Baby (Part 2)

On the last day of the National Day holiday, after giving instructions about the base, Xia Libing took "Little Alice" to Citong City.

As they exited the Citong City station, Lao Xia, quite unusually, hugged Alice tightly.

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia, when we meet the boss's parents later, should I call you Mom?" "Little Alice" said in a childish voice from Lao Xia's arms.

"No need," Lao Xia said.

"Then... when I see the boss's dad and boss's mom, can I call them 'Grandpa and Grandma'?" Alice asked again.

"Your persona is that of a gluttonous, sleepy, slightly clumsy but well-behaved child who doesn't talk much except about food," Lao Xia instructed. "Don't do anything unnecessary; just be 'natural.'"

Alice thought for a moment and suggested, "How about someone who's a bit gluttonous and lazy, a little slow, but sometimes incredibly smart?"

Seeing that Lao Xia didn't answer, Alice tried a different approach. "Or... how about someone who's a bit gluttonous and lazy, a little slow, but sometimes a little clever?"

"Okay, I'll stick to the plan... But, Lao Xia, Lao Xia, what foods should I say? My usual foods are cakes, rice cereal, milk, cookies... Can I say 'I want cookies,' 'I want porridge,' or 'I want milk'?"

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia, this plan of ours doesn't have the boss's permission. When the boss wakes up, I'll say it was all your plan, okay?"

"Lao Xia Lao Xia, will the boss's parents like me? Am I too fat?"

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia, do I look bad in this outfit? Should I change into something cuter?"

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia, before we meet the boss's parents later, should we secretly play Sister Nana's 'Happy Song' to cheer them up and make them happier?"

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia, how about we come another day?"

"Lao Xia, Lao Xia,..."

Except when Alice was sleeping quietly in the car arranged by the company to pick them up, because there was a driver, she kept muttering "Little Alice" from the moment they got off the bullet train until they climbed the stairs to stand in Xiang Kun's house.

Xia Libing didn't answer most of the time. She knew that Alice was anxious and nervous. Alice's emotional state must mean that her rational thinking, comprehensive data analysis ability, and super computing power were temporarily "suspended".

Under what circumstances would Alice choose to let emotions guide her behavior, temporarily abandoning her superior data collection, modeling, analysis, and even some degree of manipulation and guidance abilities?

Was it a deliberate choice, or a passive, instinctive reaction?

This was something that intrigued and interested Xia Libing, so even though Alice kept rambling on and on, she didn't let Alice stop, and kept observing Alice's reactions— Alice's "real body" could provide real and concrete feedback on her emotions and thoughts.

Xia Libing knew that Alice would get into character when she met Xiang Kun's parents; she was a child who knew what was important.

Xia Libing had already called Mom Xiang Dad Xiang to say that she would be visiting today, so the elderly couple bought a lot of groceries early this morning to prepare a good lunch for "Little Xia".

However, when she heard the doorbell and opened the door to see Lao Xia holding a cute little girl, Mom Xiang was still taken aback.

When she talked to Lao Xia on the phone yesterday, she asked Nana, Zhen'er, Little Apple, and Little Bell if they would come together. The answer she got was that they wouldn't come, so she instinctively thought that Lao Xia came alone. She didn't expect that he would bring such a small little girl with him.

"Oh my, this baby is so cute! Whose child is she?" Mom Xiang instinctively reached out and gently pinched Alice's little cheek, smiling, "Just as cute as Little Bell used to be."

Thinking back to the first time she saw that chubby, adorable little girl at the airport more than three years ago, Mom Xiang couldn't help but smile slightly. That little girl was just too lovable.

Alice, looking shy, buried her head in Lao Xia's shoulder after having her cheek pinched.

"Hello Auntie, hello Uncle." Xia Libing didn't answer Mom Xiang's question. After greeting her, she naturally walked into the house, put Alice on the ground, and took her hand.

"Auntie, I suddenly have some things to take care of these next few days and I need to go abroad. Could you and Uncle please help take care of her?" Xia Libing said.

These words naturally surprised Dad Xiang Mom Xiang, but Mom Xiang still subconsciously replied, "Ah! Taking care of them is certainly no problem, since we're both retired and don't have much to do, but..."

Xia Libing continued, "There's another matter I need to trouble you with, Uncle and Aunt."

Seeing Xia Libing pause, Mom Xiang quickly said, "Xia, just tell us what's wrong. As long as your Uncle Xiang and I can help, we definitely won't hesitate." Although Xiang Kun told his parents before leaving that they could go to "Xia" and "Tang" if they encountered any problems they couldn't solve, in Xiang's Mom Xiang Dad Xiang father's view, it was actually the two elders who had a greater responsibility to take care of the younger generation.

Xia Libing looked at the little girl she was holding hands with and said, "Auntie, her nickname is 'Alice,' and she just turned two months old last month, but she doesn't have a formal name yet. Could you please help her choose one?"

Upon hearing this, Mom Xiang Dad Xiang, staring blankly at the chubby yet adorable little girl that Xia Libing was holding hands with.

