Chapter 2235

Jiajia glanced at Er Bao, who was lying in her arms, then looked over at the pictures from afar. She felt like she fell into a dilemma.

As a considerate aunt, Qiao Nan took her son back from Jiajia. “Go take a look.”

“Thanks, auntie.” Jiajia quickly snatched some pictures from the adults and started complimenting them one by one.

Er Bao seemed to notice the familiar scent of his mother, and he kicked his legs happily in the air. It was like a little frog on its belly trying to get back up. “He is so energetic at such a young age. It is no doubt that he will grow up to be a naughty boy.” Qiao Nan spoke with her gentle voice as she tapped Er Bao on the tip of his nose.

“That’s fine. If he dares to be disobedient, we can send him to serve the military.” Zhai Sheng put his arm around Qiao Nan’s shoulders. The boys being naughty was the last thing he would ever worry about. Zhai Sheng remembered very clearly how Old Master Zhai treated the kids when he was young.

Other than Zhai Sheng, who was spoiled by his parents, Old Master Zhai had his way with the playful kids. There was no one that the army couldn’t discipline.

Qiao Nan pushed Zhai Sheng away. “No way. Based on your family’s tradition, Da Bao and Er Bao might even volunteer to join the army. I want them to spend more time with me, so don’t even try sending them away.”

Qiao Nan remembered that in her dream, Zhai Sheng would bring the kids to the military camps during holidays. However, even San Bao, who was a girl, had never complained about it. The kids loved the military life, so Qiao Nan couldn’t stop them although she hated to see the children suffer.

Zhai Sheng held onto Er Bao’s chubby hands. “If they can’t spend time with you, I will be the one by your side.” When the children were old enough to make a living in the military world, Zhai Sheng would be at his retirement age. When the day came, he would have all the time to spend with Nan Nan. He didn’t want Qiao Nan to put all her attention on the kids and forget about him.

Qiao Nan giggled at his words. Zhai Sheng was not a romantic man, but his honest words were sweet enough to melt her heart. “Of course, you have to stay by my side. The children will eventually have their own families, and we will only have each other left when the time comes.”

Zhai Sheng was satisfied to hear her response.

“Take care of Er Bao. I’m going to call my dad and give him my greetings.” Er Bao was already asleep, so Qiao Nan gently put him in Zhai Sheng’s arms. Compared to the lifeless stroller, the arms of a parent sure carried more warmth and comfort.

However, Zhai Sheng’s arms were nowhere as soft and comfortable as a mom’s. Er Bao moved around, trying to find a soft spot, but it seemed like his dad’s arms had no such thing.

Thankfully, Er Bao was able to get used to it. Within minutes, he was already sound asleep.

Zhai Sheng shook his head. Was this really his son? It seemed like eating, sleeping, and crying were the only things that the boy could do.

“Dad, it’s me.”

“Nan Nan.”

“Happy Lunar New Year, Dad.”

“Happy New Year to you, too. Have you guys had your reunion dinner? How are the kids?” Qiao Dongliang was elated to get a call from Qiao Nan on this special day. At least, it was proof that she had not forgotten about him. “Have the kids grown taller?” Qiao Dongliang couldn’t hide his emotions. He always had mixed feeling toward the kids. He was glad that the children were growing up well but upset that he couldn’t witness their growth with his own eyes.

Qiao Nan sensed the gloom in Qiao Dongliang’s voice. After a few seconds of pondering, she turned on the video camera. “Look, Dad. The children are sound asleep after their meal.”

Qiao Dongliang’s sadness was swept away by the kids’ adorable faces. “They are even chubbier than before. You must be feeding them well. Nan Nan, is it tiring for you to take care of the kids? I hope that you didn’t lose any weight.”

Qiao Dongliang could only see the children, so he was worried about Qiao Nan’s health.

Qiao Nan turned the phone over and pointed the camera at herself. “See it for yourself, Dad. I lay in for forty days, so how could I lose any weight? I’m afraid that I might be weighing more than before.”

Others wouldn’t be able to tell, but Qiao Nan knew that her body was losing its shape. When she looked at her bare self in the mirror, she saw wrinkles on her tummy for the first time in her life.

Every time Qiao Nan touched her tummy, it felt like she was touching a thick layer of fat.

“It’s good that you are putting on some weight. You are a mother of three, and there is still a long way ahead of you. Listen to me. Don’t learn from… Don’t go on a diet or lose weight. Eat healthily and keep yourself strong.”

Throughout the years, Qiao Zijin had never stopped ‘dieting’. When Qiao Dongliang still cared about Qiao Zijin, he remembered hearing about all kinds of fattening food to avoid. Qiao Dongliang couldn’t understand some of the words she was saying, but he did learn bits and pieces about dieting along the way.

What made Qiao Dongliang speechless was that Qiao Zijin, just like Ding Jiayi, was slightly fat. No matter how hard she tried to lose weight, the scale just wouldn’t move an inch. On the other hand, Qiao Nan was slim no matter how much she ate.

“I’m not planning to lose weight.” Qiao Nan shook her head. She hadn’t had the chance to finish her studies because of her children, but she was not giving up on that degree. Many things were coming her way, so she wanted to gain some weight to maintain her stamina.

“Alright, I’m hanging up, then.” Qiao Dongliang did want to take a few more glances at the children.