Mini Theater Series One: Lu Qiang and the Little Princess
(1) Jealousy
Lu Yin was about to give birth, staying home to await labor, rarely moving about. She couldn’t be left alone, and Qian Yuanqing couldn’t pick up the little princess, so the responsibility fell to Lu Qiang.
Lu Qiang himself was restless and irritable. He couldn’t focus on the freight business, calling home several times a day just to feel at ease. In the evening, he came back early, handed work over to Genzi, and personally drove to pick up the little princess.
The little princess was almost four. Just last month, she had transferred to the middle class in kindergarten. He arrived late; there were no parking spaces nearby, so after circling slowly a few times, he had no choice but to park in a back alley on another street.
Outside the kindergarten, many parents had gathered, chatting in small groups. Before long, there was movement inside. A group of short-armed, short-legged little ones lined up neatly, hand in hand, swaying as they walked out.
Lu Qiang fixed his gaze and spotted his little princess at once. She wore a red pullover doll top, a white skirt, white socks, and black soft leather shoes. Among the cluster of children, she was the most eye-catching.
With his hands in his pockets, Lu Qiang stepped forward a couple of paces, the corners of his mouth lifting without him even noticing.
Only when he got closer did he see clearly: his princess was being led by a slightly taller boy, following behind the teacher as they came out.
The moment the little princess saw him, her eyes lit up, and she called out brightly, “Daddy.”
But she wasn’t as enthusiastic as usual. She didn’t rush over to hug his leg, nor did she hop up asking to be carried. She was still holding the boy’s hand. Lu Qiang couldn’t help lowering his gaze to those two small hands. After a moment, he looked away, his large palm covering the back of her head. “Let’s go. We’re going home.”
The little princess didn’t move. She stood on tiptoe, looking around, calling to the boy, “Your mommy hasn’t come yet?”
He looked left and right too, his little brows knitting together. “Ah, she’s late again.”
The little princess said in her soft, milky voice, “Then come with my daddy.”
The boy craned his neck to look up at the tall man. Their eyes met. His face was stern, without a smile, looking rather fierce.
The boy pressed his lips together. “I’ll wait for my mom.”
The little princess tugged at Lu Qiang’s pant leg. “Daddy, can I stay with Xiaozhi-gege and wait?”
Lu Qiang was displeased. “No.”
She lifted her head. “But his mom isn’t here yet!”
“There’s a teacher.”
“I want to keep him company, Daddy.” She pouted, pleading.
Lu Qiang frowned. “What’s there to keep company for.”
“Daddy, Daddy…”
Lu Qiang bent down, bracing his arms on his knees. “Your mom is waiting at home too. She wants you to keep her company. What should we do?” Those two little hands looked a bit of an eyesore to him. Without a sound, he took hold of her other hand and tugged her back slightly.
The little princess pursed her lips, thinking seriously for a while. In the end, she still felt Mom was more important than Xiaozhi-gege. Reluctantly, she said to the boy, “Xiaozhi-gege, see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
The boy suddenly leaned forward and planted a smack on the little princess’s cheek.
Lu Qiang froze for a moment. His chest felt hollow, as if his heart dropped sharply. In those few seconds of daze, he saw his princess puckering her lips high, leaning in to kiss him back.
Lu Qiang reacted swiftly. His large hand shot in between them, blocking the two. His palm covered the little princess’s mouth as he pulled her back, gathering her into the space between his legs, feeling the damp warmth against his palm.
His gaze was full of hostility. “You don’t even have all your hair grown in, and you dare kiss her.”
The boy naturally didn’t understand, but he could tell the man’s attitude wasn’t kind. Frightened, he stepped back a couple of paces, blinking. By then, the man had already taken the little princess away. After a few steps, he picked her up and let her sit on his arm.
“Lu Cheng,” Lu Qiang told her, “from now on, no other kids are allowed to kiss you. Got it?”
