Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 94 (Part 2)
Translated by Pure
Chapter 94.2 Extra [Why The Two Decided Not to Have Children]
Thirty minutes later, Xiao Chi observed Fang Wenhao, who approached him with a gloomy expression.
As soon as Fang Zhuangzhuang exited the car and spotted Uncle Lin, she let out a surprised scream and dashed forward. Excitedly, she rubbed her face against the equally elated Lin Jingzhe, resembling a joyful kitten. Then, she sought refuge behind Lin Jingzhe's legs, attentively observing Uncle Xiao, who alway carried a stern demeanor that even made her father apprehensive.
Fang Wenhao seemed on the verge of tears but held them back. "I've reached out to everyone I know in the compound. Those who work in the unit mentioned they can't bring children to work. Considering Zhuangzhuang's condition, the elderly wouldn't be able to manage her. Initially, I thought of entrusting her to that irritating bastard Hu Shaofeng, but he informed me over the phone that he's currently out of the country... I truly apologize, but I wouldn't trouble you if I had any other option."
In the end, they were friends who had grown up together. Fang Wenhao's anxious demeanor as he checked his watch frequently, made it challenging for Xiao Chi to say anything unpleasant. Lin Jingzhe had no objections at all. He had always been fond of Fang Zhuangzhuang, but their interactions were limited to occasional visits when they returned to live in the compound. Fang Wenhao and his wife had to leave Yan City for just two days due to urgent matters, so what harm could it do to lend a hand in looking after a child?
Therefore, he readily agreed, "Leave the child to us, you go about your business."
Fang Wenhao remained a bit apprehensive, but given the circumstances, there wasn't a better alternative. He had no choice but to leave Lin Jingzhe with all the child's daily necessities he had brought for the stay.
Diapers, booster seats, changes of clothes, milk powder...
Xiao Chi glanced at the child sitting behind him, engrossed in playing with her fingers, and stated firmly, "You take care of her; I won't be helping."
"It's okay. Don't you have a meeting today? I'll take her with me to New Beginnings. I don't have anything to do today, anyway." Lin Jingzhe casually unwrapped a candy for Zhuangzhuang. What's the big deal? It's just looking after a single child. He can even take good care of Xiao Chi, so how troublesome could a little one be?
In reality, he was rather looking forward to the prospect of having a child of their own. The shift from a duo to a family of three would undoubtedly bring much more warmth than their current situation. However, he hadn't anticipated being so fortunate. Merely discussing the idea of adopting a child in the morning, and not long after, Fang Wenhao willingly sent his beloved little girl to them.
Upon reaching the entrance of New Beginnings, Zhuangzhuang eagerly exited the car and waved a cheerful goodbye to Xiao Chi.
Before departing, Xiao Chi's gaze lingered on Zhuangzhuang for a brief moment, devoid of any expression. As the car drove away, Lin Jingzhe observed and warmly opened his arms to Zhuangzhuang. "Do you want a lift?"
"Yes!" It was indeed the sweet and crisp response he anticipated.
Lin Jingzhe bent down cheerfully, opened his arms, and exerted a some effort—
His muscles quivered, and then he struggled to straighten up while cradling the chubby bundle.
Lin Jingzhe: "……………………"
She seemed to be a bit on the heavier side.
But that was no issue! Just look at how adorable she is!
The staff at New Beginnings very quickly noticed the unusual scene of their boss bringing a child to the company, his face radiating joy.
Upon hearing the news, Deng Mai came to the office to verify. Indeed, there was a child playing with building blocks on the sofa in the reception area. It was only then that he realized the rumor was true.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." As he brought in the documents he intended to show Lin Jingzhe, his eyes fell on Fang Zhuangzhuang's barbarous way of playing with building blocks. He admired his Brother Lin's fearless spirit. "I have to hand it to you. You actually dare to help take care of this child? Do you know that when Mr. Fang first became a father, he contemplated suicide every day?"
Lin Jingzhe assumed Deng Mai was joking and cast a swift glance at Fang Zhuangzhuang. "The girl is still young; be careful not to let the child hear you speaking nonsense."
Observing this, Deng Mai, with a mysterious expression, shook his head. "You shouldn’t underestimate children. They are not little angels."
"I don’t believe you," Lin Jingzhe dismissed it, not taking Deng Mai's remark seriously. After flipping through a couple of pages of documents, he gazed dreamily at Fang Zhuangzhuang's innocent smile while she played with building blocks. Children were so adorable. They lacked the greed of adults, especially the gentle and sweet little girls. They were simple and harmless, finding immense joy in small toys like building blocks and dolls—
"Crack—"
In the following moment, a restless Fang Zhuangzhuang took a building block that didn't match the others, crushed it in her hand, and then tossed it away, erupting into a hysterical laughter.
