Chapter 112 N-Promise
Chu Beiling paced back and forth in the hall, anxious and restless, like a lion trapped in a cage, waiting for the two to return.
Children are sensitive and curious, and they are best at sensing adults' emotions. Little Eggplant tugged at his trouser leg, and Chu Beiling noticed. He squatted down to her eye level and asked softly, "What's wrong, Eggplant?"
The little eggplant cupped his cheeks with her two tiny hands and soothed him in a sweet, childish voice, "Brother, don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Chu Beiling was stunned for a moment, and the tension in her heart was gently plucked and relaxed by this soft touch.
He couldn't help but chuckle, raising an eyebrow and asking with a smile, "Why are you scared, brother?"
Little Eggplant said like a little adult, "Brother is afraid that Brother Yu will quarrel with Mom, and that Mom will bully Brother Yu."
To the point.
Chu Beiling was stunned. After a moment of reaction, she softly asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Over the years, when he couldn't figure things out or get through something, he would occasionally ask Eggplant this question. This child, who didn't understand the complex rules of the adult world, was unable to give the right judgment or answer.
Yet she always manages to give unexpected answers, miraculously comforting him.
Little Eggplant was very serious, her eyes bright as stars: "It's okay, brother. When Brother Yu and Mom quarrel, or when Mom bullies Brother Yu, it's because they both love you so much!"
She gently stroked Chu Beiling's furrowed brows with her little hand and said in a sweet, childlike voice, "Just like when Monica and I fought over the last piece of strawberry cake, it wasn't because we disliked each other, it was because the strawberry cake was just so delicious! So we both wanted it!"
Little Eggplant suddenly became shy, wrapped her arms around her brother's neck, and buried her face in the crook of his neck: "I'm not a glutton, I really love strawberry cake."
Chu Beiling's heart softened completely. He patted her back and asked, "You all want it, so what will happen in the end?"
Upon hearing this, Little Eggplant perked up, jumped out of his arms, and gestured excitedly: "You can't snatch it or argue with it. If you do, Ms. Amy will 'whoosh...' take the strawberry cake away."
Her little face scrunched up, and she made a really regretful expression: "We won't be able to eat any of it. We should talk nicely. You can have it this time, and I can have it next time, or we can each have half."
Chu Beiling couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes glistening with tears.
The little eggplant tilted its head, its eyes blinking, its tiny head filled with big questions: "Brother, isn't the little eggplant wrong?"
“That’s right, Eggplant is the best and smartest kid in the world,” he said, picking up Eggplant and no longer pacing back and forth like a caged animal. He walked to the sofa and said, “It’s because your brother is overthinking things, being too stressed, and has become stupid.”
Little Eggplant covered his lips and shook her head: "Don't say that, brother. You're the best brother. Eggplant loves you the most."
Chu Beiling smiled and nodded, patiently waiting while the child built blocks.
He fiddled with the oddly shaped plastic with his long, slender fingers, then handed it to Little Eggplant, who scolded him, telling him to do his own things and not leave them to her.
Chu Beiling gave an awkward smile, then suddenly remembered something.
He asked, "What did you and Brother Ayu do just now?"
The little eggplant released the building blocks, covered its mouth with its two little hands, and shook its little head, its meaning clear: it couldn't say anything.
Chu Beiling rested her elbow on her knee, propped her chin on her hand, slightly raised her eyelids, and chuckled, "So what bad thing did you do, Eggplant? Confess and you'll be treated leniently!"
Little Eggplant put down her hands and continued building with blocks: "I can't tell my brother, this is a secret between me and Brother Yu."
It was just a joke, and the more the little eggplant acted like this, the more interested Chu Beiling became. "You can't even tell your brother?"
Little Eggplant pointed at him and shook her head: "No, brother is the number one defense target."
Chu Beiling: "..."
Just as they were trying to figure out how to get information out of the little eggplant, the two returned after being away for almost an hour.
Chu Beiling picked up the small eggplant and walked towards them.