The princess wrapped her arms around his neck. “Why not?”
Lu Qiang didn’t answer. She persisted, asking over and over.
“Your face will rot.” He scared her. “Does Chengcheng want to become ugly?”
The princess covered her little face dramatically. “No, I don’t want to.”
“Then will you still kiss?”
“No, no…” She shook her head, her two little braids swaying back and forth like a small rattle drum.
Seeing her adorable manner, Lu Qiang’s mood improved greatly. He couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Who would have thought that after a few seconds, the little princess suddenly broke into tears, her eyes misty. “Am I going to become ugly?”
“… ” Lu Qiang paused. “Daddy is an exception.”
That night, after they got home, Lu Qiang thought about what had happened during the day.
Before going to sleep, he lay down carefully and asked, “Who is Xiaozhi?”
Lu Yin took a moment to react, then gave an “oh.” “Wang Qi’s child downstairs. We often pick them up together.”
Lu Qiang thought for a bit, then half sat up, saying solemnly, “He kissed Lu Cheng today.”
Lu Yin turned over. “So?”
“That’s my daughter.”
She gradually understood what he meant and smiled. “What would children know? They were just playing.”
Lu Qiang’s anger flared. He reached out and pinched her cheek. “When I kissed you back then, why wasn’t that just playing?”
“Annoying…” she scolded softly. “How old are you?”
Lu Qiang turned over, sulking with his back to her. “After the baby is born, we’re going to properly discipline your daughter.”
“…”
Lights off, the room fell quiet.
Lu Yin drifted toward sleep.
Suddenly, Lu Qiang called her, “Yinyin.”
Her voice was lazy. “Mm?”
“Do you think your daughter is growing up too fast?”
Lu Yin opened her eyes. His voice was low and hoarse. Dim starlight fell across his back, broad as a mountain, yet at this moment it seemed a little lonely, a little fragile. Lu Yin shifted forward with difficulty, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face against him.
“She’s only four.” Lu Yin laughed at him. “Be a little more easygoing. You still have me.”
Lu Qiang snorted, turned over, and pulled her head into his chest. “Go to sleep.”
(2) Who do you like?
A few months after Lu Che was born, they finally moved into a bigger house.
One night.
The three of them lay in the bedroom, preparing to sleep. The heat had not subsided, and outside, cicadas still sang loudly.
Lu Qiang lay bare-chested, gathering Lu Yin into the crook of his arm, the other hand behind his head. Cheche lay sprawled on his stomach, bare-bottomed, sleeping soundly.
Lu Yin buried her head a little lower, closing her eyes. The two of them chatted in that half-awake, half-asleep state.
Lu Qiang pulled over the corner of the blanket, draping it over Lu Yin and Lu Che. Feeling a cool dampness on his chest, he lifted his head from the pillow and glanced down. “Lu Yin, your son is drooling.” He frowned in distaste, about to move Lu Che away.
Lu Yin opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again. “Don’t move him. If he wakes up, who knows how long he’ll fuss.”
Lu Qiang held his head up for a moment, nudging her a few times. “Pass me a tissue.”
Lu Yin murmured an “oh,” rolling over to grab tissues from the bedside. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the door. A small head peeked through the crack, big eyes blinking as it watched them.
“Chengcheng, come here,” Lu Yin beckoned softly. “Why are you awake?”
The little princess wore loose triangle underwear and a small camisole, one strap slipping down her arm. She twisted her little bottom as she ran over, climbing onto the bed with both hands and feet. Lu Yin shifted back, making space for her between them.
Her hair was messy from sleep, the hair tie barely holding the ends, the strands at her forehead sticking straight up.
She rubbed against the pillow. Lu Qiang pressed her hair down. “You’ve only slept for half an hour.”
The princess let out a small sigh, her voice soft and milky. “I needed to wee-wee, but when I woke up, Mommy wasn’t in bed.”
