Chu Yigui watched Wan Qiu leave from the doorway. Yang Xiaoyu looked at Chu Yigui and suddenly said, "Yigui, aren't you coming with us? It shouldn't be a problem for the tutor to take another day off, right?"
However, Chu Yigui shook her head and refused: "I have already taken a long leave of absence, and I don't have any particular intention to go out for the time being."
"Really?" Yang Xiaoyu was skeptical, but she always trusted Chu Yigui to make his own decisions. "Yigui, if you have any requests, be sure to tell me."
Chu Yigui did not reply immediately, but instead looked down at the short Wan Qiu.
The light pink clothes should have been a vibrant and cute outfit.
Wanqiu's overly quiet nature made him simply stand there silently, as if anyone could easily forget his existence.
"Mom, hold your brother's hand tightly." Chu Yigui finally smiled and said to Yang Xiaoyu, "It's your brother's first time going to a strange and faraway place, he must need Mom by his side."
“Of course, Mom will definitely take good care of you, my darling.” Yang Xiaoyu smiled brightly. “Don’t worry, Yi Gui.”
Chu Yigui stepped forward, stood in front of Wan Qiu, bent down, and flicked the bracelet on Wan Qiu's wrist with her finger: "Have fun, brother."
Wan Qiu noticed that the loose bracelet was hooked by Chu Yigui's fingers and then fell off again.
That's a very strange thing to do.
Wan Qiu did not seriously consider whether this subtle action had any meaning.
Even when he goes to unfamiliar places, all he has to do is follow his mother.
Wan Qiu sat in the car, looking out the window.
Although the morning sun was not harsh, it still illuminated the green roadside trees, making them reflect a bright emerald hue.
They drove out of the dense jungle and returned from the green countryside to the world of blue steel.
"Are we going to your usual spot?" Chu Jianshu asked Yang Xiaoyu. "Do you have any other plans?"
"First, let Wanqiu get a new haircut and some skincare. Although it's impossible for her to gain weight in a short time, we can still work on other areas."
Yang Xiaoyu, who has always been obsessed with beauty, has already begun to formulate a transformation plan for Wanqiu's appearance.
"We can go to the nearby shopping mall. There are quite a few children's play facilities there." As the name suggests, these are 'children's' play facilities, but Wan Qiu's mind is probably capable of playing them too. "See if there's anything you particularly like. If you can buy it, then buy it. If not, you can get it later."
"I was planning to go to the movies, but it seems there aren't any new children's films showing recently," Yang Xiaoyu said.
"We could contact the investors and book a hall for the screening."
“It won’t be as good as the equipment at home.” Yang Xiaoyu rejected Chu Jianshu’s suggestion. “When I watched cartoons with my child, I found that he didn’t seem to understand what the cartoons were about. He probably wouldn’t understand the meaning of the movie either, so I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Chu Jianshu and Yang Xiaoyu chatted casually. When their conversation paused, Yang Xiaoyu, sitting in the back seat, turned her head to look at Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu kept looking out of the car.
"This child really has absolutely no interest in our conversation," Yang Xiaoyu said with a helpless smile.
“He probably won’t understand. He won’t respond unless you name names directly.” Chu Jianshu was clearly getting used to Wan Qiu’s personality. “How’s the psychologist you contacted going?”
“They’re clearing out some work there, and the person will be transferred here to take charge of the child’s treatment.” Yang Xiaoyu, who also receives regular psychological counseling, is better able to find resources in this area. “Have you contacted any special education teachers?”
"We are currently conducting background checks on the teachers who have been selected so far, and we plan to select a group of them for trial teaching, allowing Wan Qiu to choose the teacher he likes." Chu Jianshu looked ahead as he answered Yang Xiaoyu's question.
Wanqiu blocked out all the sounds around him.
He clutched his light yellow crossbody bag and gazed out the window.
The scenery outside the window moved quickly, new scenes appeared and disappeared, like watching an animated film—an unfamiliar one, not so colorful.
Yang Xiaoyu's voice came from beside her: "Did Wanqiu see anything interesting?"
Wan Qiu stared at Yang Xiaoyu and shook his head.
