"Wow, Miao Miao, your baby is so adorable," Cui Man Tong said enviously, looking at Wen Yi Zhen's peaceful sleeping face in the cradle. "What should I do? I want your baby."
Fang Miao Miao found it amusing and said, "Your child is adorable too."
"Adorable my foot," Cui Man Tong grumbled. "I dreamt of having a daughter, but who knew it would be another boy. And let me tell you, this little rascal is so noisy. He keeps his dad up every night."
"Don't you have a nanny?"
Cui Man Tong spread her hands helplessly and said, "I don't know if it's because Cui Tong said too many things about beating him up when he was born while he was still in my belly, or what, but this child won't sleep at night unless he's in Cui Tong's arms."
"That's so magical?"
Cui Man Tong chuckled, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her voice, "This makes Cui Tong unable to sleep well at night, so he has to catch up on sleep at the company the next day."
Fang Miao Miao imagined the scene and couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Our baby is quite well-behaved. She eats when she's full, sleeps when she's full, and occasionally opens her big, watery eyes to look at us, making Wen Zhi Yan, that doting father, want to be by her side 24/7."
"I also think your baby is especially cute. But speaking of which," Cui Man Tong suddenly realized, "our little one hasn't been crying today."
Normally, this little fellow would have already started his loud wails and whimpers.
"Could it be that he's not used to a new environment?" Fang Miao Miao wasn't very knowledgeable about these things. She usually relied on the nanny, An An, or Wen Zhi Yan to take care of the baby.
Cui Man Tong stood up and looked into the cradle. She then noticed that the sleeping infant had already opened its eyes and was staring intently in one direction.
She followed the baby's gaze and couldn't help but smile.
"What's wrong?"
"Come, see what our little one is looking at."
Fang Miao Miao also got up out of curiosity and walked over. When she realized the baby's intention, she also started to laugh, because the baby was looking in the direction of her own baby's cradle.
"You don't think our little one is falling in love at first sight with your baby, do you?"
"That's a bit exaggerated," Fang Miao Miao said, gently nudging the baby's chubby little hand. "By the way, haven't you named your baby yet? You've just been calling him 'little one'."
Cui Man Tong shrugged. "During the time I was pregnant, Cui Tong was constantly wishing for a girl and picked out all sorts of girl names. But who knew it would be a boy? Cui Tong was completely at a loss. So he just kept calling him 'little one,' and to this day, he still hasn't given him a proper name."
Fang Miao Miao frowned slightly. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"It is a bit much. I suspect that 'little one' is clingy with Cui Tong precisely because he's unhappy that Cui Tong hasn't named him." Cui Man Tong's eyes lit up. "How about you name him, Miao Miao?"
Fang Miao Miao quickly shook her head. "That won't do. You are his parents, so you should be the ones to name him."
"Ah, it's a headache. Cui Tong has been so busy lately, and I don't want to trouble him too much."
"Don't overthink it. It's common for new mothers to feel down and experience a range of negative emotions during this period, like postpartum depression. It's nothing to joke about."
"I know, don't worry, I'm not overthinking. I just feel bad for Cui Tong."
Fang Miao Miao hugged Cui Man Tong, remaining silent.
After a while, Cui Man Tong wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
"Not at all. I'm happy that you feel you can rely on me and confide in me."
Strictly speaking, Cui Man Tong was the first good friend Fang Miao Miao had met in both her lives. She was warm, vivacious, and like a little sun that could never be defeated by difficulties.
She always paid attention to Fang Miao Miao and protected her.
Meeting Man Tong was truly a great fortune in her life.
Now that her Man Tong was facing difficulties, she definitely had to protect her well.
"Man Tong, let's live together for a while."
"Then what about your husband?"
"It's fine. An An's room is very large. Wen Zhi Yan can sleep with An An and the two little ones."
"I'm sorry for bothering you again."
"It's alright, it's alright. I'm more than happy to be bothered by Man Tong. Come on, I'll cook lunch for you today. You probably haven't tasted my cooking in a long time, right?"
"Wuwuwu, Miao Miao, what should I do? I think I'm falling for you more and more."
"Hahaha, I like you a lot too," Fang Miao Miao continued, "So, Man Tong, do you want to help me in the kitchen, or stay in the living room with Aunt Qian to take care of the two babies?"
"I'll go to the kitchen with you."
Fang Miao Miao nodded, said something to Aunt Qian, and then took Cui Man Tong to the kitchen.
"Wow, Miao Miao, you're amazing," Cui Man Tong said with admiration, watching Fang Miao Miao's skillful knife work. "You're so cool."
Fang Miao Miao raised an eyebrow. "Don't fall for me too hard. Tell me, what do you want to eat, or what do you want to try? Tell me, and I'll teach you how to make it."
"Whatever Miao Miao makes, I'll love to eat it."
"Okay," Fang Miao Miao said affectionately, patting Cui Man Tong's head. "Wait for me, let me show you something."
Cui Man Tong leaned against the doorframe, watching Fang Miao Miao busy herself in the kitchen. Tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.
"Miao Miao, I need to use the restroom."
"Go ahead," Fang Miao Miao said without looking back, as she was busy slicing potatoes.
Cui Man Tong hid in the bathroom and began to sob softly. She felt an overwhelming urge to cry, and she didn't know why, but she couldn't control it.
She didn't know what was happening to her. She just felt like crying all the time, unable to hold back.
After crying for an unknown amount of time, someone knocked on the door.
"Madam Cui, the baby is a bit restless and misses his mother."
Cui Man Tong frantically wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'll be out in a moment. Thank you, Aunt Qian."
After coming out of the bathroom, she immediately went to the living room and picked up the baby.
Aunt Qian saw this scene and hesitated before going to the kitchen to find Fang Miao Miao.
"Madam, Madam Cui's condition seems a bit unusual."
Fang Miao Miao paused her stir-frying. "I know. Thank you, Aunt Qian. But please, don't let Man Tong realize this."
"Isn't that going to be worse for Madam Cui?"
It was clearly a case of postpartum depression.
"If I tell her, it will be even worse," Fang Miao Miao continued her cooking. "Alright, Aunt Qian, don't worry about this. We will find a way to help Man Tong through this."
Aunt Qian nodded and turned to attend to her tasks.