“Alright, you coming back early is better than a hundred words.”

  She could barely manage this occurrence. Putting aside whether she could manage the situation, given the way her three grandchildren were crying, she would definitely die of heartache first if this were to happen a few more times.

  “Goodnight, Mom.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Miao Jing’s voice was getting softer and softer. It was not because of other reasons. The triplets, who had almost finished their milk, were starting to close their eyes. Their eyelids were drooping. As long as someone gently patted them a few more times, the triplets would fall asleep within seconds.

  Being able to fall asleep within seconds was an advantage of being a child, wasn’t it?

  Upon hearing her mother-in-law’s voice, Qiao Nan knew that the triplets were dozing off.

  There was no better news than the triplets falling asleep. After hanging up the phone, Qiao Nan lay on the bed, finally feeling assured.

  Now that her mood had improved, Qiao Nan felt better physically too. It was unlike earlier when she felt really unwell. After yawning, she started to close her eyes, wanting to go to sleep.

  However, when the other person beside her lay on the bed, Qiao Nan could not sleep even if she wanted to.

  The hard and steel-like arms on her waist made Qiao Nan feel suffocated and uncomfortable. Qiao Nan moved, wanting to move away. “Don’t come so close to me. This is a 1.8-meter-long bed. Are you prepared to leave half of the bed empty?”

  \r \r \r

  In the early 2000s, huge beds that were 1.8 meters long were not common. A bed that was 1.5 meters long was already considered very big.

  Brother Zhai had long limbs. As such, he could not sleep comfortably on beds that were less than 1.8 meters long. The problem was…… it was a waste not to effectively utilize the space of such a huge bed.

  Unknowingly, Zhai Sheng had developed the habit of remaining naked after bathing. He always got under the blanket without wearing any clothes. He would then hug Qiao Nan as soon as he got into the bed.

  They were a family and should have the same thoughts and actions. He was naked. Hence, Zhai Sheng refused to let Qiao Nan wear any clothes.

  When Qiao Nan started talking, Zhai Sheng was already undressing Qiao Nan in an agile manner. Qiao Nan was already half-naked. “Don’t worry. This is such a huge bed. I will definitely ‘make good use’ of it and ‘sleep’ well.”

  Zhai Sheng’s breath by her ears felt both wet and hot.

  They had already given birth to three children. If Qiao Nan did not know what Zhai Sheng was thinking of at this moment, this was no longer the baby brain effect. That would mean that she had lost all of her intelligence with childbirth.

  Qiao Nan blushed. She twisted and resisted in Zhai Sheng’s arms like a fish, refusing to concede defeat and cooperate. “You did not even ask me about Da Bao and the children’s situation. You’re the biological father. The triplets cried so badly and everyone’s heart, including mine, ached for them. As the father, how could you not have any reaction at all?”

  Zhai Sheng, who hugged Qiao Nan from behind, revealed his white teeth as he bit the soft and tender flesh on Qiao Nan’s earlobe. “Judging from how you look, how can I not know that the triplets have already been appeased? If I couldn’t even tell this, how could I be a soldier? Am I still considered a husband? How could I be the triplets’ father then?”

  In other words, given Qiao Nan’s skills, Zhai Sheng could see through her at one glance. There was no need for him to ask.

  As for Qiao Nan’s resistance and non-cooperation, Zhai Sheng had never taken them to heart. It was the same for today.

  They had been husband and wife for a year. Although they did not ‘sleep’ with each other very often, Zhai Sheng understood Qiao Nan very well. Qiao Nan’s so-called resistance would always make his movements smoother so that they could ‘sleep’ better.

  When Qiao Nan was fully naked, like a sheep waiting to be slaughtered and pitifully baaing, Zhai Sheng, this big wild wolf, opened his jaws, revealed his fangs, and devoured this little sheep without any reservation. There were not even any bones left.

  Great. Qiao Nan had wanted to make use of the opportunity to have a good rest tonight. When she returned to the capital the next day, she would make it up to the triplets then. She would keep them company and make them happy.

  However, once Zhai Sheng, this big wild wolf, sprang into action, Qiao Nan did not manage to replenish her energy tonight. Instead, she felt more tired as she slept.

  Fortunately, they were taking a plane and could hire a car to send them to the airport. Otherwise, given Qiao Nan’s wobbly limbs, it was a very difficult matter to be able to reach the airport.

  “Nan Nan, what happened?” Qiao Dongliang was taken aback by Nan Nan’s wobbly look. She was leaning on Zhai Sheng all the time and did not look good. She looked like she was in a slightly more serious condition than yesterday. “Nan Nan is feeling so unwell?”

