Chapter 162 - 95: Chen Yuan and Mili’s Relationship

Chapter 162: Chapter 95: Chen Yuan and Mili’s Relationship

"We still have the hot pot base at home. Let’s go out and buy some meat."

"Okay."

Pushing the baby in her stroller, the three of them left the residential complex. There was a hot pot supermarket by the east gate with a wide selection of everything they needed.

They bought some lamb, meatballs, and a few other things, completing their shopping list.

As they were about to leave, Chen Yuan saw a package of pickled cabbage on a shelf and grabbed it on a whim.

After paying, the two of them left the grocery store and started walking back slowly, pushing the baby.

Jiang Wanyi savored this feeling. She wished the road was a little longer, and that time would slow down.

"Is this pickled cabbage good? It seems like a specialty from your hometown. I’ve never had it before."

"I love eating it with hot pot and barbecue. I think it’s even better than the meat. But I’m not a big fan of it in steamed buns or dumplings."

"So it depends on how it’s prepared? You’re quite the picky eater. I never noticed before."

"That’s mainly because everything you make is delicious. I never even get a chance to be picky."

"Such a sweet talker. Now I’ll feel guilty if I ever make a bad meal."

"I love everything you make," Chen Yuan said with a smile.

"That won’t do. This is all I can really do right now, so I have to do it as well as I possibly can."

"That’s not the right way to think about it. Your value isn’t just in the kitchen."

For a moment, Jiang Wanyi’s emotions were like a floodgate opening, overwhelming her to the point of speechlessness.

Even the sky above seemed to have grown brighter.

’He always manages to touch the softest spot in my heart when I least expect it.’

"I know my value isn’t just in the kitchen, but I just want to make delicious food for you."

"You’re going to make me eat my abs away," Chen Yuan said with a laugh.

"You don’t have to be so strict about staying in shape. It’s fine as long as you don’t get too fat," Jiang Wanyi said.

"Or maybe you can just control yourself a bit when you’re at school. You’re not allowed to hold back here. If you eat less, I won’t feel a sense of accomplishment."

"I’m going to eat two pounds of lamb today."

"Okay." Jiang Wanyi nodded gently.

"We still have two cans of beer. You can have a little drink tonight."

"You’re not against guys drinking, huh."

"Drinking every day is a no-go. I find people like that annoying too. But having a small drink occasionally is perfectly fine. It adds a little fun to life."

"We think alike on that."

Pushing Mili’s stroller, the two returned home. The scenery on the way was beautiful, and the person beside her was even better.

Back home, they changed their clothes and then divided the tasks.

Chen Yuan was in charge of looking after Mili, while Jiang Wanyi prepared the ingredients for dinner.

After about half an hour, all the food they had bought was laid out on the table. They probably wouldn’t have even ordered this much at a hot pot restaurant.

"I want to try this pickled cabbage."

"Not yet. Let’s cook some lamb first, or it won’t taste good," Chen Yuan said.

"Besides, your oil-based dipping sauce might not go well with the pickled cabbage. You should try my sesame paste."

"Okay."

During the meal, they placed Mili between them. They boiled some noodles for her in a pot of plain water, without even adding salt, and she ate happily.

’It’s so easy to please little kids.’

Once the lamb was cooked, Jiang Wanyi placed it all in Chen Yuan’s bowl.

"Wait a second. Let me get some sesame paste for you so you can try the pickled cabbage."

"Don’t go to the trouble. I’ll just dip it in your bowl to try it first. If I like it, I’ll get some for myself."

"This bowl of mine? Even I’m disgusted by it."

"It’s fine as long as I’m not. Now, hurry up and eat."

Placing all the lamb from the pot into Chen Yuan’s bowl, Jiang Wanyi said, "Eat up. There’s plenty."

"Time to feast!"

With Jiang Wanyi, Chen Yuan didn’t hold back at all, eating in big mouthfuls. The two of them were a study in contrasts.

Every now and then, Chen Yuan would raise his beer can and clink it against Jiang Wanyi’s Coke.

"If I weren’t breastfeeding, we could have a drink together."

Jiang Wanyi had imagined this scene countless times.

It could be at home or at an outdoor food stall, just the two of them having a drink, chatting idly about the little things in life, and then falling asleep in a light, tipsy haze.

Unfortunately, with the baby around, this plan would have to be postponed.

Watching Chen Yuan eat and drink with such gusto, Jiang Wanyi felt a deep sense of satisfaction. She just hoped he would eat more.

’Then again,’ she thought, glancing at his stomach, ’if he keeps this up, he might end up looking like me in half a year, at most.’

’The image is actually quite amusing. He’d look even more like a family man.’

’But his figure, good or bad, doesn’t matter. As long as he and our precious daughter are healthy, that’s better than anything.’

"The pickled cabbage should be ready now, right? I want to try it."

"Just about."

She picked a little out, dipped it in the sesame paste in Chen Yuan’s bowl, and tasted it carefully.

"You know what? It’s a little sour and a little crunchy. It’s actually really good. I’m going to get some sesame paste for myself."

"It’s also delicious in barbecue."

"I’ll buy more next time."

"Okay."

The meal lasted over an hour. It only ended because Mili started to get restless; otherwise, the two of them would have chatted for a while longer.

Jiang Wanyi was already looking forward to the weekend.

She could take the baby to her parents’ place, and then her time would be her own. She wouldn’t have to breastfeed, and there would be no problem having a little drink with Chen Yuan.

After dinner, they had the same clear division of labor: Chen Yuan was in charge of soothing the baby, and Jiang Wanyi took care of the housework.

Across the city, countless lights twinkled in thousands of homes, but this one seemed especially warm and bright.

After cleaning up the kitchen, Jiang Wanyi went over to the playpen.

Mili was playing happily by herself, so Chen Yuan and Jiang Wanyi were free.

Chen Yuan took out a toy he had bought. A DING-DING-DONG-DONG melody started to play, and Mili’s eyes were glued to it.

Sitting beside her with his legs crossed, Chen Yuan explained how to play with the toy.

Jiang Wanyi sat by the edge of the playpen with her legs curled up, watching them, the corners of her mouth turning up in a gentle, unconscious smile.

After all this time, seeing how they interacted, Jiang Wanyi was certain that Chen Yuan and the baby had a genuinely good relationship.

It wasn’t a relationship sustained by toys, nor was it a fleeting fancy on the baby’s part. Whenever Chen Yuan was around, the baby didn’t look for her anymore.

’At first, that result had made her a little sad. She was the mother who had nearly given her life to bring her into the world; of course, the baby should be closest to her.’

’Now, that feeling was completely gone. In its place, seeing how good her relationship with Chen Yuan was made her even happier. She even hoped their bond would grow stronger.’

’But it seemed...’

’...the better his relationship with the baby became, the less time he had to talk and chat with me.’

’Oh well, she’s still little. I’ll forgive her.’