He couldn't even remember what he had just seen.
When he heard Yang Xiaoyu calling out, all his attention was focused on his mother.
"Come on, say goodbye to Dad." Yang Xiaoyu lifted Wan Qiu's hand and said goodbye to Chu Jianshu. Chu Jianshu would go back to the company after dropping Wan Qiu off.
"Goodbye, Dad." Wan Qiu looked up and said goodbye to Chu Jianshu earnestly.
Chu Jianshu remained seated in the driver's seat and said, "Goodbye, Wanqiu. Call Dad if anything happens."
Wan Qiu nodded, even though he didn't know what "something happened" meant.
After Yang Xiaoyu and Wan Qiu got out of the car, Yang Xiaoyu noticed that Wan Qiu was deliberately getting close to her.
Yang Xiaoyu followed Wan Qiu's arm down and grasped Wan Qiu's hand.
Wanqiu's grip on her hand was so light, as if enveloped by a gentle breeze, conveying a subtle sense of reliance.
Wan Qiu's eyelashes were very long, making her eyes look even more beautiful. Anyone who looked into those eyes would have a soft spot, yet she only stared intently at the hand she was holding with Yang Xiaoyu.
It was as if the connection between her and Wan Qiu would disappear the moment she looked away.
Yang Xiaoyu held Wanqiu's frail hand tightly in her own, hoping to reassure Wanqiu with enough force.
Wanqiu followed Yang Xiaoyu closely, like a pet dog going out for the first time, full of worry about everything unfamiliar around it, walking unsteadily, its eyes filled with the only familiar person, Yang Xiaoyu, when it looked up.
"Xiaoyu? Long time no see! When did you get back?" Ailan was watching a design presentation video when the sound of the door opening brought her back to her senses. She turned around and saw Yang Xiaoyu, and was immediately overjoyed.
Two women of similar age gave each other a friendly hug.
"You came over without saying hello, aren't you very busy?" Yang Xiaoyu asked with a familiar smile, as if she were talking to a close friend.
"No, even if I'm busy, I'll still take good care of you," Alan said.
Wan Qiu stood quietly to the side, looking up at the two equally tall women being intimate, with 'Gao Xing' floating around them, bubbling with countless cute little bubbles.
"Who is this little cutie?" Ailan noticed the small pink shadow behind Yang Xiaoyu, seemingly hiding in Yang Xiaoyu's shadow intentionally or unintentionally, just peeking out to peek.
Alan was immediately struck by those clear, bright eyes.
More than her slender figure and slightly tanned skin, she noticed her unique eyes.
Those eyes were also looking at her, seemingly hesitant and scrutinizing her.
Wanqiu was unsure whether she should proactively answer this question.
Yang Xiaoyu tugged at Wan Qiu, pulling him from behind her to her side.
Yang Xiaoyu gently put her hand on his shoulder, bent down and leaned her head against his. The unique scent of Yang Xiaoyu's perfume enveloped Wan Qiu, as if she had claimed him as her own territory.
“That’s my son, do you remember him? It’s Wanqiu.”
"Oh my god, really? This is such a wonderful thing! How can I possibly congratulate you? Look at him, he's such a lovely child."
Alan took a while to process what was happening, then suddenly remembered something. A genuine joy flushed Alan's face with excitement, and she was truly happy for her friend.
"Yes, isn't she beautiful? My child definitely inherited my looks, isn't she?"
Wan Qiu listened to Yang Xiaoyu and Ai Lan's conversation, but his mind was completely blank.
The mother said he was her son.
Ning Qiaozhen forbade him to tell strangers about their relationship, but Yang Xiaoyu, who was now saying "he's my son," seemed to be shining, more dazzling than anything Wan Qiu knew.
Wanqiu seemed to smell the scent of his own emotions; it was sweet.
This sweetness seeped into Wanqiu's blood, eventually flowing back to his heart, leaving behind a lingering sweet taste.
A tiny bit of pride welled up from the depths of my heart.
—I am my mother's son.
This sentence kept swirling in Wanqiu's mind, as if Wanqiu were suspended on a rainbow, and even his mind was tinged with the colors of the rainbow.
