One year later!
The back garden of Champs-Élysées is now like a large, incredibly noisy "baby daycare center".
Lu Qingzhou was wearing comfortable loungewear, her hair slightly disheveled from being pulled by several little hands.
He was sitting in the middle of a picnic mat on the lawn with a look of utter despair.
On his lap, to his left, sat his one-year-old twin brother, Lu Chen (nicknamed Chenchen), who was full of curiosity about the world and could never sit still.
She's trying to pull off her dad's glasses and use them as toys; to her right is her twin sister Lu Xi (nicknamed Xi Xi), who is also one year old and pouting as she prepares to cry, because her teething biscuit fell to the ground.
In front of him,
Two-year-old Lu Lang (nicknamed Langlang) held up a toy excavator, making "whoosh whoosh whoosh" sounds to imitate the engine, and circled around his father frantically, occasionally "accidentally" bumping into Lu Qingzhou's leg.
Two-year-old Lu Yue (nicknamed Yueyue) sat quietly to the side, but tightly clutched a drool-covered plush rabbit in her hand, its ears being enthusiastically chewed on.
Three-year-old Tangtang (Lu Niantang) is full of energy, chasing her older sister Zhouzhou all over the yard, calling out in her childish voice, "Sister! Sister! Wait for Tangtang!"
Zhouzhou is like a reliable little adult. Although he runs fast, he always stops to wait for his sister or holds her little hand to play together.
What made Lu Qingzhou's scalp tingle the most was Lu Yu'an (nicknamed An'an), one of Mu Shaohua's twin sons who had just turned one year old and was currently lying on his back, tugging at his ear with his little hands.
The other twin son, Lu Yule (nicknamed Lele), was being held by the nanny, staring with wide, round eyes at his older brother "bullying" his father.
"Wow--!"
Xi Xi's crying finally broke out because her brother Chen Chen had taken away her last cookie when she wasn't paying attention.
"Waaah!" Xi Xi cried even harder after her cookies were taken away.
"Daddy! Chenchen is stealing Xixi!" Although Yueyue was quiet, she reported it very promptly.
"Dad! My car!" Langlang cried out as the excavator wheels got stuck.
An'an's ears were being pulled so hard on my back that they hurt a little.
Tangtang ran over and jumped onto Lu Qingzhou's lap: "Daddy, hug me!"
Lu Qingzhou could only hear a cacophony of wails, cries for "Dad," complaints, and the clatter of toys all around him.
He felt as if he had fallen into an encirclement of cute but extremely dangerous little monsters, each of which was launching a sonic attack at him that required his attention.
He was flustered, trying to soothe one and comfort the other, picking up Tangtang...
I had to pry Chenchen's hand off from grabbing the cookie, and also prevent An'an on my back from pulling off his ear.
At the same time, he also had to deal with Langlang's car problems and Yueyue's complaints... Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The expression on his face could only be described as "utterly miserable".
He looked up at the glass sunroom not far away.
Inside the sunroom, the sound of the mahjong machine shuffling tiles filled the air, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Five elegant mothers, Su Qingyao, Mu Shaohua, Leng Yue, Chen Xiaoxi, and Lin Yinuo, were sitting around a mahjong table, leisurely sipping flower tea, cracking melon seeds, and gracefully touching the tiles with their fingers.
They would occasionally glance up at the man in the garden, who was being "besieged" by the children and looked disheveled, and exchange a knowing yet mischievous smile.
"Oh dear, poor Lu," Mu Shaohua said casually, glancing at the cards on the table.
"Is he pitiful? No, he couldn't stop himself back then."
"Pong!" Su Qingyao calmly pushed over two cards.
"Sister Qingyao has good luck." Leng Yue smiled and played a card.
"Hey, Yueyue, it's your turn. Focus," Chen Xiaoxi reminded her.
Lin Yinuo smiled and said, "Brother Qingzhou seems a little too busy?" She watched as Lu Qingzhou tried to "unload" An'an off his back, but An'an hugged him even tighter and giggled.
Mu Shaohua's face radiated happiness and satisfaction as she played cards, saying with a smile, "Let him keep busy, let him practice his childcare skills. We sisters rarely have a moment of leisure, let's have a good time." She had just finished her postpartum confinement, and her complexion was rosy. Looking at her twin sons "torturing" their father in the distance, her eyes were full of gentle smiles.
Lu Qingzhou finally managed to calm the crying Xi Xi down a bit, and then "took" An An off his back and put her on the mat.
Then I went to help Lang Lang with his excavator. When I looked up, I met the leisurely gazes of his wives in the sunroom, who seemed to be watching a show.
He was immediately extremely depressed!
"Hey! Ladies!"
Lu Qingzhou couldn't help but shout, her voice filled with accusation, "Can you really bear to watch your husband suffer here alone? The children belong to everyone!"
Without even looking up, Su Qingyao slowly played a card: "President Lu, the capable should do more. Taking care of the child is also an important job. Enjoy life."
Lu Qingzhou was speechless.
Mu Shaohua gently added, "Yes, Xiao Lu, a father's presence is very important for a child's growth. Keep it up!"
Lu Qingzhou was speechless.
Leng Yue smiled and said, "Honey, I think you're doing a great job! It's much more fun than meetings at the company, isn't it?"
Lu Qingzhou was speechless.
Chen Xiaoxi suppressed a laugh: "Qingzhou, hang in there, they'll be fine when they're a bit older."
Lu Qingzhou: ......
Lin Yinuo, being the most "kind," waved to him: "Brother Qingzhou, hang in there for ten more minutes! This game is almost over!"
Lu Qingzhou was heartbroken...
Looking at their relaxed and carefree demeanor, and then at the group of energetic and diverse little devils beside her, Lu Qingzhou...
Especially Chenchen and Xixi, who had been quiet for only two seconds before trying to crawl away again, and An'an, who was grabbing his trouser leg again...
He let out a long, deep sigh, resignedly scooped up Chenchen, who was about to climb off the mat, while gently stopping Tangtang, who wanted to chase after her older sister, with his foot.
"Sigh... these days... are much harder than dealing with business rivals back in the day..."
Lu Qingzhou made a face and muttered to himself.
This must be what a sweet burden feels like.
He looked up at the sky, hoping that those "hands-off managers" in the sunroom would have a change of heart.
The "symphony" in the garden continues, and the clatter of mahjong tiles in the sunroom remains crisp.
This chaotic yet incredibly fulfilling and lively life is precisely the kind of everyday life that Lu Qingzhou once fought so hard for, and now enjoys immensely.
but,
At this moment, Lu Qingzhou just wanted to shout, "Help me..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
