Chapter 15: Does Mom like Dad? ...
On October 5th, the return journey was still filled with traffic.
Having learned their lesson, the couple didn't dare let Si Xiaotie eat anything indiscriminately again, nor did they let her drink too much water, otherwise her little bladder wouldn't be able to hold it in.
It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, and Lin Ke's hand was inconvenient, so Aunt Chen moved into her home to help.
After returning home, Si Yuming went straight to work. She stayed home and read for a few days before returning to work on the 8th.
She can't drive, so she has to ride in Si Yuming's car to work.
Instruct the driver to stop at the intersection in front of the company in advance, then get out of the car furtively, like a thief.
When she arrived at the office, her colleagues were very concerned to see her with a cast on her arm. "Manager Lin, didn't you go to the grasslands? What happened?"
“Yeah.” Lin Ke stretched out her plaster-cast hand and teased, “Look, I fell off a horse.”
"Oh dear, is it serious?"
"It's okay, just remove the cast and let it heal."
Suddenly, a girl remembered something and exclaimed in surprise, "It seems that President Si also went to the grasslands!"
Lin Ke's heart tightened, and she subconsciously looked over.
Someone asked on her behalf, "How did you know?"
"Xu Lin mentioned before the holiday that he wanted to book a hotel for President Si over there."
"You went with your wife and kids, right?"
"I thought so too, but Xu Lin hesitated and didn't say anything. Maybe something's wrong?"
"I don't know. I guess he probably went with his wife. But speaking of which, I heard that our boss's wife signed a big deal with Jianghe Group. Now her position in the Jiang family is secure."
"That's amazing?"
The topic changed, and Lin Ke breathed a sigh of relief. She stopped listening and quietly slipped away from the crowd.
Before leaving get off work, she wanted to work a little overtime and asked Si Yuming if he was free to pick up the child. He said he had something to do and needed to arrange for Aunt Chen to pick him up.
Meanwhile, in the CEO's office on the top floor, the man placed his phone on the table, raised his eyes, and glanced indifferently at the middle-aged man of about fifty across from him.
The man wore glasses, was rather thin, and his old-fashioned jacket looked somewhat loose on him.
Lin Ke doesn't resemble her father; she's more like her mother, the woman who always had a gentle smile in her memory and was a great pastry maker.
After seeing that he had replied to the message, Lin Qiliang smiled and said, "Yu Ming, has Ke Ke been causing you any trouble lately?"
Si Yuming leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "Her hand is broken, didn't you know?"
"This..." Lin Qiliang, of course, had no idea, and his face showed some embarrassment. "When did this happen?"
Si Yuming seemed to have expected this. He didn't explain, but casually asked, "How old are Jiayan and Jialang this year?"
Lin Qiliang didn't know why his son-in-law suddenly asked this, but since his son-in-law was always cold and aloof, he was naturally happy that he was asking about such family matters, so he quickly said, "Almost nineteen."
"Nineteen? That means Keke was born when she was eight years old."
Looking at the serious expression on the other person's face, Lin Qiliang finally realized that this was not a casual chat. He paused for a moment and replied, "Yes."
"I remember that year you had just gone bankrupt in your business and then had two children. Life must have been tough for you, right?" The man's eyes were sharp, and the imposing authority of someone who had long held a high position was overwhelming.
Lin Qiliang couldn't figure out what he wanted to do, so he could only say, "Yes, that period was tough, but fortunately Keke was sensible and well-behaved, and she was able to help us take care of her younger siblings."
Si Yuming narrowed his eyes, his voice deepening, "You're letting an eight-year-old take care of a baby?"
Lin Qiliang panicked, "No, no, it's just... her aunt and I are both busy..."
The man suddenly laughed, "Why hasn't Keke started calling me 'Mom' all these years?"
"this......"
Si Yuming felt there was no need to ask any more questions. Lin Qiliang, whom he had met a few times after marriage, was weak and indecisive, and did everything he could because of what his wife said behind his back.
Less than six months after losing her mother, Lin Ke welcomed her stepmother and two younger siblings. How well could Lin Ke live in such a poor family?