  Yesterday, he had felt quite upset that Nan Nan left early. He thought that Nan Nan blamed him and was thus unwilling to remain behind for a longer time.

  Unexpectedly, he was the one being paranoid. Nan Nan was really feeling unwell.

  Zhai Sheng, who was holding onto Qiao Nan, did not have the slightest look of guilt at all. He sounded bolder and more righteous than a typical person. “Father-in-law, don’t worry. Nan Nan’s health has always been good. She seldom catches a cold or has a fever. Most likely, the difference in weather is too great between Ping Cheng and the capital. Hence, Nan Nan can’t get used to it immediately and feels a little unwell. She will recover very soon after resting more.”

  Qiao Dongliang nodded. “I guess so. Actually, the last time Nan Nan came back from the capital, she was also a little unwell. Nan Nan is not feeling well, yet you are still going back?”

  Zhai Sheng smiled. “Yes, we have to go back. It won’t do if we don’t. Nan Nan was not at home yesterday and the triplets cried badly. Although Nan Nan has to go to school usually, she is very devoted when she takes care of the triplets. Hence, the children stick to her very much. If we don’t go back today, my mom definitely won’t be able to appease the triplets. Yesterday, my mom even called us and requested us to come back earlier. Their hearts ache when the triplets cry so badly.”

  “Yes, yes, yes…… For the sake of the triplets, Nan Nan and you should go back.” It was all for the sake of the children. No matter how reluctant he was, he had to release his daughter. This was because his heart ached more for his three maternal grandchildren.

  After receiving the approval, Zhai Sheng’s smile became even more natural. “Father-in-law, Nan Nan and I are leaving then. Right, when you have the time and opportunity, come to the capital. The triplets are still very young. They can’t possibly follow us on a long trip for the time being. I don’t think you just want to look at the triplets’ photo, right? Come to the capital and see them, and let them get to know their maternal grandfather.”

  Right from the start, Zhai Sheng was only talking to Qiao Dongliang, this father-in-law. As to Ding Jiayi, this mother-in-law, she seemed to be transparent to Zhai Sheng. She had been totally ignored by him.

  Zhai Sheng already did not care about Ding Jiayi. Naturally, he would not bother about Qiao Zijin, this sister-in-law. Most importantly, it was also an issue whether he took them for his mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

  After inviting Qiao Dongliang to the capital, Zhai Sheng held on to Qiao Nan and left the small courtyard of the Qiao family. They got into a car and headed for the airport.

  “Hmmph, what is this? He did not greet or acknowledge me at all. What terrible manners.”


  1230 Asking for I

  As she watched the car with Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan sped away, leaving nothing behind, Ding Jiayi spat in its direction and spoke with a tone full of aversion and disdain. “If you refuse to greet me, so be it. I still have another daughter. Do I lack people calling me ‘mom’?”

  She did not lack this greeting of ‘mom’. In the future, another man would address her as mother-in-law. He would fawn on and be good and filial to her.

  Be it Qiao Nan, this daughter, or Zhai Sheng, this son-in-law, she did not care for their existence. They could scram further away from her!

  Qiao Zijin held on to Ding Jiayi. “Mom!” Did she not see that the neighbors nearby were still looking? “Mom, follow me in. We’re still outside. Don’t do such embarrassing things. If you have anything to say, you can say as much as you like after we are back home.”

  As soon as the two returned to the house, Qiao Zijin could not help analyzing for Ding Jiayi. “Mom, why can’t you learn to be good? Qiao Nan is different from us now. She has a different status. She has not only become Cinderella but also received the affirmation of everyone in the Zhai family. After giving birth to three children, no one can rock her status in the Zhai family. If you fall out with her at this point, believe it or not, everyone in the quad will wait to watch a good show of you. Besides not being able to gain prestige and glory, you’re as silly as a joke in the eyes of those people!”

  She finally had such a promising daughter but the mother completely did not cherish her. Until now, she had not mended her relationship with Qiao Nan and enjoyed the good fortune of having a son-in-law like Zhai Sheng.

  She believed that many people in the quad were gloating at her mother because of this situation. They were happy to watch how her mother would court her own death.

  “Can you blame me? Am I the one who wishes to give these people a chance to watch a good show? It’s all that wretched girl’s fault! I don’t know how much she has badmouthed me in front of Zhai Sheng such that the very polite Zhai Sheng completely disregards me, this mother-in-law. Just wait and see. That wretched girl is so heartless. She dares to smear my name. I’ll wait for the day of her retribution!” Ding Jiayi felt indignant. Even if this kind of situation occurred, she was not the one to be blamed. It was all Qiao Nan’s fault.

