Against the Light - Chapter 152
Chapter 152: Don't Steal Me
Bai Yilan let Xu Yi and the others inside, allowing them to set up camera positions around the house. Xiao Ye, like a little sloth, clung to Yilan the entire time, blinking her big, watery eyes at the strange aunties.
"Oh, you're here so early," Gu Xinran said as she came out of the bedroom. Seeing the director and her team, she greeted everyone and cooperated with Xu Yi's arrangements.
"Can we put a camera in the bedroom?" Xu Yi glanced toward the bedroom, asking for Xinran's opinion.
"Let's skip the bedroom. We should leave the Little Milk Bun some space, or she won't be able to adapt. Just install them in the living room, kitchen, and entryway."
"Alright," Xu Yi nodded and told her team to get to work. Turning her head, she saw Xiao Ye still hugging Bai Yilan's leg, half of her little head peeking out as she looked timidly at them. Xu Yi found the soft, adorable little girl incredibly endearing and squatted down in front of her. "You have a big piano at home. Can you play it?"
Xiao Ye stared into her eyes.
"Don't be scared. The aunties aren't bad people. You could say… we're your moms' colleagues," Xu Yi explained.
Hearing this, Xiao Ye looked up at Bai Yilan.
Yilan nodded and stroked her head. "Yes, they're friends your moms know. Xiao Ye doesn't need to be afraid."
"Then what are you guys doing?" Xiao Ye asked in a small, curious voice.
"We're installing cameras. These are for filming you and your mama."
"Tomorrow, you and Mama will start recording the show. Then everyone will be able to see you on TV through these cameras."
Xiao Ye furrowed her little brow, and her serious, thoughtful expression was enough to make the camera operators chuckle.
"Teacher Bai, how did you explain being on the show to her?"
"I just told her directly. When we watch TV together, she sometimes sees Xinran, and she was very curious about how she could see her mama on television. I explained it to her, so she has a basic concept of appearing on TV."
"But I'm not exactly sure if she'll be resistant. We'll see if Xinran can handle her," Bai Yilan's tone shifted as she chuckled, looking at her daughter with a doting expression.
"Hm? Xiao Ye is very obedient. She'll cooperate with Mama, right?" Gu Xinran overheard and turned to look at the mother and daughter.
Xiao Ye pouted and gave a very cooperative nod.
Before long, three tents appeared in the corners of the living room, each containing a camera and a small stool.
A camera was also mounted in the corners of the living room, entryway, and kitchen, providing full coverage with no blind spots.
Xiao Ye stood in the living room, tilting her head as she curiously studied the tents. Her little brow would furrow from time to time, lost in thought.
"Sister Ran, would it be convenient to do a pre-interview?"
"Hm? Right now? Okay, wait a moment. I'll go change," Gu Xinran said.
"Let the little one join too, for a self-introduction or something."
"Okay. Xiao Ye, come here." Gu Xinran beckoned to Xiao Ye and led her into the room. Yilan helped the mother and daughter change into presentable outfits.
Xinran led Xiao Ye to the living room sofa. Xu Yi sat before them, a camera beside her filming them.
Xiao Ye stared at the camera for a moment, her big eyes blinking, before suddenly pointing at it. "I've seen this before."
"Hm? What?"
"Oh? Where have you seen it?" Xu Yi asked.
"I don't know. When there were a lot of people, I was scared," Xiao Ye said, burrowing into Xinran's arms.
Xinran was still a bit baffled. "Hm? When have you ever seen a lot of people?" She smiled and patted her back. "Sit up properly. Auntie Director is going to interview us."
"Mmm, where's Mommy?" Xiao Ye peeked out, looking for Bai Yilan behind the camera.
"Mommy will just watch you from here."
Xiao Ye kicked her little legs, whining for Yilan.
"Why don't you join us, Teacher Bai? You haven't been on screen for so long, and the netizens really miss you," Xu Yi suggested.
"Mommy~"
Bai Yilan couldn't win against the little one. She changed her clothes and sat down beside Xiao Ye, who immediately and naturally climbed onto her lap, instantly happy.
"Okay, let's start. Sister Ran, please introduce yourself first."
