Just as Yuan Meng called out for her, Little Qiqi's giggle could be heard as she jumped off the sofa while clutching her small teddy bear with her and dashed to the kitchen.
"Mumma, Qiqi is here to make dumplings with Mumma and Papa."
Little Qiqi raised her right hand while still holding the steady bear with her left one as she exclaimed when she came to the door.
Ye Qian and Yuan Meng smiled at each other and nodded.
"Hey, Qiqi come quick Mumma is going to finish making them fast."
"Yes, Mumma, Qiqi is coming."
"Huff oofff."
Once Little Qiqi stopped running and stood in front of Yuan Meng she started to breathe heavily.
"Mumma didn't Qiqi tell you to call Qiqi quickly when Papa is done with cooking."
Little Qiqi pouted her lips and glanced at Yuan Meng.
Ye Qian walked to Little Qiqi and kneeled by her and smiled at her pouting look and pinched her tiny nose.
"Don't worry my Butterfly, Papa won't start without my Little Butterfly, Mumma is just teasing you."
"Humph"
Little Qiqi turned to Yuan Meng while still pouting and harrumphed.
Yuan Meng was not able to say anything and smiled forcefully.
Ye Qian cheered up the little girl.
"Come, Papa and Mumma will start making dumplings with Butterfly."
Saying that he picked her up and placed her beside Yuan Meng, who was also sitting on the chair by the table.
Yuan Meng smiled at Little Qiqi apologetically and handed her the wrappers they made before and the new filling that Ye Qian had made before while making the soup, for the dumplings.
Ye Qian also sat by her side and started to show her how to wrap them.
Little Qiqi placed the teddy bear on her lap and then started to watch Ye Qian and Yuan Meng intently as they wrapped the dumplings.
After a few minutes of watching her Mumma and Papa, Little Qiqi took a wrapper and placed a small spoonful of filling containing meat and vegetables, Little Qiqi dipped her small tiny finger in the bowl containing some corn-starch slurry and then used it as a glue to stick her dumplings.
Little Qiqi tried to make the design on the dumplings just like her Mumma, but was unable to as she either made something which like a rolled ball every time she tried to make it.
Little Qiqi pouted her lips as she started to get annoyed as she was not able to make the floral design on her dumplings.
Seeing her pout Yuan Meng patted her head and smiled as she gently.
"Qiqi, you don't need to make the design, look if you make it simple it also looks good."
Yuan Meng then made a simple dumpling by just sealing the dumpling's end and showing it to Little Qiqi.
"Wow, Mumma it also looks so beautiful."
Little Qiqi's eyes brightened as she saw the simple dumpling.
"Qiqi will also make these cute ones."
Little Qiqi said with determination and took another wrapper and started to place the filling in it and closed it after pasting the rim with the corn starch slurry.
Little Qiqi was so focused that she didn't know that both her Mumma and Papa were gazing at her all the time while she made it with their eyes full of love and tender feelings.
Once she was done, she glanced at Yuan Meng and Ye Qian with expectation.
Ye Qian smiled and praised.
"My Little Butterfly's dumpling looks like a Baby Moon."
"Papa really, does it?"
Little Qiqi asked in disbelief.
"See there doesn't it look the same."
Ye Qian pointed at the window through which Little Qiqi could see the half-moon shining in the dark sky.
Seeing the half-moon through the sky Little Qiqi's eyes brightened as she grinned.
"Yes, Papa, Qiqi's dumplings look like a Baby Moon."
Yuan Meng smiled at her as she said in a proud tone with her baby voice.
About twenty minutes later they were done wrapping the dumplings and Little Qiqi was full of smiles as she admired her small Baby Moon dumplings with her eyes shining.
Ye Qian had placed them on a separate plate so that they would cook them separately, he then placed Little Qiqi's dumplings in the freezer with the other which he and Yuan Meng had prepared.
The dumplings need to be served while they were still steaming so there was no need for him to cook them now.
Yuan Meng glanced at the wall clock hanging on the wall and saw that it was nearly 8:30 now.
"Sister Wei and Jia would be coming soon, how about we get fresh till then."