It's been sunny lately. In the winter in Jiangnan, it's warmer outdoors than indoors on sunny days. Chu Beiling was about to pull her scarf down when she noticed that Xing Yu still had a hair tie and hair clip on his head.
He suddenly remembered when he was a teenager, all the boys in his class cared about their image and kept their hair very long. Wang Caiyan couldn't stand it and made the boys in his class cut their hair.
Whether they were teenagers with a "I'd rather die than mess up my hair" mentality, or unrestrained art students who loved freedom, none of them were willing to shave their heads.
During a self-study period supervised by a homeroom teacher, Wang Caiyan brought a tube of hair ties and hair clips and tied up each student's hair while they were writing test papers and drawing.
After that self-study period, all the boys in the class had their hair in full bloom.
It's embarrassing for one person to do this, but if most boys do it, then it's not embarrassing, it's funny.
After class, a group of boys gloated and mocked each other. The honking of geese in the classroom wasn't enough. They wandered around with their heads full of flowers, patrolling the territory of the art building as if it were their stage, putting on a show with their pinky fingers and showing off in all sorts of ways.
Wang Caiyan knew this and almost vomited three liters of blood.
In the end, nothing came of it.
Chu Beiling couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Why are you still tied up?"
Xing Yu: "Hmm?"
Chu Beiling pointed to her hair, and Xing Yu looked at the glass door beside her, momentarily stunned, her expression more colorful than a palette.
He smiled and handed the small eggplant to the Filipino maid, then went over to help Xing Yu untie it.
Although Chu Beiling was quite happy to see Xing Yu with a full head of flowers, he had to go back to the company for a meeting in the afternoon, and such an image was really not good, so he reluctantly helped him out.
"I'll help you; it's inconvenient for you to do it alone." Chu Beiling waved his hand: "Lower your head a little."
Xing Yu lowered his head slightly.
Chu Beiling didn't know if Xiao Qiezi had tied his hair up in a tight knot, but she was afraid of hurting Xing Yu, so she didn't force it. "Wait a minute."
He hurriedly went to the front desk to borrow a pair of scissors, then came back and carefully cut off the hair tie from his hair strand by strand, avoiding the hair itself. He then jogged back to return the scissors.
When Little Eggplant saw that he had finished, she opened her arms to Chu Beiling, who was coming over, and said, "Brother, hug me."
Chu Beiling smiled and carried the child back.
The little dumpling was so cute that Xing Yu couldn't resist reaching out to tease her: "Brother Yu, give me a hug."
Chu Beiling carried Xiao Qiezi over, but dodged away the moment the other person took her, laughing and saying, "No, no, Brother Ayu won't carry me, Xiao Qiezi doesn't want to be carried."
Xing Yu clapped his hands again, gesturing for Little Eggplant to come over to him.
Chu Beiling glanced at him lightly, handed the person over, and then dodged away.
The little eggplant was amused and kept giggling.
Li Shuying, who was waiting for the car, watched the two men standing side by side, playing with Xiao Qiezi.
She felt a pang of sadness and a touch of bitterness in her heart. When her ex-husband was still alive, Chu Beiling was always this lively and adorable, climbing on roofs, playing pranks, and causing her so much trouble that it gave her a headache.
Her husband, however, continued to indulge him and even advised him that artists are unrestrained and love freedom.
If you always hold yourself back, your creativity will disappear.
Li Shuying was displeased, but ultimately said nothing.
After her ex-husband left, no one advised or restrained her, and she increasingly managed Chu Beiling according to her own style.
She never saw her son like that again.
Most of the time, the mother and son spoke politely to each other. Chu Beiling neither acted coquettishly nor made a fuss. He was considerate of her feelings and always walked a tightrope at her request.
It has become increasingly serious in recent years, like a soulless shell.
Li Shuying has always believed that she did nothing wrong.
But at this moment, she doubted her judgment over the years.
as well as.
She also learned why Chu Beiling had always missed Xing Yu.