He paused for a few moments, then took out the bidding materials from the Lin family company from the drawer and said coldly, "The project will proceed according to the normal procedure. You don't need to come here to me again."
After a three- or four-second pause, he added, "There's no need to look for Keke either, it's useless."
Si Yuming dialed an outside line, and soon Xu Lin came in and politely asked Lin Qiliang to connect with his colleagues in the project department.
Lin Qiliang glanced at the resolute-looking man and understood what was going on.
He was standing up for his daughter.
The sad thing is, I couldn't say a word more.
Lin Qiliang sighed inwardly, took the documents, and left, knowing he would have to think of other solutions later.
Ten minutes later, Xu Lin returned and reported: "President Si, President Lin has already connected with Director Zhang of the project department."
"good."
As Xu Lin turned to leave, he heard the boss ask, "Xu Lin, do you have a girlfriend?"
He was a little confused, but answered truthfully, "Yes."
The man sat up straight, his gaze serious as he looked over: "What kind of gifts do girls usually like?"
"ah?"
"Don't you understand?"
No, it's not... Xu Lin swallowed hard, carefully confirming, "You're here to deliver... Lin..."
"yes."
"......"
Xu Lin steadied himself, thought for a moment, and replied to his boss, "My girlfriend prefers bags, perfumes, and lipsticks, but I'm not sure if Manager Lin will like them. I don't remember who told me before, but Manager Lin seems to like dinosaurs?"
That's what Si Xiaotie likes.
Si Yuming felt that asking this question was unnecessary, so he simply said, "Book me a restaurant for tomorrow night, something with a nice atmosphere."
"Yes, Mr. Si."
......
I got home around 8 p.m. after finishing my work. The little girl, who was engrossed in watching cartoons, was sitting in the dinosaur rocking chair in the living room. I quickly called out "Dad" and then kept glancing at the TV.
He pulled the little figure back a bit and raised his voice for her.
"Where's Mom?" Si Yuming looked around. There was no one in the living room or dining room, and the master bedroom was also dark.
"Mom is reading a book."
Sure enough, light was peeking through the crack in the study door. He loosened his tie and set it aside before walking into the study.
I knocked on the door, and a soft voice came from inside: "Come in."
Si Yuming pushed open the door and saw a woman sitting at her desk, engrossed in reading. She was wearing a light pink nightgown with a cashmere shawl draped over her shoulders. The lamplight from the desk lamp enveloped her entire body, separating her from the dim and gentle surroundings.
With her right hand still in a cast, she could only turn the pages with her left hand. The quiet rustling of the paper against the screen contrasted sharply with the loud television outside.
He gently closed the door. The woman glanced back, then turned back, her voice gentle, "You're back."
"Hmm." Si Yuming walked to the table and looked at the books piled on it one by one.
Administrative Aptitude Test, Essay Writing, Past Exam Questions...
He hasn't used the study since he moved in. There are a few professional books in the bedroom, but this is the first time I've seen them.
"Is this the national civil service exam?" he asked, unsure.
Lin Ke didn't hide it and nodded.
What will be on the test?
"Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
"Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Can Meng Jing help you?"
“I can’t help him. He has to pass the exam to get in, and I don’t want him to help me either.”
He nodded, picked up the top book, and flipped through it.
The questions and tests seemed somewhat difficult and were outside his area of expertise. Si Yuming put down his book, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the woman's face in front of him.
Lin Ke was the smartest among all the children. She was serious about everything she did from a young age and was also quite competitive. She even got first place in preschool.
If it weren't for Si Xiaotie, she would probably be working hard for her career like Meng Jing now.
Si Yuming's eyes flickered. "I heard it's difficult?"
"Fortunately, as long as I pass the written test, the interview won't be a problem."
"Um."
He suddenly didn't know what to say; this topic was a blind spot for him.
Two or three minutes later, the person behind her still hadn't left, and Lin Ke felt a little uncomfortable. She turned around and asked, "Have you eaten? If not, I'll ask Aunt Chen to cook you two dishes."
"Okay, wait a minute."
Lin Ke turned back to her book, but the man still hadn't left after a while. "Is there something you want to say to me?"
