Chapter 259: Worried About Gains and Losses
Ling cried loud enough to bring the house down.
Nestled in Mei Wanying’s arms, she kicked her little feet at Pei Yan nonstop. "I don’t want you home anymore..."
When Daddy wasn’t home, no one ever talked about making her sleep by herself.
’Having Daddy home isn’t good at all!’
He was always hogging Mommy, sticking to her side at meals and bedtime.
She already let him have his way and didn’t make a fuss about it.
And what did she get in return? Daddy wanted to kick her out and make her sleep on her own.
’Bad Daddy!’
’He’s so mean!’
Ling sobbed. "Mommy, let’s go back to our hometown. We don’t want Daddy anymore..."
Mei Wanying stroked her little head. "If you still say that tomorrow, I’ll take you back to Jiangnan."
Ling declared, "I will!"
A chill went down Pei Yan’s spine. "If you two leave, what will I do?"
’He didn’t want to be separated from Ah Yin, either...’
Ling wailed, "You’re mean, Daddy! We’re going home, and we’re not playing with you anymore!"
Pei Yan wanted to say a few words in his defense.
But before he could speak, the little girl twisted around and flopped back into Mei Wanying’s arms, refusing to acknowledge him.
She left him with nothing but the back of her head.
It wasn’t that Pei Yan was being heartless and forcing Ling to be independent. The truth was, she was so lively and active that she was a restless sleeper.
Sometimes she’d start the night at the head of the bed and end up at the foot by morning.
She slept sprawled out in every direction and always kicked off her blankets.
With Mei Wanying pregnant, Pei Yan was afraid his daughter might kick her. He felt he had no choice but to suggest they sleep separately.
Since the day she was born, Lingling had almost never been apart from Ah Yin.
That one time when he and Ah Yin had to leave home for a while to lure out Pei Yu, Lingling had refused to drink her milk or sleep, losing several pounds in the process.
After that, Ah Yin doted on her daughter even more.
Only on certain occasions would they settle Lingling in the adjacent room.
Pei Yan doted on his daughter, too, but he had to be the bad guy in this situation.
If Lingling accidentally kicked and hurt Ah Yin, it would be too late for regrets.
Seeing his daughter’s extreme reaction, Pei Yan reflected that perhaps he had been too hasty.
He tried to bargain with Ling. "How about we set up a little bed for you in our room?"
Ling’s tiny body stiffened for a moment. Her little ears perked up; she was clearly listening.
The corners of Pei Yan’s lips curved up.
’The daughter Ah Yin gave me is so adorable,’ he thought.
’Just like her mother was as a little girl.’
Ling was waiting for what her daddy would say next, but he fell silent.
This made her cry all over again in frustration.
She smeared a mess of snot and tears all over Mei Wanying’s fresh nightgown.
Hearing the crying, Little Mei Hua began to pace anxiously. Unable to restrain itself, it leaped gracefully onto the carved canopy bed.
It stretched out a small paw and gently touched Ling’s head.
It even tried to lick her hair.
With one large hand, Pei Yan scooped up the little troublemaker and held it in his arms.
The Little Raccoon let out a few MEOWS.
Ling turned her head and saw this. She decided her daddy wasn’t just a bully to people, he bullied little raccoons, too.
’Daddy is the worst!’
Her big, round eyes glared as she put on her fiercest expression. "Little Mei Hua, bite Daddy!"
Pei Yan was speechless.
’So much for his sweet, caring daughter,’ he thought ruefully.
"I’ll get a little bed for you and put it right here in the room, so you won’t be separated from Mommy."
Ling replied, "I want to sleep in the big bed."
Pei Yan said, "Then Mommy and I will sleep in the little bed."
Ling insisted, "I want to sleep with Mommy."
Pei Yan asked, "But Mommy has a baby in her tummy. What if you accidentally kick her?"
Ling shot back, "And you won’t kick her, Daddy?"
Pei Yan was speechless again.
’He was a grown man who slept soundly and didn’t move around. How could he possibly kick anyone?’
