Time crossed from late autumn into early winter, and October 26th was Nuannuan's birthday.
The Ye family had been planning Nuannuan's birthday banquet early on.
This was Nuannuan's first birthday since coming to the Ye family, and everyone took it very seriously.
From selecting the venue to the many small details of the banquet, Liu Ruyuan personally oversaw everything. Every member of the family was frequently consulted. Compared to the rushed welcome banquet, this birthday banquet was much grander.
Everyone in the family had been very busy during this period, and Nuannuan was the most leisurely.
"Only Daddy is good in this world~ A child with a Daddy is like a treasure~"
Nuannuan sat on a small stool, propping up her chin, singing to Qiang Qiang.
"Aow aow~" (Sounds good!) Qiang Qiang wagged its tail in support of Nuannuan.
At this moment, a familiar voice interrupted Nuannuan's singing.
"Nuannuan! Little Uncle is back!" Ye Jingzhi's voice was heard from afar before he even entered.
Nuannuan's birthday banquet was tomorrow, and Ye Jingzhi had specifically taken leave to attend.
"Little Uncle~" Nuannuan was very happy to see Ye Jingzhi after not seeing him for a while.
Nuannuan immediately got up, spread her arms, and ran towards the door. Ye Jingzhi quickly entered the room, spread his arms, ran over, scooped Nuannuan up, and spun her around.
"Hahaha! Little Uncle~" Nuannuan laughed happily.
"Does Nuannuan miss Little Uncle?"
"Miss~"
Ye Jingzhi quickly held the little dumpling in his arms, rubbing his face against hers.
"Little Uncle misses Nuannuan too~" he said, letting out a comfortable sigh.
"Aow aow aow~" (You idiot, let go of my cub!) Qiang Qiang was anxious, circling around Ye Jingzhi's feet.
"Qiang Qiang, why have you gotten so fat?" Ye Jingzhi exclaimed in surprise as he looked down at Qiang Qiang, who was several sizes bigger at his feet.
"Aow aow~ Aow aow aow~" (You're the one who's fat, I'm just adorably plump, can't you talk properly?)
Qiang Qiang had grown rapidly this past month. It seemed to have eaten too well, not only growing vertically but also steadily expanding horizontally. It looked more and more like a bear.
"It's okay, Qiang Qiang looks even cuter when it's chubby," Ye Jingzhi crouched down and stroked it a few times.
"Aow aow~" (I told you I'm not fat!) Qiang Qiang huffed indignantly, turned, and showed him its backside.
"Little Uncle, you can't say Qiang Qiang is fat, it will be unhappy!" Nuannuan earnestly admonished.
"Alright, alright, Qiang Qiang isn't fat," Ye Jingzhi surrendered with a raised hand.
In the evening, the Ye brothers gathered once again.
Ye Jingxing: "Nuannuan, tomorrow is your birthday! Are you looking forward to it?"
"Yes! It's Nuannuan's first birthday, and so many people will celebrate with Nuannuan. There's Daddy, Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle and Aunt, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Little Uncle..."
Nuannuan counted on her fingers, and when she ran out of fingers, she wanted to use her toes.
"Nuannuan, let's eat first!" Ye Jinghuai quickly stopped her.
"Okay~ Daddy eat~"
Nuannuan put down her hand, scooped a piece of her favorite meat from her bowl, and extended her arm to put it into her father's bowl.
"Okay, thank you, Nuannuan." Ye Jinghuai happily handed over his bowl.
"Nuannuan will be three years old tomorrow! Growing a little bigger, are you happy?" Ye Jingming, not wanting to see his second brother and Nuannuan acting so affectionate, quickly interjected.
"But Nuannuan is already three years old! Daddy, what do you say?" Nuannuan looked at Ye Jinghuai with her big, innocent eyes, wanting an answer.
"Yes, but you'll officially be three after tomorrow."
"Ah oh~" Nuannuan was full of question marks, looking like she didn't understand.
"It's okay, Nuannuan just needs to know that tomorrow is your birthday," Ye Jingshen gently stroked Nuannuan's little head.
"Mhm!"
Nuannuan stopped thinking and continued to battle the meat in her bowl with her little spoon.
That night, Nuannuan, holding her small pillow, waddled into Ye Jinghuai's bedroom.
Following behind her was a plump ball of fluff, dragging a familiar orange pumpkin dog bed in its mouth.
"Nuannuan? Weren't you asleep? Why did you bring Qiang Qiang too?"
Ye Jinghuai was very surprised to see the little dumpling at the door.
"Daddy, Nuannuan wants to sleep with Daddy today, so by tomorrow, Daddy will have watched Nuannuan grow up~" The little dumpling held her small pillow and looked at Ye Jinghuai very seriously.
Ye Jinghuai's heart softened. His biggest regret was not bringing Nuannuan to him until she was three years old, missing her infant stages and not seeing her grow up.
Listening to Nuannuan's childish words, the little regret in his heart was miraculously smoothed over.
"Okay, Daddy will watch Nuannuan grow up."
Ye Jinghuai scooped up the little dumpling and placed her on the bed. He then took the small pillow from her arms and placed it beside his own pillow.
Qiang Qiang dragged its dog bed to the foot of the bed and then looked up at the two of them, barking twice.
"Aow aow~" (Me too, cub.)
"Qiang Qiang also wants to watch Nuannuan grow up."
"Aow~" (Of course.)
"Alright, let's sleep!" Ye Jinghuai covered Nuannuan with the quilt and gently patted her. Nuannuan soon fell asleep.
Looking at Nuannuan's cute little face, Ye Jinghuai's heart was filled with infinite tenderness.