CHAPTER 30

They had just finished lunch, and with the sudden emotional rollercoaster, Yunmiao couldn't help but yawn while lying in Chu Yu's arms for a while.

Shu Yanyan knew that she had a habit of taking naps, so she suggested in a soft voice, "Yunmiao, why don't you rest for a while?"

Yunmiao shook her head, gripping Chu Yu's clothes tightly with both hands. "No, I don't want to..."

Shu Yanyan was confused. "Why not? Isn't Yunmiao tired?"

Yunmiao wrinkled her little nose, feeling conflicted.

After a pause, she responded, "No, I can't sleep. I have to watch over Mom for Mommy and make sure she doesn't disappear again."

Chu Yu couldn't help but feel heartbroken hearing those words.

After all, Shu Yanyan was an adult and could handle things better in various aspects. But Yunmiao was different. Despite Shu Yanyan's companionship over the past two to three years, she still lived under the shadow of her mother's disappearance.

Chu Yu wasn't a child and couldn't fully understand Yunmiao's thoughts, but she knew that crossing this hurdle wouldn't be easy.

However, she didn't plan to rely solely on words to comfort Yunmiao. Some things needed to be proven through time and actions.

So she stood up while holding Yunmiao, glanced at Shu Yanyan, and walked towards the bedroom. "Mom and Mommy are a bit tired too. How about Yunmiao naps with us?"

Yunmiao looked at Chu Yu, then turned to look at Shu Yanyan, without refusing.

Chu Yu successfully placed her on her own sleeping bed and lay down beside her. She turned her body sideways, like a warm and solid harbor, enveloping Yunmiao between herself and the soft bedding.

Yunmiao wiggled her bottom comfortably.

Shu Yanyan quietly watched this interaction between mother and daughter. Suddenly, she saw Yunmiao waving at her. "Mommy, come and sleep on this side."

Shu Yanyan smiled and nodded, walked over, and lay down with them.

Her arrival filled the last remaining gap. Yunmiao could see her just regained mother on the right and her beloved mommy on the left. She let out a contented sigh, feeling happy.

Chu Yu tidied up the stray hair on Yunmiao's cheek. "Sleep now, Yunmiao. Mother and Mommy are here with you."

Yunmiao responded with a soft "Hmm."

She leaned closer to Shu Yanyan, as usual, asking for a goodnight kiss. "Mommy, kiss."

Shu Yanyan smiled and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her left cheek.

Usually, after being kissed by Shu Yanyan, Yunmiao would close her eyes and prepare to fall asleep. But this time, she kept her eyes open and glanced towards Chu Yu's direction a few times, feeling a bit hesitant.

However, whenever her gaze met Chu Yu's, she would casually turn away as if nothing had happened.

After a few instances, Chu Yu had already guessed what was on the little girl's mind.

She took the initiative and asked, "Can I give Yunmiao a kiss?"

Yunmiao's cheeks turned slightly red, and she nodded shyly and happily. "If you want to... you can."

Chu Yu smiled.

She took a deep breath to calm her excitement, then leaned down and lightly kissed Yunmiao's right cheek.

Yunmiao finally felt satisfied. She grabbed her little blanket and adjusted her posture. "Yunmiao is going to sleep now!"

Shu Yanyan was amused by her antics and said, "Okay."

Yunmiao patted the bed and looked at Shu Yanyan and Chu Yu, who were propping themselves up with their hands. "Mother and Mommy, lie down too!"

Shu Yanyan nodded.

She cooperatively put her hands down and let her head sink into the bedding beneath her.

Now, both Shu Yanyan and Yunmiao had their eyes fixed on Chu Yu.

Chu Yu had been silently observing this scene all along.

To be honest, ever since she realized her feelings for Shu Yanyan, she had imagined scenarios where they would raise Yunmiao together. But what she was experiencing now had far exceeded the boundaries of her initial imagination. Seeing the two precious beings lying peacefully beside her, her heart was flooded with overwhelming tenderness.

Chu Yu smiled and suddenly leaned over.

She leaned over Yunmiao, who was lying between them, and lightly kissed the corner of Shu Yanyan's mouth, catching her off guard. Before Shu Yanyan could react, Chu Yu returned to her position.