He changed tactics and started coaxing the child. "Do you want to protect Daddy and Mommy?"
"I do!"
Ling’s answer was crisp and decisive.
A flicker of a smile danced in Pei Yan’s eyes.
He gestured to a spot where he planned to put the little bed, right next to their own canopy bed.
This would allow Ling to be right beside them without obstructing Mei Wanying’s way.
"You can sleep in the little bed and guard Mommy and Daddy. If a burglar breaks in, you just have to shout."
Ling felt that something wasn’t quite right, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
She furrowed her little brow, not immediately agreeing to her daddy’s plan.
Pei Yan raised an eyebrow. ’She’s growing up,’ he thought. ’Not so easy to fool anymore.’
He leaned his head against his daughter’s small shoulder. "It’s so wonderful to have our Lingling. Now Mommy and Daddy have someone to love and protect us."
These words instantly stirred Ling’s sense of responsibility.
She wiped away her tears with her small hand. "Daddy, I’ll protect you both!"
’If a real burglar comes in, I’ll shout for help, and the guards outside will hear me.’
’Then our whole family will be saved!’
Striking while the iron was hot, Pei Yan immediately ordered servants to bring the small bed into their bedchamber.
After it was made, they moved Ling’s favorite blanket over to it.
By the time everything was settled, the night had grown late.
Ling was a sound sleeper and had already drifted off.
Pei Yan’s large hand rested on Mei Wanying’s lower abdomen, where their second child was growing.
The thought alone felt miraculous.
He asked Mei Wanying, "Does your belly hurt?"
’The baby is growing in Ah Yin’s belly day by day. It must be stretching her skin and making her uncomfortable, right?’
Mei Wanying, having already given birth once, was experienced and had a much calmer mindset this time.
Pei Yan hadn’t been by her side for the last pregnancy, so it was only natural for him to be curious about these things.
She explained patiently, "In the early stages, I might have morning sickness. I’ll be sensitive to all sorts of smells, my food cravings will become particular, and I might even get short-tempered."
Pei Yan’s palm moved to rest on Mei Wanying’s waist. "Do whatever you want to do. If you’re upset about anything, you can take it out on me. Don’t keep it bottled up inside."
Even a healthy person can make themselves sick by bottling up their anger.
Ah Yin was pregnant and more vulnerable than usual; she couldn’t be allowed to suffer any grievances.
As long as Ah Yin didn’t leave him, he could handle whatever moods she threw at him, good or bad.
The only thing he couldn’t accept was Mei Wanying not wanting him.
Pei Yan added, "You can’t leave me."
He was always so insecure.
Mei Wanying kicked him playfully in annoyance, but he caught her calf between his legs.
Every muscle in his body was hard as a rock.
With just a little bit of pressure, he held Mei Wanying completely still.
Frustrated, Mei Wanying grabbed his ear and twisted, muttering, "You men are all liars. You say I can do whatever I want, but you won’t even let me kick you!"
Pei Yan let her.
’Ah Yin had only ever pulled his ear, and no one else’s.’
’This was great!’
In the past, at a moment like this, Pei Yan would have already made love to Mei Wanying.
But times were different now. Ah Yin had a little one in her belly.
The Imperial Physician had specifically advised them to abstain from intercourse during this stage of the pregnancy.
Holding his beloved woman in his arms, it was impossible for Pei Yan not to be aroused, but his fear of hurting Mei Wanying and the baby was greater.
He held her, but for once, he didn’t use his strength to pin her, leaving Mei Wanying space to move.
Pei Yan placed a kiss on her forehead. "I want to hear more. What happens in the middle and later stages?"
He had already missed out once, and no matter how hard he tried, he could never make up for that lost time.
This time, he was going to be by Ah Yin’s side through it all.
Since Pei Yan was willing to learn about these things, Mei Wanying naturally wouldn’t push him away.
Creating a new life was a matter for both of them, and he deserved to be a part of it.
By contributing, he would form a deeper bond with their children.
And that was a good thing.