By late morning, the heavy snow finally showed signs of stopping. After the Minor New Year celebrations, the parents from the Xia and Lin families would temporarily return to their own homes for a while.

However, according to Baimei County’s customs of visiting relatives before the New Year, Mei Fang still needed to take the children to visit both sets of parents-in-law to deliver holiday gifts. So they would meet again in a few days.

In the living room, little aunt Mei Ya was playing with Xiaoyuan and Xiaoxixi, while the “Mei You Yuan” trio watched TV together.

Mei Fang sat on the sofa watching a talent show, Xia Yuan lay in his arms cracking sunflower seeds, and Lin Youxi leaned against his shoulder dozing lightly.

“Damn, this contestant seems pretty good—why didn’t Xiaoxue pick her as a team member…”

“Feels a bit frivolous. I think Xiaoxue doesn’t like that personality type.”

“True… Though Xiaoxue usually acts so domineering, she actually prefers more mature and steady men, right?”

“Don’t emphasize that part on purpose.”

As Mei Fang smoothed Xia Yuan’s hair, she suddenly looked up: “Oh right, Youxi and Ah Fang—you two haven’t celebrated your birthdays this year yet.”

“I almost forgot about that.”

Mei Fang scratched his head. “But I’m already 24-25 years old—celebrating birthdays feels kinda weird at this point. Just celebrate Youxi’s birthday separately.”

“What do you mean separately? If you don’t celebrate, neither will I.”

Lin Youxi blew playful puffs of air near Mei Fang’s ear. “Besides, every year Ah Fang racks his brains thinking of birthday gifts. After so many years of celebrating together, there’s not much left to think of…”

“There is! There is!”

Xia Yuan said cheerfully, “Didn’t we say when we returned to the county? The civil affairs bureau! You two go get your marriage certificate—I’ll pay the processing fee so I can feel involved too.”

“Hmm…”

Mei Fang tapped Xia Yuan’s head. “Only you could come up with something like this.”

“If I could lend you 10 yuan to buy lottery tickets back then, why is this any weirder?!”

Xia Yuan pouted and acted spoiled. “So you two should go get registered! Otherwise, it’ll be troublesome getting Xiaoxixi and Xiaoyuan registered.”

While money could solve the issue, not going through proper procedures could become a liability if exposed.

Of course, Mei Fang couldn’t tell them that in a few years, non-marital children could be registered without issue. But having the marriage certificate would still offer some conveniences.

“Then this month, we’ll register first. When summer comes, it’ll be your turn with Ah Fang—as a birthday gift.”

Lin Youxi said softly, “I remember Ah Fang still owes Yuan Yuan 10 yuan—it’s always trending on hot searches. Now’s the time to repay that debt.”

“Ah Fang owes me way more than just 10 yuan.”

Xia Yuan thought for a moment before pouting again. “But… that 10 yuan really does have special meaning… Ah Fang, do you remember the IOU you gave me the next day? I kept it at home—I’m going to cash it in someday.”

“You’re really into ceremony, huh…”

Mei Fang pondered. “Oh right, Yuan Yuan, what about that kindergarten performance video of yours—should we—”

“AHHHHH! Don’t! Don’t bring up that embarrassing footage! Let’s talk about Youxi’s funny stories instead—like how she couldn’t tie her shoelaces, and—”

“You mean how I always had a runny nose, fidgeted in class, wet myself during drinking contests with Ah Fang, couldn’t sleep after watching horror movies, and…”

“Okay okay! I surrender!”

Xia Yuan grumbled pitifully, “How can Youxi just say all those cringe-worthy memories out loud like that?”

“I think being at this age and still having people to share these memories with is truly happiness.”

Lin Youxi closed her eyes and lay down too, resting against Mei Fang alongside Xia Yuan, who made room for her.

“Yeah, how could this not be happiness…”

Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi both gazed lovingly at their partner from Mei Fang’s arms, while he contentedly enjoyed their warmth.

“Baba! Baba!”

Seeing her mothers cuddling with Daddy, Xiaoxixi immediately toddled over and clung to Mei Fang’s leg.

“Oho—is Xiaoxixi jealous?”

“She’s probably the most possessive girl in this family when it comes to Ah Fang!”

Seeing their youngest daughter getting jealous, Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi instinctively stopped monopolizing their husband and instead lifted Xiaoxixi into Mei Fang’s arms.

Once nestled against her father, Xiaoxixi stopped fussing and settled contentedly.

Mei Fang cradled Xiaoxixi, who as usual loved pressing her chubby cheeks against his shoulder. No matter how her two mothers teased her, she showed no intention of moving, only whispering softly into Mei Fang’s ear:

“Baba… Xuan.”

“Xuan.”

“Xuan?”

“Xuan ni.”

Seeing her father didn’t understand, Xiaoxixi lifted her head from his shoulder and gave him a big, loud mwah on the cheek.

“Gasp—Xiaoxixi!”

Mei Fang’s heart melted at his daughter’s adorableness, while Xia Yuan also gushed excitedly:

“Squeal… Xiaoxixi is so sweet! I love Daddy too!”

“Ehh—”

Xiaoxixi wrapped her arms around Mei Fang’s neck and leaned against his shoulder, clearly reluctant to share him with Xia Yuan.

“Xiaoxixi, that’s not okay. Daddy doesn’t belong only to you—he’s also Yuan Mama’s, Youxi Mama’s, and big sister Xiaoyuan’s.”

Mei Fang patiently and gently admonished Xiaoxixi. “You’re a good girl—you have to share Daddy with everyone, understand?”

“Mm…”

Though still somewhat unwilling, Xiaoxixi grudgingly freed up one shoulder, clutching Mei Fang’s chest instead.

“Phew, Xiaoxixi learned to share—what an amazing girl.”

Xia Yuan patted Xiaoxixi’s head approvingly.

Meanwhile, the TV remote had fallen into Auntie Mei Ya’s hands.

“Let’s watch some fun cartoons, Xiaoyuan!”

“Watch! Watch TV!”

The babbling Xiaoyuan loved responding and expressing herself. With every channel Mei Ya flipped through, she would ask:

“Whas dis?”

“This is Fairy Princess.”

“Pwincess!”

Mei Ya changed the channel again, and Xiaoyuan stared at the screen:

“Whas dis?”

“This is Saiyan warriors!”

“Siyan!”

When Mei Ya switched to a channel airing a Kamen Rider tokusatsu show, she thought it wasn’t a cartoon and changed it—only for Xiaoyuan to suddenly burst into tears until she switched back.

“You like this?”

Ignoring Mei Ya, Xiaoyuan stared transfixed as the protagonist struck a cool pose and transformed.

“Wow! Wow!”

Watching the transformed Kamen Rider battle terrifying monsters, Xiaoxixi clenched her tiny fists, utterly engrossed, muttering what sounded like cheering words.

Observing Xiaoxixi’s enthralled reactions to the Kamen Rider series, then glancing at the Warhammer figurine in her own hand, Mei Ya was suddenly reminded of her own excitement when she first discovered miniature wargaming.

This kid… has she already found her lifelong passion at such a young age?