Deep in Everyday Life
As Xiaoxi babbled and took her first steps, the days flowed by like a gurgling stream. The two-story building gradually became filled with the true homely atmosphere of home.
Lin Xueyin has completely adapted to the role of mother and has kept the house in perfect order. She is no longer the porcelain doll that needs to be carefully cared for, but the gentle and tenacious hostess of this family.
She would personally pick fresh fruits and vegetables, learn to make various soups with the nanny, and on sunny afternoons, she would hold Xiaoxi in the yard to identify flowers and plants, and recite nursery rhymes to her softly.
Song Zhiyuan's changes were more subtle, yet pervasive. In the corner of his study, baby toys and files coexisted harmoniously. He was used to returning home late at night to find a warm light on in the living room and a meal left for him on the dining table.
He even started to complain that the pajamas Lin Xueyin bought for him were not soft enough. Although his way of making suggestions was still the stiff "change it next time", this subtle complaint itself was a manifestation of an intimate relationship.
His life trajectory, as never before, revolved around this small home and the two people in it. He turned down many social engagements unless absolutely necessary.
Sometimes, when Lin Xueyin woke up in the middle of the night, she would find that he was not asleep, but leaning against the headboard, quietly looking at Xiaoxi sleeping in the crib in the middle by the dim night light, or... looking at her. His eyes were deep and focused, with a kind of quiet warmth that she had gradually become familiar with.
That night, Xiaoxi was a bit restless and kept crying. Lin Xueyin held her and walked back and forth to comfort her, her arms sore from exhaustion. Song Zhiyuan put down the documents in his hand, walked over, and naturally extended his hand: "Give it to me."
His movements were still not very skillful, but his arms were steady and strong. He lifted his crying little daughter upright, letting her little head rest on his broad shoulders, and then paced slowly and steadily in the limited space of the study.
He did not hum a soft lullaby like Lin Xueyin did, but just walked in silence, occasionally patting the child's back very gently with his big hands.
Oddly enough, under his steady rhythm and reassuring atmosphere, Xiaoxi's crying gradually subsided and turned into sobbing of grievance. Finally, she leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep with tears in her eyes.
Lin Xueyin leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold. Under the warm yellow light, the tall man cradled the delicate, soft baby, his hardened profile appearing unusually soft in the light and shadow. A mixture of comfort, emotion, and a strange thrill filled her heart.
He seemed to sense something, turned his head and met her gaze.
There were no words, but a silent understanding and warmth flowed in the air.
He carefully placed the sleeping Xiaoxi back into the crib and covered her with a blanket. His movements were so gentle that they were completely different from his usual decisiveness.
After doing all this, he walked in front of Lin Xueyin and looked down at her. His shadow completely enveloped her, bringing with it a familiar sense of oppression, but at this moment, this sense of oppression made her feel strangely at ease.
"Tired?" he asked, his voice sounding particularly low in the silent night.
Lin Xueyin shook her head gently and looked up at him. Under the light, his eyes were as deep as ever, but her shadow was reflected in them, clear and warm.
He stretched out his hand, but did not touch her. He just brushed away a strand of hair that was scattered on her cheek. His fingertips were slightly cool, but it made her ears slightly warm.
"Go to bed," he said.
These three plain words seem to carry a thousand pounds of weight. They represent care, protection, and a sense of belonging that needs no words.
Lin Xueyin nodded, turned and walked towards the bedroom. She could feel his eyes following her back.
Lying back on the bed, listening to his daughter's even breathing beside him and the sound of him flipping through documents in the outer study room, Lin Xueyin's heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and peace.
Those initial fears, resentments, and unwillingness seemed to have been smoothed out little by little in the ordinary life day after day, turning into more complex emotions rooted in the soil of reality.
She still couldn't tell whether it was love, but it was something deeper - dependence, habit, an alliance in nurturing life together, the warmth of cuddling each other in the darkness, and an inseparable bond accumulated from countless tiny moments.
She knew that the man outside might never learn the sweet words of romance, and his world was still filled with rules and games that she couldn't fully understand. But in this small world that belonged to the three of them, he was using his own way, clumsily but firmly, to build a fortress called "home."
And she is willing to be the most gentle and tenacious pillar in this fortress.
Deep in our daily lives, love may remain unspoken, but it has already quietly taken root and flourished in every silent guardianship, every clumsy attempt, and every following gaze. The future may still be full of storms, but right now, with the lights warm and people at peace, is the best time.
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