Chapter 234 - 126: You Have Her Rations on You

Chapter 234: Chapter 126: You Have Her Rations on You

He soon arrived at Yayun Court and brought his suitcase up to Jiang Wanyi’s apartment.

"Mili, look who’s here."

Little Mili was almost eleven months old. Her hair had grown much longer, and she’d gotten quite a bit taller. With a small teddy bear clip pinned in her hair, she was starting to look like a little grown-up.

Jiang Wanyi was wearing a set of white-striped pajamas, her hair casually tied up, giving her a very domestic air.

Watching Mili grow day by day gave Chen Yuan a great sense of accomplishment. It felt a lot like he was playing a life-simulation game.

After bringing his suitcase inside and taking off his shoes, he went to pick up Mili.

"Papa..."

Over this period, Mili’s voice had become much clearer, and she could now say the word "Papa" quite distinctly.

She could say "Mama" too, just not as clearly. In that regard, Chen Yuan was always one step ahead.

"Giggle..."

Mili laughed so happily in Chen Yuan’s arms that her eyes practically disappeared.

He pressed his cheek to hers, like a pair of lovers reunited after a long separation.

In reality, they were never apart for more than three days at a time.

Jiang Wanyi rolled her eyes at the two of them. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got.

’When he’s talking to me, he says all the right things, acting like he’s on my team.’

’And when I’m home taking care of the baby, Mili plays so well with me. She’ll say ’Mama’ whenever I ask. She’s perfectly obedient.’

’But fine, as soon as those two are together, it’s like I don’t even exist. I’m totally redundant in this home.’

’I might as well get some work done. Otherwise, my status in this family is just going to sink lower and lower.’

She pushed her hair back, crouched down, and opened Chen Yuan’s suitcase.

It was filled with summer clothes. Since the weather was getting cooler, he couldn’t wear them anymore and needed to take them home.

But all the clothes were dirty, just tossed haphazardly into the suitcase. ’There’s just no helping him,’ she thought.

’Oh well, men are all like this. I’ll sort it out for him.’

She pulled out all the dirty clothes and set them aside to wash for him tomorrow.

"Where you are, it must be something like twenty degrees below zero now, huh?"

Chen Yuan nodded. "Twenty-something below zero at night. It gets a little warmer during the day, around seventeen or eighteen below."

A few years ago, she had attended a conference at Ice City University of Technology around this same time of year, and the experience had left a deep impression on her.

Though it was frigid, the city had an exotic charm. The ice architecture, in particular, was breathtaking.

"I bought you a set of thermal underwear. Wear it when you head back."

"Mm."

Without even realizing it, they had stopped saying "thank you" to one another. They simply accepted each other’s kindness with pleasure.

"Have you decided when you’re leaving? I can book your plane ticket."

"In a few days. I want to spend a little more time with Mili."

"I’d love for you to stay a few more days, but you haven’t been home in a while. Your parents must miss you, so don’t leave it too late," Jiang Wanyi said gently.

"I only get to be the ’good son’ for three days anyway. It doesn’t matter if I go sooner or later," Chen Yuan said, holding Mili.

"What do you mean, ’three days’?"

"My mom’s maternal affection only lasts for three days. Starting on day four, the nagging begins."

"That’s definitely because you’re too much of a wisecracker," Jiang Wanyi said with a laugh.

Chen Yuan was often goofy and loved to make wisecracks, so it was only natural for a mother to scold him now and then.

"I call it being cheerful and outgoing. *She’s* the one with a short fuse. So I’m in no hurry to go back. It’s freezing out there, so I’ll stay here a few more days."

"Just plan your schedule then," Jiang Wanyi said gently.

"Okay."

"Since you aren’t in a hurry to leave, just leave these clothes here. I’ll wash them with the rest tomorrow."

"I didn’t bring them here for you to wash. I can just have my mom do it when I get home."

"That would be such a hassle to take back."

Jiang Wanyi got up and put both her and Chen Yuan’s clothes into the laundry hamper in the bathroom.

"By the time you come back, the weather in Zhonghai will have warmed up, and you’ll be able to wear these clothes again. So just let me wash them and keep them here. That way, all you’ll need is your down jacket, thermal underwear, and your laptop. Everything should fit in a backpack, and you won’t have to lug a suitcase around."

Chen Yuan thought about it. She had a point; there was no need to make things so complicated.

"Alright, we’ll do it your way."

After taking out all the clothes for the wash, she zipped the suitcase shut, moved it aside, and then peeked into another bag.

’I had a feeling it would be toys for the baby. And just as I thought...’

’I’ve told him so many times not to buy toys for Mili. He always agrees so sweetly, but he buys them every single time. I’ve just stopped bringing it up.’

’This time, though, there was nothing for me.’

A tiny pang of disappointment pricked her heart.

’But then again, what’s there to be disappointed about?’

’I’m a grown woman, am I really going to pout over a little gift? I can’t be getting more childish with age.’

"I’ve already bought you all the good snacks from University City before. The rest aren’t that tasty, so I didn’t get you anything."

She shot him a look. "It’s not a big deal. You don’t have to explain yourself."

"I’m not trying to explain, it’s just..."

"Just what?"

"It’s that I bought you something else."

From his pocket, Chen Yuan took out a black hair clip.

"I thought this seemed like your style."

The moment she saw the hair clip, that little bit of disappointment vanished instantly.

"And it’s Prada, no less," Jiang Wanyi said with a smile.

"Prada?"

Chen Yuan knew Prada was a luxury brand, but he didn’t recognize the name.

"I paid twenty for it."

"Not bad. You didn’t overpay. That’s about right for the price."

She gathered her hair back and turned to present her back to Chen Yuan.

"So? Does it look good?"

"Let me adjust it, it’s a little crooked."

Holding the baby with one arm, he adjusted the clip’s position. "There, that’s much better."