“It must be because Mama and Daddy fought!” He remembered his grandma saying Mama used to fight.
“…………”
“Daddy would never fight Mama, and you shouldn’t fight with anyone either.” Zhuang Qiting lectured his son seriously, pulling his little hand. “Mama was bitten by a mosquito.”
“Was it a giant rainforest mosquito…?” The boy was half-convinced; after all, mosquito bites on him never looked that scary.
Li Yaru added, “It was a really ugly, really big mosquito. It bit Mama, and then Mama smacked it dead.”
Zhuang Qiting: “…………”
The little one applauded his mother’s prowess. “Mama is amazing!”
Zhuang Qiting tucked the boy into the middle of the bed and gave his little butt a squeeze. “Sleep.”
The lavish, elegant bedroom was left with only a soft nightlight. The hazy glow was like a moon, the air scented with a light, elegant fragrance.
Li Yaru lay on her side, propping up her head, gazing gently at her son.
The boy was already drowsy, but still refused to sleep, babbling to his parents.
“Mama… I want to change rooms.”
“Why, Xiao Yan?”
He yawned, teary-eyed, “I like sky, but my room is all pink.”
Thinking of his son still sleeping in the pink Princess Room, Zhuang Qiting almost laughed.
As the boy grew, he’d developed his own taste and preferences.
This small wish, as a father, he had to satisfy—besides, that room had always been meant for a daughter.
He stroked the boy’s fuzzy head. “That’s because you’re staying in your little sister’s room for now. When we have her this year, Daddy will get you a new room.”
“Sister!” Xiao Yan’s eyes widened. “Will I really have a sister?”
Li Yaru shot her husband a look, her foot sneaking over in the bed and kicking his knee. “Nothing’s certain yet, stop making stuff up.”
Zhuang Qiting was quick, grabbing her foot and holding it in his palm, kneading it gently. Li Yaru was flustered—how could he do this with their son right there!
“Do you want a sister, Xiao Yan?”
“Of course! If I have a sister, I’ll let her play with all my toys.”
“Then Xiao Yan, you have to sleep in your own room. Only if you sleep there, can you have a little sister.” Zhuang Qiting pinched his son’s ear.
Little Zhuang Yan didn’t really understand, but for the sake of a sister, he nodded obediently. “Daddy, Mama, make a sister quickly. Mama, don’t lie to me.”
Zhuang Qiting was amused by his son’s innocence, his deep laugh making Li Yaru’s whole body heat up.
She simply buried herself in her pillow, pretending to be an ostrich.
.
Zhuang Qiting was a man of his word. After that night, he gave up all alcohol, and the new batch of limited-edition cigars was locked away in the humidor.
The couple’s diet changed significantly. The nutritionist recommended more acidic foods to boost the odds of having a daughter.
Li Yaru wasn’t picky—she ate whatever the kitchen made, as long as there was her favorite roast pork each week.
.
Baoyuan Temple, of course, was a must. The Zhuang Family turned out in full force, burning incense and praying, a grand display.
Zhuang Qiting’s mother, worried that Li Yaru would feel pressured, often took her out for afternoon tea or fun parties, and her monthly allowance was increased, all to reassure her that the family would love either a son or daughter.
Li Yaru wasn’t actually anxious—the nervous one was Zhuang Qiting. Although he never showed it, she could feel it.
They’d been together three years; she could more or less guess his feelings.
“Heh, could the all-powerful Zhuang Dalao get nervous? I’m only giving you one last chance!” She loved teasing him.
Zhuang Qiting ignored her playful antics—at night, he worked her fiercely, pouring all his hopes and heat into her.
The gift from the heavens always arrives the day the box is opened.
The B Ultrasound Doctor had already hinted at the answer when Li Yaru was five months pregnant, but Zhuang Qiting didn’t believe it.
He thought it must be another mistake, constantly comforting his weeping and irate wife, saying B-Scan wasn’t scientific, it was all fake.
Zhuang Qiting was convinced this time it had to be a girl. He’d had a smooth life, always getting his way—surely the heavens would grant his wish.
But fate loves to mess with him, never letting him have it all.
With hope in his heart, he nervously unwrapped the swaddling cloth, only to find, to his dismay, a tiny pointed thing shaking between two plump legs.
The baby, innocent and clueless, met his despairing father’s eyes and blew a bubble from rosy lips.
Zhuang Qiting was sure this little guy was laughing at him. Absolutely.
He said nothing, going out to the terrace for a smoke.
