Chapter 50

“Hahaha,” Jiang Yu laughed happily. Unlike her joy, Jiang Zhe was extremely frustrated, even more so when he turned to see her laughing at him.

Jiang Zhe quickly turned back, playfully biting her nose out of defiance, then continued with his own tasks.

Time flew by, and soon, their little one could crawl all over the place. Before long, she could stand up.

Once the little one learned to stand, she didn’t like being held by family members. Even though she couldn’t stand steadily, she was eager to run everywhere, resulting in numerous falls.

Although Jiang Yu knew that this was a necessary process in a child’s growth, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pain every time she saw the little one fall.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhe had covered the entire house with carpets, and all the tables had protective corners. But the little one loved playing outside, where the protective measures weren’t as thorough.

One day, the little one returned from outside with the nanny, her knees scraped and bleeding. Jiang Yu felt heartbroken and couldn’t bear to look directly.

The nanny also felt a bit guilty and apologized, “Luo Luo is just too energetic. I didn’t keep an eye on her, and she ran ahead.”

Jiang Zhe remained calm, holding a cotton swab and band-aid, gently pinching the little one’s cheek. “Little Luo Luo, you’re quite amazing, to get yourself hurt like this. Does it hurt?”

Of course, it hurt! Her eyes were already puffy from crying.

If she could speak properly, she would have already started crying and complaining about the unfairness of it all.

For now, she obediently sat on the sofa, letting her dad tend to her wounds.

Jiang Zhe was already quite skilled at treating injuries since this wasn’t the first time she’d fallen. In fact, the previous times had been slightly better than this one.

Jiang Yu couldn’t bear to look at her child’s injury, but she still comforted the nanny beside her. “It’s nothing serious. Luo Luo is just at that playful age and loves running around.”

Then she pinched the little one’s cheek and said, “Jiang Luo Luo, why are you so mischievous?”

The little girl, skilled at being cute, looked innocent when her mother scolded her. With her lips pouting, she was impossible to scold.

Mother Jiang heard her daughter being reprimanded and felt displeased. “What’s wrong with a girl being a bit mischievous? Weren’t you mischievous when you were little?”

Jiang Yu: “…”

So, the reason the child showed such a playful character at such a young age was because of her?

Jiang Yu couldn’t believe it.

She turned to Jiang Zhe and asked, “What were you like when you were little?”

Mother Jiang chimed in, “Xiao Zhe’s mom told me. Xiao Zhe was very well-behaved as a child; he would quietly hold a book and read. He wasn’t like you at all, so mischievous.”

After treating the little one’s wounds and applying the band-aid, Jiang Zhe stood up, placing the disinfectant and band-aids back in the medicine box. “It’s good for kids to be a bit lively.”

Upon hearing him say that, Jiang Yu immediately felt happy and proudly declared, “Did you hear that, Mom? Jiang Zhe said being lively is good!”

Mother Jiang agreed but it didn’t stop her from lecturing Jiang Yu. “Alright, alright, your husband can spoil you all he wants, but it’s not okay for you to be so spoiled.”

Jiang Yu wasn’t having any of it. “What’s wrong with my husband spoiling me? Am I not speaking the truth?”

Father Jiang saw his wife teasing their daughter on purpose and couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, don’t bully Xiao Yu anymore.She’ll get mad at you.”

Mother Jiang stopped teasing and looked at the pitiful little one, reaching out to hug her. “Come here, Grandma will hug our little cutie.”

But the little one didn’t want to be held by Grandma at all. She reached out her small hands towards her mother.

Jiang Yu picked up the little one, playfully pinching her cute little nose, and asked, “Does it hurt? Will you still be so naughty next time?”

Mother Jiang immediately replied, “You’re underestimating our Luo Luo. Of course, she will still be naughty next time.”

Jiang Yu: “…”

So unreasonable.

But she also knew her mother was right because she had been the same way when she was little.

She never learned from her falls. Jiang Yu wasn’t sure if this was a good quality.

The little one was about to turn one, and Jiang Yu’s shop was also ready to open. During this time, she had taken a class to learn how to make coffee, and she was already doing quite well.

Jiang Yu asked Jiang Zhe, “The shop is about to open, and Luo Luo is almost one. What do you think we should do first?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “Both are fine.”

