Chapter 16.16 The Heartless, Leaky Little Cotton-padded Jacket!
To be honest, Xixi wasn't very satisfied with her parents' reaction. There was no panic as expected, nor did her father scream like a pig.
For Xixi, this was a failed performance. She sat cross-legged on the sofa, her hands supporting her chin, looking melancholy.
Pei Yiyan looked at her and asked, "Want to eat KFC?"
"Let me think about it!"
"If I give you some, will you stay here quietly for a while?"
With the little ginseng spirit from KFC, she's the most trustworthy baby in the world. She patted her chest confidently and said, "You can trust the little monster to do things properly; he'll never cheat you, young or old."
Pei Yiyan chuckled and rolled his eyes at her. He ordered a KFC family bucket, and the delivery arrived half an hour later. He set the food out and called Xixi over to eat.
He subtly gave Meng Zhiyao a wink, and Meng Zhiyao understood and got up to follow him into the bedroom next door.
Looking up, the bedroom's decor came into view, resembling a children's room filled with dopamine-infused colors, completely out of place with Pei Yiyan's cold and aloof temperament.
Pei Yiyan quickly got straight to the point: "What do you think about Xixi being a little monster?"
“I have no thoughts on this.” Meng Zhi shook her head seriously. “Whether she is a little monster or a human, I will only treat her as an ordinary child. We need to keep her identity a secret.”
"So, you don't agree with reporting this to the relevant departments?"
“Of course I don’t agree.” Meng Zhi shook her head vigorously. “As Xixi’s mother, I can’t let her face unknown dangers.”
Pei Yiyan gazed at her quietly.
He didn't know Meng Zhiyao well, so he had no trust in her. If she had shown any hesitation or entanglement during the test, he would have immediately dropped out of school, cut off all contact, and moved away from Pingshui City with Xixi.
Fortunately, she and he shared the same stance, which saved them trouble.
"In that case, from today onwards we are all in the same boat."
Meng Zhiyao paused, blinked slowly, and asked, "Then can we be considered friends?"
Pei Yiyan was taken aback, surprised that she would ask this question.
He has only a handful of friends, you can count them on one hand, and he never takes the initiative to interact with girls, so he has zero female friends.
But Meng Zhiyao is different; she is Xixi's mother, and there will be many more places she will have to deal with in the future.
"Calculate."
"Contact me if you need anything in the future."
Sunlight streamed into the bedroom from the balcony, casting dappled light on Meng Zhi's eyes, making her look like a delicate yellow velvet flower in bloom.
She gave a very soft "hmm".
Pei Yiyan stared at her for a few seconds, his tone indifferent, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far: "We will keep Xixi's identity a secret together. No one else should know except the three of us."
Meng Zhi nodded, offering no objection.
She was already a woman of few words, and being alone with Pei Yiyan made her even more nervous and speechless. The fact that she managed to stay calm and not stutter was already a testament to her strong will to remain composed.
Pei Yiyan pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, "Don't take what Xixi said after that to heart. Children say the darndest things."
"I know." Meng Zhi's pounding heart slowed down, and she replied, "I won't take it seriously."
The two came out of the bedroom, and Xixi was gnawing on a big chicken leg, her dark eyes darting around.
"Mom, come quick! Xixi saved a delicious chicken leg for you!"
Meng Zhiyao walked over, squatted down, took out a tissue, and wiped the oil from the corner of the little girl's mouth.
"You eat," she said gently. "It's getting late, I have to go home now."
Xi Xi put down the chicken leg: "Ah, so fast? It's still early."
Meng Zhiyao bit her lip apologetically. She had just received several messages from Song Ling urging her to go home. She was afraid that if she didn't hurry back, Song Ling would come looking for her directly.
"Xixi, I'll come see you when I have time next time. Be a good girl at home."
Xi Xi opened her little mouth as if she wanted to say something but then stopped, and even the chicken leg next to her didn't taste good anymore.
The child's disappointment and reluctance were palpable, and Meng Zhi's heart softened at the slightest touch. She gently ruffled Xi Xi's hair.
"If you miss me, you can call me. Your dad has my contact information."
Xi Xi puffed out her cheeks: "Alright then."
She jumped off the chair and walked at the front eagerly: "Mom, Xixi is seeing you off."
Pei Yiyan opened the door and followed the mother and daughter at a leisurely pace, watching Meng Zhi shake into the elevator.
A small tail followed closely behind furtively.
Pei Yiyan raised an eyebrow, grabbed a little girl with his long arm, and asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'll take Mom home." Xi Xi blinked, not at all flustered even after being caught. "What's wrong? Is that not allowed?"
"I think you just want to go live with your mother." Pei Yiyan sneered, seeing through her little scheme. You heartless little thing, you've forgotten your father now that you have a mother.
Xi Xi flailed her arms and legs wildly like a little turtle taking flight: "I...I didn't!"
