Shu Yi and Qi Ji sat slumped on the sofa. They had practiced all day at the Martial Arts Club, which also had a bathroom. After taking a shower, they realized Shen Yin had left with the Baby.
The other students said Shen Yin had taken Zhengzheng to the hospital, causing the two women to worry.
With no response to their messages, they didn't dare call Shen Yin, afraid of disturbing her, so they quietly waited.
As the students left, they approached Shu Yi for autographs. After the previous Weibo incident, they had all become her die-hard fans. They never expected to be in the same room as their idol, learning together—what a celestial experience!
There was a frenzy of idol-worshipping, each more intense than the last, calling out "Wife!"
Qi Ji was dumbfounded beside her. Well, Shu Yi was dumbfounded too. Previously, only her male fans called her "wife," while her younger female fans called her "daughter." But now, what was this about even the female fans calling her "wife"? What the heck?
"You two haven't left yet."
Shen Yin entered the room, seeing the two looking dejected.
Upon seeing the family of three back, the two women immediately perked up, standing and running over to Shen Yin.
They gently pinched Zhengzheng's chubby little cheeks.
Zhengzheng showed no reaction.
"What's the matter? Zhengzheng isn't happy?" Shu Yi asked.
"He's not happy. The doctor said he can't have any meat in the afternoon, and he's been unhappy since hearing that—hasn't said a word," Shen Yin explained.
"What's wrong with him?" Qi Ji looked concerned. The little guy was calling her "Auntie" yesterday and singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." How did he get sick today?
"Hives. He can't leave the room for a while. Luckily, the doctor said it's not serious and he'll be fine in a couple of days," Shen Yin said.
Hearing this, Qi Ji and Shu Yi felt relieved. A child so young, it would be heartbreaking if he suffered.
"Then we'll head back," Shu Yi said.
"Take it easy," Shen Yin advised.
"Got it. Little Zhengzheng, get well soon. When you're better, Auntie will take you for meat every day," Shu Yi said.
"Qi Ji, let me give you a ride."
Being taller than Qi Ji, Shu Yi put her arm around her.
"Xue Jingrui is so lucky to have married a little wife like you. I envy him," Shu Yi joked.
"Shu Yi, I envy your height so much. I dream of being tall," Qi Ji said.
As they chatted, they reached the carport behind the small building.
"Petite and dainty, how lovely."
"Sis, I want a Baby. I plan to climb into Xue Jingrui's bed tonight," Qi Ji said.
"Whoa, girl!" Shu Yi wanted to say she should think it over and not be so impulsive.
"Qi Ji, time to go home." Xue Jingrui got out of the car and walked over.
Qi Ji waved at Shu Yi. "Shu Yi, I'll head out first."
"Yeah, be careful."
In the car, Qi Ji kept thinking about how to have a Baby.
Having read many comics, she knew what to do. But first, she needed an excuse, not to appear too obvious.
"Xue Jingrui, are we going to the Old Mansion today?" Qi Ji asked.
If they were staying at the Old Mansion tonight, it would be so convenient. She regretted not acting on the good opportunity last night.
"What's on your mind? You seem so deep in thought," Xue Jingrui said.
"Thinking of you," Qi Ji replied absentmindedly, without thinking.
Those two words completely flustered Xue Jingrui, who slammed on the brakes.
"What's wrong, Xue Jingrui? There are cars behind us. Emergency braking like that isn't safe driving," Qi Ji reminded him.
"It's nothing," he said, though his mind was racing. How could it be nothing when a sweet girl sitting beside him, her voice soft and sweet, said she was thinking of him?
What man could resist that?
Qi Ji didn't realize what she had just said. After Xue Jingrui restarted the car, she was still thinking about her little scheme.
When Shen Yin got home, she went to the kitchen. Zhengzheng couldn't have any chicken, fish, meat, or eggs now.
Recalling the doctor's advice, Shen Yin thought of carrots and cucumbers, which were in season, fresh, and inexpensive.
But Zhengzheng had never liked carrots, so Shen Yin came up with an idea. She took a fruit knife and carved for a while.
Soon, a little rabbit emerged.
Shen Yin boiled some carrot, taro, and red date porridge. The carved carrots were steamed and coated with desiccated coconut.
Banana cakes, apple puree, carrot porridge, fried cucumbers, mushroom and Chinese cabbage, and broccoli—the table was filled with vegetarian dishes, not a single meat dish.
When Zhengzheng sat at the table and saw no meat, he realized his mother wasn't just saying it—she really wasn't giving him any meat.
"Ah!" The baby sighed, his last glimmer of hope gone.
"Zhengzheng, look at this. What is it?" Shen Yin brought over the steamed carrots.
Little white rabbits in various poses were resting on the plate, looking adorable.
"Little white rabbits, so white and bouncy, so cute!" Zhengzheng clapped, finally smiling.
Shen Yin and Xu Xiuhe breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhengzheng, have a taste and see if it's good," Xu Xiuhe said, putting one of the rabbits on Xu Yunzheng's plate.
Xu Yunzheng patted the rabbit's head, then withdrew his hand. "The rabbit is so cute. Why should I eat it?"
Shen Yin...
"Zhengzheng, this isn't a real rabbit. Your mom carved it from vegetables," Xu Xiuhe explained, not daring to say "carrots" directly.
"What vegetable?"
Shen Yin: "Carrots."
"Wahh, rabbits love carrots. But the carrots turned into rabbits. How can the rabbits eat carrots if the carrots are rabbits and the rabbits are carrots?" Xu Yunzheng covered his face, staring at the plate of rabbits, lost in thought.
Shen Yin and Xu Xiuhe were also perplexed. Carrots are carrots, rabbits are rabbits. The carrots turned into rabbits, so they were eating the carrot-turned-rabbits.
After figuring it out, Xu Xiuhe didn't mind whether Xu Yunzheng ate it or not. He would eat them himself—they were too cute not to eat.
Xu Xiuhe took one for himself.
The carrots were steamed for a long time, making them slightly soft. The desiccated coconut coating melted in the mouth, while the unseasoned boiled carrots had a slightly sweet taste without being greasy.
Xu Xiuhe was not fond of eating, but today he surprisingly ate, and ate quite a bit.
Xu Yunzheng, watching his father eat so heartily, finally couldn't resist. He lowered his head and took a bite off the carrot "bunny's" head.
Unexpectedly, it didn't taste bad.
The little one picked up the whole carrot and munched it down, bite by bite.
"Mommy, the bunny carrot is kind of tasty."
"How about compared to meat?"
"Meat is better!" The toddler didn't even think twice. Nothing could compare to meat; meat was always the most delicious.
...
In the end, Xue Jingrui didn't take Qi Ji back to the Old Mansion, fearing his mother would constantly feed him nourishing soups, which would make him have nosebleeds that he couldn't withstand.
