Chapter 35: Bubble Party

On the third and fourth days in Lucheng, Zhu Jia had planned the itinerary to be much lighter, with only half a day of activities and the other half reserved for rest.

This was a lesson she had gleaned from poring over countless family travel guides—traveling with a toddler, especially one under two years old, required plenty of flexibility.

Even with the relaxed schedule, Zhu Jia felt completely worn out. After their trip to Zhou Island, her legs, arms, and basically her entire body ached.

Xiao Wen, on the other hand, was brimming with energy, thanks to his unique superpower—falling asleep the moment he felt drowsy and waking up fully recharged after just a short nap. His “five minutes of charging, eight hours of play” ability was truly enviable.

On the third day, Zhu Jia and Mo Yichen took Xiao Wen to the largest and most famous aquarium in Lucheng.

Before even entering, Zhu Jia nearly gave up at the sight of the massive line snaking around the ticket counter. Although they had purchased their tickets online in advance, the sheer number of people foreshadowed the crowded chaos inside.

Sure enough, the aquarium was packed to the brim with visitors. The dense crowd reminded Zhu Jia of the bustling wholesale markets she had visited before.

But they were already here, and Zhu Jia gritted her teeth. For Xiao Wen’s sake—so he could have a new experience and broaden his horizons—she braved the crowd with the father and son in tow.

She silently repeated to herself three times: This is all for the child!

Mo Yichen’s height became a major advantage in the crowded space. Xiao Wen spent the entire time perched on his father’s shoulders or held securely in his arms, giving him the clearest view among all the children.

Despite the exhaustion, the trip was worth it. As the largest marine museum in the country, this aquarium boasted an impressive variety of species, many of which were unique to this facility. Even someone as well-traveled as Mo Yichen paused in fascination at certain exhibits.

Zhu Jia observed the father and son duo towering over the crowd. She couldn’t help but wonder if Mo Yichen had ever experienced the chaos of crowded travel before.

As she watched him, she noticed he didn’t display any signs of disdain or annoyance. Instead, whenever someone bumped into her, he would frown and pull her aside protectively.

By the time they returned to the hotel, Zhu Jia was completely spent, collapsing onto the bed. For the fourth and final day of their trip, she decided to stay within the family-friendly hotel and enjoy its amenities.

The hotel featured shallow, heated pools designed for children, both indoors and outdoors. With the pleasant weather, Zhu Jia chose the outdoor pool.

Before letting Xiao Wen enter, she carefully checked the water quality, the shallow depth, the non-slip surface, and the padded edges of the pool’s equipment. The presence of multiple lifeguards reassured her.

The pool had various play facilities for children, including slides, inflatable ball pits, rafts, and climbing structures. The highlight, however, was the bubble party held every afternoon at 4:30.

Xiao Wen was still too young to play unsupervised, so he needed Zhu Jia to accompany him on all the attractions. He gazed longingly at the older kids running, jumping, and swimming around him, then babbled instructions for Zhu Jia to take him to the slide.

Zhu Jia gently pinched his cheek. “Little one, that’s not how you ask. You need to say, ‘Mommy, can you take me to the slide, please?’”

Xiao Wen’s round eyes widened as he processed her words. After a moment of contemplation, he softly said, “Ma…ma…”

Zhu Jia froze in place. Was he calling her “Mommy”?

Her long-silent system voice suddenly chimed in with excitement: “Host! Xiao Wen just said his first word! He said ‘Mommy’!”

Overwhelmed with joy, Zhu Jia couldn’t help planting a kiss on Xiao Wen’s forehead.

Encouraged, Xiao Wen repeated, “Mama…妈…妈…马…马…” His eyes sparkled as he tried the sounds again and again.

Zhu Jia quickly asked the system, “Was that a meaningful ‘Mommy,’ or just a sound he’s learning to make?”

System: “It’s likely he’s just practicing the sound ‘Mama’ for now, but this is still a significant milestone in his development!”

Holding Xiao Wen close, Zhu Jia’s heart swelled with bittersweet emotion. She felt elated to hear him call her “Mommy,” but a shadow of sadness loomed over her. In just over two months, she would have to leave this family.

A new woman would eventually take her place, and Xiao Wen would have a new mother. Would Mo Yichen even allow her to visit Xiao Wen in the future? Would Xiao Wen forget her altogether?

The thought brought a dull ache to her chest, and she forced herself to stop spiraling. For now, she resolved to cherish the happiness she still had.

Zhu Jia and Xiao Wen explored every corner of the children’s pool, riding the slide countless times. Xiao Wen still wasn’t satisfied, but the start of the bubble party finally drew his attention away.

The bubble party was a signature event at the hotel. At the scheduled time, cheerful music began to play, and a machine released a cascade of fine, white bubbles into the pool.

The bubbles were made from a safe, non-toxic formula designed specifically for children.

Playing with bubbles seemed to be an innate joy coded into every child’s DNA. In the whimsical bubble pool, children could unleash their energy with abandon.

Even Zhu Jia, a grown-up “child” herself, couldn’t resist joining in. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she splashed through the sea of bubbles, giggling like a kid again.

Mo Yichen had just finished a work call when he hurried over to the children’s pool, only to be greeted by a scene of children gleefully playing amidst a flurry of white bubbles.

