It was surprising how calm the baby was. She was currently sitting on the table, barely moving as she played with a small sugar dispenser.
She shook the little container and giggled at the sound of the sugar rattling inside.
She didn’t throw it around or try to break it. She simply shook it, clearly enjoying the noise.
It was an adorable sight that kept distracting Kai from his cooking.
He had already taken a few pictures of her, but somehow, it still didn’t feel like enough.
"I wonder if Jean would be fine with having some professional pictures taken for the collection."
He had heard that many people hired professional photographers to capture little moments that could be preserved forever.
However, remembering Jean’s caution earlier, he felt she would probably disagree.
...And truthfully, the thought of someone else taking pictures of his daughter made him uncomfortable too.
Forget it. He would just learn to take better pictures himself.
"Hmm... I think this should do."
He added some more water to the porridge he had prepared for the baby. He had added some vegetables, sliced into tiny pieces, along with rice and vegetable stock. He made sure not to add anything too difficult to digest or rough on her stomach.
He had searched online, actually, and it turned out she could eat far more than she currently was.
In fact, a one-year-old should generally eat several times throughout the day, with three proper meals and a couple of small snacks in between.
So yes, they needed to plan her diet carefully.
"Bababa!"
Hearing the child, he turned and found her raising both arms in his direction, looking up at him with her big, adorable eyes.
It appeared she got tired of playing and wanted to cuddle.
He glanced at the porridge.
It should be cooked.
He turned off the stove, removed the smelly apron, and went to pick up his daughter.
"Did you miss Papa, baby?"
He held her close and gently swayed from side to side.
The child rested her face against his chest and began playing with the button on his shirt.
Kai exhaled a sigh.
The sight alone seemed to wash away all the fatigue he had accumulated throughout the day.
However, when he looked down at the baby, he noticed several small red marks on her arms.
He frowned and immediately picked up his phone while continuing to cradle her with his other arm.
He searched online.
"Mosquito bites... those bastards. Tch."
Clicking his tongue, he looked around the room.
He found a mosquito repellent but stopped when he noticed the warning label on the back. It strictly prohibited the spray from being used anywhere near children under the age of three.
Kai tossed the spray away and gently rubbed his daughter’s back.
"Sorry for not realizing earlier, baby. Dad won’t let you sleep like this another night."
He picked up his phone again and opened the home delivery app.
Going into the children’s section, he chose a mosquito net, a small bathing pool, a few toys, and some snacks for children. By the time he reached the clothing section, he realized he needed to stop and buy the important things before it was too late.
"Wait a second."
Near the checkout, he paused.
There was an option to pay using the card.
"Inventory."
He called out, and the list of rewards instantly appeared before him.
In addition to the keys to a car he had yet to see, there was a black card in there as well.
He took it out and found himself holding a sleek, expensive-looking card.
[Host, you may scan the black stripe of the card to make the payment.]
Kai asked, ’Do these things count as household supplies?’
[They do, host.]
Kai faintly smiled before scanning the card.
The three dots that appeared while the payment was being processed didn’t bother him. He had enough funds in his account to afford the items anyway.
But...
{Payment successful.}
{Your delivery will arrive in fifteen minutes.}
Kai smiled brightly before looking down at the baby.
"You’ll sleep soundly tonight, baby."
Just then, he heard a knock on his door.
He went to open it and froze upon seeing the person on the other side.
"Hmm?"
Jean hummed in confusion as she tilted her head.
Kai... just stared at her for a few moments.
Maybe because her face was no longer hidden by her unruly hair, he could clearly see her features now. Fresh out of the bath, she carried a faint, pleasant fragrance that caught him off guard.
There was no doubt...Jean was a beautiful woman. And with time, her beauty has only aged like fine wine.
"Kai?"
Her cheeks turned slightly warmer.
"You can stare at me once I come inside too."
"!!"
He panicked.
"I... I’m sorry. Please, come inside."
God, what was I even doing? Staring at her like that when she had only just decided to trust him enough to stay under the same roof.
He needed to get used to her presence, or he would continue being amazed by his roommate time after time.
As Jean entered with a soft smile, she asked, "What’s that nice smell? Did you cook something?"
Kai huffed proudly.
"Something? Everything."
He brought the baby girl to the table once again, but this time he sat down on a chair with her on his lap before telling Jean, "I prepared dinner for everyone. Go on and check it."
Jean nodded and stepped closer.
There was shrimp rice alongside what appeared to be honey-chili chicken and some vegetable soup. For the baby, he had prepared porridge as well.
Jean was impressed.
"You can cook so many dishes and yet you survived on instant noodles?"
Kai was flustered.
"Not by choice."
Jean gave him a wry smile.
"I can relate."
Shaking her head, she added, "Anyway, since you cooked the meal, let me at least serve it."
Kai nodded before telling her, "Go on. I’ll go pick up the delivery."
Jean hummed in question, so Kai explained.
"I bought a safety net for the baby. Mosquitoes have bullied our daughter the whole night."
Jean couldn’t help but smile helplessly at the sight of the protective father cradling his daughter so closely.
The child had closed her eyes too, snuggling peacefully against her father.
’She really is her father’s princess.’
Jean shook her head and decided to serve the food.
God, she was hungry.