Gu Xinran smiled at the camera. "Hello everyone, I'm an actress, Gu Xinran. I'm very happy to be able to participate in this show with my daughter. For me, it's a brand new experience outside of acting. Of course, I also have a selfish motive: I can justifiably stay home and spend time with my child." After speaking, Gu Xinran turned to look at the little girl in Yilan's arms.
The little one wasn't particularly shy; she was just studying the camera. Her serious little expression was truly amusing. Gu Xinran was smiling when she suddenly felt that something wasn't quite right. When had Xiao Ye ever seen a camera?
"Hello everyone, I'm Bai Yilan. I'm Xinran's wife and Xiao Ye's mommy."
"Teacher Bai, why did you agree to let Xiao Ye be on the show?" the director asked.
"Xinran has been quite busy with work these past two years, so she hasn't had much time to spend at home with our child. This was a good opportunity for her to balance both, which I think is great. It also gives me a vacation, and I can watch them interact through the live stream to see if the two of them have any little secrets they're hiding from me."
Gu Xinran glanced at her. "Why would we ever tell you our little secrets!"
"Hmph."
Xu Yi had a complete fangirl expression on her face as she watched them bicker. If it weren't for her mask, her standard infatuated grin would have been on full display.
"Xiao Ye, would you like to introduce yourself too?" Xu Yi looked at Xiao Ye, and the camera immediately focused on her face.
"Tell everyone what your name is," Bai Yilan said, gently shaking Xiao Ye's hand.
"Say, 'Hello everyone, my name is…'" Gu Xinran coached her, her face full of motherly love.
Xiao Ye looked at the camera, a little reluctant, but she cooperated. "Hello everyone, my name is what." After saying that, she lowered her head and pouted. "Don't you guys steal me."
"???" The two of them froze and exchanged a look. "What?"
Gu Xinran was the first to figure it out. She remembered talking with Yilan about how many people on Weibo had commented about wanting to come and steal their child. The little one must have overheard.
"Who taught you to say that?" Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry as she ruffled her daughter's hair.
The director was also laughing hard. "Well, Xiao Ye, do you know what your mama does for work?"
"She's an actress. A great actress," Xiao Ye said, even giving a thumbs-up. It was incredibly high praise.
Gu Xinran looked a bit smug at that and couldn't help but sit up a little straighter.
"And what about your mommy?"
Xiao Ye furrowed her little brow. "She's Xiao Ye's mommy. A very good mommy."
Bai Yilan chuckled. "I've been at home for the past two years and haven't been working, and I never told her about these things, so she doesn't know my profession."
"Ah, so what does Mommy do?" Xiao Ye turned to look at her.
"Your mommy is a director, a very, very amazing director," Xu Yi said.
"Like Auntie?"
"Much more amazing than Auntie."
Hearing that, the little girl's eyes lit up, and she looked extremely proud.
Yilan smiled and stroked her head.
"Alright, Xiao Ye, Auntie has one more question for you. Between these two mothers, who do you love more?"
Xiao Ye turned to look at them both, then took their hands and wrapped them around herself. "They are both Xiao Ye's mamas. Xiao Ye loves them both so, so much."
The two of them looked incredibly gratified.
"Sister Ran, Teacher Bai, when it comes to educating your child, who do you usually listen to?"
Gu Xinran cleared her throat. "Is there even a need to ask? Of course, I listen to her."
"Have you ever been fierce with her, scolded her, or shown very negative emotions in front of her?"
"No," they said in unison, shaking their heads.
"Xiao Ye is very well-behaved. Nothing she does is worth getting angry over," Gu Xinran said.
"Okay, has Sister Ran ever taken care of the child alone?"
"No," Gu Xinran replied with a decisive shake of her head.
"Then is Teacher Bai worried that Sister Ran won't be able to take good care of her?"
"I'm not worried about that. She's good at taking care of people, so taking care of a child should be fine. Besides, when she's home, Xiao Ye is more clingy with her. If she really doesn't take good care of her, well, she'll just have to face family discipline when I get back."
Gu Xinran turned to look at her. "Ahem, spare my dignity~"
"We'll see how you perform."