"Alan, give my baby a cool new hairstyle! You can design something unique."
Wan Qiu, feeling dizzy, was suddenly pushed in front of the mirror. Yang Xiaoyu rubbed Wan Qiu's face, took off Wan Qiu's little hat, and the hair that had been hidden and had been partially cut out reappeared.
“No problem, little cutie’s hair… did you cut it yourself?” Alan could tell at a glance what was going on with those uneven haircuts that showed no skill whatsoever.
Yang Xiaoyu gently nudged Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu took a step forward, following Yang Xiaoyu's momentum, and left Yang Xiaoyu's side, severing his connection with her.
Standing alone in the magnificent, bright, and spacious interior, surrounded by vibrant lights that seemed to devour Wanqiu along with his shadow.
Wan Qiu immediately turned around to look for Yang Xiaoyu, but Yang Xiaoyu's phone suddenly rang, and the gaze that had been fixed on him shifted to the phone.
A pair of unfamiliar hands grasped Wan Qiu's shoulders, not forcefully.
Yang Xiaoyu answered the phone and nodded to the stranger who was holding his shoulder.
Wan Qiu's instinctive struggle was suddenly stopped by Yang Xiaoyu's nod, and he let those hands take him away.
Wanqiu sat on a soft chair, his hands gently stroking his hair. In the mirror, he saw his mother's friend smiling and looking at him.
"Keep it up," Yang Xiaoyu said to Ai Lan, temporarily muting the phone.
"Don't you trust my skills?" Alan teased deliberately.
"Go ahead with your design, I've always trusted your aesthetic sense," Yang Xiaoyu said with a reassuring smile.
Wan Qiu saw Yang Xiaoyu approaching him from a distance, and every step Yang Xiaoyu took made Wan Qiu feel relaxed.
"Be a good boy/girl, cooperate with Auntie here. Mommy has some work to take care of. Mommy will come back when you become handsome." Yang Xiaoyu coaxed Wan Qiu and pinched Wan Qiu's cheek.
Wan Qiu stared at Yang Xiaoyu, and finally nodded.
Yang Xiaoyu answered the phone and left, leaving Wan Qiu behind in this unfamiliar, beautiful, brightly lit world that he thought he would never be qualified to enter.
"Don't be nervous, Wanqiu, I'll make sure you look beautiful." Ailan called Wanqiu's name in a gentle voice.
The person acknowledged by the mother becomes the person Wanqiu trusts after the mother leaves; he trusts Ailan.
Every touch of Alan's hands was incredibly gentle.
Those hands that once reached out and landed on him, filled with painful memories, now seem like mere illusions.
"Wanqiu, you've been in this position for so long, aren't you uncomfortable?" Ailan's voice suddenly appeared in Wanqiu's ear.
Wanqiu pondered the meaning of those words repeatedly, looking at Ailan in the mirror.
"Should I stand up?" Wan Qiu asked.
"No, no, that's not what I meant. Your body is very stiff, you've been tense the whole time, haven't you? Did I make you nervous?" Ailan felt that Wanqiu under her hands was as stiff as a stone.
Wan Qiu did not answer.
"Don't worry, your mother and I are good friends, although your mother is very unreliable and not like a good mother..." However, Alan's voice suddenly stopped.
Because Wan Qiu's gaze towards her changed briefly.
Even though Wan Qiu quickly looked away, he remained silent.
But that glance just now was a reaction to the fact that her family members had been 'slandered'.
The child's eyes were clear and transparent, seemingly unable to contain anger, yet he still tried to protect his family with his meager emotions.
Ailan knew very well that Yang Xiaoyu was definitely not a good mother.
But for Wan Qiu, it was clearly not the case.
From Ailan's perspective, Wanqiu is a somewhat strange child.
Most people will consciously examine their own image when they see a mirror, but Wanqiu uses the mirror to examine the people around him.
Wanqiu seemed to lack a sense of security about his surroundings, repeatedly confirming that everything around him was harmless.
It's almost like...
Alan thought for a moment.