Gray smoke curled around his fingertips as he stared at the sunset, finally letting go of his dream of having a daughter in this lifetime.
No matter. He still had his wife.
His wife was so mischievous, never growing up. Then she could be his daughter.
He’d love her, spoil her, protect her, never discipline her.
Li Yaru had no idea what strange thoughts were brewing in her husband’s mind.
All she knew was the daughter dream was shattered, so she grabbed his arm and bit down, almost taking a chunk out.
“All your fault!”
“Yes, all my fault, darling.”
“You’re all talk—your ‘stuff’ just isn’t good enough!”
“…………”
“I said I won’t have any more kids. I’m not a Mother Pig, popping out litters.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled, though there was a trace of bitterness.
He kissed her forehead. “Alright, no more. We’re done.”
With a new little brother in the house, Zhuang Yan immediately became the big brother and got a brand-new bedroom filled with cosmic themes, while his little brother moved into the pink Princess Room.
The crib was the same one used three years ago—almost like a kind of Inheritance. Zhuang Qiting and Li Yaru had an odd tacit understanding about this.
The milky-white sunshade curtains, trimmed with lace, hung over the bed. Little Zhuang Zhou lay inside, dressed in pink, waving his arms and legs.
He was clearly more energetic than his big brother and sucked with great vigor.
Zhuang Yan leaned over the crib, staring at his brother feeding.
He didn’t like his brother, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment—the little sister he’d waited so long for had vanished.
“Sigh. Pink little brother.” Three-year-old Zhuang Yan sighed, poking his brother’s cheek gently, “I’m your big brother now. Grow up fast, and I’ll share all my toys with you.”
Both brothers inherited the Zhuang Family’s fine features—tall noses, deep eyes—but the younger one took more after their father, while the elder had more of Li Yaru’s gentle lines, which on a boy gave him a refined, handsome look.
Their personalities were not so similar—the elder was calm and gentle, the younger bold and clever.
Zhuang Yan generously shared his toys, but Zhuang Zhou wasn’t interested, tossing them aside after a bit.
Zhuang Yan liked Legos, blocks, telescopes, anything related to the universe. Zhuang Zhou didn’t care for any of that; he liked puppies.
Unfortunately, puppies didn’t like him.
When did Zhuang Zhou realize that puppies didn’t like him?
When he was four, Li Yaru promised to get him a puppy and took him to the fanciest pet shop on Hong Kong Island to pick out a little puppy.
He was so excited, he didn’t sleep all night.
But when he got to the shop, not a single one of the dozen adorable puppies wanted to play with him—they circled Li Yaru, or wagged their tails at big brother Zhuang Yan.
Zhuang Zhou stood alone, clutching his little fists, watching all those lively puppies ignore him.
“Xiao Zhou, which one do you like? I’ll take it home,” Li Yaru patted his little head.
Little Zhuang Zhou didn’t speak, his face stiff.
“Why aren’t you happy?” Li Yaru found it amusing—on the way there, he’d been full of energy, saying he liked black puppies, puppies with bright eyes, ones that would cling to him, cling and cling so he could sleep with them.
“I don’t want any, Mama.” Zhuang Zhou turned and left.
He just wanted a puppy that truly liked him. He would love that puppy, and love it forever.
Li Yaru was baffled, not sure what was wrong, so she quickly called her elder son over from where he was happily playing with two puppies. “Xiao Yan, go see what’s wrong with your brother.”
When Zhuang Qiting got home, Li Yaru told him right away—the younger one was upset, sulking in his room all night. He should go cheer him up.
Zhuang Qiting was unruffled, unbuttoning his sleeves as he spoke, “That little rascal has quite the temper. Didn’t you promise to get him a pet? Now he doesn’t want it?”
“He’s only four, he’s a child—having a temper is normal. Are you saying you never get angry?”
Zhuang Qiting smiled, grabbing Li Yaru’s neck, pulling her close, kissing her lush red lips, sucking for a long time before giving a light bite. “When have I ever lost my temper?”
“Pervert. Say what you want, but keep your hands to yourself.” Li Yaru’s lips were left shimmering.
“My wife—what’s wrong with being this way? For you, it’s not perverted.”
Zhuang Qiting spoke lightly, taking off his jacket and tossing it on the sofa in the dressing room.
Wearing only a shirt, his muscular arms filled the fabric nicely, giving him a casual, confident air.
Right in front of Li Yaru, he stripped off his work shirt and put on a more comfortable Cassimere Shirt.