After coming back to her senses, Shu Yanyan's face suddenly turned red.

Chu Yu, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She leaned down and kissed Yunmiao again, saying, "Go to sleep."

Yunmiao obediently nodded and gripped Chu Yu's clothes, closing her eyes.

After confirming that their little daughter couldn't see, Shu Yanyan glared at Chu Yu with a mix of shyness and annoyance. Chu Yu responded with a smile and embraced Yunmiao, closing her own eyes.

Shu Yanyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't suppress the upward curve of her lips.

Afraid of revealing her uncontrollable joy, she snuggled deeper into the blanket, leaning against Yunmiao, and together they entered the realm of dreams.

------

When she woke up again, she found herself alone in bed.

For a moment, she felt a sense of confusion, but soon she heard some sounds coming from outside the door, which had a slight opening.

Shu Yanyan got out of bed barefoot and approached the door.

Through the deliberate opening, she saw Chu Yu and Yunmiao playing on the living room carpet.

The little chubby bird, originally entrusted to Xiao Yun for taking care of, was back without them realizing when. It was placed together with another long-tailed red finch that Shu Yanyan had never seen before.

Both little creatures didn't dare to move recklessly. They stood side by side, allowing Chu Yu to demonstrate the differences between them to Yunmiao.

Yunmiao listened attentively, her round eyes wide open, occasionally expressing astonishment or laughter.

Shu Yanyan was captivated by this scene and stood at the doorway without making a sound.

However, Chu Yu had already noticed her waking up long ago.

As her explanation came to an end, she pointed to the long-tailed red finch and said, "Now, Yunmiao, why don't you try controlling the 'phoenix' by yourself? It's almost time for dinner, and Mother will go and wake Mommy up."

Yunmiao obediently nodded, "Okay!"

Seeing that the little girl's attention had shifted to the lifelike robotic bird, Chu Yu felt reassured and left the living room, heading towards the bedroom.

Shu Yanyan instinctively hid behind the door as she saw Chu Yu approaching.

Chu Yu opened the door and came face to face with her.

Shu Yanyan thought Chu Yu didn't know she was already awake and explained, "I just got up, cough, you don't need to call me."

But Chu Yu said, "I know."

Shu Yanyan was confused, "Huh? You know?"

"Then why did you still say to Yunmiao... umph!"

She couldn't finish her sentence because Chu Yu had already scooped her up in her arms.

"There's a careless little bunny who dares to walk around the house without wearing shoes. I have to teach her the proper way to wake up," Chu Yu said.

Shu Yanyan blushed.

But with Yunmiao just in the nearby living room, she didn't dare to make any strange noises. She gently shook her legs and requested, "What are you doing... put me down."

Chu Yu asked, "Aren't the soles of your feet cold?"

Shu Yanyan: "They're not cold!"

She murmured to herself, "Being cold is better than being scalded in your arms..."

Chu Yu couldn't hear clearly, but it didn't stop her from carrying her wife and walking towards the bed. She asked in passing, "What did you say?"

Shu Yanyan pursed her lips.

She wouldn't be foolish enough to repeat herself and fall into a trap!

Chu Yu didn't continue probing and, upon reaching the bedside, gently placed her on the edge of the bed.

She squatted down and brought Shu Yanyan's shoes over.

Next, she reached out to grab Shu Yanyan's foot.

Shu Yanyan was startled. "What are you doing?"

Chu Yu looked somewhat puzzled. "Can't you tell?"

She pointed at the shoes. "I'm helping you put on your shoes."

Shu Yanyan shook her head and said, "No, it's not necessary!"

She requested, "You go out and accompany Yunmiao. I can manage by myself."

"No." Chu Yu refused without thinking, "I have already spent enough time with Yunmiao just now. The next time is for little Shu Yanyan."

Shu Yanyan's foot was already under Chu Yu's control, and she could feel Chu Yu's body temperature continuously transferring through her ankle, making her feel a little lightheaded.

She didn't know what she was saying and blurted out in a daze, "What do you take me for..."

"I'm not a child."

Chu Yu chuckled softly.

In fact, she had recently discovered that she had become a bit clingy.

She had never imagined that she would find such a compatible partner. They met, fell in love, and even in her forgotten memories, they already had a baby of their own.

