Chapter 189: What Does Si Xinyan Like to Eat

March fifteenth.

Her twentieth birthday was drawing closer and closer. In the blink of an eye, it was already her twentieth year in this world.

In the mirror stood a young woman in the bloom of youth, the last trace of childishness on her face about to fade away. If not for the slight baby fat lingering on her cheeks, still reminding her of her age, she might have been deceived by the faint sense of weariness hidden deep within her eyes.

The white bath towel slipped down under gravity.

The body beneath was even more fair and alluring.

She had seen this body countless times already, yet it stirred not the slightest ripple in her heart. Her jade-like fingers dabbed some body wash and slowly traced down along her slender waist.

The girl quietly gazed at the mist-covered mirror.

As her figure—enough to set one’s blood racing—gradually disappeared behind the fog, a trace of unclear emotion surfaced in her eyes.

Sha sha sha.

The sound of fingernails scraping against frosted glass.

Xi Zhiruo held a small duck in one hand while scratching at the outside of the glass door with the other. She stood on tiptoe, trying to force the door open.

“Zhizhi wants to bathe too… Mom.”

The sharp scraping sound sent chills down my spine.

‘Her nails need trimming.’

I quickly rinsed myself off, utterly helpless, and casually wrapped a towel around myself before pulling open the frosted glass door.

A cute little dumpling came into view, looking up at me expectantly.

What kind of child this big still insists on bathing with her mother every day?

I carried my daughter into the bathroom and set her down on a small stool. As always, she sat there properly and obediently, afraid that doing anything wrong might make me angry and stop me from helping her bathe.

I stood there for a long moment.

Then I sighed.

How could anyone possibly get angry at this?

Xi Zhiruo’s eyes sparkled, practically spelling out the words “I’m very well-behaved” across her face.

I put my hands on my hips, my tone slightly impatient. “Take off your dress yourself. I don’t need to teach you that again, right?”

It was something I had already taught her months ago.

If she dared to whine again, I might actually lose my temper.

“Zhizhi already knows how to change clothes.”

Like any other child, she slowly stretched out her arms, grabbed a corner of her dress, and successfully took it off.

She actually wanted to say she didn’t know how.

But recently, she had been dressing herself.

Xi Zhiruo pouted.

She didn’t want to grow up at all—she no longer received one hundred percent of the attention she used to.

“Alright.”

I turned on the faucet, letting hot water flow into the tub. After testing the temperature and waiting for it to warm up, I lifted her into the bath.

“Mom, duck—give me my little duck.”

Leaning against the edge of the tub, she reached toward the duck that had fallen on the floor earlier. I bent down, picked it up, and stuffed it into her arms before turning to prepare the body wash and shampoo.

Xi Zhiruo happily played in the water by herself.

In the living room.

Su Liumeng stared toward the bathroom.

She had personally watched Xi Zhiruo go in.

How should she describe her mood?

A little jealous.

But she couldn’t exactly be jealous of someone’s daughter.

She also wanted to bathe with the baby.

Su Liumeng looked longingly in that direction, feeling a little down.

What would happen if she knocked on the door now?

She would probably be kicked out by Si Xinyan.

Xi Zhiruo was extremely protective. When it came to bathing her daughter, she definitely wouldn’t want any outsider around.

Su Liumeng walked over to a flowerpot and plucked off a petal.

“She doesn’t like it.”

“She likes it.”

“She doesn’t like it.”

“She likes it.”

Annoyed, she threw away a handful of petals.

Does the baby actually like bathing with her?

‘She probably… does, right?’

Su Liumeng wasn’t entirely sure.

She could try next time. Maybe she would find out—and perhaps even unlock a new “location.”

Before marriage, Su Liumeng had imagined countless scenarios she might “unlock.”

So from the very beginning, she bought all kinds of extremely expensive carpets, covering nearly every corner of the house.

Unfortunately, none of those places had been “unlocked.”

Only the most basic one—the bed—had been used, which left Su Liumeng slightly regretful.

But that was in the past.

Back then, Xinyan had been shy and reserved. It was only natural she couldn’t open up in many situations.

Now, though, Xinyan was much more open. Maybe she had already met the conditions to unlock the next “location.”

As for what that location might be…

Su Liumeng first thought of the floor-to-ceiling window at midnight, then the kitchen in the early morning with an apron wrapped around her…

Or perhaps the carpet in the living room…

Her face gradually heated up, and she awkwardly squeezed her legs together.

‘No. I can’t keep thinking about this.’

‘This is dangerous.’

‘Feels like I’m walking right along the edge of something risky.’

There were still many people in the house right now.

The reason she thought Si Xinyan had changed a lot was because she had already noticed signs during the New Year at the Su Family. Later on, she could even carry their sleeping daughter into the room and spend time alone with Su Liumeng, releasing months of pent-up stress.

In the bathroom.

I tapped the little dumpling’s arm. “Alright, put your clothes on yourself. You can’t expect Mom to do everything.”

Xi Zhiruo clasped her small hands and spoke softly, “Zhizhi has been very good, but… I don’t want to move today. Please, Mom, help me.”

Always acting spoiled…

I gently pinched her cheek. “You’re just lazy. You want to play with your duck.”

Caught, her face flushed slightly. Since I hadn’t explicitly refused, it meant I had agreed. She lowered her head and obediently raised her arms, enjoying the gentle care meant only for her. The soft cotton nightdress slid down along her arms.

The cartoon-patterned sleep dress looked especially cute. Her short hair, just brushing her cheeks, had already returned to its soft, fluffy state. She had that irresistibly adorable quality unique to human children—something no one could ever refuse.

And yet, she was completely devoted to her mother. Her little mind was filled with thoughts of asking for hugs or figuring out how to act cute to receive more affection.

‘Hmph.’

‘Competing with Mom’s partner for affection is only natural.’

‘After all, I came first.’

‘Well… first into Mom’s belly,’ Si Xinyan silently corrected in her mind.

I carried my daughter to the bathroom door. “Go play outside. I need to rinse off again.”

After bathing her, I was covered in foam. Not washing again would feel uncomfortable.

Su Liumeng had already regained her composure. Seeing the little one run out, she casually handed over something.

It had just been delivered a few minutes ago—still very fresh.

Pomelo?

Xi Zhiruo tilted her head and instinctively glanced toward the glass door.

Her first thought was—

‘Does Mom like pomelo?’

As her mother’s precious daughter, she only knew that her mother liked hot pot and shredded potatoes.

Beyond that… she knew nothing.

This was a serious failure.

The little one began silently reflecting on herself.

‘How can I not even know what Mom likes to eat?’