Early in the morning, Mia Moore opened her eyes to see Charles Chase crouched by their daughter’s little bassinet, gazing at Xiao Tangyuan.
???
!!!
He doesn’t love me anymore, does he? That’s it, right? Now he has a daughter, and he’s forgotten all about me!
What Mia Moore didn’t know was that Charles Chase had woken up, spent a good while kneading and kissing her, and only then crawled over to see their daughter.
“Charles Chase!”
Still in bed, she glared at him as he squatted next to the bassinet. Sensing her stare, he turned around—his wife was already awake.
Round eyes glaring, cheeks puffed up in a sulk.
He chuckled, walked over, and said, “You’re awake. Want to get up?”
Bending down until his hands were braced on either side of her pillow, he looked at her and gently pinched her cheek with those distinct, slender fingers.
Mia Moore turned her head away and grumbled in a low voice, “You don’t love me anymore, Charles Chase. So this is the kind of heartless man you are.”
Charles Chase laughed, bemused. “Hmm? How could I not love you, darling?”
“You only love Xiao Tangyuan now. Only your daughter! You buy her pink dresses every day, but never buy any for me.”
She wasn’t wrong. Box after box of pink dresses arrived at the old house, and Daisen’s busiest task each day was collecting the little princess’s endless supply of frilly skirts.
From baby to grown girl, it seemed he was determined to get every style for every stage.
Pink skirts, pink bonnets, pink shoes—always trimmed with lace or layers of soft tulle.
Charles Chase smiled helplessly. Shifting her aside, he lay down and pulled her into his arms. “How do I only like our daughter? You don’t even like pink, do you? Whatever our daughter has, you’ll have too. I ordered you a blue dress; it just hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“Then do you love me most?”
“Of course. Later, Xiao Tangyuan will have someone to love her. The one I love most will always be you.”
“Unacceptable! Whoever dares have designs on my daughter, I’ll beat them up!” Mia Moore waved her tiny fists.
“…Wife, ah, I do love you most, but isn’t it you who loves Xiao Tangyuan most?” Charles Chase teased.
Mia Moore nodded with justified certainty and declared her double standard: “I love our daughter most, and you should love me most. That’s perfect.”
“??? So who’s supposed to love me most, then?”
“You’re a grown man—don’t get hung up on romance, got it!”
“Oh really? I didn’t know! Looks like I’ll have to punish you.”
His big hand slid down to her ticklish spot, slender fingers skillfully tickling her. Mia Moore couldn’t stop laughing, but tried to muffle it so as not to wake the baby. “Don’t—stop, baby will wake up…!”
No sooner had she said it than their daughter in the bassinet burst into loud wails.
Compared to Chi Chi’s son, Xiao Niangao, their own Xiao Tangyuan was a total crybaby—pure little-tear-factory.
“This is all your fault. Go pick her up, quick.”
Mia Moore propped herself up at the bedside. She was recovering well, but still under confinement, mostly resting in bed.
“Let me. Our little Tangyuan must be hungry.”
Once she’d finished feeding their daughter, Mia Moore changed clothes and went downstairs.
Just then, Chi Chi and Fu Zhiyie arrived with Xiao Niangao. It had been a while since they’d seen each other, and they exchanged a knowing smile.
“Where’s the baby? Where’s my niece?”
“Wow, Chi Chi, babe—are you coming just to see the baby? Do you not love me anymore?”
“I love you, I do, but our Xiao Niangao really wants to see his little sister.”
Little Niangao, nestled against his mother, turned his head when he heard his name and obligingly clapped his little hands.
“Niangao wants to see his baby sister? She’ll be here soon.” She sneaked a glance at Fu Zhiyie. “Well well, thank you, President Foster, for your heroic rescue. Impressive.”
Fu Zhiyie shrugged, amused, as the two friends embraced.
Meanwhile, Charles Chase came downstairs, carefully holding their daughter. Xiao Tangyuan dozed contentedly in her father’s broad arms, her little hands waving.
