"A gathering? Why the sudden idea?" Su Jinxiu asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Liu Nanfeng didn't hide anything, explaining his thoughts to her.
"A good plan, a very good plan…"
Su Jinxiu's face lit up with joy at his words. With this backup in place, she felt completely at ease about their upcoming trip to the Celestial Palace.
"However, we need to make some clear agreements with Gugu," Su Jinxiu added.
"Of course."
Liu Nanfeng thought the same. Without proper arrangements, Gugu wouldn't be able to determine if they had encountered any unforeseen circumstances.
"Leave this matter to me."
"Alright."
Liu Nanfeng agreed, then scratched his cheek, hesitant about how to bring up the next topic.
"Is there something else? Go on," Su Jinxiu prompted before he could speak.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Don't I know you?" Su Jinxiu shot him a look.
"Tomorrow, besides Dun Dun and Wen Hui, we'll be inviting one more person," Liu Nanfeng said sheepishly.
"Zhu Yin'e, right?" Su Jinxiu stated exactly what Liu Nanfeng was about to say.
Liu Nanfeng looked surprised. "How did you know?"
"Don't I know you?" Su Jinxiu gave him another look, repeating her earlier words.
"Is that so?"
Liu Nanfeng scratched his head, feeling a sense of unease, as if something was amiss.
"Alright, go take Xiao Jin Hua to play. Don't disturb me while I work." Su Jinxiu finished, lowering her head to focus on her task.
She was making a dress for Xiao Jin Hua and was currently embroidering the patterns. Embroidery was a necessary skill for a young lady of her upbringing.
Seeing her concentrated expression, Liu Nanfeng reluctantly walked away.
Meanwhile, Su Jinxiu put down her work, watching his retreating back, a faint smile gracing her lips.
"Xiao Jin Hua, do you miss Daddy?"
Arriving at the large tree, Liu Nanfeng took his daughter from Su Huamei.
Yu Huilan was tending to her vegetable patch, while Liu Zonghe sat at the stone table under the tree, engrossed in a chess manual.
"Abba abba…"
Xiao Jin Hua, however, seemed unimpressed, kicking him twice in the chest with her little feet.
Her soft feet, like tiny broad beans, were incredibly cute.
Liu Nanfeng grabbed her feet, placing them on his palm. The little one's tiny legs were surprisingly strong; she even tried to stand up in Liu Nanfeng's palm.
"What did you say to Sister?" Su Huamei asked curiously from the side.
"I'm not telling you."
Su Huamei playfully punched Liu Nanfeng's shoulder. "Am I like a little goldfish?"
"Isn't that good?"
"Good for what? Do you want me to call you Daddy too?"
Liu Nanfeng: …
As they engaged in playful banter, Liu Zonghe, sitting not far away, shifted his gaze from the chess manual, glanced over, then pretended nothing had happened, returning to his study.
"Ba… ba…"
Perhaps it was hearing Su Huamei mention "Daddy," but Xiao Jin Hua in Liu Nanfeng's arms immediately called out "Daddy."
"Hey."
Liu Nanfeng brought her closer and kissed her cheek, smearing it with her saliva. "Oh my, so much saliva?"
Liu Nanfeng noticed that the bib around Xiao Jin Hua's neck was quite wet. However, a baby's saliva didn't smell bad; instead, it carried a faint milky fragrance.
"It's because she's teething. Auntie said you drooled even more than her when you were little, always getting messy," Su Huamei said, opening a plastic container beside her and offering a teething stick to Xiao Jin Hua.
Upon seeing the teething stick, Xiao Jin Hua became very happy, grabbing it and shoving it into her mouth.
This, however, only resulted in more drool.
"My chubby girl," Liu Nanfeng said with amusement, lifting her high.
The little one excitedly began to bounce, looking quite comical.
But before Liu Nanfeng could enjoy the moment, he heard a few soft "pū pū pū" sounds, and a sour, pungent odor filled the air.
"Haha…"
Su Huamei couldn't help but burst into laughter. Liu Nanfeng held Xiao Jin Hua facing outwards, her little bottom aimed directly at his face.
Because the diapers didn't seem very breathable, he hadn't dressed the little one in them much, opting for pure cotton crotch cloths instead. These were breathable and absorbent, but not very sealed, leading to this unfortunate situation.
Liu Nanfeng's face turned green.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng's expression, Liu Zonghe, standing nearby, was displeased.
"What, you're already disgusted with your daughter? A baby's poop doesn't smell bad, what's there to be disgusted about?"
Liu Nanfeng: …
"Give her to me, I'll change her diaper," Su Huamei said, trying to suppress her laughter.
"Huamei, don't interfere. Let him handle it himself. He's a father now, yet he acts nothing like one."
"I'll do it myself," Liu Nanfeng said, about to place Xiao Jin Hua on the stone table next to them.
Liu Zonghe shot up abruptly.
"The stone table is so cold, and it's so hard. Why aren't you more attentive?"
Liu Zonghe grumbled as he skillfully picked up a blanket and spread it out.
Liu Nanfeng didn't want to argue with him, letting him have his way. Seeing the blanket laid out, he finally placed Xiao Jin Hua on it.
The little one, lying on the soft blanket, happily kicked her chubby little legs. When Liu Nanfeng lifted her diaper, it was a mess of golden yellow.
Not only her bottom, but the crevices of her legs were also covered.
Su Huamei, worried Liu Nanfeng wouldn't know how to do it, had been standing by. Upon seeing the situation, she immediately handed him a clean towel.
"Wipe her first."
Liu Nanfeng had no choice but to hold his breath and clean the little one's bottom.
"Shouldn't we wash it with water?" Liu Nanfeng asked after wiping.
"A child's skin is delicate and can't be washed with water too often. She has several diaper changes a day, how can we wash it every time?"
Su Huamei said, then pushed Liu Nanfeng aside, efficiently putting a fresh diaper on Xiao Jin Hua.
"You shouldn't stand here either. Go wash the diaper and then hang it up to dry," Liu Zonghe instructed from the side.
"Does this need washing?" Liu Nanfeng asked, holding the soiled diaper between his fingers, his brow furrowed.
"What's so strange about it? Are you going to keep it to eat?"
Liu Nanfeng: …
"Dad, why do you always pick on me?" Liu Nanfeng asked with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Who asked you to be a father without acting like one? Since the child was born, Jinxiu and Huamei have been taking care of her. What have you been doing?" Liu Zonghe glared at Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng couldn't find a way to retort, as he truly hadn't helped much with Xiao Jin Hua's care.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng's troubled expression, Su Huamei quickly interjected, "Uncle, Nanfeng has his own matters. Xiao Jin Hua is so adorable, I love taking care of her. Besides, we're all family, why fuss over these things?"
"Ah, Huamei, you are truly beautiful and kind-hearted. Even now, you're defending this rascal. But you're right, we are all family, family." Liu Zonghe said with a chuckle.
Su Huamei seemed to realize what she had said, her cheeks flushing red.
Liu Zonghe casually glanced at Liu Nanfeng beside her.
Catching each other's gaze, both of them curved their lips into a faint smile.