Like a stray cat forcibly brought to an unfamiliar environment, its soft fur stood on end, its eyes widened in fear as it cautiously surveyed its surroundings, yet it knew clearly that it was tethered by the neck and could only stiffly curl up in its place.
Alan felt guilty.
It was as if she was oppressing a cat that didn't want to be touched, forcibly petting it.
"Baby!" Yang Xiaoyu reappeared in Wan Qiu's sight after briefly finishing her work.
As Alan was finishing up her hair, she noticed that the children under her styling suddenly relaxed.
Her beautiful eyes stared intently at Yang Xiaoyu through the mirror, as if ice crystals had suddenly shattered and vibrant waves had surged forth.
"Oh, how cute!" Yang Xiaoyu's eyes lit up.
For a child like Wanqiu, a simple haircut is enough to show youthful vitality and cuteness. One side of her hair is styled to be slightly flamboyant, while the slightly longer hair on the other side makes her look more well-behaved.
Although the asymmetrical hairstyle looked a bit strange, Ai Lan's skillful handiwork eliminated all the disharmony and even highlighted the beautiful features of Wan Qiu's eyes.
"Look, isn't Wanqiu great standing next to her mother?" Yang Xiaoyu pulled Wanqiu to stand in front of the mirror, their heights contrasting. In the mirror, Wanqiu saw a completely new yet unfamiliar version of herself.
He doesn't care about appearance or clothing; he only cares about what his family gives him.
If Yang Xiaoyu likes him the way he is now, then he likes him too.
“This child really likes you a lot,” Alan said before Yang Xiaoyu left. “When I said bad things about you, he glared at me, which was obviously to protect you.”
Yang Xiaoyu raised her eyebrows, but only smiled, unable to utter any boastful words.
Yang Xiaoyu lacked confidence, wondering whether Wan Qiu truly loved her or was simply transferring his affections elsewhere.
——
Wanqiu rarely has happy experiences traveling with her family.
Whether it's a mother whose name I don't remember, or Wan Xiaohua, or Ning Qiaozhen.
Wanqiu always thought this was normal. His classmates also disliked going out with their parents and preferred to play with their friends.
But I have also wondered what it would be like to go out with my parents.
Today is a special day. He went out with his mother, and she even acknowledged that he was her son.
They should be very happy.
But at this moment, Wan Qiu's curiosity was frozen into two illegible characters, which were calmly placed aside.
He was familiar with the dirty streets, the smelly garbage cans, the old buildings in the old neighborhoods surrounded by lush greenery, the rows of irregularly arranged shops, and the restaurants behind the plastic curtains that constantly emitted delicious aromas...
No one would notice him, no one would go out of their way to get close to him, and no one would show any curiosity about him.
Here, the beautiful tiles are so shiny they reflect light, and the transparent glass windows and unique lighting make it seem as if even passersby could be placed directly in the windows as mannequins for clothing displays.
All of this was telling Wanqiu that he had stepped into a completely unfamiliar world.
I don't know where this is, or how to find his home from here.
Once he lets go of Yang Xiaoyu's hand, will he never be able to find his way home again?
If it's loosened.
Did Yang Xiaoyu abandon him, or did he lose his mother?
"Welcome, please come in. Are you buying clothes for your children? Would you like me to recommend something?"
"This child's figure may require minor alterations to the clothes, which can all be done in the store."
"Do you need personalized customization? Our designers are in the store now. You can take a look at the design sketches to get a sense of their skill level."
The chattering voices and unfamiliar, scrutinizing gazes lingered around Wan Qiu. As Yang Xiaoyu led him into each shop, the shop assistants greeted him with warm smiles.
The countless gazes cast upon you by passersby...
These omnipresent gazes disrupted Wan Qiu's control over his surroundings; he lowered his head, lost and disoriented.
Wanqiu seemed to have sunk to the bottom of a dark pool, where there was no light or sound. All he had was his mother's hand holding his, connecting him to his last sense.
"Want to try this out?" Yang Xiaoyu's voice suddenly came from beside me.
Wan Qiu blinked hard, trying to clear his blurry vision.
Before him was a large, colorful pile of bubble balls.
