Zhu Qianying's eyes welled up with tears. She raised her hand and vigorously rubbed Zizai's head, but her gaze fell on Bai Xiaolu, who was looking down at her textbook.
Since she learned of Xiaolu's existence, she has still never asked Baishao why she gave birth to Bailu.
It's as if she herself has never mentioned to Bai Shao, her mother, or Xiao Yu how she decided to give birth to Zizai.
Because she knows better than anyone that some wounds are best left to be healed in private, in the shadows.
She never asked Bai Shao how she explained Zong Zhe to Bai Lu, but she knew that Bai Lu, like Zi Zai, was a kind and understanding child. She would keep her bitterness to herself and not even want her mothers to see or feel it.
"Sweetie, go keep Xiaolu company."
For two children with similar experiences, perhaps simply being there for each other can help them share a lot of burdens.
Zizai nodded silently, took big steps back to Bai Xiaolu's side, but didn't say anything. Instead, he took out his textbooks and notebooks and started doing his homework seriously.
"Yanxu..."
After a long silence, Bai Xiaolu suddenly called out to Zizai.
"Um?!"
Zizai quickly raised his head and moved closer to Bai Xiaolu.
"Aunt Shadow... what did she tell you before?"
These past few days, Bailu has also vaguely learned some things about Zizai from the adults' conversations, and knows that he, like herself, has only recently returned from abroad.
Like me, he also grew up without a father.
However, after he returned, he had such a good father like Uncle Yan, but she only had a maternal grandfather and still no father.
Even though Bai Xiaolu didn't say it explicitly, Zizai immediately understood what she meant.
Zizai tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said seriously.
“My mommy said that she and my daddy were divorced, and that my daddy had married another woman. But when I came back, my daddy told me that it was all a misunderstanding, that he and my mommy were not divorced, and that he had not married another woman.”
Bai Xiaolu listened blankly to Zizai finish speaking, then tilted her little face up and sniffed. After a while, she spoke in a muffled voice with red eyes.
"My mommy said... my daddy is dead."
Zizai paused for a moment, feeling somewhat at a loss. He was still young and had never faced death before, so he didn't know how to comfort her. He could only reach out his little hand and gently pat her back.
After Bai Xiaolu finished speaking, she bit her lip and stared at the pictures of a family of three in the book.
Seeing this, Zizai pushed the double-skin milk he had just brought over towards her again.
"Eat it, Mommy says eating dessert will make you feel better."
The little guy wasn't sure if there was any scientific basis to what his mother said, but he really hoped that Bai Xiaolu's mood would immediately improve after she finished the bowl of double-skin milk pudding, and she would turn back into the grumpy girl who would point at him and yell "Yan Xu" at him.
This time, Bai Xiaolu did not refuse. She took the small spoon that Zizai forced into her hand and scooped the double-skin milk into her mouth little by little.
When Xiaolu had eaten half of the double-skin milk pudding, she looked up at Zizai with her still red eyes, and said very seriously, "Thank you!"
Here, the two children sat together. Xiao Lu was eating double-skin milk with her head down, while Zizai sat quietly beside her watching her.
Over there, after Bai Shao finished greeting the guests, she came down from the second floor. Zhu Qianying pulled her aside, gestured towards the two children, and roughly recounted what Zizai had just said to her friend.
Bai Shao's expression turned serious after hearing this.
"I see."
Then, he looked at his daughter deeply, but said nothing. He turned around and went into the kitchen to relay the guests' request from the second floor.
After a while, Zizai wandered back to Zhu Qianying's side, leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Mommy, Bai Xiaolu said that her mommy told her that her daddy is dead, is that true?"
Zhu Qianying was startled!
Was what her friend said to Xiaolu just an angry outburst? Or did she actually already know about Zongzhe's death?
Zhu Qianying was in a dilemma, hesitating about how to answer Zizai's question.
Seeing that she didn't speak, the little one anxiously shook her arm, "Mommy, is what Bai Xiaolu said true?"
Zhu Qianying simply nodded, "Mmm..." Then, she specifically instructed the little one who was frowning, "Don't mention this to Aunt Xiaoshaozi or Xiaolu in the future, understand?"
The little guy nodded emphatically and answered very seriously.
"Mommy, I know."
Yan Shao returned to the restaurant around 7 p.m., but Zizai, whom he hadn't seen for two days, didn't show any excitement. In fact, he seemed to deliberately distance himself from him.
Yan Shao was puzzled, but after all, he was an adult, and it wasn't appropriate to keep bringing up such a small matter.
After finishing dinner at the restaurant and heading home, Zizai reverted to his usual clingy self, snuggling up to Yan Shao and asking him all sorts of questions.
After answering a long string of questions from his son, Yan Shao patted his little bottom and asked.
"Honey, why didn't you talk to me just now?"
Young Master Yan, who has rarely been neglected by his son recently, felt extremely uncomfortable after being ignored for just over an hour.
No wonder some people say that if you've never had something, you won't experience the pain of losing it.
For Yan Shao right now, these words resonate especially deeply.
Zizai, who had been chattering away with a smile on his face, froze after hearing Yan Shao's words. He turned to look at Zhu Qianying, as if asking her for help.
Yan Shao also looked at Zhu Qianying, assuming she had said something to Zizai, and put away his smile, asking.
What happened?
Zhu Qianying thought for a moment and felt that it was better to make things clear so that Young Master Yan wouldn't step on a landmine and upset Bai Shao and her daughter.
She briefly recounted what happened at the restaurant that evening, and Yan Shao remained silent for a while after listening.
Then she sighed softly, cupped Zizai's face, stared into his eyes and asked, "So, baby, are you afraid that being too close to Daddy will upset Xiaolu?"
Zizai blinked without saying a word, but finally nodded.
Back home, Zizai went to take a shower, while Yan Shao sat in the living room and gestured for Zhu Qianying to sit down with him.
"Zongzhe's parents have several children, but only one son, Zongzhe. If they find out about Xiaolu's existence, I'm not sure what they will do."
As far as Yan Shao knew, Zong Zhe's parents were not ordinary, kind people.
Zhu Qianying sighed deeply, "We outsiders can't really help with this kind of thing. Anyway, I've told Xiaoshao everything I needed to say and reminded her of everything I needed to. From now on, let nature take its course."
Fortunately, L City is far from B City. As long as Bai Shao is careful and keeps a low profile, and with Yan Shao looking after her, she should be able to live a peaceful life without any major problems.
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