Along the way, Little Rice Cake peppered them with over a dozen questions.
"Mom, is little sister really living here now?"
"Then why isn't your belly round yet?"
"Will little sister run away to someone else's house?"
"When did little sister move in?"
"When will she come out?"
…
Chi Chi answered him patiently every time, until Xavier Foster finally couldn’t stand it anymore and told their son not to tire out his mom and little sister.
The moment they got home, the first thing Xavier Foster did was escort his wife to the sofa and sit her down.
Then he told his son to bring over his little stool.
Little Rice Cake, looking like a porcelain doll, perched himself on the tiny stool, his legs together in front of him and his chubby little hands on his knees.
This was a small ritual Xavier Foster had established once Little Rice Cake became sensible: whenever his dad had something important to say, Little Rice Cake would sit on his special stool.
Chi Chi held back her laughter, watching the serious little guy.
Xavier Foster pulled over a chair as well—one big, one small, their eyes meeting across the gap.
"Fu Xing Shu."
"Here!" The little hand shot up, and he was so excited his whole body straightened.
"Alright," Xavier Foster began, "listen, little sister is in mommy’s belly. She’s really, really tiny right now."
"How tiny?"
"Hmm… about the size of a little seed."
Little Rice Cake nodded, trying to look as though he understood. His big eyes blinked curiously.
"So, since little sister is so small, we need to protect her. From now on, you can't bump into mommy's belly, okay?"
"Okay! Little Rice Cake won't bump into mommy's belly!"
"Also, you can't ask mommy to pick you up any more. You're a big boy now—since there’s a little sister in mommy’s tummy, it’s hard for her to carry you too."
"Okay!"
"Now, when daddy isn’t home, can you take care of mommy?"
"I can!" Little Rice Cake replied crisply. With every answer, he’d nod firmly to himself.
"And what if mommy doesn’t feel well?"
"Call daddy!"
Xavier Foster was delighted by his son’s cuteness but managed not to laugh, instead reaching out to ruffle his fluffy little head in approval.
"Little sister will take a long time to come out. Until then, mommy is all yours to take care of!"
"Got it!"
With that, Little Rice Cake hopped off his stool and then stood up to salute somewhat crookedly.
Chi Chi couldn’t hold back her laughter and waved him over.
"Come here, sweetie."
Little Rice Cake glanced at his dad, and only after seeing Xavier Foster nod, did he happily run over to the sofa.
He and his dad had an agreement: a man only leaves after finishing an important talk.
His chubby little body clambered onto the sofa, pretty eyes fixed on Chi Chi’s belly, unblinking.
"Mom, can Little Rice Cake touch little sister?"
She guided his small hand onto her belly. His warm little hand rested there, feeling through the thin fabric.
Maybe it was the magic of family, but even though he couldn’t feel anything, after a moment, Little Rice Cake stopped and announced, "Mom, little sister is right here."
"How do you know she’s right there?"
"I know. It’s warm here."
…
Little Rice Cake chattered along with Chi Chi. Since they came home late, everyone worried the big one and little one might be hungry.
No—now it was one big and two little ones.
Xavier Foster went to cook noodles. There was beef in the fridge, stewed and dropped off by Aunt Whitney at noon.
He boiled water for the noodles, fried a few eggs, and blanched some greens. He ladled a big spoonful of tender, falling-apart beef on top.
The tall man wore only a fitted white shirt, the well-tailored cut hugging his broad shoulders and slim waist. His sleeves were rolled casually, exposing forearms spotted with droplets of water.
Xavier Foster leaned against the marble kitchen island, waiting for the noodles to finish cooking.
His heroic figure was slightly hunched in a rare display of relaxed ease rather unlike his usual self.
He couldn’t help feeling a little joy—after all, Chi Chi and he were having another baby. This time, he promised himself he would be there, from start to finish, taking good care of his little wife.
Once the noodles were nearly ready, he straightened and turned to get some bowls.
When he looked up, he saw Chi Chi leaning by the dining table, quietly watching him, and he smiled.
"Almost ready. Are you hungry?"
Chi Chi nodded, "Hungry. Smells amazing."
She walked into the semi-open kitchen, standing next to Xavier Foster, and pouted, "I want some cilantro too."
"Okay, I’ll wash a bit," Xavier Foster replied with a doting smile.
Fresh green cilantro scattered atop the fragrant beef noodles, with a golden fried egg completing the dish. Chi Chi’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at her bowl.
"Let me carry it, you little glutton."
"…I’m not the one craving it—it’s the baby who’s hungry!"
"Right, right, it’s the baby."
Whatever his wife said, Xavier Foster had no complaints.
He washed Little Rice Cake’s hands, then placed his small bowl of noodles on the table.
Little Rice Cake was very well-behaved, usually eating on his own. The noodles were slippery and his kiddie chopsticks sometimes slipped, so he would just lean over and slurp them straight from the bowl.
"Daddy, it’s so yummy!"
He got as much on his cheek as in his mouth, dabbing his face with a napkin before burying himself back in his food.
Chi Chi chimed in, "Super delicious!"
The man, pleased by their praise, just lifted his chin a little and accepted it with composure.
Little Rice Cake finished his bowl and went back for seconds, stuffing his tummy until it was nice and round.
"Good job, baby, you’re being such a great role model for little sister!"
At the praise, the little guy’s eyes went wide. "Mm! Little Rice Cake will eat well from now on, and so will little sister!"
"That’s right."
After dinner, Little Rice Cake pulled out his picture books, insisting on telling stories to his sister.
Chi Chi was both amused and exasperated—maybe a tad premature for prenatal education.
"Sweetie, little sister’s still way too small. She doesn’t even have little ears yet, so she can’t hear you."
Xavier Foster diplomatically ushered his son away—it was, after all, time for him to have his wife to himself in the evenings.
After bathing, he pulled Chi Chi into his arms—hugging, caressing, holding her close.
"Baby, it’s going to be a long haul for you again."
"It’s not hard. Even Yingying’s been three months and still working at the hospital."
What she meant: she could keep working too.
"You can keep working if you like, but let’s observe a few days first—let me have some peace of mind."
"When the baby’s born, Little Rice Cake will already be in kindergarten."
"Just when we finally get some time as a couple, here comes another little troublemaker," Xavier Foster complained, half-mockingly.
Chi Chi, already half asleep, muttered, "You tricked Little Rice Cake into leaving…"
...But I still have one in your belly, Xavier Foster wanted to protest, but as he gazed at her closed eyes, he just pressed a kiss to her forehead.