Ding Sha turned around and saw Xiao Jun staring blankly at the blueprint, lost in thought. She couldn't help asking, "What are you looking at?"
Xiao Jun was startled. "Oh, um...nothing..."
He glanced at the blueprint of the large bed again, then went over to hold Little Ping An, who was still refusing to sleep. "Let me take him. You're always saying your back hurts, right?"
Ding Sha handed the child to him. "I think he's not sleepy yet. He wants to play a little longer. Keep him company for a bit."
"I'm going to take a shower. I feel like my hair is getting smelly."
Ding Sha took her change of clothes to the bathroom. The sound of running water was heard. Xiao Jun was somewhat distracted as he held Little Ping An, who babbled bubbles against his chest and looked at him curiously.
Xiao Jun walked around with the child in his arms, with expressions that alternated between smiles and frowns, and his face occasionally flushed red.
When Ding Sha came out drying her hair, she saw Xiao Jun standing by the window, gazing outside lost in thought, looking conflicted.
"What's wrong?" Ding Sha asked.
"Oh, um...nothing." Xiao Jun was startled by her.
"You're acting strange today," Ding Sha said, puzzled by his behavior.
Little could she guess what car scene was running through Xiao Jun's mind.
"I'm...I'm fine," Xiao Jun brushed her off. He put Little Ping An down. "It's getting late, we should rest."
Ding Sha was also tired after a long day. She yawned and went to get the hair dryer. "Let me dry my hair then I'll sleep. You go ahead and sleep first."
How could Xiao Jun sleep?
After Ding Sha lay down, Xiao Jun still had his eyes wide open looking at her, breathing unevenly.
"What's wrong with you?" Ding Sha felt his strangeness everywhere.
"I...I..." Xiao Jun broke into a nervous sweat, aroused by his own imagination. He unconsciously moved closer, wondering if he should tell Ding Sha.
Ding Sha's face was hit with his strong pheromones. Somewhat belatedly, she reacted to his abnormal behavior.
Ding Sha couldn't help burying her face in the quilt, unable to utter a word for quite a while.
He got out of bed. "I...I'll go to the bathroom. You sleep first."
After hearing the sound of fabric rubbing, Xiao Jun’s hurried steps to the bathroom could be heard.
The shower head was turned on with a gushing water sound that drowned out the man's muffled gasps. Ding Sha poked a red face out of the bedding, seemingly about to bleed.
She blinked blankly at the still fast asleep Little Ping An, and slowly let out a long breath.
When Xiao Jun returned, Ding Sha was already half asleep. She accidentally touched his icy skin and shuddered from the cold.
"Are you cold?" Xiao Jun rubbed his arms. "I'll warm up soon."
He said proudly after a while.
He didn't mention what had just happened.
Ding Sha stared at the ceiling. When Xiao Jun's breathing became steady, she whispered,
"Not now, wait..."
Xiao Jun was instantly wide awake. He got excited like a teenage boy, hugging her tightly and swallowing before answering, "Okay."
After saying it, Ding Sha calmed down instead.
She had decided to be with Xiao Jun properly.
In the quilt, Ding Sha found his hand and intertwined her fingers tightly with his. "Sleep, good night."
Xiao Jun murmured in agreement.
The room became quiet again, only occasionally hearing the baby's babbles in his sleep.
The next morning, both woke up late, sleeping until noon. For once when Little Ping An woke up, he didn't cry or fuss, just played with his hands while looking at his mom and dad lying in bed.
Ding Sha was sleeping soundly with her head on Xiao Jun’s shoulder. When she opened her eyes, Xiao Jun lightly kissed her lips.
"You didn't even brush your teeth..." Ding Sha complained, dissatisfied.
"I didn't use my tongue..." Xiao Jun had gotten much bolder, licking his lips and speaking bluntly.
Ding Sha was stunned for a moment. She kicked him once before getting up to wash up.
Xiao Jun picked up Little Ping An. "Daddy's good boy, not crying or fussing, so well-behaved!"
The well-behaved son who didn't cry or fuss let out a loud fart, stinking up his novice dad who had to hold his breath while changing the diaper.
When Ding Sha came out, she saw Xiao Jun's speechless expression and couldn't help laughing.
"This kid sure stinks..." Xiao Jun complained half-jokingly.
Ding Sha ignored him. She said the stinky one was him, always running away the fastest when it came to changing diapers.
Men always say one thing but mean another.
Carrying the child to the soft blanketed recliner, Ding Sha was about to read Little Ping An a story when she got a call from Granny Zhang.
"Granny Zhang!"
"Oh my!" Granny Zhang still sounded energetic. "Sha Sha, I heard you gave birth? How are you?"
"Yes, I gave birth on New Year's Day, a boy. His nickname is Ping An." Ding Sha was happy to hear her voice.
"Wonderful! What a nice name!" Granny Zhang was delighted. "Have you been resting well after childbirth? Is Xiao treating you well?"
"I'm still resting. I have a pile of nourishing postpartum meals every day that make me feel awful from eating so much," Ding Sha said with a laugh.
"That's good, that's very important! You can't underestimate postpartum care! No wind, no washing hair or showering, best to just nurture yourself in bed, you hear?"
Ding Sha who had just washed her hair and showered last night was not guilty at all. "I know, Granny Zhang. I will."
After chatting for a few more sentences, Granny Zhang hung up.
Ding Sha had just breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Xiao Jun bringing over a large tray of food.
"Eat up."
Ding Sha looked unpleasantly at the pile of strange postpartum dishes, somewhat unwilling to eat them.
Xiao Jun served her a bowl. "Eat."
Seeing her expression, he added, "I'll eat what you don't finish."
As usual, what Ding Sha didn't eat, didn't want to eat, or was full after a few bites, all ended up in Xiao Jun's stomach.
Maybe the postpartum food really was nutritious. Xiao Jun grew taller again and more muscular.
Now he no longer had the skinny, childish look from before.
The current Xiao Jun had broad shoulders and rugged features, already a man who could support a wife and child.
Ding Sha stared at him gobbling the food down with no sign of picking or choosing. After quite a while, she said, "I want spicy hot pot!"
"Hm?" Xiao Jun was rarely stuck for words.
"Make me spicy hot pot." Ding Sha glared fiercely at him.
"Alright." Xiao Jun thought for a moment before agreeing.
The hot pot broth was cooked with milk for ten minutes until the milky smell was eliminated. Xiao Jun scooped out residues from the bottom of the pot with a small ladle. The satisfactory broth was done.
Xiao Jun added the fatty beef rolls Ding Sha loved to eat, then some mushrooms, bamboo shoots, lotus root slices and other vegetables.
After mixing in some chili oil, he scooped the cooked ingredients into a large bowl along with two scoops of broth.
The aroma alone was mouthwatering.
Ding Sha eagerly grabbed a piece of fatty beef, dipped it in chili oil and stuffed it into her mouth.
With a blissful expression, she said, "This is the taste!"
In the end, she finished the entire large bowl with no leftovers for Xiao Jun, rare for her.
Xiao Jun teased her a little. Ding Sha pouted at him angrily, fierce like an angry kitten.
"Oh right, Sha Sha, do you want to raise a cat?"
