MQSP - Chapter 97
Chapter 97
"Alright, the story's finished." Baiye closed the book and glanced at Lin Yuqing. That old fellow looked like she wasn't quite satisfied and was even a little resentful.
"What, you don't want to hear it again, do you?" Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry, though she, too, was always reluctant when they reached the end.
"Is it finished?" Before Lin Yuqing could speak, little An An in her arms suddenly opened her eyes, looking excited.
"Hm? Weren't you asleep?" Baiye smiled and stroked the little one's head.
The little girl giggled, climbed off Lin Yuqing, and scampered out of the room on her two little legs.
"Hm? Where is that little thing off to?"
Just as Baiye was wondering, the little girl ran back in, struggling slightly to carry a picture book half as tall as she was. Huffing and puffing, she placed the book on Baiye's lap. "Grandma's story is over, now it's time for mine!" she declared, blinking her big, beautiful eyes as she looked at Baiye with pure anticipation.
Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you a story." As she spoke, she lifted the little bundle onto her lap and held her close. Just as she was about to start, she felt an intense gaze from the side. She turned her head and, well, there was the old fellow, her face a mixture of resentment and envy. Baiye sighed helplessly and placed An An on Lin Yuqing's lap. Only then did the latter break into a smile.
"An An, are you bothering Grandma again?" A very pleasant voice came from the doorway. They all turned to see a head peeking in from the entrance.
"Mama!" An An excitedly held out her arms, asking for a hug.
Lin Baiyin entered the room. "Mom," she said, first greeting the two elders before stroking her daughter's little head. "Be good, let Grandma hold you." She wouldn't dare try to take the child from Lin Yuqing. That old fellow not only had a short temper, but she'd disown her own family at the slightest disagreement. She was not to be provoked.
"My daughter's back." Lin Yuqing instantly beamed. She lifted a hand, and Baiyin immediately took it, crouching by her leg. "Mom, you're looking well. You're recognizing people, too."
"Mhm." Lin Yuqing's eyes were glued to Baiyin. Her daughter looked so much like Xiao Ye, ever since she was little. She was practically a miniature version of Xiao Ye—thoughtful, well-behaved, yet also a bit mischievous and playful. Lin Yuqing absolutely treasured her, doting on her endlessly.
"Listening to stories again?"
"Yes, every day, and she never gets tired of it." Baiye reached out and stroked her daughter's pretty face. Even though her child was now a mother herself, in her eyes, she would always be the little girl who never grew up.
"Didn't Xiao Sang come back with you?" Baiye glanced outside.
"She's back. She's afraid of upsetting Mom again, so she didn't dare come inside."
Baiye chuckled softly at her words, recalling the last time the two had returned. Lin Yuqing had only recognized her daughter, not her daughter-in-law. Not only had she chased the poor girl out, but she'd nearly worked herself into a fit, muttering things about someone daring to covet her daughter. She had been truly furious.
"You stay here with her. I'll go see." Baiye stood up, gave a quiet instruction, and left the room. Opening the main door, she immediately saw the girl standing in the courtyard, wearing a light gray turtleneck sweater. She stood tall and straight, a bit on the thin side, with her shiny black hair tied in a ponytail.
"Xiao Sang."
"Present! Mom." Hearing her name, Chi Sang turned. Seeing Baiye, she reflexively straightened up, almost raising her hand in a salute before stopping herself. Instead, she bowed respectfully to her in greeting.
Baiye smiled. Chi Sang had a very heroic air about her; she'd even been a soldier, a female special forces operative. Her physical and mental fortitude were top-notch. She was modest and a bit stoic, but honest and kind to others. Her daughter had really found a treasure in her. But Lin Yuqing clearly didn't think so. Ever since Chi Sang appeared, that old fellow had never given her a pleasant look, treating her like a class enemy and even trying to recruit Baiye to resist her.
She beckoned. "Alright, at home, just relax a little. Come on in."
"Yes, ma'am." Chi Sang started to move, then paused. "I'd better not go in. I don't want to upset Mom again."
"She's doing fine now. She's recognizing people. It's okay." Baiye walked over, took Chi Sang by the arm, and pulled her into the house.
"Really? That's good." Chi Sang managed a slight, stiff smile.
She wasn't one to smile much. Strange, wasn't it, that someone wouldn't know how to smile? It was related to her upbringing; she grew up in a military family. From her grandfather to her parents, to her aunts and uncles, they were all serious people. Her reluctance to smile was one of the main reasons Lin Yuqing had objected to her relationship with her daughter, saying things like, "Being with a stone-faced person all day would make one feel depressed, ruin their mood, and they'd never be happy."
Later, in order to win over Lin Baiyin, she had seriously practiced various smiles—gentle smiles, big laughs, even mischievous grins—in an attempt to win her mother-in-law's favor.
"This is your home, don't be so formal." Baiye had Chi Sang sit on the sofa and went to the kitchen to get some fruit. When she returned, she saw her sitting bolt upright, perfectly proper, and quickly spoke up.
"Okay. Please, don't trouble yourself." Chi Sang quickly stood to take the fruit platter.
