Become a mother in a night

Chapter 74

Behind them was a vibrant tapestry of brilliant fiery trees against a broad, warm-hued sky. In the foreground, the cool, composed silhouette seemed to melt into the velvety backdrop of the night, accompanied by a delicate and fragile one.

The first time Michelle Xia kissed a man was when she was twenty, though her physical age was twenty-four. It was during her first winter in this world and subsequently her first spring. The nights bridging winter and spring were chilly, and her hand found warmth tucked inside the pocket of a man's coat, held securely by his grasp. The world outside was filled with the raucous noise of fireworks; sharp and jarring, but to her, it was as if she heard nothing.

Alex Ye's first kiss came at twenty-nine, just four months shy of turning thirty. By then, he had built a little family - Michelle, Lizzy, and himself. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the sky was devoid of the moon, with only stars shimmering. However, their radiant light paled in comparison to the captivating sparkle in her eyes. The heavens were alive with twinkling stars, the cold wind around him stirred, and so did his heart.

...

Michelle and Lizzy rarely stayed overnight at the Ye residence. The little one, Lizzy, would be lively during the day, expending a lot of energy. But come nighttime, she'd sleep soundly, occasionally smacking her lips and giggling during dreams. Michelle found sleep elusive that night. It might have been unfamiliarity with the bed, or perhaps unease from not having penned a draft that day. But most likely, it was the shift in her relationship with Mr. Ye that occupied her thoughts.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Alex planned to take Lizzy to visit the elder members of the Ye family. He'd mentioned this to the little one in advance, and Lizzy had kept it in mind, waking up unusually early that day. By the time Lizzy opened her eyes, Michelle had only been asleep for a short while. Blinking her round eyes, Lizzy looked at the slumbering Michelle and thought to herself how her mom was such a lazybones. Her kindergarten teacher always said that those who oversleep are lazy. Picturing her mother as a lazy child, Lizzy couldn't help but sigh deeply and feel a little resigned. However, instead of waking Michelle up, she decided to let her sleep a bit longer.

Lizzy was always thrilled when she woke up to find her mom beside her. Just the previous day, her mom had told her that brave Lizzy should sleep on her own. Yet, her mom had sneaked in to sleep beside her that night, which made she feel wonderfully heartwarming. Seizing the moment while Michelle was still asleep, Lizzy gently peeked her head from under the covers and planted a secret kiss on Michelle's face. Feeling it wasn't enough, she tilted her face, nudging it close to Michelle's lips, urging her to return the kiss. After completing her little ritual, Lizzy felt a profound sense of contentment. She snuggled back into Michelle's embrace, pretending to sleep.

In Lizzy's mind, she had been utterly gentle and stealthy, convinced that her mom had detected none of her antics. But, from the moment Lizzy began wriggling in her embrace, Michelle was somewhat awake. Michelle was just too tired and sleepy, wanting to cling to the bed a bit longer. As long as Lizzy didn't disrupt her sleep, she was content to let her fidget. And then, she felt that stolen kiss and the subsequent nuzzle from Lizzy, requesting one in return.

Michelle Xia: "..."
Michelle found Lizzy Xia's behavior rather amusing, thinking to herself, what a uniquely adorable child she had.
Lizzy always did the funniest and cutest things that warmed Michelle's heart.
Both mother and daughter had an unspoken agreement to laze in bed a little longer. When the alarm rang, they both pretended to be rudely awakened by its shrill sound.
Lizzy even put on a little act for her mother.
Hearing the alarm, she quickly covered her little ears and pouted in a feigned upset voice to her mother, "Mommy, the alarm is so loud qaq."
Michelle Xia: "..."
If Michelle hadn't known better, she would've believed Lizzy had indeed been awakened by the alarm. Suppressing a chuckle, she turned off the alarm.
Lizzy was still in her embrace, clinging tightly around her neck.
Gently rubbing Lizzy's head, Michelle asked in a soft tone, "Lizzy, why did you wake up later than usual today?"
Lizzy chose to remain silent, pretending not to hear her mother's playful teasing about her sleeping in.
Lizzy thought: As long as I don't admit it, I'm not a lazy little sleeper.