When Wang He Di leaves the small village he grew up in, to find work in the streets of glamourous and dangerous Shanghai, the first thing that catches his eye is the beautiful Shen Yue, a young woman also trying to make her fortunes in the "Paris of...
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"You have taken so many pictures already. You will wake Yuèqín up if you don't stop." Laughs Yue.
"There can never be enough photographs of our precious Baobao." Grins He Di, who continues to snap away. "She was born for the camera."
It was He Di's idea to name their baby girlYuèqín, an homage to Yue and her musicality. Yue was moved when he told her, she was still in recovery and asleep most of the time, drowsy from the medication, when He Di was asked to name the baby for the birth certificate registration. He looked down at his little girl and all he could see was her mother, it felt auspicious, and so he went ahead with it. Their nickname for the little girl is Qínqín.
Yue is currently sitting on their bed cradling their baby girl, having breast fed her a few minutes earlier. After burping and rocking the baby to sleep, He Di watching all this, cannot resist capturing these moments in film.
"Come He Di, hold Qínqín and I will take some of the two of you?"
His eyes light up at this and Yue can't help but giggle at his enthusiasm. He carefully lifts Yuèqín out of Yue's arms and holds her close to his chest. The movement makes her open her eyes briefly, she yawns and closes them, settling back into sleep. Watching He Di as a father has been the best gift for Yue. He has taken to fatherhood like a pro, always eager to help take care of her, put her to sleep, soothe her when she is crying her head off and even changing her nappies. Yue has never known of a father to do such things and she feels blessed to have such a considerate husband.
At four months old, Yuèqín is the sunshine of their lives, with each new milestone they achieve with her adding onto their happiness. After the difficult birth, He Di is adamant not to take anything for granted, doing his best to spend as much time as he can with his wife and daughter. He always dreads leaving the house in the morning to go to work, but now more than ever he understands the importance of continuing to build a stable financial future for his family.
"Looks like we have run out of film." Says Yue, putting the camera down after taking pictures of He Di and the baby.
"I will get them developed first thing on Monday."
"We should put her in her bassinet. It's her first nap of the day."
He Di walks over to the cot and lays his baby down gently, kissing her forehead and taking a moment to smile down at her sleeping form. He goes back to sit on the bed and gazes at Yue, who is looking at herself in the mirror, running her fingers through her hair.
"I should go to the hair salon soon. I miss my styled hair."
"Come here!"
Yue shivers at He Di's tone and glances back at him. There is no mistaking that burning look in his eyes.
"What...now?" She asks, smiling shyly at him.
With his unblinking eyes still glued on her, he licks his lips and says,
