🍒Chapter 42: Is Our Marriage a Common-Law Marriage?
Since Shen Shuyi said he was worried that moving abruptly would unsettle the baby, Xie Chenzhou didn’t rush to leave. He stayed.
He had never tried interacting with Shen Shuyi like this before. Previously, their relationship had always carried a sense of chaos. His mind was full of scattered thoughts, thinking this way and that way. Although his thoughts were all about Shen Shuyi, when it came to actually being with him, he wasn’t fully focused. He had many impure thoughts.
But today, perhaps because Shen Shuyi subtly guided him, or maybe because of the nearly two-year-long separation, Xie Chenzhou, worried that any distraction might cause him to make a mistake and have Shen Shuyi leave again, remarkably set aside all other wandering thoughts.
Then he realized that taking care of a child was truly a complex task.
Dinner time came, and the baby needed to eat solids. Shen Shuyi knew that Xie Chenzhou had instructed the two nannies and the caregiver to leave temporarily, so he said he could prepare dinner himself, without needing the nannies’ help. Having Xie Chenzhou there would be helpful. He could spend more time with the baby, getting closer to him, and give the nannies a short break.
So Shen Shuyi busied himself in the kitchen while leaving Xie Chenzhou in the living room with the baby. Actually, Shen Shuyi had a plan, to see if spending time with the baby would help settle Xie Chenzhou’s mind.
During their time in Country A, Shen Shuyi had studied diligently besides giving birth. He had researched methods to treat and ease symptoms like Enigma’s paranoia and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. He confirmed that his approach from two years ago was correct. The most important thing was restraint. But restraint came in many forms: intrinsic motivation was crucial, but external support also mattered.
Paranoia, compulsion, and control are, in essence, about establishing one’s own order in the patient’s mind. An unexpected factor like a baby is perfect for breaking that order.
In short, caring for a baby is exhausting and requires intense focus. Once Xie Chenzhou’s attention was fully drawn to the baby, he would have no time for other thoughts. Unlike company business, files, or data, a baby is alive. If he resists, there’s no reasoning with him.
Sure enough, shortly after Shen Shuyi went to the kitchen, the baby couldn’t sit still. Fortunately, the kitchen was open, so even while busy cooking, Shen Shuyi could keep an eye on the living room.
He wasn’t worried about Xie Chenzhou. But as a newcomer to childcare, having only spent a few hours with the baby, his experience was limited. The baby’s mealtime arrived, yet he hadn’t eaten his solids. The nannies weren’t around. The baby was hungry and wanted a snack.
He knew where Dad kept the snacks, but he couldn’t reach them. He began crawling, pushing at the bean-shaped lounge chair where Xie Chenzhou was sitting. Xie Chenzhou noticed and stood up.
The baby grinned, drooling, and tried to push the lounge chair under a nearby cabinet with his tiny chubby feet. But wearing socks on the mat made him slip, and the chair’s friction prevented it from moving.
“Yaya yi!” the baby called, trying to get the uncle’s help. His saliva had soaked the bib around his chest.
Xie Chenzhou couldn’t tolerate the long, sparkling string of drool dangling from the baby’s chin. He looked around for something to wipe it. Luckily, there were baby wipes on the dining table. He stepped forward, but just a few steps away, he heard a “thud.” The baby had failed to steady the chair and toppled to the mat, landing upside down.
Although the mat was soft and the baby wouldn’t be hurt, usually when he fell, the nannies or Dad would quickly help and check him. Today, the usually quiet uncle didn’t rush over to comfort him. The baby, feeling wronged, got up by himself, pouted, and let out a wail.
Xie Chenzhou immediately became anxious. He rarely experienced this emotion. Apart from when facing Shen Shuyi, he was usually composed in all situations. But this accident challenged his understanding. Was the child hurt? He hadn’t properly watched over him. Would Shuyi blame him?
He moved toward the baby while glancing back at Shen Shuyi, as if subconsciously asking for help. Shen Shuyi, busy making rice cereal, caught his gaze and offered a reassuring look, silently mouthing, “Hold him, just comfort him.”
Hold him? Okay. But how?
Xie Chenzhou reached out, trying to hug the baby. The baby, sensing the familiar scent approaching, cried even more miserably.
“Waaahhh!” The one-year-old’s cries shook the room.
Xie Chenzhou lifted him carefully. Hesitating, he recalled the TV shows where fathers would comfort children by lifting them up, letting them play the “flying” game. He could do that. But would the baby like it?
