Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Ji Baby’s unusual behavior on the first night went unnoticed by Ji Rui, because by the time he finished his own tasks and went to bed, the baby was already snuggled in his bed, sleeping soundly as usual.

But on the second night, Ji Rui noticed something was off with his son.

Since he had delegated much of his work to his little secretary Le Tong during the day, Ji Rui had significantly less to do at home that evening, finishing up his work shortly after nine o’clock.

Ji Rui closed his laptop and glanced at the tightly shut door of his beloved son’s bedroom.

If the reason the little guy left last night was a rush to the bathroom, it couldn’t be the same deal tonight, could it?

Ji Rui set down the laptop, walked to the door, and tried the handle, finding it locked.

He turned his body sideways, pressed his ear to the door, and listened carefully. Vaguely, he could hear his son’s clear, loud laughter.

These days, the one responsible for educating the baby, Mo Xin, was on leave. At home, aside from the father and son, there was only Aunt Guan, who took care of their daily needs.

Aunt Guan was an honest and somewhat wooden person, who probably couldn’t amuse his son to laughter like that.

With Mo Xin away, who was Ji Baby talking to? Could he be on the phone?

Ji Rui stood outside the door for a while and was pretty sure his son was on the phone, although he didn’t know who he was talking to since he couldn’t clearly hear what Ji Baby was saying. But from the occasional bursts of laughter, he was sure his son was having a great time with whoever was on the other end.

Probably with a friend from kindergarten.

Thinking this way, Ji Rui felt at ease and stopped worrying about Ji Baby, heading back to his own room to take a bath.

By the time he got out of the shower, Ji Baby was sitting on his bed holding Little Bai. Hearing the door open, he looked up and gave him a bright smile. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ Nove1Fire.net

"Daddy, baby will sleep with you tonight."

With such requests from Ji Baby, Ji Rui was mostly indulgent these days.

Aside from increasingly feeling that he owes his son too much, he himself felt more and more lonely.

Possibly because he’s getting older, the urge to tightly hold on to what he has has become stronger.

Before, this strong urge was only related to the Ji Family. Now, this feeling is even stronger for his son than for the Ji Family, for which he thinks he must be getting old and sentimental.

"Sleep, let Little Bai go back to the cat’s bed."

Ji Rui still couldn’t quite bring himself to like the mother-and-daughter cats but endured them for the sake of not making the baby sad.

Ji Baby seemed particularly obedient these past couple of days. With an "Oh," he picked up Little Bai and walked off the bed barefoot.

Ji Rui shook his head, bent down to pick up his little kitty slippers, and followed.

When he walked out with the slippers in hand, Ji Baby was kneeling in front of the cat’s bed, comforting the two cats. Ji Rui squatted behind him, gently picked him up, and helped put on his slippers.

"Cats have fur on their paws; the baby doesn’t."

Saying this, he kissed his baby on the head.

Ji Baby leaned back contentedly, resting on Ji Rui’s shoulder, his warm little face rubbing against Ji Rui’s cheek.

"Hehe, baby has fur on his paws too, Daddy, look!" Ji Baby said with a mischievous giggle, lifting his foot to show Ji Rui his feet in the fluffy kitty slippers.

Ji Rui playfully pinched his cheek and carried him back to the bedroom.

"Baby, who were you on the phone with earlier?" Ji Rui asked casually.

Ji Baby was more mature than his peers and was often in a leader-like position among the kids at his kindergarten. Even if Ji Baby didn’t say it, Ji Rui knew this little guy felt a bit disdainful towards his classmates.

Therefore, having a classmate who actually shared a common language with his son was rare, and Ji Rui thought it might be nice for the two kids to spend more time together when they can.

Ji Baby blinked his eyes, filled with a sly smile, and put his finger to his lips, making a "shh" gesture to signal silence.

Ji Rui gently patted his butt, "Little rascal, already keeping secrets?"

Ji Baby nodded enthusiastically, his bright eyes fixed intently on Ji Rui.

Ji Rui took off his pajamas, tossed them aside, pulled up the blanket to cover the bare little baby, and went to the dressing room, taking out a clean set of pajamas.

"Daddy, baby is not dirty!"

The indoor heating was quite sufficient. By the time Ji Rui walked back in, Ji Baby had tossed the blanket aside and was sitting there stark naked, pouting in protest against Ji Rui’s overbearing nature.

Ji Rui spread out the pajamas, capturing Ji Baby’s arm to slip it into a sleeve.

"Of course baby isn’t dirty, but Daddy has allergic rhinitis, and that pajama was covered in cat fur, making it uncomfortable for Daddy to sleep."

Ji Rui made up a plausible excuse to cover up his own cleanliness obsession; in fact, he didn’t have allergic rhinitis.

Originally pouting and uncooperative, upon hearing Ji Rui’s words, Ji Baby’s face immediately switched from grievance to worry. Holding Ji Rui’s face in his little hands, he looked at him with concern and asked.

"Daddy, you take medicine because of rhinitis?"

Ji Rui paused for a moment, then realized this little guy must have seen him taking sleeping pills?

His precious son’s concern touched him, and Ji Rui couldn’t help but smile, patting the little guy’s bare butt.

"Yes, it’s because of that."

Ji Baby leaned over, smooching Ji Rui a few times on the cheek.

"Daddy, I’m sorry! Baby won’t take Little Bai to sleep on the bed anymore!"

Though Ji Baby really liked the kitten, compared to his daddy, the kitten seemed insignificant.

Ji Rui hadn’t expected that a casual excuse would easily change his son’s insistence on taking the kitten to bed, feeling a little guilty yet somewhat pleased.

It seems he really is important to his son!

Ji Rui was still immersed in unidentifiable happiness when Ji Baby wrapped his arms around his neck and called out.

"Daddy, do you get sick often?" Ji Baby stared intently into Ji Rui’s eyes.

Ji Rui assumed his son was just concerned about him, "Not often, only occasionally... no need to worry, baby."

Ji Rui tucked Ji Baby’s hands and feet into the romper, tidying up and buttoning it down.

Ji Baby wrapped his arms around his back, resting his chin on Ji Rui’s shoulder, his little face rubbing against his cheek.

"Daddy, find Baby a mommy, okay?"

Ji Baby said lazily, as if it was a casual request.

Ji Rui patted his butt, "Baby, isn’t having Daddy enough?"

Ji Rui suddenly felt a pang of sourness; it turned out, in the little guy’s mind, no matter what he did, he couldn’t compare to the mommy he’s never even met?

"Daddy, mommy can not only tell stories to the baby but also take care of Daddy and keep him warm in bed!"

[6,000 words at midnight, all delivered, good night dear readers! Have sweet dreams!]