Chapter 168: Full Moon

Chapter 168: Full Moon

The little baby Song Jingcong, who could eat and sleep well, was changing every day. By the time Song Qingyu finished her postpartum recovery period, he had already turned into a chubby little bundle of joy.

He moved into the baby's room specially prepared for him at home. At night, Auntie Qi and another nanny would take turns looking after him.

"Little guy, aren't you a bit too heavy?"

The first thing Yu Mingze did before and after his workday was to hold the little baby.

On this day, he finally had a day off, and Lu Yan and the others came over in a noisy group to visit, claiming they were there to make up for the missed meeting gift for the child.

"Relax, or he might get uncomfortable."

Yu Mingze was showing Lu Qixing how to hold the baby.

Lu Qixing was the first to insist on holding the baby when he arrived, but once he actually got his hands on the baby, his arms were so stiff he couldn't adjust.

When he heard his actions might make the baby uncomfortable, he immediately asked nervously, "Is this not okay? What should I do?"

"Put this hand here, and the other hand here, yes, that's good!"

Little Song Jingcong opened his big, innocent eyes and looked at them, not seeming the least bit afraid.

Lu Yan, seeing Lu Qixing's nervousness, couldn't help but laugh, "Old Lu, isn't it a bit much to be so nervous?"

Lu Qixing rolled his eyes.

"Don't talk about me, why don't you give it a try?"

With such a small, soft child in his arms, it would be a miracle if he stayed calm.

"Ah Ze, take him back, I need to catch my breath."

The weight on Lu Qixing's arms disappeared, and he let out a deep breath.

Yu Mingze took the baby back and gently rocked him to sleep.

Lu Yan laughed, "I never thought Ah Ze would turn into such a devoted dad, it's really enviable."

"Ah Yan, if you're so envious, why not have one yourself?"

Lu Yan shook his head.

"Not happening, I don't have plans to marry yet."

This was true.

They all thought the same way, if it weren't for Yu Mingze being the more responsible one, he probably wouldn't be married now either.

But now, seeing Yu Mingze holding the baby so affectionately, some felt a pang of envy and started to reconsider.

"Ah Ze, where's your ex-wife?"

"She went out with my mom, why do you ask?"

Yu Mingze placed the sleeping little Song Jingcong back into the cradle and told Auntie Qi and the others to keep an eye on him.

Not wanting to disturb the baby's sleep, they all left the room one by one.

"Ah Ze, is there still a chance between you and your ex-wife?"

In the living room, Hu Ma served tea to the Young Master's guests and then left the room.

Yu Mingze picked up his teacup, looking puzzled, and asked, "Why are you asking this?"

The question came from Wan Zhizhou, the youngest among them, who looked a bit uncomfortable at the moment.

"Zhizhou, just spit it out."

"Ah Ze, it's like this."

Wan Zhizhou didn't hold back and recounted what he had seen when he followed his father on an inspection at their family's hotel.

Yu Mingze's face fell when he heard Wan Zhizhou mention seeing Song Qingyu dining with another man.

"What's the man's name?"

"Tang Yunqiu."

"Oh, I know him," Yu Mingze said, visibly relieved.

He remembered Song Qingyu had mentioned having a meal with Tang Yunqiu before—just fellow townsfolk catching up, no big deal.

Wan Zhizhou grew anxious: "But Ah Ze, that guy’s totally into your ex-wife!"

Hearing this, the others turned to Yu Mingze.

Yu Mingze managed to keep smiling.

"They’re from the same hometown, and I know him too. Zhizhou, are you sure you’re not reading too much into it?"

Wan Zhizhou shook his head firmly.

He knew Song Qingyu was pregnant with Yu Mingze’s child at the time, so he had paid extra attention to their table.

From what he saw, the guy across from Song Qingyu definitely had ulterior motives!

Yu Mingze gave a helpless smile. "You must be mistaken. Yunqiu visited the hospital recently to see the child and even brought gifts."

Wan Zhizhou: Bro, are you sure he was there for the kid and not your ex?

For the first time, he truly understood the saying, "You can’t wake someone who’s pretending to sleep."

Since Yu Mingze didn't believe it, there was nothing he could do.

Lu Yan, watching Yu Mingze’s oblivious cheer, stroked his chin. "Ah Ze, want me to look into it?"

"No need! I trust her completely!"

Yu Mingze might investigate others, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that to Song Qingyu, the mother of his child.

"I know you’re looking out for me, but I don’t want a repeat of last time."

He was talking about what happened with Zheng Anran.

Lu Yan and the others shared a look and nodded.

"Alright, if that’s how you feel, we’ve got your back."

"Thank you, everyone!"

Yu Mingze raised his tea cup in a toast to them.

Lu Yan put down his cup and smiled, "Ah Ze, do you want to hear about Zheng Anran's current situation?"

Hearing this name again after several months, Yu Mingze felt somewhat disoriented.

"I don't care, go ahead if you want to tell me."

"Zheng Anran is getting married."

Lu Qixing raised his eyebrows, curious, "Oh? Someone is willing to marry into her family? Which family is it?"

"Liu Yan of Luosheng."

"That family? Isn't that the one..."

Lu Yan nodded.

"Yeah, it's just what you're thinking. Liu Yan's youngest son got into a car accident while street racing, and he's paralyzed from the waist down, destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. The Zheng family has recently been facing financial difficulties, so they have no choice but to marry their daughter off in exchange for cooperation."

Yu Mingze didn't have much to say after hearing this, only asking about the wedding date.

"Next Saturday, at Shenghao Hotel."

Lu Yan asked, "Ah Ze, should we go and check it out?"

"Nah, I'm not interested."

Yu Mingze had already declared that there would be no further ties between them. Who she married and when she married had nothing to do with him.

Now, he just wanted to focus on raising his child and watching them grow up. As for everything else, he'd just let it happen...

==========

"Mom, I won't get married!"

"This time, it's not your decision. You're getting married, like it or not! Otherwise, our family is finished!"

Fang Fei had called her daughter back from studying abroad and locked her in her room, not allowing her to leave.

The last few months had been really tough for their family.

Fang Fei's family hit hard times when she was in high school, and she didn't want to experience the pain of bankruptcy again.

The Liu family was willing to provide them with financial support, and she and her husband had to hold onto this lifeline tightly. Whether their daughter liked it or not, she was marrying into the Liu family.

As Fang Fei went downstairs, the only remaining maid, Aunt Li, hurried in from the garden.

"What's the matter?"

"Madam, a beggar just showed up outside and won't leave, insisting on seeing you."

Fang Fei waved her hand.

"I'm busy, no time. Just get rid of her!"

Aunt Li looked really worried.

"But Madam, she insists on seeing you. I can't make her leave."

"Fang Fei snapped coldly, 'Give him some money, or use a broom to drive him away. Is that so hard?'"

"Ma'am..."

"You won't go? Fine, I'll go myself!"

Seeing that Aunt Li was still hesitating, Fang Fei grew impatient, hiked up her skirt, and stormed out.

She wanted to see which beggar had the nerve to show up when she was in such a foul mood!