Jiang Yu was satisfied with his answer. “Since I asked you, I want a better answer. Your response is no different from saying nothing.”

Jiang Zhe glanced at her hand holding his and smiled, “Then I think we can do both, double happiness.”

Jiang Yu actually thought the same but had her concerns. “But if we do both, won’t it be a bit too busy?”

After all, it was both their child’s first birthday and the shop’s opening.

Jiang Yu worried about whether they would be able to handle it all.

Jiang Zhe gave her a reassuring look. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of the child’s birthday. We can celebrate together in the evening.”

Celebrating their child’s birthday and the shop opening together sounded good to Jiang Yu.

“But won’t the birthday party end up being too simple?”

Jiang Zhe didn’t think it was a problem. “She doesn’t understand. The ceremonies are for the adults. Instead of doing all that, we might as well buy her more food and toys. She’ll be happier.”

Jiang Yu thought this made sense.

“Well, you guys handle the other ceremonies. After all, our little treasure should have the things that other kids have.”

Jiang Zhe thought it was a hassle and didn’t want to plan too much, but since Jiang Yu said so, he agreed. “Alright, I’ll come back later this afternoon when you’re less busy to do the Zhua zhou^[1]The Zhuazhou ceremony (抓周), also known as the “Zhua Zhou” or “Zhua Zhu,” is a traditional Chinese custom held to celebrate a child’s first birthday. The name … Continue reading for her.”

That was the only special ceremony, but for Jiang Zhe, it was something he felt was optional.

“Alright.”

Jiang Yu felt a bit regretful. “It’s a pity I might not have time.”

Jiang Zhe said, “Then why not do them together?”

Jiang Yu didn’t want to give in and said, “I just want a good omen, you know? It’s double happiness.”

Jiang Zhe nodded, no longer teasing her. “We’ll do it in the evening. It won’t take much time.”

Jiang Yu felt a bit guilty towards her daughter; with an unreliable mother, her father was also unreliable, and they were not taking her first birthday seriously.

Jiang Yu asked, “Is it really okay for us to do this to the baby?”

Jiang Zhe was quite indifferent. “It’s fine; she doesn’t understand anything now. When she grows up and understands, we’ll celebrate her birthday however she wants.”

Jiang Yu thought that made sense.

Time passed quickly, and before the little one’s first birthday, she learned to call her mother.

With the shop about to open, Jiang Yu had been busy with shop matters. One night while she was working hard, she suddenly heard the little one pulling at her clothes, saying in a sweet voice, “Ma, ma…”

The voice was small, but Jiang Yu listened intently. Jiang Zhe was busy making milk for the little one and hadn’t noticed. Jiang Yu was thrilled and ran to tell Jiang Zhe, “Your daughter can call me Mama now.”

Jiang Zhe was also taken aback; they knew the child might be speaking soon, but hearing her actually say it was a different experience altogether. He put down the milk bottle, picked up the little one, his eyes shining with excitement. “Luo Luo, come on, say ‘Mama’ for Daddy to hear and see if you really can speak.”

Jiang Luo Luo had seen the milk Daddy prepared and wasn’t cooperating at all. She reached out her small hands, struggling to get down from her father’s arms.

Jiang Zhe wouldn’t let her down and said, “Let Daddy hear you call Mama first, then I’ll put you down.”

Jiang Luo Luo refused, tightly closing her mouth. Her eyes quickly turned red, looking quite pitiful.

Jiang Zhe couldn’t stand seeing his daughter so sad, and he smiled helplessly. “Alright, Daddy was wrong, but you can’t drink milk right now; you have to wait a little.”

The little one thought her father was deliberately not letting her have it, feeling a bit upset. She reached out to hit her dad, but Jiang Yu quickly caught her hand and said with a stern expression, “Luo Luo, you can’t hit Daddy. You know it will hurt him, right?”

The little one immediately stopped when she saw her mother, and in a very spoiled manner, she whined to her, “Ma…”

Seeing such a cute and spoiled expression, Jiang Yu felt she had no way to deal with her.

Jiang Zhe was pleased to hear his daughter truly called “Mama.”