Pei Yiyan could see her guilty expression with her face contorted in a flustered manner as soon as he lowered his head.
"You're not allowed to go." The cold-blooded father ruthlessly nipped her little scheme in the bud. "Come home with me."
Xi Xi was very unhappy: "Why?"
A girl's reputation is always more important than a boy's, and single fathers receive less criticism than single mothers. This is a common understanding, and he and Meng Zhiyao tacitly agree on it.
Since Pei Yiyan considered Meng Zhiyao a friend, he naturally did not want his friend to be involved in criticism.
The most fundamental reason was that he was afraid Xixi would be too clingy and scare Meng Zhi away.
He doesn't know how to comfort people.
Although Meng Zhiyao accepted Xixi, she was still confused about how to be a mother.
Perhaps because those tedious and traditional steps were omitted, her feelings for Xixi were subtle and complex, containing pity and affection, but far from reaching the level of a mother's unconditional love for her child.
Faced with Xixi's expectation of going home with her, her first reaction was to feel awkward and back down.
Fortunately, Pei Yiyan understood her and took responsibility.
He arrogantly raised his chin: "We haven't finished the cake from the other day. You kept asking for more. You're not going anywhere until you finish it."
Xi Xi shivered.
She seemed to taste that strange flavor again, and there was still more than half left to eat. She glanced at her serious father, pouted, and gave in with a mournful face.
I will never eat Dad's cake again, boohoo.
Meng Zhiyao managed to escape, gave Pei Yiyan a grateful smile, and then waved goodbye to the father and daughter.
After her mother left, Xixi looked at Pei Yiyan with disdain, as if he were a stranger.
With her round bottom sticking out, she stood on a small stool, opened the refrigerator, and reached for the remaining strawberry cake.
Pei Yiyan moved silently, his voice falling from above her head: "Don't eat."
The cake had been sitting for two days and was no longer edible. He made up this excuse to stop Xixi and Meng Zhi from going home.
Xi Xi raised her little face and tossed her head unappreciatively: "I won't listen, I won't listen."
Mom is right, Dad is a stinky man!
After saying that, she slid down and ran to ride the rocking horse. She grabbed the rocking horse's ears with her two chubby little hands and rolled her eyes at him angrily.
“”
This little guy has quite a temper.
"You're so angry because I won't let you go?" Pei Yiyan asked casually, leaning against the window with a water glass in his hand. "Have you forgotten who picked you up?"
“How could I forget?” The little girl on the rocking horse first pointed to herself, then to him, “Xixi brought her dad back.”
"I think you're a traitor to Heaven."
Pei Yiyan could get angry at his drafty little cotton-padded jacket eight hundred times a day, but luckily he was strong and healthy so he didn't get sick from it.
He had only recently joined the ranks of fathers, and was still in the dark about how to raise and educate children.
Even though his past experiences have made him more mature and rational than his peers, he is still a child in most people's eyes at the age of twenty.
So when faced with his daughter's tantrums, he lazily chose the most direct and convenient method.
Present the facts and reason with them.
“Xixi, I know you overheard my conversation with your mother in the coffee shop, which is why you didn’t call her ‘Mom’ directly outside.”
Pei Yiyan spoke slowly and deliberately, with a relaxed and unhurried tone: "Xixi, your mother is eighteen years old this year. According to human calculations, she has just come of age. If others find out that she has a three-year-old child, she will be criticized and it will also bring great inconvenience and trouble to her current family."
“You love her very much, and you’re a very clever little monster. You should understand my concerns without me having to say more.”
Xi Xi is not a real human infant. Before she took human form, she enjoyed three hundred years of prenatal education, so she is very intelligent and can understand many things very quickly.
"But Xixi wants to sleep with her mother, and wants her mother to call her 'good baby' and play with her."
The little rocking horse stopped rocking, and the little girl, like a small mushroom enduring a storm, drooped her head lower and lower.
Pei Yiyan couldn't make any promises beyond Meng Zhiyao's influence.
After thinking it over, he walked up to Xixi, squatted down and pinched her cheek: "I will try to introduce you to her more often."
Xixi focused on the key point: "Then, when can Xixi sleep with Mommy?"
Little did he know, Pei Yiyan was silently agreeing in his mind, but dared not say it out loud.
"Let's wait until she goes to college."
If Meng Zhiyao is studying at a university in another city, he can take Xixi to visit her and book a hotel to fulfill the little girl's wish.
"How much longer?"
"Six months."
"Wouldn't that be quick?" Xi Xi's face immediately brightened, and she stopped crying and started smiling.
"Yaoyao, a new milk tea shop opened near the school. It's buy one get one free on everything. Let's go check it out after school."
"No, I've been drinking too much milk tea lately."
"Oh, come on, come on! You can drink more milk tea and you won't get fat, unlike me who gets fat even from drinking water!" Cheng Xiaocen grabbed Meng Zhi's arm and shook it coquettishly. "You're my only milk tea buddy. I haven't drunk any milk tea when you're not at school."
