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It had started subtly, but by now, it was impossible to ignore—Lu Hao didn’t like sharing his Bà. Whenever Qiao Ling came over, his normally cheerful demeanor shifted into something far quieter and watchful. He’d sit in his high chair or playpen, eyeing Qiao Ling like she was some kind of intruder.
One afternoon, Qiao Ling was perched on the couch, showing Cheng Xiaoshi something funny on her phone. The two were laughing loudly, their easy camaraderie filling the room. Meanwhile, Lu Hao, in his swing nearby, was not amused. He glared at Qiao Ling, his little fists clutching the sides of his swing as his lips began to tremble.
“Hao Hao, what’s wrong?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked, noticing the baby’s pout. He walked over, unbuckled him, and scooped him up. “You’ve been so quiet today.”
Lu Hao immediately clung to him, pressing his face into Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest, as if to stake his claim.
“Oh my god,” Qiao Ling said, crossing her arms and smirking. “He’s jealous.”
“Jealous? What are you talking about?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked, bouncing Lu Hao gently on his hip.
“I mean he doesn’t like me hanging out with you,” Qiao Ling replied, gesturing to the baby. “Look at him! He’s glaring at me like I just stole his favorite toy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cheng Xiaoshi said, though his cheeks flushed as he looked down at Lu Hao. “Hao Hao, you’re not jealous of Auntie Qiao Ling, are you?”
Lu Hao responded by gripping Cheng Xiaoshi’s shirt tighter, turning his head just enough to cast Qiao Ling a suspicious glance.
“See? He’s totally jealous,” Qiao Ling said with a laugh. “And you know who he gets that from?”
“Who?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked, confused.
“Lu Guang,” she said, pointing at him dramatically. “Your husband is the most jealous, possessive person I’ve ever met. Hao Hao’s just following in his footsteps.”
“Hey, that’s not true!” Cheng Xiaoshi protested, his blush deepening. “Lu Guang isn’t like that.”
Qiao Ling raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do you not remember how he used to act whenever someone showed the slightest interest in you?”
Cheng Xiaoshi froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “That… that’s different!”
“Oh, it’s not different,” Qiao Ling said, grinning like a cat with a bowl of cream. “You couldn’t even talk to a customer without him staring them down like they were plotting a heist.”
“That’s not fair,” Cheng Xiaoshi muttered, shifting Lu Hao in his arms. “He wasn’t jealous. He was just… protective.”
Qiao Ling burst out laughing. “Protective? That’s what we’re calling it now?”
“What are you all talking about?” Lu Guang’s calm voice interrupted as he walked into the room, his steel-gray eyes flicking between them. He had been sorting laundry in the next room but clearly decided to investigate.
“Your son is jealous of me,” Qiao Ling said, pointing at Lu Hao, who was clinging tightly to Cheng Xiaoshi. “And I’m just telling Xiaoshi that it’s all your fault because you’re the most possessive person I know.”
Lu Guang arched an eyebrow, glancing at Lu Hao, who peeked out at him before retreating back into Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest. “Hao doesn’t seem jealous,” he said, walking over and lightly brushing his hand over the baby’s hair. “He just knows what’s important to him.”
Cheng Xiaoshi, still holding Lu Hao tightly, glanced at Qiao Ling with an exasperated sigh. “Alright, fine. If he’s so jealous, let’s test it. Hao Hao, why don’t you go to Auntie Qiao Ling?”
He shifted as if to pass Lu Hao over, but the baby immediately tightened his grip on Cheng Xiaoshi’s shirt and let out a loud, emphatic, “No!” His little face scrunched up in determination, and as Qiao Ling reached out, Lu Hao suddenly lunged forward and opened his mouth, clearly aiming for her arm.
“Whoa!” Qiao Ling yelped, jerking her hand back just in time to avoid his tiny teeth. “What the hell? Did he just try to bite me?”
Cheng Xiaoshi froze, his eyes wide as he stared at his son. “Hao Hao! You can’t just bite people!” he scolded, though his tone was more shocked than stern. He turned to Lu Guang, who was now watching the scene unfold with a faint smirk. “Why is he biting everyone?”
Lu Guang crossed his arms, his steel-gray eyes glinting with amusement. “You know well he picked it up one night,” he said smoothly, his tone deceptively calm. “You know, when he saw you biting my shoulder to muffle your—”
“LU GUANG!” Cheng Xiaoshi shouted, his face turning an impressive shade of crimson as Qiao Ling burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Oh my god!” Qiao Ling managed between cackles, doubling over as she clutched her stomach. “You’ve gotta be kidding me! That’s where he learned it?”
“I didn’t—he’s joking!” Cheng Xiaoshi stammered, his voice high-pitched as he glared at Lu Guang, who looked entirely too pleased with himself. “Hao Hao didn’t learn that from me!”
“Didn’t he?” Lu Guang replied, arching an eyebrow. “You seem to set a good example.”
“Stop it!” Cheng Xiaoshi whined, burying his face in Lu Hao’s bonnet as if hiding would make the embarrassment disappear. “You’re going to scar him for life!”
“Pretty sure he’s the one scarring Qiao Ling right now,” Lu Guang said, gesturing to their friend, who was still laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Qiao Ling straightened up, wiping tears from her eyes as she grinned at them. “I’m never letting this go. Hao Hao’s first words might as well be ‘Bà taught me.’”
Cheng Xiaoshi groaned dramatically, shifting Lu Hao in his arms. “This is all your fault, Lu Guang,” he muttered, his cheeks still blazing red.
Lu Guang shrugged, leaning in to brush his hand over Lu Hao’s hair. “I’ll take responsibility for the jealousy. But the biting? That’s all you.”
As Qiao Ling started laughing again, Lu Hao nestled into Cheng Xiaoshi’s chest, clearly satisfied that his Bà wasn’t going anywhere. “You’re all ridiculous,” Cheng Xiaoshi grumbled, though the way he held Lu Hao a little tighter betrayed how much he adored his clingy, mischievous son.