223 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chapter 223 - Bonus Chapter At noon, the little one finally got to enjoy the much-anticipated little cake. With her mouth covered in crumbs, Cai Cai continued to munch happily with enthusiasm. When Wei Siyu and the others arrived, Cai Cai made sure to wipe her mouth before running over to hug Wei Siyu's leg, asking to be picked up. Seeing the little one, Wei Siyu's heart melted. She picked Cai Cai up, bouncing her gently, "Did you miss me, Yang Yang?" Cai Cai nodded eagerly, nuzzling against Wei Siyu, "Yes, Auntie. When will you get a little sister for me to play with?" With her eyes wide open and blinking cutely at Wei Siyu, Cai Cai seemed to be coaxing her into magically producing a little sister right then and there. Wei Siyu laughed and glanced at Qi Jing, who blushed at Cai Cai's request and gave Wei Siyu a playful glare, "Yang Yang asked you, why are you looking at me?" "To get our Yang Yang a little sister, don't we both have to work hard? Right, Yang Yang? Why don't you go and sweet-talk Auntie Qi Jing, and we'll both work together, okay?" Wei Siyu pinched Cai Cai's little chubby leg and handed her over to Qi Jing. To get a little sister to play with, Cai Cai innocently turned her cute appeals toward Qi Jing, "Auntie, can you give me a little sister soon?" Qi Jing, caught off guard by Cai Cai's request, couldn't refuse such an adorable plea. She smiled and coaxed the little one, "Alright, I'll try my best, okay?" "Okay." Cai Cai raised her tiny hands in delight and waved at Wei Siyu, "Auntie promised me, I'll have a little sister soon." Excited like a little superhero, Cai Cai's small body was bouncing with glee. Chen Wan, observing the little one's triumphant look, shook her head in amusement. Looking at everyone gathered in the living room, she suggested with a smile, "I think we should plan a group wedding. The first district is stable now, and we could use a celebration. There are four couples just among us. I’ll discuss borrowing the hotel venue from Cao Wei for a wedding. It's time we had a proper celebration since before it was either rushed or amidst chaos." "I agree, a bit of ceremony would be nice," Qin Ke chimed in with a smile. "Alright, let’s go discuss with Commander Cao this afternoon," Chen Wan said with a grin. Cai Cai, not fully understanding, nestled in Chen Wan’s arms and asked, "Mommy, what’s a wedding?" “It’s a very important ceremony that you’ll also experience when you grow up,” Chen Wan gently explained. Cai Cai nodded thoughtfully, "Oh, okay." In the afternoon, Chen Wan and Qin Ke headed to see Cao Wei. Cao Wei, upon receiving the call, welcomed them in. "Ah Nuan, could you pour them some water?" Cao Wei asked Shang Nuan beside her. Obediently, Shang Nuan went to prepare drinks, while Cao Wei inquired, "What brings you here in such a hurry? Do you have something to discuss?" Cao Wei felt a bit anxious; despite Chen Wan and her group not being part of the military, their presence in the first district offered substantial assurance. Jiang Yanxin’s abilities alone provided an unseen shield for the district. If they were to leave, Cao Wei would be quite reluctant. "We've all been together since the apocalypse began, and things were so sudden before. We thought we’d borrow the unused hotel venue and have a wedding to mark a new beginning. Commander Cao, would that be okay?" Chen Wan asked, sipping her tea with a smile. Learning this was the issue, Cao Wei felt a wave of relief. Hosting a wedding indicated that Chen Wan and her companions had developed a sense of belonging to the first district and would be less likely to depart. She replied with a smile, "Of course, no problem. Do you need any help, perhaps a squad to tidy up the hotel’s ground floor since it hasn't been used in a while?" "We wouldn’t want to impose, but thank you, Commander Cao." Chen Wan expressed her gratitude. Having help would surely lighten their burden. Cao Wei turned her gaze to Shang Nuan and posed an unexpected question to Chen Wan, "How many couples are you planning for the wedding?" "Four of us: me and Yanxin, Qin Ke and Shen Mingyan, Jiang Waninng and Yiyi, and Wei Siyu and Qi Jing. All four couples together for a lively celebration," Chen Wan confirmed with a smile. Cao Wei chuckled softly, "And if we added another couple, would you mind?" "Not at all, the more the merrier. Who else is getting married?" Chen Wan asked with curiosity. "Me and Shang Nuan. Can we join as well?" Cao Wei proposed with a smile, catching Shang Nuan off guard. She hadn’t expected Cao Wei to propose a wedding. Chen Wan was surprised as well. Given both were alphas and held superior-subordinate roles, she hadn’t considered it—she immediately agreed, "Of course, Commander