  \r \r \r

  Qiao Zijin was having a headache. “Now, the problem doesn’t lie with who is in the wrong. Qiao Nan has become Cinderella after marrying Zhai Sheng. This is a fact. Instead of taking advantage of the situation, we are still picking fights and losing our temper with Qiao Nan. To these people, we are bastards and fools that do not know to pick up the available bargain. When we are basking in Qiao Nan’s glory and receiving practical gains, these people will definitely be very jealous of us. Just wait and see.”

  Qiao Nan was her younger sister and her mother’s biological daughter.

  In the past, she was worried that she had too few or no relatives. She could not even find or rely on anyone when her family encountered any problem.

  Qiao Nan was such a close next-of-kin. Qiao Nan married so well and her status was so high now. This was such a great resource, yet she and her mother’s brains seemed to have been blocked by feces. They kept committing foolish acts and being at odds with Qiao Nan. Were they not foolish?

  “Forget it. Your attitude toward Qiao Nan is already cast in stone. It will not change. I won’t waste my time and energy to persuade you. In the future, you can do whatever you like. I will definitely treat Qiao Nan differently from before.”

  As she said that, Qiao Zijin’s eyeballs swirled. She suddenly realized that her mother was still acting like a moron and targeting Qiao Nan like she did in the past. From another perspective, this might not necessarily be a bad thing. In fact, it might be a good matter.

  If her mother did not mend her old ways, her repentance, intelligence, and self-reflection would be more obvious then, no?

  “This is a tough call. Mom, I have sorted out my thoughts. I won’t persuade you anymore. You can do whatever you like. Take it that I am being filial to you. As long as you feel happy and carefree, that will do. If Qiao Nan and you really can’t get along well, it’s okay. There is still me. I will definitely do my best to give you a good life.”

  When Ding Jiayi heard this, she was overjoyed. “Isn’t that so? I have more than one daughter. I still have you even if Qiao Nan is gone. I don’t need many daughters. One is enough.” If she had known that this would be the case, she would not have given birth to a second child in the past and let Qiao Nan, this heartless wretched girl, turn against and drive her to the grave alive.

  “Mom, I’ll get some water for you.” Qiao Zijin, who had different thoughts in mind, looked like she had the spring breeze and warm sun on her face. She was even humming a song.

  Qiao Dongliang, who had been sitting by the side and silently watching them, did not utter a word or interrupt the conversation. He suddenly stood up and headed toward his bedroom.

  “Dad, I’m getting some water for mom. Do you want some?” Since she was already getting some water, Qiao Zijin might as well take two cups. After appeasing Ding Jiayi, she wanted to conveniently establish her presence in front of her biological father.

  Qiao Dongliang, who was walking to the bedroom, halted his steps and said coldly, “Not everyone has the good fortune to drink this cup of water from you. You can leave all of it for your mother.”

  Qiao Zijin’s smile froze. “Dad, what do you mean by this? It’s just a cup of water. What has it got to do with good fortune? Dad, are you angry? Did I do anything wrong to annoy you?” Otherwise, why did her father’s words sound so strange? It also felt very cold.

  Ding Jiayi had really been appeased by Qiao Zijin. She stood up and protected Qiao Zijin like an old hen. “Don’t bother about your dad. His temper has always been so stubborn. He is sick and suffers relapses from time to time. None of us has provoked him. Isn’t it because his favorite daughter only came back for a meal and left immediately? That’s why he’s feeling upset and uneasy. He’s venting it on us.”

  Qiao Zijin heaved a sigh of relief. Her eyes of acknowledgment expressed that she completely agreed with these words of Ding Jiayi.

  When he heard Ding Jiayi say such words without knowing her limit, Qiao Dongliang was both angry and amused. “Is that so?”

  Ding Jiayi, this foolish woman, had taught Zijin to become like that. She not only did not know how to self-reflect but was also digging her own grave unconsciously. She was straying further and further away.

  His good intentions had been distorted. Qiao Dongliang was fuming with anger.

  However, Qiao Dongliang calmed himself down very soon. Actually, this was not considered a good intention. At most, he had seen through his elder daughter’s true colors and understood the meaning in her words. He had guessed his elder daughter’s plan. As such, he was unhappy and reluctant to face this. He had wanted to distance himself. It was not because he wanted to use this behavior to remind Ding Jiayi.

