Jiang Sixian spent over half a month recuperating in the hospital before Jiang Yi finally brought her and their baby home after confirming her full recovery.
During these weeks, Jiang Yi stayed by their side the entire time, dutifully taking care of them. Ning Wenying and Jiang Qionghua, who had initially worried the young couple might struggle with parenting, were thoroughly impressed by Jiang Yi’s competence during this period.
Because of this, Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying refrained from offering to take over childcare duties. Instead, they provided ample financial support and hired an experienced nanny to assist the young parents.
Only after ensuring Jiang Sixian’s complete recovery did Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying reluctantly bid farewell to their daughters and granddaughter, returning to Yuncheng.
Jiang Yi continued staying home with Jiang Sixian for some time. By December, Jiang Sixian stopped taking leave and returned to school to complete her final exams for the semester.
The capital’s winter was bitterly cold, so Jiang Yi rarely took the baby outside to avoid chills. However, on Christmas Day—which happened to be Jiang Yi’s birthday—Chen Wanzhou and the class monitor wanted to celebrate. Coincidentally, Jiang Sixian’s dormmates had just finished a major exam and wanted to unwind, so the two groups decided to have a joint dinner party.
With Jiang Yi handling childcare duties at home, she went out early that afternoon to reserve a private dining room. She had just settled in with the baby and started feeding little Qiji from a bottle when Chen Wanzhou and the monitor arrived.
The moment they entered, they saw Jiang Yi cradling little Qiji while feeding her. After exchanging greetings, the monitor eagerly pulled Chen Wanzhou over, reaching out to hold the baby: “Qiji Qiji…long time no see! Did you miss your godmother~”
Jiang Yi continued feeding while quipping, “What long time? Didn’t you just see her last weekend?”
The monitor clicked her tongue. “Don’t you know the saying ‘a day apart seems like three years’? So unromantic.” She then clapped at the drinking baby: “Come here, sweetie, let auntie hold you.”
The fair-skinned infant lay in Jiang Yi’s arms, tiny hands gripping the bottle as she suckled noisily. Hearing the monitor’s voice, she paused her drinking to stare wide-eyed at this strange auntie, her dark pupils darting about as if trying to place who this person was.
Seeing she’d stopped drinking, Jiang Yi took back the bottle and jiggled her gently, asking with a smile, “Do you want auntie to hold you, baby?”
The monitor looked smug. “Of course she does! She recognizes me! Hurry up, hand her over.”
Chen Wanzhou chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Recognizes you? Babies this small can’t possibly remember people.”
Undeterred, the monitor took the soft, fragrant bundle and began rocking her. “I don’t care, she knows me—she smiled at me last time.” She tickled the baby’s cheek, coaxing, “Come on baby, smile for me…smile…”
Little Qiji in her arms blinked up at her, then turned to look at Jiang Yi in apparent confusion. Under the gentle rocking, she suddenly opened her mouth and spat up a mouthful of milk.
The monitor froze. As she stared, the baby let out another wet “wah” and spat up more milk. Panicking, she bumped Jiang Yi’s shoulder urgently. “Jiang Yi! Your daughter! She’s…she’s spitting up milk!”
Jiang Yi glanced over, took the baby back, and calmly wiped Qiji’s mouth with a handkerchief. “It’s fine. She just drank too much and likes to play by spitting some out…”
Watching her practiced movements, the monitor gaped before finally giving a thumbs-up. “Damn, you’re good!”
Jiang Yi kept soothing the baby while giving her a puzzled look. “Huh? What’s so impressive?”
The monitor said admiringly, “Now I get why Sixian dared to get pregnant so young. With someone as reliable as you around, even I want to have a baby to play with.”
Jiang Yi rocked the baby helplessly. “I didn’t have a child just to play with her.”
The monitor replied with complete seriousness, “If having babies isn’t for playing with, then what’s the point?”
Jiang Yi was speechless. Play? Did she think raising a child was like playing The Sims or leveling up a game account?
Chen Wanzhou beside them stroked her chin thoughtfully. “So if I became as knowledgeable as Jiang Yi, would you agree to have a baby with me to play with too?”
The monitor’s face flushed red. “Who wants to have a baby with you! No way!”
Chen Wanzhou started bickering, “But you’re the one who said you wanted to play with a baby. If not with me, then with who?”
The monitor blushed harder. “Wow, you’re really shameless, aren’t you?”
Seeing them about to start flirting in front of her, Jiang Yi quickly intervened, “Okay okay, hold on—but can two alphas even have kids together?”
Chen Wanzhou immediately glared at her. “Of course we can! In vitro fertilization, hello? Are you discriminating against same-sex couples or something?”
Jiang Yi shrugged, bouncing the baby in her arms. “Didn’t say that. I’m gay too, remember?”
Chen Wanzhou paused, suddenly realizing that since both Jiang Yi and Jiang Sixian were girls, they technically counted as a same-sex couple too.
