Unlike the dinners with Li Liusu and Su Lexuan, the atmosphere between Shen Lang and the mother-daughter duo wasn't particularly romantic. Instead, it was filled with a warm sense of family harmony.
This was exactly what Xia Shuyi wanted. As a mature woman, she was no longer interested in the kind of young love that involved romantic gestures and declarations. Her WeChat status said it all: "For the rest of my life, I want it to be calm and simple."
Shen Lang and Xia Shuyi occasionally exchanged some casual conversations, while Mengmeng, the little girl, excitedly talked about her fun experiences at kindergarten. The TV was playing cartoons in the background. The scene was truly like a warm and lively family gathering.
They had a long dinner, and it wasn't until past 10 PM that Mengmeng finally took a bath and drowsily headed to her bedroom to sleep. Naturally, the task of cleaning up fell to Shen Lang and Xia Shuyi.
After tidying up the living room, they moved to the kitchen to wash the dishes, chatting about trivial matters as they did. Given their current relationship, Shen Lang didn't need to use sweet talk to impress Xia Shuyi anymore. They just talked and laughed, feeling like a couple engaging in a deep conversation late into the night.
"Mengmeng is so adorable," Shen Lang blurted out his thoughts. "I hope to have a beautiful daughter like her someday. I would treat her like a princess."
Xia Shuyi paused, her red lips parting as if to say something, but she ultimately swallowed her words.
"Didn't you say you could still have kids?" Shen Lang nudged her shoulder playfully. "How about you help me with that?"
"Little rascal, what are you saying?" Xia Shuyi playfully scolded him, pretending to be angry. "You think it's that easy? Just say the word and it happens?"
"Besides, what if you leave after the baby is born?"
She teased him further, "I don't want to end up raising a child on my own. Will you take responsibility?"
Her words seemed sarcastic, but they carried a hint of consent.
"Of course, I will. Whose child would it be if not mine?" Shen Lang replied without hesitation, then seriously added, "Don't do anything rash if it happens, okay?"
"Just wash the dishes and stop talking nonsense," Xia Shuyi scolded him, her face flushing red. Yet, she felt a sense of happiness, appreciating Shen Lang's willingness to take responsibility.
Xia Shuyi was a smart woman. If she had sensed that Shen Lang was the type to take advantage and then run away, she would have cut ties with him long ago. There was no way she would keep seeing him.
Although Xia Shuyi had no plans to remarry for her daughter Mengmeng's sake, she secretly hoped for a man to take care of both of them. Her requirements for this man were simple: he needed to provide emotional support and fatherly love for Mengmeng.
Shen Lang was fulfilling these needs. Although he had his flaws, if he truly wanted a child, Xia Shuyi was willing to give him that.
"Wait a moment, I almost forgot. Xia Jie, hang on a second."
Shen Lang went to the living room to get his jacket and pulled out a small gift box from the pocket. He handed it to Xia Shuyi in the kitchen.
"For me?"
Xia Shuyi quickly dried her hands, surprised and delighted as she took the small box.
"Of course. It's Valentine's Day. Who else would I give it to, Mengmeng?" Shen Lang chuckled and nodded at the box. "Open it and see if you like it."
Xia Shuyi carefully opened the box, revealing a silver necklace with a sparkling leaf-shaped pendant.
"What do you think? Do you like it?" Shen Lang eagerly asked.
"Yes, I like it," Xia Shuyi replied softly, holding the necklace delicately and admiring it. Although she usually wore expensive jewelry worth tens of thousands or even millions, this simple silver necklace meant more to her because it came from Shen Lang.
Women like Xia Shuyi didn't care about the cost of a gift. It was the thought that counted.
"Sigh, only you would go through such trouble to make an old lady like me happy," Xia Shuyi sighed, suddenly feeling down about their age difference. "Do you really not care about our age gap?"
"Of course not," Shen Lang shrugged. "Age is just a number. Lots of guys prefer older women nowadays."
"But I'm 36, and you're 24. I'm 12 years older than you, and Mengmeng is already six. Are we really okay like this?" Xia Shuyi voiced her doubts, feeling uncertain.
This was her kind-hearted nature. Despite her wealth, she didn't feel entitled to pursue Shen Lang. She worried that dating someone much younger might be irresponsible.
"Ugh, I've told you before," Shen Lang frowned. "You're 36, not 56. Stop thinking of yourself as old."
Considering the sensitivity around their age difference, especially on a day like this, Shen Lang decided to change the topic.
"Come here, let me help you put it on," Shen Lang said, taking the necklace and fastening it around Xia Shuyi's elegant neck. He stepped back and admired her. "You look beautiful. My taste isn't bad, huh?"
"Thank you, Xiao Shen," Xia Shuyi laughed and threw herself into Shen Lang's arms. "I'm sticking with you for the rest of my life."
"Mm," Shen Lang hugged her, enjoying the moment.
"Do you want anything? I'll buy it for you," Xia Shuyi offered. "I can't just accept your gift without giving you something in return."
"Jie, you know what I want," Shen Lang grinned and picked her up, pressing her against the kitchen wall.