The small movements made by Wen Ruanqing caused Feng Ye and Wen Si to secretly laugh. All three children were using their strength, but unfortunately, the plush toy was made too well; despite being pressed for a long time, it remained completely motionless.
“So tired.”
Wen Tingyin was panting from exhaustion. Seeing this, Feng Ye spoke up, “I will go back first, the wind is strong outside.”
Hearing this, Huo Yinli let out an “Oh my,” and slapped her own forehead: “That’s right, let’s hurry home!”
After saying this, the two children ran toward the house in a hurry, while Wen Si followed behind, carrying Wen Ruanqing.
The little sheep plush toy was placed on the sofa, and Wen Ruanqing was also placed on the sofa, leaning straight up against it. She kept staring at the little sheep plush toy, let out an “Ah,” and experimentally reached out her hand to pat it: “Ah!”
The plush toy did not move.
Only then did Wen Ruanqing relax. She tilted her head and stared at the toy for a few seconds. Then, her body tilted, and she leaned directly against the plush toy. However, the toy itself had no support, causing her to fall over right along with it.
Oh boy.
Wen Ruanqing lay flat on top of the plush toy, burying her face into it. When she lifted her head again, the plush toy’s belly was wet, and her little lips were also soaking wet: “Mama.”
A group of people had gathered around, all watching her.
“Drooling now, are we?”
Feng Ye put a drool bib on Wen Ruanqing, smiling as she picked her up. “Are you hungry? How about I make you some complementary food to eat in a little bit?”
Wen Ruanqing was born in April and was technically a year and a half old, but because of health reasons, she had always been drinking formula. Today, Feng Ye intended to let her try some easily digestible foods like porridge and noodles.
“Madam.”
A servant brought up a bowl of minced pork porridge. The porridge had been simmering since the morning, and as soon as the pot was opened, the aroma of meat wafted out. Not only did Wen Ruanqing have some, but Wen Tingyin and Huo Yinli had some as well, though theirs had some added seasonings, so it wasn’t as bland as the one in Wen Ruanqing’s bowl.
Wen Si sat to one side and gestured that the kitchen could start preparing lunch. The servant nodded: “Very well, Little Madam.”
In order to differentiate between the two, the people working below simply called one “Madam” and the other “Little Madam.”
“Whew.”
Wen Tingyin scooped up a little bit of porridge with her spoon. Seeing Wen Ruanqing staring at it intently, she blew hard on the porridge in the spoon: “It’s very hot right now, it needs to be blown cool.”
“Blown cool.”
Feng Ye promptly corrected Wen Tingyin’s pronunciation.
Wen Ruanqing was carried into her baby chair. Looking at the bowl in Feng Ye’s hand, she seemed to realize something and became extremely excited, waving her hands and kicking her feet, wishing she could stand up to grab the bowl.
Wen Si squatted to the side and took a photo of her: “Little treasure, don’t be in such a rush. Look at how gentle and quiet Sister Xiaoli is.”
The named Huo Yinli looked over with a blank expression: “Hmm?”
Wen Si smiled, stood up, and rubbed Huo Yinli’s head: “Eat up, lunch will be ready in a bit.”
“Ah—”
Sitting in her chair, Wen Ruanqing was growing impatient. Every time she watched her sisters and mama eating, her heart was filled with an indescribable craving; she wanted to eat too.
After blowing the porridge cool, Feng Ye carefully fed a spoonful to Wen Ruanqing using a silicone spoon. She watched as Wen Ruanqing tasted the mouthful of porridge. At first, no reaction could be seen on her face, but a few seconds later, Wen Ruanqing’s eyes lit up. She leaned backward, clenching her hands into small fists, and made an “en” sound from her mouth, clearly enjoying the delicious taste.
“Is it delicious?”
Feng Ye was thoroughly amused by Wen Ruanqing’s reaction and fed her another spoonful: “I need to eat big mouthfuls of food; only that way will I not get sick.”
Wen Ruanqing did not hear Feng Ye’s words clearly, but she was eating happily, bobbing her head and shaking her brain.
It’s so fragrant!
The autumn season in Haishi did not seem to linger for long. In Wen Ruanqing’s existing memory, winter did not exist. The people and things she could remember were too few, so winter felt like an entirely new season in her heart.
