MSFLC 13

After much effort, they finally coaxed the overly energetic little one to sleep, only for him to wake up again not long after.

He didn’t cry or fuss. Instead, he lay quietly under the blanket, playing with his fingers on his own, waiting for Grandpa and Grandma to wake from their nap.

In the afternoon, Grandpa Song had ingredients delivered and went into the kitchen with Grandma Song. In between, he even called the Lu couple to ask if they wanted to come over for dinner.

The snow had grown heavier in the afternoon, so Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu didn’t come. They only video-called to take a look at their grandson.

Lu Zhishi sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing outside. When Song Qinian came back, the headlights would light up.

“Sweetheart, are you hungry? Have a little something first. Daddy won’t be here for a while,” Grandma Song said gently.

Kids got hungry easily in the afternoon. Worried he might starve, she cooked pumpkin porridge and had Grandpa Song feed him some.

Lu Zhishi touched his belly. He didn’t have much appetite, but he was hungry.

“Ah-woo…”
Distracted, he took one spoonful at a time, turning his head to look out the window. No headlights. He turned back again.

By the time night fully fell, the sound of a car finally came from outside. Two beams of headlights shone into the house. Lu Zhishi immediately braced himself against Grandpa Song’s arm and tried to climb up.

It was cold outside, so Grandpa Song didn’t take him out. He wrapped him in a thick blanket and stood by the doorway to wait.

Lu Zhiyu was carried out of the car, clutching a big bag as he rushed over, cheeks flushed red with excitement.
“Little brother! Grandpa!”

“Ge!”

Lu Zhishi excitedly stuck his hands out of the blanket and waved his chubby little hands.
“Ge-ya~”

After going inside and taking off their snow-dusted coats, Lu Zhiyu hugged his soft little brother and kissed him.
“Did you miss your brother?”

“Ang~”
Lu Zhishi wrapped his arms around Lu Zhiyu’s neck and giggled. He missed his brother too.

Lu Zhiyu carried him into the living room and opened the big bag.
“This is the teddy bear Dad got you, and the little hat Uncle Xiaoxi knitted.”

Leaning in his brother’s arms, Lu Zhishi hugged a teddy bear bigger than himself, wore the knitted hat on his head, and babbled happily, his bright eyes sparkling. He was lively again, just like before.

Song Qinian came in last, arms full of bags, snowflakes still clinging to his hair.

Lu Zhishi stared intently at the snow in his hair, patted Lu Zhiyu’s arm, then pointed at Song Qinian.

Song Qinian noticed and smiled.

He quickly took off his cold coat, brushed the snow from his hair, and reached out to hold his baby, kissing his cheek.

Lu Zhishi tilted his head back and stretched his short, chubby arms, trying hard to touch his dad’s hair.

“What is it? Is Daddy’s hair dirty?” Song Qinian teased.

“Ang-ya~”
Lu Zhishi looked down at the snowflake on his finger, pinched it—it cracked crisply.

It was a beautiful four-pointed snowflake. But the house was too warm. Half of it had already melted.

Lu Zhiyu leaned in to look. “Little brother’s looking for snow.”

Song Qinian patted his hair. When the snowflake fully melted, he wiped the icy water from Lu Zhishi’s fingers with a tissue.

Rubbing his little head, he soothed him.
“You can play with snow when you grow up.”

Then he bent down and picked up his other treasure too, carrying both kids into the living room.
“When you’re as big as your brother, you can play with snow.”

He added, “Your brother only got to play with snow when he was four. You should learn from him.”

Lu Zhishi half-understood. Daddy knew more than him—maybe kids really did need to be four or five before playing in snow.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Lu Zhiyu on the other side nervously rubbing his nose.

Song Qinian stopped walking and looked down.

Big eyes met small eyes.

Lu Zhiyu: “…Dad.”

Song Qinian: “…You little brat.”

Dinner was lavish. Grandpa Song and Grandma were both excellent cooks. After everyone ate their fill, the snow outside had lightened a bit, so they packed up and prepared to head home.

Lu Zhishi waved at Grandpa and Grandma, eyes bright.
“Beh-ya~”

The grandparents laughed, tucked his hands back into the blanket, and hugged their eldest grandson.
“Come again next time. Grandpa and Grandma will cook you something delicious.”

“Okay~”
Lu Zhiyu held Song Qinian’s hand and waved goodbye.
“Bye Grandpa, bye Grandma. Good night~”

It was cold outside, so Song Qinian didn’t let the elderly couple come out. He took the kids into the car and headed home.

The snow had lightened but hadn’t stopped. As soon as they stepped outside, snowflakes landed on their hair and faces. Lu Zhishi tilted his head up and opened his mouth.

Song Qinian: “……”

He gently closed the baby’s mouth by hand and scolded softly,
“No eating snow.”

Lu Zhishi moved his lips, looked at his dad, blinked his big eyes, then tilted his head and rubbed against Song Qinian’s face.
“Pu-ya~”

Song Qinian tapped his round head and hurried Lu Zhiyu into the car, afraid the little brat would try eating snow again.

‘I should’ve parked in the garage. Why did I have to park in the yard…’

On the drive back, Lu Zhiyu laughed nonstop.
“I’ll buy you ice cream when we get home. Snow tastes bad. Ice cream tastes good.”

Lu Zhishi grinned.
“Ang-ya~”

From the driver’s seat, Song Qinian said calmly without turning around,
“You both itching for a beating?”

