After a productive day at the company, Tianyi picked up Susu from her studio after work, and they returned home before dinner.
In the dining room, Sophie and Xiaomei were busy arranging the dishes from the kitchen. Upon seeing them, Xiaomei said, "Young Master, Young Madam, you're back so early today. Dinner will be ready very soon."
Susu replied with a pleasant sound, and Tianyi, holding her hand, didn't rush to eat. He pulled her along to the nursery, where the nanny was playing with the two little ones.
"Thank you for your hard work. Please go to the kitchen and eat," Tianyi said to the nanny. He then picked up Tiantian, feeling as if the day's fatigue had vanished.
The nanny withdrew from the nursery, and Susu also picked up Hengheng. Pointing at Tianyi, she said to Hengheng, "Look how biased your father is. He only has eyes for his sister."
Tianyi, holding Tiantian, walked closer to them, stretched his neck, and kissed Hengheng. He glared at Susu and said, "Who says I'm biased? I'm afraid Tiantian will cry if I don't hold her. Crying too much is bad for a child's health."
"Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Qin, you make a valid point," Susu said, kissing Tiantian as well. She then smiled and asked, "Have you finished writing a hundred 'smile' characters on that 'no-cry' charm? Bring it back quickly so our little Tiantian can be all smiles every day."
"Almost, just a few more to go."
As soon as they finished speaking, Hengheng giggled and smiled at Susu.
Just as Susu was about to praise Hengheng for his adorable smile, Tiantian, held by Tianyi, saw her brother laughing and started to cry loudly.
Tianyi immediately held her up and rocked her back and forth to soothe her, but her cries showed no sign of stopping.
"At dinner time, could she be crying because she's hungry?" Susu guessed.
"Yes, she probably is," Tianyi said, turning to leave with Tiantian. "Let's go to the dining room and feed our little princess first."
Susu watched his doting fatherly demeanor and kept smiling as she followed him.
Back in the dining room, Sophie was holding Xiao Xingxing and happily looking at the table full of dishes, saying to Xiao Xingxing, "What do you want to eat? I'll serve it for you."
Xiao Xingxing politely replied, "Aunt Sophie, it's okay. I can do it myself."
"Such a good boy," Sophie said, letting Xiao Xingxing take his seat.
At this moment, Xiao Xingxing saw his parents arriving with his younger siblings and immediately ran to them, acting like a big brother. He asked, "Dad, why is Tiantian crying again? Did she wet her pants?"
The adults around them all chuckled. Tianyi, holding Tiantian in one arm and stroking Xiao Xingxing's head with the other, said, "Sister didn't wet her pants; she's hungry. You go eat first; we need to feed the younger ones."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Ma brought out two bowls of blended baby food from the kitchen, saying, "Young Master, Young Madam, please eat. The nanny and I will feed the children."
Tianyi sat down, still holding Tiantian, and said, "No need. You both rest and eat first; I'll feed her."
Chen Ma smiled and said nothing, pulling the nanny back into the kitchen.
Susu took another bowl of baby food and prepared to feed Hengheng herself. She said to Sophie, "You and Xiao Xingxing eat first; don't mind us."
Sophie nodded and first attended to Xiao Xingxing's meal.
She didn't start eating herself, watching Susu and Qin Tianyi each feeding a child, and felt envious.
She couldn't help but look at Qin Tianyi a few more times. She had always thought Qin Tianyi was a cold, serious man who rarely smiled, but she hadn't expected him to be like a different person at home, treating his children and wife exceptionally well.
Seeing him, she felt a flicker of something for men again. She recalled that when her mother had slapped her, Qin Tianyi had