Lu Yin propped herself up halfway, about to carry her. “Then Mommy will take you now.”
“Grandma already took me.” The princess blinked. “Doesn’t little brother get tired sleeping like that?”
Lu Qiang laughed. “Why don’t you ask him?” Lu Che was completely oblivious, drool increasing, flowing without restraint onto Lu Qiang’s chest.
The princess said, “Daddy, let him sleep down there.”
“Why?”
Her fingers, glossy from sucking on them, paused as she thought for a long time. “It’s too hot. He’ll grow lots and lots of little bumps and become ugly.”
Lu Yin said, “But the air conditioner is on!”
She lifted her chin, glanced at Lu Yin, then at Lu Qiang, a trace of sourness in her tone. “Anyway, he must be uncomfortable.”
“How could that be,” Lu Yin saw through her little thoughts and teased her on purpose. “When you were little, you also liked sleeping on Daddy’s tummy.”
The princess’s eyes lit up. “Really? I don’t remember. Can I try again?”
Lu Yin said, “No, you’re already grown up. Daddy belongs to your little brother now.” After saying this, she shot Lu Qiang a meaningful look. Lu Qiang’s lips moved in warning, but before he could react, without any sign, a soft sob suddenly rose from between them.
The princess rolled over onto her stomach, burying her head in the pillow, her small shoulders shaking as she began to cry.
Lu Yin froze, realizing she had gone too far with the joke, and hurried to comfort her.
Lu Qiang had a headache. Supporting Lu Che with one arm, he carefully set him down on the bed beside them. Propping himself halfway against the headboard, he grasped the princess under her arms and sat her astride his stomach.
The princess was sniffling, tears and mucus all over her face, looking deeply aggrieved.
She wiped her eyes. “Do you and Mommy not like me anymore?”
Lu Qiang used his rough fingertips to wipe her nose, his voice soft. “Out of everything, this melodramatic streak is exactly like your mom’s.”
Lu Yin smacked him lightly in mock anger. The princess, still tearful, looked between them. “What does melodramatic mean?”
“Don’t talk.” Lu Qiang pressed her head back against his chest. “Come on, let’s go sleep.”
He got up gently, lifting the little princess into his arms.
Still unwilling to give up, she asked, “But Mommy said you belong to little brother.”
Lu Qiang slipped on his slippers, smiling at Lu Yin with ill intent. “Your mom’s being naughty. When Daddy comes back, I’ll deal with her.”
“Then do you still like me?”
“I do.”
“What about little brother?”
Lu Qiang said, “He’s alright.”
“Then compared to me?”
“I like you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
After confirming again and again, the princess pressed her lips together, finally breaking into a smile through her tears. “Alright.” She announced generously, “Then you have to be nicer to little brother too.”
“…Mm.”
The door opened. Only the night light lit the corridor, their voices growing fainter.
Lu Qiang said, “Lu Cheng, have you gotten heavier again?”
The little princess shot back, “Daddy, can you not carry me anymore?”
“Who said that? I could still carry you on my shoulders.”
Then came a burst of giggling, clear and bright in the quiet night.
Lu Yin turned over, smiling silently, her heart filled to the brim with happiness. She closed her eyes, listening to the soft murmurs and laughter outside the bedroom, then huffed childishly, feeling as though her man was about to be stolen away.
Who knew how long passed before she was about to fall fully asleep.
She felt warm breath against the hollow of her ear. Damp kisses fell on her neck, her shoulder, the back of her hand. Her body felt light, lifted halfway.
Lu Yin narrowed her eyes.
He had completely changed his expression, coaxing and eager as he kissed her. “Baby, wake up. Don’t sleep.”
Lu Yin pushed him. “What are you doing…”
He answered playfully, not quite serious. “Taking you flying.”
“I’m so sleepy.”
Lu Qiang had no intention of stopping. His voice was muffled as he asked, “Here, or another room?”
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