Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi had now spent two months in kindergarten.

Though their approaches differed, both children were adapting earnestly to peer interactions.

Next week would be the parent-child cooking competition, requiring each child to bring one participating guardian.

Undoubtedly, the best cook among the parents was Lin Youxi—a former culinary maestro.

Per prior arrangements, Xia Yuan would accompany Mei Xiaoyuan while Lin Youxi paired with Mei Zhixi for the event, leaving Mei Fang as a cheering spectator.

To prepare, the usually kitchen-averse Xia Yuan now cooked breakfast daily.

“Wakey wakey!”

“Ah… Yuan Mama’s cooking again today?”

Mei Xiaoyuan propped her chin on her hands, visibly unenthused.

“What’s wrong, Little Yuanbao… Don’t you like Yuan Mama’s food?”

Xia Yuan’s enthusiasm dimmed, her smile straining.

Seeing her expression, Mei Xiaoyuan hastily backtracked:

“Yuan Mama’s cooking is yummy too!”

She then mumbled, “But… it’s been forever since I had Xi Mama’s dishes…”

Lin Youxi intervened gently, “Little Yuanbao, try to understand—Yuan Mama is practicing hard for your big competition debut together.”

Oh…

That’s true!

Gears turned in Mei Xiaoyuan’s small head.

That evening, post-bath time:

“Storytime tonight! Who wants a tale from Daddy?”

“Me! Me!” Mei Xiaoyuan shot her hand up.

“Me too.” Mei Zhixi clung to Mei Fang’s leg.

“Let’s all snuggle on the bed!”

“Charge!”

Sandwiched against Mei Fang’s chest, the sisters listened to his animated storytelling—a skill honed from years of lulling his wives to sleep.

“And so, the little crocodile swam and swam, finally making it ashore all by himself—”

Mid-narration, Mei Fang noticed Mei Zhixi had dozed off on his right, while Mei Xiaoyuan still stared wide-eyed.

“Jiejie’s still energetic after Meimei fell asleep… Want another story?”

“No, I’m good…”

Her eyes darted before she whispered:

“Daddy, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Is… Xi Mama really my mama too?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because Xi Mama and Little Xixi share ‘Xi,’ while my name has ‘Yuan’ like Yuan Mama. Why’s that?”

“Well… because…”

Naming conventions had anticipated this question, so Mei Fang had prepared a balanced response to avoid perceived favoritism:

“Since Xi Mama is slightly older, we reversed it for you girls. As the firstborn, you got ‘Yuan.’”

“Really?”

“What else could it be?”

“Mengmeng said babies pop out from mommies’ tummies.”

Mei Xiaoyuan pondered. “With two mommies, I can’t be half from each… So maybe I popped from Yuan Mama’s tummy—that’s why I’m Little Yuanbao, Mei Xiaoyuan?”

Yikes…

Since when are kids this sharp?

Mei Fang suddenly felt ancient but maintained his gentle tone:

“Regardless, both Xi Mama and Yuan Mama love you equally.”

“Then… can I…”

She hesitated. “Switch with Little Xixi?”

“Switch what?”

“I want… Xi Mama to join the cooking contest with me.”

……

Mei Fang froze, struck by that bittersweet pang of witnessing childhood innocence wane.

“Is it because Xi Mama’s cooking tastes better?”

Mei Xiaoyuan nodded sheepishly.

“I… told my friends my mom’s cooking is amazing and we’d win first place.”

“I see.”

“So earlier, when you said Yuan Mama’s food was yummy… was that to spare her feelings?”

“I didn’t want Yuan Mama to feel sad…”

Her lip quivered. “But I wasn’t lying! Xi Mama is my mom too, so…”

Such peer-driven competitiveness was natural, but required careful guidance.

Mei Fang cupped her face. “Daddy knows you weren’t boasting. Caring about Yuan Mama’s feelings makes you very mature…”

“But is winning the competition the most important thing?”

“Is… wanting to win bad?”

“The desire itself isn’t wrong.”

He softened his voice. “But Yuan Mama wakes up extra early daily to practice cooking—working hard because she knows how much you want this.”

“If swapping to Xi Mama would hurt her, which matters more to you?”

“Then… I’ll…”

She pressed her lips together before declaring: “I don’t want Yuan Mama sad! We’ll try our best together!”

“That makes Daddy very happy.”

“Daddy, I have a plan.”

“Hmm?”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll cook with Yuan Mama.”

Mei Xiaoyuan clenched tiny fists. “If I improve too, maybe we can win!”

“Hahaha, absolutely.”

“Wake me up early! No more lazybug!”

“Promise.”

Next dawn, Mei Fang awoke to find Xia Yuan already gone from bed.

In the kitchen, watching her determined back, he embraced her from behind.

“Up so early?”

“Mhm… couldn’t sleep.”

Xia Yuan murmured:

“Little Yuanbao really wants to win… I should’ve practiced cooking more… Maybe I should swap with Youxi? But we promised the kids—”

Mei Fang nuzzled her ear. “You can’t master everything. If this were a singing contest, you’d outshine Youxi instantly.”

“But… I hate disappointing her.”

She smiled wistfully. “What parent doesn’t want to be their child’s hero?”

“Just trying your hardest with her is heroic enough.”

He kissed her cheek. “And you’ll always be my hero.”

“And you’re mine.”

Xia Yuan turned to melt into his arms, their embrace lingering until—

“It’s burning! Burning!”

After breakfast, Mei Xiaoyuan’s resolve to conquer the cooking contest through teamwork solidified.