The sky was clear and the air was fresh, with a gentle breeze blowing.
Everything was ready. Today, Ling Yuchen and Gong Zhijing were taking Ling Leyou back to Linglu Mountain.
Ling Laofuren, having slept, had forgotten many things again. She asked many questions, but Ling Laoyezi patiently answered them all.
Upon seeing Ling Leyou, she was as delighted as the first time she had met her, unaware that she had forgotten several times already.
This breakfast was the most difficult meal Gong Zhijing had ever had since joining the Ling family.
She even wondered if she should just stay with her child.
But that would be unfair to Ling Leyou. Every stage of a child's growth was unique.
A father could not be absent from his daughter's upbringing, nor should a daughter's growth be without a father's participation.
In the end, they left.
The journey was long, and parting was sad, but as they moved further away, the sadness gradually faded.
Ling Leyou was very well-behaved throughout the journey, sleeping soundly after drinking her milk, or just looking around curiously with her eyes open, never crying.
The car drove into Linglu Mountain, entered the estate, and stopped in front of the grand villa.
Although they hadn't returned for a long time, the flowers and trees in the yard were still well-tended.
Ouma and Qiao Xinyue had returned the day before. As soon as the car stopped, they came out from the villa.
A large group of nannies, caregivers, and servants surrounded them, some carrying luggage, others holding the baby.
They had spent the morning on the road, and it was already noon when they arrived home.
Ouma was as warm and busy as ever.
"Young Master and Young Madam have had a tiring journey. I have prepared lunch. Please rest in the living room for a while, and then you can eat."
"Thank you, Ouma."
Gong Zhijing just wanted to collapse on the sofa and not move an inch. She wasn't hungry, just tired from the car ride.
"You're welcome, you're welcome. It's my duty," Ouma said humbly, as always.
Ling Leyou waved her arms in her stroller, and Qiao Xinyue was playfully teasing her with eyes full of affection.
"Hi there, Leyou, baby Leyou, ooh... ooh!"
Ling Leyou didn't react much; she was too young then to understand that the person in front of her was trying to amuse her.
But Qiao Xinyue was endlessly delighted, loving to tease her, and really wanting to hold her, but she didn't dare.
While Ling Yuchen went upstairs, she quietly asked Gong Zhijing, "Can I hold her?"
Gong Zhijing nodded and smiled, "Of course, it's fine."
But Qiao Xinyue had never held a baby, so she was a bit lost.
She carefully reached out her hands towards Ling Leyou, placing them under her armpits, wanting to lift her up.
At that moment, a very cold voice suddenly sounded from the second floor.
"Wait."
Qiao Xinyue was startled and quickly withdrew her hands. She looked towards the sound and saw Ling Yuchen looking at her with a cold expression, quickly descending the stairs.
She was so scared she froze on the spot, unsure how to react, terrified.
Gong Zhijing frowned deeply. She was about to say, "Ling Yuchen, aren't you being a bit overly dramatic? She just wants to hold your daughter."
From her angle, she couldn't see how Qiao Xinyue was holding the baby.
She only heard Ling Yuchen say as he walked, "Babies under three months have very fragile necks. When holding them, you must support their neck with your hand, otherwise, it's very dangerous.
And you can only hold them horizontally, not vertically, because their spine hasn't developed well yet..."
As he spoke, he demonstrated, picked up Ling Leyou, and then carefully placed her back into the stroller.
Qiao Xinyue just watched blankly the entire time, but she listened carefully to Ling Yuchen's words. Cold sweat broke out on her back.
She realized how fragile newborn babies were, and how fortunate it was that she hadn't lifted her up just now.
Gong Zhijing finally understood that she had misunderstood Ling Yuchen. It was her own lack of consideration that she hadn't thought about Qiao Xinyue's inexperience with holding infants.
By this time, Qiao Xinyue had given up on holding Ling Leyou, but Ling Yuchen was looking at her with a stern expression.
It seemed he was asking: Did you remember? Did you learn?
Qiao Xinyue took a step back and said cautiously, "I understand. I'll be careful next time."
Ling Yuchen finally relented. He glanced at his daughter playing happily in the stroller, and his expression immediately softened.
However, he quickly went to attend to other matters.
As soon as he left, Qiao Xinyue felt the oppressive atmosphere dissipate.
"Although Young Master seems intimidating, I must admit, he is truly a responsible and good father."
This was undeniable. Gong Zhijing smiled and said, "From the time Leyou was born until now, I haven't changed a single diaper or changed her clothes. Your Young Master has personally done it all, can you believe it?"
Qiao Xinyue's eyes widened. Naturally, she didn't believe it.
How could a grown man do such things? Ling Leyou was so tiny; she wouldn't dare touch her.
Gong Zhijing's lips curved upwards as she teased, "You like daughters so much, why don't you and Wen Yan have one in the future? She'll surely be beautiful!"
Just then, Ouma came in with fruit, and she asked curiously, "Who is Wen Yan?"
The name sounded a bit familiar, but she couldn't recall who it was for a moment.
Gong Zhijing immediately looked at Qiao Xinyue, her eyes full of inquiry.
It had been so long since she had gone to the Wen family. Had she still not told Ouma about Wen Yan's existence?
Qiao Xinyue avoided Gong Zhijing's gaze, not daring to look at her, and even more so, not daring to look at Ouma.
She wanted to tell her, but she never found the opportunity, and didn't know how to say it.
She kept procrastinating, thinking she'd wait until she graduated from university.
Ouma put down the fruit platter and asked, "Xinyue, have you found a boyfriend?"
In fact, she hadn't been unaware. How could she not know her own daughter?
Lately, she'd been smiling foolishly at her phone every day, taking it with her to the restroom, to the bath, and even making calls late at night.
The signs were too obvious. She just hadn't mentioned it, thinking that her daughter was almost graduating from university and was an adult.
Gong Zhijing pressed her forehead, secretly annoyed at her own slip of the tongue. She really was becoming foolish after childbirth.
Qiao Xinyue didn't blame her. Since her mother asked, she would just tell her directly.
"Yes, I have." She didn't feel anything else, except that it was a bit awkward to say this to her mother.
Ouma didn't react much, just nodded and said, "That's good. Bring him back to see me when you have time."
At that moment, Qiao Xinyue suddenly felt like she had grown up.
Her mother wouldn't interfere with her dating anymore. She could be open about it from now on.
Ouma turned and went into the kitchen.
Gong Zhijing apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you hadn't told Ouma yet."
"It's okay."
Saying it out loud was actually a relief. Qiao Xinyue smiled, "Even if you hadn't said it, I was planning to tell my mom."
Gong Zhijing let out a sigh of relief, her guilt lessening considerably.
"Then when you have time, bring Wen Yan back for a meal. We'll invite Xuanyuan too."
"Okay, I will."
Qiao Xinyue agreed, her gaze falling back on Ling Leyou.