Meng Zhi shook her head for a moment. She had taken leave to rest at home recently and hadn't spent time with her good friend for a while.
“Okay then,” she agreed.
With their milk tea buddies back, Cheng Xiaocen immediately grabbed Meng Zhi's hand and headed straight for their destination after school.
"Damn, it's packed!"
Cheng Xiaocen facepalmed: "My goodness, there are just too many people."
The small store was packed with people, and the limited space inside was so cramped that there was hardly any room to move. The store was filled with uniforms from different high schools.
Seeing this, Meng Zhi shook her friend's head and said, "Xiao Cen, how about we come another day? There are too many people, and we don't know how long we'll have to wait in line."
There are bubble tea shops everywhere near the school, so if you have to go to another one, there's no need to stick to this place.
"Alright then." Cheng Xiaocen sighed and walked back. "Anyway, there are still three days left for the event, so let's come earlier next time."
Meng Zhi shook her head, and the two of them quickly brushed past two passersby, one of whom was suppressing his excitement:
"Let me tell you, the male employee at this store is super handsome! His skin is even whiter than mine, and his eyes and brows are absolutely mesmerizing!"
"Is it really that exaggerated? Holy crap, he's so damn handsome, and tall too!"
Cheng Xiaocen's handsome radar was activated. His legs were still walking, but his head had already turned around. He happened to run into the front desk staff changing shifts, and his eyes widened in surprise.
She clutched her chest and exclaimed excitedly, "This bubble tea shop really went all out! They even hired an internet celebrity!"
The word "internet celebrity" piqued Meng Zhiyao's interest.
She turned around following Cheng Xiaocen's gaze and froze on the spot.
The man standing at the front desk wore a sanitary cap, with the lower half of his face covered by a white mask. He wore a white shirt with a brown apron. He was not only tall but also had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His exposed skin was pale and his forearm muscles were well-proportioned and smooth, exuding a powerful presence.
Seemingly sensing her gaze, the man glanced at her without any emotion, and Meng Zhiyao met his long, dark eyes without any warning.
Those were eyes she would recognize even if she turned to ashes.
Meng Zhi's back stiffened, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her cuffs as she stared blankly.
After a moment, the man indifferently withdrew his gaze, and she finally let out a breath.
She heard Cheng Xiaocen's voice, as if she'd struck gold: "Yaoyao, did you see that? He was just looking at us! Come on, let's go buy some milk tea and see if we can sneak in a chat on WeChat or something!"
"Wait, Xiao Cen!"
That's Pei Yiyan.
The queue was bustling with noise, and Cheng Xiaocen was so eager to see the handsome shop assistant that she didn't hear Meng Zhiyao's reminder at all.
Cheng Xiaocen squeezed her way to the front desk, next to Meng Zhiyao, who was quietly huddled up like a little quail.
"Handsome, order now!" Cheng Xiaocen from She Niu asked with a smile, "Is everything buy one get one free?"
Handsome shop assistant: "Okay, scan the code to order."
He tapped the QR code with his slender, jade-like fingers, and Cheng Xiaocen, a hand fetishist, was captivated.
Wow, this is amazing! A perfect candidate for hand-drawn substitutes!
There were other people waiting behind them, so Meng Zhi quickly pulled Cheng Xiaocen away after scanning the order code.
"Hey Yaoyao, don't pull me yet, I haven't gotten her WeChat yet."
"Xiao Cen, you couldn't tell who he was at such close range just now?"
Cheng Xiaocen turned around abruptly: "Who is it? Is it someone we know or someone you know?"
Meng Zhi glanced at the side out of the corner of her eye and whispered a name.
Huh? Pei Yiyan!
"It's him? Are you sure you're not mistaken???" Cheng Xiaocen yelled, her eyes wide as big as eggs.
A chilling gaze shot straight at them from behind, sending a sudden shiver down their spines.
It's freezing! Well, this familiar cool breeze... who else could it be but that man?
Cheng Xiaocen's initial enthusiasm was quickly extinguished, and she muttered listlessly, "I've never seen him anywhere else before. Why is he suddenly here making milk tea? That's so strange."
“I heard he gets a five-figure allowance every month. Isn’t that enough?”
Meng Zhi lowered her brows, seemingly lost in thought.
After a moment of confusion, Cheng Xiaocen's imagination ran wild, ranging from guessing whether the other party owed money to online gambling to his wealthy mother cutting off his allowance.
Meng Zhi shook her head to interrupt her: "Xiao Cen."
She knew her friend had a vivid imagination, a lively personality, and a strong desire to share.
She spread the gossip around the class from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Usually, it was harmless, but Pei Yiyan already had a bad reputation at school, and she didn't want Cheng Xiaocen's wild guesses to make things worse.
Meng Zhiyao said, "Don't tell anyone about his part-time job here for now. Where he works part-time and what kind of part-time job he does is his own business, so let's not speculate."
