Susu smiled and patted Little Star’s head, saying, “Silly child, of course I’ll like you. The baby in Mommy’s tummy will be your younger brother or sister, and your closest relative. His arrival isn’t to compete for Mommy and Daddy, but because one day when Mommy and Daddy are no longer here, you’ll still have a younger brother or sister to accompany you.”
Little Star asked, as if understanding but not quite, “If I have one more sister, I’ll have one more relative to accompany me, right?”
Susu nodded and said, “So you don’t have to worry that Mommy and Daddy won’t love you anymore. When Mommy gives birth to the baby, there will be one more person in this world who loves you.”
“Then I’ll love my sister too.” Little Star became happy again and bounced along with her to the main entrance.
…
As soon as they arrived at the mall, they first took Little Star to the children’s play area, letting him play with the other children on his own.
Qin Tianyi directly pulled Susu into the adjacent maternity and infant store, saying he wanted to personally pick out some clothes and supplies for their unborn child.
Susu smiled at him, saying, “The baby is so small, it’s too early to buy these now. Let’s go buy New Year’s goods instead.”
Qin Tianyi held her, not letting her leave, “Time flies, and after the New Year, I’ll be busy. I might not have time to pick out clothes for the baby, so just humor me and take a look.”
Susu smiled so widely her mouth couldn’t close, and she linked her arm through his, saying, “As you command, Mr. Qin.”
The sales assistant followed them and asked, “What age group of children’s clothes are you looking for? We have children’s wear for all age stages.”
Qin Tianyi scanned around and said, “Do you have clothes for newborns?”
“Yes, this way, please.” The sales assistant led them to the infant supplies section and laid out some small baby clothes in front of Qin Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi reached out and touched the soft, comfortable little clothes, a smile on his lips as he said, “Baby clothes are so cute! Bag up all the pink ones for me.”
The sales assistant immediately nodded, saying, “Certainly, certainly.”
“Wait,” Susu stopped him, “We don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl yet. Why are you buying all pink? Don’t you have other colors?”
Qin Tianyi smiled and decisively declared, “Little Star already said it’s a girl, so it must be a girl this time. Let’s buy according to that.”
Susu pouted, displeased, saying, “You can’t be like this! What if it’s a boy? It would be so strange for him to wear all pink.”
The sales assistant suggested from the side, “Then you could buy a few sets for boys. Perhaps it’s twins, a boy and a girl?”
“Yes, let’s hope so. Bag up the boy’s clothes too.” Qin Tianyi was so happy he almost wanted to buy all the baby clothes.
However, at Susu’s insistence, they only bought two sets of boy’s clothes, and Qin Tianyi bought all the pink girl’s clothes.
The sales assistant took their address and said they would send someone to deliver them directly to their home.
They strolled around the mall for a while longer, buying all the New Year’s goods they needed. Susu also picked out several gifts, planning to give them out during the Spring Festival.
Whatever she wanted to buy, Qin Tianyi paid for it. He didn’t ask too many questions about who the gifts were for; as long as she was happy and liked them, that was enough.
They waited until Little Star had his fill of playing in the children’s play area, and then they looked for a place to eat in the mall together.
Before the New Year, the mall was crowded everywhere. It was truly difficult to find a quiet restaurant to eat. Qin Tianyi held their hands and said, “We’ve bought everything we need anyway. Why don’t we go to a high-end restaurant? I’ll make a reservation first.”
Little Star, however, broke free from Qin Tianyi’s hand and ran to the floor-to-ceiling window of a very popular children’s restaurant, looking inside and saying, “Daddy, I just want the pirate ship set meal from this place!”
Qin Tianyi saw the long queue at the entrance of the restaurant and felt a headache coming on. He said, “Be good, how about we come to this restaurant next time? Let’s go eat somewhere else today.”
“But I just like their pirate ship set meal.” Little Star pouted, on the verge of tears.
Susu smiled and looked at Qin Tianyi, saying, “Then let’s queue. I’m not that hungry anyway. We rarely get to accompany Little Star out for a meal, so let’s indulge him.”
Qin Tianyi smiled helplessly, feeling like he was becoming a slave to his wife and child. He took a number tag at the restaurant entrance and, like the ordinary families with children, grabbed one of the chairs provided by the restaurant and sat down to wait.
Susu secretly tugged at his clothes and smiled, saying, “Are you alright? How about you go to a quiet place for a while? Little Star and I will queue here.”
“It’s fine, it’s just waiting, I can do it.” Qin Tianyi put on a nonchalant expression.
Susu knew he had never queued like this before and was worried he wouldn’t adapt. Seeing him so calm, she got up and said, “If you’re okay, I’ll go to the restroom. You watch Little Star.”
As she left, she deliberately placed her bag on the chair to reserve their spot, reminding Tianyi not to let anyone take her chair.
But as soon as she walked away, a family behind them, who had no chairs left, immediately let their child sit on Susu’s chair.
Qin Tianyi, unaccustomed to this scene, quickly picked up Susu’s bag and said, “This chair is taken, she just went to the restroom…”
“Handsome, isn’t it empty now? You can’t stop people from sitting for a bit.” The aunt with the child directly picked up her child and sat down, holding the child on her lap.
Qin Tianyi thought this person was utterly uncivilized and wanted her to get up. However, this aunt not only didn’t get up, but she directly kicked off her shoes, glanced at Qin Tianyi, and complained, “Oh, there are so many people in the mall today, I’m so tired. My feet hurt from standing.”
“Unreasonable.” Qin Tianyi, protecting Little Star, stared coldly at the aunt.
But his glare was useless against the aunt. She continued to sit there, rubbing her feet, as if he didn’t exist.
Susu walked a distance away and looked back at this scene. She shook her head with a smile, thinking it was fortunate that Qin Tianyi could humble himself to wait with their child for a table.
Near the restroom at the corner, she discovered a very quiet Western restaurant. It was peak dining time, yet there were hardly any people inside.
Susu curiously glanced at the menu board at the entrance. No wonder it had no customers; the Western dishes were frighteningly expensive, clearly not aimed at ordinary citizens.
As she walked past a glass wall of the Western restaurant, she suddenly saw a familiar figure sitting in a corner seat inside, but it was only a fleeting glimpse.
After using the restroom, she cautiously returned to the outside of the Western restaurant’s glass wall and secretly confirmed again. The person sitting in the corner was indeed Jia Nanfang, along with a white-haired man of similar age to Jia Nanfang.
Jia Nanfang seemed to be saying something to the white-haired man, her expression appearing very sad. The man was likely comforting her.
Fearing that Jia Nanfang might spot her, Susu quickly took a different route back to the children’s restaurant.
After their family of three returned from the mall, Susu kept wondering who the man with Jia Nanfang was.
Was he Jia Nanfang’s acquaintance, friend, or relative…
But given Jia Nanfang’s status, why would she be meeting someone at a Western restaurant in a large mall? Perhaps she ran into an acquaintance while shopping and they decided to have a meal together?