Chapter 27.2

Though Xu Ai insisted she was fine, Nuo Nuo still seemed worried, her eyes filled with concern: “Mommy, if you really don’t feel well, you must tell me. You can’t just endure it because you don’t want to see a doctor or take medicine.”

Isn’t she the one who hates taking medicine and seeing the doctor?

This little one actually thinks I’m like her?

Soon, they went to another stationery store, where Nuo Nuo bought some supplies. Throughout, Nuo Nuo kept a watchful eye on her mother, only focusing on her own shopping once she was sure her mom was okay.

By the time they got home, it was nearly evening. After dinner, the things Xu Ai had bought at the mall started to arrive. She had bought a lot of miscellaneous items. Nuo Nuo was delighted to have new clothes and shoes.

Sheng Zexi: …

He had just come down for a drink of water when he saw the deliveries arriving. Unable to help himself, he stayed to see if any of the packages were for him, but he didn’t see any.

He began to doubt if Xu Ai had really bought anything for him or if it was actually for someone else, perhaps her father.

Sheng Zexi thought this was the most reasonable explanation, and as if nothing had happened, he went back upstairs.

Xu Ai had the items she bought moved to her room. After trying on several outfits and shoes with Nuo Nuo, she finally noticed the items she had bought for Sheng Zexi at the bottom. She hadn’t thought much while buying them, but now she wondered how she should give them to him.

She couldn’t deliver them herself, could she?

Xu Ai really didn’t want to. That would be too awkward.

Her gaze fell on her daughter, and a clever idea struck her.

What are daughters for?

She doesn’t know anything, so it’s best to let her deliver them.

With a sly smile, Xu Ai called her little darling over and, with a mischievous look, said, “Sweetie, take this to your daddy.”

Nuo Nuo was surprised to see her mom had bought something for her dad. She exclaimed, “Wow, Mommy, you even bought clothes for Daddy?”

The little one thought her mom was awesome and generously praised her: “Mommy, I think it’s great that you did this. If Daddy gives us money to buy things, we shouldn’t forget him. If you and Daddy went shopping and only bought things for yourselves, leaving me out, I’d be really sad.”

Xu Ai thought her daughter was quite the chatterbox. She gave her a gentle glare, handed Sheng Zexi’s items to her, and said, “Alright, stop talking and take this to your daddy.”

“Okay, Mommy. Daddy will be so happy.”

The little one, still in her dress, dashed off with the items for her dad. Midway, she dropped one of the bags but quickly picked it up and continued running excitedly towards Sheng Zexi’s study. Xu Ai, watching from the door, couldn’t help but remind her, “Slow down! No one’s chasing you.”

Leaning against the door, she tried to imagine Sheng Zexi’s reaction to receiving the items.

It was hard to picture. Since their marriage, she hadn’t considered buying anything for him. Although she liked him initially, she mainly wanted him to be unconditionally supportive of her without thinking about what she could do for him.

Nuo Nuo knew no one was chasing her, but she was eager to show her dad that her mom had bought something for him. She thought her dad would be thrilled.

Running too fast, as she entered her dad’s study, the new shoes’ laces came undone, and she fell flat on the floor.

Sheng Zexi, hearing the commotion, was about to get up when he saw her fall. He hurried over, not even looking at what she was holding.

Nuo Nuo’s first reaction to falling was pain, and she started to cry, but then she remembered her important task. Quickly, she picked up the fallen bag, looked at her dad with teary eyes, and said, “Daddy, Mommy asked me to give this to you. She bought it for you.”

Her eyes, filled with tears, were bright and stubborn.

Sheng Zexi glanced at the items in her arms—a tie and a belt.

So, this was what Xu Ai had bought for him from that store?

Instead of focusing on the clothes, he first checked if Nuo Nuo was hurt. But to Nuo Nuo, the items for her dad were more important. She handed them to him, her tone urgent: “Daddy, please look at them quickly.”

Sheng Zexi took the items and asked, “Are you okay?”

Nuo Nuo shook her head: “I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

If it didn’t hurt, then why were her eyes red?

Sheng Zexi lifted her skirt to check her knee. It was a bit red.

He said, “Let’s put some medicine on it first.”

Nuo Nuo waved her hand: “Daddy, I’m fine. Look at what Mommy bought for you!”

Nuo Nuo was curious too.

Seeing the expectant look on his child’s face, Sheng Zexi helplessly opened the package.

Inside there was a red tie and a brown belt.

He could accept the belt, but he had never worn a red tie before.

Sheng Zexi couldn’t imagine how he would look wearing it.

Nuo Nuo asked, “Daddy, do you like it?”

Sheng Zexi nodded, “I like it.”

Just as he was about to take his daughter to apply the medicine, Nuo Nuo ran off, yelling excitedly, “Mommy, Daddy said he likes it!”

Sheng Zexi’s hand paused mid-air, watching his little one dash away.

He sighed, put the items on a nearby chair, and followed her.

Xu Ai saw her daughter running back, shouting loudly. She felt a bit helpless. Was her daughter afraid no one in the house would hear her?

Just as she was about to remind her to be quieter, she saw Sheng Zexi following. She was puzzled: Why was he coming over? Was he so touched by her gift that he wanted to thank her?

Xu Ai didn’t need his thanks. She took a step back, her gaze involuntarily wary, and asked, “Why are you here?”

Was he that moved?

Sheng Zexi picked up the energetic little one and explained, “Nuo Nuo fell just now. I’m taking her to apply some medicine.”

She fell?

Xu Ai glanced at her daughter, who seemed fine, and noticed her red eyes.

She had just gone to deliver something and ended up falling. Xu Ai felt a bit exasperated and followed them out.

Outside, Sheng Zexi took out the medicine kit from the second-floor living room and started applying it.

Although the fall didn’t hurt much, the medicine stung a bit, making Nuo Nuo cry.

When Sheng Zexi tried to apply the medicine again, Nuo Nuo jumped and hid behind her mom: “It hurts, Daddy. I don’t want it. It hurts more with the medicine. Waaaah!”

Xu Ai, finding her daughter’s pouty face amusing, gently pressed the injured area and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Nuo Nuo nodded. “A little. It doesn’t hurt if you don’t press it.”

Xu Ai held her: “Apply the medicine, or it’ll bruise tomorrow.”

Nuo Nuo looked at the bottle in her dad’s hand, remembering the stinging sensation, and her eyes filled with tears: “Can we skip it?”

Xu Ai shook her head: “No.”

Then she signaled Sheng Zexi with her eyes.

Nuo Nuo, held by her mom, had the medicine applied by her dad. The stinging pain made her want to run, but her parents didn’t give her a chance. Feeling extremely wronged, she cried and complained, “Bad Daddy, bad Mommy. You’re both bullying me. I don’t want to play with you anymore. Waaaah!”

True to her words, after the medicine was applied, she ran off, not wanting to play with them anymore.

Halfway, she turned back and huffed at them: “I’m not playing with you.”

Then she ran off to play by herself.

Xu Ai glanced at Sheng Zexi, who was putting the cap back on the medicine bottle, his eyes soft with a deep smile.