Cheng Xiaocen touched the tip of her nose guiltily: "I don't always publicize it so everyone knows. Don't worry, I won't spread it around this time."
After they finished speaking, the two waited a while longer until it was their turn.
Cheng Xiaocen didn't dare to go up and take it, so Meng Zhiyao had no choice but to bite the bullet and go over. The two cups of milk tea were put in the same bag.
She glanced at it briefly, paused for a moment, and said softly, "Pei Yiyan, we didn't order any snacks."
Besides selling milk tea, this milk tea shop also sells its own brand of snacks; the milk tea bag contained two packs of crispy corn chips and cheese rolls.
Pei Yiyan: "I know, I gave it to you."
Those six simple words caused Meng Zhiyao's face to gradually burn.
The boy picked up the milk tea bag, hung it on her hand, and said softly, "Welcome to visit again next time."
Meng Zhi subconsciously gripped the weight in his hand. He had already turned to the other side, repeating the same sentence to the other customers as a matter of routine.
The girl's bright eyes curved into a smile as she softly thanked him and turned around with light steps.
As Cheng Xiaocen emerged from the bubble tea shop, she crunched on a crispy cornstarch, praising, "This bubble tea shop is really generous! Not only is it buy-one-get-one-free, but they also give away small snacks. I feel so bad about getting such a good deal."
Meng Zhi smiled but didn't say anything.
After taking a shower that evening, Meng Zhiyao stood in front of the mirror drying her hair, a faint smile still lingering on her lips.
After finishing tidying up, it was still early, so I suddenly had the idea to make myself a purse to store the ginseng roots that Xixi had given me.
After finishing one, I felt I shouldn't favor one over the other, so I made two more small pouches and stuffed each with four different kinds of medicinal herbs.
In interpersonal relationships, reciprocity is paramount. It's only right that she reciprocate with a small purse when Pei Yiyan gives her some snacks.
During their two years as classmates, she noticed that he often took naps in class and always looked very sleepy. She hoped that the sachet to refresh him could help him.
The sachet given to Xixi was meant to soothe her emotions and calm her mind. Children are prone to emotional instability, and this sachet had the best fragrance of the three small sachets, sweet but not cloying.
Xi Xi should like it.
Meng Zhi found a cute packaging bag, put the two chubby sachets into her schoolbag.
She imagined for a moment what the father and daughter would look like when they received the gift, and her smile deepened.
Finally, when I was so sleepy I couldn't stay awake any longer, I rubbed my sore eyes, turned off the light, and went to bed.
Pei Yiyan finished get off work at the milk tea shop and arrived home under the moonlight at 10:30 pm.
He tiptoed in, and the room was as bright as day when he pushed open the door.
The little girl was still awake, curled up crookedly on the sofa, her face showing signs of exhaustion as if all her energy had been drained.
Aunt Liu, who was working overtime, exclaimed, "Little Pei is back!"
Xi Xi jolted awake and sat up abruptly: "Dad!"
Pei Yiyan: Why aren't you asleep yet?
“Xixi has been waiting for you, and she won’t go to sleep no matter how you try to coax her.”
Pei Yiyan was secretly pleased, but on the surface he raised an eyebrow, feigning a clueless and aloof demeanor: "Why are you waiting for me?"
Xi Xi scurried up his thigh: "Of course I'm worried about you."
Pei Yiyan supported her, completely unconcerned: "What's there to worry about? How could a grown man like me get lost?"
"Of course."
Xi Xi solemnly lectured him: "Dad, it's dangerous for a boy to stay out so late. What if you get kidnapped by other little monster sisters? Then Xi Xi and Mom won't be able to find you."
"Come on, stop worrying about things that aren't your concern," Pei Yiyan said speechlessly.
He gestured to Aunt Liu that she could go home, then carried his increasingly plump daughter to the bedroom, put the little one on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.
"Tell me quickly, what exactly did you go to do?"
Pei Yiyan: "Go to work to earn money for your baby formula."
"Daddy, Xixi doesn't need to drink milk powder anymore." Xixi put her little hand on the blanket and said sincerely, "Just let Xixi eat the delicious soil."
I haven't eaten dirt in ages, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
You can consult parenting guides when raising children, but when it comes to raising monsters, you're completely clueless.
Even if Pei Yiyan knew that the little girl in the quilt was a ginseng spirit, he couldn't imagine planting her in the soil and having her eat dirt.
If someone sees him, he won't be able to explain himself no matter how hard he tries, and he'll definitely be on the news the next day.
"Why eat dirt? That stuff hurts your throat!" Pei Yiyan covered her mouth, which was about to start smacking. "Alright, I'm going to take a shower. You go to sleep first."
Xi Xi obediently watched him leave, and when he returned after his bath, the child was already fast asleep, snoring softly.
Pei Yiyan dried his hair, lifted the covers, and lay down.
