Qu family’s apartment.
Qu Yunxuan’s mother took out several dishes from the kitchen.
“Here, lunch is ready.”
“Mum, you cooked so many dishes.”
“This is to celebrate Xiao Bing’s promotion.”
“Xiao Bing, are you staying over tonight?”
“Let’s have a drink then.”
Qu Yunxuan and her parents sat at the dining table.
Dong Xuebing puts Little Qianqian on the sofa while he washes his hand. He immediately carried her again to the dining table and sat there. He carried her in one arm and ate with the other. “Mum, you can cook well. This is delicious.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother smiled. “Oh, thank you.”
Dong Xuebing raised his glass of alcohol. “Mum, Dad, here’s a toast to you two. Sorry for making you all worry these few days. It’s all my fault, and I promise it will not happen again.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother said. “I am in a good mood today, and I will drink with you.”
“Cheers!” Qu Yunxuan’s father raised his glass.
They knocked their glasses and bottoms up.
After drinking, Dong Xuebing filled his glass again and looked at Qu Yunxuan. “Yunxuan, let’s have a toast. Thanks for everything.”
Qu Yunxuan laughed. “Ok.”
“Let’s drink. Oh, you can drink your fruit juice.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother puts more food into Dong Xuebing’s bowl. “Put the baby down first. How are you going to eat while carrying her?”
“It’s fine.” Dong Xuebing can’t bear to let go of his precious daughter.
“Let me carry her for a while.” Qu Yunxuan looks at her daughter and squeezes her hands lightly.
Little Qianqian giggled and tried to grab her mother.
Qu Yunxuan laughed and flicked her nose lightly. “Naughty girl.”
Little Qianqian starts protesting with her ‘ooh-ooh-aah' and keeps twisting and turning.
“Look, our daughter is angry with you.” Dong Xuebing grumbled. “Stop hitting her. She is still young, and what if her nose becomes crooked when she grows up?” He rocks Little Qianqian in his arms. “Good girl…. Don’t be angry with Mum. We will ignore her. I will bring you out later.”
Qu Yunxuan looks at Dong Xuebing. “Look at you now.”
Dong Xuebing ignores her and continues to play with Little Qianqian.
Qu Yunxuan’s father looks at them. “The both of you cannot take care of her . You all will spoil her.”
Suddenly, the house shook, and chopsticks fell off the table. Plates and bowls were rattling.
Qu Yunxuan’s face changed, and her parents stood up immediately.
Dong Xuebing hugged his daughter closer and looked around. His body is tense and is ready for any emergency.
The earthquake lasted for around two seconds.
The house is back to normal, and nothing was damaged. It should be a weak aftershock from Fen Zhou City.
Qu Yunxuan’s parents exchanged looks and returned to the dining table. “That was scary.”
Qu Yunxuan added. “We felt several aftershocks these few days. I woke up in the middle of the night because of an aftershock, and I thought it was a dream.”
“I felt that last night. Our lights were swinging around.” Qu Yunxuan’s mother added. “Why are there so many aftershocks after so many days? When is it going to end? Yunxuan, how about we move to the south these few days? I have a few colleagues living there, and we can treat it as a vacation. Who knows if Little Qianqian might fall off the bed or the lights fell and hit her because of an aftershock.”
Qu Yunxuan’s father nodded. “Alright. We should avoid this place for a while.”
Qu Yunxuan and her family had planned to move to a city in the south after the earthquake. But she just gave birth and was hospitalized. Another reason is Dong Xuebing’s accident.
Dong Xuebing asked. “You all are moving to the south?”
Qu Yunxuan frowned. “Xiao Bing has just come back. Let’s not go to the south now.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother said. “Xiao Bing will attend the training at the Party School and will be busy with work. He will not have time to accompany you and Qianqian. Furthermore, it’s not like you all will not see each other in the future. This is for the safety of Qianqian. Do you think we want to move around?” The baby is the focus of the family now.
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and nodded. “Ok. You all should avoid this area, and I don’t need to worry about your safety. Who knows when the aftershocks will end.”
Qu Yunxuan asked. “When are we leaving?”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother replied. “We had packed a few days ago. Let’s move the day after tomorrow. You all can spend some time together.”
Dong Xuebing said. “I will get a car for you all.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother smiles. “No need. Your Dad can drive us. He had gotten his driving license recently.”
After knowing Aunt Xuan and their baby were leaving, Dong Xuebing cherished his remaining time with them.
Dong Xuebing was about to return to the room with Qu Yunxuan when her mother suddenly stopped him. She pulled him aside and said. “I know you two have not met for a while. But Yunxuan had just a Caesarean section and is still in confinement. You are not allowed to do ‘that’ for at least three months. Do you understand?” Qu Yunxuan’s mother has always been straightforward with her words.
Why did you bring this up?
Dong Xuebing blushed. “Mum, what are you talking about? We are not going to do anything.”
Qu Yunxuan’s mother replied. “I am warning you. I know you, youngsters, well.”
“Err…. I am going in to accompany Qianqian.”
“Go ahead. Remember what I said!”
Dong Xuebing quickly return to the room while thinking to himself. If I can’t do ‘that,’ I can at least drink milk.
Dong Xuebing is still thinking of drinking Qu Yunxuan’s milk.