The weather grew colder and colder, and Wen Ruanqing wore more and more clothes. Today, she was wearing a thick goose-yellow down jacket that was lightweight yet exceptionally warm. Her pants were gray fleece trousers, and she wore a pair of yellow cotton shoes. She walked much more steadily than she had a few months ago, no longer plumping down onto her bottom after a few steps, and her speech was clearer.
“Sister!”
The front door of the house opened, and Wen Tingyin, bringing Huo Yinli with her, appeared before Wen Ruanqing with a “clap” sound. Wen Ruanqing was playing with building blocks, and upon seeing her two sisters return, she immediately stood up: “Sisters!”
“Don’t come over yet, my body is cold.”
Huo Yinli timely stopped Wen Ruanqing, who was about to rush over, and took off her coat. The house had a constant-temperature system running and was very warm, so there was no need to worry about catching a cold.
“Look, I brought you a little flower.”
Wen Tingyin brought out the magnolia flower from behind her back, which she had bought when passing by a flower shop.
When Wen Ruanqing looked at the flower, she covered her mouth to express her surprise. It was unknown where she had learned this gesture, perhaps from some cartoon. She giggled a couple of times: “Wow.”
Wen Tingyin handed the flower to Wen Ruanqing and only went to hug her after her own hands had warmed up: “You can’t eat it, okay?”
“Mm.”
Wen Ruanqing nodded and sat in Wen Tingyin’s arms. She turned her head to look at Huo Yinli, lifting the bouquet of flowers in her hand, her mouth mumbling: “Flower, flower.”
“My sister is seeing it for the first time, and she calls it flower-flower.” Wen Tingyin raised an eyebrow at Huo Yinli. “She must think it looks beautiful.”
Wen Ruanqing had absolutely no resistance to beautiful things.
Huo Yinli lowered her eyes and curled her lips: “I am beautiful.”
“Hmph, I am the one who is beautiful.”
Wen Tingyin suddenly felt a desire to win. She reached out to poke Wen Ruanqing’s face and asked softly, “Sister, am I beautiful, or is Sister Xiaoli beautiful?”
Wen Ruanqing was bewildered by the question. She looked left at Wen Tingyin, then right at Huo Yinli, her eyes full of confusion. But the gazes of her two sisters were far too burning, so she could only weakly call out: “Sister.”
Don’t throw this question to me.
“What do you mean? Is it that neither sister is beautiful?”
Wen Tingyin blinked furiously at Wen Ruanqing: “Hurry up and say it.”
Huo Yinli also grew competitive, walking over to squat in front of Wen Ruanqing: “Sister Xiaoli is the most beautiful, right?”
Wen Ruanqing opened her mouth wide, but she didn’t make a sound. She felt that this question was very dangerous.
“I am the most beautiful.”
Feng Ye’s voice suddenly rang out as she brought over two cups of milk tea: “I think I am the most beautiful. Little treasure, am I right?”
Seeing Feng Ye smile, Wen Ruanqing’s tone lifted at the end: “Mama.”
“Good baby.”
Feng Ye held Wen Ruanqing in her arms, looking at the two older children obediently drinking their milk tea, her heart melting into a complete mess: “Shall I take you all out to eat tonight?”
Wen Tingyin nodded: “Okay!”
Huo Yinli also agreed: “Okay.”
Sitting in Feng Ye’s lap, Wen Ruanqing’s attention was entirely on the scenery outside. In front of the French windows, tiny white particles were continuously falling down. It was so magical; was it something delicious?
Wen Ruanqing reached out her hand to catch them: “Mama, look.”
Wen Tingyin and Huo Yinli looked over at the same time. Upon discovering it was snowing, Wen Tingyin was the first to jump up: “It’s snowing!”
“Xu…”
Wen Ruanqing imitated Wen Tingyin’s words. She tried saying “xu” for a long time but couldn’t manage to say “xue” (snow). In the end, she could only follow Huo Yinli to the window, pressing both hands against the French window, her fingers clawing at it. It was such tiny, tiny snow.
She parted her lips and smiled, letting out an exclamation: “Wow—”
Winter was about to arrive.