Although she desperately didn't want to admit it, the facts were right in front of her—
Xing Yu was the one who could pull Chu Beiling out of her bad mood and make her son feel happy from the bottom of his heart, allowing him to express his true self.
Seeing that Xing Yu noticed her scrutinizing gaze, Li Shuying was neither embarrassed nor did she smile; that would be too fake.
She nodded almost imperceptibly to Xing Yu, her gaze lingering briefly between him and her son. Her eyes no longer held anger or dissatisfaction, but only scrutiny, heaviness, and even a hint of weariness.
At that moment, Li Shuying clearly realized that the people who came up to her and talked to her were no longer two rebellious and impulsive teenagers.
One of them is emotional, the other is rational.
Without any prior consultation, they tacitly and irrefutably eroded her psychological defenses little by little.
They are two mature men who have grown up, support each other, and can communicate with each other to face the world.
Then, her car arrived.
Li Shuying withdrew her gaze, turned to Chu Beiling, and said in a calm, businesslike tone, "I'm leaving."
Chu Beiling asked, "How long will you stay in the country?"
Li Shuying: "About two weeks."
"Contact me if anything happens." Chu Beiling nodded slightly, opened the car door for her, and after Li Shuying got in, he took Xiao Qiezi from Xing Yu's arms and carried her into the car.
Perhaps because she hadn't seen him for so long and didn't want to be apart, Little Eggplant used all her strength, clinging to him like a koala, refusing to let go: "Brother, let's go together."
Chu Beiling was afraid of hurting him, so she didn't dare to use force and could only gently pat her soft flesh: "Let go first, brother will come to see you when he has time."
The little eggplant shook its head like a rattle drum: "No, I want my brother, I want to go together."
Chu Beiling tried to persuade him a few more times, but the child gripped his hands and feet even tighter, shaking his head like a rattle drum, refusing to let go no matter what.
Chu Beiling had no way to deal with the little eggplant.
Li Shuying, who had been watching silently, spoke up: "Take him away first. If he keeps crying and you can't calm him down, I'll come and get him."
Chu Beiling didn't respond immediately, but turned to look at Xing Yu, asking for his opinion.
Xing Yu stepped forward and said, "If Aunt Li doesn't mind, you can leave Xiao Qiezi with us while you're in China."
Li Shuying nodded slightly: "Let the Filipino maid come with you. She will come back to the hotel with me first to get Qiezi's daily necessities, and then come to find you."
Chu Beiling nodded and picked up the little eggplant, saying, "Come with me, you naughty boy."
The little eggplant chuckled a few times, then shook its head: "I'm not."
Chu Beiling hooked the tip of her nose: "Okay, you're not."
The car door closed, shutting out the two young figures, while the dazzling city outside the car window rushed past.
Li Shuying leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
Recalling what had just happened in the private room of the coffee shop.
“Aunt Li, I’ve always wanted to talk to you alone,” Xing Yu said.
Li Shuying looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"First of all, I want to apologize to you," Xing Yu nodded slightly, "I apologize for all the anger, pain and worry I have caused you back then and now, because my existence has indeed made your relationship with Fanfan difficult, that is a fact."
Li Shuying's breath hitched for a moment, then quickly became heavier. Looking at Xing Yu, the man who had transformed from a boy into a more mature man, she couldn't utter a single word.
She had genuinely admired Xing Yu in the past, and she still does now. If it weren't for trust and affection, she would never have entrusted Chu Beiling to Xing Yu's care and protection.
Little did she know that her carefully nurtured, outstanding son would be led down this path by Xing Yu.
But he was someone else's child, so you couldn't hit him, scold him, or even try to persuade him; you could only watch helplessly.
Xing Yu paused for a moment, then said in a calm but firm tone, “I completely understand your opposition. It was I who led Fanfan to choose a more difficult and riskier path. You are worried that societal prejudices will hurt him, that we have no legal protection, that this relationship is not stable enough to withstand future risks, and that it will ultimately leave him scarred. As a mother, your concerns are 100% reasonable.”