The vibrant, colorful lights shone into Wanqiu's eyes, and the unfamiliar yet beautiful environment briefly dispelled his fear.
However, Wan Qiu quickly looked away.
He held Yang Xiaoyu's hand tightly and moved close to her.
"Want to go play for a while?" Yang Xiaoyu tried to persuade Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu simply held onto Yang Xiaoyu, showing no sign of letting go.
Yang Xiaoyu tugged at Wan Qiu slightly and saw Wan Qiu's hand rise up with hers. Although Wan Qiu wasn't holding her hand very tightly, Wan Qiu's hand was already sweating even with the air conditioning on.
Yang Xiaoyu looked at the bubble ball pool again.
Although you could set up the same play area at home, it's obviously much more lively here.
Several children were playing in the bubble ball pit, while the parents mostly sat and chatted.
It's definitely better to have someone to hang out with, right?
I remember how happy and attentive Wan Qiu was when he made Chu Yigui his friend.
Wan Qiu is used to ignoring his own preferences. Does the fact that he's not looking at the bubble ball pit now prove that he really likes it?
Yang Xiaoyu pondered.
"Going out to play?" Yang Xiaoyu let go of Wan Qiu's hand.
Wan Qiu's eyes widened slightly.
However, Yang Xiaoyu patted Wan Qiu on the back: "Sweetie, go play for a while, Mom will wait for you here."
Wan Qiu looked up, his eyes fixed on Yang Xiaoyu's face.
Yang Xiaoyu noticed that Wan Qiu's thinking seemed more sluggish than usual, so she ruffled Wan Qiu's hair.
"Go ahead." Yang Xiaoyu paid the bill, pushed Wanqiu's back with one hand, and led Wanqiu into that colorful world.
Yang Xiaoyu sat down directly next to the bubble ball pit, staring at Wan Qiu, already determined to stay there.
Wan Qiu seemed to be checking her expression as well. Yang Xiaoyu was being observed by her child quite calmly, and even took off the sunglasses she always wore so that Wan Qiu could see her clearly.
—Mom wants you to go play.
Yang Xiaoyu wanted to tell Wan Qiu this.
Wan Qiu stood in front of her, his hands still clutching his cream-colored handbag tightly after losing her hand, his knuckles turning white.
"Won't it be hard to have fun with a bag in hand?" The small crossbody bag contained money, a bank card for pocket money given by Chu Jianshu, and Wan Qiu's cell phone. Judging from how much Wan Qiu valued it, it would probably be difficult for him to let loose and play around.
Yang Xiaoyu stretched out her hand, palm open, facing upwards.
"Mom will hold it for you. Have fun."
Wan Qiu lowered his head, staring blankly at Yang Xiaoyu's hand.
Finally, he lowered his eyes, his fine eyelashes concealing all the emotions in them. Wan Qiu took off his small satchel and handed it to Yang Xiaoyu.
The shoulder strap of her bag fell off, and Wanqiu's eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Don't stand here anymore! Go and have some fun!" Yang Xiaoyu encouraged him.
Wanqiu stood there, bewildered and at a loss.
Yang Xiaoyu grabbed Wan Qiu's wrist again and led him towards the bubble ball pool. When Wan Qiu's wrist was grabbed, he instinctively reached out to grab Yang Xiaoyu's hand.
But he was released once again.
Wan Qiu failed to hold Yang Xiaoyu's hand.
Wanqiu stood in the bubble ball pit.
Wanqiu's thin legs were exposed and submerged in countless bubble balls. All around her were the happy laughter and shouts of other children playing and laughing. Occasionally, more bubble balls would pile up at Wanqiu's feet, and other children would happily run and jump past behind her.
Wanqiu just stood there.
It looks like a sculpture that has been placed in an inappropriate location.
Wan Qiu didn't even look up at Yang Xiaoyu.
Standing not far away, Yang Xiaoyu did not notice that Wan Qiu did not look up at her eyes to guess her expression.
As the boy stood in the brightly colored world, Yang Xiaoyu vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
A strange, slight stinging sensation was pricking Yang Xiaoyu's skin.
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