holding the baby now dressed in a comfy onesie, Jiang Zhe looked at her intently and said, “I’ll love her no matter what.”

Jiang Yu: …

Why did it feel like he wasn’t talking about the baby?