"Come on, let's go in together."
"I still think…"
"Let's go."
"Lover Lin, look who's here," Baiye called out with a smile. This was a new form of address they had come up with while reading the storybook just now.
"Hm?" Lin Yuqing turned at the sound. She glanced at Chi Sang behind Baiye, her face instantly filled with disdain.
"Who are you?" she asked coldly.
Chi Sang's heart skipped a beat. She snapped to attention. "Report!"
There was a moment of silence.
"I am your daughter's suitor! My name is Chi Sang! If you don't want to see me, I'll leave right now. Please, don't be angry!"
"Pfft…" Lin Baiyin burst out laughing. Can't this dummy see that Mom is just teasing her? How can she be so silly!
"Alright, Mom's just teasing you, you silly thing."
"Silly thing!" Little An An mimicked what she heard, giggling at her own mother.
"An An." Chi Sang's expression turned stern as she glanced at her. This bad habit of being impolite couldn't be indulged.
"Hmm?" Lin Yuqing responded, looking fixedly at her.
Chi Sang obediently shut her mouth and said no more.
"Alright, for our daughter's sake, stop being so stern. Didn't you privately praise Xiao Sang for being so caring?"
"I never said that." Lin Yuqing turned her head away, refusing to admit it.
"Fine, fine, I said it. I said it, okay? Yin Yin, you talk with her for a bit. I'm going to make dinner."
"I'll help you." Chi Sang quickly followed Baiye, eager to leave. She was terrified of Lin Yuqing's gaze, which was like she was guarding against a predator.
That evening, in the bedroom, Baiye helped Lin Yuqing change into her pajamas and settled her onto the bed.
"You know, when she's not here, you miss her. But when she is here, you don't even give her a pleasant look. Don't you usually admire Xiao Sang?"
"I have to keep her on her toes, don't I? Unlike you, always praising her to the heavens. What if she stops being good to our daughter?"
Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So that was the reason. "Hey, that's her lover. How could she not be good to her? Oh, you."
Lin Yuqing pouted and said nothing more.
"Alright, it's getting late. Time to rest?"
"Mmm…" Lin Yuqing sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the storybook lying quietly on the nightstand.
"What, you want to hear it again? We've already read it once today. If you want to hear it, I'll read it to you again tomorrow."
"Mhm!" She nodded, then happily got into bed to sleep.
Baiye lay on her side, propping her head on her arm, quietly watching Lin Yuqing's sleeping face. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard a very soft knock on the door. She quickly got up, tiptoed to the door, and opened it a crack.
"Grandma~"
"Hm? An An, why are you still awake?" Baiye knelt and hugged the little girl.
"I don't want to sleep alone…" The little one's pout was so pronounced her lip stuck way out.
"Hm? Where's Mama? Isn't she sleeping with you?"
"Mama said she had things to do today and wouldn't let me sleep with them. She even locked the door, I couldn't push it open," she said, looking utterly dejected.
"Ah?" Baiye paused for a moment, glancing toward their bedroom. What were those two up to?
Just as she reached their bedroom door, before she could even knock, she heard laughter from inside, along with some strange sounds. Baiye's face immediately flushed red. She quickly covered little An An's ears, picked her up, and returned to her own bedroom.
"What's wrong? What are they doing?" Lin Yuqing turned her head to look, saw her wife's bright red face, and thought about what An An had just said. She understood instantly.
"Help me up! I'm going to break Chi Sang's damn legs!!"
Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She quickly shut the door. "Alright, now. Can you understand how Mother Xinran felt?"
"I…!" Lin Yuqing choked with indignation.
"Okay, okay, don't be angry, don't be angry." Baiye hurried over to pat her back and soothe her. "Alright, in your own words, it's a perfectly normal thing. Come on, don't be mad. An An is here. Isn't it nice to have the little one sleep with you?" As she spoke, she lifted An An and placed her in Lin Yuqing's arms.
Lin Yuqing was still huffing with anger, but looking at the little girl, she finally managed to calm down. "Outrageous, just outrageous! Tomorrow, I'm definitely going to…"
"Break Chi Sang's damn legs!" An An finished with a giggle, which made Lin Yuqing burst out laughing, her anger instantly vanishing.
"Hey, An An, you can't be impolite. If your mother hears you, be careful or you'll get a spanking."
"She wouldn't dare!" Lin Yuqing was very protective.
"Alright, alright, calm down. Let's sleep."
She helped Lin Yuqing lie down, and An An very naturally settled between them.
"Grandma, hugs!"
"Okay~" Lin Yuqing hugged her dotingly.
"Grandma, pat me~"
"Okay~" She raised her hand and patted her gently. "What else?"
"Want kisses!" An An puckered her little lips, leaned toward Lin Yuqing's face, and planted a smacking little kiss. Then she presented her own little cheek to Lin Yuqing's lips, waiting for a kiss in return.
Lin Yuqing's heart simply melted. She hugged the little bundle and kissed her again and again.
"You two, isn't anyone going to pay attention to me?" Baiye asked plaintively.
"Hee hee~"
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