After a pause, he continued, "Aunt Li, you may not know this, but from ten years ago until now, we have never let our guard down."
Li Shuying glanced at him, her face expressionless: "You knew all along, yet you still dragged him along, wanting him to accompany you on this path."
Xing Yu took a deep breath and said in a calm tone: "It is precisely because I know and have seen how difficult this path is that I understand that passion alone is far from enough. So from the day we decided to be together, what I thought about was not fighting against the world, but how to build a safe enough world for Fanfan."
Li Shuying's fingers, which were resting on her lap, twitched slightly.
After a long while, she slowly spoke, "So?"
Xing Yu: "So all my efforts over the past ten years, and all my efforts in the future, are not to prove the greatness of love, but to systematically hedge against all possible risks."
"Within the bounds of the law, I will build the greatest possible legal and financial protection through all possible means, including designated guardianship, personal property, and insurance." Xing Yu asked Li Shuying for an email address and sent it to her on the spot via his mobile phone: "The preliminary plan and notarized documents are all inside. You can take a look. I will modify any unreasonable parts, with Fanfan's interests taking precedence over everything else."
Li Shuying didn't stand on ceremony and quickly and attentively began browsing: "Continue."
Xing Yu said, "Aunt Li, you have spent your whole life planning a safe and bright future for Fanfan."
"What I can do is ensure that no matter what choice he makes, he always has a partner to fight alongside him, and that he has enough resources and confidence to walk steadily and freely, and always has a way to retreat."
Xing Yu said earnestly, "I'm not saying this in the hope that you'll accept me immediately, but just to show you my serious attitude, which might... reduce some of your worries."
Li Shuying snorted, turned off her phone, placed it on the table, and then looked up at him: "All the protections were given to him by you, and you also have the initiative. Is this really providing protection, or consolidating your control over him?"
Xing Yu did not immediately refute. He even seriously considered this pointed question before slowly speaking, his gaze earnest and frank: "This is the point you raised that I fear the most and that I most want to clarify."
“These documents and agreements were established because of Fanfan’s completely voluntary and independent will.” Xing Yu’s tone became more composed: “If one day I change my mind and want to control him, then these methods will turn around and become weapons to protect him.”
Having spent years at the negotiating table, Li Shuying was well-versed in various psychological tactics and could easily discern which were loopholes, opportunistic tricks, and genuine intentions.
She got the exact attitude and answer she wanted, and she understood.
Li Shuying showed no emotion that could be detected, and went straight to the heart of the matter, continuing to find loopholes: "That's well said. Given Fanfan's personality, he would never agree to sign such a one-sided clause that favors him. How do you plan to persuade him? Or trick him into signing the document?"
Xing Yu looked into her eyes: "I will not persuade him, nor will I hide anything from him. I will tell him the pros and cons of this agreement in detail. The decision will always be in his hands."
Li Shuying knew her son too well and immediately pointed out a deeper problem: "If you say that, he will sign it, but he will also make you sign a document that is almost entirely in your favor. At that time, will you sign it or not?"
“I will sign.” Xing Yu nodded without hesitation.
Li Shuying posed her final question: "So what guarantees do you have for maximizing his profits? Just empty words?"
Xing Yu: "In terms of order, his interests take precedence over mine. You can appoint a lawyer to exercise supervisory power. In the event of a conflict of clauses or a difficult decision, the principle of prioritizing Fanfan's interests will be the sole basis for the ruling, and both he and I must comply."
“Aunt Li,” he said in a low, earnest, and sincere voice, “my goal is not to find a favorable solution, but to build a system that ensures Fanfan’s safety.”
Li Shuying got up and walked out without giving him any feedback.
"Aunt Li," Xing Yu called out to her.
Li Shuying turned around.
"If you have any questions or anything you want to know, you can ask me anytime. If you feel any pressure, please come to me. Fanfan, he really cares about you and really loves you."
Xing Yu bowed slightly to Li Shuying: "You don't need to let him know these words. This is just my insignificant attempt to make amends as someone who put him in a dilemma."
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