Chapter 39

When Xu Ai came out, she saw her little one leaning over the sofa, holding a magazine and pointing at it, saying, “Daddy, look at this. It’s me. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Pretty.”

She flipped a page, found no photos of herself, flipped again, and still found none. She switched to another magazine, finally found herself, and continued asking, “Daddy, this is me too. Is it pretty?”

Sheng Zexi replied, “Pretty.”

“Daddy, this one too! Is it pretty?”

Sheng Zexi kept repeating “pretty,” like a robot. Nuo Nuo probably didn’t mind her dad’s perfunctory response. As long as he praised her, she accepted it wholeheartedly, continuing to search for her photos and repeat the question, “Daddy…”

Although Xu Ai acknowledged that her daughter looked good in the photos—so much so that most of the promotional materials featured Nuo Nuo—she wouldn’t have switched to other models if she didn’t think Nuo Nuo had worked hard. However, hearing her daughter’s self-promotion made her unable to hold back her laughter.

While the child was engrossed in the magazine, Xu Ai was watching her, and they both forgot about eating until Sheng Zexi spotted Xu Ai. He relaxed his brow and asked, “Are you done?”

Xu Ai nodded, “Yeah, let’s go eat.”

Nuo Nuo wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Instead, she stared at the magazines that didn’t feature her. “Mommy, why are there many of me in some books, but not in others?”

The little girl was unhappy about her limited appearances.

Xu Ai picked up her precious baby, set the magazine aside, and explained as they walked out, “It’s because our baby is going to school, so we can’t take that many photos to include.”

Nuo Nuo replied, “Then when I come over on the weekend, we can take pictures, and then I can be in them.”

Xu Ai said, “But taking pictures can be tiring. Do you still want to do it?”

In truth, Nuo Nuo was the perfect model. The clothes she modeled sold the best. But Xu Ai was worried about her daughter getting too tired.

Nuo Nuo nodded, her big eyes sparkling, “Mommy, I like taking pictures. I think it’s quite fun!”

Once they got into the car, Xu Ai hugged the little one and smiled at Sheng Zexi and said “Your daughter loves taking pictures so much. Is it possible she’ll be a model or an actress in the future?”

Sheng Zexi, holding the steering wheel, contemplated what their daughter might become. “It doesn’t matter, she can do anything as long as she’s happy. We’ll protect her no matter what.”

Xu Ai thought that made sense. If Sheng Zexi didn’t go bankrupt, then no matter what Nuo Nuo chose to do, he would be willing to support her.

Nuo Nuo knew about celebrities but didn’t understand what a model was. She curiously asked, “Mommy, what’s a model? Can they also act in shows?”

Xu Ai shook her head. “Of course not! Models don’t act in shows. Like when you take pictures for Mommy’s clothes, that’s also a kind of modeling. Models can also walk on runways.”

Xu Ai took out her phone and showed her daughter what models do, wanting to broaden her child’s knowledge.

However, after Nuo Nuo watched, she shook her little head in rejection. “I don’t want to be a model! I don’t like being a star either. I just like taking pictures!”

Xu Ai asked her daughter, “Then what do you want to do in the future?”

Nuo Nuo tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then replied, “I want to be a chef in the future so I can have lots of delicious food every day and eat whatever I want!”

Xu Ai: “…”

Sheng Zexi: “…”

Xu Ai thought to herself, even if she didn’t become a chef, she could still eat whatever she wanted.

The restaurant for dinner was chosen by Xu Ai, and it wasn’t far away. It took only a few minutes to drive there. It was almost six o’clock, and Nuo Nuo had probably gotten hungry waiting outside, so as soon as they arrived, she grabbed her mother’s hand and dashed outside.

When they reached the front desk, waiting for the server to take them to their table, Xu Ai said to Sheng Zexi, “If there’s a next time, you should take Nuo Nuo to eat something first before coming here.”

“Look how hungry the child is.”

As soon as Nuo Nuo heard her mother mention a next time, her eyes widened, and she accused Xu Ai, “Mommy, you want to have a next time?”

Xu Ai felt a bit guilty but replied honestly, “Mommy is busy with work and can’t always promise to do what you want. After all, Mommy has to earn money to buy you clothes and toys.”

Seeing the little one’s displeased expression, Xu Ai quickly added, “But I’ll make time to pick you up from school every day when I can.”

Only then did Nuo Nuo seem satisfied but reluctantly conceded, “Fine.”

Then she complained, “Mommy, why do I feel like you and Daddy have switched roles? It used to be that Daddy didn’t love coming home, but now it’s you!”

Xu Ai: “…”

I advise you not to compare your dad to me back then.

Sheng Zexi felt guilty about his previous indifference and said, “Mommy is different from Daddy back then.”

Xu Ai felt pleased that he was willing to acknowledge that he wasn’t as good as her.

Nuo Nuo said, “Of course I know it’s different! I’m just making a comparison!”

Xu Ai: Nice analogy, but please don’t compare again next time.

Thinking of something, Xu Ai shot a light glare at Sheng Zexi. He felt guilty, but he couldn’t deny that he had major issues back then.

In a weak voice, he said, “I can make it up to you.”

Make it up…

Xu Ai actually thought there wasn’t much to make up for. After all, their relationship at that time had some problems. There was no love initially. It was just her infatuation and a desire to gain affection from him.

