With their current relationship, their recent actions were indeed a bit intimate.
Xiang Wan knew she had acted improperly and felt regretful, but she pretended nothing was amiss, calmly took the milk bottle, and handed it to Nian Nian.
Nian Nian drank from the milk bottle with a glug-glug, and at the same time, opened her five little fingers towards Lu Ming Zhe, opening and closing them, signaling she wanted something.
Lu Ming Zhe had a good grasp of his daughter's temperament now. Knowing she wanted to be held, he took her into his arms again.
Seeing the two of them so affectionate, Xiang Wan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
When he returned to Nan Cheng later, what would happen to Nian Nian like this?
It was better to foster less emotional attachment, which would do no harm to Nian Nian.
"Since Grandma isn't awake yet and you're free, why don't you take a nap? Don't worry about her, I'll take her out for a walk."
The moment he mentioned taking her out for a walk, Nian Nian immediately rubbed her eyes with her fingers, looking extremely sleepy.
Seeing his daughter drink milk for the first time, her little cheeks puffed out, just like Shin-chan from the cartoons, incredibly cute. Lu Ming Zhe was reluctant to give her to Xiang Wan.
He now completely understood Zhan Bei Jue, why he cherished Ge'er more than his own life.
He recalled how, when Ge'er had just learned to walk and slipped on the slick floor, he had called people to replace the flooring overnight.
A daughter was like a piece of a father's heart; every move of hers tugged at his nerves. How could one not love her?
"Nian Nian seems sleepy too. Why don't you let her sleep with me? We've never slept together before."
Nian Nian indeed had a habit of napping.
Before Lu Ming Zhe arrived, she would always take a nap at noon.
And she would lie in bed, drink her milk, and fall asleep while drinking.
So Xiang Wan didn't argue with him.
"Alright then. I'll go tidy up the bed for you."
Because Lu Ming Zhe was quite tall, even though the accompanying bed wasn't narrow, he was worried about his daughter falling off. Xiang Wan still pushed the two accompanying beds together.
After making the bed, when she looked back, Nian Nian was already half-asleep, drinking and leaning against Lu Ming Zhe's shoulder.
Lu Ming Zhe tiptoed with his daughter to the bedside, took off his shoes, sat on the bed, slowly lay down, and then carefully placed her down from his embrace.
Nian Nian, who had already closed her eyes and was drowsy, suddenly opened her eyes the moment she touched the bedding.
She looked at Lu Ming Zhe, then at the empty bed beside him, and burst into tears.
Not knowing if she was unaccustomed to the bed or what, Lu Ming Zhe hurriedly tried to comfort her.
"Good girl, good girl, Daddy's here, don't be scared. Daddy is right beside you, no crying, no crying."
Nian Nian ignored him, crying incessantly. She let go of the milk bottle, tears falling drop by drop, and mumbled,
"Mom... Mama..."
So she needed her mother beside her to sleep?
Lu Ming Zhe quickly looked for Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan was utterly speechless with this little diva.
Perhaps it was because she was in a new place and lacked a sense of security?
She never needed her mother to stay with her when she took her afternoon naps at home!
Of course, no mother could bear to see her daughter cry continuously. Despite her exasperation, Xiang Wan still walked over.
She sat by the bedside and gently patted her, "Nian Nian, don't cry, be good. Mommy is here, Mommy is always with you."
Nian Nian tossed the milk bottle aside carelessly, grunting and wriggling her bottom as she climbed into Xiang Wan's arms.
Lu Ming Zhe quickly steadied the milk bottle, while Xiang Wan gently held her and patted her.
Soon, she was drowsy again and closed her eyes.
Lu Ming Zhe lay on the bed, looking at them from the side, and suddenly felt a sense of a warm home with his wife and child.
Although Grandma was still outside, he felt that the three of them being together was somehow strange.
Xiang Wan felt uneasy under his gaze for a while and stood up.
"You sleep, I'll take her outside to comfort her."
She stood up, but before she could take a step, Nian Nian in her arms trembled violently, her mouth turned down, and she started crying again.
"Daddy, Daddy..."
Xiang Wan quickly stopped, held her tighter, and gently patted her.
"Nian Nian, be good, Nian Nian, don't be scared. Daddy is here, he hasn't left, don't be scared, don't be scared."
Hearing his daughter call for him in her sleep, Lu Ming Zhe quickly moved closer.
He saw her sleeping with her eyes closed, her little mouth still opening and closing, as if murmuring.
His heart ached.
But he didn't want to snatch her from Xiang Wan's arms. On impulse, he got out of bed and pulled both Xiang Wan and Nian Nian into his embrace.
Nian Nian, sandwiched between them, listening to her father's heartbeat and then her mother's heartbeat, finally slept soundly.
The three stood there, leaning on each other. After a minute or two, Lu Ming Zhe released them.
"Alright, give her to me. You rest for a bit."
Xiang Wan dodged his hand.
"No need, you go back and lie down. If we keep switching, we'll wake her up."
Lu Ming Zhe quickly lay back down, and Xiang Wan placed Nian Nian on his chest.
Looking at his daughter sleeping sweetly nestled against her dad, Xiang Wan was relieved and turned to leave.
Lu Ming Zhe gently called her, "Grandma isn't awake yet. There's nothing for you to do outside. Why don't you sleep with us for a while? You look tired."
Xiang Wan was indeed tired. Recently, because Nian Nian had been sick, Grandma hadn't rested well, and naturally, she hadn't rested well either.
Coupled with working during the day and dealing with endless clients, she lived a life of exhaustion, both mentally and physically.
But Xiang Wan would not sleep with him.
Let alone that they were in a hospital, where people were coming and going, and everyone could see.
Even if no one could see, their current relationship was not appropriate.
Given their relationship, him saying this was simply idiotic.
Xiang Wan ignored him and turned to walk out of the ward.
Sitting in the hospital corridor, she took out her phone to check for any work-related matters, and Tang Haichao called.
He asked her which hospital her grandmother was in and said he wanted to visit.
"No need."
Because Lu Ming Zhe was present, Xiang Wan instinctively refused.
Tang Haichao said righteously, "No need for what? What kind of time is it to say that to me? What do you take me for?"
"Let alone being friends for so long, even if we were just ordinary colleagues, if you have difficulties, would I not go and see?"
"With an elderly person and a child, you wouldn't even tell me immediately if something happened. Do you think Tang Haichao is that unreliable?"
Xiang Wan knew that although his tone was harsh, every word he spoke was for her own good.
In the more than a year they had known each other, Tang Haichao was the one person who had helped her most sincerely.
"You're out of town, aren't you? Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to come back."
"Whether I can come back is my business, and whether you tell me is yours. I think you don't consider me a friend, you're always guarding against me like I'm a thief!"
Xiang Wan was rendered speechless by his retort and could only tell him the hospital address and room number.
Tang Haichao happened to be passing by the vicinity and soon arrived. They met in the corridor.