The little girl was sleeping soundly, but her body moved with incredible precision toward the huge heat source.
Pei Yiyan, with a small octopus hanging on him, opened the game with a normal expression, turned the brightness to the lowest setting, and began to immerse himself in the game in the dark.
I played a couple of rounds and got bored, so I opened a short video app and scrolled through some videos.
In the darkness, a soft, ghostly laugh suddenly rang out.
Pei Yiyan reflexively hugged the baby in his arms and quietly pulled the blanket up.
"hey-hey."
!
Pei Yiyan was so excited he felt like his soul was about to leave his body; his heart was pounding wildly.
"Dad, what's wrong? It's so noisy here."
“”
Pei Yiyan did a somersault and looked down to meet a pair of bright eyes.
I almost blurted out a curse: "Weren't you asleep??"
So those two laughs that nearly made his heart stop came from her!
Pei Yiyan's face contorted with embarrassment and anger, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.
"You weren't asleep either," the little girl retorted. "Daddy, you can't just allow officials to set fires while forbidding ordinary people from even lighting lamps."
Speechless, Pei Yiyan pressed his temples and said, "Nod my head, go to sleep!"
As soon as the faint light from the phone screen went out, Xixi's even, gentle snoring resumed.
Pei Yiyan's nerves, which had been tense all day, were exhausted. With his eyes closed, he vaguely thought, "The little monster really knows how to bewitch people. His snoring is all an act."
I mustn't fall for that again.
Liu Yang opened a milk tea shop near Jiamu No. 3 Middle School and offered Pei Yiyan a high salary to come and support the business.
To put it nicely, it was to support him; in reality, they valued Pei Yiyan's outstanding appearance to attract business for him.
The internet age has led to many ordinary people becoming famous overnight. Maybe Pei Yiyan will also become the most handsome milk tea guy, which would be a win-win situation.
Pei Yiyan would spend a few hours working at the milk tea shop on weekends whenever he had time. When he got tired, he would go home to rest, and he would still be paid his salary.
Xi Xi was bored at home, so Pei Yiyan took her to work. The milk tea shop had two floors, and Xi Xi played near the entrance.
It was around that time that Meng Zhiyao gave away the sachet.
Xi Xi loves it so much that she wears it every day when she goes out, and whenever someone asks, she says it was a gift from her mother.
Pei Yiyan did not deliberately hide his relationship with Xixi from his colleagues. Over time, everyone knew that he had a child out of wedlock and a three-year-old daughter.
Judging from Xixi's usual behavior, it's likely that the young couple has a good relationship and may even live together.
At the same age, he already has a wife, children, and a warm bed. This huge difference led his colleagues to respect him by a generation.
From Little Pei to Brother Pei, it's only a matter of one child's distance.
Pei Yiyan did not react to this and continued to do as usual.
The day after finishing the busy New Year's Day holiday, Pei Yiyan left work early and took Xixi home to celebrate the holiday.
The streets and alleys were filled with a festive atmosphere. On his way back, he bought a small cake, a box of fresh cherries, and Dandong strawberries.
The ban on fireworks in Baicao County is not strict. When he passed by a convenience store, he couldn't resist buying a small bag of sparklers, planning to take his daughter to play with them for a while that evening.
Aunt Liu didn't work on New Year's Day, so after Pei Yiyan got home, he washed the fruit himself and then took out his phone to order a lavish takeout meal.
"Yan-ge, are you home?" was a message from Qiu Ming.
Pei Yiyan replied with one hand: 【Mm.】
In previous years, Aunt Lan would ask Qiu Ming to invite him to dinner on New Year's Day, but this year he wanted to spend it with his daughter.
I've ordered takeout and bought some fruit. Take it home and eat it.
After the message was sent, Qiu Ming did not reply. Pei Yiyan did not care and continued to argue with his daughter about whether to order KFC or stir-fry.
"Eating KFC is fine on ordinary days, but can't we eat something better today because it's a holiday?"
"KFC is great, and the family bucket is delicious!"
"Is that all you've got?"
The doorbell rang suddenly. Pei Yiyan glanced at the door and whispered, "Don't let it slip. We're ordering KFC later."
Xi Xi: "Mmm!"
Pei Yiyan opened the door without any warning, only to find an unexpected face behind it.
Zhou Yi, whom we haven't seen for many years, was dressed in fine clothes, with her hair tied up in a gentle bun. Time hadn't left many marks on her face.
Zhou Yi was as fair and beautiful as I remembered. She smiled slightly and said, "Ayan, why didn't you tell your mother you moved? You made your mother come all this way for nothing."
“If I hadn’t asked your Aunt Lan, I wouldn’t have known you had already bought a new house.”
Pei Yiyan glared at Qiu Ming, who was hiding behind Zhou Yi. Qiu Ming had a long face. He was forced into this situation. If he didn't tell the truth, his mother's bamboo shoot stir-fry with pork was no joke.