“She’s so cute! Aw, Xiao Tangyuan—it’s Auntie!” Chi Chi’s heart melted on the spot. Just like when Xiao Niangao was born—soft, tiny, perfectly adorable. “How can you be this cute?”
Even now, so young, you could already see her big eyes and delicate little chin—no doubt she’d grow into a radiant beauty. Even Fu Zhiyie stole a few glances.
Charles Chase raised his brows with a smile. “Of course. She’s my daughter, after all.”
He glanced at a certain someone propped up on crutches and teased, “Alright, comrade with an unbreakable spirit, let’s get you to the sofa.”
These two couples… honestly!
Everyone moved to the sofa. Sarah Chase came out to take Xiao Niangao, freeing Chi Chi to hold Xiao Tangyuan.
“Waa, Yao Yao, she’s so cute! Once she’s older we can dress her up in those little skirts and style her hair—adorable.”
Having had a son, Chi Chi was now smitten with the idea of a daughter. Mia Moore looked at her, laughing. “You’d better work on having a daughter yourself!”
Their lively chatter filled the room, but the first to protest was surprisingly Xiao Niangao.
Watching his mother cuddle someone else’s baby, he looked so pitiful—lower lip trembling, holding back tears until he finally burst out crying, “Waaah!” He stretched desperately towards his mother, keening in his tiny voice, “Mama… ma…”
As soon as he cried, Xiao Tangyuan refused to be outdone and started bawling too.
The adults were caught between laughter and tears. Hurriedly, they exchanged babies, each claiming their own.
Fortunately, Xiao Niangao was easy to pacify. “Honey, this is your baby sister. Mama’s just holding her for a little while.”
Xiao Niangao calmed down, seeming to understand but not wanting to listen. He clung to Chi Chi’s neck, as if warning everyone else—no one else is allowed to hold me!
A while later, Fu Zhiyie and Charles Chase went into the kitchen, and Sarah Chase took Xiao Tangyuan with her, leaving the living room just to Chi Chi and Mia Moore—well, and Xiao Niangao.
Mia Moore glanced around, then leaned in close, looking distressed. “Chi Chi, our Xiao Tangyuan just doesn’t eat much. I never seem to finish feeding her—what should I do?”
She’d been bothered by it for a while. Sometimes her clothes even got drenched, while Xiao Tangyuan just ate so little, her chest felt painfully full.
“Really? You could try using a breast pump. Or… um, maybe ask my brother to help with a massage or two?”
Chi Chi blushed slightly, remembering she never had this problem—after all, someone had been a little too diligent every day!!
The two women whispered, Mia Moore pouring out all her new-mom troubles.
With no mother to ask, she felt awkward turning to Sarah Chase, and as for Song Ying—well, ever since giving birth herself, Mia Moore had felt oddly afraid of Song Ying, so she wouldn’t ask her either.
Thank goodness Chi Chi was back—problem solved!
Once they’d finished talking, the two friends took turns roasting the men they’d married post-baby.
Xiao Niangao listened, head tilted. He didn’t understand a thing, but whenever he heard his dad’s name, he’d tap his feet to show he recognized who they were talking about.
The women burst out laughing, convinced their ‘gossip’ sessions were always under surveillance.
They stayed for lunch at the Chen house, and Mia Moore went off for her nap while Chi Chi’s family prepared to head home.
They called the housekeeper to fetch Zoey Zhang, who’d spent the morning tearing around the garden.
The white Zoey Zhang was nearly black from dirt, unrecognizable as the pristine dog she was. When she saw Chi Chi, she spun in circles at her feet.
“…Zoey Zhang, you are absolutely filthy.”
The housekeeper, worried about being blamed, rushed to explain, “Miss, we gave her a wash just last night, but she gets like this after playing outside for just a bit.”
Chi Chi laughed. “It’s fine, it’s not your fault. She gets too wild here. I’ll have someone take her home later.”
With that, the two of them left the Chen residence and went home.