"Dian Dian! Did you miss me?"

"Miss!"

You Lin and Tina had barely stepped into the room for a minute before the house erupted in noise again—nothing like the quiet they’d promised. Turning toward the commotion, I saw Tina bouncing out, cradling Dian Dian with radiant joy, while You Lin trailed behind, her face etched with weary resignation.

"What happened? Couldn’t hold back again?"

I wiped my hands and walked over. My wife clearly needed comforting, but Tina’s entire focus was glued to Dian Dian. That left only me to step in.

"Ugh, I shouldn’t have trusted her! She rushed in and started smothering Dian Dian with kisses. She was sleeping so peacefully…"

The red kiss marks on Dian Dian’s cheeks, paired with You Lin’s exasperated tone, painted a clear picture of what’d just unfolded inside.

Thank goodness Tina was a woman. If some man had dared to kiss Dian Dian like that? I’d have broken his legs without hesitation. Dian Dian meant more to me than my own life.

"Look at you two, so stingy! Dian Dian doesn’t mind me at all, right?"

"Right!"

"Ohhh~"

Tina kept hoisting Dian Dian into the air, and the little girl reveled in it, squealing with delight.

After all these years, I knew exactly how wild Tina could get. But Dian Dian was her ultimate catalyst—now she spoiled her more than You Lin and I ever did. If You Lin hadn’t fiercely refused, I’d have sworn Tina would’ve kidnapped her. With how much she adored kids, she should just have her own. Her suitors could fill a whole football field anyway!

"Alright, alright! Calm down. Dian Dian just woke up. Let her have some water first…"

I turned back to the kitchen and brought out freshly squeezed juice. I’d planned it for when she woke—to wash away the bitter taste in her mouth. But she’d woken faster than expected; I’d only juiced the easiest fruits, so the flavor might be a bit plain…

"Thank you, Daddy!"

Dian Dian didn’t seem to mind. Though our household rule was "spoil girls, toughen boys," her easygoing nature made me wonder if You Lin and I had raised her too well. I just hoped she wouldn’t rebel during her teenage years.

"Ye Xi… I want some too…"

To my surprise, Tina acted like a child herself. Watching Dian Dian drink juice, she either craved it or was suddenly thirsty—ignoring the tea right in front of her, she reached out, demanding some.

"Didn’t I pour you tea already?"

You Lin’s mood was already sour. Now she’d finally caught Tina slipping up—no way she’d let it slide.

Their friendship ran deep; I didn’t need to meddle. To You Lin, Dian Dian’s sleep was sacred. She firmly believed children grew best through rest. Even if important guests arrived, she’d never wake Dian Dian early.

But Tina? Rules were never her thing. Making her sit idle for hours outside would be torture.

In this world, a mother’s love always ran deeper and clearer than a father’s. Even when Dian Dian married and had kids of her own, she’d forever be You Lin’s little girl—a bond sealed the moment she was born. Unbreakable.

"My tastes changed. Tea’s boring."

"Fine. Juice or coffee? I’ll make it…"

Tina was a guest, and You Lin clearly wasn’t in the mood to serve her. Her glare could’ve melted steel. Guess I was the errand boy again.

They’d promised not to disturb Dian Dian’s sleep. Yet Tina tossed that vow out the window the second she stepped inside. Seriously—poking a sleeping dragon?

"Got any ice-cold beer?"

"Since when do you drink?"

I frowned. Tina looked like a socialite—Destiny’s role forced her into endless events—but her masked appearances meant few ever pressured her to drink.

I could only recall one exception: at You Lin and my wedding. She’d been the happiest one there, downing over ten glasses of champagne and wine. At first, I thought she was some hidden alcohol master. Instead, she collapsed on the spot, rambling nonsense until Jing-jie dragged her away.

"No, no! Beer and wine don’t count as alcohol—they’re drinks!"

"Fine. Wait here…"

I didn’t bother arguing with her twisted logic. Let her drink. One beer wouldn’t hurt. Even if she got tipsy, we could take care of her.

At least now we had an extra pair of hands at home. You Lin could finally rest—and let me spoil her properly.

…

…

"Here."

"Tina, what’s this? Ah—"

As a modern dad, I didn’t smoke or drink. These were just for guests. So Dian Dian had never seen a beer can before. The moment Tina grabbed it, the curious girl reached out to touch it.

But ice-cold metal is ice-cold metal. Dian Dian yanked her tiny hand back instantly, shoving it into You Lin’s palm for warmth.

"Dian Dian, how many times? Call her Auntie Tina!"

You Lin, ever the mother, corrected her daughter’s manners again. This wasn’t the first time—and it never stuck.

