Chapter 162: Holding a Baby

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Holding a Baby

"What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know what’s wrong with Yuanyuan. She started crying the moment Zheng Chuan held her. Her diaper’s been changed, it’s clean, and she won’t drink her milk," Mother Su explained, cradling and soothing Yuanyuan.

Lu Zhengchuan was filled with guilt. "Is it because my hands are too rough? Did I hurt Yuanyuan?"

"It’s okay. Let me try holding her," Su Wan said, reaching out her arms. Mother Su passed Yuanyuan to her.

As soon as she was in Su Wan’s arms, Yuanyuan whimpered twice and stopped crying. Her little mouth just squirmed as her tiny hands tugged at Su Wan’s clothes.

"Mom, I’ll feed her. You can head out," Su Wan said, feigning composure as she thought of a possible reason.

"Alright. Come out after you’re done feeding her. It’s getting late, and you have to go to class after breakfast." Mother Su was an efficient person and didn’t dally, turning to leave right away.

Lu Zhengchuan closed the door behind him and looked up to see that Yuanyuan was, indeed, nursing.

"...Um," Lu Zhengchuan leaned in and asked with concern, "is there any milk left?"

Su Wan’s composure instantly broke. Her cheeks flushed red as she glared at him. "And whose fault is that? Yuanyuan needs to breastfeed every morning. She’s a bit weaker, and Mom says breast milk strengthens a baby’s immune system."

"That’s why Tuantuan drinks more formula, and Yuanyuan drinks more breast milk."

Lu Zhengchuan’s face turned an embarrassed shade of red, which was finally clear to see in the daylight. He quickly promised, "I won’t steal anymore next time. I’ll save it all for our daughter."

"If you dare say that out loud, I’ll have to silence you permanently."

Su Wan felt like she was losing all her dignity.

Hearing her adorable words, Lu Zhengchuan couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Before she could get angry, he quickly raised his hands in surrender. "I won’t say a thing, I promise. Wanwan, don’t you trust me?"

Su Wan didn’t say anything. Of course she trusted Lu Zhengchuan, but she couldn’t help feeling indignant and had to give him a warning.

After being fed, Yuanyuan instantly stopped crying.

Su Wan and Lu Zhengchuan both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zheng Chuan, we still haven’t picked names for the two kids. See when you have some time to choose them," Su Wan said, remembering the task and tapping her head.

Lu Zhengchuan immediately accepted the task. "I’ll start flipping through the dictionary today."

"Come on, Wanwan, let’s go have breakfast first. After breakfast, I’ll take you to school," Lu Zhengchuan said, holding a baby in each arm as he called for Su Wan to head out.

Su Wan watched him. In just a short while, even though his movements were still stiff, he could already keep both children from crying in his arms. He was supposed to be a clumsy man, but he was surprisingly meticulous when it came to caring for the children.

"There’s no need. I’ll ride my bike there myself. That way, Mom and Dad can also use the bike to bring lunch back when they come home to eat."

That’s what they had been doing for the past few days.

"You should stay home and spend more time with the two kids. Also, you just got back. You should contact your aunt and the others. You only have a few relatives left, and they’re probably worried since you haven’t been in touch for so long."

Seeing that she really didn’t want him to take her, Lu Zhengchuan was a little disappointed. He looked back at her. "Wanwan, you’re really okay with me not going?"

"Aren’t I coming back tonight? This is so much better than when you used to be away on missions," Su Wan said sincerely.

With Lu Zhengchuan by her side now, she felt much more secure. At least if she wanted to find him, she could see him within half an hour. It wasn’t like before when he was on the battlefield. Even though a letter assuring his safety arrived every month, he wasn’t right in front of her, so how could she ever truly be at ease?

"I’ll be back to be with you tonight."

Those words from Su Wan instantly coaxed a broad smile onto Lu Zhengchuan’s face.

Mother Su and the others had just finished setting the breakfast on the table and were about to call the couple to eat when they came face to face with a beaming Lu Zhengchuan.

Father Su asked with a smile, "Zheng Chuan, come and sit. What happened? You seem to be in such a good mood."

"Dad, I’m back, and seeing the children puts me in a good mood. Look, I’m holding Yuanyuan and Tuantuan, and they’re not crying anymore."

Hearing this, Father Su chuckled and lovingly squeezed the two babies’ little hands. He told Lu Zhengchuan to put them on the small bed next to the dining table.

"Here, put Tuantuan and Yuanyuan down here. They can play with Nuannuan while we eat. They won’t get into trouble; they’re very well-behaved."

Lu Zhengchuan did as he was told. Indeed, the three children got along well. Nuannuan, who was a few months older, could already crawl. She crawled right between the two, plopped down, and took turns pinching Tuantuan and patting Yuanyuan.

"Wanwan, come have breakfast." Lu Zhengchuan saw that there was a wide variety of food on the table: a few small stir-fried dishes, as well as steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk.

Su Wan sat down, and in front of her was already a pile of food and buns that Lu Zhengchuan had picked out for her.

"Is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll go buy it."

"Our family sells breakfast, why would you need to go out and buy any?" Su Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But Lu Zhengchuan was clearly in a great mood. "Then you eat. Eat what you like, and give me what you don’t. I’ll eat it."

Second Sister-in-law Su teased from the side, "Now that Zheng Chuan is back, someone is finally here to take care of Wanwan. We can all rest easy now."

Lu Zhengchuan didn’t blush. He thanked her earnestly, "I haven’t even had the chance to thank you, Sister-in-law, or you, Mom and Dad, for taking care of Wanwan."

Second Brother Su had already left to sell breakfast. He hadn’t bought a shop yet, so he was still selling from a tricycle. Since his main income was from breakfast sales, he naturally left early and wouldn’t be back to eat until he was done around nine o’clock.

"Mom, Dad, Sister-in-law, I was in a hurry to get back yesterday. The gifts I bought for you in the south are all at the family housing complex. I’ll arrange for someone to deliver them in a bit."

"Zheng Chuan, you were out on a mission, why would you prepare gifts for us? Taking care of Wanwan is what we should do. You shouldn’t have spent the money. As long as you’ve returned safely, we’re all relieved."

Mother Su said this from the bottom of her heart. As one of the only two people in the family who knew that Lu Zhengchuan had been on the battlefield, she had been constantly on edge.

Father Su didn’t know, but that didn’t stop him from nodding along to show his concern. "Zheng Chuan, your mother is right. You’re already very capable now, so don’t push yourself so hard. Now that you’re back from your mission, you should be able to rest for a while, right?"

"Dad, Mom, I’ve been transferred to the Capital. I’ll have time to be with the children and Wanwan now."

Seeing the conversation had led to this point, Lu Zhengchuan took the opportunity to share the good news with his elders.

"Really?"

The two elders were overjoyed.

Knowing what his "missions" entailed, Mother Su was more concerned. "Zheng Chuan, will you have to go on missions then?"

"For now, I won’t need to travel for missions. For the next two years, I’ll be staying on base for drills and training." ’He didn’t mention barring any unforeseen circumstances. However, the fighting in the south was going smoothly at the moment, so the probability of an incident was low.’

Seeing he was still being modest, Su Wan said with a smile, "Zheng Chuan earned a merit and got a promotion this time. I’m afraid he’ll be very busy with all sorts of official duties and training."

"A promotion?" Father Su exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Good lad, that’s really impressive."

"It’s just that I have to live in the military family compound. The army assigned me an apartment in the family building this time. Mom, Dad, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, you should all move in too. It can fit everyone; it’s a large four-bedroom, one-living-room apartment," Lu Zhengchuan said.