Seeing that her eldest son didn't respond, Zhou Yi's anxiety deepened. She forced a smile and asked, "Ayan, won't you invite your mother in for a seat?"
Pei Yiyan's tall figure blocked the doorway, and the air fell silent for a moment before the boy raised his eyes, which showed no surprise whatsoever.
He said indifferently, "The house is a bit messy and inconvenient. I'll book a hotel for you."
Zhou Yi smiled gently and said, "It's alright, Mom doesn't mind. No matter how nice the hotel is, it can't compare to having you here."
Pei Yiyan had never talked to Xixi about Zhou Yi, and Xixi didn't even know that she had a grandmother.
He didn't care whether Zhou Yi would be furious or disappointed when she found out he had a daughter; the only thing he cared about was that Xi Xi would repeat his mistakes and experience the same childhood as him.
The mother and son stood at the door, pulling and tugging at each other. Pei Yiyan was absent-minded and regretted not turning up the volume of the cartoon.
"Dad, is that Brother Qiu Ming? I can hear his voice."
A childish voice suddenly called out, "Dad!"
Zhou Yi's mind went blank for a moment, then her eyes widened in alarm: "Ayan, you...you really?"
The rumors weren't unfounded; her eldest son had secretly conceived a child behind her back!
Zhou Yizhi felt a dizzying sensation as the world spun around her.
She rushed to Pingshui City overnight because Xuelan let slip that her eldest son had a daughter who called her son "Dad".
At first, she didn't take it to heart, but she knew Xue Lan; she wasn't the kind of person who would make trouble out of nothing or overthink things.
She has been able to live peacefully in Beijing all these years thanks to Xuelan taking care of her son.
Therefore, that very night she immediately thought of her son's unusually frequent absences and tendency to evade the issue.
Once the seed of doubt is sown, it becomes impossible to pretend you know nothing.
Zhou Yi's eyelids twitched all night, and she finally made up her mind to come back and see for herself.
Pei Yiyan knew that it was pointless to stop Zhou Yi at this point, so he simply stepped aside, revealing his leaky little cotton-padded jacket.
The little girl on the ground was wearing a thin dress, with snow-white skin and clear, bright black eyes. The moment Zhou Yi saw her face, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
That face is exactly the same as her eldest son's when he was a child. Even if she were to give birth again, she could never give birth to someone so similar.
Now, what else doesn't Zhou Yi understand?
Pei Yiyan stopped hiding it and generously picked up Xixi, introducing her: "Let me introduce you, this is my daughter, Xixi."
"Xixi, this is Grandma."
Xi Xi: (⊙o⊙)
Xixi: \(o)/
Hello, Grandma!
So she has a grandma too. Grandma is so pretty, and she smells so nice.
Zhou Yi: ? ? ? !!
grandmother
She's only in her early forties.
Zhou Yi's blood surged, and she lost her balance, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Qiu Ming was so frightened that he spread his wings like a roc, yelling, "Oh dear, Aunt Zhou, what's wrong? Don't faint!"
Xi Xi exclaimed and quickly stretched out her lotus root-like hands: "Brother Qiu Ming, quickly help Grandma in. She'll feel better if she can smell Xi Xi's scent!"
As expected of her biological mother, Pei Yiyan immediately put Xixi down and carried Zhou Yi into the guest room to lie down.
Qiu Ming, struggling to drag his luggage, followed behind the father and daughter.
The house was filled with the spirit of the little ginseng baby, and Zhou Yi slowly woke up after a while.
Upon opening her eyes, she was met with the sharp features of a young boy and the face of a man approaching maturity. Zhou Yi was momentarily dazed.
The last time she saw her eldest son, he was a gloomy teenager who spent all his time in a wheelchair, silent and lifeless.
He was as thin and weak as a pitiful little animal back then, but when I saw him again, he had become so tall, aloof, and imposing.
Zhou Yi felt a tightness in her throat.
The eldest son made such a big mistake, having a child out of wedlock at the age of twenty, which means that he will be bound and tied down by the identity of a single father for the rest of his life.
Zhou Yi felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She grabbed Pei Yiyan's hand and said painfully, "Yan, why didn't you tell me about such a big thing? How long were you planning to keep it from me?"
Pei Yiyan turned to Qiu Ming and instructed him, "Take Xixi out first."
Qiu Ming felt like he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly took Xi Xi's hand and slipped back to the living room, finally escaping from the hellish situation.
Staying here any longer will lead to terrible trouble!
"It's not too late for you to know now."
"It's not too late! That child is already three or four years old, and you've only been an adult for two years!" Zhou Yi felt dizzy and her limbs were weak as she struggled to get up. "Who is the child's mother? Did you live together?"
"I don't know who the child's mother is." Pei Yiyan's tone was so indifferent as if he were talking about someone else's business. "It doesn't matter. I just know that the child is mine."
