Ch 125: Xiao Letao And Zhuang Yannian
“Xiao Yao…”
A voice called out to her from the distance.
Xiao Yao followed the sound. A man’s figure walked past a dimly lit street lamp and came to her door.
Xiao Yao was stunned. She hadn’t expected to see Mu Yang here.
How did he know where she lived? Even Xiao Qiang had never been here. Did he ask Jiang Lufang?
Although Mu Yang and Xiao Qiang were now together, their past with Xiao Yao was recent, and this unexpected meeting was inevitably awkward.
After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yao subconsciously glanced back at her door. Zhuang Lingyun hadn’t come out yet, so she had to grit her teeth and casually greet him, “Hi, Mu Yang, what brings you here?”
“I came to see you.” Mu Yang held a bag of gifts and raised it towards her. “I came this morning, but saw you were busy, so I went back. I passed by just now, so I came again. I wanted to thank you for protecting Xiao Qiang the other day. She told me about it. This is a gift from Xiao Qiang. She asked me to give it to you.”
Xiao Yao looked at the gift box; she couldn’t tell what it was, but since it was from Xiao Qiang—although this was unlikely—Xiao Yao still accepted it, and chuckled lightly, “It’s nothing, you’re too kind. Would you like to come in for a while?”
Mu Yang glanced into the half-opened crack in the door behind Xiao Yao. As he hesitated, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a tall, stern-looking man walked out with a shawl, which he draped over Xiao Yao’s shoulders.
His gaze swept towards Mu Yang, indifferent, expressing neither happiness nor anger; there was no emotional fluctuation. It was as if he were looking at an insignificant object, completely unconcerned.
Under that gaze, Mu Yang’s face flushed crimson. Thinking of his past foolish actions, he felt ashamed.
“No, I’ll go.” Leaving these hasty words, Mu Yang turned and fled in embarrassment.
Xiao Yao raised an eyebrow, looking at Mu Yang, then at Zhuang Lingyun beside her, “Did you glare at him?”
“…”
“It’s like you scared him away?”
“Am I that frightening?” Zhuang Lingyun smiled faintly. “Since he came to deliver something, why didn’t he leave after delivering it? Was he supposed to stay for tea?”
This time, Xiao Yao was speechless. She really did just want to politely invite him to sit and have some tea. But then again, these two men were now brothers-in-law, bound to see each other often. With their relationship like this, she didn’t know what to say.
After Grandmother passed away, Third Uncle’s family continued their behavior, offending many relatives, and the Xiao family rarely gathered together.
With a sigh, she dismissed the thought. She casually handed Mu Yang’s gift to Zhuang Lingyun, who threw it into the house and closed the door, half-embracing her shoulder as they strolled through the park.
Under the night sky, the European-style streetlights in the park were lit, casting a dim yellow light, and many people were walking and strolling along the paths.
Xiao Yao, arm in arm with Zhuang Lingyun, casually asked, “You were so busy today, how did you find time to choose so many clothes?”
“I ordered them online; it’s very simple. Have you looked at the clothes? How’s the quality?”
“They’re quite good, but there are too many. I barely managed to fill the wardrobe; there’s no space for the shoes. I’ll have to order a separate shoe rack.”
“Just do what you think is best; let me know if you need anything.”
Xiao Yao nodded in agreement, then suddenly remembered something, “Oh, have you decided on the names?”
Zhuang Lingyun chuckled and nodded, taking a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Xiao Yao, “I was just about to give this to you. Take a look.”
It was exquisitely done; Xiao Yao dared not apply much force, carefully and gently unfolding it. There were only two names on the paper.
Xiao Letao.
Zhuang Yiannian.
Xiao Yao paused at the Xiao surname, “Why is one of them my surname?”
“Many families with two children do this now. Don’t you like it?” Although they registered their marriage, their household registration books were not in the same book, still separate, so the two children, with two different surnames, were registered in two separate household registration books.
It’s a bit troublesome, but many families are like this now. Is it a trend? Zhuang Lingyun thought Xiao Yao would like it, so he decided on the names like this.
Xiao Yao was just surprised; she hadn’t considered this issue.
But she repeated Xiao Letao…Xiao Letao, it sounded quite nice, the more she read it, the more euphonious it became.
“Is Yiannian Fubao’s name?”
Zhuang Lingyun nodded, “It means longevity.”
“Xiao Letao, Zhuang Yiannian…” Xiao Yao clicked her tongue, “The Professor is indeed a Professor. The names are so different from what ordinary people would choose. They sound so nice!”
That’s natural. For these two names, the gifts Zhuang Lingyun sent were quite expensive. But he didn’t need to mention this to Xiao Yao. They chatted for a while about what had happened today and what they needed to do tomorrow.
They roughly planned it out, each taking on their respective responsibilities.
After autumn arrived, the temperature difference between day and night was significant. It rained heavily at night, and when they woke up and went out in the morning, they shivered from the cold.
Xiao Yao first went to the flower shop, choosing many fresh flowers and air-purifying plants. She had them delivered to Tan Mansion before the delivery staff finished work. Xiao Yao planned to decorate the two little ones’ rooms.
Only the two of them knew about their adoption. Xiao Yao hadn’t had time to tell Jiang Lufang yet.
She came early this morning because Xiao Yao wanted Jiang Lufang to accompany her to a housekeeping agency to choose two nannies with discerning eyes to take care of the two little ancestors who were about to come home tomorrow.
Jiang Lufang smiled and nodded in agreement at Xiao Yao’s important task.
Jiang Lufang was a hundred percent satisfied with Xiao Yao’s adoption. Since she couldn’t have children herself, facing reality, she shouldn’t spend her life alone; children were essential.
If it were up to her, she would have adopted children long ago. With children, the marital relationship could be more stable, even if they weren’t her own. This responsibility could not be avoided. Besides, Zhuang Lingyun was not one to shirk responsibility; Jiang Lufang always had a good impression of him.
Jiang Lufang’s idea was to hire a nanny to take care of Yiannian, providing three meals a day and picking him up from school. As for Xiao Letao, Jiang Lufang wanted to help Xiao Yao take care of her, saving the cost of hiring another person. Moreover, the baby was so young and couldn’t speak yet, so it was better for her to take care of her.
Xiao Yao was naturally very happy. Giving her mother something to do would prevent her from overthinking, and having a child to cheer her up would improve her mood, and a good mood would lead to better health.
The two women hit it off and went to the housekeeping agency, quickly choosing a nanny they liked, who would start working tomorrow.
After sending Jiang Lufang home, Xiao Yao went to a maternity and baby store in the mall and bought some daily necessities, such as milk powder and bottles. Everything was in pairs, and the items she chose were all high-end. The saleswoman, seeing a big customer, smiled the whole time, recommending and introducing products to Xiao Yao.
In the end, she had a whole car full of items and returned home happily.
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