They naturally understood the subtext: this adorable little girl was already two years old, yet she still didn't have a formal name, and they, the elderly couple, were even helping her choose one. What was this child's status?

He just turned two months old last month?

While calculating the time in her mind, Mom Xiang stared at the little girl's face.

At first glance, she thought the chubby little girl was super cute, reminding her of Liu Shiling's appearance three years ago. But now, upon closer inspection, she realized that the little girl's features were 80% similar to Xia Libing's, especially her eyes and mouth. When she wasn't making any expressions, they were so alike, practically identical.

Is this little girl related to Xia Libing by blood? Is she Xia Libing's daughter?!

But if she's Xia Libing's daughter, why did she make the elderly couple name her?

Could she be Xiang Kun and Xia Libing's daughter?!

Based on age, this is indeed a possibility.

Moreover, in the year Xiang Kun went to Europe, although Dad Xiang Mom Xiang Xia Libing a few times, they never met. However, they did meet Tang Baona, Yang Zhen'er, and Little Apple a few times.

After Xiang Kun went on a business trip, they didn't see Xia Libing for the first time until January 2022, so they didn't know whether she was trying to conceive or was heavily pregnant during that time.

The answer seems obvious.

Indeed, if this little girl wasn't Xiang Kun's daughter, why would she bring her here to ask them to help look after her?

With Xia Libing's financial resources, even if she has things to do, it should be easy for her to hire someone to take care of her.

She insisted on bringing the child over, handing him over to the two of them, and even asking them to help her choose a name.

"This child... is it you and Xiang Kun..." Mom Xiang was unsure how to ask, and her tone became cautious.

Xia Libing looked down at Alice and said, "Alice's birth is indeed related to Xiang Kun."

It really is Xiang Kun's child!

At this moment, when Mom Xiang Dad Xiang at the little girl holding Xia Libing's hand again, they felt something different. They felt that the little girl with delicate features really did look a bit like Xiang Kun when he was a child.

"Xiang Kun, do you know... about Liz?" Dad Xiang couldn't help but ask. The child is already two years old, and they, the grandparents, only just found out. This is really inappropriate!

Mom Xiang couldn't help but pinch Dad Xiang, whispering, "It's Alice, in English! Not Alice!"

"I'm not sure if he knows now, but I haven't had a chance to talk to him about this since Alice was born." After Xia Libing finished speaking, she led Alice to sit on the sofa next to her and put down her backpack. "Here are a few sets of clothes for Alice, some food for her, and if she needs anything else, just let me know and I'll have someone bring it over."

"Xia... let's stay for lunch first, then we can have a good chat. I need to call Xiang Kun," Mom Xiang said softly, holding Xia Libing's hand.

"I have to catch my flight and I'm afraid I won't make it in time, so I won't eat. Please take care of Alice in your care, Uncle and Aunt. I'll have my cousin come and pick her up in a few days." Xia Libing said, squatting down to pinch Alice's cheek as a farewell, before getting up and leaving.

Dad Xiang Mom Xiang Xia Libing go downstairs and leave the community.

Seeing Alice sitting on the sofa, her pink sneakers dangling in mid-air, staring intently at the balcony, the elderly couple exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat complicated.

I felt a mix of confusion, worry, tension, annoyance, excitement, and secret delight.

First, Mom Xiang took out her phone to call Xiang Kun, Dad Xiang went over and sat on the sofa, bringing out all the snacks and fruits he could find in the living room.

"Little Ai... don't worry, your mom has gone to work and will be back soon. Stay here with Grandpa and Grandma, it'll be fine! Come on, have some candy and fruit, Grandpa will peel an orange for you."

Alice accepted everything offered to her Dad Xiang. Dad Xiang gave her cookies, she would eat them; Dad Xiang peeled an orange for her, she would eat it too.

Looking at Alice eating obediently, Dad Xiang grew increasingly fond of her, his face beaming with joy and smiles. When he first saw Xia Libing holding Alice, he simply thought the child was cute, but after realizing that she might be his granddaughter, his feelings changed completely. She was simply the cutest, most beautiful, and most well-behaved child in the world, like the bright moon in the night sky, outshining all other stars. No other child could compare.

After finishing her phone call in her room, Mom Xiang came out. Upon entering the living room, she was startled to see Xiang's Dad Xiang feeding Alice orange segments, and the candy and cookie wrappers on the coffee table. She quickly ran over.

"Old Xiang, don't feed the child random things. How long have all those candies and cookies been sitting around? They were a gift from Little Tang's wedding, weren't they? Oh dear, these oranges have been here for ages too. Kids shouldn't eat just anything..."

Dad Xiang looked a little bewildered, glancing at the orange he'd already fed Alice a quarter of, and said blankly, "This orange looks pretty fresh, and the candy and cookies seem fine too, they haven't gone bad, have they? Little Ai..."

"In short, you can't just feed kids whatever you want! You didn't even feed our son much when he was little, what do you know! Get out of the way!"

