Chapter 690: Extra Episode 103: Gradually Warmed Up (First Update of The Big Finale)

Mu Cidian returned to the bedroom.

Xin Zaozao had already gone to bed.

But she had left a faint light on for him.

Mu Cidian joined her, carefully laying down beside Wanwan.

He turned off the light.

The room plunged into darkness.

Only the pale moonlight from the window cast a dim glow, unveiling some hidden shapes in the room.

“Are you asleep?” Mu Cidian suddenly asked.

Xin Zaozao opened her eyes, bathed in the moonlight, and saw Mu Cidian not far in front of her, “Hmm.”

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“Something that Yin Qin told you…” Mu Cidian paused.

Xin Zaozao involuntarily tightened her grip on the quilt.

“He lied to you,” Mu Cidian stated bluntly. “The police did indeed suspect me of murdering Lei Qian, but evidence clearing my name has surfaced in the past few days. I’ll go to the police station tomorrow to close the case.”

Xin Zaozao silently watched him.

“Don’t worry, go to sleep.” Mu Cidian gently turned away from her.

Xin Zaozao stared at his broad back.

She had to admit, despite acting indifferent after hearing Yin Qin’s words, she was actually quite distressed, even anxious. She was unable to stomach the possibility of Mu Cidian being imprisoned again or even… facing the death penalty.

Yet now, Mu Cidian had just told her Yin Qin lied.

Upon reflecting, what Yin Qin said did sound exaggerated. Given Mu Cidian’s intellect, it was highly unlikely he would be framed so easily, unless Mu Cidian himself had no will to live — which didn’t match the pattern from previous years…

As these past memories resurfaced, a sudden pain gripped her heart.

While relieved that Mu Cidian was fine, she found herself unable to fall asleep.

Yin Qin’s intention of deceiving her was clear – he wanted her to worry about Mu Cidian, hoping it might resolve their past misunderstandings.

Mu Cidian was well aware of Yin Qin’s intentions, yet he chose to tell her the truth straight up.

Did he think she was incapable of caring about him?

Or, did he simply stop caring?

Xin Zaozao’s heart fluttered.

She forced herself to sleep.

…

The next morning, Mu Cidian left home early to address Lei Qian’s case at the police station.

When Xin Zaozao woke up, Mu Cidian was already gone.

She emerged from their bedroom cradling Wanwan.

The nanny, waiting for them, hurried forward to take Wanwan.

Xin Zaozao didn’t object to the nanny holding Wanwan, as long as she stayed within her line of sight.

Mu Cidian returned home in the afternoon.

At that time, Xin Zaozao was nursing Wanwan.

Since it was just her and the nanny at home, and the nutritionist left shortly after preparing each meal, there was no need for Xin Zaozao to retreat to her room.

She watched Mu Cidian enter the house. After a quick glance in their direction, he moved into another room.

A moment later, he emerged in casual home clothes.

Ignoring them, he went straight to the home office and seemed to be working at the computer.

Xin Zaozao finished nursing Wanwan.

After being fed, Wanwan would play for a while. Xin Zaozao stayed with Wanwan on the sofa while she played.

The nanny looked at the two of them, each in separate corners, with no conversation between them.

Wanwan grew tired.

She started to fuss, wanting to sleep.

However, Xin Zaozao was unable to soothe her.

She tried singing and pacing, but Wanwan continued to cry.

Helplessly, Xin Zaozao had to resort to nursing her back to sleep.

Mu Cidian came over and said to her, “Let me try.”

Xin Zaozao looked at him.

Mu Cidian gazed at Wanwan.

He saw her little mouth open wide, crying plaintively. It was a pitiful sight.

Xin Zaozao seemed to remain silent for a long time.

Mu Cidian then gave up.

He glanced at Wanwan in Xin Zaozao’s arms and turned to leave.

“Mu Cidian,” Xin Zaozao suddenly called out to him.

Mu Cidian turned around.

She handed Wanwan over to him.

Mu Cidian looked at Xin Zaozao before taking Wanwan into his arms.

