7. Sleeping with Mother
After finally giving Qian Qian a bath, Jiang Zhi was left breathless and exhausted.
Her fair little face was flushed red, looking like a cherry from the soaking.
Bathing small children is truly troublesome, especially when washing their hair, it can be incredibly exhausting.
If foam accidentally gets into her eyes, the little girl would get scared and cry like a baby.
If someone didn’t know better, they might think she was abusing a child.
Jiang Zhi still remembers Qian Qian’s cries at that time:
“Mom… Mom… Will Qian Qian never be able to see again, woo woo…”
What can I say…
It’s kind of cute, but also a bit annoying.
Fortunately, Jiang Zhi has always had a good temper; if it were someone else, they would probably just give her a knock on the head.
“Whoosh whoosh~”
The hairdryer was blowing.
“Alright, go play.”
“Okay!”
After drying Qian Qian’s hair and her own, Jiang Zhi suddenly yawned.
She was tired.
Jiang Zhi found it a bit strange.
In the past, she wouldn’t even call it staying up late unless it was past three in the morning.
Sometimes she’d see something interesting on her phone and, when the mood struck, she would…
However, now that she had become a woman, it was just after dark, and she was already feeling a bit sleepy.
That being said…
Isn’t there no restriction on women doing that kind of thing?
Damn!
What am I thinking!
Jiang Zhi’s face turned bright red as she shook her head, trying to drive those wicked thoughts from her mind.
That kind of thing… should really be off-limits…
Regardless, it was still a bit early to sleep, and although she was tired, she could manage to hold on.
Jiang Zhi returned to the bedroom, half-lying on the bed, and opened her notebook to start typing.
Leaving Qian Qian alone in the living room watching TV.
Her ongoing plan was to write two chapters a day, 2500 words each, and if it exceeded that, she wouldn’t write anymore.
The aim was to oscillate on the edge of perfect attendance.
But that was before.
Now, Jiang Zhi had the heavy burden of raising a child and naturally couldn’t remain as laid-back as before.
Still, the same saying applied: a little income is better than none.
So today, Jiang Zhi typed particularly hard, finally stopping after finishing five chapters.
Burned out!
She checked the time.
She was surprised to find that four hours had passed without her realizing.
Indeed… if you don’t push yourself a bit, you’ll never know your potential.
Jiang Zhi promptly opened her writer’s assistant to upload a chapter of 3500 words.
Then she clicked on the fan group and @everyone.
I am a pigeon: Y’all don’t bother me, I’m done with batches now.
I am a pigeon: Three chapters updated today, please check!
These two messages acted like a boulder thrown into the deep sea, bringing the previously submerged group members back to the surface.
Starting to save the world: ??????
Time Long Song: Three chapters? Did something happen at the author’s house?
u meh u meh: I just topped up 600 fire rolls yesterday; did the author peek at my phone?
A stick of huazi: Sorry.
XXX: ?
I love eating shit: ?
Can I book Shanghai teacher: ?
Bella’s dog: Treasure it, after 11 o’clock this group will…
I play Tieba: It’s chaotic.
Jiang Zhi silently scrolled through the chat logs, unable to help but smile a little.
These silly group friends…
Could they please focus on her novel for once?!
Just as she was about to close her notebook, a friend whose avatar was Ultraman sent her a message.
Simai Lu: Why did you update so many chapters today?
This person was also a fan of hers.
To add Jiang Zhi on QQ, you either had to click well together, or reach a certain level of familiarity.
Simai Lu was different.
He had both.
To be honest, Jiang Zhi wasn’t quite clear if Simai Lu was a boy or a girl.
Only, since he played games well and occasionally sent colorful pictures, she had assumed he was male.
I am a pigeon: Ah, life forces me.
Simai Lu: Did something happen at home?
I am a pigeon: emmm… more or less.
Having suddenly gained a daughter and changed personalities isn’t nothing!
Simai Lu: Do you need me to support you a bit?
Seeing this message, Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but shout “Wow!”
This guy is no joke; he’s genuinely rich.
Simai Lu often did this, speaking just the right amount, but could unexpectedly go big.
I am a pigeon: Let’s skip it for now.
Simai Lu: Really not needed?