With this realization, Chen Wanzhou turned back to continue bickering with the monitor.
Amid their playful arguing, Jiang Sixian arrived with her three roommates after finishing exams. The moment she entered, little Qiji in Jiang Yi’s arms became active—kicking her limbs and twisting toward Jiang Sixian’s direction while making eager “ah-woo” noises.
Jiang Yi immediately stood with the baby, sighing, “Alright alright, Mommy’s here. I’ll take you to her.” She carried Qiji over to Jiang Sixian. “Your daughter missed you. Hold her.”
Instead of taking the baby immediately, Jiang Sixian opened her arms to hug Jiang Yi first, nuzzling her cheek. “Our daughter missed me, but did you?”
Their public display of affection drew a chorus of exaggerated groans from the room: “Ewwww…”
Completely oblivious to the single people’s suffering, Jiang Yi leaned in to kiss Jiang Sixian’s cheek. “I did.”
The newly arrived roommates protested through mouthfuls of dog food: “Okay, we get it, you’re in love, but must you rub it in our faces?”
“Come on birthday girl, let’s eat already!”
Jiang Yi agreed readily while resettling with the baby. Little Qiji squirmed in her arms, reaching insistently for Jiang Sixian. Since Jiang Sixian was still cold from outside, she removed her coat first and kissed the baby’s face. “Be good, Mommy will hold you in a bit.”
After soothing the child, she looked up at Jiang Yi with a smile. “Happy birthday, darling.”
Jiang Yi grinned back. “You too.”
With everyone present, Jiang Yi called for the meal to be served. Little Qiji became the group mascot, passed around among the doting “aunties.”
One roommate held the baby while making a solemn wish: “Now that we have Qiji here! Please bless me to pass all my finals!”
Jiang Yi nearly spat out her cola. She gave the roommate an incredulous look. “Wouldn’t studying Sixian’s notes work better? Why tell a baby who can’t even understand you?”
The roommate replied with complete seriousness, “You don’t get it—she’s no ordinary baby. She’s a miracle!”
Well…she was literally named Qiji (Miracle).
Jiang Yi wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words, finally saying, “Then…hold her more, I guess.”
The dinner proceeded merrily until everyone dispersed at 8:30pm.
On the way home, Jiang Yi carried the baby while complaining to Jiang Sixian about their friends treating Qiji like a lucky charm. Jiang Sixian listened with an amused smile. “And whose idea was it to name her ‘Miracle’ again?”
Jiang Yi suddenly realized and patted her chest in relief. “Good thing, good thing we didn’t make that her official name. Otherwise when she goes to school, her classmates would be plucking her bald for good luck.”
Jiang Sixian flicked Jiang Yi’s forehead. “Don’t say ‘bald’!”
Jiang Yi immediately pressed her lips together, then smiled and kissed Jiang Sixian in apology. “Okay, won’t say it. Whatever you say.”
They returned home all lovey-dovey to find little Qiji already asleep. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yi placed the baby in the crib and urged Jiang Sixian to shower.
Jiang Sixian caught her hand. “Together. Otherwise when she wakes up, we’ll be busy again.”
Jiang Yi considered this reasonable, so they quickly showered together.
When they emerged, Qiji was still sleeping peacefully. Relieved, Jiang Yi dried her hair and leaned over the crib. “Do you think she’ll wake up tonight?”
Jiang Sixian sat on the bed applying skincare products. “Very likely.” Babies who slept too much during the day tended to be active at night.
Jiang Yi sighed. “Then maybe I should sleep in the other room with her tonight. You need to study—can’t have her disturbing you.”
Jiang Sixian shook her head with a smile. “It’s fine, I’m prepared. Jiang Yi, come here…I’m in pain.”
Alarmed, Jiang Yi hurried over and sat beside her. “Where? What’s wrong?”
Jiang Sixian took her hand and lifted her nightgown, gazing at her with bright eyes. “Here…they’re swollen…”
Jiang Yi’s brain short-circuited. “Is it…because she didn’t drink much today?”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “Mmm, it’s been uncomfortable all day. Since our daughter didn’t finish her job…shouldn’t you help out?”
Blushing furiously, Jiang Yi obediently lowered her head as directed, stammering, “O-okay then…”
“Is this…my birthday present?”
Jiang Sixian stiffened, pulling Jiang Yi down onto the bed with a soft protest. “Of course not. How could this count as a present?”
Jiang Yi made an understanding noise but pressed further. “Then where’s my real present? You didn’t give me anything today.”
Jiang Sixian gasped softly, cradling Jiang Yi’s head. “Fine…consider this one present. You’ll get the rest…after you finish opening this one…”
“Mmm…that’s more like it…”
They embraced each other, their sleeping child nearby, as an atmosphere of intimate spring warmth enveloped them.
