Chapter 198: A Family of Three

The people upstairs were still playing, until Xiaofeng called out, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm hungry."

Bai Shuruo paused; Xiaofeng had said "Mommy, Daddy" in one breath, as if calling to a single entity.

She glanced at Han Yangting, whose gaze remained on Xiaofeng: "Xiaofeng is hungry? Then let's go down and eat, shall we?"

"Okay, Daddy."

Xiaofeng did not know that Bai Shuruo had also lived here before, and she said to Bai Shuruo, "Mommy, Daddy's house has a chef who makes lots of delicious dishes; you should try them."

Bai Shuruo said, "Is that so? No wonder Xiaofeng has gotten chubby."

"Grandma says Xiaofeng is only cute if she's a little chubby."

Bai Shuruo then said, "Yes, yes, whatever Xiaofeng says is right."

So Xiaofeng went to take Han Yangting's hand first, and after taking it, she called for Bai Shuruo to come over: "Mommy, hold hands."

The three of them holding hands together?

Bai Shuruo looked at Han Yangting again, but Han Yangting gave no indication; clearly, he listened to Xiaofeng on everything, and as long as Xiaofeng was happy, anything was fine with him.

Bai Shuruo felt she should also follow Xiaofeng's wishes, as long as Xiaofeng was happy, so she also came over and took Xiaofeng's hand.

The three went to the dining room together to eat, with Xiaofeng sitting in the middle and Han Yangting and Bai Shuruo sitting on either side of her.

Before long, the dishes were served, and Bai Shuruo discovered that these were all dishes she liked: crispy chicken, roasted squab, and mushroom milk soup.

She wondered if the chef had remembered her preferences, or if it was Ye Caiyue's instruction?

Xiaofeng placed a chicken leg in Bai Shuruo's bowl, then another in Han Yangting's, while she ate a chicken wing herself.

As Bai Shuruo ate, she still felt a sense of restraint because Han Yangting was sitting nearby.

When he used to be good to her, she had felt his powerful aura, which was oppressive; now that he no longer cared for her, this sense of oppression was even greater, just like an ordinary commoner sitting next to an emperor.

She only ate until she was about seventy percent full, and as soon as the meal was over, Xiaofeng pulled on Bai Shuruo and said, "Mommy, let's go see the butterflies; you promised me."

Bai Shuruo asked, "Aren't you tired?"

"Not tired," Xiaofeng said. "With Daddy accompanying me, Xiaofeng isn't tired at all."

After saying this, she hopped and skipped out the door.

Bai Shuruo hurried to follow her out.

After running for a distance, Xiaofeng saw that Han Yangting hadn't come out, so she stood where she was and shouted loudly, "Daddy, hurry and come out!"

She repeated the call twice.

Before long, Han Yangting strode out as well.

Xiaofeng trotted back a few steps, once again holding Han Yangting's hand on one side and Bai Shuruo's hand on the other.

The three walked through the Manor, surrounded by lush green lawns, blooming winter jasmine, and the blue sky and white clouds.

Xiaofeng loved running and swinging in the Manor; her two legs were like little motors, never knowing fatigue.

After following for a while, Bai Shuruo was tired enough to sit on a bench and watch her run.

But children are not immune to sleepiness; usually, at this time, she would be taking her nap, and as she ran, she lay down on the ground, saying she wanted to sunbathe.

As a result, she fell asleep before long.

Bai Shuruo felt awkward.

With the child there, she and Han Yangting had only focused on watching the child, but now that the child was asleep, the two adults were left staring at each other.

Bai Shuruo had no choice but to speak to Han Yangting: "I think it's easy for Xiaofeng to catch a cold sleeping on this lawn; I'd better carry her back to her room to sleep."

Han Yangting said indifferently, "I'll do it."

He had greater strength and carried Xiaofeng without any effort at all.

Bai Shuruo followed behind him, watching the father and daughter in front; she felt a faint ripple in her heart, as she had imagined this scene many times while in Dali.

They went through the living room, into the elevator, and finally back to Xiaofeng's room.

Throughout the way, neither of them spoke.

After Han Yangting put Xiaofeng down, he finally looked at Bai Shuruo.

This was the first time he had looked her in the eye all day.

He said, "You and Xiaofeng can sleep here; if you come over tomorrow and find the journey too long, you can rest at home tonight."

"Can I... take Xiaofeng out?" Bai Shuruo asked.

Han Yangting said, "Many people already know I have a daughter."

Bai Shuruo didn't react for a moment to what he meant by that; wasn't that a non-sequitur?

Han Yangting added, "Therefore, considering her safety, you must be cautious about taking her out."

Bai Shuruo understood completely now.

For a billionaire of Han Yangting's level, their travel indeed carried risks; adults could go out as they pleased, but a little girl could not, for fear of being kidnapped.

Bai Shuruo felt a touch of irony at this moment.

She was a poor person, without a car or a driver's license, and had to take taxis to get around. Not to mention the risk of encountering taxi drivers with ulterior motives, even if she did take her out, where could she take her?

To the urban village where she rented a room? Or to wander around a shopping mall for a day?

Seeing Bai Shuruo's expression, Han Yangting said, "I'm sorry, you can only come to the house to see Xiaofeng. However, you are Xiaofeng's mother, and you are welcome here at any time."

After saying this, he added, "As long as Xiaofeng is happy."

Bai Shuruo felt a chill in her heart; she nodded and said, "I understand, Mr. Han."

Han Yangting turned and left Xiaofeng's room.

Bai Shuruo lay down beside Xiaofeng.

Xiaofeng's bed was very soft; the mattress brand was the same as the one at Daquxian's house, but the price was double, featuring functions that adjusted to one's physiology. After lying down, Bai Shuruo fell asleep before long.

When she woke up, the sky had already darkened.

Xiaofeng did not know when she had woken up; she was by the side of the bed alone, flipping through a picture book and looking at the pictures inside.

Seeing Bai Shuruo wake up, she said happily, "Mommy, you're awake? You were sleeping so, so soundly."

When they were in Dali, Bai Shuruo was often sleep-deprived; sometimes, when she finally managed to get some sleep, Meng Ze would carry Xiaofeng out and tell Xiaofeng that she could not disturb Mommy's sleep.

Xiaofeng must have remembered, for whenever Mommy was asleep, she would obediently play by herself.

Bai Shuruo had indeed slept very soundly this time, as if all the exhaustion on her body had vanished.

She got up to play with Xiaofeng for a while, and just as she was debating whether to return to the little nest she rented, the housekeeper came up to call them down for a meal, saying it was ordered by Ye Caiyue.

"Mommy, there's food to eat again." Xiaofeng excitedly pulled Bai Shuruo's hand; she wanted to share all the good things with Mommy.

Bai Shuruo said, "Xiaofeng, Mommy will come to see you again tomorrow, okay?"

"No!" Xiaofeng was very firm and said loudly, "Mommy cannot leave today; Grandma said that Mommy has to play with Xiaofeng for two days."

Bai Shuruo had no choice but to go downstairs with Xiaofeng.

In the dining room, Old Master Han, Han Dongbei, Ye Caiyue, and even Han Yangting were present.

Seeing Bai Shuruo, their attitudes were not unusual; after all, they were all people long experienced in the business world, old hands, so even if they had opinions about her, it was impossible for them to show it.

"Ruoruo, come sit over here," Ye Caiyue greeted, "I had the kitchen make some dishes you used to like; see if they are still to your taste?"