Now things were the best they could be: raising a child together, with him providing financial support.

Xu Ai had felt quite wronged at the time, but thinking back, she realized it wasn’t necessary. After all, she lacked nothing materially before and after giving birth, and she had several nannies to help care for her. What Sheng Zexi had done wasn’t that bad.

After dinner, they accompanied Nuo Nuo to buy toys. Xu Ai had already made promises to her daughter earlier, so naturally, she wanted to make it up with material things, even though in the end, it was Sheng Zexi who paid for the toys.

Nuo Nuo bought a set of LEGO toys, which she loved dearly and held tightly in her arms. Just when Xu Ai thought it was time to head back, Sheng Zexi suddenly asked her, “Do you want to buy something?”

Xu Ai couldn’t help but recall what he had said about making it up to her. She instinctively wanted to refuse, thinking there was nothing to make up for.

But soon, she realized her reaction to reject him was too practiced. Her husband wanted to buy her something, why refuse? So she quickly turned toward the elevator, saying, “Alright, let’s go take a look.”

They ended up browsing for two hours. Xu Ai bought whatever she liked and continued shopping.

Nuo Nuo initially wanted to go play in the children’s park, but after waiting so long for her mother, she began to lose patience.

Unable to hold back, she complained, “Mommy, why don’t you just move the mall home? Why do you shop for so long?”

Xu Ai immediately clutched her chest in mock pain, “The child has grown up and is starting to dislike her Mommy!”

Nuo Nuo could only look to her father for help, “Daddy～”

Sheng Zexi also felt a little like going home, but this was a good opportunity to make up for things. Seeing his daughter’s long face, he chuckled and said, “If Mommy is happy, let her keep shopping.”

Nuo Nuo pouted, feeling that both her parents were a bit unreasonable.

She wanted to go on the slide and play in the ball pit, not continue shopping.

Caught up in shopping, Xu Ai finally realized after several of Nuo Nuo’s impatient “Can we go home now, Mommy?” that she had been shopping for a bit too long. Originally, she hadn’t planned to buy anything, but it was hard to blame her. After all, it had been a long time since she had gone out shopping, and with Sheng Zexi there to pay, she was happy to buy whatever she wanted without hesitation.

Even though Sheng Zexi usually contributed money, this felt different. With him following behind, it gave her a feeling of earning more with her purchases.

However, she had indeed shopped for too long. After leaving her address for the store to deliver everything, Xu Ai generously decided it was time to go home. “Alright, no more shopping. Let’s go back.”

Finally, it was over. Nuo Nuo let out a sigh of relief and then complained, “Mommy, how can you shop so much?”

Xu Ai replied, “You’ll understand when you grow up.”

Then she felt a bit embarrassed and asked Sheng Zexi, “Did I take too long? Next time, you guys don’t have to come with me. Just give me the card.”

Sheng Zexi looked resigned and said, “It’s fine.”

Two hours isn’t very long for a woman who can shop all day. What Sheng Zexi found even more curious was why Nuo Nuo was more impatient today than he was. She usually enjoyed shopping with her mother.

Sure enough, the little one couldn’t wait to say, “Mommy, since you’re done, let’s go play in the amusement park for a bit.”

It turned out that the little girl already had her own plans.

Xu Ai remembered that she had canceled on her daughter earlier, so she happily agreed, “Alright.”

“Then let’s go! If we wait too long, the amusement park will close.”

When they arrived at the entrance of the children’s amusement park, Nuo Nuo immediately dashed in, joining a group of children playing.

Sheng Zexi figured Nuo Nuo wouldn’t come out anytime soon. Afraid Xu Ai might get bored, he was about to ask her if she wanted to go for another stroll, thinking he could watch over her here. Just then, he heard Xu Ai say, “Do you want some milk tea?”

After shopping for so long, Xu Ai hadn’t had a sip of water and was now feeling thirsty. Spotting a milk tea shop nearby, she suddenly craved a drink.

As for why she asked Sheng Zexi, it was naturally because now that she had decided not to divorce, there was no need to act cold toward the ATM machine that paid most of the household expenses. If she stayed in a good mood, Nuo Nuo would also be in a good mood.

Of course, she was just being polite.

Sheng Zexi didn’t like sweet drinks. When Xu Ai invited him, he was taken aback. He thought that if he refused, she might not talk to him next time, so after hesitating, he agreed, “Sure.”

Xu Ai didn’t expect him to actually agree. After a moment of surprise, she asked, “What do you want to drink?”

“Anything is fine.”

Since he said anything, Xu Ai casually bought him something.

Sheng Zexi had just spent money buying her so many things. Treating him to a cup of milk tea was her way of reciprocating.

On her way back, Xu Ai ordered an Oreo milk tea for herself and a tapioca milk tea for Sheng Zexi.

After he took it, Xu Ai happily enjoyed her drink while searching for her little treasure among the children.

Sheng Zexi watched her sip her milk tea leisurely and took a sip of his drink. It was too sweet.

At that moment, Xu Ai remembered something. She said, “Kids shouldn’t drink milk tea. Every time I have it, Nuo Nuo tries to grab it from me. Let’s drink quickly so she doesn’t see us.”

Sheng Zexi, who was about to put down his drink, suddenly froze: “…”