Back home, the three little ones were just fed baby food and were lying there playing.
Yanyan and Yueyue had come back from Michael’s next door and were eating fruit there.
Seeing mom come back, they stopped eating their fruit and ran over: "Mom, where have you been? We didn’t see you when we came back?"
Luo Qiao caught her two daughters rushing towards her: "Uncle Wei Jun’s son got sick, so Mom went to visit."
Yanyan frowned: "Uncle Wei Jun’s son, but I haven’t seen him."
"Previously, he wasn’t around here. He’s a handsome little boy. Once he’s feeling better, we can ask him to play with you."
While they were chatting, Elder Rong came back from behind. Luo Qiao joked: "Elder Rong, how are your vegetables?"
Elder Rong laughed: "Pretty good, pretty good. He Qing has been working hard these past few days, helping me water them."
Luo Qiao moved the baby crib to the yard and was drinking juice with Yanyan and Yueyue on the swing under the maple tree when Auntie Mary from next door came over to chat enthusiastically with them.
Luo Qiao took out two boxes of pastries she brought back from Capital City and handed them to Auntie Mary: "These are different from the Capital City Eight Treasures from before. They’re also Chinese pastries that can’t be kept for too long, have your family try them together."
Auntie Mary thanked her with a smile, chatted a bit more, and then left.
The girls sat in the yard for a while until Lu Yichen’s call came: "Qiaoqiao, how are the kids?"
"Everyone’s doing quite well, how about you? Do you miss us?"
"I miss you, very much."
What he didn’t mention was that he had planned to stay in the family housing area last night because he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle going back to the compound. But he couldn’t sleep most of the night at the family housing and ran back to the compound in the middle of the night, hugging Luo Qiao’s pillow before he finally fell asleep late.
Yanyan snatched the phone: "Dad, my sister and I saved a lot of tasty snacks for you. They’re in the cabinet in our room. Remember to eat them and take care of yourself."
His daughter’s simple words made Lu Yichen, a grown man, nearly tear up: "Okay, daddy will eat them all up."
Yueyue also ran over: "Dad, I miss you so much."
Lu Yichen was almost brought to tears by his daughter’s ’Dad, I miss you’: "Yanyan, Yueyue, daddy’s treasures, I’m sorry, daddy can’t be by your side."
Luo Qiao listened to the side, her heart also filled with mixed feelings. A transition period was necessary, and this temporary separation was for a better reunion later.
********
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. The laboratory’s previous project bonuses had been distributed, and Luo Qiao got a significant share, which was the advantage of having a good mentor.
The professor is currently organizing materials, and next month they’re starting a new project. Professor Wilson said there’s no hope for a summer break, so everyone should be ready to spend it together in the lab.
Luo Qiao recently submitted a minor in Business Economics at the business school. Although it’s challenging, she is very confident.
The minor starts next semester, and by that time, all three little ones will have been weaned off breast milk, and she can fully immerse herself in her studies.
Just coming out of the lab that day, she was stopped by Emma and Steven: "Luo, we want to come see your triplets."
Luo Qiao didn’t expect these two to still remember this: "Okay, let’s go together."
Steven smiled and jumped up: "Finally going to see the triplets."
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Rong Daniang saw Luo Qiao bringing classmates home and quickly added two more dishes.
Seeing the triplets, Steven exclaimed: "Oh, my goodness, they really do look alike! Luo, Emma was right, you are a great mom to have such handsome babies."
While talking, he took out a camera and took many photos of the three children.
Once He Qing brought Yanyan and Yueyue back, the house became even more lively.
Emma and Steven were invited to stay for dinner at the house. At first, they felt a bit embarrassed, but once they tasted Chinese food, their reservations vanished as if they had flown off to Java.
After having a full meal at Luo Qiao’s place, Elder Rong even gave them some homemade meat buns when they left. They were in very high spirits when they left, with Emma playfully saying: "Luo, in the future, Steven and I will come to visit often."
After they finished speaking, the two hastily left.
Wei Tianyou went through a period of treatment. The hematoma at the back of his head had dissipated, and he was no longer prone to frequent nosebleeds. He seemed much more spirited than before and Xia Shanmei would accompany him for walks around the house when she could.
Since they can’t communicate well in the language, they didn’t dare go too far. Only when Wei Jun had time off, would he take them around, but they didn’t dare go for long out of concern for Tianyou’s health.
Wei Jun found a foreign language teacher who understood Chinese to teach them English lessons. Two hours a day, and the mother and son were very diligent. In the future, if they were to stay and study here, not knowing English wouldn’t do.