Chapter 407: Just Be Yourself

Chapter 407: Just Be Yourself (Update 1)

In life, there are always many first times.

Each first time carries its own significance.

The day after the baby was born.

Xiao Yu had finally become a proper new dad.

His older sister had just given birth and hadn’t started producing milk yet.

Xiao Yu skillfully held the bottle, feeding the adorable baby.

Back when Mu Qingwu was pregnant, he’d practiced with a doll.

Now that he was putting his practice to use, the feeling was indescribable.

He fed the baby, burped him, and put him to sleep.

The gentle new dad softly laid the baby beside his sister.

Having passed her vulnerable stage, Mu Qingwu’s eyes grew tender.

She looked at the baby, then at her little brother.

Until… Mu Qingwu painfully closed her eyes.

A warm, gentle arm pulled her into a comforting embrace.

“Take a deep breath, exhale slowly…”

Xiao Yu held his sister close, soothing her with gentle words.

Does giving birth finally spare you from all the suffering?

No. There’s a pain that only a mother can truly understand.

“Ha ha!”

Despite the pain, Mu Qingwu burst into laughter.

She pressed her cheek into her little brother’s warm embrace and murmured, “I once thought following you meant I’d be taking care of a child forever.”

“And then?”

Xiao Yu hugged his sister and patted her back gently.

“Then I realized I was being spoiled like a kid.”

Laughing, Mu Qingwu teased, “Now you act all coy, throw a little tantrum, and cling to your little brother—it’s nothing like the old you!”

People used to say,

A woman’s age is reflected by the man beside her.

A happy woman can seem younger, spoiled like a child.

But an unhappy woman grows more mature and independent.

Love and affection wield a mysterious and enchanting power.

Even a strong woman like Mu Qingwu can’t escape its pull.

Caught in its web, she finds herself unable to break free!

“Isn’t it wonderful?”

Xiao Yu kissed his sister’s forehead and asked with a smile.

“In your words…”

Leaning into her little brother’s embrace, Mu Qingwu’s beautiful face radiated happiness as she replied, “Simply delightful!”

“Ha ha!” Xiao Yu laughed out loud.

Oh, woman!

……

Later, the young couple returned home.

Xiao Yu began taking care of the baby during the maternity period.

These days, even men get paternity leave.

He was enjoying a full thirty days of caregiving leave.

It was the longest break Xiao Yu had taken since joining the force.

Day by day, his sister’s health improved and the baby grew bigger.

Xiao Yu balanced caring for his sister with documenting the baby’s milestones.

But he soon realized that having a son meant he now had a little rival.

Most of his sister’s attention had shifted to this pint-sized competitor.

And that little rival was quite the handful.

He needed constant pampering and care.

Inside, Xiao Yu was torn.

Take now, for instance.

He longed to cuddle with his sister like he used to.

“Get away!”

A slightly annoyed Mu Qingwu smiled and pushed her little brother aside, “Go sleep on your own.”

“I…”

Glancing between his sister and the baby in her arms, Xiao Yu grinned mischievously, “Seems like love is nothing but a beautiful distraction when loneliness creeps in. Now that you’ve found a new flame, you’ve forgotten about me—old love. My heart feels so cold!”

“Is that so?”

Mu Qingwu leaned over, kissed her little brother, and teasingly said, “Hurry up and warm the milk; the baby is hungry.”

Her heart resisted, but her body obeyed.

So, Xiao Yu happily went off to heat the milk…

Before long, a month had passed.

“Little brother, come and give sweet Mu a kiss.”

Sitting by the bedside while playing with her adorable son, Mu Qingwu lowered her head to plant a kiss.

“Tch!”

Xiao Yu wore an expression of disdain, his jealousy barely hidden.

Not seeing the baby, he absentmindedly flipped through a childcare tutorial on his phone.

Do I really have to kiss my little rival?

Dream on!

“Little brother…”

With a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, Mu Qingwu teased, “I feel like kissing.”

In an instant, Xiao Yu dropped his phone and dashed over to his sister with the urgency of a hundred-meter sprint.

He kissed his sister’s lips…

It had been a month since he last kissed her after the baby was born.

He missed it dearly!

“You fool, even jealous over your own son!”

Mu Qingwu looked up at her silly little brother and smiled helplessly.

Xiao Yu stayed silent, holding his sister close as they exchanged glances with the baby.

A glance shared between rivals!

“Ha ha!”

Mu Qingwu laughed, picked up the baby, and nestled against her little brother.

Time stretched on, and happiness lingered…

……

When the baby turned one month old, it was time to throw a celebration banquet as tradition dictated.

Xiao Yu’s friends were numerous these days.

Needless to say, Mu Qingwu’s friends were even more abundant.

They booked out an entire hotel.

Just like when they got married back in the day.

Countless people gathered to offer their congratulations.

The scene was enough to startle everyone at the hotel.

Not to mention the wealthy tycoons, businessmen, and corporate magnates seen on TV.

But that wasn’t all…

There were legions of police, a swarm of men in black, and even two remarkably distinguished elderly gentlemen.

The hotel staff were visibly on edge.

Some couldn’t quite comprehend it all.

Who exactly were that young couple?

And it wasn’t just the staff.

The police, upon seeing the group of men in black—especially the two elderly gentlemen—were visibly rattled.

Everyone trembled in their presence.

All nine team leaders from National Security had arrived.

Big bosses from both the Police Department and National Security were there in person.

Facing such high-ranking figures, who wouldn’t feel a little apprehensive?

Even Zeng Lei, the head of the Provincial Department,

and Zhao Changshan, the head of the Criminal Investigation Headquarters,

sat up straight in deference to the two titans, acting cautiously.

But… why was that?

A giant question mark loomed in the minds of those unaware of the truth.

A rookie cop was organizing a celebration banquet for his newborn son.

Why would towering figures come to offer their congratulations?

Anyone who knew Xiao Yu was utterly baffled.

Only Zhao Changshan, the head of the Criminal Investigation Team, showed signs of emotion.

He thought, “My little guy has already become a force to be reckoned with!”

……

Outside the hotel,

the young couple saw off the two elderly gentlemen.

Even Xiao Yu himself was in a daze.

No matter how impressive Tang Seng might be, he was still just a monkey performer.

Xiao Yu never considered himself expendable.

Nor has he ever thought too highly of himself.

He was genuinely surprised by the arrival of all nine team leaders.

But why, then, did the two big bosses show up?

He couldn’t quite fathom it…

“Go back and attend to your guests,”

the two elderly gentlemen smiled, waved their hands, and boarded their sedan, departing.

Xiao Yu stood there, stunned, watching the distant Red Flag Car drive away.

“Stop overthinking,”

Mu Qingwu linked her arm with her little brother, smiling brightly. “You’ve always told me that life should be simple. Sometimes, acting like a fool and not overanalyzing things turns out to be the happiest way to live.”

Sure enough, Xiao Yu realized he’d been overthinking it… smiling as he led his sister back to the hotel.

His sister was right—what had gotten into him?

Life isn’t like the wind or the clouds—don’t let it be defined.

Just be yourself!