Chapter 14: Using the Baby as a Charm

The little paw was still swiping at the air, as if trying to grab that spoon and scoop a big ladleful into her own porridge.

The little one in his arms was fidgeting, but the elderly woman watching them found it absolutely adorable. “You like sweet things, don’t you? Here, Grandma will give you another spoonful.”

“Thank you, Grandma!”

The little one’s eyes immediately lit up, staring eagerly at the bowl of porridge. It was obvious she loved it to bits.

Yu Mozhi noticed—when it came to food, this little one expressed a great deal of enthusiasm. She was especially determined about not going hungry.

“Auntie, just a little bit is fine. Too much will ruin her teeth,” Yu Mozhi said helplessly.

His voice was still a bit low and hoarse, tinged with discomfort.

“Your daddy’s doing it for your own good, sweetie. Eating too much sugar will hurt your teeth,” the elderly woman said with a laugh. Her aged hand, now wrinkled, trembled slightly as she held the spoon brimming with sugar. As she gave it a gentle shake, more than half of it fell off the spoon.

The little one let out a soft, anxious whimper.

In the end, the porridge was packed up. The little one puffed up her cheeks and muttered under her breath about not talking to Daddy anymore. She buried her little head into Yu Mozhi’s neck, using her actions to prove—she didn’t want to see Daddy again!

With one hand carrying breakfast and the other holding the little dumpling, Yu Mozhi could feel her warm breath against the crook of his neck.

What a performance, this “not talking”!

Both Yu Mozhi and the porridge shop owner couldn’t help but be amused at the sight of this little one.

Perhaps it was because the dumpling was too cute that the shop owner found Yu Mozhi more pleasing to the eye than before. He quickly prepared another bowl of plain rice porridge and placed it next to the sweet eight-treasure porridge before handing them over to Yu Mozhi.

“You caught a cold recently, didn’t you, young man? Don’t go drinking sweet porridge like your little sweetheart—it’ll only make your throat worse. She’ll worry about you, won’t she? This bowl is a gift for new customers. Just pay for the eight-treasure porridge, alright? Don’t turn it down, or Grandma won’t be happy,” the elderly vendor said.

Yu Mozhi was taken aback for a moment, then nodded his thanks. He paid for the eight-treasure porridge and headed home with the still-whimpering little one in his arms.

In all his years, despite constantly being praised for his good looks—and working in an industry where looks were everything—he had never once “paid with his face” for breakfast. This time, however, he got a taste of it.

Only, the face he was using wasn’t his own—but the baby’s.

Yu Mozhi glanced at the little dumpling who kept whimpering softly. Every so often, she’d sneak a cautious glance up at him. Her little expressions made him want to laugh and cry at the same time. Unable to resist teasing her, he deliberately kept a stern face. Besides, with a mask on, she couldn’t see the smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he carried her home.

Once they returned, Yu Mozhi set the items down on the table and gently placed the little dumpling on the ground. Without saying a word, he watched as the little one huffed and puffed, running off into another room. He wanted to see what she was up to.

Was she really upset?

He watched as the little dumpling climbed onto a bench with some effort, then clumsily grabbed a cup and poured some water, a bit crookedly.

Yu Mozhi rushed over. The water was cold, so it wouldn’t hurt her if it spilled, but if the kettle accidentally fell on her, that would be bad.

“Daddy, here’s some water for you. The doctor auntie said you need to drink more water to get better faster!” the little dumpling said seriously.

Just as Yu Mozhi scooped this soft little bundle back into his arms, he heard that sentence.

(End of Chapter)