The man acted as if everything was natural, which left her a little unsure.
Qing Yanshen washed his hands and began kneading dough to make xiaolongbao.
He had the day off today and was not in a rush.
Jiang Tuantuan woke up, and Jiang Qingmi went to dress her, comb her hair, brush her teeth, and freshen her up.
Qing Yanshen prepared the meat filling, wrapped each dumpling carefully, and steamed them.
His cooking skills were probably quite good before. Cooking came easily to him. Even though he had amnesia, his instinct for cooking remained, just like his instinct to care for her.
Qing Yanshen was almost certain that before losing his memory, Jiang Tuantuan had been his daughter, and Jiang Qingmi had been his wife.
Since they had already confirmed their relationship last night, they could just consider this as starting their romance again.
After steaming the xiaolongbao, he came into the living room where Jiang Qingmi was weaving shoes.
He said, “Not far from here is a lake where you can take a boat ride and see the maple leaves. Zhao Ge said it’s beautiful. Let’s take the baby to see it.”
“How much is the ticket?” Jiang Qingmi glanced at him while continuing her weaving.
Qing Yanshen replied, “Fifteen, and the baby is free.”
Thirty yuan was indeed not expensive.
“All right. After we eat the xiaolongbao, we’ll go.” Jiang Qingmi also wanted to get out and enjoy some fresh air.
Speaking of xiaolongbao, Qing Yanshen had made them once before on his day off. This was the second time, and they were especially delicious. She really liked them.
“Qing Yanshen, your cooking is so good. You weren’t a chef before, were you?”
He shook his head without hesitation. “No.”
“Why are you so sure? What if you were?”
He paused for a moment, his dark gaze fixed on her. “Because I only want to cook for you and the baby.”
Jiang Qingmi snorted, not expecting that answer, and rolled her eyes. “Smooth talker. I don’t have money to pay you.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.”
Cooking for others held no interest for Qing Yanshen, even if it was work.
But cooking for the mother and daughter gave him joy and made him feel happy.
While waiting for the dumplings, he cleaned up, tidied scattered toys, washed them, and when he saw the dirty baby clothes in the bathroom basin, he washed them silently.
No matter what their relationship had been before his amnesia, he and Jiang Qingmi were together now. Whether or not Jiang Tuantuan was his biological daughter, she was his baby now.
Since their relationship was confirmed, he could not pretend not to see what needed to be done. Work had to be done, and life would only get better if he took responsibility.
By the time Jiang Qingmi realized it, he had washed the clothes, hung them on hangers, and started drying them on the balcony.
“Ah?”
“You…” Jiang Qingmi paused. “You can’t sit still, can you? I can wash the baby’s clothes myself. I know you are kind, but don’t do everything for me. You already provide for our living expenses. That’s enough.”
Qing Yanshen calmly said, “It’s nothing. Don’t be formal with me. Anything you need, just ask.”
Jiang Qingmi did not know what to say. “You… you really are kind.”
The man seemed to take the compliment seriously. “You are good too.”
Jiang Qingmi frowned slightly. Something felt off, but she couldn’t pinpoint what.
After breakfast, they got their things and left the house.
The walk would take more than half an hour, but this time Jiang Qingmi agreed to take a taxi. Since they were going out to have fun, there was no need to save money.
Maple Lake was one of the top wetland parks in North City. It was large and scenic. The lake was lined with maple trees, and in autumn, the leaves turned red. A slow boat ride around the lake was incredibly relaxing.
The lake was full of goldfish, and visitors could buy fish food to feed them.
During autumn, it was always crowded.
People gathered along the railings, leaning over to feed the fish. Colorful koi swam eagerly, competing for the food, growing plump from eating too much.
“Mommy, fish! Fish!”
Jiang Tuantuan shouted cutely. “Baby wants to feed, wants to feed ~”
Jiang Qingmi held her small hand. “Wait for uncle to buy the fish food. He’ll be back soon.”
