Returning to the Haihong Mall in the coastal district, Yang Yi drove his Overlord into the mall's underground parking lot.
This was only the second time Mo Fei had appeared in public with her child since the concert, and she couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. She gripped her bag strap tightly, her palms slightly sweaty.
"Here, let me hold your hand." Yang Yi locked the car door, walked around, and said gently.
In that instant, Mo Fei felt as if she were back at the concert, when Yang Yi had held her hand and given her support.
"Daddy, hold my hand too. It's a bit dark here, I'm scared." Xixi clung closely to her father's side, glancing timidly back into the depths of the parking lot, where the dim light seemed to hide a big monster.
"No problem!" Yang Yi grasped his daughter's hand with his right hand and, without hesitation, pulled Mo Fei's hand into his left.
Mo Fei hesitated for a moment but didn't resist.
They kept holding hands until they entered the mall, maintaining a proper distance, yet the gesture felt as natural as a habitual act.
Once inside the brightly lit mall, Xixi couldn't contain her excitement. She broke free from her father's big hand and ran ahead.
"Daddy, Mommy, hurry up!" The little girl's laughter chimed like silver coins gently striking a bell—crisp and melodious.
Wearing her little running shoes, Xixi dashed across the mall's mirror-smooth tiles, occasionally stumbling a few steps, having a blast.
As if infected by her daughter's joy, Mo Fei's tense, cold expression melted like spring snow, revealing a faint smile. She took the lead, tugging at Yang Yi's hand and blinking as she said, "Why aren't you walking faster?"
...
Going to kindergarten was like going to school for Xixi—from morning to afternoon, including the midday nap, and she'd be picked up by her father in the evening. So Mo Fei had already made a list of things to buy for Xixi to take to kindergarten.
For example, a small backpack. Even though it wouldn't hold textbooks, Mo Fei thought Xixi would look adorable carrying one!
And with a small backpack, she could store other odds and ends, like the lunchbox they'd buy next.
Xixi would eat lunch at the kindergarten, which encouraged kids to bring their own meals—a bit like Japan's bento culture. Yang Yi thought this was a great idea; preparing his daughter's lunch himself was both clean and healthy!
Plus, Xixi loved eating her father's cooking—she never got tired of it! Of course, Yang Yi put a lot of thought into every meal, constantly varying the dishes to keep things interesting. How could she ever get bored?
"We need to buy two lunchboxes. You'll prepare two portions for Xixi, so when other kids want to try some, she can share with them." Mo Fei said as she browsed the lunchboxes.
She wanted Xixi to be generous, not stingy, and to learn to share! Yang Yi, of course, hoped Xixi would be liked by the other kids, but as a man, he hadn't thought it through as thoroughly. Mo Fei wanted Xixi to both share and have enough to eat!
"Mommy, let's buy this one!" Xixi was picking her own, grabbing a lunchbox from some shelf, clearly drawn to the cartoon cat pattern on it.
Mo Fei took it, opened it to check the interior, and shook her head. "This one's no good. It doesn't have compartments. Rice and dishes need to be separated, and vegetables and meat too."
Xixi pouted unhappily, reluctant to put it back when Mo Fei told her to.
Yang Yi smiled softly, took the lunchbox, and held Xixi's hand. "It's okay, let's pick the style first, and then we'll find one with this pattern for you."
He understood the little girl's feelings better. Xixi's eyes lit up as she asked happily, "Really? Can we really?"
"Of course!" Yang Yi ruffled her hair. "We have to buy one with a pattern Xixi likes!"
"Hehe, Daddy's the best!" The little girl beamed sweetly.
Unhappy with Yang Yi's "deliberate" attempt to win their daughter's favor, Mo Fei pursed her lips and reached out to pinch the soft flesh at his waist. But it was rock-hard, and she nearly hurt her hand instead!
It wasn't just lunchboxes. Mo Fei was thorough and also looked for small medical kits, seemingly specially designed for kids—a tiny box containing cartoon-themed band-aids, disinfectant swabs, and cooling ointment.
It was lightweight and easy to carry.
"Is this really necessary?" Yang Yi frowned, saying to Mo Fei, "At kindergarten, the teachers will look after her. Does Xixi need to play doctor?"
"What if Xixi gets hurt?" Mo Fei countered.
Yang Yi's eyes widened in indignation. "Who dares to hurt my Xixi? I'll chop them up!"
Mo Fei rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What's wrong with you? I mean, what if Xixi accidentally hurts herself—trips or bumps into something? She's not at home, and there might be times when she's not fully watched!"
Yang Yi scratched his head, puzzled. "But even if you buy these, Xixi won't know how to use them."
Mo Fei thought for a moment, then picked up another pack and tossed it into the shopping basket, satisfied. "Now we can. I'll take one pack and teach her how to use it!"
Though women are known for their stamina when shopping, Xixi didn't have the patience to slowly browse with Mo Fei. The little one kept running off and coming back, unable to stay still.
When Mo Fei lingered too long, Xixi couldn't take it anymore and tugged hard at her father's hand. "Daddy, let's go look ahead!"
Yang Yi couldn't be budged by her, but he was afraid she'd lose her grip and fall, so he quickly stepped forward. He glanced helplessly back at Mo Fei.
"You go ahead." Mo Fei covered her mouth with a laugh. "I'll finish buying these and find you."
Having grown accustomed to not being stared at, Mo Fei felt bolder shopping on her own.
Mo Fei bought new sweat towels and a new bottle for Xixi, stuffing the shopping basket full—not everything was strictly necessary; some were backups—before going to find Yang Yi and Xixi.
It wasn't hard to locate them. This large children's用品 supermarket wasn't quite like a regular store, with fewer categories, and she soon found the father and daughter in the clothing section.
Xixi was trying on hats!
Yang Yi held several she had already tried: a knitted ski hat unsuitable for the season, a stylish but prickly hard straw hat Xixi didn't like, and a fisherman's hat similar to the one Chen Fengchen had worn but in a girls' version.
Xixi was now trying on a cloche hat with a white crown and blue ribbon, sized perfectly for a little girl. It just covered her bangs without hiding her face.
Today, Yang Yi had styled Xixi's hair into an elegant princess updo, which matched the hat beautifully.
Xixi stood preening in front of the mirror, refusing to move. The pretty, graceful little girl in the reflection—wasn't that her?
"This hat is really nice, Xixi. Are you going to wear it to meet the kids the day after tomorrow?" Mo Fei asked with a smile. "Our little princess is growing up, learning to dress up!"
"Hehe, Mommy, stop it!" Xixi shyly buried herself in her mother's arms.