When the community police arrived, they simply recorded the incident and left it at that.
As for helping the baby "find her parents," that was practically impossible—her parents could be standing right in front of them and they still wouldn't know.
Over all these years, the orphanage director had never once seen them succeed in reuniting a child with their family.
So, Zhang Yichen and Chen Xiaoxi felt no burden at all.
Once the registration was done, the group finally left the orphanage under the reluctant gaze of the director.
Since he was preparing medicinal meals, dinner once again fell to Zhang Yichen.
And before bed, he even brewed medicine for both Chen Xiaoxi and Li Yue, standing over them to make sure they drank it.
Without supervision, neither of them would have touched it—the medicine was far too bitter.
Although Zhang Yichen often found Li Yue annoying, he had to admit she did something today that pleased him greatly:
She bought a cradle. Once it was set up, it doubled as a baby bed.
With the cradle in place, Zhang Yichen no longer had to act like a clingy "daughter slave."
Without hesitation, he kicked his daughter out of the bed and claimed the child's mother instead.
That night, he turned into a beast.
Of course, he had the audacity to twist it around, claiming it was all for "therapeutic massage."
Chen Xiaoxi suffered miserably that night.
If she hadn't been adaptable, knowing when to beg for mercy, she might have been punished even more severely.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Chen Xiaoxi stirred, her body still aching slightly. Feeling the warmth beside her, she looked up to see Zhang Yichen sleeping soundly, a trace of satisfaction on his face.
Her heart softened. She let out a quiet sigh, memories of last night flashing through her mind as her cheeks grew hot.
Not wanting to wake him, she carefully tried to get out of bed. But as soon as she moved her arm, a sharp soreness spread through it.
She steadied herself for a moment before tiptoeing into the bathroom.
After washing up, she walked to the cradle and gazed at the peacefully sleeping baby.
The little one's lips were slightly pouted, as if she were dreaming of something sweet.
Xiaoxi reached out, gently brushing her hand over the baby's forehead, her eyes soft and tender.
"Why are you up so early?"
A husky voice drifted from behind.
She turned to find Zhang Yichen leaning against the headboard, his eyes blazing as he watched her.
"I'll make breakfast," she said softly. "You can sleep a little longer."
But Zhang Yichen shook his head, tossing aside the blanket. He walked over and pulled her into his arms.
"You worked hard last night. I'll cook."
Resting against his chest, Xiaoxi could hear the strong, steady beat of his heart. She couldn't help but smile faintly.
"You're one to talk," she muttered bashfully. "You were like a beast."
He lowered his head and kissed the crown of her hair, his voice low and gentle. "Did I scare you yesterday?"
She shook her head, burying her face against his chest, speaking almost inaudibly. "It's not like I haven't seen you like that before."
Yichen chuckled, hugging her tighter. "You remember it that clearly, huh?"
Her face burned. She gave his chest a light punch. "Say one more word and I won't bother with you!"
He pretended to wince, covering his chest dramatically, though the corners of his mouth curled in a teasing grin.
"Ah, such strength. I guess you weren't tired out at all last night."
"You—!"
Her cheeks flushed scarlet, her ears turning hot. She quickly turned away, pretending to fuss with the baby to hide her embarrassment.
Seeing her flustered look, Yichen smiled, then slipped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I'll make breakfast. You can go back to sleep."
Her annoyance gradually melted away, replaced by a warmth she couldn't quite describe.
She nodded lightly. "Mm, okay."
Reluctantly, he let her go, ruffling her hair before heading toward the kitchen.
Xiaoxi stood still, watching his retreating figure. A strange emptiness tugged at her heart, like something had just been taken away.
She glanced back at the baby in the cradle. The little one slept soundly, blissfully unaware of her parents' quiet exchange.
Xiaoxi exhaled softly and poked her baby's chubby cheek with a fingertip, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Little one, you've got yourself a good father."
As if in agreement, the baby made a few soft noises before slipping back into deeper sleep.
Her heart swelled with happiness, so sweet it almost overflowed.
For breakfast, Zhang Yichen decided to make longan and red date sticky rice porridge—a medicinal dish that nourished the blood and regulated hormones.
That way, he didn't need to prepare a separate tonic for Li Yue.
But porridge like this needed to simmer for an hour to release its full effect.
So, he started early.
Breakfast couldn't just be porridge, though.
With time on his hands, he decided to make steamed dumplings—healthy, light, and delicious.
Since both women were still taking medicine, seafood was out of the question.
Not knowing their preferred fillings, he prepared two kinds: cucumber with egg, and mushroom with minced meat.
While he was busy in the kitchen, Xiaoxi found herself standing quietly by the door, watching his back.
They say men are most handsome when they're working, but in her eyes, he looked his best cooking for his family.
Her heart beat faster, a strange sense of belonging rising within her.
She watched his side profile, the morning light casting delicate shadows along his lashes.
"You're staring at me?"
He suddenly turned, lips curved into a playful smile.
Actually, he had noticed her for a while, but had been too focused on cooking to call her out—until now.
Caught red-handed, her face flushed crimson. She quickly turned away. "W-Who's staring at you?!"
"Then why are you standing there?" He walked toward her, gaze locked on her face.
Even though they had already crossed that line between them, she still felt uneasy under his intense eyes. Instinctively, she backed up a step.
"I just smelled something delicious… so I came to take a look."
"Oh? So the aroma drew you in?" His brows arched in amusement as he leaned closer. His breath tickled her ear. "Then I'll have to make sure it smells even better for you."
The way he emphasized "smells better" clearly carried another meaning.
Her ears burned. She pushed him away in a fluster. "Can't you be serious for once? It's still early!"
Her words were scolding, but her eyes couldn't resist sneaking another glance at him.
Yichen chuckled, catching her hand in his own, fingers teasing her palm. "What did I say that wasn't serious? Or are you hinting that I can stop being serious tonight?"
Her fingers curled, trying to pull back, but he held her firmly. She bit her lip, muttering, "Y-You're overthinking things. I didn't mean that."
"Really?" His tone dripped with amusement as his other hand tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Then why's your face so red?"
Her heartbeat thundered in her chest. Eyes darting away, she desperately changed the subject. "Isn't the porridge almost ready?"
But he didn't let her off so easily. Leaning close, his deep voice brushed against her ear, full of allure. "The porridge still needs more time. But you—what were you just thinking about, hmm?"
His breath against her neck sent a shiver down her spine. Her body trembled, fingers tightening around his sleeve. "I-I wasn't thinking anything…"
"Lies don't suit you." His lips nearly grazed her earlobe, whisper soft. "I saw everything."
And then, without warning, he released her and turned back to the stove.
He still had three eggs to fry and three cups of milk to warm.
Breakfast wasn't finished yet.
But Xiaoxi, left standing there with her heart pounding, suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.
She realized she had actually enjoyed his teasing.
I must be going crazy…