His gaze swept across the crowd before landing on the two figures he was searching for—a big one and a little one. Both were covered in white bubbles, with Xiao Wen, nestled in a swim ring, gleefully grabbing bubbles from the water and tossing them into the air.

Spotting Mo Yichen standing at the edge of the pool, Zhu Jia waved energetically and shouted, “Come down and join us! It’s so much fun!”

Mo Yichen stepped into the bubble pool. The water was shallow, barely reaching halfway up his calves. He navigated through the crowd toward the pair, his tall figure gradually accumulating a layer of bubbles as he moved.

Zhu Jia and Xiao Wen were clearly having the time of their lives. The moment Mo Yichen reached them, Zhu Jia scooped up a large handful of bubbles and smeared them all over his body, face, and hair. Watching him transform into a “bubble man,” she doubled over in laughter, her face flushed and tears nearly escaping her eyes.

Was it really that amusing? Seeing Zhu Jia laugh so freely and joyfully, her eyes sparkling with delight, Mo Yichen allowed himself a faint smile.

Taking advantage of a moment when Zhu Jia turned her back, Mo Yichen scooped up a pile of bubbles and dumped them over her head. Her hair and face were instantly buried under the frothy foam, leaving only her eyes visible. She turned around, laughing as she retaliated against the mischievous man behind her with another round of bubbly attacks.

By the end of the chaotic bubble party, Zhu Jia’s cheeks were rosy, and she felt completely relaxed, as though she hadn’t played this freely and unrestrainedly in years.

That night, as usual, the three of them crowded onto one bed—it was their last night in Deer City. With Xiao Wen fast asleep in the middle, Zhu Jia found herself tossing and turning, unable to drift off.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Mo Yichen’s slightly drowsy voice came from the darkness.

“I can’t fall asleep.” Zhu Jia sat up, the soft glow of the nightlight illuminating her face as she gazed at him. “We’re leaving tomorrow, and I suddenly feel reluctant.”

The man turned over, his eyes barely open as he responded in a calm tone, “If you like it, we can come again next year.”

Zhu Jia was momentarily stunned. Next year? Was Mo Yichen talking in his sleep?

Just as she was about to reply, Mo Yichen interrupted her. “When we get back, accompany me to a jewelry auction.”

“A jewelry auction?”

“One hosted by the Fang family.”

Mo Yichen’s mention of the Fang family immediately clarified things for Zhu Jia. Fang Boyan’s family owned numerous businesses, with luxury jewelry being their flagship.

Each year, the Fang family hosted a high-profile jewelry auction, showcasing and selling rare and exquisite pieces. The event attracted wealthy collectors, celebrities, and prominent figures from across the country, making it not just an auction but also a significant social gathering. It was no wonder Mo Yichen took it so seriously.

That night, after much tossing and turning, Zhu Jia finally fell asleep. The following morning, the family of three boarded Mo Yichen’s private jet and returned home.

Although their trip had lasted just five days, Zhu Jia felt as though she had been away for much longer. Back home, savoring the familiar flavors of Aunt Liu’s cooking, she felt an unparalleled sense of comfort and relaxation.

The rest of the day was spent unpacking and organizing their belongings, which took Zhu Jia nearly half a day. Finally able to relax, she sprawled out on her bed, sorting through the photos from their trip and planning to turn them into an album.

She also went through the local specialties they’d brought back from Deer City, preparing to distribute them to Zhu Tianyao, Mo Chengxin, Liang Sisi, Linlin, and Xiao Wen’s grandparents.

Since Xiao Wen’s first attempt at saying “Mama,” he hadn’t stopped calling her that at home. To further develop his language skills, Zhu Jia purchased a dozen baby-friendly picture books for him.

She noticed Xiao Wen’s favorite was 25 Good Habits for Kids, a book teaching daily habits like eating, brushing teeth, going to bed early, and getting dressed. Xiao Wen listened intently, often grabbing at illustrations of candy or cookies as if trying to eat them.

Another favorite was a set of touch-and-sound books. Each page featured buttons that produced sounds like lions roaring, birds chirping, planes flying, or instruments playing. Xiao Wen was completely engrossed, pressing the buttons repeatedly to hear the fascinating sounds.

However, Zhu Jia regretted buying a set of pricey pop-up books, as Xiao Wen quickly took to tearing apart the intricate paper structures. Within days, a beautifully crafted pop-up castle had been reduced to confetti, earning him a light scolding.

A few days after their return, Zhu Jia visited the boutique where she had previously tried on dresses and ordered a sparkling, one-shoulder mermaid gown in iridescent pink with a high slit. It was Mo Yichen’s choice.

Initially, Zhu Jia resisted—the gown was stunning but far too flashy, with its glimmering design and flirtatious hue. However, Mo Yichen’s persistence and rare compliments softened her resolve, and she eventually agreed.

When the gown was ready a week later, it coincided with the upcoming Brilliance Jewelry auction, held at a five-star hotel downtown.

Wearing the pink mermaid gown, Zhu Jia kissed Xiao Wen at the doorway. “Xiao Wen, you can’t come with us this time. It’s an event for adults, with no other kids to play with.”

Xiao Wen seemed to understand, pursing his lips in silent protest.

Zhu Jia stroked his head with a helpless smile before taking Mo Yichen’s arm and stepping into the waiting two-tone Maybach limousine.