The director then asked a few more questions about their daily life before the pre-interview concluded.
A short while later, the production team took their leave.
Xiao Ye let out a sigh of relief and peeked into the two new tents in their home, tentatively pulling back the curtain to look inside, her eyes full of curiosity.
That evening, the production team finished editing the pre-interview clips for each family and posted them on Weibo.
After seeing the interview with Xinran's family, the comment section instantly exploded.
【Ahhh, the Little Milk Bun is too cute hahaha, 'Don't you guys steal me!'】
【Hahaha, the more I watch, the more I want to steal her. She's so adorable.】
【Did Teacher Bai give birth to a clone of herself? How can they look so much alike!!】
【Ahhhh, I can't take this little milky voice!! It's too sweet!!!】
【Ahhh, I can't wait for the live stream! I want to watch it now!】
【The Little Milk Bun is so sweet. She loves both her moms and is so considerate of others' feelings. So well-behaved. I love well-behaved kids like her~】
【Wuwuwu, Xinran and Teacher Bai must have saved the world in their past lives to have such a cute baby!!】
【Hey, Ran Zai and Teacher Bai's relationship seems great. Still making eyes at each other on camera. That familiar, sweet stench of love, hmph.】
Gu Xinran scrolled through Weibo before bed and couldn't stop laughing at the comments.
"Alright, hurry up and sleep. Don't you have to get up early tomorrow?" Yilan said softly.
"Mhm, goodnight, Wife." Gu Xinran propped herself up. With Xiao Ye between them, they leaned over and kissed each other before lying down to sleep.
Gu Xinran reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.
"Hey, turn on the wall lamp. Xiao Ye is afraid of the dark. Leave a little light on for her at night, or she'll be scared if she wakes up," Bai Yilan reminded her.
"Oh, right." Gu Xinran suddenly remembered. She had almost forgotten because at Shi Qing's house, the wall lamps were motion-activated and didn't need to be manually controlled.
Once, Xiao Ye had woken up in the middle of the night and started crying the moment she opened her eyes. She had thrown herself into Yilan's arms, crying and shivering, which had scared Yilan so badly that she had called a doctor, thinking she was sick. After asking, they found out she was just afraid of the dark. After that incident, Shi Qing had installed sensor-activated wall lamps in every room of the house, which turned on automatically as soon as it got dark to prevent Xiao Ye from getting scared again.
Gu Xinran turned on the wall lamp, hugged her wife and daughter, and drifted off to sleep blissfully.
The next morning, Bai Yilan woke up early and took a couple of changes of clothes from the closet. Since she couldn't be at home for the next two days, she was taking the opportunity to relax.
Gu Xinran also stretched and got up early. "Where are you going today?"
"Heh, now that I'm free of you two clingy things, of course I can go wherever I want," Yilan said with a smile, glancing at her. Her tone was cheerful, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.
Gu Xinran pouted and wrapped her arms around her from behind. "Tell me. I won't let you go if you don't."
"Hey, be careful with your foot."
"It's fine, it's much better. Walking isn't a big problem now, I just can't walk for too long. It's more than enough for taking care of a child at home."
"Mhm."
"Where are you going? Tell me." Xinran buried her face in Yilan's neck, nuzzling her gently and blowing into the collar of her shirt.
"Aiya, Gu Xinran, you're so annoying~"
"Tell me~"
"Alright, alright. I'm going to spend a few days with Ming Zhen. Isn't she pregnant? Yuexian won't let her go out, and she's bored to death at home. She asked me to keep her company a long time ago, but I never found the time."
"Oh~ Go on then."
"What? You're relieved as soon as I say I'm going to see Ming Zhen? Aren't you afraid I'll take a detour and find some pretty young lady?"
"I dare you~"
"Pfft."
The two were being all lovey-dovey for a moment when Gu Xinran turned her head. Her expression stiffened, and she immediately let go.
The little one had woken up at some point and was watching them with wide eyes. Who knew if she had heard what they'd said…
"The Little Milk Bun is awake? Did you sleep well? Let Mama check if you wet your diaper." Gu Xinran acted as if nothing had happened, picked the little girl up, and walked into the bathroom to change her.