If the current situation didn't prohibit it, she wouldn't just want to help Shu Yanyan put on her shoes.

At this point, Chu Yu sighed and lowered her voice. She said, "Yanyan, be a good girl. Otherwise, we might not even be able to leave the bedroom before dinner."

Shu Yanyan was stunned for a moment.

After reacting, she widened her eyes like a startled rabbit. The blanket was right beside her, and she urgently wanted to dive into it. However, such a behavior was too childish, so she could only restrain herself from looking at Chu Yu.

With her "voluntary cooperation," Chu Yu's actions became much smoother.

She patted the nonexistent dust off Shu Yanyan's foot and then picked up a shoe, gently putting it on for her.

The atmosphere became a bit ambiguous, and Shu Yanyan tried to find a topic of conversation.

"...I didn't expect you to do these things?"

Chu Yu responded, "To be honest, I was quite surprised too."

Shu Yanyan asked, "Hmm?"

Chu Yu smiled and said, "It's because Yanyan is by my side that I have this opportunity."

"But I seem to be not very skilled. I'll try to practice more in the future."

Shu Yanyan used her bare right foot to push Chu Yu's chest and said, "You're an emperor, why do you need to practice these things?"

"Today is an exception, but you're not allowed to do this in the future!"

Chu Yu replied, "Am I not dressed well?"

"Are your feet feeling uncomfortable?"

Shu Yanyan rubbed her nose and said, "No, not really..."

Chu Yu pinched her toes and said, "Then it's fine, right?

"Why are you unwilling?"

Shu Yanyan licked her lips and said, "...If you treat me like this, what if I really end up being pampered like a little kid?"

Chu Yu laughed, "Then I'll have two little children."

She even seriously considered it for a moment and said, "Hmm, I need to study how to take care of children, so that I won't be rejected by little Yanyan and Yunmiao."

Shu Yanyan pretended to threaten, "It's already difficult to handle one child."

"If I really become like Yunmiao, you won't be able to handle it!"

Chu Yu finished putting on the last shoe for her.

Instead of stepping back, she leaned forward, placing her hands on the edge of the bed, trapping Shu Yanyan in her embrace.

She whispered into Shu Yanyan's ear.

"Hmm? Are you sure?"

"I actually think that even if there's another one, or even more, I can handle it."

Shu Yanyan resisted the approaching body, but couldn't resist the rising heat within herself.

Chu Yu was still smiling.

"Yanyan, give me a chance, okay?"

Shu Yanyan's mind was already a mess.

She dumbly asked, "Wh-what chance?"

Chu Yu curled her lips and leaned directly into Shu Yanyan's ear, softly saying a sentence.

Shu Yanyan's already flushed face instantly heated up even more.

Chu Yu's lips and tongue lingered on her earlobe for a moment before slowly turning towards her face, seeking her lips.

At this point, Shu Yanyan's body had already turned weak, unable to resist her.

Just as the two were about to kiss, a mechanical sound came from the door behind Chu Yu.

"Target detected, mission accomplished."

Both of them froze.

Chu Yu turned to look and saw Yunmiao standing at the door with two robotic birds, curiously looking at them.

Little Yunmiao was confused and asked, "Mommy, are you still not up?"

She reminded them, "It's time for dinner, you can't stay in bed!"

Shu Yanyan snapped out of her daze.

Using all her strength, she pushed Chu Yu away and quickly ran to Yunmiao's side, embracing her precious daughter in her arms.

"Mommy is already up, let's go!" she said without looking back and walked out.

Yunmiao was puzzled, "Mommy... aren't we waiting for Mother to join us?"

Shu Yanyan gritted her teeth, "That bird... cough, I mean, she has legs, she will catch up on her own."

Yunmiao could sense that she was a little angry at the moment, so even though she still had questions, she dared not speak up and obediently responded, "Okay."

On the other side, Chu Yu chased after them and stood at the door, helplessly watching them.

Yunmiao looked at her sympathetically but could only shrug her shoulders in helplessness.

Chu Yu forced a bitter smile, took a deep breath to gather herself, and then mustered the courage to catch up with them—

After all, coaxing her wife back now...

It was really quite challenging.

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