Lin Jingzhe: "………………"
Deng Mai: "………………"
After a brief pause, Deng Mai, still in a daze, inquired, "Those building blocks are made of solid wood……right?"
Lin Jingzhe swallowed nervously, hearing the muted thud of the two halves of the building block callously abandoned on the ground after being vented.
He realized that reality appeared to deviate slightly from his imagination.
This had to be... an illusion, right?
After completing his official tasks, Lin Jingzhe sat on the edge of the sofa, gazing at Fang Zhuangzhuang's angelic face as she slept, thinking that this might just be a minor… hiccup.
However, he soon realized he was still too naive.
Fang Zhuangzhuang later awoke, wailing loudly—she had wet her pants!
Lin Jingzhe hastily exited the ongoing meeting. Upon his return to the office, he was greeted by the unpleasant odor of urine. A significant oversight occurred—he had forgotten to change Fang Zhuangzhuang into a diaper before her nap!
Rushing to the secretary's office, he sought assistance from a female secretary to help Fang Zhuangzhuang take a shower. Fang Zhuangzhuang, who was not fond of unfamiliar faces, insisted on Uncle Lin's assistance in getting dressed. Lin Jingzhe anxiously retrieved a change of clothes from the travel bag provided by Fang Wenhao. Adhering to his own sense of aesthetics, he dressed her much like he did for Xiao Chi every morning. However, upon seeing herself in the mirror, Fang Zhuangzhuang burst into tears, exclaiming, "I don't want to look so ugly!!!"
"Is it...really ugly?"
A soft green T-shirt complemented by a peach-pink jacket, paired with a lacy pink tulle skirt, white socks, and sandals— a striking and festive ensemble. Lin Jingzhe, who had a penchant for purchasing sparkly hair accessories and pink one-piece dresses for his mothers and sisters, couldn't pinpoint any flaws even after careful observation. Consequently, he could only bow his head in shame amid Fang Zhuangzhuang's distressed cries.
Fang Zhuangzhuang was dismayed to discover her seemingly flawless Uncle Lin's questionable sense of aesthetics, and ultimately took it upon herself to assemble a refreshing outfit. After wiping away her tears, her stomach growled. "I'm hungry!"
Children typically preferred mild flavors and had hearty appetites, so Fang Wenhao specifically cautioned against serving his daughter anything overly oily or salty. Lin Jingzhe hastened to prepare milk powder for her, but controlling the water temperature proved to be quite challenging. After several attempts, he eventually had to enlist the help of a secretary. By the time he successfully made the milk, Fang Zhuangzhuang was so hungry that tears were streaming down her eyes.
Lin Jingzhe was drenched in sweat as he dealt with her soiled clothes. The task was so demanding that his vision blurred. This proved to be far more exhausting than discussing a hundred multimillion-dollar cooperation projects in meetings.
After being fed, Fang Zhuangzhuang brimmed with energy and began to have a blast in the office. She had broken nearly all the long blocks in the set and pulled off Barbie's meticulously tied ponytail. Lin Jingzhe's thighs felt as if they were perpetually burdened by a weight akin to a lead ball. Fang Zhuangzhuang adored him so much that her eyes sparkled brightly, and her voice turned soft and sweet when she coquettishly pleaded, "Uncle! I want to fly up!"
In the past, witnessing Fang Wenhao's worn-out state, Lin Jingzhe had considered it an exaggeration. However, after playing with Fang Zhuangzhuang for less than ten minutes, Lin Jingzhe experienced the same pain firsthand. The chubby little one's delighted laughter, especially when tossed into the air, was as melodious as an oriole's song. Nonetheless, the fact that she weighed several kilograms more than a typical seven-year-old was no laughing matter; Lin Jingzhe's arms nearly lost sensation due to this high-intensity activity.
Unable to continue the flying game, Fang Zhuangzhuang sought another outlet for her energy—sitting atop the shoulders of her 180-meter-high Uncle Lin, surveying the world below.
The weight was manageable initially, but with time, Lin Jingzhe felt a burdensome pressure on his cervical vertebra. Recognizing his incapacity to work any longer, he arranged for a car to take them home ahead of schedule. During the journey, he gazed at the passing trees outside the window and listened to the sound of Fang Zhuangzhuang crawling on the car seat. He had completely forgotten the joy he felt upon learning that he could care for a child for two days.
Pure: Poor LJ XD I love children too, but thinking of how they can also be little devils holds me back from having one xD