Chapter 170: Chapter 100: Jiang Wanyi’s Rose
Chen Yuan looked from the flowers to Jiang Wanyi, pondering for a moment.
"They’re just okay."
"Then let’s not get them. I’m not really in the mood to appreciate things like this right now anyway. Let’s go. Time to head home."
Pushing Mili’s stroller, the three of them headed back the way they came.
Once they were home, Jiang Wanyi changed into a black nightgown. It was an open-back style, just a little bit sexy.
"Here, change into your shorts."
She handed Chen Yuan his shorts, then fixed her own hair, sweeping the loose strands from her forehead and pinning them back with a clip.
"Alright, Dad, you’re on baby duty. I’m going to make dinner."
"No problem. I’ll be sure to eat a few extra bowls."
Jiang Wanyi went to the kitchen while Chen Yuan stayed in the playpen, entertaining the baby.
Mili was always well-behaved when she was with him, so it wasn’t too tiring. He could even scroll through his phone a bit.
Jiang Shuyi had sent him a 200-yuan red packet and explained how the money was distributed.
There were seven people in the External Liaison Department. Each person got 200, and the remaining 600 was set aside as department funds.
"Mili, come to Daddy," Chen Yuan said, tempting her with a small ball he held in his hand.
"Ba... baba..."
Crawling on all fours, Mili wiggled her little bottom and made her way over to Chen Yuan.
"Say, ’Mama’..."
"Ba..."
"Ma-ma..."
"Ma..."
"Good girl, Mili."
Jiang Wanyi had sent him a video before. Mili could already say "Mama," but it was only an occasional utterance, not as fluid as when she said "Papa." The goal now was to encourage her more.
In the kitchen, Jiang Wanyi was busy preparing dinner. Seeing the two of them huddled together, she couldn’t hear what they were saying, but just seeing how close they were was heartwarming.
’It’s true,’ she thought. ’Having another person in the house makes the atmosphere completely different.’
’If Chen Yuan hadn’t come, it would just be me and my daughter at home. Even with things to do, it would feel so dead and quiet.’
In less than an hour, Jiang Wanyi had dinner ready.
Pork rib soup, hot and sour shredded potatoes, and scrambled eggs with chili.
"It’s a little on the simple side today. I’m always making meat dishes for you, so I figured we’d eat something lighter tonight."
"This is already a feast," Chen Yuan said. "It’s way better than my mom’s cooking, anyway."
"You’ve been cooking for me for a while now. Your tastes must have changed to match mine, huh?"
There’s a significant difference in cuisine between northern and southern China. Over time, to accommodate him, Jiang Wanyi’s cooking had skewed toward heavier flavors, and she had even changed her own preferences.
"Not really," Jiang Wanyi said. "A lot of the local dishes are also rich and savory, with heavy sauces. They’re pretty similar."
"Besides, I can’t eat everything I want right now anyway, so it’s only natural to cater to your tastes."
"Next time, just cook what you like."
"It’s all the same, isn’t it? Just hurry up and eat. Have some more."
Chen Yuan was indeed hungry, so he picked up his rice bowl and dug in.
While eating, however, he noticed a new object: a stylishly designed vase.
Chen Yuan suddenly realized that when Jiang Wanyi had wanted to buy flowers at the market earlier, it was probably for this vase—to decorate the house and add a bit of life to the place.
’It seems I shot down her idea without even realizing it.’
"Try the pork rib soup. This is the first time I’ve made it for you," Jiang Wanyi said, looking at Chen Yuan expectantly.
He took a sip. The flavor was perfectly balanced, and it even had corn in it. The taste was surprisingly good. He gave her a thumbs-up.
"It’s delicious, but you probably shouldn’t have any. There’s still a layer of fat on top, and it might clog your milk ducts."
"Okay, I’ll stick to the other dishes."
They had a clear division of labor. While Chen Yuan ate, Jiang Wanyi cooked some chopped noodles for Mili’s dinner.
"Cheers with Daddy."
Chen Yuan clinked his glass of milk against Mili’s cartoon bowl.
Watching the two of them, Jiang Wanyi couldn’t quite describe how she felt, but every time she saw them playing together, a feeling of contentment washed over her.
After dinner, Jiang Wanyi went to wash the dishes while Chen Yuan continued looking after the baby, babbling along as he taught her to say "Mama."
Chen Yuan checked his phone. The item he’d ordered earlier was out for delivery and would arrive in about thirty minutes.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Jiang Wanyi joined them in the playpen. She’d been busy all evening and was feeling a bit tired.
"Mili, what did Daddy just teach you? It’s time for your big performance. Show Mommy what you’ve learned," Chen Yuan said.
As he spoke, Chen Yuan mouthed the word to Mili.
"Ma-ma..."
Jiang Wanyi’s eyes flew wide, her surprise impossible to hide.
That "Mama" was so much clearer than before.
"Let’s give Mommy another encore..."
"Ma-ma... GIGGLE GIGGLE GIGGLE..."
After saying "Mama," Mili burst into giggles, her eyes curving into little crescents.
"So that’s what you were doing! You were teaching her to say ’Mama.’"
"Feeling a little more satisfied now? She can say ’Mama’ too."
"Not at all. She learned to say ’Papa’ first. As her mother, I feel like I have a pretty low presence around here," Jiang Wanyi said with a playful pout.
"Can’t be helped. She’s Daddy’s little girl, after all."
Chen Yuan pulled the baby into his arms, patting her gently.
"You’d better start sucking up to me. If I’m in a good mood, I might let you have a turn with my little girl."
Jiang Wanyi shot him a sideways glance, her expression haughty.
"Have you forgotten what we talked about before?"
"Oh, I haven’t forgotten that. I admit, you’re quite a beauty. And as it happens, I have a thing for that."
Jiang Wanyi let out a series of honking laughs.
’She’d expected him to say something tough in return, but he’d just caved immediately.’
She got up, went to a drawer beneath the TV stand, and took out an earpick. Then she sat back down in the playpen and stretched her legs out flat.
"Come on. It’s been a whole week. Let me clean them for you."
"Do the baby first."
"I already did hers during the day. They’re perfectly clean. Now it’s your turn, you dirty little kid."