It was truly magical, the moment Mu Cidian held Wanwan, she stopped crying.

It was unclear what about Mu Cidian Wanwan was drawn to, or how the little baby could tell that the person holding her was the one she needed. The result was that Wanwan would sleep peacefully in Mu Cidian’s arms within ten minutes.

The nanny, watching from the sidelines, could not help but say, “Wanwan is really like her father’s little sweetheart. No matter when, as long as it’s her father holding her, Wanwan never fusses.”

Xin Zaozao pursed her lips.

She felt a bitter feeling in her heart.

She was not sure if she was jealous of Mu Cidian or…jealous of Wanwan.

After Mu Cidian lulled Wanwan to sleep, he left her on the bed.

He then left the room, knowing that Xin Zaozao would accompany her.

Indeed, Xin Zaozao stayed by Wanwan’s side, watching Mu Cidian’s indifferent departing figure, filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

But in fact-

Wasn’t this detached way of living, this co-existence, what she wanted?

For a long time after that-

They lived under the same roof, slept in the same bed, but they did nothing else.

Even-

They went days without speaking ten sentences to each other, all of which revolved around Wanwan.

When Wanwan was six months old-

Xin Zaozao finally accepted that Wanwan was out of danger, and returned to work at the Xin Family Corporation. However, she precisely stuck to office hours. The first thing she did when she came home was to hold Wanwan, and she still needed Wanwan to sleep with her at night.

Mu Cidian continued to work from home, spending most of his time taking care of Wanwan.

In fact, he was more afraid than anyone of losing Wanwan.

So, he would stay by her side as much as possible, accompany her as she grows, grows slowly.

When Wanwan was 8 months old, they went to the hospital for a baby check-up.

The doctor said Wanwan’s motor skills development is rather slow; at her age, she should be able to crawl. However, when they put Wanwan on the floor, her little bottom didn’t move at all. She just watched her father, occasionally drooling.

They returned home from the hospital.

Xin Zaozao’s feigned calm started to falter.

Even if Xin Zaozao was working, she would always be present for any of Wanwan’s check-ups.

As soon as she got home, she put Wanwan on the play mat.

She held a toy to tease Wanwan, “Wanwan, come here to mommy, come here.”

Wanwan simply lay there without moving.

“Wanwan, come over here.” Xin Zaozao lied on the floor to tempt her.

Wanwan simply tipped her little head to the side and fell asleep on the crawling mat.

Xin Zaozao was starting to panic.

She heard that… only cerebral palsy could cause this.

Fearfully, she ran over to Wanwan, propelling her little hand with her elbow, supporting her little foot, and following the doctor’s instructions, helped her practice crawling.

Wanwan was entirely uncooperative with her mother.

No matter how Xin Zaozao tried to get her to crawl, she completely ignored it, remaining motionless.

Xin Zaozao felt she was about to break down.

The nanny hurriedly said, “Ma’am doesn’t need to worry. Every child’s development varies. It’s normal for a chubby baby like Wanwan not to crawl at 8 months. We don’t need to follow the so-called scientific baby-raising methods rigidly. Our cute little Wanwan might start crawling one day.”

“I know children’s development varies. But she doesn’t even show any signs of trying to crawl,” Xin Zaozao said anxiously. “At least she should show some physical response. Look at her, she is like a little pig, only knowing how to be cute.”

“Haha.” The nanny couldn’t help laughing.

Wanwan was growing quite plump and her weight was slightly above average. It wasn’t at the point where she needed to lose weight, but listening to Xin Zaozao’s description, she really did resemble a little piglet, an adorably chubby pink piglet.

“This won’t do, I have to let her practice more.” After a moment of silence, Xin Zaozao started training Wanwan again.

Wanwan’s feelings for Xin Zaozao were neither active nor rejecting. After being messed with by her mother for a while, Wanwan began to whimper as if wronged.

At that moment, Mu Cidian was sitting in front of a computer working. Hearing Wanwan’s crying, he couldn’t help but walk over.

