Chapter 94
Shortly after Tangyuan's one-month postpartum period, it was time for Iris's make-up exams. With one of them busy with work and the other with her studies, the couple eventually succumbed to reality and hired a second postpartum nanny to take care of her during the nights.
During the holiday, the Pan family went on a trip. Iris waited until they returned and had rested enough before she, Zhuang Zhuoyuan, and Jennie took the baby to their family's pawnshop. In Cantonese, there's a word called "当旺" (dāng wàng), which originates from the ancient custom of "pawning a baby." Parents, hoping for their child's safety and health, would bring their baby to a pawnshop, pretending to pawn the child. The pawnshop owner would accept the baby, take the child to the altar to kowtow, and write "根基长养，快高长大" (gēn jī cháng yǎng, kuài gāo gāng dà) on the fake pawn ticket. He would then stamp the ticket and the child's clothes, signifying the completion of the pawn transaction. When the baby was brought outside, the parents would receive the child and hand over a pre-prepared red envelope to the pawnshop. This completes the pawning and redemption ritual.
Jennie had never seen anything like it before, so naturally she wanted to come and see. Unfortunately, Edward was busy with work and returned to England after Tangyuan's one-month celebration. Zhuang Zhuoyuan had heard Iris mention this custom, but with his changed status and experiencing it firsthand, he had a much happier and more joyful new understanding. Holding the little one in his wife's arms, he couldn't help but tease him. The baby's features had grown much more defined, with more resemblance to him in his features, but his smile was still exactly like Iris's. He now especially felt the importance of family in his life.
Fu Zhi's mother adored the family and hurriedly urged her youngest daughter upstairs to give them the souvenirs she had brought back from her trip. Iris used to often come to the Pan family for meals, and Pandora was her teacher, so she was very familiar with the whole family. As a result, the two families were still reluctant to leave and went out for a meal in high spirits.
A delicious roast duck at a century-old restaurant was enough for Iris to recall the carefree days she spent eating and drinking with Zhuang Zhuoyuan when they first started dating. After the meal, she took Zhuang Zhuoyuan's arm and naturally said goodbye to her mother and son. It had been too long since she and her husband had enjoyed some time alone together. Now that she was feeling much better and had such a nice day with some free time, of course she wanted to hold hands, watch a movie, and take a stroll around the area.
His wife was unusually in high spirits, which also spurred Zhuang Zhuoyuan's enthusiasm. Only when they were walking hand-in-hand in the street again did Zhuang Zhuoyuan truly feel relaxed, finally finding a peaceful balance in their lives after the past few months. Hearing his relieved exhale, Iris teased, "You're out of the house now, how's it going? Doesn't it feel much better without our son?"
"It's really great not having to take care of kids!" Zhuang Zhuoyuan stretched and yawned. "To be honest, our Tangyuan is much harder to take care of than two robotic dolls."
“That’s because you’re an experienced and good dad,” Iris smiled at him. Over the past month, while writing, she had also reflected on her experiences over the past few years, creating a long list. At the top of it all, her greatest achievement was finding Zhuang Zhuoyuan, such a family-oriented and considerate husband. Derek often said she was love-struck, that she saw beauty in the eye of the beholder, but this time it wasn’t her turn to praise him. Both the baby caregiver and the nanny who looked after her said that Zhuang was a good husband and a good father. Iris decided to reward him properly!
"Isn't it normal for women to get rewards after giving birth?" Zhuang Zhuoyuan was surprised. Iris took this as a surprise, hailed a taxi, and took him to an antique watch shop: "Those suits that were delivered last time can be matched with new watches. After we pick out dress watches, we can go look at sports watches and buy a couple's set."
Zhuang Zhuoyuan looked at the new jewelry she was wearing today and tapped Iris's hand with his fingertips: "BB, I only gave you one gift. Don't tell me you broke the whole set into four pieces."
Iris winked at him: "Even including birthday presents, there are only two." She had a good plan: "You give me one, I'll give you one. I'll help us choose one, and you'll have to help us choose one too."
Now the arrangements for today are crystal clear. Zhuang Zhuoyuan knows that his wife will not rest until she has a great time today, and where else in Hong Kong could they find surprises besides Alice's cottage in Wonderland?
In the retro-styled general store, Alice was indeed still at the counter. However, women in love are a little different; even at work, she brought a giant "human-shaped doll." Iris teased Zhang Jiguang without any restraint, "Is this keychain clinging to our boss's wife a new item in the store?"
Zhang Jiguang said in a serious tone: "Actually, I'm here to investigate a case."
Before he could finish speaking, Alice couldn't help but burst out laughing, exposing his blunder. His acting was indeed a bit exaggerated; he couldn't hold back his laughter when someone else laughed at him. "Alright, alright, you caught me red-handed. I'll treat you all to a bottle of mineral water later."
