Shen Yin agreed to help Qi Ji with the wedding attire, so she wouldn't pass this task to anyone else.
From that afternoon, she started drawing designs. Since she had never worked on wedding attire before, she referred to a lot of materials for reference.
On a summer afternoon, the sun was scorching hot, and it was just Shen Yin and Zhengzheng in the studio. While Zhengzheng was still taking a nap, Shen Yin looked through many design sketches and information about wedding attire.
Since it wasn't a traditional Chinese wedding, Shen Yin used bolder colors, breaking away from the traditional red. She chose a champagne color, which looked elegant and dignified.
The first thing Zhengzheng said when he woke up was "I'm thirsty." Shen Yin had already prepared the afternoon tea, as it was easy to get dehydrated in the summer heat.
Zhengzheng had been napping in the living room, and when he woke up, he saw Shen Yin sitting in front of the computer, so he got up and went to her side. Shen Yin stood up, picked up the fruit tea on the table, and handed it to Zhengzheng, who gulped it down.
"Zhengzheng, after you finish your drink, would you like to read some books? Do you still remember the poem your mother asked you to recite last time?"
Zhengzheng's eyes rolled as he thought for a moment, then recited: "Bright moonlight before my bed, I wonder if it's frost on the ground. Lifting my head, I see the bright moon, Lowering my head, I think of my distant home."
He recited it smoothly, without any hesitation, and even his pronunciation of the ambiguous parts was accurate. Shen Yin was very satisfied. The little baby was small, but his memory was excellent. Whether it was from Xu Xiuhe or the original host, he seemed to have inherited both.
Shen Yin realized she needed to get to know this little baby better. He was smart, and his brain worked quickly, which she had overlooked. She decided she could occasionally teach Zhengzheng to recite poems and recognize characters in the future.
"Zhengzheng, do you enjoy reciting poems?"
"Yes, it's fun."
"Then let's do more of it in the future, okay?"
"Okay."
Seeing Zhengzheng's quick agreement, Shen Yin brought several books from the bottom of the TV cabinet to the carpet.
Xu Yunzheng was also happy to join. After finishing his drink, he put down the cup, walked to the carpet, sat down, and started reading the books.
Shen Yin felt relieved. "Zhengzheng, Mommy will learn with you."
Shen Yin had looked at many styles of wedding attire and had her own inspiration. The wedding attire should be convenient and easy to move in, as it would be worn during the toast ceremony. It couldn't be too revealing when facing the elders.
After thinking for a while, she finally put pen to paper.
In just over two hours, Shen Yin's design sketch was complete, and she could start sewing tomorrow. Zhengzheng had stopped looking at the books and was playing with the toys on the carpet. Shen Yin looked over and just watched him quietly.
The sun outside was setting, and the golden evening glow from the window shone on Zhengzheng. The warm and beautiful scene captivated Shen Yin, and she picked up her pencil and started sketching a few strokes on an A4 paper.
Shen Yin had never drawn this kind of pencil portrait before, but she felt something guiding her, stroke by stroke. The Zhengzheng she drew turned out surprisingly beautiful.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. She could use her pencil to record Zhengzheng's growth. In this high-tech era, a series of drawings might be more precious than photos.
"Zhengzheng, look, who is this?" Shen Yin held up the A4 paper and walked over to Zhengzheng, pointing at the drawing.
Zhengzheng immediately smiled and pointed at the drawing, saying, "It's me, Zhengzheng! Zhengzheng looks so good!"
Xu Yunzheng stood up and swayed back and forth, his little bottom wiggling.
"Yes, our Zhengzheng looks so good," Shen Yin said.
Xu Yunzheng became even happier after the praise, giggling with delight.
"Mommy, Zhengzheng is hungry," the little child's mood changed quickly, and he now pouted his lips.
"Then Mommy will go make dinner. Zhengzheng, be good."
Just as Shen Yin was about to go to the kitchen, Xu Xiuhe came in.
"You're home so early today?"
"It's the weekend, so I came back early to spend time with you," Xu Xiuhe said as he entered the kitchen.
"I can handle this. You go keep Zhengzheng company in the living room for a while. I'm a bit worried about him being out there alone."
Xu Xiuhe complied, hugging Shen Yin from behind for a few seconds before going to the living room.
"Has Zhengzheng been missing his dad?"
"Yes."
Xu Xiuhe sat down and watched Zhengzheng playing with the toy cars on the carpet, unable to move them on the rug.
"Zhengzheng, the cars can't move well on the carpet."
Xu Xiuhe took the car and placed it on the wooden floor next to the carpet.
"Zhengzheng knows, but Zhengzheng just wants the car to run on the carpet," Xu Yunzheng said, putting the car back on the carpet.
"Is this you, Zhengzheng?" Xu Xiuhe asked, picking up the drawing, pretending not to know.
Xu Xiuhe looked at the A4 paper in his hand. The drawing was simple, just Zhengzheng sitting on the carpet, but the details were exquisite and delicate. He was the only one at home other than Shen Yin, so he knew his wife was truly a master of all trades, capable both intellectually and domestically. Xu Xiuhe felt fortunate to have married Shen Yin, but also worried that he wasn't worthy of her.
For the first time in twenty-seven years, he felt a sense of inferiority.
With this realization, Xu Xiuhe went back to the kitchen.
"Why are you here again? Shouldn't you be keeping Zhengzheng company?"
"My dear wife, do you dislike me? Do you not want to see me?"
Shen Yin was perplexed. She wiped her hands and placed her palm on Xu Xiuhe's forehead, asking, "You don't have a fever. What are you saying?"
"Nonsense!" Xu Xiuhe emphasized the word, always quick to seize the key point.
Upon hearing this, the corners of Xu Xiuhe's mouth involuntarily curved upwards.
"My dear, let me help you."
This time, Shen Yin didn't refuse.
"That drawing was really beautiful."
"Hmm?"
"The Zhengzheng in the drawing is so lifelike."
"I want to learn oil painting and use Zhengzheng as my model, giving him a new painting every month."
"Great, I'll buy you an easel and art supplies tomorrow."
"I can buy them myself."
"What's mine is yours. It's only natural for me to buy them for you."
Shen Yin's heart was filled with sweetness. Although she hadn't expressed it out loud, she had fallen completely for Xu Xiuhe. This man was too good to her, pampering her, buying her all kinds of clothes and bags, surprising her from time to time, caring for her every day, and considering her needs.
Perhaps such a husband's actions towards his wife were ordinary and common, but for Shen Yin, she was already extremely contented. She didn't ask for anything else, only wishing that the people she cared about could live safely and peacefully.
