I smiled softly down at my daughter, Li Yue, as she reached her tiny arms out towards me, her orange and blue eye sparkling with joy as I picked her up and began to bounce her in my arms, eliciting a small giggle from her.
That sound was as melodic to me as the best music I had ever heard, and I felt my heart melt as Little Yue beamed at me, her fingers grabbing at my sleeves as she steadied herself.
Leaning forwards, I placed a quick kiss on her brow before nuzzling against her cheek, which my daughter reciprocated with pleasure.
Our happy, quiet moment was encroached on by Gao Chen, who opened the doors to the bedroom and stretched, her satisfied groan silencing Little Yue as she looked towards her other Mom.
Seeing me holding our daughter, Gao Chen smirked as she strode over, her orange eyes filled with warmth as she reached over and stroked Little Yue's black hair.
"How's she been~? Has my little moon been good for her mother~?"
Turning towards Li Yue in my arms, I smiled softly as she looked between Gao Chen and I, before she reached out and grabbed at Gao Chen's sleeve as well.
Getting the message, I gently handed Little Yue to my wife, who instantly nestled her daughter in her arms, the ease of the movement belying the experience she had gained.
Two months had passed since her birth, and Li Yue was doted on by both of us, much to my relief.
Gao Chen never really acted out ever since then, her sudden change making me wary at first before I decided to focus more on Li Yue, catering to my baby girl's needs and giving her the attention I had been denied in my youth.
Showering her with love and playing with her when she wanted was incredibly fun, especially since she now provided me a reason to avoid long cultivation sessions.
I hadn't shirked from the boring practice, but it had definitely slowed down as I only cultivated when she napped, much to Gao Chen's mixed feelings.
She was happy that I was properly raising out daughter, but at the same time she was a little irked that my progress had slowed to a crawl, and for once...
Her criticisms weren't unwarranted, and actually made me focus more on what I could do during those short breaks I had to continue building my strength.
I wanted to be greedy now; I wanted to dote on my baby, to grow stronger, and to have Gao Chen fall in love with me.
Even now that last desire hadn't changed, and I clung desperately to her broad back every few nights when she made love to me.
That small seed of dark desire I had before Little Yue's birth had only sprouted during these months, and now it was being watered by the thoughts of giving my daughter a sibling.
Fantasies filled my mind, and as the time went by, I found them to be more and more believable; Gao Chen had drowned herself in planning out the 'perfect training regimen' for Little Yue, studying various techniques and creating a path for our daughter to follow, one that would guide her in a good direction, but a path that was unrestrictive as well.
Seeing such devotion to grooming our daughter into the perfect heir, I began to see Gao Chen in a new light; a light that may have been tinted, but a light none the less.
Sure, she still got a little rough with me sometimes, but that was only when I asked her too, and for the moment we made sure to be safe with our nights together.
And, as I watched Gao Chen carefully lay Li Yue onto the bed before showing her a new doll she had fastened from various safe materials, I smiled gently as I sat beside them, nodding at my baby as she reached for the doll happily.
Letting out a happy 'Gah~', Li Yue sat down and began to play with the doll, her attention focused on the wooden cultivator that wielded a sword.
While she did that, Gao Chen turned towards me, her orange eyes meeting mine as she whispered "She has been good all day, no? Did she nap often? Eat enough?"
Chuckling at her words, I reached over and laid my hand over hers, smiling as I said "Yes, dear... Little Yue has been perfect today, just like always... she never cries, never acts out... though, she does occasionally glance towards the door~"
My smile widened slightly at that, and Gao Chen smiled back, her eyes warming up again as she glanced at Li Yue, before she leaned over and whispered "Hmm... Maybe she likes me more then~?"
Pressing my brow against hers, I chuckled quietly before replying "Or perhaps she's just curious about where her Mom is, hmm~?"
Meeting my gaze, Gao Chen raised a brow before leaning a little more forwards, pressing her lips against mine softly.
Her ginger scent washed over me, and like always it numbed my mind, prompting me to pry her lips apart and deepen the kiss.
Indulging me for a few moments, she eventually pulled away and grinned cheekily at me, a twinkle in her eyes as she moved away a bit, saying "Well, let's put that theory to the test, hmm~? We'll both call out to her, and see who she crawls to~!"
Rolling my eyes at her almost childish need to 'win', I complied as I shuffled away as well, leaving Little Yue on the bed by herself.
She was still happily tugging away at the toy, moving the limbs and making it 'walk' on the bed.
Nodding to one another, we smiled before saying ""Li Yue~ Come here~!"", which made her blink in surprise before looking between us.
Reaching my arms out, I smiled at my daughter as I said "Come here baby~! Come to mother~!"
Gao Chen swiftly copied me, which made Li Yue tilt her head as she looked around again.
After a few moments, she grabbed her new doll and crawled to me, making Gao Chen pout slightly as I hoisted her up and beamed at my baby.
Glancing at my wife, I got up and approached her, sitting down before her and leaning on her chest, letting Li Yue see us both.
Reaching over, Gao Chen rubbed Little Yue's cheek, all whilst she whispered "You'll pay for that, little bunny... I hate losing~!"
Feeling something poking me from behind, I looked up at her from under my lashes and whispered back "Well... Maybe you need to get used to it~?"
That only added fuel to the 'fire', and Gao Chen grinned arrogantly down at me, before giving me a deep kiss.
"Oh, you're so~ going to regret that..."