  Once he had calmed down, Qiao Dongliang’s tone reverted to its normal state. “You can say whatever you like, as long as you’re happy.” Most likely, Ding Jiayi could only feel happy for these two years.

  He was quite upset. Nan Nan finally came back once in a year but the father-daughter pair only had one meal together.

  1231 Too Many Instances of Crying Wolf

  The father and daughter had not managed to have a proper conversation and Nan Nan had to return to the capital. They might only be able to meet one year later.

  Nan Nan was unlike Zijin. She was a kind and softhearted girl.

  He no longer cared and was unable to do anything about the kind of person that Zijin was or how she would turn out to be in the future.

  He was the least bit worried about his life after retirement. He knew that Nan Nan would take care of him.

  Once he was certain that he would be taken care of in his old age and did not need to worry about anything else, he would wash his hands off Ding Jiayi. He would not care if she did herself in. He would not be concerned about the Qiao Zijin’s cold-hearted nature either.

  He would wash his hands off both of them. He had become a grandfather. It was considered good enough that he could lead a simple and smooth life.

  Qiao Zijin made use of her mother and harbored ill intentions toward her. She had no idea that her father who was the bystander could tell what was on her mind. Her father who came around and decided to stand on her side once again had made up his mind to give up on her this time.

  Qiao Zijin also did not know that Qiao Dongliang gave a call to Qiao Nan that afternoon. He knew that Qiao Nan must have reached the Zhai family’s residence at the capital. “Nan Nan, there is something that I have to tell you. But given how smart you are, you must already have this in mind. In the future, if anyone from the Qiao family looks for you, regardless of the reasons that she gives you, you can ignore her and refuse her requests.”

  Qiao Dongliang’s purpose in making the phone call was not to tell Qiao Nan what she should do if she received a call from Qiao Zijin and how she should react to her requests. Instead, he was telling her indirectly about his change in attitude toward Qiao Zijin.

  Previously, Qiao Dongliang wanted to look after Qiao Zijin and hoped that she would find her happiness. He wanted to help his daughter based on his own efforts.

  Now, he had decided to wash his hands off her, and he would not allow Qiao Zijin to take advantage of Qiao Nan.

  \r \r \r

  Since Qiao Zijin dared to make use of her mother and harbored ill intentions toward her, Qiao Dongliang wondered if there would be a day where she used it on him.

  It was better to spell things out so that they would not have any misunderstanding or cause any irreversible harm. This was also better for both parties.

  Qiao Nan, who was holding San Bao in her arms, was quite surprised at Qiao Dongliang’s words.

  However, Qiao Nan did not feel or display any signs of happiness.

  There had been too many instances where Qiao Dongliang cried wolf. Even though he sounded very determined today, Qiao Nan would not really believe his words or get emotional over his decision.

  She had no idea when her father would change his mind again. He might feel that Qiao Zijin was a good daughter and that he had to help her. “Alright, Dad. I understand. Don’t worry. I know what I should do.”

  Qiao Nan sounded very calm on the phone. It was as if they were discussing whether it would rain tomorrow. “Dad, I am holding San Bao in my arms. San Bao still couldn’t greet us. But she will make sounds. Listen to her……” Qiao Nan made use of San Bao to change the topic. She no longer wanted to talk about Qiao Zijin who would spoil her mood.

  “Ah…… Woo……” The little girl looked with curiosity as her mama spoke to the phone. She thought that her mama was talking to her. San Bao, who was cheeky, smiled a sunny smile, and her eyes turned into crescents. She opened and closed her mouth, as if answering her mama.

  Qiao Dongliang’s heart melted at the small sounds made by San Bao. “San Bao, this is maternal grandpa.”

  Qiao Nan took the phone back from San Bao after she made a few sounds into the phone. “Dad, when the triplets start to speak, I will teach them to say maternal grandpa. By then, I will give you another call. Of course, if you have the time to make a trip to the capital for a few days, I will be more than welcome.” She only welcomed her father. If Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin came as well, he must not blame her for giving them the cold treatment.

  If her father could not understand her words and continued to be muddleheaded, she would not extend her invitation anymore.

  “I…… I understand.” Qiao Dongliang felt weary. Nan Nan said that she only welcomed him to the capital.

  In other words, if he brought someone else with him to the capital, Nan Nan would be displeased and she would not welcome him. “If I go to the capital, I will definitely go there alone. I want to travel by myself.”

