The night grew deeper.

The crowd dancing in the square gradually dispersed.

"Dad, Mom, Xuanxuan, let's go!"

Huang Tao went over and picked up Xuanxuan.

Xuanxuan wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head, and lay on his shoulder, whispering, "Daddy, I want to sleep."

Probably tired from dancing, she was feeling a bit sleepy!

Huang Tao turned his head to kiss Xuanxuan's cheek, gently patting her back, speaking softly, "If you want to sleep, then sleep. Daddy's holding you."

Song Cailian reached out and gently stroked the little one's head, feeling quite guilty, "It's all Grandma's fault, shouldn't have danced so late…"

"It's not Grandma's fault, Xuanxuan wanted to dance too…"

Xuanxuan, with her eyelids already drooping, gave a smile.

Soon after, she was asleep on her dad's shoulder.

"Looks like she really got tired from dancing…"

Huang Tao carefully adjusted his posture, spreading his jacket to cover Xuanxuan's small body to keep her from catching a chill.

Xuanxuan just murmured a "hmm."

Oh dear!

She seemed a bit on the verge of waking up!

He gently rocked and patted her as if soothing a baby, softly singing a lullaby by her ear, "Sleep, sleep, my dear baby, Daddy's hands gently rock you. The cradle rocks you quickly to sleep; the night is quiet, snug under the blanket. Sleep, sleep, my dear baby, Daddy's arms will always protect you…"

In her father's gentle singing, Xuanxuan smacked her lips and then fell back into a deep sleep.

Huang Tao tried to walk as steadily as possible, to avoid startling the little one awake again.

He carried Xuanxuan all the way back to their neighborhood.

"Son, you're tired, right? How about I carry her?" Huang Yide said tenderly.

"Dad, it's okay, I can still hold her!"

He was worried that switching would wake Xuanxuan up, so he politely declined his dad's offer.

He glanced down at Xuanxuan sleeping soundly on his shoulder, a soft smile on her rosy little face, showing she had thoroughly enjoyed her night.

"Be careful going upstairs," Song Cailian reminded.

Huang Tao carried Xuanxuan upstairs quietly.

Even though he moved as gently as possible,

Xuanxuan still groggily woke up while going upstairs.

"Daddy, are we home yet?"

Hearing his daughter's question from his shoulder, Huang Tao gently replied, "We're almost home. Daddy's carrying Xuanxuan upstairs now!"

Xuanxuan lay on her father's shoulder, lazily like a kitten, not even wanting to open her eyes.

"Tao, put Xuanxuan in my room. Let her sleep with me tonight so you can rest well," Song Cailian said, smiling from behind.

Hearing her grandma's words, Xuanxuan nodded sleepily, "Okay, I'll sleep with Grandma, but I haven't bathed yet!"

"It's alright, don't take a bath tonight. We'll do it tomorrow or let Grandma bathe you in the morning."

"Okay~"

Beside them, Huang Yide looked at the little girl on her father's shoulder — who could still talk even when almost unable to open her eyes — and found it quite amusing.

"Xuanxuan, once Grandpa opens the door and Daddy puts you on the bed, you can sleep well."

Huang Yide used the key to unlock the home door.

"Click~"

The room's light was switched on by him.

Huang Tao carried Xuanxuan into his mother's room and gently placed her on the bed.

However,

As he tried to get up, Xuanxuan clung to him again.

The little one, with a soft voice, spoke by his ear, "Daddy, don't forget to take me to the store tomorrow morning…"

This little cutie, even when this tired, still remembered going to the store!

Huang Tao chuckled and patted her little head, "Yes, tomorrow Xuanxuan will stay with Grandma. Sleep well until morning, okay? After waking up, Xuanxuan will take Grandpa and Grandma to the store, how about that?"

"Okay~"

Xuanxuan opened her eyes sleepily, remembering she promised to spend more time with Grandma earlier at noon, so when hearing her father's words, she obediently nodded.

"Then sleep tight now!"

"Hmm~"

After letting go of his hand, Xuanxuan curled up and tucked herself into the quilt to sleep.

Huang Tao wanted to tuck her in properly, but his mom stopped him, gently saying, "Go rest, I got this."

Pulling her son away, Song Cailian sat on the bed's edge, gently lifting her little granddaughter to undress her.

Seeing his mother being so attentive, Huang Tao had no choice but to turn and leave the room.

Noticing his dad carefully tending to Xuanxuan's "two good friends," he thought: it's really hard on Dad.

He reminded, "Dad, once you're done, rest early too!"

"Alright, will do, you go sleep first…" Huang Yide nodded.

Huang Tao went to wash up in the bathroom.

Before heading to his room, he listened for anything from his mom's room next door.

For quite a while,

No sound came from inside.

He figured his mom had put Xuanxuan to sleep.

