Chapter 32: She Will Be a Good Mother

Chapter 32: She Will Be a Good Mother

The little girl's eyes blinked, clear and bright, softening the heart of anyone who looked at her.

"Sanbao has drunk tea before, and it wasn't sweet."

"It was bitter."

The little girl rubbed her nose, stuck out her tongue, and furrowed her delicate little brows.

"Is Big Brother lying?"

Lu Mingchao bent down to pick up Jingyi, placing her beside her with a warm smile.

"It's true."

"Mommy will make it for you tomorrow."

"What about Ru'an?" Lu Mingchao asked with a smile as she re-did Jingyi's little hair buns.

Just then, another small figure appeared at the door, not much older than Jingyi, carrying a large food box.

Xie Ru'an was also dressed in a red jacket, with a small round red dot on her forehead.

Perhaps because she had hurried over with the food box, her nose had a light sheen of sweat, and her cheeks were flushed with a light red.

The young boy's lips quivered slightly, opening and closing, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.

Lu Mingchao quickly stepped forward to take the food box, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Xie Ru'an's nose.

Xie Ru'an startled back, her lips pressed tightly together, watching Lu Mingchao with fear and wariness.

Lu Mingchao didn't feel embarrassed.

Some people are naturally soft and close, while others are more distant and reserved.

She would take it slow.

At the very least, the young boy had obediently brought the food box.

Lu Mingchao smiled and gently placed the handkerchief in Xie Ru'an's hand. "Wipe it yourself."

"Er Bao." Xie Jingyi sat on the edge of the bed, her chubby little legs swinging back and forth, her head with two tiny buns bobbing. "Mother said there's sweet and fragrant milky tea."

"Mother also did my hair buns, it didn't hurt at all."

"Now I won't need Father to do my hair anymore."

Xie Jingyi's voice brimmed with laughter and sweetness.

Xie Ru'an's lips were still pressed together, her eyes blinking dazedly.

After a moment, she finally spoke. "You eat."

Lu Mingchao smiled knowingly. Xie Ru'an's awkwardness reminded her of Lu Yao's tsundere nature—equally endearing.

"Er Bao, San Bao, have you two eaten?"

Xie Ru'an instinctively shook her head, then quickly nodded. Xie Jingyi said sweetly, "Mommy, I'm hungry."

"Look, it's all flat."

As she said this, she patted her own plump little tummy.

Lu Mingchao suppressed a chuckle and gave a light cough, placing Xie Jingyi on the wooden chair beside the round table. She then turned her head and silently asked Xie Ru'an.

Xie Ru'an clambered up using all fours.

Lu Mingchao opened the food box, revealing a plate of pastries, a bowl of shimmering, fragrant rice, a freshly steamed fish, and a plate of vibrant green vegetables.

At this time of year, fresh vegetables were rare and expensive when they could be found.

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow and arranged everything on the round table, making sure the pastries were right in front of Xie Ru'an and Xie Jingyi.

From the moment she opened the food box, the two little ones' eyes hadn't left the pastries.

Xie Jingyi licked her lips, swallowed, and stretched out her tender little hand to pick up a pastry, tilting her body to offer it to Lu Mingchao. "Mom, you first."

As she spoke, a shiny droplet of saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Lu Mingchao couldn't help but smile and bent down to take a bite. "Mom has eaten."

Xie Jingyi's eyes crinkled into tiny crescents as she nibbled away like a little squirrel, bite after bite.

Seeing Xie Ru'an sitting rigidly, unsure and struggling to adjust, Lu Mingchao felt a pang of sympathy. She picked up two pieces and placed them on the small plate in front of Xie Ru'an. "Er Bao, eat."

"Thank... thank you," Xie Ru'an stammered, flustered.

Lu Mingchao took a piece of fish and slowly chewed.

The meat was tender, rich, and incredibly fresh—so fresh it could make your eyebrows dance.

"Sanbao, where did this fish come from?"

Xie Jingyi answered promptly, "Dad caught it."

"Dad caught it in the river on the east side of the village," Xie Ru'an added quietly.

"With the recent snowstorms, wasn’t the river frozen?" Lu Mingchao asked gently.

Despite several sunny days, the temperature remained quite cold.

The winter sun was more like a decoration, bright but not very warm.

Xie Ru'an, clearly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, kept his head down and stammered, "Dad chiseled a hole in the ice."

"Dad said you'd like it fresh."

Lu Mingchao blinked, a little dazed. "And the vegetables?"

"I know, I know." Xie Jingyi raised her hand. "Dad traded one of our furry pelts with someone in town."

"Hmph, and Dad didn’t take me along!"

Lu Mingchao: ...

So extravagant.

Xie Yan still treats her like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family.

However, trading a pelt for a handful of green vegetables makes her heart ache with regret.

She wishes she could have been the one to make that trade!

Lu Mingchao picked up a leaf of the vegetable and savored it with reverence.

Upon eating it, her heart still ached.

Xie Ru’an caught a glimpse of Lu Mingchao’s expression from the corner of his eye and felt puzzled.

Has Father made a wrong guess?

That doesn’t look like the face of someone enjoying their food.

Time passed slowly; the winter sun was lazy and set early, with the cold wind blowing through the courtyard as the bustle gradually dispersed.

Lu Mingchao and Xie Jingyi looked at each other, both yawning. Xie Ru’an sat under the window, flipping through a book.

The orange glow of the sunset drifted through the window, wrapping Xie Ru’an in a warm embrace.

Xie Jingyi snuggled into Lu Mingchao’s arms, yawning and fighting to keep her eyes open until they finally closed.

The mother and daughter quietly fell asleep.

Xie Ru’an closed the book and finally dared to raise his eyes to look at the person he would be spending his days with from now on.

Sanbao likes her so much; she must be a good person, right?

She would probably make a good mother, too, right?

……

At the Lu family, the bustle had also died down.

Gu Zhen said goodbye to the elderly members of the Lu family. Yunniang tried to convince her to stay, saying, “Why not stay one more day? It would be nice for Chaochao to see you off tomorrow.”

Yunniang’s thoughts were simple; since Gu Zhen had traveled a long way to visit Chaochao, letting her leave like this would be a lack of hospitality on their part.

Gu Zhen smiled and shook her head, “It’s not a problem.”

“I’ll come again if there’s a chance.”

Ah Qiu and two guards stood dejectedly by the carriage.

They hoped the heir could speak up for them when they returned to the manor.

Gu Zhen’s eyes fell on Lu Yao, who stood by the wall with a faint expression.

Lu Yao’s sleeves fluttered in the cold wind, but even his vibrant clothes couldn’t hide his exceptional grace.

He was still very handsome.

From a distance, Gu Zhen suddenly asked, “I’ve heard that Young Master Lu is a scholar?”

Lu Yao remained expressionless, nodded slightly, and said no more.

A conflict with the Duke’s household was bound to happen. When that time came, would Gu Zhen choose her brother, or would she choose Chaochao?

Lu Yao had never liked gambling without absolute certainty.

And he really had married Lu Mingchao.