"No."
"......"
Okay, she has something to say.
Lin Ke put down her book and gave instructions in advance, "I'm going to Moscow for a meeting at the end of this month, so I'll probably have to go there early to prepare. Please take good care of Xiao Tie. I'll also talk to Aunt Chen about it. I've arranged things at the company pretty much. Ma Chanchan and the others can handle the usual work. If there are any special circumstances, please contact me."
Si Yuming asked, "Is it Meng Jing's meeting?"
"Yes, they are short-staffed and are hiring translators from outside, so I'm going to help them."
"good."
I originally came in intending to ask her out for dinner tomorrow night, but judging from this situation, it's not a good idea to have dinner with her.
......
The next afternoon, Si Yuming glanced at his watch, closed the document, and instructed, "Xu Lin, tonight's restaurant dinner is canceled."
"Yes, Mr. Si."
"From now on, cancel any unnecessary work after 4:30 pm or in the evening."
Xu Lin was slightly surprised, "You canceled them all?"
"right."
"Yes, Mr. Si."
Si Yuming left work early to pick up his boss, Xiaotie, and after saying goodbye to her friends, he took her hand.
The kindergarten is right across from the residential area, but the market is a bit of a walk away. Si Xiaotie looked in a different direction than usual and asked, "Dad, where are we going?"
"Go buy groceries and cook for your mom."
Si Xiaotie frowned, "What about Xiaotie?"
Si Yuming found it amusing and looked down at her, "Xiao Tie, do it yourself."
"I'm a child, I can't do it."
"Dad will teach you."
The little girl said seriously, "But I'm only three and a half years old. My mom says I can't use knives or play with fire."
Indeed, Si Yuming changed his mind: "Okay then, Dad will make one for Xiao Tie too."
"Hmph, Daddy's bad."
The father and daughter talked as they walked to the market.
Lin Ke's taste is similar to Si Xiaotie's; both prefer sweet flavors. He picked out a fresh fish to make sweet and sour fish, bought some shrimp that Si Xiaotie likes, some green vegetables, and finally bought half an old hen to make soup.
The little girl stopped in her tracks as she passed a small flower shop next to the vegetable market.
Si Yuming remembered the fresh-cut flowers that were often changed at home, so he took her into the store and asked, "Xiao Tie, what kind of flowers does Mommy like?"
I like sunflowers!
"It's what you like."
"hey-hey."
Finally, I bought a few sunflowers and a bunch of roses. The shop assistant asked if I wanted them wrapped, but he said no, I should just put them in a vase when I got home.
Carrying a handful of vegetables and flowers, Si Xiaotie entered the community through the gate. On the way, he met Aunt Song and her two-year-old granddaughter. The even younger little girl hugged Si Xiaotie as soon as she saw him and sweetly called him "sister".
Si Xiaotie was very happy, and used his little body to hug his sister and spin her around.
Aunt Song saw the man carrying groceries and smiled, "Is Xiao Tie's dad buying groceries to cook?"
Si Yuming wasn't good at small talk, so he politely replied, "Yes."
"That's really great." Aunt Song said with envy, "My son doesn't even cook anymore, he rarely even goes into the kitchen. It would be a miracle if he ever cooked a meal for me."
Si Yuming smiled, glanced at his watch, and knew that Lin Ke would be back from get off work soon. He called Si Xiaotie, said goodbye to Aunt Song, and went upstairs.
We told Aunt Chen to go home and rest early, since no one was home.
He first turned on the TV for Si Xiaotie, then went into the kitchen to prepare the food.
At seven o'clock, the sound of the door being unlocked came from the doorway.
Si Xiaotie immediately jumped off the dinosaur rocking chair to greet his mother.
As soon as Lin Ke entered the house, she noticed something was wrong. She put down her bag, took her daughter's hand, and walked inside. When they reached the living room, she finally understood why.
Two more bouquets of flowers appeared on the coffee table, and the person cooking in the kitchen was the aloof, serious, and domineering boss of Entropy Domain.