Zhou Yi was so angry she nearly fell over, raising her voice: "What are you saying? How can a child be without a mother? Are you worried that I have a prejudice against the child's mother, so you're keeping it from me?"
Pei Yiyan did not deny it.
He preferred to trust his own judgment rather than his mother, whom he hadn't seen for many years.
No matter how Zhou Yi asked him about how much money he wanted to give the woman's family, he refused to mention any information about the child's mother, keeping a tight rein on the matter.
In the end, Zhou Yi was helpless, her heart turned cold, and she rubbed her temples before asking a different question.
What do you plan to do with that child?
"Keep it with you."
Zhou Yi couldn't understand: "How can you take care of a child? You'll be taking the college entrance exam next June, which is a major event in your life and concerns your future development. How can you study properly if you have a child by your side?"
Pei Yiyan: "I don't plan to go to university."
“”
Zhou Yi was shocked: "Xiao Yan, do you know what you're saying? What do you want to do if you don't go to university? How old are you!"
“I’m going to work to earn money.” Pei Yiyan looked at her calmly. “Don’t overthink it. I didn’t make this decision because of Xixi. I had already planned to do this before she came along.”
"no!"
For the first time in many years, Zhou Yi was so stern and fierce, as if Pei Yiyan had not given up on university, but on life, and was about to jump off the rooftop at any moment.
She grabbed Pei Yiyan's arm with such force that her nails dug into his flesh, and said earnestly:
"Xiaoyan, studying is your priority. Just look at your peers, who doesn't want to get into a good university and have a good job in the future? I don't expect you to get into a top university, but you can't be idle and waste your life, and you can't let yourself fall into depravity!"
The harsh words made Pei Yiyan's handsome face darken.
“It’s none of your business if I choose to degenerate.” He suppressed his anger and said, word by word, “You have more than one son, so why waste your feelings on me? You should use that time to raise your younger son properly, so he won’t embarrass you like I did.”
Zhou Yi's expression froze, her eyes suddenly reddened, and two tear tracks rolled down her face.
She looked sad and said, "Xiao Yan, are you still upset that your mother didn't ask you before marrying Uncle Chen?"
"I don't."
Even if he disagreed, what could he change? When he first learned about Chen An from Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi was already three months pregnant.
Pei Yiyan neither would nor would he stoop to crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide.
Zhou Yi's feelings for her eldest son are complex and multifaceted. His father, Pei Jin, was her first love. They started dating in college and got married right after graduation.
When you're dating, there are no worries about the mundane things like daily necessities, only romance and sweetness. But after marriage, things that were invisible before slowly come to the fore.
Pei Jin has a serious case of male chauvinism. He dislikes Zhou Yi's work in the public eye, so he couldn't wait to have Pei Yiyan with her after marriage.
Pei Jin was doing business outside, and at first his business was very successful. He made a fortune by taking advantage of the trend.
He used the money he earned to buy a house outright and hired a nanny to help Zhou Yi take care of the child, allowing Zhou Yi to enjoy a period of comfortable life.
The good times didn't last long. Pei Jin's investment failed, his company went bankrupt, and he had to sell the house he had lived in for three years to barely pay off part of his debts.
Pei Jin longed to make a comeback, but his good luck had run out, and nothing he did seemed to work.
After a series of setbacks, Pei Jin became despondent and fell into a life of depravity, developing gambling and drug addictions, which ultimately led to tragedy.
Pei Jin committed suicide in prison not long after his arrest, leaving behind a mountain of debt for Zhou Yi and her son.
To pay off her debts, Zhou Yi left Pingshui City when Pei Yiyan was ten years old and became a migrant worker in Beijing.
After arriving in Beijing, Zhou Yi felt like a wild grass that had been given a refreshing rain. Without the face that was becoming more and more like her ex-husband's, she felt a sense of ease from the inside out.
She worked her way up in Beijing over five years, finally establishing herself before meeting her current husband, Chen An. She decided to leave the past behind and start a new family with him.
As she grew older, she had less and less contact with Pei Yiyan. Looking at her youngest son's carefree smile, she would often think of her eldest son who was far away on the other side.
She regretted leaving Pei Yiyan alone in Baicao County and wanted to bring him to live with her, but Pei Yiyan was no longer the silly child who waited for his mother's call.
He rejected Zhou Yi and chose to live alone.
For many years, Zhou Yi had been trying to make up for her debt to her eldest son with money, believing that a comfortable life could eliminate the estrangement.
But her eldest son continued to drift further and further away from her.
Zhou Yi covered her face and wept, her sobs reaching Pei Yiyan's ears.
He would rather Zhou Yi hit or scold him than look at him with that expression.
Pei Yiyan felt a dull ache in his heart.
The guest room door was carefully opened a crack, and the little girl's round head peeked in, her big eyes filled with a hint of worry.
"Dad, did you and Grandma have a fight?"
