Wang Rou ignored the flustered Li Jiang, got up, and went to the wardrobe to find a long-sleeved shirt to put on.
Li Jiang, holding the child, asked, "Did we wake you? I'll take him out right now."
Wang Rou lowered her eyelashes. "Why do you think Commander Su takes the baby out alone at night?"
Li Jiang was taken aback. "Why?"
Wang Rou glanced at him. "Follow me, and you'll find out."
As soon as they stepped out, Su Li stopped crying.
The lights outside had already been turned off, with only a large lamp on the tower shining, casting a faint layer of light on the ground.
Li Jiang knew that Su Lang often took walks with Doctor Lin.
This was the first time he had brought him and Wang Rou out for an evening stroll.
Although there was an extra child, Li Jiang was still quite happy, occasionally turning his head to glance at his wife's profile.
Wang Rou blushed under his gaze, grateful that the night was too dim for him to notice.
They walked around the family compound a few times, the couple exchanging few words, but their shoulders gradually drew closer.
Wang Rou naturally felt it, but she didn’t refuse, nor did she want to.
Only when Su Li was completely asleep did they finally return home.
The next morning, as soon as Su Lang stepped out, Li Jiang, as if waiting nearby, immediately handed Su Li back to him.
Su Lang looked down at his youngest son and sighed softly. "Useless, you don’t know how to coax your Uncle Li into staying a few more days."
Su Li stared at him and blew a bubble.
By the time Su Li could crawl, it was already Linlin’s birthday.
Toward the youngest member of the family, Jiang Chengzhou’s attitude was indifferent. Occasionally, he would help prepare a bottle of milk, but he never actively tried to coax or play with the baby.
Linlin had been interested in Su Li for a while, but after realizing he did nothing but sleep and eat, unable to talk or walk, she gradually lost interest.
On Linlin’s birthday, the whole family spent a day in Guangzhou, visiting the zoo to see elephants and pandas.
Not until they returned to the island the next day did Lin Zhilan receive another phone call from Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen wanted to come see the child.
Lin Zhilan thought it over and didn’t refuse.
Zhou Chen was Linlin’s biological father—it was only natural for him to want to see his child.
But Linlin was still too young. In her mind, Su Lang was her father.
If another father suddenly appeared, it would confuse the child’s concept of family relationships.
So Lin Zhilan didn’t plan to tell her just yet.
Zhou Chen had saved up his leave and intended to stay on the island for half a month. Lin Zhilan had to introduce his identity to the neighbors and also to the children.
The two discussed it over the phone, deciding that Zhou Chen would be Su Li’s godfather.
That way, there would be a reason for them to interact in the future, and the children wouldn’t find it too strange.
Zhou Chen hadn’t expected Lin Zhilan to do this—he had thought it was already good enough that she let him see the child.
As soon as Lin Zhilan suggested it, Zhou Chen immediately agreed.
Zhou Chen naturally wouldn’t stay at the house. Su Lang discussed it with his parents and arranged a room for Zhou Chen in the village.
A few days later, Zhou Chen arrived.
Su Lang went to pick him up again.
This time, both sides were much more polite. There was none of the earlier tension, as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while.
"How have you been lately?"
"Pretty good. And you?"
Su Lang smiled. "I’ve been fine too. Linlin started first grade this year and got first place in both subjects on her midterms."
At the mention of Linlin, Zhou Chen’s eyes lit up.
The two chatted as they headed to the village to drop off his things, then went straight to the family compound.
Su Li was a high-energy child. Ever since he learned to crawl, he couldn’t stand being confined.
Whenever he got the chance, he would crawl all over the floor.
Lin Zhilan had to find an elderly bamboo weaver nearby to make a large bamboo mat. She also had Su Lang wrap all the table and stool legs in cotton cloth, to avoid knocking the youngest son silly.
The entire living room thus became Su Li’s little playground, where he could roll and crawl to his heart’s content.
It also saved them trouble.
After he exhausted his energy during the day, Su Lang didn’t need to take the child out at night.
Just as Su Lang walked into the house with Zhou Chen, Su Li, who was playing on the bamboo mat, pricked up his ears, scrambled across the floor on all fours, and came to a halt right at Zhou Chen’s feet.
He looked up at the unfamiliar man for a while, plopped down on his round little bottom, and reached out to Zhou Chen, shouting loudly, "Ah!"
Zhou Chen didn’t understand what he meant and looked at Su Lang.
Su Lang chuckled. "He wants you to hold him."
Zhou Chen paused, then bent down and scooped the child into his arms.
Su Li wasn’t shy at all; he kept giggling foolishly at Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen hadn’t expected Doctor Lin and Su Lang’s child to have such a personality and couldn’t help smiling too.
Lin Zhilan came out of the kitchen carrying a dish, saw the scene, and smiled. "Good, your being the godfather wasn’t in vain—he really likes you."
Zhou Chen nodded at her and wanted to put Su Li down.
But Su Li clung tightly to his neck and refused to let go.
"Captain Su..."
"I’ll help in the kitchen—you play with him," Su Lang quickly said and hurried toward the kitchen.
Zhou Chen had no choice but to keep holding Su Li, staring at each other.
Until light footsteps came from outside, Zhou Chen immediately looked toward the door.
Linlin, holding her brother’s hand, bounced in cheerfully.
Seeing Zhou Chen holding Su Li, the little girl paused and looked at him curiously.
Zhou Chen swallowed nervously, about to speak, when the little girl called out crisply, "Godfather!"
Lin Zhilan had told her that Su Li’s godfather was coming today.
Since she was Su Li’s sister, she would also call him godfather.
Zhou Chen’s eyes moistened as he smiled and acknowledged her.
Jiang Chengzhou held his sister’s hand and greeted him casually, "Hello, Uncle Zhou."
"Hello."
Linlin broke free from Jiang Chengzhou’s hand and ran into the kitchen.
Zhou Chen heard her coyly sweet-talking Lin Zhilan, complaining that her brother had gone to the nearby island to forage by the sea without her.
Lin Zhilan bent slightly, listened attentively, and patiently comforted her, saying next time they would go alone and leave her brother behind.
Linlin tugged at her mother’s sleeve and shot a triumphant look at her brother. "Mom, let’s bring brother anyway—he can carry the bucket for us."
Jiang Chengzhou walked over and quickly praised Linlin, saying she was magnanimous.
Linlin then smiled sweetly, making up with her brother as if nothing had happened.
The reason Zhou Chen insisted on coming this time was because he knew Lin Zhilan had had another child.
His only worry was whether Linlin was doing well.
Before coming, he had already decided: if Linlin wasn’t treated well here, he would take her back.
He had now established himself and could hire an experienced auntie to cook at home, ensuring Linlin wouldn’t suffer.
But he could see that Linlin was happy here.
Children don’t hide things—whether they feel comfortable in a family shows in their words and expressions.
"Ah!" Zhou Chen was lost in thought when Su Li in his arms startled him with a sudden cry.