Yuan Meng proposed as there was flour on their hands and many stains as they were wrapping the dumplings, but Little Qiqi was not covered in flour like before as they were not using much flour.
"Qian'er, how about you go first I will take some good clothes for you to wear till then."
Yuan Meng said as Ye Qian had not freshened up after they came into the house.
Ye Qian nodded and walked to the bedroom.
__________
When Ye Qian went into the bathroom Little Qiqi walked to Yuan Meng and pulled the hem of her bathrobe.
"Umm."
"What's it Qiqi, do you want to tell something to Mumma?"
Yuan Meng squatted as she rubbed Little Qiqi's cheeks.
"Umm Mumma..."
Yuan Meng tilted her head but stopped looking as if she didn't know if she should ask it or not.
"What happened, tell Mumma, did anyone say anything bad to you again?"
Yuan Meng frowned as she thought that some child might have bullied Little Qiqi again so she asked.
"No no, Mumma, no one bullied Qiqi, they were very nice to Qiqi, it's Qiqi feel something."
Little Qiqi shook her head vigorously and then tears welled in the little girl's eyes.
"Mumma, Papa won't leave Qiqi again, right?"
Yuan Meng's frown deepened as she heard Little Qiqi, she had known many people telling Little Qiqi that Ye Qian left them because of her and many of the people who said this, were mostly her colleagues.
"Why would Papa leave Qiqi again, didn't I tell you that he came back because he promised to be with us."
Yuan Meng smiled at her and brought the little girl to her embrace and said while stroking her hair.
"Yes, Mumma you used to tell that to Qiqi, sniff...and Papa returned to Qiqi and Mumma, sniff..."
Tears started to drip from her eyes as Little Qiqi recalled what her Mumma used to say.
"Then didn't Qiqi's Papa promise Qiqi that he will never leave Qiqi and Mumma?"
Yuan Meng rubbed Little Qiqi's small back as she consoled her.
"Hmm."
"Then Qiqi should know that Qiqi's Papa never breaks his promises, right?"
"Hmm."
Yuan Meng asked as the little girl nodded.
"So Qiqi's Papa won't leave Qiqi again ever?"
Little Qiqi asked while her voice choking as she stared at her Mumma.
"Hmm."
Yuan Meng nodded and then continued.
"Then why would Qiqi ask Mumma such a question? Isn't it like Qiqi is asking some question that doesn't mean at all?"
"Yes, Mumma, you are right, Qiqi must not ask such a question, Qiqi was just feeling bad that Qiqi's Papa would leave Qiqi but now Qiqi will never think that."
Little Qiqi came out of Yuan Meng's embrace and smiled.
"Hmm."
Yuan Meng nodded and pinched her nose while smiling.
"Because Papa always keeps his promises. Hehe."
Little Qiqi giggled as Yuan Meng tickled her.
"Hehe Mumma it tickles so much, hehehe Mumma stop Qiqi will fall while laughing so much hehehehe."
"Oh, then fall, Mumma will catch her sweet little daughter."
"Hehe Mumma, stop hehe."
After a few seconds, Yuan Meng stopped tickling Little Qiqi who was breathing heavily.
"Come, let's pick some clothes for your Papa, he never had a nice way with his clothing we will have to search for good clothes for him, or he will make himself look bad in front of your Aunt Wei."
Yuan Meng extended her hand to Little Qiqi.
Little Qiqi held her Mumma's hand and said.
"Mumma, Papa is so cool, how come he is not good with clothes."
"Hehe, you think he was always cool, your Mumma had to choose clothes for him once we were in a relationship."
"Ohh, then Mumma means that Papa was not so cool before."
"Hmm."
Yuan Meng nodded and then shook her head as she thought about what she had been saying to Little Qiqi.
"Hehe, Mumma, Papa is really lucky to have you."
"Yes, indeed."
Yuan Meng started walking as she said with pride.
"Stop saying such things and quickly come with Mumma you also need to freshen up with me and wear some good clothes or your Aunt Wei will think Mumma is not treating you, Father and Daughter, well."
"Hehe. Yes, Mumma."
Little Qiqi giggled and followed her Mumma as she held her hand and walked to the bedroom.
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