He cooked for the second time in less than a month, and Lin Ke felt something was off. She squatted down and asked her daughter, "Is your dad in a good mood or a bad mood today?"
Si Xiaotie had no idea and honestly said, "I don't know, but Dad said he'd cook for Mom."
"Make it for me?"
"Yes."
Lin Ke was even more puzzled.
She went back to her bedroom to change her clothes, and the last dish on the dining table was served.
The three dishes and one soup all looked very appealing.
These past few days, her right hand has been inconvenient, so she has had to use her left hand. Her left hand is becoming more and more dexterous. Just as she was about to get some soup, the man stretched out his long arm, took the spoon, and scooped a bowl of soup for her, placing it in front of her.
"......Thanks."
A few minutes later, she put half of the peeled shrimp into her bowl and gave the other half to Si Xiaotie.
Lin Ke was shocked again; this kind of treatment was something only her daughter had received before.
She looked up and met the man's gaze.
A moment later, he moved away without saying a word, and took a tissue to wipe Si Xiaotie's hands that were grabbing shrimp.
After dinner, Si Xiaotie went to play with Lego, and Lin Ke finally had a chance to talk to him. "Why are you cooking? Is something wrong with Aunt Chen?"
Seeing her surprised expression, Si Yuming felt a strange emotion. "It's just cooking a meal, isn't that normal?"
"oh......"
That seemed to make sense. Lin Ke had no more doubts and went into the study to read.
As I walked to the door, I turned back and looked at the person who was tidying up the kitchen and preparing to wash the dishes.
He was still wearing his white shirt, which he had pulled up into his crisp trousers. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and tall stature seemed out of place in the cramped kitchen.
With her sleeves half-rolled up, her forearm muscles tensed slightly as she wiped the countertop. After wiping, she picked up the pot and put it in the sink to wash it. Her movements were practiced and composed, as if it were an extremely ordinary daily routine.
Lin Ke looked at the two bouquets of flowers in the living room and was momentarily lost in thought.
......
It was bedtime for Si Xiaotie, but Lin Ke was still in the study. Si Yuming was in charge of coaxing him to sleep.
He patted his daughter on the shoulder and read aloud from the picture book, "The little squirrel has many friends. Many, many small animals came to its house for its birthday, including its favorite squirrel dad and squirrel mom, and its best friend..."
The little girl interrupted, excited and eager, "I want to have a birthday too! I want to have a birthday too! I want to invite Yuanyuan, Gu Yiyi, Teacher Bai, and Teacher Xiaomei to our house for cake!"
Si Yuming replied coldly, "Your birthday is in February, it hasn't arrived yet."
"Can't we go ahead with it?"
"cannot."
"Okay... So when is Daddy's birthday?"
"Dad's birthday has passed."
"What about Mom's?"
"Mom's birthday is very close to Xiaotie's, right after New Year's Day."
Upon hearing this, Si Xiaotie threw off the covers and ran out of bed. She searched her little wardrobe for a long time before finally finding a dinosaur doll. She climbed back onto the bed and beamed, "I'm going to give Mommy my favorite Stegosaurus baby!"
Si Yuming smiled and said, "Okay, Mom will definitely like it."
"Mmm!" The little girl snuggled into her blanket, hugging the dinosaur, and murmured to herself, her big, bright eyes sparkling, "I love Mommy the most too..."
Si Yuming looked down and saw that Si Xiaotie's face resembled his mother's, especially his eyes, which were bright and sparkling, often filled with starlight, and his eyelashes were long and curled.
Her personality is like her mother's; when she's being mischievous, she's like little Lin Ke, and when she's being well-behaved, she's like the current Lin Ke.
He touched his daughter's face and asked gently, "Don't you like Daddy?"
I like it~
"Then..." the man began softly, "Does Mom like Dad?"
"I love it!" the girl said without hesitation, twisting the little dinosaur in her hand, her voice still full of childlike innocence. "Little Tie also likes baby Stegosaurus~"
Si Yuming smiled helplessly and lowered his head to kiss her cheek.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Here it is~ a little red envelope~
Then tomorrow's update will be delayed; there will be no morning update, it will be updated at 11:30 PM.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com