Chapter 164

Ruby was four years old.

Four years old and still waddling around the penthouse with her tiny baby bottle clutched in both hands like it was the most precious treasure in the world.

Not a sippy cup.

Not a fancy princess tumbler.

A very obvious pastel-yellow baby bottle with little duck prints on it.

And honestly?

Neither Jennie nor Lisa cared.

Especially because Ruby looked absolutely adorable while drinking from it.

“Mommy…” Ruby mumbled sleepily one morning, dragging her bunny blanket behind her like a tiny cape. “Warm milkie…”

Jennie, already dressed in an oversized sweater while checking emails, immediately melted.

“Aigoo, my dumpling just woke up and already demanding service,” she laughed softly.

Ruby lifted both arms dramatically. “Carry me first.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Jennie scooped her up with practiced ease, kissing her chubby cheek while walking toward the kitchen. Ruby immediately buried her face into her mommy’s neck with a tiny sigh.

Lisa walked in moments later, hair messy from sleep.

And there it was.

The sight that always destroyed her heart.

Her wife holding their sleepy little dumpling while preparing her morning bottle.

Lisa clutched her chest dramatically. “I can’t survive this level of cuteness this early.”

Ruby perked up immediately. “Mama!”

Lisa walked over to kiss her forehead. “Morning, fluffy mandu.”

“Milkie first,” Ruby reminded seriously.

“Yes, yes. Your very important bottle.”

A few hours later, their friends came over for brunch.

Rosé nearly spit out her juice when Ruby confidently marched into the living room carrying her bottle.

“…Is that a baby bottle?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “It’s MY bottle.”

“Sorry, sorry!” Rosé laughed.

Jisoo blinked at Jennie and Lisa. “Wait… she still drinks from that?”

Ruby was completely unbothered, climbing beside Jennie and happily sipping her warm milk while kicking her tiny feet.

Lisa shrugged casually. “Yeah.”

“But she’s already four,” Rosé said carefully.

Jennie looked down at Ruby lovingly.

Ruby had a tiny milk mustache now.

Her cheeks were puffed.

Her fluffy pajama pants were slightly crooked.

And she looked unbelievably content.

Jennie smiled immediately.

“It’s fine,” she said simply. “The important thing is she’s healthy, beautiful, and of course-“

She squeezed Ruby’s cheeks gently.

“-a fluffy baby dumpling.”

Ruby giggled so hard milk almost came out of her nose.

“MOMMY!”

Lisa nodded proudly. “Exactly. She’ll stop when she wants to stop.”

Jisoo snorted. “You two spoil her too much.”

Ruby suddenly pointed her bottle toward Jisoo accusingly.

“My Mama and Mommy love me.”

“We know that,” Rosé laughed.

“VERY much,” Ruby corrected.

Jennie kissed the top of her head. “The most.”

Honestly, their friends should’ve expected this already.

Ruby still got rocked to sleep sometimes.

She still demanded forehead kisses after tiny accidents.

She still waddled into her parents’ room at 3 AM carrying blankets, stuffed toys, and occasionally Mochi the corgi.

And now?

She still drank warm milk from a bottle.

Lisa sat beside them, gently rubbing Ruby’s round tummy through her shirt.

Their daughter sighed happily like a spoiled little queen.

Rosé stared for a second before muttering, “Actually… she does look very baby.”

Ruby immediately nodded proudly. “I AM baby.”

Jennie gasped dramatically. “See? Direct confirmation from the dumpling herself.”

Lisa added, completely serious, “Scientifically proven.”

Jisoo rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“No,” Jennie corrected while hugging Ruby tighter. “We’re parents.”

Ruby suddenly lifted her bottle toward Lisa.

“Mama taste.”

Lisa obediently took a sip.

Then instantly grimaced.

“Why is this so sweet?!”

Ruby looked offended. “Because baby milkie!”

Rosé burst out laughing while Jennie nearly fell sideways from laughing too hard.

Lisa handed the bottle back respectfully. “You know what? That’s your thing, baby.”

Ruby accepted it with dignity.

Then climbed onto Jennie’s lap fully, curling up like a tiny dumpling ball while drinking her milk.

The room softened instantly at the sight.

Tiny hands.

Tiny bottle.

Sleepy eyes.

And the safest expression on her little face because she knew she was loved endlessly.

Jennie quietly smiled while brushing Ruby’s hair back.

“She’ll grow up eventually,” she murmured.

Lisa looked at their daughter carefully.

Ruby was already getting taller.

Already talking more.

Already becoming more independent day by day.

Yet somehow…

Moments like this still made her feel like their baby had just been born yesterday.

Lisa leaned over to kiss Ruby’s cheek softly.

“So until then,” she whispered, “our fluffy dumpling gets all the bottles she wants.”

Ruby lifted one tiny fist weakly into the air.

“YEAH.”

Then immediately fell half asleep against Jennie while still holding the bottle.

Everyone in the room collectively melted.