After shooing Dad Xiang aside, Mom Xiang sat down next to Alice, immediately adopting a gentle and loving expression, and said softly, "Alice, let's have lunch first, okay? After lunch, Grandma will take you to eat something delicious."

She lifted Alice onto her lap, rummaging through Xia Libing's backpack for milk powder, rice cereal, and other food, while scolding Dad Xiang: "A child this age shouldn't be fed candy or cookies, especially before meals. Oranges are even worse on an empty stomach, especially since our oranges aren't fresh enough. Children's teeth and digestive systems aren't fully developed, so food needs to be soft and easily digestible. If Xia has any main meal food in her bag, give her that. If not, we'll have to prepare something else. We can mash up the fish and shrimp we made for lunch for her. Oh... by the way, I wonder if Alice can eat seafood? I'll ask Xia on WeChat later."

As they were talking, Alice, whom she was holding, suddenly called out in a childish voice, "Grandma... Grandma..."

Mom Xiang was taken aback, her expression somewhat agitated, but Dad Xiang laughed and pointed at her hand as she rummaged through Lao Xia's bag, saying, "Little Ai is calling for the milk powder in your hand."

Mom Xiang understood and laughed, "Go away, go away, stop calling her 'Little Ai,' 'Little Ai,' her name is Alice! It's an English name! These days, young people are used to giving their children English nicknames. Old Qin's grandson is named Andy, Xiao Zhao's daughter is named Lucy, and upstairs Sister Wei's twin granddaughters are named Jessie and something... Oh Emma. No wonder Xia is such a high achiever; even her English name is different. Alice, Alice, it sounds much more sophisticated."

Dad Xiang happily Mom Xiang nag, squatting by the sofa, holding Alice's little feet in sneakers in his hands. Looking at her cute chubby face, he felt that this baby was perfect in every way, incredibly adorable. His nose even felt a little sore, and he felt that he hadn't been this happy even when his own son was born.

"Alice, call him Grandpa, Grandpa." Dad Xiang smiled and pointed to himself, repeating, "Grandpa, Grandpa."

He hadn't held out much hope, because Alice was only two years old and didn't seem to know how to speak very well, so it wouldn't be easy for her to learn to call people.

But to everyone's surprise, Alice, who was being held by her Mom Xiang, smiled broadly and said, "Tooth! Tooth!"

Although her pronunciation was inaccurate, Dad Xiang was so excited that he laughed out loud and then tried to hug Alice.

"Look at you..." Mom Xiang was preparing lunch for Alice, so she let Dad Xiang carry her, her face full of uncontrollable smiles.

Now she doesn't need to do a DNA test or ask Xiang Kun or Xia Libing. She is absolutely certain that Alice is her granddaughter. The feeling and intuition she gets when she holds her is completely different from holding other children or other people's grandchildren.

"Hehe, you were the same just now. When you thought Alice was calling you 'Grandma,' you looked like you were about to cry," Dad Xiang, hugging Alice.

"Anyway, Alice will call me 'Grandma' first," Mom Xiang said, pointing to herself and saying to Alice, who was being held by Dad Xiang, "Alice, Grandma."

"Grandma, Grandma..." Alice called out in her childish voice.

"Oh! My good girl, so good girl!" Mom Xiang couldn't help but kiss Alice and happily went to prepare Alice's lunch.

"By the way, didn't you just call your son? What did that kid say? How come he doesn't know he has a child with Xia? When is he coming back?" Dad Xiang asked Xiang 'Mom Xiang while holding Alice. However, afraid of scaring the little girl in his arms, he spoke in an extremely gentle tone, even though he was a little dissatisfied.

"It wasn't him who answered the phone, it was his assistant. He said that he and his business partner had gone out to sea by boat, and that they had left their phones on shore. They wouldn't be back for another week," Mom Xiang said.

"What a coincidence!" Dad Xiang frowned.

"I think this kid is deliberately avoiding us. Maybe he's right next to us. Otherwise, why did he always answer the phone himself before? Why is his phone with his assistant this time? He... probably knows that Xia brought Alice to see us."

"Why are you hiding? What kind of situation is this? The child is already two years old, what's there to hide from?"

"I don't think it's that simple. I've always felt that when I talk to my son on the phone, video chat, or send voice messages, he often acts a little strange, but I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong. I feel like something's definitely going on, and I'm always on edge... That's why I've been thinking of taking some time to go to Europe to see him, meet him, and make sure I can feel at ease. But now it seems that this kid... is probably too afraid to come back," Mom Xiang analyzed.

"Afraid to come back? Why?" Dad Xiang was completely bewildered. "He's with Xia, of course we support him, and they have a child, so we can't possibly object... Ah! Could it be Xia's family...?"

"No." After preparing the rice cereal, Mom Xiang first tested the temperature, then used a spoon to scoop a little bit and brought it to Alice's lips. After Alice ate it, she continued, "Old Xiang, do you remember what Xiang Kun said to us last when he brought Xiao Tang, Xiao Xia, Xiao Yang, and Little Apple to our house before he went to Europe?"