When Iris heard him say he was going to treat, she thought he had finally been reformed by Alice, but he was still as stingy as ever. She complained, but Zhang Jiguang had a perfectly reasonable argument: "You've only just finished your postpartum period, isn't drinking bottled water the safest option?"
Women who don't breastfeed don't have as many dietary restrictions. Iris knocked and weaved, finally managing to get the mineral water replaced with orange juice. The two people opposite her asked about glutinous rice balls again, and after giving Zhuang Zhuoyuan a few serious answers, she quickly begged for mercy: "Let us have some real time alone!" On the way here, they had been saying that buying that new house was definitely the right decision. They weren't planning on turning it into a small family home for now; after Zhuang Zhuohua and Zhan Hantao got married, they would choose a day on the weekend to send the child to Zhan's house, then retreat to their happy little nest and play happily for a day.
Forget all the other thoughts that followed; just that one apology was enough to make Alice and the other woman wonder: "Your baby is so adorable. I thought you wouldn't get enough of him."
Iris and Zhuang Zhuoyuan were perfectly in sync: "We can't get enough of watching them; kids change every day, it's really interesting. But—"
"Loving him and loving our time together are not mutually exclusive."
"We warmly welcome Tangyuanzi's arrival!"
"They also desperately need personal space—"
"It's not just a time for two—"
"And there is also space for each of us to be alone."
Zhang Jiguang's thought process wasn't on the same wavelength as theirs, but after hearing these words, he and Alice were on the same page. So, going back and forth about space, it seemed that to ensure harmony in their future married life, they needed to save more money and buy a slightly larger house; otherwise, where would they find so many private, personal areas where they could spend time together and have some peace and quiet?
There are advantages to having a small room; at least two people can squeeze in without feeling lonely. But if you add another person, it becomes cramped.
Su Wenqiang hesitantly asked Iris if Zhuang Zhuoyuan had made a date with Yu Xueli three nights ago. Women understand women better; if she asked Zhuang Zhuoyuan directly, he would surely give a vague and evasive answer. But if she asked Iris, she immediately understood her thoughts: "Qiang, do you suspect Ali is cheating on you?"
Su Wenqiang seemed taken aback by the word "cheating." She instinctively shook her head, but her expression didn't improve much: "I, I just... that night he disappeared somewhere in the middle of the night." She thought that Iris might have some ways to deal with a third party.
Iris could only shake her head. Having experienced a love triangle once, she was certain that while she possessed pride, she was also vulnerable and clumsy. The only advice she could give Su Wenqiang was, "Qiang, I think Ali's choice is the key to resolving your dilemma." If Zhuang Zhuoyuan hadn't been so firm and resolute back then, she certainly wouldn't be the one with him now.
"But Yu Xueli has clearly already made a mistake once." He was intimate with her in the first half of the night, then vanished without a trace in the second half. He clearly saw Su Wenqiang's anxious questioning, yet he still made up various excuses to deceive her. Isn't that a betrayal?
Iris didn't dare say anything more about this. Every couple has their own way of getting along. For her, she needed 100% love from her partner, but some people could be endlessly tolerant. "I think you'd better go back and talk to Ali." Iris had already decided that after Su Wenqiang left, she would have her husband inform Yu Xueli. Only when they had equal information could they calmly discuss things. She was also considering whether she should talk to Larine.
The Ding Huihui incident confirmed Iris's aversion to third parties in relationships. However, just as she ultimately forgave Ding Huihui, Iris still succumbed to the power of "love." Larine was a friend she'd known for six or seven years, and she couldn't immediately sever ties with her. Iris hoped to bring Larine back to the right path. She could tell that Larine was serious this time. After so many years of playing the playboy, Larine had settled down and diligently focused on her career because of a single sentence from Yu Xueli. Iris had even joked with Ella back then that she wondered when someone would come along to tame this little vixen, Larine, but now that day had arrived, and given the current situation, it was somewhat regrettable.
Iris really wanted to shout in Larine's ear that there were plenty of good men in the world, so why was she so hung up on Yu Xueli? In an instant, she thought of Xie Jiaxing again. Ever since she arranged for the two of them to meet after the Xu Qixia case, Iris had inexplicably felt that Larine and A-Xing were a good match.
For his brother's lifelong happiness, Zhuang Zhuoyuan felt it necessary to stop his wife's wild thoughts: "Ah Xing and Larine are two completely unrelated people."
“But my stick has already brought them together.” Iris hesitated, “I think Ah Xing is a bit like Ben. I’m worried he’ll become another Ben who can’t have the one he loves.”
Zhuang Zhuoyuan looked up at the sky and sighed, "Baby, Ben has been moving on for a long time."
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