MSFLC 11

Previously, the two children went to the Lu family far more often. Now, although the eldest grandson wasn’t around, there was a chubby little grandson instead.

Grandpa Song absolutely doted on him. He carried the little one around to show off to old friends, refusing to put him down even when his arms got tired.

Perhaps it was just that people reached an age where they loved drinking tea and playing chess.

Lu Zhishi sat on Grandpa Song’s lap, his big round eyes fixed unblinkingly on the chessboard. He clutched a black chess piece in his hand, itching to place it—just waiting for Grandpa to speak.

His tiny serious expression made Grandpa Zhao across the board laugh. He pointed at a spot on the board.
“Come on, listen to Grandpa Zhao. Put it here.”

Lu Zhishi glanced at him, then scooted closer into Grandpa Song’s arms.

That old man—he’s sneaky.

He’d watched Grandpa Lu play chess plenty of times and had picked up a bit of experience. If he placed it there, Grandpa Song would lose.

Grandpa Song patted his round little head, adjusted his hat, then pointed to a different spot.
“Don’t listen to Grandpa Zhao. Put it here.”

Stretching forward, Lu Zhishi placed the black piece and looked up at Grandpa Song.

Grandpa Song’s lips curved slightly. He rubbed the child’s back and praised him warmly.
“Our Zhishi is so smart.”

Lu Zhishi grinned, accepted another black piece, and continued waiting.

The sun gradually grew stronger, and once people got absorbed in chess, time slipped by easily. When Grandma Song called to say lunch was ready, the grandfather and grandson finally reacted.

“We lost track of time. We’re heading back now—give us fifteen minutes.”

After speaking, Grandpa Song held the phone up to Lu Zhishi.

Lu Zhishi: “?”

Lu Zhishi: “Hai-ya~”

On the other end, the voice instantly softened.
“Good baby, tell Grandpa not to rush. Watch the road, wear your hat properly. Grandma’s waiting at home for you to eat.”

“Ha-ang~”

After hanging up, Grandpa Song packed up their things, said goodbye to Grandpa Zhao, and hurried home with the child in his arms.

“Good thing we’ve got you, sweetheart. Otherwise Grandpa would’ve gotten scolded.”

He bounced the little one slightly, smiling as he spoke.

“Mm-ah~” Lu Zhishi patted his chest comfortingly.

Grandpa Song laughed helplessly and rubbed his little head.

Even while rushing home, Grandpa Song didn’t forget to pick flowers, taking a small detour to the flower garden in the villa area.

The flowers there could be picked freely; staff would replant them afterward.

Lu Zhishi looked around curiously at the wide variety of flowers. Grandpa Song walked confidently along the pebble path to a specific patch.

“Come take a look, sweetheart. Which sunflower is the prettiest?”

Lu Zhishi lowered his head seriously and soon spotted a big, strong sunflower. He reached out to touch it excitedly, telling Grandpa he wanted that one.
“Ye~ da~”

Grandpa Song praised him.
“Great taste. This sunflower is big and beautiful—Grandma will definitely like it.”

Lu Zhishi’s eyes curved happily as he looked up and smiled.

Grandpa Song bent down and picked a smaller one too, asking the gardener to bundle them together.

“The big sunflower is for Grandma. The little one is for our sweetheart.”

They arrived home right on time. Grandma Song pinched Grandpa Song’s arm lightly, then took the sunflower bouquet and the baby inside first.

Lu Zhishi looked at Grandma Song. Though she’d glared at Grandpa, the smile at the corner of her lips betrayed her happiness.

Looking back at Grandpa Song—despite getting pinched—he wore a look of indulgent affection.

Lu Zhishi nodded thoughtfully.

I should remember this. Might be useful someday.

The chubby baby nodded solemnly, no one knowing what he was thinking. Grandma Song took him to wash his hands and face.

His cheeks were flushed pink.

Turning her head, Grandma Song asked Grandpa Song, who was washing his hands nearby,
“Why is his face so red?”

Grandpa Song raised his brows and lifted both hands helplessly.
“I’m innocent. His face is always this red.”

Grandma Song looked doubtful. “Really?”

Grandpa Song nodded.

Lu Zhishi nodded too from her arms.
“Hai-ya~”

After lunch, Grandma Song applied baby cream, carefully changed him into clean, comfy pajamas, and gently rocked him to sleep.

With a child around, dinner was early.

Winter nights in the north came early too, so when there was nothing else to do, everyone went to bed early.

Lu Zhishi had already bathed in the afternoon. Now lying on the big bed, he hugged his feet and gnawed on them, occasionally wiggling his chubby body.

Strangely enough, even though he wasn’t truly a baby, he still felt the urge to chew his toes.

Holding his pudgy feet, he gummed them thoughtfully.

Maybe it’s my brain that wants to chew.

Grandma Song came out of the bathroom and saw him happily gnawing away. Confused, she went over, pulled his feet away, and gently lifted his chin to check his gums.

“Ah—”

Grandpa Song came in carrying two basins of hot water.
“What’s wrong?”

“I thought he might be teething—he keeps chewing his feet.”

Grandpa Song asked while setting the basins down,
“Nothing yet?”

“Not yet,” Grandma Song replied, lifting the baby into her arms to soak his feet. “No idea when his teeth will come in.”

Grandpa Song spoke gently.
“No rush. It’s normal for kids to teethe late. Qinian was late too.”

“True.”

Lu Zhishi listened closely. He wanted to hear more about his dad’s baby stories—but they stopped talking.

He looked up at them.