He watched as Xin Zaozao was lying beside Wanwan, who was fussing unhappily. It was clear that Xin Zaozao was attempting to teach Wanwan to crawl.

Mu Cidian’s eyes flickered slightly.

He shifted his eyes from Xin Zaozao’s crawling position.

He squatted down and picked up Wanwan.

“Don’t hold her! I’m teaching her how to crawl. Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? Her motor development is slower than that of other children her age.” Xin Zaozao was somewhat annoyed.

“It’s fine.” Mu Cidian said calmly.

He really wasn’t bothered about it.

Besides, he clearly knew why Wanwan couldn’t crawl.

After all, he rarely let her be on the ground when they were at home.

Wanwan had gotten used to being held.

“Mu Cidian, can you be serious?” Xin Zaozao was slightly irritated, “Do you know what slower motor development means?”

“It means she’s lazy.” Mu Cidian answered bluntly.

Xin Zaozao felt a lump in her chest, she blurted, “It could be a sign of brain injury!”

Mu Cidian’s eyes flickered slightly.

“If you don’t believe me, check online yourself.” Xin Zaozao said somewhat annoyed.

On her way back, she had already searched on her phone about why a baby would have slow motor development. Most of the answers suggested attention should be paid to possible brain injury.

As she thought back to the sleeping pills from Lei Qian that Wanwan had consumed when she was just over four months old, she felt even more agitated.

“Put her down.” Xin Zaozao didn’t want to say or think too much.

Right now, she needed to train Wanwan.

Wanwan seemed to sense that her mother wanted her to do something. She turned her body unhappily towards Mu Cidian’s neck and turned her back to Xin Zaozao, showing a discontent face.

“Put her down.” Xin Zaozao urged.

Mu Cidian squatted down and set Wanwan down.

He spent a lot of time caring for the baby usually, so he knew very well that there couldn’t possibly be anything wrong with Wanwan. He just didn’t want Xin Zaozao worrying.

As soon as her dad put her down, Wanwan’s mouth collapsed into an ellipse, looking utterly distressed.

Mu Cidian patted Wanwan’s little head, he said affectionately, “Wanwan, be a good girl and crawl a few times. After you crawl, daddy will hold you again.”

Wanwan had no idea what he was saying. All she knew was that her dad wasn’t holding her anymore.

Instantly, she began to cry with a loud “wah”.

Mu Cidian felt soft-hearted at her crying.

At that moment, Xin Zaozao resisted picking up Wanwan and instead moved her to a crawling mat two steps away. She then helped Wanwan get into a crawling position.

Wanwan cried as she looked longingly at her dad.

Mu Cidian watched Xin Zaozao energetically teaching Wanwan how to crawl and incessantly demonstrating.

From his angle, it was easy to see inside Xin Zaozao’s clothing…

His lips tightened slightly, his eyes focused on Wanwan, “Wanwan, come to daddy.”

Wanwan was too miserable. Hearing her dad’s voice, she looked at her father in the distance and finally began to move her plump little hands and legs, making a few kicking motions, barely moving forward.

But undoubtedly, she was attempting to crawl.

Xin Zaozao was somewhat surprised, she quickly encouraged Wanwan, “Wanwan, keep going, let’s crawl towards daddy.”

With several more kicks of her short little legs, Wanwan started to make crawling motions with her arms.

Finally, she crawled a little distance.

“She can crawl.” The nanny quickly said.

Xin Zaozao was also somewhat excited.

Perhaps feeling encouraged, Wanwan continued crawling.

After several crawls, although it was just slithering forward, it was undoubtedly crawling.

She even crawled all the way to Mu Cidian and caught his big hand with her chubby little hand.

Mu Cidian immediately picked up Wanwan.

As soon as daddy held her, Wanwan was instantly laughing.

Mu Cidian kissed her little forehead, “Our Wanwan is really good.”

The sound of his voice was dripping with affection.

At that moment, Xin Zaozao was sitting on the crawling mat, simply watching Mu Cidian and Wanwan’s interaction.

She suddenly felt a sense of trance…

A sense of trance, feeling that the scene before her right now, was incredibly warm.

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