Chapter 15.1

Sheng Zexi’s response clearly didn’t satisfy Nuo Nuo. The little girl thought that if her father liked the gift she had given him, then he should express his happiness instead of just saying “mhm.”

Nuo Nuo seriously told her father, “Daddy, if you like it, you should say you like it, not just ‘mhm.’”

The little one had quite a few demands, but it also brought back some of Sheng Zexi’s somewhat scattered sadness.

He replied, “Daddy really likes it.”

Nuo Nuo asked, “Then should you thank me?”

The sparkle in her eyes contrasted sharply with her usual tearful demeanor. Sheng Zexi found it hard to refuse such a gaze, but expressing gratitude to a child wasn’t something he excelled at. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, “Thank you.”

Nuo Nuo was satisfied, reaching for her mother’s hand and saying, “Daddy, I only remembered to buy you a gift and forgot to get Mommy one. Let’s go buy Mommy a gift!”

Xu Ai didn’t want to go shopping with Sheng Zexi. After all, they were planning to go out tomorrow. So, she told her daughter, “Mommy is a bit tired. Let’s go tomorrow instead.”

Nuo Nuo understood and didn’t insist, saying to her mother, “Okay, Mommy. We’ll go together tomorrow.”

Then she turned to Sheng Zexi, asking, “Daddy, do you have time tomorrow? Let’s buy a gift for Mommy together.” Sheng Zexi thought about the big gift his daughter had just given him. Refusing her now didn’t seem right. Tomorrow is just half a day, he should be able to make time.

Before he could respond, Xu Ai had already spoken up, “Your Daddy is very busy.”

Nuo Nuo frowned slightly at her mother’s unilateral decision and said, “Mommy, don’t talk. I’m asking Daddy if he has time, you can’t answer for him.”

The little one was now able to retort. Xu Ai smiled wryly, deciding to leave the decision to her daughter.

Nuo Nuo looked at her father and repeated her question, “Daddy, do you have time tomorrow?”

Looking at the child’s expectant eyes, Sheng Zexi suddenly thought, if he refused now, would she cry?

She didn’t seem like the type to cry, but he decided it was best not to test that possibility.

He answered, “Daddy is free tomorrow morning.”

Nuo Nuo immediately declared, “Then we’ll go tomorrow morning.”

She then looked to her mother for confirmation, asking, “Is that okay, Mommy?”

Since Sheng Zexi was willing to pay, Xu Ai didn’t mind if they bought an expensive gift. She shrugged, adopting a somewhat nonchalant tone, “Sure, sure.”

As long as the little princess wanted it, she didn’t mind.

With that settled, Nuo Nuo happily wandered around for a bit before heading off to bed.

As for Sheng Zexi, Xu Ai didn’t know if he was going back that night or going somewhere else. She wasn’t particularly concerned, but thinking about how Sheng Zexi would accompany their child to buy her a gift tomorrow, she couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing.

In the past, she might have had a little expectation, but now, as long as the child was happy, that was what mattered. After all, even if they were no longer a couple in the future, they would still be parents to the child.

The next morning, Xu Ai contacted Sheng Zexi, saying, “You promised Nuo Nuo last night to go out today. Do you have time?”

Sheng Zexi was a busy man, and there was a chance he might back out.

Xu Ai looked at her daughter’s happy expression and couldn’t help but sigh internally: I hope this guy keeps his word and doesn’t let the child down.

Since Xu Ai had messaged him in advance, she didn’t expect a quick response. After sending the message, she took Nuo Nuo to wash up.

After washing her face, Xu Ai rummaged through the suitcase for her daughter’s clothes. After a moment’s thought, she chose a fresh yellow-green traditional Chinese dress for Nuo Nuo and styled her hair.

Since styling took some time, by the time she finished, an hour had already passed.

After finishing up, Xu Ai washed her hands and glanced at her phone, only to find that Sheng Zexi had replied within five minutes of her message.

“I’m waiting for you downstairs.”

So, he had been waiting downstairs?

For over an hour?

Xu Ai felt that this wasn’t quite like him, but since he had already been waiting, she decided to let him continue waiting.

Xu Ai said, “I didn’t expect you to be so quick. We still need half an hour.”

Sheng Zexi didn’t rush her and simply replied, “Okay.”

Xu Ai then went on to do her makeup and change clothes.

She was already beautiful without makeup, but she still applied a little light makeup. Choosing an outfit proved to be a bit challenging, and in the end, Nuo Nuo, who was growing a bit impatient, said, “Mommy, that red dress you’re holding looks really nice.”

Xu Ai thought the red was a bit too eye-catching and hesitated, “Wouldn’t red be too attention-grabbing?”

Nuo Nuo didn’t understand, “Isn’t it good if people notice how pretty Mommy is?”

Xu Ai thought her daughter’s words made sense. After giving her cute little face a kiss, she happily changed into the red dress.

Just as she finished changing, Zhao Lili and the others called to ask if Xu Ai was ready. Xu Ai quickly grabbed her bag and took her adorable daughter outside.

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, they heard Zhao Lili exclaim in astonishment, “Wow, Xu Ai, you look so beautiful in that red dress! Why don’t you wear this more often? It looks amazing!”

Xu Ai felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Beside her, Cheng Yao stared at her in surprise.

Xu Ai hadn’t taken many wedding photos since her wedding had been rushed. She had always wanted to take a set of traditional wedding photos, but due to that incident, she hadn’t been able to.

Cheng Yao thought of this too.

Their engagement had been a last-minute decision due to their matching backgrounds, so she hadn’t objected but only suggested they cultivate their feelings over time.

He had agreed.

If it hadn’t been for Lin Ling’s repeated disruptions afterward, he would have accompanied her to take the ancient-style wedding photos she liked, dressed in a phoenix crown and wedding gown. They would have gotten married and had children, and their little one would have been a lovely child. He was sure he would have been a much better father than Sheng Zexi.

But now, she was someone else’s wife.

It was okay, he could wait a year. After a year, he would pursue Xu Ai again and make her the happiest woman in the world.

“You look so good, Xiao Ai! You should wear brighter colors more often. You always dress so conservatively that your beauty gets hidden.”

Xu Ai felt a bit shy from their compliments.

Her usual outfits weren’t that conservative, they just weren’t as eye-catching as red.

Nuo Nuo, hearing the aunts praise her mother, immediately beamed with pride, saying, “Mommy was so confused picking out her clothes. If I hadn’t helped her, she wouldn’t have been able to leave the house!”

The little girl’s fair face practically screamed, “Praise me!” Mu Ting, who adored this little darling, immediately picked her up and, while she wasn’t looking, kissed her adorable little face, saying, “Is that so? We really should praise our Nuo Nuo. You’re amazing!”

“Hehe.”

Nuo Nuo smiled in Mu Ting’s embrace, her lashes fluttering as if little butterflies were dancing between her brows.

Chatting and laughing, they made their way downstairs.

Once they reached the bottom, they spotted Sheng Zexi at the nearby coffee shop, dressed in a suit and focused on work, his slender fingers tapping away at the keyboard. His handsome face was striking, drawing attention from the girls nearby, who whispered and pointed at him for a while before approaching him for his contact information.

However, Sheng Zexi coolly replied, “I’m sorry, my child is nearly three years old.”

Disappointed, the girl left, and Sheng Zexi then lifted his gaze to see them.

He closed his laptop, handed it to his assistant standing nearby, and walked over to them.

Xu Ai looked stunning in her red dress today, even more beautiful than on their wedding day.

Her wedding reception outfit had also been red, and he had thought it suited her well, but he hadn’t seen her wear it much afterward.