Chapter 507 - 493-494: Dad
Feng Ling had made up her mind, but she knew integrating wouldn’t happen overnight. If she were overly enthusiastic or too proactive, people might question her motives, which would be counterproductive.
Time reveals a person’s true character. She believed that as long as she was sincere enough, as long as her intentions were genuine, she would eventually fit in. So, she wasn’t in a hurry.
Lost in these thoughts, Feng Ling didn’t notice Li Zhi stealing glances at her. She smiled faintly, thinking the atmosphere was quite nice.
Li Zhi breathed a long sigh of relief. Seeing Feng Ling’s reaction, he could tell she wasn’t angry and was okay with their jokes. ’This is good.’ He didn’t want his future wife to reject his social circle. A couple having their own private world was wonderful and sweet, but people are social creatures; you can’t live without friends. Otherwise, even the best couple would eventually get on each other’s nerves.
Take Sun Jiaming and Gu’er, or Dingzi and Marina, for example. They were very intimate and sweet in private, but they were also very happy spending time with friends.
Eating together, fooling around when they were free, and talking things over when issues came up. On a day off, the two of them could go out for a stroll, and the evenings would belong to their own sweet, private world. ’How wonderful would that be,’ he thought.
He felt Feng Ling had changed a lot during their trip to Russia, which lasted nearly a month. She was much more lively than before. The old Feng Ling had seemed to have a lot on her mind, as if she were carrying a thousand-pound weight, a heavy burden. But now, she seemed much more relaxed, and he liked this version of her more. He could tell Feng Ling had feelings for him too, but neither of them had breached the subject yet. Although Li Zhi was anxious, Feng Ling was only eighteen, not yet of legal age to marry. His plan was to get engaged to her this year, take her to meet his parents to set their minds at ease, and then, if Feng Ling had no objections, marry her next year. Her age would be just right, and he would no longer be a bachelor.
Gu’er saw the way the two of them were and understood immediately. He was interested, and she was willing. ’That’s good, too,’ she thought. ’They’re both following their hearts.’
"It was so lively a moment ago. Why is everyone so quiet now? What are you all up to?"
Cao Qiu asked as she walked over, holding her baby.
The group looked from one person to another, then all burst out laughing. Feng Ling’s lips also curled into a soft smile.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. By this time, little Jiji had already learned to crawl. Once he could crawl, Jiji became restless, crawling all over the place. Several people had to take turns watching him every day, afraid he might get bumped or bruised. In Cao Qiu’s words, she had no idea where the child got so much energy—he was never idle. But no matter how tired she was each day, she was happy.
Marina had given birth as well. As she had wished, it was a little girl. The baby was of mixed heritage, with black hair, brownish eyes, slightly deep-set eye sockets, a high nose bridge, and plump, rosy little lips. She was incredibly beautiful.
Dingzi, such a tough guy, felt his heart melt the moment he saw his daughter. His gaze became completely gentle.
Grandma Dingzi was a little disappointed. Deep down, she had been hoping for a boy. She was getting old; she didn’t know what tomorrow might bring, or if she would even wake up the next day. She wanted to see a great-grandson before she closed her eyes for good. That way, when she passed on, she would have good news to give Dingzi’s grandfather and parents.
But Grandma Dingzi wasn’t the type to be extremely biased toward boys over girls, and she wouldn’t treat Marina poorly just for having a daughter. She was still very good to her, buying chicken, pig trotters, and the like every day for Aunt Zhao to stew and deliver to the hospital. If Dingzi hadn’t been worried it would be too tiring for her, she would have gone to the hospital to care for Marina herself.
Marina stayed in the hospital for three days. Dingzi stayed with her overnight, and during the day, Gu’er and the others took turns keeping her company and helping out. Marina was still very cheerful; she couldn’t stop smiling every time she looked at her daughter. She even said she’d raise her for six months and then give Dingzi a son.
Gu’er truly admired her. It seemed Marina genuinely wanted to have many children. She thought it would be more lively and wonderful that way, and didn’t seem to consider at all how tiring or unmanageable having many kids would be. In that regard, Gu’er was no match for Marina.
Marina named her daughter Dian Dian. She thought the baby was just a tiny little speck when she was born, which was very cute, so she suggested the name Dian Dian to Dingzi. Dingzi had no objections, and Grandma Dingzi didn’t have any strong feelings either. And just like that, Dian Dian had her name.
"Jiji, this is your baby sister. Her name is Dian Dian. Look how small your sister is, how cute. When you grow up, you have to play with your sister, be good to your sister, and protect your sister, okay?"