  “Sure, Dad. Remember to come.” It was good that he understood her meaning. Of course, if he could make good on his words, it would be all the better.

  After hanging up the phone, Qiao Nan wanted to place San Bao in the baby crib and carry Er Bao.

  San Bao, realizing that her mama was going to leave her in the baby crib, grabbed hold of her mama’s collar with her chubby arms, refusing to let go. The little girl had a lot of strength and she was very overbearing.

  “.……” Qiao Nan pinched San Bao’s nose when she realized that San Bao was grabbing at her collar. “San Bao may miss mama, but Da Bao and Er Bao miss mama as well. San Bao must not be so mischievous. You must not keep bullying your brothers.”

  Qiao Nan reminded herself that she must treat the triplets equally. She must not allow her children to go through what she had experienced.

  The problem was Qiao Nan wanted to be fair to her children and change the order occasionally when she carried or fed them. However, San Bao had a nasty temper and she was very anxious. She could not wait for her turn. San Bao made it such that she was not able to give the triplets fair treatment.

  Perhaps Da Bao and Er Bao knew that San Bao was the only and youngest sister. They would always give in to her.

  When San Bao threw tantrums and she held her in her arms, Da Bao and Er Bao would not join in to cry. Instead, they would quiet down. When she had pacified San Bao, Da Bao and Er Bao would then make known that they wanted to be cuddled as well.

  San Bao felt satisfied that she got to cuddle in her mama’s soft embrace. She closed her eyes, but she did not let go of her grip on her mama’s clothes. She brushed her chubby cheeks against her mama’s chest. She looked so adorable and endearing. Miao Jing and Zhai Hua, who watched by the side, only had eyes for her. “She is indeed the only granddaughter in the family. It is alright for her to be delicate.”

  Other families hoped that they would have sons. But when it came to the Zhai family, it was the daughter who was favored.

  Qiao Nan gave a light smack on San Bao’s bottom to punish her. She then looked at her mother-in-law and sister-in-law with a helpless look on her face. “San Bao has a nasty temper. Don’t say this in front of her. She is very smart. It is alright that she is delicate, but I fear that she will be ill-disciplined and out of control.”

  Qiao Nan had seen it for herself how the Zhai family pampered the babies. On top of that, the Zhu family, the Shi family, and particularly their grand master, who was a baller, doted on them as well.

  Qiao Nan had a headache at the thought of this.

  She was not exaggerating to say that the babies were the apple of the eye of all the families.

  It was good that her babies were doted on by the people around her. But it would spell trouble if they were ill-disciplined and out of control.

  1232 Spring Has Arrived

  Qiao Nan felt that in the family, Zhai Sheng and she were the only people who would be fierce to the triplets.

  San Bao, who was drooling in her mama’s arms, did not know that her beloved mama had decided to be a strict mother to her in the future.

  On the third day since Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan returned to the capital, Zhu Baoguo came back with Shi Qing as well.

  To Qiao Nan’s surprise, the two of them seemed to be somewhat different ever since their trip to Ping Cheng. Zhu Baoguo would steal glances at Shi Qing, while Shi Qing would blush from time to time and stare angrily at Zhu Baoguo before she turned and left.

  As soon as Shi Qing left in anger, Zhu Baoguo would definitely follow right after her. He would not stay at the Zhai family’s residence by himself.

  Qiao Nan took a deep breath upon seeing this scene. “Spring has arrived.”

  Babies would be able to lift their heads when they were three months old, turn when they were four months old, sit upright when they were sixth months old, roll about upon reaching seven months old, crawl starting their eighth month, support to stand when they were nine months old, and walk when they were one year old.

  Spring had arrived. Qiao Nan had to go back to school in a few days.

  Qiao Nan smiled as she touched the triplets’ strong backs. “In another half a month, they will be able to sit upright.” The triplets might seem light, but their bodies were firm and strong.

  “You’re right. They will start to walk in no time.” To Miao Jing, nothing was happier than watching the triplets grew up day by day, turning more and more adorable.

  The saying that grandparents doted on their grandchildren was very true.

  When Zhai Hua and Zhai Sheng were at a tender age, Miao Jing would go on business trips with Zhai Yaohui. She was not there for her children when they were at a tender age. But with the triplets around, Miao Jing would rather abandon her husband and spend all her time with her grandchildren.

  \r \r \r

  As the grandpa, Zhai Yaohui could not possibly be jealous of his grandchildren. Furthermore, now that there were three babies at home and his daughter-in-law had to go back to school, even if Miao Jing did not bring it up, he felt that it would be better for his wife to stay at home.