After finishing her packing, Yilan sat at the vanity and put on some light makeup.
Gu Xinran stood beside her with her arms crossed, her tone sour. "Do you have to dress up so beautifully?"
"Mhm~ You just be a good girl and take care of the kid at home~"
Gu Xinran glanced around. Seeing that the little third wheel was playing in the living room, she walked over to Yilan and cupped her chin, making her look up.
"What are you doing?" Yilan said, looking shy as she batted her hand away.
Seeing her rosy lips, Gu Xinran's throat moved slightly.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's so early in the morning. What are you thinking about now?" Bai Yilan glanced at her, pressing a fingertip to her lips.
Gu Xinran pouted slightly, gesturing for a kiss.
"No way. I just did my makeup. No kissing," Bai Yilan refused flatly.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"They're here. Go on," Bai Yilan said, patting her.
Gu Xinran was a bit unwilling. She turned toward the door.
"Xiao Ye, go get the door!" she shouted.
"You're making her go—Mmph!!" Before Bai Yilan could finish, Xinran planted a hard kiss on her lips.
"I just put that on, you jerk!"
"Hmph." Gu Xinran wiped her lips, looking rather smug. She opened the bedroom door and went into the living room, where she saw Xiao Ye standing by the front door, holding the handle but not opening it.
"Sister Ran, hello, it's Xu Yi. Sister Ran?" Xu Yi knocked from outside.
"Xiao Ye, open the door for Auntie," Xinran called to her.
With Xinran's permission, Xiao Ye obediently opened the door.
"Hello, Xiao Ye. You're up so early!" Xu Yi greeted her with a smile. The camera operators expertly changed into slippers, went into their little tents, and began adjusting their equipment, preparing for the day's live stream.
Xiao Ye watched them curiously. Suddenly, she saw one of the cameras mounted in the corner turn its head and was startled. She pointed at it. "It moves!"
"That's right, it moves," Gu Xinran said, her eyes full of affection.
"Hello, Sister Ran. We'll start recording in a moment. You… ahem, do you want to wash your face first?"
"Hm? I just washed it," Gu Xinran said, confused.
"…Oh." Xu Yi looked at the strangely smeared lipstick on her lips, her mind full of questions, but she didn't know how to bring it up.
Just then, the bedroom door opened, and Bai Yilan walked out.
Xu Yi saw Bai Yilan and was about to greet her when her gaze suddenly fell on her lips. The shade of lipstick, if she wasn't mistaken, was the same as the color smeared on Sister Ran's lips. So…
"Ahem." Xu Yi immediately lowered her head, her eyes curving into a smile.
"Auntie, what are you laughing at?" Xiao Ye was standing right in front of her and looked up to see her smiling eyes.
"Eh? Ahem, no, it's nothing."
"If you think you're ready, shall we start the live stream?" Xu Yi asked Gu Xinran, deliberately not mentioning the lipstick on her lips.
"Mhm, we can," Gu Xinran nodded.
"Hey, wait." Bai Yilan saw the messy red marks on her lips and immediately gave her a huge eye-roll. She quickly grabbed a tissue, walked over to wipe her lips, and glared daggers at her.
It was only when she saw the lipstick stain on the tissue that Gu Xinran finally realized what was going on. She turned to look at Xu Yi. "You deliberately didn't tell me, didn't you?"
"No, no, no, I did ask you, and you said it was fine~"
"Alright, is it okay now? We can start."
"…We've already started," a cameraman's voice drifted faintly from one of the tents.
"…???"
【Ahhhh, the relationship between these two is too good!!】
【Hahaha, so they were making out first thing in the morning? Ran Zai eating lipstick on a live stream is something else, hahaha.】
【Ahhhh, the lipstick mark is just too perfect!】
【This shade is so pretty! Teacher Bai is so gentle!!!】
【Hahaha, look at the Little Milk Bun! When Teacher Bai was wiping Ran Zai's lipstick, the Little Milk Bun deliberately turned her back to them!! So cute, haha.】
"What? It's already started?" Xu Yi was also stunned for a moment, then quickly moved out of the camera's view.