Feeling the intense gaze, Grandpa Song laughed.
“Don’t worry—we’ll soak your feet now.”

“Hai-ya~”

“Alright, alright. We’ll even give you a little foot massage later.”

Lu Zhishi blew a spit bubble.
“……”

Grandma Song quickly wiped it away and fetched a warm towel to clean his face.

Unable to help it, Lu Zhishi leaned into her arms and giggled.

Seeing him laugh, both grandparents smiled unconsciously.

A large basin was for Grandma Song, a small one for Lu Zhishi. Children’s skin was delicate—everything had to be separate.

Sitting in his tiny baby sofa, Lu Zhishi cautiously dipped his feet into the water—then let out a babyish howl.

Too hot! Grandpa! Grandma! Add water!!

The couple panicked, then burst out laughing. They’d thought something serious happened.

After adding cooler water, Lu Zhishi settled in comfortably, soaking his bun-like feet.

Grandpa Song kept his promise, washing and massaging the little feet.

Lu Zhishi couldn’t help giggling.

Good thing he was sitting in a baby sofa, otherwise, Grandma Song worried he’d wiggle himself right off.

Just as they finished drying his feet and put him on the bed, Lu Ting’an’s call came through.

Grandma Song smiled and brought the squirming baby over.
“Sweetheart, Daddy’s calling.”

Lu Zhishi hurriedly leaned toward the screen.

The video connected, revealing Lu Ting’an’s handsome, cool face—tired yet gentle.

Seeing the little round head, Lu Ting’an smiled softly.
“Chubby baby.”

Hearing his father’s voice, Lu Zhishi’s mouth trembled, tears instantly welling up.
“Pu-ah…”

He was trying to say Daddy, but couldn’t pronounce it properly.

Lu Ting’an understood. His lips pressed together, eyes filled with longing and heartache as his throat bobbed.

“Be good, baby. Daddy will be home for the New Year.”

The child didn’t understand, but the adults did.

Grandma Song soothed him gently.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Daddy will be back for the New Year—just a few more days.”

‘Grandma’s lying. There are still twenty days left.’

Lu Zhishi whimpered tearfully, wanting to talk to his dad more. He missed him.

Lu Ting’an coaxed him for a long time, talking until the crew called him for the next night shoot.

Reluctantly, he said goodbye and hung up.

The child clutched the phone and cried. Grandpa Song and Grandma Song hadn’t spoken earlier, leaving all the time to Lu Zhishi.

After the call ended, the little one drooped, lashes wet, no longer lively.

The grandparents held him and gently rocked him, walking around to soothe him.

Once he calmed down, he wasn’t as sad, resting against Grandpa Song’s shoulder with soft whimpers.

He hadn’t shown Daddy his sunflower yet.

Grandma Song signaled with her eyes. Grandpa Song turned and called Song Qinian.

The call took a moment to connect.

Song Qinian appeared, hair messy, towel in hand.
“Chubby baby, why are your eyes so red?”

Lu Zhishi grabbed Grandpa Song’s wrist and stuffed his chubby face into the screen.
“Pu-ah~”

“Is that little brother? Daddy, I wanna see too—”

Song Qinian wiped his face and moved the phone toward Lu Zhiyu.
“Your brother misses you. Talk to him—Daddy’s going to fetch water.”

Lu Zhishi saw his chubby older brother on screen and grinned.
“Heh~”

Lu Zhiyu swept the camera around.
“We’re in Dad’s room. He hasn’t gotten off work yet.”

“Da~”

“It’s really cold here. It’s snowing lightly,” Lu Zhiyu said. “Good thing you didn’t come—or you’d cry from the cold.”

Lu Zhishi wanted to argue that he wouldn’t cry—but couldn’t say it clearly, frowning in frustration.

Lu Zhiyu also chatted with Grandma and Grandpa about the set.

“The food here is really good. Uncle Xiaoxi even bought me milk cakes—sweet and sour.”

“We have to fetch hot water to bathe. The water heater isn’t hot enough.”

“Dad said the temple here is very effective. He and Uncle Xiaoxi prayed for safety charms—we’ll bring them back when we return.”

As Lu Zhiyu spoke excitedly, Lu Zhishi chimed in with soft babbles now and then. One big baby, one small baby—adorable together.

Grandpa Song and Grandma Song leaned against the headboard, holding the phone and supporting the chubby baby so he wouldn’t get tired.

Listening quietly to the two baby voices, both smiled warmly.

Behind the camera, Song Qinian bustled about, fetching water, wiping faces, and laying carpets in Lu Ting’an’s room.

The two kids chatted for nearly two hours. Grandma Song checked the time—it was late.

Lu Zhishi’s eyes drooped, and Lu Zhiyu lay on the bed, phone still in hand, half-asleep.

They gently coaxed them to hang up and said they’d talk again tomorrow.

Lu Zhishi hugged his big chubby rabbit plush, curled up under the blanket, and drifted off to sleep.

Grandpa Song patted his back through the blanket until he slept deeply, then whispered to his wife, “I thought he’d cry.”

Grandma Song smiled softly, watching the little belly rise and fall.
“He talked himself sleepy. If he weren’t tired, he probably would’ve cried.”

Grandpa Song thought about it—and laughed.

The next morning was gloomy and cold. Temperatures had dropped sharply overnight.

Since it was cold outside, the grandparents didn’t let him go out, keeping him in the living room instead. Thick carpets covered the floor, the heating was strong, and he wouldn’t get cold.

After breakfast, Lu Zhishi crawled over to the floor-to-ceiling window and pressed his face against the glass, squishing it into a little flat pancake.