Stay Home Daddy: I Was Reborn After My Daughter Passed Away

He grabbed a pair of children's chopsticks and stirred the milk powder.

He couldn't help but comment, "Goodness, preparing milk powder involves so many steps."

It seems that I'll need to buy a stirring spoon for Sugar tomorrow.

It was just mixing milk powder, but Gu Chen actually broke out in a sweat doing it.

But to be honest, he felt quite pleased inside.

After all, wasn't it a service for his own daughter?

Which father doesn't want to feed his daughter until she's plump and rosy?

With a bit more patience on his part, he believed that Sugar and Ji Pianran would get increasingly better under his care.

Having mixed the milk powder well, he finally carried the cup out of the kitchen.

Ji Pianran was sitting on the bed in her room, holding Sugar in her arms and singing softly to the little girl while gently patting her.

She hummed quietly.

"The evening breeze gently brushes Penghu Bay, white waves chasing the shore. No coconut palms chasing the setting sun, just a stretch of sea so blue."

"Sitting atop the low wall in front of my house, I imagine over and over. It is also on the sands at dusk that there are footprints, two and a half."

Her voice was sweet and soft.

Like a spring breeze brushing the heart.

Sugar was quiet and well-behaved in her arms.

Gu Chen stood outside the door listening for a long time, not wanting to disturb them, until the singing stopped and the song ended. Then he gently knocked on Ji Pianran's door.

"The milk is ready, let Sugar drink it before going to sleep."

The little girl, already drowsy, suddenly opened her big, dark eyes upon hearing Gu Chen's voice.

Immediately filled with energy again.

She sat up abruptly, looking at Ji Pianran with surprise.

"Mama, Papa, it's Papa!" she exclaimed before wriggling out of Ji Pianran's arms, turning her little bottom, and climbing down from the bed.

Tiptoeing, she ran toward the door.

Ji Pianran, seeing her bare feet, quickly got up and chased after her.

"Don't go barefoot, the floor is cold!"

This was the coldest time of the year, and the floor was so cold it would be terrible if she got sick.

But Sugar didn't care.

She wanted her daddy! She wanted her daddy!

The little girl struggled to open the door for Gu Chen.

Alas, she wasn't tall enough, only able to reach the doorknob, but completely unable to exert any force.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Ji Pianran lifted her daughter up and then reached out to open the door.

As soon as the door was opened, the little girl stretched out her hands, impatient to be held by Gu Chen.

"Daddy! Daddy hold!" she said excitedly.

Her joy was like Gu Chen had returned from a years-long battle, triumphant.

Looking at his endearingly sweet daughter, Gu Chen's heart melted once again.

Seeing this, Ji Pianran hurriedly took the prepared milk from Gu Chen's hands.

Freeing his hands, Gu Chen then took his daughter into his arms.

Ji Pianran watched her daughter with an expression of amused resignation.

"Are you going to sleep with Daddy tonight?" she asked.

They say a daughter is her daddy's little cotton-padded jacket, and it couldn't be more true.

Gu Chen had only slept with Sugar for one night, and since then, the little one had become attached to him.

Fond of him to no end.

Of course, Gu Chen was fond of her, too.

Sugar, fearing Ji Pianran wouldn't let her sleep with her father, gazed at Ji Pianran with pleading black eyes.

"Mommy, Sugar wants to hear Daddy tell a story," she said in her soft, sweet, milky voice that was simply adorable with its drawn-out intonation.

Gu Chen felt incredibly warm-hearted.

"Let the child sleep with me. You've also been tired all day. Get some good rest," he said.

Ji Pianran looked at Sugar affectionately and stroked her little head.

"Do you promise to be good if you sleep with Daddy?" she asked.

The little girl nodded earnestly.

"Sugar's the best, the most obedient!"

Ji Pianran nodded and then passed the milk to Gu Chen.

"Then I'll leave it to you," she said.

To be honest, she didn't think it would be easy for Gu Chen to take care of the child alone.

After all, for the past two years, she was nearly inseparable from Tang Tang.

She knew well the difficulties of raising a child,

especially as a grown man.

Gu Chen took the milk powder cup from her hand and squeezed out a big, bright smile for her.

"Raising my own daughter, I am more than happy to do it."

The young man, in his early twenties, featured sharp contours and a smile that seemed to hide the warmth of the sun.

Silent rays of light touched the tip of Ji Pianran's heart.

She couldn't help feeling a bit nervous.

Why was this man smiling at her so charmingly for no reason?

She swallowed hard.

And her ears turned red without her realizing.

Her facial expression became a bit unnatural as well.

She slightly bowed her head, her long eyelashes trembling, and whispered softly, "I'm going to sleep first, then."

Gu Chen nodded, "Alright, rest early."

After Gu Chen finished speaking, he reached out to help her close the door, and only then did he truly see the furnishings inside Ji Pianran's room.

Ji Pianran's room was similar to Gu Chen's.

Both had a wooden bed with a layer of thin bedding on top, and next to it stood an old wardrobe.

The bedding had been used for several years.

And Ji Pianran, who loved cleanliness, had washed it repeatedly until it looked somewhat worn out.

But it was very clean.

Having seen the room's furnishings clearly,

Gu Chen stood at the door, his heart souring in waves.

He couldn't help but curse himself harshly.

Gu Chen, oh Gu Chen.

Forcing your wife and child to live such a life, you deserve to end up alone and in despair!

Fucking inhuman!

He bit his lip fiercely.

Then he carried Tang Tang back to his own room.

He placed the little one on the bed and handed her the cup he was holding.

For the little girl, it was her first time tasting milk powder, sweet and creamy.

Much tastier than the bland gruel by countless times.

She stretched out her chubby little hands to hold the cup, taking big and small gulps.

In no time, she finished off a big cup full of milk.

Then, still yearning for more, she licked her lips before handing back the cup to Gu Chen.

Her eyes brimmed with desire.

"Daddy, the milk powder is so tasty, will there be more tomorrow?"

Gu Chen nodded gravely,

"Yes! From now on, you'll have it every day!"

With the confirmation,

the little girl joyfully hopped several times on Gu Chen's hard plank bed before lying down.

Gu Chen, holding Tang Tang, began to tell a story.

His mouth recounted the tale of The Ugly Duckling,

but his mind was busy making plans to get Ji Pianran a set of thick, brand-new bedding before the New Year.

...

The days and months turn, and in the blink of an eye, a new day arrives.

To be honest, Gu Chen did not sleep well last night.

All night long, his mind was filled with the moment Ji Pianran closed the door,

her face showing a faint shyness, and the frighteningly thin bedding on her wooden bed behind her.

A sharp contrast was formed,

which he couldn't forget no matter what.

He woke up around six-thirty in the morning,

when it was still dark in winter.

Fearing to wake up Tang Tang beside him, Gu Chen quietly got up and left the room.

The moment he did, the cold northern wind hit him, and he instantly became more clear-headed.

He rubbed his hands and entered the kitchen.

After locking the door, he silently invoked "Space."

Once inside the Space, Gu Chen immediately felt warm.

The chill from moments ago vanished in an instant.

He habitually looked towards the Spirit Field.