Pei Yiyan said with a stern face, "This is none of your business. Go out and have some fun."
"But Grandma cried."
Pei Yiyan remained silent.
"Dad, is it because of Xixi?" Xixi asked anxiously, biting her knuckles. "Because no one is taking care of Xixi, Dad doesn't want to study anymore."
Pei Yiyan: "No, it has nothing to do with you."
Xixi took two small steps forward and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Daddy, actually Xixi can take care of herself. Please don't argue with Grandma anymore, okay?"
"We didn't argue." Pei Yiyan flicked her forehead, his agitated mood gradually calming down. "You worry about a lot of things. Go out and have some fun."
He sent Xixi away, locked the door, and turned back around.
He didn't need to look to know that his daughter was waiting anxiously at the door. He didn't want things to get too ugly with Zhou Yi and make a fool of himself in front of the little one.
Pei Yiyan pursed his lips and said, "I completed my university courses through self-study. I won't become the idle person you describe."
Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment.
"I will take good care of myself and Xixi." The indifference in the boy's eyes softened a little. "I'm all grown up now and I know what I'm doing. You take care of your family now."
The boy seemed to have sheathed his thorns, his expression indifferent and peaceful, a change that only made Zhou Yi feel more heartbroken.
She realized that her eldest son was cutting ties with her and distancing himself from her.
Zhou Yi stopped being hysterical. She waved for Pei Yiyan to leave and stayed in the room for a long time.
When she came out again, she had touched up her makeup, her hair was neat and tidy, and she was all smiles.
She held three bulging red envelopes, handed out two, and had one of the largest ones left.
Zhou Yi half-squatted down in front of the little girl and said softly, "Xixi, hello. I am your father's mother and your grandmother."
"This is a red envelope from Grandma to welcome you. You can spend the money in it however you like. I hope you like it."
Qiu Ming was amazed by the thickness of the red envelope. It was incredibly generous; he estimated it to be at least ten thousand yuan.
Xixi loved it so much! Compared to her usual meager 100 yuan allowance, this brick-like red envelope was a complete winner!
Her sweet, clear voice rang out, "Thank you, Grandma!"
After saying that, she pouted her little lips and gave her grandma a big kiss.
The sweet and soft little guy started with zero frames, instantly making Zhou Yi's heart flutter with joy.
Pei Yiyan was dumbfounded.
He rubbed his cheeks sourly. "You heartless little thing," he thought, "I've raised her for so long and she's never received this kind of treatment."
Zhou Yi is a gentle woman at heart. After years of experience, her gentleness has transformed into elegance and composure.
She had been living a life of luxury as a wealthy woman in Beijing for many years, and Pei Yiyan assumed she would choose to stay in a nearby hotel, since the guest room at home was not even as big as the toilet in her Beijing home.
But Zhou Yi unexpectedly stayed. She stopped bringing up topics that aroused Pei Yiyan's disgust and only urged him to go to and from school on time.
She stayed at home with Aunt Liu to take care of Xixi.
Pei Yiyan could see what was happening at home through the surveillance camera. He saw Zhou Yi braiding her daughter's hair into a new and pretty little braid.
This reminded him that Zhou Yi had wanted a daughter before he was born, and the baby clothes he wore after his birth were all in girls' styles.
Occasionally, vague fragments would flash through his mind, all of them showing Zhou Yi braiding his hair and putting pink hair clips on it.
Pei Yiyan gradually lowered his guard.
One day, he noticed that no one was in the living room. He asked Aunt Liu and learned that Zhou Yi had taken Xi Xi out to buy clothes.
When she came back that day, Xixi had transformed from a country bumpkin with a tacky aesthetic into a sophisticated young lady from the Beijing elite circle, looking incredibly chic.
Xi Xi also really likes her grandma, who has a fashionable eye and dresses her up very beautifully.
Zhou Yi had always dreamed of having a daughter, but unfortunately she gave birth to two boys. The arrival of her granddaughter made up for her regret, especially her face, which was so similar to her son's features.
It often gave her the feeling that she had given birth to another little daughter. Putting aside those anxieties and struggles, she genuinely liked and accepted this little granddaughter.
When Pei Yiyan was in school, she would take Xixi out every day, sometimes to the park, sometimes to the amusement park.
One day, while passing by the kindergarten in our neighborhood, the laughter of the children playing in groups attracted Xixi to stop and watch. The little girl leaned against the railing with an envious look on her face.
Zhou Yi gently hugged her: "Xixi, this is kindergarten. Do you want to go to kindergarten?"
What does a kindergarten do?
"It's a place where you can learn and play."
"Do you play like that?"
Zhou Yi: "That's right, it's full of kids like you, you can play together."
"Then Xixi wants to go!"
Zhou Yi patted her head and smiled.
When Pei Yiyan came home from school that evening, Xixi excitedly brought up her desire to go to kindergarten.
Pei Yiyan frowned and glanced warily at Zhou Yi.
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