In Zhu Qianying's mind, there are two kinds of browsing. One is eating and playing with family. The other is following one's own preferences, staying alone in her favorite little shops, looking at and touching those little trinkets that seem insignificant to others but are treasures in her eyes.
Most of these trinkets are made by unknown folk artisans. They may never be displayed in high art or win any awards, but Zhu Qianying can see different kinds of creativity and beauty from different perspectives in these simple and unique trinkets.
Today, after breakfast, Yan Shao's suggestion surprised Zhu Qianying.
"Ying'er, our darling wants to go shopping with you today."
Zhu Qianying was happily munching on half a steamed bun when she heard this, and paused slightly in surprise. "Come shopping with me?"
Young Master Yan and his younger brother nodded in unison, "That's right, we'll go shopping with you!"
Zhu Qianying blinked, seemingly understanding their meaning but not quite sure.
"You mean we should shop according to my wishes?"
Two different but identical faces smiled at her simultaneously. "That's right, like the little boutique I saw when you came back from the US," Yan Shao added.
Zhu Qianying stared wide-eyed at the father and son, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping over their faces for a while. Only after confirming that they were serious and not joking did Zhu Qianying ask.
"Why?"
The father and son exchanged a glance, and then the little guy got a little impatient. "Ugh, I just want to, there's no reason why!"
Zhu Qianying then realized that she had started to use her habitual way of thinking to guess about her son again.
Indeed, if you want to think something, you just want to think it; why do you need so many reasons and explanations?
"Okay, let's eat and then set off."
I thought the father and son just wanted to see the places she usually frequented, and that it would be a quick, superficial look.
Little did we know, once the little guy went inside, he didn't want to leave.
He discovered many folk trinkets inside, especially some toys from children in economically underdeveloped areas that he had never seen before, which he found irresistible.
Seeing her son sitting cross-legged on the floor, just like she had done countless times before, completely absorbed in the little thing in his hands, Zhu Qianying smiled and said to Yan Shao, "Why don't you go back and do your own thing? My son and I will explore here slowly."
Yan Shao reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, turning Zhu Qianying toward the display shelf.
Zhu Qianying looked completely bewildered. Before she could even ask him anything, she heard him say, "Just watch whatever you want to watch, don't worry about me."
Zhu Qianying said "Oh," and then stopped paying attention to Yan Shao and started looking closely at the display shelf.
The mother and son each occupied a corner of the floor, sitting cross-legged, each holding a small toy they liked, their focused expressions identical.
Zhu Qianying told him not to worry about Young Master Yan, and asked the landlady to bring him a chair. He sat down, put his laptop on his lap, and started doing his own thing.
Occasionally, when he looks away, he sees his wife and son's focused and beautiful profiles, and he can't resist taking pictures of them.
Occasionally, his eyes would meet those of his wife and son, they would exchange a smile, and then each would continue with their own research or busy with their own things.
Zhu Qianying, who thought the father and son wouldn't stay in the flea market for long, ended up sitting on the floor with her son for the entire morning. It wasn't until she heard her son's stomach rumbling that she checked the time and realized it was almost noon.
She put down what she was doing, reached out and patted her son's head. "Sweetie, are you hungry? Let's go eat!"
The family of three found a place nearby to eat something. The little one originally wanted to continue shopping with Zhu Qianying, but a phone call made the family change their plans and board a plane back to Beijing.
What made them change their plans was a phone call from Yan Ting.
It turned out that Yan Ting's men had successfully persuaded Dr. Zhao and extradited him back to China. He immediately notified Yan Han to bring Zizai back to Beijing, and he was already making arrangements for what would happen next.
Zhu Qianying and her family of three returned to Lao Yan's home in Beijing in the evening. The little one, unaware of the purpose of their return, played happily with her cousins as usual.
The next day, Zhu Qianying woke Zizai up early. The little guy went in for a bath with his eyes half-closed, and when he came out, he was fully awake.
"Mommy, why are we getting up so early? Are we going somewhere to play?"
Fearing her son would resist, Zhu Qianying changed her approach and explained to the little guy in a more tactful way, "Yes, let's go play games."
The little guy perked up immediately at the mention of games, wrapping his arms around Zhu Qianying's waist and looking up at her with hopeful eyes. "Are we going to play outside? Or are we going to play here with my older brother and sister?"
Zhu Qianying pinched his cheek, "Let's go play outside today..."
Last night, after Zizai fell asleep, Zhu Qianying and Yan Shao chatted with Yan Ting in the living room until very late. The topic naturally revolved around how to get Zizai to open up about what happened back then.
After all, it is a very cruel thing for a five-year-old child to bear such a heavy and fearful burden.
Therefore, they hoped that Dr. Zhao could help Zizai release the heavy burden in his heart. Otherwise, the heart of a child who is only a few years old will be suffocated by this heavy burden, and may even become deformed!
Of course, they also hoped to find the real culprit and mastermind behind this incident from what Zizai revealed.
After breakfast, the family of three got into Yan Ting's car and headed to a heavily guarded place to see Dr. Zhao.
"Uncle, is that old man who plays games with Zizai your friend?"
Zizai already had a pleasing face, and with his sweet words and always cute and bright smile, even the icy father and son Yanting and Yanyuan couldn't help but melt when they met him, and naturally returned his smiles and soft-spoken replies.
"Yes, he's Uncle's friend, so don't be afraid, okay?"
Zizai nodded emphatically, "Yes!" Then, he blinked and stared at Yanting, asking, "Uncle, if Zizai wins the game, will there be a prize?"
Yan Ting laughed at his childlike innocence, "Yes, of course!"
After saying that, she reached back and pinched his little face.
The little guy became especially excited when he heard there was a prize.
Zhu Qianying and Yan Shao were initially somewhat worried and apprehensive, but seeing the little guy rubbing his hands together, eager to try, their hearts were much more at ease.
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