He glanced at his right hand, which was behaving normally, and slowly lifted the baby under his armpits. Unknowingly, the chubby baby was in mid-air.
The baby stopped crying. “Wow! Uncle is so tall! Can lift me to the ceiling!” His eyes widened in fascination as he looked at Xie Chenzhou’s handsome face and dark pupils.
“Ahhh!” Excited, the baby stopped crying and giggled. “Lift me higher, uncle!”
Xie Chenzhou slowly lowered and lifted him again, moving him forward slightly, like a flying chubby plane.
The baby was ecstatic, drool spilling like beads from his mouth, giggling uncontrollably. Xie Chenzhou resisted the urge to wipe it, lifting him again. The baby’s joy was infectious, and Xie Chenzhou felt a rare calmness, like bubbles rising through his mind.
Shen Shuyi didn’t expect that, in the brief time while cooking, Xie Chenzhou would bond so well with the baby. Soon, the solids were ready, and Shen Shuyi prepared a simple meal for himself and Xie Chenzhou. His cooking wasn’t exceptional, but it was edible. He hoped Xie Chenzhou wouldn’t mind.
He carried the food out while Xie Chenzhou brought the baby to the dining area. The baby was doing well, but Shen Shuyi noticed Xie Chenzhou was slightly uncomfortable with the baby’s constant drooling. Shen Shuyi found it amusing, quickly wiping the drool from the baby’s bib.
“It’s normal for babies this age to drool. Don’t wipe constantly or it can hurt the skin, but also don’t ignore it. In winter, damp skin can crack easily. Just check occasionally and change the bib when needed. It’s fine, everything about the baby is clean, he’ll adapt, right?” Shen Shuyi said, making a funny face at the baby.
The baby didn’t understand words, but the smell of rice cereal excited him. He was hungry and ready to eat.
“You eat first. I’ll feed him. He won’t like it if he watches us eat,” Shen Shuyi said, skillfully picking up the baby’s bowl.
“I’ll do it,” Xie Chenzhou said firmly. Shen Shuyi handed the bowl to him without protest but continued to eat himself.
“Take a small spoonful, not too much. Feed him slowly. Don’t pull the spoon away too fast. He’ll spit it out,” Shen Shuyi instructed.
The toothless baby often ate half, then spat out half. Soon, the bib was covered in rice cereal. Xie Chenzhou was used to it. He reminded himself that it was normal, and after all, it was his own child.
In just a short time, Xie Chenzhou deeply experienced how exhausting caring for a child was. He quietly summoned the nannies and caregiver back. With them returning, tonight’s study plans would likely be canceled. Shen Shuyi went outside to the back door to wash the baby’s bib. Xie Chenzhou followed.
“Are you staying tonight?” Shen Shuyi asked, blushing. He felt slightly unrestrained. The house had no spare bedroom for Xie Chenzhou. If he stayed, it would be with him.
Facing Xie Chenzhou, Shen Shuyi had little self-control. He wasn’t as restrained as Xie Chenzhou, or he wouldn’t have fled while pregnant. Some matters had to be addressed quickly.
“Shuyi,” Xie Chenzhou said, “you know why I chose to marry you, and you know the agreement I asked you to sign was just a formality. I’ve told you all of this. Now your glands have receded, you’ve come here alone, and even bore a child behind my back. I’ve suffered the punishment you gave me. I haven’t seen you in almost two years. Can you tell me, has my punishment ended? Is our marriage valid?”
As he spoke, his right hand trembled slightly. He didn’t want to hide his condition anymore. He realized that showing weakness appropriately could help him keep Shen Shuyi. He couldn’t eliminate his desire for control, but he could cooperate with Shen Shuyi’s plan.
Shen Shuyi had been trying to treat him; he always knew. He might not heal fully, but he could try to trust Shen Shuyi. Cooperate, and Shen Shuyi would remain with him forever.
And indeed, his plan worked.
“Yes, it’s valid, Xie Chenzhou. I’m sorry,” Shen Shuyi noticed his trembling right hand, dropped the baby’s bib, and hugged him with wet hands.
“I’m really sorry. It wasn’t a punishment. I wasn’t distrustful. I just didn’t trust myself at the time,” he said, gently patting Xie Chenzhou’s back.
Xie Chenzhou gradually calmed, withdrawing slightly. He lowered his head deeply. A faint floral scent filled the air. It was the familiar fragrance on Xie Chenzhou.
But for now, it wasn’t possible.
Shen Shuyi was caught in a deep kiss from Xie Chenzhou.
*Translator: thank you for reading 💋
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