Chapter 65: The One-Month Chaos

Two weeks had flown by since baby Jia Naun's arrival, and the Jia household had never felt more alive. The walls echoed with the sounds of joy, laughter, and the gentle cooing of the baby. Everyone in the family, from Grandfather Jia to the youngest, was thoroughly enchanted by their tiny miracle.

Baby Jia Naun, now a month old, had quickly become the heart of the house. No one could resist her infectious smile and sparkling eyes that twinkled like stars. But among all the doting relatives, there was one person who had captured the baby's heart entirely—Jia Lan.

When the little one was with Jia Lan, she was always giggling, smiling, and gurgling happily. The others would often watch in awe, wondering how Jia Lan had such a magical touch. It was clear that she was a natural with children.

Jia Lan herself was surprised at how much joy she found in holding Baby Naun. The baby's tiny fingers wrapping around her finger made her heart swell with affection. When Jia Naun looked up at her, it felt like the whole world had paused in that single, precious moment.

As the days passed, preparations for the one-month celebration took over the household. The entire family was involved—ordering the finest decorations, arranging for catering, and organizing the guest list. Mother Jia had already started with the planning, ensuring that everything would be perfect.

Jia Zhe, always the reliable one, had taken charge of the baby's well-being. Even in the early mornings, he could be seen gently rocking Jia Naun in his arms, his face filled with tender affection. The family had, as expected, showered him with praise, recognizing how well he was handling fatherhood.

Xu Li, now fully settled into motherhood, was treated like royalty by the entire Jia family. Every small gesture was done for her comfort. She had been pampered in ways that made Jia Lan smile with pride. Her mother-in-law, Mother Jia, had insisted on preparing special chicken soup for Xu Li every day to aid her recovery. And Father Jia made sure that Xu Li had a comfortable place to rest, especially in the mornings when the whole house was buzzing with activity.

But amidst the celebration preparations, there was a small matter that weighed on Jia Lan's mind: Xu Li's family. It had been over a month since the baby was born, yet none of Xu Li's relatives had come to visit, not even a letter or a simple phone call. Jia Lan had tried not to think about it too much, but it gnawed at her.

"I don't know what they're thinking," Jia Lan muttered to her mother as she busied herself with the preparations. "How can they not even care to see the baby? Especially when it's Xu Li's first child."

Mother Jia sighed, her expression softening with a mix of concern and empathy. "They are Xu Li's blood relatives, Lan'er. They may not be the most forthcoming, but they are still family. And family is family. You must not forget that."

Jia Lan bit her lip but nodded, still unsure how she felt about the situation. She had grown so close to Xu Li, and it hurt to see her mother-in-law's family not even making an effort to connect.

Xu Li's face, however, held no bitterness when she spoke of her family. She had long since accepted their indifference, though it still stung.

"Do you want to invite them for the one-month celebration?" Mother Jia asked gently.

Jia Lan frowned. "They haven't even visited once. They should've made the effort to see their granddaughter. It's not like we've done anything wrong."

But Mother Jia insisted. "We respect Xu Li as our own, and they are still her family, blood relatives. For the sake of peace, we will invite them. It's the right thing to do."

Jia Lan couldn't argue with that logic. "Alright, I'll send the invitation."

---

Breakfast Scene:

The morning was chaotic, as usual, with everyone bustling around. Xu Li had just finished feeding baby Naun, and Jia Zhe was carefully handling her, trying to get a spoonful of porridge into his own mouth. Baby Naun, meanwhile, was gurgling happily in his arms, oblivious to the chaos around her.

"Don't worry, she won't bite," Jia Zhe muttered under his breath, trying to keep the spoon steady.

Jia Lan couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "Jia Zhe, she's a month old. She's not going to bite anyone."

"Well, she keeps trying to grab the spoon and make a mess," Jia Zhe said with a smirk, holding baby Naun with one arm and eating with the other.

Xu Li was sitting beside him, still feeding herself while holding baby Naun on her lap. She smiled at the sight of her husband and daughter together. "I think we have a future chef in the making."

Jia Lan leaned in, reaching for a bowl of porridge, and said, "We should teach her how to cook early. She'll be a little prodigy."

Jia Wei, ever the teasing older brother, chimed in. "She'll probably be better than all of us combined, knowing how you pamper her."

"She'll be better at everything," Jia Zhe agreed. "Especially at making us work harder."

The conversation continued with lighthearted teasing, and despite the stress of the upcoming celebration, there was an undeniable warmth in the room. For all the chaos that surrounded them, it felt like peace had settled inside their hearts.

---

Afternoon:

Later that day, Jia Lan made her way to the Youth Art Bureau. It had been a while since she'd been able to focus on her own work, and with the upcoming celebration taking up so much of the household's energy, she felt the need to disconnect for a while.

At the Bureau, she was greeted warmly by her colleagues. Wang Fei, the quiet and polite young man who had become her reliable assistant, was organizing some new proposals for the upcoming gallery event. "Jia Lan, it's great to see you back. We've got some exciting things planned for next month."

She smiled at him. "I can't wait to see what you've come up with. I'm sure it'll be fantastic."

The afternoon was spent reviewing art submissions, discussing gallery spaces, and brainstorming ideas for their next exhibition. Jia Lan felt a sense of relief at being surrounded by creativity and talent. It reminded her that, beyond her role as a daughter, sister, and now, an aunt, she had her own identity to nurture and protect.

By late afternoon, she received a call from her mother, reminding her to pick up some extra supplies for the celebration. The day was far from over.

At the dinner table Jia Lan, sitting beside her mother during dinner, lowered her voice with a slight frown. "So… Xu Li's family is coming for the one-month celebration?"

Mother Jia nodded, stirring the soup gently. "Yes, her parents confirmed this morning. They'll be bringing her brother's family too."

Jia Lan's brows furrowed, her tone dry. "Let me guess—the sister-in-law and the little terror of a nephew?"

Her mother sighed. "Mn. I know it's not ideal, but they're still her blood relatives. We won't embarrass Xu Li by excluding them. Even if they haven't come to see her or the baby once these past few weeks."

"They haven't shown a shred of decency, yet now they'll show up for red eggs and celebration?" Jia Lan muttered, swirling her soup. "I'll bite my tongue for Xu Li's sake, but I'm keeping chili sauce close by."

Her mother chuckled despite the tension. "Just don't put it in their dessert."

Across the table, Jia Zhe was holding baby Jia Naun while trying to eat with one hand. Xu Li was laughing, her postnatal glow soft and warm.

"Honestly," Jia Wei chimed in, "I'll be guarding the banquet table. No one's stealing Naun's longevity buns on my watch."

Jia Lan glanced at the tiny bundle in her brother's arms, her heart softening.

Their Jia family—no matter what outsiders came or went—was solid as stone. For Xu Li and for baby Naun, they would make this celebration shine.

In her heart, Jia Lan quietly vowed: Let them come. But let them see, loud and clear, what a real family looks like.