She looked up toward the window selling fish food. A line had formed. Qing Yanshen was fourth in line, dressed casually. Tall and upright, he stood out. Even from the side, he looked like a handsome man.
She noticed some girls nearby sneaking glances at him.
Two young girls carrying fish food approached, whispering and covering their mouths. “You’re usually so brave online. Why don’t you go now? Let me go instead.”
“Fine, you go this time. Next time I’ll go. Just need to get a contact.”
“He’s good-looking, he must have someone already. Better not.”
“You’re a coward. Don’t want me later? Look, here he comes.”
Jiang Qingmi watched Qing Yanshen buy several packs of fish food and walk toward her. For some reason, she pursed her lips and said, “Qing Yanshen, you’re slow! Hurry up.”
“The baby wants to feed the fish now!”
Then she saw him quicken his pace and run.
The two girls went silent and quietly walked away.
Jiang Qingmi felt unusually happy. Standing on the bridge, wind brushing through her hair, she looked at him approaching and smiled brightly. “How many packs did you buy?”
Qing Yanshen looked at her radiant smile without blinking. Slightly stunned, he answered, “Six.”
“Baby, come feed the fish.”
Qing Yanshen held Tuantuan while feeding the fish. Jiang Qingmi fed some herself. She tossed a small handful into the lake, and a particularly fat yellow koi leapt to grab it.
“Oh my gosh! Qing Yanshen, did you see that? It’s so fat but it can jump!” Jiang Qingmi excitedly tugged at his sleeve. “That really fat one, Big Yellow!”
“Yes, I saw.” His deep voice carried a trace of indulgence. “Feed to the left, and it will follow, like a little dog.”
Jiang Qingmi laughed, then met his dark, deep gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and they quickly looked away from each other.
“Share the food, don’t give it all to Big Yellow. Little Black, you’re skinny. Come on, open your mouth!”
However, the fish food she aimed at the black-and-white koi was snatched by the fat yellow one, which jumped and successfully ate it, falling back into the water with a splash.
People around gasped.
“Again, Big Yellow! You greedy fish!” Jiang Qingmi laughed and scolded. Most of her fish food ended up in Big Yellow’s belly.
She laughed nonstop, complaining to him, “Look at it! How greedy! I’ve never seen a fish so greedy. Hurry, open the next pack!”
“Uncle, me too! Tuantuan’s is gone.”
Qing Yanshen quickly opened two packs and handed one to each of their hands, big and small.
Jiang Qingmi had not been this happy in a long time.
“I’ll hold Tuantuan. You feed.”
“No need. I’ll watch you both.”
He had little interest in feeding the fish, but it was fun to watch the mother and daughter enjoy themselves. One lively, one chubby and cute. Truly delightful, both his treasures.
Qing Yanshen thought it was indeed good to come out more often.
“Sorry to bother you.”
The family of three turned to look.
A man in his twenties with a backpack and camera said, “I just noticed how happy your family looks, so I took the liberty of taking a photo for you.”
He handed over a photo.
Jiang Qingmi took it.
In the photo, on the arch bridge, Qing Yanshen held Tuantuan, looking down at her with a tender, indulgent gaze, while she looked up at him, smiling, one hand tugging at his sleeve, body leaning toward him.
Tuantuan’s chubby face had wide curious eyes and a small open mouth, looking adorable.
Jiang Qingmi froze.
So that had been her expression just now?
When had she been this close to him? Even just looking at it herself, their body language, expressions, and gazes made it impossible not to see them as a family of three.
In the photo, they seemed separate from the world, forming their own little bubble of happiness.
But it was just a photo. Reality was completely different.
If Qing Yanshen really were the male lead of a novel, he would be the young master of the Qing family, and later get engaged to the heiress.
If he were not the male lead, once a paternity test was done, he would leave.
After all, he had no reason to stay with them. They were merely friends.
Meanwhile, the man holding the photo repeatedly looked at it, smiling, carefully putting it away in his bag.