Li Yaru thought to herself how shameless he was, always undressing in front of her.
Zhuang Qiting gave her a playful smack, disrupting her train of thought.
“Let me check on our son. If you spoil him too much, he’ll be hard to discipline. Being born into the Zhuang Family, plenty of people will flatter and indulge him all his life. If you and I both spoil him too, he’ll turn out rotten.”
He had a point, but Li Yaru snorted—she didn’t really spoil the kids, mostly just let them play. Weren’t kids meant to be played with?
Little Zhuang Zhou actually wasn’t angry; he just didn’t feel like talking. He wanted to read a Story Book or watch cartoons by himself.
He couldn’t understand why animals didn’t like him. The Golden Retriever at third uncle’s house never played with him, nor did the two Cats at second uncle’s house.
There was a knock at the door. Zhuang Zhou thought it was the nanny. “Leave me alone, thank you!”
“Little one, it’s your Daddy.”
Zhuang Zhou scrambled up from the carpet, tiptoed over, and opened the door. There stood a tall, imposing figure, whose shadow completely covered his small body.
“Daddy…” He knew his father must have found out. Daddy didn’t let him throw tantrums.
Zhuang Qiting crouched down and lifted his son, bringing them to eye level.
At three, he couldn’t quite meet his father’s sharp gaze, so he braced himself.
Zhuang Qiting asked calmly, “Mama promised you a puppy, so why don’t you want one? Didn’t find one you liked?”
“No. The puppies didn’t like me. I don’t want them.”
“As long as you like them, who cares if they like you? If you’re good to it, it’ll like you back. With time, feelings grow.”
“That’s different.” Zhuang Zhou turned his eyes.
“How is it different?” Zhuang Qiting watched his son.
“I’ll only have one puppy my whole life. I want a perfect puppy, one that only wants me, only clings to me, never plays with others, never wags its tail for anyone else.”
Suddenly, Zhuang Qiting laughed softly, beginning to understand his son’s awkwardness.
He was surprised that, at such a young age, his son had already developed such intense possessiveness—even over a puppy.
“Then Daddy and Mama will take you to another pet shop tomorrow. We’ll keep looking until we find the one you like, one that likes you.”
“No, I don’t want a puppy anymore.”
“So what do you want?”
Little Zhuang Zhou wasn’t sure what he wanted. His gaze wandered around his spacious new bedroom and landed on a vase carved with fish on the coffee table.
“I want fish! I want a big Fish Tank! I’ll keep fish in my tank—then they’ll be mine alone!”
“Fish?”
Zhuang Qiting frowned, confused by his son’s whims, but still agreed to buy him a big Fish Tank—as long as he used his own Pressure Money to pay for it.
Learning to pay for your own preferences is something he had to learn.
“Son, in this life you can have anything you want. Even if Daddy and Mama can’t give it to you, you’ll have to take it for yourself. But remember—don’t lose your temper. Only cowards throw tantrums. And especially, never throw a tantrum at Mama. She’s the one who cares about you most in the world.”
“I didn’t throw a tantrum at Mama…” Zhuang Zhou was aggrieved. He’d thrown a tantrum at himself.
“But you locked yourself in your room and made Mama worry.”
“Then I won’t worry her again. I’ll apologize right now.” He started to dash for Li Yaru’s room.
Zhuang Qiting caught him swiftly. “You can apologize after breakfast. Tonight, you sleep in your own room. Understand?”
“Okay.”
“And no sneaking into Mama’s room again.”
“…Okay.”
Having dealt with his son, Zhuang Qiting returned to the bedroom, where Li Yaru came up to ask what he’d said.
“He said he likes fish now. Wants a Fish Tank.”
Li Yaru was confused. “…What?”
“Kids are like that—not mature, always falling for whatever they see. Their hearts aren’t set.”
He took advantage of her daze, pulled her onto the bed, and started unfastening her shimmering Red Silk Pajamas.
“So yesterday it was puppies, today it’s fish… this kid…” Li Yaru said helplessly.
“Little men are just immature—don’t you get it?” Zhuang Qiting’s palm cupped her fullness, his breath unsteady though he tried to restrain himself.
Hearing the tease in his voice, Li Yaru scoffed, her mouth dry. “You’re the mature, devoted one…”
Zhuang Qiting’s fingers kneaded her gently, then slowly slid inside. “Of course I’m devoted—I’m only interested in you. Why don’t you get it yet?”
He never had any true love in this life. Only Li Yaru.