"Dian Dian! Don’t listen to your mom. Just call me Tina! ‘Auntie’? Seriously?"

Tina, the culprit herself, refused to be called "Auntie." It was one of her rare stubborn streaks.

In her view, You Lin and I had married blissfully while she remained single. Calling her "Auntie" was malicious—a sneaky way to make her feel old!

"Tina, you’re acting like you’re the same age as a three-year-old. Embarrassing much?"

"Not embarrassing! I’m still single—Miss Tina. You’re Mrs. You. *That’s* a real generation gap. Don’t pretend you’re young!"

"You—"

You Lin had lost this argument before. Tina wasn’t even thirty, radiantly youthful, while You Lin was a wife and mother. At first glance? Definitely not peers.

Truth was, Tina *was* slightly older—and her "leftover woman" status was entirely self-made. She denied it, but I always suspected she was a true single-at-heart. How else to explain zero romantic rumors all these years?

"But Tina! Tina! What *is* this?"

"Dian Dian, it’s alcohol. Kids can’t drink it…"

You Lin rubbed her temples, wiping sleep from Dian Dian’s eyes. The girl had just woken up, messy and oblivious, making her mom worry endlessly.

"Daddy~ Can’t I *really* drink it?"

Dian Dian didn’t trust You Lin’s warning. She pointed at Tina’s beer can, asking me instead. If I said yes, she’d probably jump for joy—it was something entirely new.

"Mom’s right. You can drink it when you’re grown up…"

With You Lin right there? No way I’d defy her. Unless I wanted to sleep on the couch forever—and that’d kill me.

…

…

"Linnie! Your parenting methods have serious flaws!"

"Oh? And what’s *your* brilliant insight?"

You Lin’s eyebrow twitched. Tina really had no fear. After just pulling a fast one on You Lin, she dared to criticize her parenting?

If Tina had kids, fine. But she didn’t even have a rumored boyfriend. Constantly crashing at our place? Seriously—poking a sleeping dragon?

"Ever heard of Yu the Great taming the floods? Don’t tell me you know less than a foreigner like me…"

"And?"

You Lin pulled Dian Dian into her lap. Maybe sensing her friend’s mood shift, it was a subconscious shield.

"Blockage backfires. Better to guide. Let Dian Dian taste it once. When she finds it nasty, she’ll never touch it again. Right?"

Strangely, I found myself agreeing. Kids always craved what was forbidden…

"No! What if she *likes* it?!"

You Lin had a point too. If Dian Dian hated it, fine. But if she loved it? Disaster. Better to forbid it entirely.

"How? My first sip tasted awful. Why would Dian Dian like it?"

"Here! Dian Dian, just one tiny sip! Spit it out if it’s gross…"

Driven by curiosity, Dian Dian took a small sip from the can. The beer barely touched her tongue before she spat it out.

"See? Told you! You two still have things to learn from me…"

Tina waved the beer triumphantly, grinning as she awaited Dian Dian’s verdict—her moment of glory.

But after spitting, Dian Dian smacked her lips. Those few smacks sent alarm bells ringing in my head.

"A little bitter… a little sweet. I want more…"

Tina’s face darkened instantly. You Lin’s expression turned stormy too.

"Ye Xi, take Dian Dian upstairs. Don’t come out, no matter what you hear…"

You Lin shoved Dian Dian into my arms, then cracked her knuckles with an ominous *crack-crack*.

"Linnie, calm down! It was a mistake! I can fix this!"

Tina knew what was coming. She darted around the sofa, eyes scanning for an escape route.

But how well could she know this house compared to You Lin? This was *our* territory.

"Daddy? What’s wrong with Mommy?"

"Nothing, sweetie. Mommy and Tina need to talk. Daddy’ll play dolls with you upstairs…"

I carried Dian Dian toward the stairs, then remembered something crucial.

"Honey? Three minutes enough?"

"One minute. I want to hear that door shut!"

"Ohhh~"

…

…

BAM!!!

"Stop right there!"

"Stay calm! I didn’t mean to—AHHH!!!"

...

"Daddy? What happened to Tina?"

The door slammed shut just as Tina’s scream echoed upstairs.

Well. No porcelain skills? Don’t handle the vase. Her parenting "wisdom" failed spectacularly with Dian Dian. Honestly? She brought it on herself.

"Mom's giving her a massage. Let's dress up our little princess!"

"Okay!"

Take out all the Barbie dolls Xiaoxi gave Diandian before. I, Ye Xi, am a big shot out there—but now I'm actually playing dolls with my daughter?!