Chapter 25: Do You Think I Look Fat?

After taking the two children for a walk outside to help with digestion, the whole family returned home to rest.

Lu Mingyue’s room was to the left of the living room, while Huo Zheng’s room was to the right. The siblings’ rooms were situated on opposite sides, one on each side.

Lu Mingyue had just let her hair down and was sitting in front of her dressing table, massaging her scalp. This was a daily habit she had cultivated. After having her hair tied up all day, her hair follicles felt tense, so this helped her relax and also improved her sleep quality.

Besides this small routine, daily skincare was also very important. Just as Lu Mingyue opened the lid of her snow cream, a soft knock sounded from outside.

Who could it be at this hour?

With curiosity, Lu Mingyue opened the door to find a small figure standing there.

“Yao Yao, what’s the matter?”

Yao Yao shyly clutched a little doll, her face marked by a blend of shyness and inner conflict. After a long moment of mental preparation, she tightened her grip on the doll’s hand and quietly encouraged herself: “Mom, can I sleep with you tonight?”

Many children in the residential compound slept with their mothers; she had never experienced that feeling before.

Now she had a mother and wanted to sleep with her.

Realizing this, Lu Mingyue smiled warmly, having initially thought it was something more serious. She gently tapped Yao Yao’s nose and said softly, “Of course, come on in.”

Joyfully clutching her doll, Yao Yao climbed onto her mother’s big bed.

The bed was covered with white sheets adorned with tiny floral patterns, exuding a faint scent of flowers.

Yao Yao lay on the bed, hugging her doll and playing happily.

Her little feet jumped in the air continuously. She glanced secretly at her mother, who hadn’t noticed her, then rolled around on the bed.

Lu Mingyue was well aware of the child’s movements; through the dressing mirror, she clearly saw her little antics.

“Yao Yao.”

Immersed in her playful rolling, Yao Yao suddenly froze when she heard her mother call her name.

“What’s wrong, Mom?”

She instinctively tightened her grip on the doll.

Lu Mingyue beckoned to her, and Yao Yao blinked in confusion before hopping off the bed to stand in front of her, lifting her small face to look up at her mother.

Lu Mingyue scooped out a bit of snow cream, dabbing it on Yao Yao’s forehead, cheeks, and chin, then gently massaged it in.

A fragrant scent wafted to Yao Yao’s nose, blending with her mother’s touch, causing her to squint her eyes and savor the moment.

The scent was delightful, just like her mother’s own.

“Mom, Yao Yao smells so nice.”

After Lu Mingyue finished applying the cream, Yao Yao cupped her rosy cheeks and admired herself left and right in the mirror.

Lu Mingyue looked at her sweet, fragrant little girl and couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her.

“Of course, our Yao Yao is the most fragrant baby.”

Hearing this, Yao Yao beamed as if she had drunk sweet syrup, her smile radiant.

As it was getting late, Lu Mingyue fetched a pillow for the little one, and under the moonlight’s gentle glow, the two peacefully fell asleep.

While the atmosphere here was warm and harmonious, it was quite the opposite in Huo Zheng’s room.

With a sharp slap, his face was struck again.

Darkness flickered in Huo Zheng’s eyes as he helplessly widened them and looked mournfully at the little rascal beside him.

Why was this brat still as unruly as when he was a child?

Huo Zheng felt that his son’s desire to sleep with him tonight was purely a form of punishment.

Leilei lay sprawled on his back, occupying most of the bed in a starfish position, sound asleep, while the tall Huo Zheng was squeezed into the corner.

When the two children first arrived at the house, Leilei felt very insecure, so Huo Zheng slept with both of them.

Back then, Leilei’s sleeping posture was already somewhat unseemly, but since he was still young, he could still sleep soundly despite tossing and turning.

But now it was different.

Since they would be going to the county town tomorrow, Huo Zheng thought that if things continued like this, he wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. So he grabbed his pillow and went to the next room, giving his bed to his son.

Leilei, having successfully ousted his father and taken over the big bed, remained completely unaware and turned over, sleeping soundly.

The next morning.

Leilei got up from the bed, the tufts of hair on his head standing straight up.

He rubbed his eyes sleepily and looked around, his head forming a puzzled question mark.

Hey?

Where did Dad go?

Even though he didn’t have to go to the military camp today, Huo Zheng still maintained his habit.

Every day, rain or shine, he ran five kilometers.

Huo Zheng greeted the passing sisters-in-law while carrying breakfast. Seeing the lunchboxes in his hands, they couldn’t help but praise him.

“Who would have thought Comrade Huo cared so much for his wife, going out early to fetch breakfast.”

“Right? Unlike my husband, who just comes home and sits around doing nothing, waiting to be fed.”

“I heard the couple took the two kids to the supply and marketing cooperative yesterday and bought quite a few things. Looks like Comrade Huo’s wife is reliable for the kids.”

“You never can tell a person’s heart from their face. They just arrived; who knows how things will be in the future? Let’s wait and see.”

They had heard that Comrade Huo’s wife was several years younger than him.

At such a beautiful and youthful age, she had become a stepmother. No one knew how long she could endure it.

Besides, she was a fine city girl who had followed him to Shashi Island, where the conditions were undoubtedly less comfortable than before.

Back at the old residential compound, there had been cases where people left because the conditions on Shashi Island were too poor.

The older military wives were used to such situations.

Since arriving in the 1970s, Lu Mingyue hadn’t slept this soundly in a long time.

But because of the morning bugle, she woke briefly before falling asleep again.

When she woke again, her little daughter was no longer by her side.

She changed into new clothes and tied her hair into a simple low braided ponytail.

Outside, Huo Zheng was loosening the soil in the yard with the two children. A small part of the vegetable garden was still unplanted.

Hearing a noise, Huo Zheng looked up, his gaze momentarily stunned. The morning sun shone on the girl’s fair face, revealing a peach-like rosy glow.

She smiled slightly, her beautiful eyes sparkling like dazzling stars, captivating all who looked at her.

Wearing the new clothes she had bought yesterday, she radiated youthful vitality.

“Mom!”

Yao Yao ran over and stopped just before reaching her mother, happily raising her prize to show off.

“Mom, look, I caught some earthworms. Are they fat?”

A thick, black earthworm, as thick as a chopstick, suddenly appeared before Lu Mingyue’s eyes.

Quick as a flash, Huo Zheng scooped up his daughter.

The earthworm flashed past Lu Mingyue’s eyes, tracing an arc through the air and landing precisely by Leilei’s feet.

Yao Yao: What just happened?