He then returned to his own room.

Lying in bed and seeing the empty space beside him felt a bit strange suddenly!

No doubt~

He missed the clingy little one!

But the problem is…

The little one is just next door!

"Ah! Let's sleep, let's sleep, tomorrow I can see her..."

He muttered to himself.

He then lay on his side, hugging Xuanxuan's little blanket as he fell asleep, as if the little one was still by his side.

Unknowingly, he drifted into dreamland.

In the dream.

Xuanxuan slowly grew up, she finished elementary school, middle school, and high school, and got into her dream university.

After graduating, she returned to the city, found a nice job, and at work, met a handsome young man with similar interests.

The two fell in love, and eventually, entered the palace of marriage.

And Huang Tao was always quietly by her side, watching her laugh heartily, watching her soar all the way, and also watching her find another man worthy of her trust and lifelong commitment.

The last scene of the dream was at their wedding.

Xuanxuan, draped in a white wedding dress, held his arm and slowly walked towards the stage.

He personally handed over Xuanxuan, brimming with a happy smile, to someone else's hands, and the pang in his heart at that moment was indescribable!

Then...

He was jolted awake by his mother's urgent calls...

"Xuanxuan, Xuanxuan..."

Huang Tao heard his mother anxiously calling Xuanxuan's name, he quickly opened his eyes and got up to turn on the light.

And he vaguely heard his mother saying, "Xuanxuan, I just went to the bathroom, where did you go?"

"I'm here with daddy..." Xuanxuan murmured drowsily.

Hearing his beloved daughter's voice, Huang Tao quickly turned to look.

The little one was lying in her original spot, sleeping peacefully.

This little rascal!

When did she sneak over?

While puzzled, Huang Tao felt a warm surge of emotion in his heart.

He tucked her in, walked to the door, gently opened it, and softly called to his mother, "Mom, stop looking, Xuanxuan is in my room!"

Hearing this, Song Cailian felt a bit forlorn.

Still, daddy is more favored than grandma...

"This child, I just went to the bathroom, maybe she woke up, saw I wasn't there, so she went to your room to find you..."

"Probably, well then let her sleep in my room tonight, you go back to sleep too…"

Song Cailian nodded and returned to her room.

Back in the room, Huang Tao lay on his side next to Xuanxuan, gently wrapping her small body with his arm.

As if holding the most precious treasure in the world.

...

Dawn gradually broke, the earth was shrouded in a silvery veil.

As Huang Tao awoke, he turned to look at Xuanxuan sleeping beside him.

Xuanxuan was still sound asleep, with a smile on her pretty little face, probably having a sweet dream!

Who would want to disturb that?

He reached out, touched the phone on the bedside table, and checked the time.

It was about time to get up.

As for Xuanxuan!

He didn't plan to wake her.

After all, mom and dad were home, they could take care of her.

She could completely sleep for another hour or two.

He quietly got up, dressed, and slipped out the door.

Song Cailian and Huang Yide, who were already awake, heard the noise and came out.

Seeing it was just their son, they softly asked, "Son, where's Xuanxuan? Is she still sleeping?"

"Mom, Dad, I don't plan to take her to the store this morning, let her sleep at home a bit more, you guys watch her for me, make sure she doesn't kick off the blanket," Huang Tao smilingly instructed.

His own granddaughter, of course, they would take care of her wholeheartedly.

"Don't worry, your mom is an expert at taking care of kids, I'll make sure she's well looked after."

Huang Yide chimed in, "Son, are you heading to the store now? How about I go with you to the store! If there's any heavy lifting, I can lend a hand and make things easier for you."

His father's concern for him, he was well aware of.

He appreciated the gesture, but as for the work, it wasn't necessary.

After all, there were enough people!

Huang Tao politely declined, "Dad, no need, Haozi, Suqin, and I can handle the heavy lifting, plus, the delivery guys will help, you'd better rest at home."

After speaking, he didn't forget to add, "Once Xuanxuan wakes up, you all can come over together!"

"Are you sure you don't need me?"

"Really sure."

"Alright then, I'll go back for some more sleep."

"Go ahead..."

Huang Yide went back to his room, and Song Cailian went to sleep in Huang Tao's room to keep an eye on Xuanxuan.

Huang Tao freshened up and got ready.

Changing shoes at the door.

"Meow~"

Mimi, shedding its usual aloofness, joyfully hopped and jumped towards Huang Tao, its little tail wagging nonstop.

As if to remind Huang Tao not to forget to take it to the store.

"Shh~"

Huang Tao quickly made a silence gesture to Mimi, afraid its meowing would wake Xuanxuan.

He reached out and grabbed Mimi by the scruff, lifting it out the door, and dropped it in the hallway.

Landing on the ground, Mimi immediately dashed downstairs.

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