Cao, you’ve been keeping it quite a secret. We had no idea." "We've only just gotten together," Cao Wei replied with a light-hearted laugh. "I'll have Shang Nuan lead a small team to help you prepare the venue; simple is best." "Great, I’ll arrange it right away," Shang Nuan responded, feeling so delighted she could hardly walk properly. She had thought their relationship was simply an unspoken agreement and was thrilled that Cao Wei mentioned marriage. She even wanted to treat Chen Wan and the others to a meal as a thank you. "Alright, then we won't disturb you further. Tomorrow we'll meet to discuss the wedding plans, tidy the hotel, and have the ceremony the day after," Chen Wan detailed her plan. In these post-apocalyptic times, resources were scarce, so the occasion had to be simple—just a ceremony to acknowledge one another, avoiding extravagance. After some casual conversation with Cao Wei and her group, Chen Wan and Qin Ke left. On their way back, they gossiped a bit about Cao Wei and Shang Nuan’s relationship. "Who would've thought Commander Cao would fall for someone so close? And be with Shang Nuan, too! They seemed so proper," Chen Wan remarked with a laugh. "Really, but they do look good together. Deputy Shang seems like the obedient alpha type, likely kept in check by Commander Cao," Qin Ke observed as they walked. "That’s true. Let’s head back and share the news. Tomorrow we prepare for the wedding." Upon returning to 301, Jiang Yanxin and the others were preparing dinner, having already kneaded the dough for dumplings filled with mutated pork and leeks. The little one was also playing at the coffee table, clutching a bit of dough. Her cheeks were dusted with flour, and when she saw Chen Wan and Qin Ke, she waved, "Mommy, look at the little dumpling I made." Chen Wan approached, noticing some meat filling inside Cai Cai’s dough, and playfully asked, "Sweetie, are you planning to be a chef? Later you'll cook for me and your mommy, okay?" "Okay! Mommy, I’ll eat this little dumpling later," Cai Cai proudly declared, eager to make another for Chen Wan, who had to wash up and join in the fun of making more little dumplings with her. Once Cai Cai was satisfied, Chen Wan joined the others in the kitchen. She brought out a skillet, added oil, and started frying the dumplings, beginning with the ones Cai Cai had made. When they were done, she served them to Cai Cai. The little one eagerly awaited her dumplings. Seeing them ready, she pleaded sweetly to Jiang Yanxin, "Mommy, give me one." Jiang Yanxin, amused by Cai Cai’s eagerness, didn’t hold back. She gave her a little meat dumpling, "Try the dumpling you made." Using children’s chopsticks, Cai Cai grabbed the dumpling, took a bite, and her eyes lit up. She even gave herself a thumbs-up, "The dumplings I made are delicious!" "Then eat more if you like it," Jiang Yanxin coaxed affectionately. "Mommy, you try some too," Cai Cai looked at Jiang Yanxin with bright, expectant eyes. Jiang Yanxin took a bite, looking down with a smile, "It’s delicious, Yang Yang. You’re really growing up. You’ll only get better." When Chen Wan came out, the little one had left a special small dumpling for her. Chen Wan quickly accepted, "Thank you for thinking of me, sweetie. Mommy will enjoy it, okay?" "Mmm." Cai Cai patiently awaited her evaluation. "Our Yang Yang is amazing, it's delicious," Chen Wan quickly praised the little one. After dinner, the little one was particularly clingy to Chen Wan and Jiang Yanxin, especially since she hadn’t slept with her mommy and mom the previous night. She eagerly scampered up to the big bed and sprawled in a starfish position across the center. When Chen Wan entered, she found the little one already claiming the middle of the bed and chuckled. Leaning in to kiss Cai Cai's little cheek, she teased, "Sweetie, you're so quick today, taking the prime spot." "I want to sleep with Mommy and Mom," Cai Cai declared in her soft voice. Chen Wan affectionately kissed her and softly reassured her, "Alright, you can sleep wherever you want. You're the boss of the house, okay?" "Okay." Cai Cai giggled gleefully as she let Chen Wan bounce her up and down. It was a good thing Chen Wan was strong—lifting and playing with such a roly-poly little one would tire most people out quickly. When Jiang Yanxin emerged from her shower, she found the pair—a big one and a little one—tangled up and rolling on the bed. She chuckled softly and tapped Chen Wan to prompt her, "Stop playing, you two. Go give Yang Yang a bath before bed." "Alright, let's go! Time for our baby to take a bath," Chen Wan said, carrying the little one into the bathroom. Before long, Cai Cai was covered in bubbles, giggling and playing joyfully with Chen Wan as they washed up.