Seeing the baby cry, Jiang Wanyi quickly put down her chopsticks and picked her up.
"Mili, don’t cry. Mommy will hold you."
"WAAAH—"
Jiang Wanyi’s attempts to soothe her had no effect, and a look of anxiety appeared on her face.
This was a public place. A constantly crying baby could easily disturb the other diners.
"Mommy will hold you, Mommy will hold you..."
Seeing Jiang Wanyi’s panicked state and her method of comforting the baby, Chen Yuan was a little puzzled.
’The baby is over eight months old. She shouldn’t be considered a new mom anymore, so why is she so flustered?’
The baby cried even harder with no signs of stopping. Her little hands were reaching out toward Chen Yuan, as if she wanted him to hold her.
Jiang Wanyi noticed this too.
"The uncle can’t hold you, Mili. Be good."
"Um..." Chen Yuan said tentatively, "How about you let me try?"
"Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?"
In Jiang Wanyi’s eyes, Chen Yuan was just a young man. Although she was also a novice, she definitely had more experience than him. She felt a little uneasy about handing the baby over to him.
Besides, if she really let him hold the baby, it would just be more trouble for him, and Jiang Wanyi felt bad about that.
"It’s no problem."
"WAAAH... SQUEAL... SOB SOB SOB..."
The baby stretched out her little hands, desperate to get into Chen Yuan’s arms.
Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Jiang Wanyi tentatively passed the baby into Chen Yuan’s arms. She noticed his posture was perfect, just like the maternity nurse they had hired before.
Jiang Wanyi was taken aback. ’His experience seems much richer than mine. He’s not like a young man at all.’
Most importantly, once her daughter was in his arms, her crying actually subsided quite a lot.
Chen Yuan held the baby, his thoughts focused entirely on this little human cub.
The feeling was quite magical, impossible to describe.
’I want to snuggle.’
’I really am a perverted uncle.’
He gently patted the baby’s back. Her crying lessened, but she was still whimpering.
Tentatively, Chen Yuan pressed his cheek against the baby’s. Her temperature was normal.
He felt her diaper; it was dry. No pee, no poop.
’After ruling those out, there’s only one possibility left. She must be hungry.’
"When was the last time she ate?"
Jiang Wanyi thought for a moment, then glanced at her watch. "A little over three hours ago."
"She’s probably hungry. Where’s her bottle?"
"She’s hungry again so soon?"
"That’s how babies are. They get hungry fast. You have to feed them several times a day. Just get the bottle out and feed her a little."
"I... I didn’t prepare one..." Jiang Wanyi started to panic.
"Then here, you can feed her until she’s full."
Hearing him say that, Jiang Wanyi understood what he meant.
There was no formula to mix, so she would just have to breastfeed her until she was full.
Jiang Wanyi took the baby back into her arms, but she only cried harder, squirming in her embrace and trying to get back to Chen Yuan.
"You should give her back to me. Let’s find somewhere private."
"Sorry to trouble you. Let’s go back to the car."
Chen Yuan nodded, holding the baby with one arm and picking up the large bag of things she had bought with the other.
Seeing this, Jiang Wanyi’s expression faltered for a second. She hadn’t expected the young man before her to be so responsible.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. She had to take care of the baby first. Everything else could wait.
Pushing the stroller, the two of them left the noodle shop and took the escalator down to the second basement level.
Jiang Wanyi’s car was an Audi Q5. In an era where new energy vehicles were blooming everywhere, this car wasn’t considered that expensive anymore.
She opened the car door, and just as Jiang Wanyi was about to get in, Chen Yuan spoke up.
"You should sit in the back. It’ll be more convenient."
Eager to feed her child, Jiang Wanyi had overlooked that detail.
She had opened the front passenger door. Sitting there to breastfeed ran the risk of exposure.
Sitting in the back seat, Jiang Wanyi took the baby.
Chen Yuan turned his back. The stroller and her purchases were still next to him. He couldn’t put them in the trunk yet, so he had to wait for her to finish.
’Thinking about the baby in the car, Chen Yuan wished he could switch places with her. Too bad that wasn’t an option.’
’The mission was to soothe the baby. I did soothe her, and it was somewhat effective, but the root of the problem is that she’s hungry, and now her mother is involved.’
Chen Yuan didn’t know if the mission would be considered a success. He’d just have to wait and see.
’But no matter what, I can’t be in a hurry to leave.’
He waited like this for several minutes, but no mission notification appeared. Instead, he heard the baby’s cries, followed by the sound of a car door opening.
"She’s still crying. Do you think she has a cold?"
A desperate person will try anything. This is especially true for a mother, who finds it hard to stay rational and calm at a time like this.
In this state of mind, she turned to a stranger like Chen Yuan for help. Normally, Jiang Wanyi would never do such a thing.
"Let me see."
Chen Yuan placed his hand on the baby’s forehead. Just as he thought, her temperature was normal.
If the baby was still crying under these circumstances, it was a sign of hunger. But she had just been fed, so that shouldn’t be the case.
’Then the only remaining problem is likely...’
"Did she not get enough to eat?"
For such a private topic, it was best to be subtle. They were both adults; there was no need to spell it out.
His words made Jiang Wanyi blush with embarrassment.
"It’s possible..."
He subconsciously glanced over. Jiang Wanyi’s size was definitely not small—saying she was a D cup would be conservative. But to not even be able to satisfy one baby... it was a case of being all show and no go.
However, there really wasn’t any necessary connection between the two. It’s like...
For women: a large bust doesn’t mean a large supply.
For men: a muscular build doesn’t mean more stamina.
To all the gym bros out there, I’m not talking about you, so please don’t take it personally.
"The only solution now is to buy a can of formula, a new bottle, and then find a place to get some warm water..."
This solution was a lot of trouble and would waste a lot of time, but Chen Yuan couldn’t think of any other options.
"My place isn’t far from here, just a few minutes by car. I have all that stuff at home."
"Okay, then you should drive home."
’The mission should be ending here. I can’t just follow them home.’
Jiang Wanyi was anxious. Going home to prepare formula was a good idea, but with the baby in this state, she couldn’t possibly drive. Plus, the baby didn’t seem to want to leave him.
"Could I ask you for a favor?"
"You want me to hold the baby and go back with you?"
"I’m really at my wit’s end. Can you please help me? Or you could drive for me."
"I don’t have a driver’s license yet. I’ll hold the baby for you."
Chen Yuan was actually happy to do it. It would waste some time, but he could complete the mission and get 200 yuan. That would be a huge help with his living expenses for the month.
"Pop the trunk. I’ll load these things."
After she opened the trunk, Chen Yuan, still holding the baby with one arm, effortlessly picked up the bags with his other and placed them inside.
Jiang Wanyi stood by, wanting to help, but realized that such a small task was effortless for Chen Yuan. He didn’t need her help at all.
Chen Yuan’s relaxed and easy-going manner calmed her down significantly. She was no longer as panicked as before.
Chen Yuan got into the passenger seat. As Jiang Wanyi fastened her seatbelt, the curve of her chest was clearly outlined, its full shape highlighting the charm of a young mother.
On the way, Chen Yuan tried to soothe and play with the baby, but her mood fluctuated.
Hunger is an instinct. Even with 100% affinity, you can’t stop a biological impulse. He could only do his best to comfort her, and the effect was decent.
As Jiang Wanyi drove, she also observed Chen Yuan and the baby.
This young man really had a way with babies, at least much better than her.
’As a mother, I’m not even as good as a young guy like him. It’s embarrassing just thinking about it.’
...
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