Lu Zhiyu immediately covered his mouth—and covered Lu Zhishi’s mouth too.

“And you, Lu Zhiyu,” Song Qinian added, “you have eaten snow before, haven’t you? When we get home, go face the wall and reflect.”

“Injustice, Dad!” Lu Zhiyu protested.

Lu Zhishi thought his brother would deny it.
Instead, Lu Zhiyu said, “The snow jumped into my mouth by itself.”

Song Qinian laughed angrily.
“If you didn’t open your mouth, how would snow fly in?”

Lu Zhiyu sulked and went quiet.

When they got home, Song Qinian sent both of them to the corner to face the wall.

“Both of you. Reflection time.”

Lu Zhishi sat in his baby chair, facing a white wall. His brother was beside him.

He couldn’t help laughing.
“Ha~”

Lu Zhiyu smiled too.
“Before, I always faced the wall alone. Now I have you with me.”

Lu Zhishi tugged his brother’s hand and looked up at him.
“Hi-ya~”

It was true for him too—this was the first time he had a brother to do so many things together.

They weren’t made to reflect for long. After packing up, Song Qinian took them upstairs for baths.

“Sleep early. Snowy days are perfect for sleeping.”

He efficiently washed their hair, bathed them, blow-dried them, and bundled both kids into bed.

Lu Zhiyu poked his head out of the blanket, messy curls sticking up.
“Dad, we didn’t call Little Dad tonight.”

Song Qinian, about to head into the bathroom, replied,
“Little Dad said we just got back today. He wants us to rest well and sleep early.”

Lu Zhiyu slumped back into the blanket.
“Okay… we’ll call tomorrow.”

Lu Zhishi sighed like a tiny adult.

Song Qinian tucked them in and kissed their foreheads.
“Sleep. Good night.”

“Good night, Dad.”
“Ang-da~” Good night~

Cold wind howled outside, light snow drifting down.
A peaceful night of dreams.

***

The past couple of days at Grandpa and Grandma’s, Lu Zhishi hadn’t seen Chi Chen.

Now Chi Chen came over with homework. Lu Zhishi’s eyes lit up as he waved both chubby hands wildly.

“Hai-ya~~”

A day apart felt like three years—he missed you so much, Brother Xiao Chen!!

In contrast, Lu Zhiyu beside him forced a smile.
“You didn’t have to bring homework…”

Chi Chen set the homework down, bent over to pick up the happily babbling chubby baby from the carpet, and said calmly to Lu Zhiyu,
“Uncle Song said you didn’t finish your homework. I’m here to supervise.”

Lu Zhiyu looked miserable.

Chi Chen was expressionless.

Lu Zhishi beamed with joy.

Lu Zhishi nestled in Chi Chen’s arms reading together, while Lu Zhiyu did homework nearby.

Song Qinian had started his annual leave and was also in the living room reading documents.

One adult, three kids—each busy with their own thing.

Peaceful… except for Lu Zhiyu.

After finishing an entire workbook before lunch, Lu Zhiyu finally relaxed.
“I finally finished one book.”

He turned to Chi Chen.
“How many have you finished?”

Chi Chen flipped a page in Lu Zhishi’s picture puzzle book and replied calmly,
“All of them.”

Lu Zhiyu felt instantly crushed.

After lunch, Lu Zhiyu moved all his homework into the study, determined to finish everything before the day after tomorrow and enjoy the New Year happily.

Chi Chen was already used to this. After telling him “good luck,” he turned and carried Lu Zhishi back to his room for a nap.

“You’re sleeping with Brother Xiao Chen today.”

“Ya-mm~”

Chi Chen took out the small blanket and big chubby rabbit, patted his back like an adult, and said gently,
“Sleep.”

Lu Zhishi scooted closer, grabbed the corner of Chi Chen’s clothes, hugged the rabbit, and closed his eyes.

Chi Chen didn’t sleep yet. He quietly watched the baby’s chubby cheeks and gently touched them.

Then he glanced at the stuffed toy in Lu Zhishi’s arms, measuring with his eyes.

Kids grew fast. By late spring next year, he’d make an even bigger one for Lu Zhishi to sleep with.

***

For several days, Chi Chen kept coming over, and Lu Zhiyu’s homework was almost finished.

New Year’s was approaching.

Lu Ting’an was busy filming and would only be back on New Year’s Eve.

Bai Yansheng was also busy—busier the closer it got to Spring Festival. He hadn’t been home in days, staying at the hospital.

Normally, New Year supplies could just be ordered online. But the snow kept falling nonstop. Chi Yueheng invited Song Qinian to go grocery shopping together in a couple of days—buy New Year goods and let the kids get some fresh air.

Song Qinian hesitated at first. It was too cold, and Lu Zhishi was still small.

But when he looked down and met the baby’s eager eyes, his heart softened.

They’d been cooped up at home for days. The little one hadn’t cried or fussed, staying obedient and quiet. Song Qinian wanted to take him out too.

When Lu Zhishi heard Song Qinian agree, his eyes lit up.
Buying New Year goods! Buying snacks!

Even if he couldn’t eat them, just looking was enough. And supermarkets were lively during the New Year.

People liked liveliness during the holidays—Lu Zhishi was no exception.

Two days later, when the snow finally lightened, Song Qinian bundled both kids up snugly and took them out.

Calling Chi Yueheng, the two families each drove their cars to their usual supermarket to shop.