Jiang Lin couldn’t wait to return to class after her confinement period and jumped right back into her studies.

Even though she was only in the second semester of her sophomore year, the workload was heavy.

In addition to classes and exams, they were also involved in internships, and had to follow up on the construction of a research lab and teaching building that the school was collaborating on with a factory.

Jiang Lin had missed out on some of this because of her confinement, but now she spent almost every day at the construction site, tracking every detail.

This allowed her to learn more deeply with her teachers and classmates while gaining experience and offering more practical suggestions for the project.

Twenty days had passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Jiang Lin went to the construction site with her teachers and classmates.

The teacher used the site to illustrate textbook theories, making them more vivid and memorable.

Around 10 a.m., Jiang Lin returned to her dorm to express some milk.

Her milk had become too full and needed to be expressed to prevent inflammation.

Yang Lu, seeing this, felt it was a shame. “You’re at class during the day, so the baby is drinking formula?”

Jiang Lin nodded, “After lunch, I can feed her.”

These days, she would feed her baby in the morning, put her to sleep, then go to class.

At noon, she would either return home to feed the baby or be driven by He Liang, as arranged by Yan Runzhi.

After school, she would spend time with her daughter and feed her as often as possible, while giving formula in the mornings and afternoons.

Her milk was plentiful, and expressing it felt wasteful, but without a refrigerator, she couldn’t take it back with her.

As they talked, Jiang Lin heard a baby crying downstairs.

The cry sounded just like her baby.

Could she be imagining things?

Yang Lu also heard it and went to the balcony to check, exclaiming, “Lin Lin, it sounds like your mother-in-law is downstairs with the baby.”

Jiang Lin rushed out and saw Yan Runzhi downstairs holding her crying baby.

Jiang Lin quickly took her distressed daughter, who was crying and seemed very upset.

Her baby’s little hands and feet were twitching, and Jiang Lin felt heartbroken, trying to calm her, “What’s wrong?”

Yan Runzhi sighed and said, “Baby Baosheng has grown up and can’t be fooled anymore.”

Jiang Lin looked down, wondering how such a small baby could be too old to be fooled.

Yan Runzhi explained that in the past, feeding the baby in the morning and giving her formula in the late morning was enough.

But lately, the baby refused to drink formula.

The previous afternoon, she had fussed and cried about it, but Yan Runzhi had managed to get her to drink a little.

This morning, however, the baby outright refused the formula and wouldn’t even open her mouth, just cried.

Initially, Yan Runzhi thought it was just a phase, but the crying got worse, and the baby seemed close to fainting.

Unable to handle it, Yan Runzhi arranged for a car to bring her and the baby to Jiang Lin for a feeding.

With Cheng Rushan and others unavailable, Zhao Quanyou drove them over.

Jiang Lin quickly took them up to the dorm, had Yan Runzhi rest and drink some water, while she fed the baby.

The baby was so hungry that she gulped down the milk, choked a little, and cried again.

This time, it was a softer, whimpering cry.

After a few sips, the baby seemed less hungry but still fussed, crying softly and looking very distressed.

Jiang Lin: “Little one, you can eat now. Why don’t you want to eat?”

Bao Sheng: (whimpers)

Yan Runzhi wiped her tears, “Our Baosheng is so smart, no one can fool her anymore. She cried all morning and wouldn’t listen to anyone. When I told her I would take her to see mom, she stopped crying on the way, but started again when we reached the dorm.”

Jiang Lin: “That’s impossible! She’s so young; what does she know?”

Bao Sheng was just under three months old, so Jiang Lin didn’t believe she understood anything.

But Bao Sheng was upset and refused to eat, clutching Jiang Lin’s clothes tightly.

Looking at the soft little baby, Jiang Lin’s heart softened.

She sighed, “You win. Come on, eat now. After you eat, we’ll walk around the campus with grandma. I’ll feed you again in the afternoon, and then we’ll go home together after school.”

Yan Runzhi coaxed Bao Sheng, “Bao Mei, did you hear what mom said? No one’s sending you away; you can have milk.”

After some coaxing and a kiss from Jiang Lin, Bao Sheng finally started eating, happily kicking her little feet.

Yang Lu laughed, “People say babies don’t understand, but I think Bao Sheng understands everything.”

Jiang Lin: “Stop it, she’s happy when you praise her.”

After feeding, Jiang Lin soothed her, “Aren’t you tired from crying? Sleep now, I’ll feed you again when you wake up.”

Bao Sheng clung to her clothes, only letting go after Jiang Lin comforted her multiple times, and soon fell asleep.

Yan Runzhi: “Go to class now.”

Jiang Lin went to class, and at noon, she brought back lunch to eat with Yan Runzhi.

Bao Sheng woke up, yawned, and looked around.

Hearing Jiang Lin’s voice, she excitedly waved her hands and made noises.

Jiang Lin smiled and picked her up, “You little rascal.”

Feeding Bao Sheng made Jiang Lin feel relieved.

It eased the pressure, and there were no awkward moments from feeding issues.

So, feeding the baby was good for both mother and daughter.

The afternoon passed similarly.

