Louis had just finished a refreshing shower, completely unaware that Anna and Cicc might not return home.
After bathing, Louis began preparing dinner for the evening. The usual two meat and two vegetable dishes, with tonight's main course being noodle soup. However, unsure of when they would return, he hesitated to make the noodles right away for fear they might become mushy. So, he set the vegetables on the table and the noodles aside, then returned to the living room, collapsing onto the sofa and distracting himself with parenting tips on his phone.
"What should I do if the child refuses to eat? Just give them a good beating!" Not an option! Scratch that! Cicc was so well-behaved; how could she possibly refuse to eat? Besides, he couldn't bear to lay a finger on such an adorable little one.
As Louis continued to scroll, feeling increasingly weary, he yawned and checked the time in the upper right corner of his phone. It was already 7 o'clock in the evening. Why hadn't Anna and Cicc returned yet?
Suddenly sitting upright, Louis couldn't help but worry. Could something have happened to them? Feeling anxious, he quickly got up to put on his shoes and go look for them. But just as he opened the door, they returned.
A fragrant breeze swept in, leaving Louis completely stunned. At that moment, Anna was humming an unknown tune, her steps light, and the degree of her raised lips indicating her current good mood. Carrying several tote bags, she held Cicc's hand with one hand and the doll Louis had given her with the other.
What left Louis dumbfounded was that they were both dressed in well-fitting new clothes, matching white shirts with pleated long skirts adorned with small flowers. Indeed, clothes make the man.
As they returned, they seemed to have transformed, and Louis almost couldn't bear to look directly at them, although he already found it difficult to do so before. When their eyes met, there was a brief pause, then Cicc sweetly called out "Daddy" and happily leaned against him, clearly delighted after their outing and change of clothes.
This "Daddy" nearly made Louis lose his soul; he replied with a trembling voice and then squatted down to ruffle Cicc's hair. Such an adorable child was truly unfair! Especially now, with her cuteness mixed with mischief, Louis was instantly defeated, and his previously tense mood relaxed.
He hugged the adorable little one and led the way into the house. "Daddy will make noodles for you tonight! With two eggs!" "Okay! Cicc loves eggs! Cicc loves Daddy the most!"
Outside, Anna was disheveled by the wind, and the little one had just said she loved Mommy the most. Now, she had changed sides? Cicc didn't wait long before her noodle soup with eggs was ready.
Louis brought the noodles over, gently touched her nose, and then habitually turned to walk towards the bedroom. However, he didn't expect Cicc to suddenly grab his clothes.
"Daddy, can you eat with Cicc?" her soft voice rang out again. Louis turned around and met Cicc's expectant gaze. He hesitated, stealing a glance at Anna sitting beside him.
Anna didn't speak or look at him, as if she hadn't heard Cicc's words at all, just focused on slurping her noodles.
"... " Louis was a bit speechless, finding the situation before him difficult to handle. Couldn't someone give a clear answer instead of being silent? What was the meaning of this?
Louis, who had been working away from home for many years, really couldn't understand the intentions of the woman in front of him. He tentatively asked, "So, should I stay and eat with Cicc?" "Yes! Daddy, sit down! Sit next to Cicc!"
Cicc's happy response made Louis touch his nose awkwardly. He brought another bowl of noodles from the kitchen and sat next to Cicc. With Mom on his left and Dad on his right, Cicc was sandwiched between them for the first time, and her smile never faded. Even during dinner, she ate with extra enthusiasm, finishing the whole bowl of noodles. In the end, it was Anna who stopped her, afraid she would overeat.
After dinner, Cicc's wish to have both her parents play with her in the princess house was dashed, leaving only Louis to accompany her in play.
Anna returned to the master bedroom alone after dinner, a decision Louis could understand. Convincing herself to sit at the table for dinner with him must have been a great internal struggle for Anna.
Putting himself in Anna's shoes, Louis contemplated the situation. If he were subjected to past mistreatments and then expected to reconcile with his enemies, he doubted he could do it. No, not him! The former Louis would have vanished without a trace by now, maybe even ground up and fed to the dogs!
Louis played with Cicc until 9 o'clock in the evening. Despite being visibly tired, Cicc refused to go to bed. During this time, Louis noticed a significant problem: Cicc was already three years old, yet she still couldn't take off her shoes by herself! Normal three-year-olds would be attending kindergarten by now! Louis understood that this was a result of the unhealthy family environment from before, so he couldn't rush her, but he couldn't help feeling extremely anxious.
It was at this moment that Anna emerged from the bedroom. She didn't say anything, just silently watched Louis and Cicc on the couch, her gaze speaking volumes.
Louis immediately understood. He picked Cicc up from the couch, kissed her on the cheek, and said with a smile, "Cicc, it's time to sleep! Daddy will play with you again tomorrow, okay?"
Cicc, whose eyes were nearly closing, looked at Louis's face, then turned her head to look at Anna before burying her little head into her father's neck.
"Tonight, Cicc wants to sleep with daddy!"
The sudden request left Louis a little bewildered, and Anna's face darkened slightly.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Louis looked at Anna innocently. This was entirely Cicc's idea; he didn't coax her into it!
Anna clenched her fists secretly. This little troublemaker! After taking care of her for so long, she had been corrupted by the enemy's sweet talk in just two days.
In the end, Cicc got her way. Anna quickly helped her freshen up, and the little one happily crawled into her father's bed.
Cicc clung to Louis's neck like a koala, unwilling to let go, and Louis let her hold him like that.
This was Louis's first time putting a child to sleep, so he remembered some parenting tips he had read online and gently told Cicc a bedtime story.
"Tonight, Daddy will tell you the story of the Snow Queen. A long time ago, in a beautiful kingdom, there lived a king with two very lovely daughters, one of whom was named Elsa…"
This was also Cicc's first time sleeping in her father's warm embrace, and the first time her father had told her a bedtime story.
From the first time he cooked for her, to the first time he bought her a gift, and now two more firsts added to the list!
Cicc felt immensely satisfied and drifted off to sleep soundly in her father's arms.