The next day, when Mother Jiang came over, she was thrilled to hear that the little one could finally talk. She hugged the little one and happily said, “Our little treasure can finally talk. That’s wonderful!”

She excitedly kissed the little one and said, “Come on, Luo Luo, say ‘Mama’ for Grandma to hear.”

The little one always chose to be uncooperative at these moments, lowering her head to play with the zipper on Grandma’s clothes. But fortunately, she would call out “Mama” whenever she saw her mother, so Grandma’s wish was quickly fulfilled.

Soon it was the night before the birthday. With the child’s birthday and the store opening tomorrow, Jiang Yu was swamped with shop preparations. After finally finishing up, she looked at the clock and saw it was already midnight. Jiang Yu sighed and noticed she still had messages on her phone that hadn’t been replied to, letting out another sigh.

Jiang Zhe entered after finishing up the arrangements for the birthday party. Seeing her with her head in her hands, he walked over to help massage her shoulders, smiling as he asked, “Are you tired?”

Jiang Yu nodded, leaning on the table to comfortably enjoy his massage while asking, “You’ve been busy today too, haven’t you? You must be tired as well.”

“I’m okay.”

Jiang Yu didn’t quite believe him. She pouted, “I know you; even if you’re tired, you wouldn’t admit it. You like to act tough.”

Feeling a bit better, she glanced at Jiang Zhe and made a playful face at him.

Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow, confused. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yu shook her head in exasperation. “We really have no chemistry.”

“Squat down; I’ll give you a massage.”

Jiang Zhe didn’t expect that kind of service. He felt fine and didn’t think he was that tired. After all, he was slightly stronger than Jiang Yu physically. Plus, she had been idle for a long time, so it was understandable she wasn’t used to the sudden busyness.

But since she offered, Jiang Zhe wouldn’t refuse.

He squatted down, and as soon as he was in position, Jiang Yu reached out to gently massage his shoulder. Her touch was light, and it felt quite nice.

It was Jiang Yu’s first time giving Jiang Zhe a shoulder massage, so she worried about using too much strength. “How is it?”

Jiang Zhe replied, “It’s alright, but a bit too light. It needs to be a little heavier.”

Jiang Yu pressed a bit harder and asked, “How about now?”

“Pretty good. Just like that.”

“Great.”

After a few minutes, Jiang Yu felt tired and stopped, asking, “Is that enough?”

Jiang Yu only massaged him a little, and Jiang Zhe felt somewhat unsatisfied. But he didn’t want to tire her out, so he stood up. Seeing her furrowed brow, he reached out to rub her forehead. “Alright, don’t think too much. Take a good bath and get ready for tomorrow’s battle. If you can’t handle it all, just call me, or delegate some tasks to the shop staff.”

Jiang Yu had the same thought. Once the shop was on track, she could afford to be more flexible and just occasionally check in. However, she said, “This is my first time, like a big girl getting on a sedan chair.”

Jiang Zhe immediately said, “Speaking of which, I still owe you a wedding.”

Jiang Yu, who was now somewhat focused on her career, waved her hand dismissively at his comment. “I’m currently focused on shop matters; the wedding can wait. Besides, I think planning a wedding is a bit of a hassle.”

Jiang Zhe was surprised to hear her thoughts and asked, “Don’t girls usually love weddings?”

Jiang Yu nodded, looking up at Jiang Zhe, who was much taller than her. “Yes, but the thing is, we want a beautiful wedding without all the fuss. Getting married means dealing with so many relatives and all those ceremonies. It feels like the wedding is for the elders rather than ourselves. Honestly, I prefer the idea of a destination wedding, going to a place I love, wearing the dress I like, just with the person I love, just the two of us. That sounds so much happier.”

Jiang Zhe understood. “Alright, just let me know when you want to plan it.”

“Okay.”

At that moment, more messages came in on her phone. Jiang Yu sighed and quickly checked it, but Jiang Zhe snatched the phone away. “Get some rest; you’ll need to wake up early tomorrow.”

Jiang Yu quickly reclaimed her phone and went to grab some clothes while continuing to complain, “Fine, I’ll just confirm the details with them. These days, it’s tough for workers. Even as a boss running a shop, I’m struggling. I’m already worried my shop won’t even last before we’ve even opened.”

Jiang Zhe: “…”