Bao Sheng napped in the dorm while Yan Runzhi watched over her.

When she woke up, they went for a short walk before returning.

Jiang Lin checked on her between classes.

If Bao Sheng was awake, she fed her; if she was asleep, she chatted with Yan Runzhi.

Bao Sheng was well-behaved all afternoon and didn’t cry at all.

After school, since Yan Runzhi and Bao Sheng were in the dorm, Jiang Lin didn’t have to rush home.

She could discuss the day’s lessons with her teachers and classmates.

Jiang Lin returned to her dorm, where her roommates had mostly come back, and they were playing with her awake baby.

“She really is the sister of Da Bao and Xiao Bao—so cute!”

“She’s so pretty and soft. Look, she’s even smiling at me.”

“What a little smartie.”

The classmates from the neighboring dorm came over to see the baby and were very intrigued.

“Jiang Lin, you can’t keep doing this. It’s not good for you to be away from the baby all day,” they said, hearing that the baby was crying and refusing formula at home.

“I think your mother could bring the baby to school. While you’re in class, she can stay in the dorm or stroll around campus with the baby. Then you can feed her after class.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea. You should consider it.”

“Look at the poor little baby. She’s only a month old and has to be left at home waiting for you to come back and feed her. It’s so sad.”

Jiang Lin was silent, thinking they were making it sound like a real issue.

Yan Runzhi was tempted by the idea, “It sounds good to me.”

Jiang Lin replied, “Mom, it would be a lot of work for you.”

Without diapers, the baby urinates so often that washing cloth diapers becomes a big task.

At home, there’s Grandpa to help, but when out, it’s just Yan Runzhi managing everything, which is overwhelming.

Yan Runzhi wasn’t deterred, “It’s okay, I don’t mind. You don’t know how the baby cried at home—her face was turning blue from crying.”

Hearing this, Jiang Lin’s classmates insisted more, urging her to agree to the plan.

Jiang Lin, who was already feeling soft-hearted and concerned for her daughter, reluctantly gave in, thinking that she couldn’t spoil her too much.

A tiny baby shouldn’t control adults like this, but she gave in anyway.

“Alright, let’s go home. Mom’s giving in to you,” Jiang Lin laughed, taking her daughter and Yan Runzhi back home.

The washed diapers were hung on the balcony, but her roommates didn’t mind because Yan Runzhi had brought soap and cleaned them well.

Jiang Lin thought to herself how well-prepared Yan Runzhi was—like an ally in this.

As they reached the school gate, Fang Chengguang arrived to pick them up.

Once in the car, Jiang Lin said, “We could have taken the bus; you didn’t have to come all this way.”

Fang Chengguang turned the car around and smiled, “I was free anyway.”

He glanced at the baby and joked, “With this delivery, it seems like it’ll be a regular thing.”

Everyone knew how persuasive the baby could be.

Once she got used to something sweet, she’d expect it regularly. It was amazing how such a small child could be so clever.

Yan Runzhi smiled, “It’s no problem. Since I’m not working, I’m just at home. Taking the baby out for a walk is fine.”

This way, Jiang Lin wouldn’t need to express milk multiple times a day, which could cause inflammation.

It was better for both mother and baby.

Fang Chengguang said, “If that’s the case, I’ll arrange pickup and drop-off for you in the mornings and afternoons.”

Yan Runzhi was very happy, “Having friends like you around Dongsheng is really a blessing for us.”

Fang Chengguang: “I’m his brother after all.”

Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao are his brothers, so he couldn’t refuse to help.

Bao Sheng was well-fed, well-rested, and didn’t even wet herself during the ride, behaving exceptionally well.

As soon as they got home, Dabao and Xiaobao rushed over, “Where did Grandma go?”

Now, they needed to see their sister before school, and the first thing they did after school was check on her before doing homework and playing.

But today, they found the house locked.

Grandpa and Wensheng were at the theater, so Grandma and Bao Sheng should be home, but they were nowhere to be seen.

The boys didn’t worry and just did their homework at home.

Hearing the commotion, they immediately ran out.

Jiang Lin: “Sister was naughty and insisted on going to school.”

Dabao looked at his sister, “She’s sleeping so soundly.”

Xiaobao: “Mom, when you’re not home, Bao Sheng really misses you.”

Jiang Lin: “Yes, she misses her milk. Haha.”

When Cheng Yunzhi and Wensheng returned, they brought a big watermelon and several fragrant melons and sweet melons as gifts.

Since Jiang Lin was still breastfeeding, there were things she couldn’t eat.

She was careful about her diet, resisting cravings and only having small tastes, planning to indulge once Bao Sheng was weaned.

Bao Sheng was healthy and robust, with no major illnesses since birth, just two bouts of diarrhea.

She had no jaundice, eczema, or diaper rash.

After everyone finished eating the fruit, Bao Sheng woke up, and Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao immediately gathered around to play with her.

Dabao wanted to hold her, but Xiaobao stopped him.

Wensheng: “You two go do your homework. Don’t fight; I’ll hold our sister.”

Bao Sheng was already reaching out to Wensheng, indicating she wanted to be held.