I am a pigeon: Really not, you can just help me carry a few CPs later.
Simai Lu: Log in?
I am a pigeon: No need to hurry…
Just as Jiang Zhi was about to say something more, she heard Qian Qian calling from outside.
She slowly typed.
I am a pigeon: There’s something, going offline first.
Simai Lu: Hmm.
As soon as Jiang Zhi closed the notebook, she heard the door squeak open.
The little girl was struggling to carry a blanket bigger than herself, standing in the doorway.
“What’s this…?”
“Qian Qian wants to sleep with Mommy today!”
“Eh?”
Seeing her mother’s surprised expression, Qian Qian added, “Does Mommy not want to hug Qian Qian?”
Clearly, she had always slept with Mommy and Daddy before.
Mommy on the left, Daddy on the right, she could hug whoever she wanted, but she preferred hugging Mommy.
Sometimes, however, Mommy and Daddy would make her sleep on the very edge…
She didn’t know why.
Jiang Zhi scratched her head, feeling a bit troubled. Did they really have to sleep together?
Yesterday, she had to persuade Qian Qian to sleep alone, and unexpectedly, she hadn’t forgotten about it.
It felt a little strange for a man to hug a little girl to sleep.
But now she was a woman…
And letting a six-year-old sleep alone did seem a bit too harsh.
Looking at Qian Qian’s expectant eyes, Jiang Zhi ultimately couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
“Well, alright then.”
She smiled and patted the bed, “Just remember, no snoring when we sleep, okay?”
“Qian Qian won’t snore!”
Qian Qian’s face lit up as she hugged the blanket and jumped onto the bed, lying in her mother’s arms.
“Mommy, tell a story!”
Jiang Zhi, feeling a bit painful, pushed the little girl to the side, “Ouch, ouch, ouch… What do you want to hear?”
“The Big Bad Wolf and the Seven Little Cows!”
Jiang Zhi (stunned): …
To be honest, are future fairy tales that free-spirited?
——
The next morning, just as dawn broke.
Jiang Zhi walked down the empty street with a bag of steaming soup dumplings in her left hand.
You might wonder why this right-handed person is using her left hand?
It’s not because of some little girl with horrible sleeping habits who likes to kick off the blanket!
Her right arm was still numb.
Although she complained in her heart, thinking of the chubby little dumpling sleeping peacefully made her smile involuntarily.
Qian Qian is so cute, so adorable!
Now she could somewhat understand how it felt to be a parent.
By the way, is Qian Qian awake now?
She should hurry back; otherwise, Qian Qian will definitely be unhappy again.
Jiang Zhi quickened her pace.
As she entered the familiar hallway, she was climbing the stairs while reaching for her keys when she froze at the sight at her doorstep.
Lin Shuwan!
What is she doing here?
Jiang Zhi was shocked and held her breath instinctively, frantically hiding to the side.
Cannot…
She mustn’t see me like this…
Lin Shuwan was gently knocking on the door: “Jiang Zhi? Jiang Zhi, are you home?”
“Jiang Zhi?”
Of course, no one answered.
The woman’s expression suddenly darkened, biting her lip, her voice filled with disappointment: “Where could she have gone…”
“Idiot.”
“We had clearly made an appointment…”
Lin Shuwan didn’t linger at the door for too long; the person she wanted to see wasn’t there, and staying here was meaningless.
“…..”
Watching Lin Shuwan’s lonely back, Jiang Zhi felt a complicated mix of emotions.
She knew very well why the other party came to find her.
She had stood up their long-awaited date; not only did she stand them up, but she didn’t even provide an explanation.
Even now, she hadn’t sent Lin Shuwan a message.
But what could she say?
That I’ve turned into a woman, and now have to take care of a daughter, which is why I missed our date?
Jiang Zhi didn’t want to tell anyone about her becoming a woman.
Her thoughts were actually quite simple.
Her transformation was so sudden; who knew if she might turn back again one day?
At that time…
Jiang Zhi didn’t want to think further.
She had enough troubles to handle herself, without the need to think about all these unnecessary things.
Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, gave her cheeks a hard slap, and tried to cast the bad mood aside.
Children are very sensitive.
If Qian Qian were to sense anything, it wouldn’t be good.