"Then I'll leave you to it. I'm heading out," Bai Yilan said, picking up her bag to leave.
"You two have something light for breakfast. Be careful with your foot. Xiao Ye, be good and listen to Mama at home, okay?"
"Isn't Mommy coming with us?" Xiao Ye saw Yilan with her bag and instinctively hugged her leg.
"That's right. Didn't Mommy tell you yesterday? For the next two days, it'll just be you and Mama alone." Bai Yilan squatted down and deftly tied Xiao Ye's hair into an adorable bun.
"Mommy will be back the day after tomorrow. Don't you always want Mama to spend time with you? This is a rare chance for you and Mama to play as much as you want."
"Mommy, don't go…" Xiao Ye pouted, her big eyes watery as she hugged Yilan's neck, refusing to let go.
Yilan smiled and patted her. "It's okay. If you miss Mommy, you can call her."
"Wuu, I don't want Mommy to go."
"Be good, be good." Yilan picked the little girl up and paced around the room, comforting her for a while.
"Sister Ran, aren't you going to try and persuade her?" Xu Yi whispered as a reminder.
Gu Xinran snapped out of her daze and nodded, walking over to the mother and daughter. "Exactly. Why don't you just not go?" she said, looking at Yilan.
"???" That's not how you're supposed to persuade her!!
【Hahaha, why do I feel like it's not Xiao Ye who can't leave Mommy, but Ran Zai who can't leave Teacher Bai!】
【Director: Is that how I told you to persuade her???】
【Hahaha, the Little Milk Bun is so cute even when she cries, what's wrong with me? She's crying but I'm laughing!】
【Me too!!! As soon as I see the Little Milk Bun, I can't help but have an auntie smile, what do I do!!】
Bai Yilan glanced at her. Xinran gave an awkward smile and patted Xiao Ye's back.
"Then why don't you come with Mommy? And leave your mama at home by herself," Bai Yilan asked.
"No!" Xiao Ye sobbed, looked at Gu Xinran, and threw her arms around Gu Xinran's neck. The meaning was clear: she wanted both her mothers!
The two exchanged a look. "Then give Mama a hug. Otherwise, Mama will be sad," Xinran said pitifully.
Xiao Ye sobbed and hugged Gu Xinran's neck. Gu Xinran took the opportunity to take her from Yilan's arms.
"Is Xiao Ye hungry? You haven't had breakfast yet, right? What do you want to eat? Mama will make it for you."
Xiao Ye shook her head.
"Eh? Xiao Ye, look what this is." Gu Xinran took the mic pack the director handed her, put one on herself, and clipped one to Xiao Ye's waist. The microphone on her collar instantly captured the little girl's attention.
While her attention was on the mic, Xinran gave Yilan a look. Yilan understood, quietly backing away to the door, opening it, and leaving.
Xiao Ye was studying the microphone when she suddenly heard the very soft click of the door closing. She whipped her head around and looked left and right.
Seeing this, Gu Xinran knew this was bad. She quickly carried her to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator door. "Xiao Ye, look and see what you want to eat. Mama will make it for you."
"Where's Mommy?" The little girl's face clearly fell. Her little mouth quivered, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"Don't cry yet. I have a question for you. When Mama goes to work every day, do you cry then too?"
Xiao Ye's eyes widened as she tried hard not to cry. She blinked, and two big teardrops rolled down her cheeks.
"It's a shame you're not an actress with tears that come so fast," Gu Xinran said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She wiped away her tears. "No more crying, okay? We're on TV now. Mommy will be able to see you on TV in a bit. If she sees you crying, she'll be so worried, right?"
"Mhm!" Xiao Ye nodded firmly.
"So we have to be happy for these two days. When Mommy sees us, she'll be happy too, right?"
"Wuwu, right."
"Okay then, no more 'wuwu.' Wipe your tears."
【The Little Milk Bun is so good! Cute, I want to steal her!】
【Little Milk Bun: Don't you guys steal me.】
【Hahaha, Mama won't steal you, Mama loves you! Mwah~】
【Hahaha, her milky little whimpers are so cute. Trying to trick me into having a daughter again!】
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