When Zhan Yin spotted his beloved wife, he said joyfully to his daughter.
He quickened his pace towards her, still holding the child.
Hai Tong helped the old lady out of the car.
She remarked, “I have only just got out, and already I could hear Beibei crying.”
“It was loud enough for the whole villa district to hear.”
Zhan Yin said helplessly, “You know your precious daughter perfectly well. Once it gets late and she needs to sleep, she will only settle in her mummy’s arms. Daddy’s embrace might as well have thorns.”
He adored his daughter so much.
Normally, she was very fond of her daddy too.
Yet every single evening, he lost favour. His daughter wanted only her mummy.
As soon as Beibei saw Mummy return, she stopped crying, though tears still clung to her little face.
She stretched both arms towards Mummy, wanting to be held.
Hai Tong released the old lady. The old lady no longer needed support. She was distressed for her great-granddaughter.
“Mummy is back. Being even one minute late has made you cry like this. Great-grandma’s heart is breaking.”
The old lady reached out to wipe the little girl’s tears. “Mummy is here now. No more crying, alright?”
Hai Tong took her daughter into her arms. After Great-grandma had dried her tears, the child flung both arms around Mummy’s neck and rested her head on Mummy’s shoulder.
She sobbed, “Mummy doesn’t want Beibei.”
“How could Mummy not want Beibei? Beibei is Mummy’s darling. Mummy only went to your eighth uncle’s house for a short while. See, I am back now.”
“Mummy will never not want Beibei. No more crying, okay?”
After soothing her daughter for a few moments, Hai Tong asked her husband, “Has Beibei had her bath?”
“She has bathed and drunk her formula. She just refused to sleep. She insisted on you holding her.”
Hai Tong carried her daughter and called the two boys to come inside.
Zhan Yin supported the old lady as they followed.
“In future, when going to her uncles’ houses, we should bring her along. Crying like this, her voice has gone hoarse.”
The old lady said with heartache.
Hai Tong replied, “When I left, she was playing so happily with her two brothers. I thought once A Yin got home, she would not cry.”
“Mummy.”
The little girl called softly.
“Yes, Mummy is here.”
“I love Mummy.”
“Mummy loves you too.”
The little girl tightened her hold on Mummy. Perhaps she was worn out from crying, or perhaps she had been tired for a while. She closed her eyes.
By the time Hai Tong carried her upstairs, she was already asleep.
Hai Tong gently laid her daughter on the bed.
Zhan Yin immediately tucked her in and whispered, “No matter how I tried to soothe her, she would not sleep. The moment you returned and held her, she was out in under two minutes.”
“She goes to sleep at this time every evening. Go and check on Baobao and A Meng. They need to rest soon. They have school tomorrow.”
Zhan Yin leaned down, kissed his daughter’s small face, then sat up straight.
“They have probably gone back to their room by now.”
Though he said that, he still stood and went out, heading to the children’s room next door.
Baobao and Su Meng were preparing for bed. When they saw Daddy come in, Baobao asked, “Daddy, is Beibei asleep?”
“She is asleep. The instant your mummy returned, it took less than two minutes.”
“You two should sleep quickly as well. You have school tomorrow.”
“Daddy, goodnight.”
Baobao wished his daddy goodnight.
“Uncle Zhan, goodnight.”
Su Meng followed suit.
Zhan Yin watched them settle down, tucked them in, then switched off the light, went out, and quietly closed the door.
He hoped the two little ones would have sweet dreams all night.
