Chapter 194: Weaning and Growth

Ye Xi’s expression turned blank.

What had she just heard?

The little girl looked about two or three years old… What had she just called her friend?

“Mm, Mama, hug.” I instinctively lifted her under the arms and let her sit on my lap.

The little one’s attention shifted quickly. She immediately became excited, studying the equipment in front of her. Her small hands grabbed at it seriously, then after a moment, she raised her head to look at me.

She wanted me to explain what these things did.

Ye Xi was still in shock.

Especially seeing the two of us already interacting so naturally.

Could it be…

She hadn’t misheard or misseen anything?

This little girl was really Xin Bao’s biological daughter?

“This is a 3D projection device. It connects externally to a game. Want to try it once?”

“Play, play, play! Zhizhi wants to play.” The little girl became even more excited.

“You can play, but there’s something else you haven’t done yet.” I took my daughter’s small hand and guided her to look at the person beside us. “What did Mom teach you? The first thing you do when you meet someone is greet them. She’s Mom’s friend. How can you act like you didn’t see her?”

Little Zhizhi blinked her big eyes in confusion.

When did Mom get another friend?

“Call her Sister Ye Xi.” I shook her little hand.

Xi Zhiruo thought for one second, then obediently said sweetly, “Hello, Sister Ye Xi.”

Ye Xi was almost melted on the spot. That soft, sweet voice and those big adorable eyes—who could resist that?

“Hello, hello, little one.”

Xi Zhiruo looked up at me, as if asking whether she had done it right.

I praised her, “Good job, baby.”

Ye Xi looked between the two of us. From the little girl’s face, she could vaguely see many traces of Xin Bao.

Now…

She still hadn’t recovered from the shock that her friend already had such a big daughter.

“Xin… Xin Bao.” She stammered.

If she remembered correctly, Xin Bao still had a few months before turning twenty.

Wouldn’t that mean—

She had already had such a big daughter at nineteen? One who could run, act cute, and act spoiled?

Ye Xi remained stunned for a long time.

Xi Zhiruo jumped down from my lap. Like all children, she found everything novel and waved her little hands in front of Ye Xi.

“Sister, sister.”

“Are you a statue?”

I walked over, picked my daughter up, and smiled apologetically at Ye Xi. “Don’t mind her. Sister is just thinking about something.”

“Oh, like when Mom stares at the sky in a daze?” Xi Zhiruo asked innocently.

“Yes.”

I had originally wanted Zhizhi to call her “Aunt,” but then I remembered Ye Xi was only eighteen. What young girl would like being called that?

Ye Xi gradually came back to her senses and smiled. “It’s fine. Kids say whatever they want.”

Her gaze shifted to the little girl in my arms, who was staring at her with bright black eyes. “Is she… your daughter?”

“She looks about two or three years old, right?”

Even though she already had a conclusion, she still asked.

“Two or three?” I shook my head. “Not that big. She just grows fast. She’s not even one and a half yet.”

“Yes!” Xi Zhiruo raised her little hand. “Zhizhi still has four months until one and a half.”

Ye Xi’s expression relaxed a lot, though it was still a bit strange.

I didn’t know how to explain it.

No matter how I explained, it wouldn’t make sense.

“Actually… Zhizhi was born prematurely.” I coughed lightly.

‘I… was premature??’

Xi Zhiruo’s eyes widened, her mouth forming an O shape.

When did that happen?

Mom, when did you learn to lie with a straight face?

Before she could protest, I covered her mouth.

Spell interrupted.

Ye Xi finally let out a sigh of relief.

That explanation made sense.

She had thought Xin Bao had been in an early relationship and pregnancy.

That would have been terrifying.

“Let’s keep playing,” Ye Xi said with a smile.

“Yay!” Zhizhi was the happiest.

I spoiled my daughter quite a bit and directly handed her control of the game.

Ye Xi looked doubtful.

A gaming genius?

She couldn’t see it yet.

“Charge!!!” the little one shouted excitedly, rushing forward and smashing the controls enthusiastically.

The first monster was taken down quickly.

Ye Xi’s eyes flashed with surprise.

Soon, her competitive spirit was ignited. She overtook Zhizhi and began fighting skillfully.

Zhizhi got upset and looked at me.

She was asking for help.

I held her small hand and guided her.

“You’re teammates. You should help each other, not compete.”

Zhizhi huffed. “She stole my monster.”

I let go. “It’s just a game.”

She pouted but didn’t argue further.

After two hours, the game ended.

“Games are fun,” she said while holding my hand.

“Then we’ll play again next time.”

“Yay.”

Zhizhi glared at Ye Xi. “Now do you believe I’m a gaming genius?”

“I believe it,” Ye Xi laughed.

Later, Ye Xi asked, “Is the baby’s father working?”

“I don’t have a father—” Zhizhi started.

I immediately covered her mouth again.

Second interruption of the day.

“Sorry,” Ye Xi said awkwardly.

I didn’t explain further.

“Let’s eat.”

“Hot pot,” I said.

Zhizhi’s eyes lit up.

At the restaurant, we ate happily.

Ye Xi watched us quietly.

Every time I served Zhizhi food, a gentle smile appeared on my face.

Ye Xi thought:

Xin Bao was really gentle.

Zhizhi was lively and talkative.

Their interaction felt warm and natural.

Zhizhi suddenly shouted, “Don’t look at me!”

I simply wiped her mouth. “It’s fine.”

Ye Xi said, “You really spoil her.”

I smiled lightly. “She’s my only baby.”

Zhizhi added proudly, “Mom is the gentlest person in the world.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” I pinched her cheek. “I’m not kind.”

But Zhizhi insisted.

“Mom just doesn’t realize it.”

I fell silent.

That night, we returned to the villa.

Zhizhi felt a little down.

“I didn’t find the last main ingredient… Am I useless?”

“How could you be?” I hugged her. “You’re the best.”

She calmed down.

Time passed.

August first.

It was the day of weaning.

Zhizhi felt sad.

But soon, she firmed her resolve.

‘I can’t stay a baby forever.’

‘I want to grow up and protect Mom.’

She clenched her fists under the sun.

Her gaze seemed to pierce through space.

That place…

Where she became the Ghost Infant.

Painful memories surfaced.

A cold smile appeared.

‘You’d better already be dead.’

‘Otherwise…’

“Mom.”

“I want you to come with me to find the last fragment of my memories.”

“This is important to me.”

“Of course.” I held her hand. “I’ll go anywhere with you.”

At that moment, Su Liumeng walked out, looking tired.

“I’ll be leaving for a while,” she said.

“I also have things to do,” I replied.

She sighed in relief and hugged me.

“Then let’s grow together.”

A small hand struggled between us.

“Can you not crush my hand?!”

I pushed Su Liumeng away. “I was holding her hand.”

Zhizhi buried her face in my neck, sulking.

Later, under the night sky, I held her and pointed at the stars, telling her their names.

She slowly fell asleep in my arms.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

And growing—little by little.