Alix clearly sensed a certain father’s displeasure pointing at her. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was holding his precious baby daughter or that the daughter smiled at her or both. The end result was the sa. She wanted to leave.
"T-Take her back," she said in a low voice.
Jun was happy to take her back but the mont Junxi felt shuffling around, she dropped a big wail.
"..."
He imdiately retreated and Junxi imdiately stopped crying. He slowly tried to approach her again but she looked like another cry was only a mont away. Jun’s heart was ready to burst with grief. His own pumpkin was pushing him away. Nothing could be more painful than his daughter’s avoidance. Until yesterday, Junxi felt the most comfortable in her father’s arms and embrace.
Seemingly, now she had found an alternate path to happiness.
Ai said, "She is just trying to get to know her better. You don’t have to give that betrayed look. She still loves her father the most."
"Junxi also likes pastry aunt like !" Ailun happily raised his arms.
Alix looked down in her eyes and tried to find the truth.
Does she really like ? What is so likeable in ?
Ai clapped her hands in delight. "That reminds ! You will be joining us in the celebration get-together, right?"
Alix stiffened.
To beco a part of that get-together was like pronouncing herself as the part of the Liu family. That was not a reality she believed in.
"I cannot."
There was a beat of silence. Ai threw a glance at Jun and urged him to convince her.
"...You should co. Junxi has..." his gaze still held pain, "grown fond of you it seems. She even smiled at you. She didn’t smile at ..."
Alix pressed her lips. "I don’t think that was a smile. She is only a few days old. I don’t think she knows how to move or smile."
Ailun said, "Pastry Aunt has to co! Why won’t you co? Everybody will be there!"
It was hard to explain her refusal to participate to a child.
"I cannot."
He flared his nostrils. "If pastry aunt doesn’t co, then I won’t co too!"
Ai dramatically gasped. "How can you not? How can the big brother not be in the get-together? And here you wanted to show how coolly you can hold your sister in your arms."
He pursed his lips, joining in the drama. "It won’t be fun if pastry aunt is not there to see being a cool big brother! So I will not go!"
"Aish..."
This mother-son...Jun didn’t know what to say.
"No, you have to," Alix said. "I really cannot co."
He vigorously shook his head to express his disapproval. "Pastry aunt has to co or I don’t go too!"
"I will give you a big chocolate."
Ai and Jin’s brows unanimously twitched at that.
Seriously?
Ailun gave a zap of his denial again. "No chocolate! Only pastry aunt!"
Though Junxi was too small to properly move yet, her dark brown eyes were fixed at her - straight at her without blinking as if saying that her participation was required. She might not be able to protest with her body but she was surely protesting with her gaze.
Alix swallowed a small gulp, seeing the intensity in her eyes.
Ai clapped once. "See? Everybody wants you to be there. So you must be there!" she brightened.
—
When Jin was back in his room, he saw the hogged up space released just a little bit. He had more space than before on the dressing table and bed but not completely.
Well, sobody seems to be in a good mood.
The wife in question had, once again, covered herself in the blanket. He sat beside her and softly poked her.
"Guess sobody got to et her niece."
No response.
"I heard that you held her too. Isn’t she just like a dumpling?"
The blanket slided downwards, just enough to reveal her narrowed eyes.
He smiled. "Are you hungry? Let’s have dinner."
She stared at him in silence for a few long seconds and said, "I cannot go to Junxi’s celebration get-together."
He blinked twice.
"You have to convince Ailun. I cannot go."
"They personally invited you. They wouldn’t have if they were uncomfortable with you. Do you still not want to go?"
Alix’s gaze betrayed nothing. "I cannot."
Jin slightly pressed his lips. The celebration would have been a great chance for the distance between Alix and the family to bridge, even if by just a little. But she seed to be determined in her decision. He knew it would hurt Ailun and Ai but he didn’t want to force her either.
He smiled. "I will talk to Ailun. Don’t worry about him, okay?"
She stared at him but said nothing.
"Did you have dinner?"
"Yes."
"Liar. Now get up."
"I’m not hungry."
"You will surely be in the middle of the night. I cannot let you sleep on an empty stomach."
"Why not?"
His brow twitched. "What kind of a husband would I be to let his wife sleep hungry?"
"The world will understand you for not caring about a nuisance wife."
All of a sudden, she found herself trapped within his arms and a pair of black eyes that watched her like a hawk.
"Who dares call my wife a nuisance?"
"."
"I thought you had a higher opinion of yourself."
With his gaze fixed at a few hair strands on top of her eyelashes, he wished he could tuck those strands away and get a clear look at her eyes. His heart raced as the wish grew stronger. Then it urged him to drop a peck on her forehead but he knew it was little too soon to touch her. He would find himself buried deep underground, never to see the light again.
At the very least, he pinched the tip of her nose. "You are not a nuisance. Don’t ever call yourself that. You can do whatever you want in this house. Nobody will stop you."
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