  His daughter who was out of line was the only person at home. If anything happened to the triplets, she would not be able to decide by herself.

  Furthermore, although she seldom spent time at the camp, she still had to report to the camp.

  His daughter-in-law had to go to school in the daytime while his daughter had to report to the camp from time to time. If his wife went on business trips with him, there would be no one left at home to take care of the triplets.

  Therefore, the Zhai family decided to share the workload.

  Qiao Nan gave the triplets each a kiss on their smooth cheeks. She noticed that they seemed to be in a good mood. She took her jacket and changed her shoes. “Mom, thank you for helping me take care of the triplets. I only have lessons in the morning and will be back by noon.” Thankfully, the system in the college was so much different from those of junior high school and senior high school.

  It was not really compulsory to attend all the lessons and many students skipped classes.

  The students had the freedom to arrange their own timetable.

  Otherwise, even if she worked very hard, there was no way for her to arrange her time and timetable such that she could take lessons and take care of the triplets.

  Qiao Nan had the busiest time of her life during the first few months when she just gave birth to the triplets.

  She was a mother of three and she had to learn how to be a mother and take care of her three children. In the meantime, she had to make sure that she did not lag in her studies and caught up on the lessons that she had missed. There was not a single moment where she could sit back and relax.

  She had missed the lessons that were taught in the first half of the semester, but she was able to sit for the final term exams with the rest of the students at the end of the semester.

  Qiao Nan had to put in double the work and effort in order to catch up with her classmates.

  Thankfully, she had made it through the difficult times.

  Qiao Nan sat for the exams for the compulsory subjects, and she also managed to catch up on her studies. She did not lag far behind because of the triplets. Nevertheless, Qiao Nan was slightly displeased that although she had caught up with her studies, she was not able to do as well as she did in the past.

  “Happy Lunar New Year.”

  “Happy Lunar New Year.”

  School had just reopened. Lunar New Year had just passed and the students would still say their greetings when they saw each other in school.

  Another year had passed. They had not seen each other for a month. The students now had thick winter clothing on them, but the smiles on their faces were as bright as the sun.

  “Junior.” Xu Shengnan looked much more energetic after the new year. She gave Qiao Nan a passionate hug as soon as she saw her. “A year has passed. Although I only have seven days of break, why is it that I have put on two and a half kilograms of weight, but you seem to have lost two and a half kilograms of weight?”

  In order to confirm her doubts, Xu Shengnan exerted strength in her arms and lifted Qiao Nan off the floor so that she could have a rough estimate of Qiao Nan’s weight. “You’re definitely lighter than last year. Qiao Nan, tell me, did someone stop you from feasting during the new year? Had I known that, I would have invited you to my house.”

  Xu Shengnan knew that Qiao Nan was engaged and that she stayed with her ‘husband’. People would usually put on weight after the new year, but Qiao Nan lost weight instead. Xu Shengnan had reasons to believe that Qiao Nan’s parents did not stand on her side and she did not have a good life at her in-laws’ house. Otherwise, why did Qiao Nan keep losing weight?

  Qiao Nan smiled and told Xu Shengnan to let go of her. “Senior, thank you for your concern. But you don’t have to worry for me. It is not that I did not have good food during the new year. It is just that I caught a cold. While other people were feasting, I laid in bed nursing the cold. I had no appetite. I did not lose weight. I just maintain the same weight. As for you, you have indeed put on weight.”

  Qiao Nan would not put on weight easily. No matter how much she ate, it would not show on her figure.

  Back when she was pregnant, if she did not have triplets, she would not have put on so much weight during her pregnancy.

  After she gave birth to triplets, she lost the weight quickly.

  The Zhai family prepared a lot of tonics and nutritious food for her. Qiao Nan had a lot of good food in order to provide the triplets with breast milk. In the end, all the nutritious food that she had ended up in her breast milk and was fed to the triplets. That was why they grew to be stronger and healthier.

  If she lost any weight, it must be that it was too tiring to take care of the triplets. This was why her face seemed to become smaller.

  “I see.” Xu Shengnan believed her words. “It is no wonder that you don’t look good today. You seem pale to me. Have you recovered from the cold?” It was so hard on Qiao Nan. She fell sick during the new year and could not have any good food.

  Qiao Nan was surprised that Xu Shengnan believed her words easily. “Don’t worry. It is just a small cold. But you should know that, like the menses, one will take a long time to recover from the cold. I will just have to get used to it. I believe I will feel better in two days.”