Chapter 25, "Let's start over."...
Lin Ke didn't know why things had taken this turn, and Si Yuming threw the question back at her.
He said he wasn't in a hurry and was giving himself time to think it over.
Everything was normal after that. After taking a bath, they still cuddled and slept together. The next morning, he served Si Xiaotie breakfast and prepared to send him to school. There was no change in their behavior.
But I couldn't sleep all night.
Think about how to give him a formal reply.
The father and daughter put on their shoes, grabbed their schoolbags, and went out. Si Xiaotie kissed her and said goodbye. The man, without being reminded, leaned over and kissed her back, naturally saying goodbye as well.
Si Xiaotie looked at his parents from left to right, then smiled at Lin Ke, "Mom, you have to be happy."
Lin Ke smiled and touched her face, "I know, baby."
At 8:30, Si Xiaotie took Teacher Bai's hand, waved goodbye to his dad, and said, "Dad, you should be happy too."
Dad nodded and said okay. Si Xiaotie followed Teacher Bai into the house. After taking two steps, she turned back. Dad was still in the same spot, so she smiled at him again.
When I looked back for the third time, my father was finally gone.
After all the children arrived, it was time for breakfast. When Yuanyuan was still around, Si Xiaotie would talk to her. But after Yuanyuan transferred schools, Si Xiaotie's main chatterbox became Gu Yiyi.
But today, Gu Yiyi noticed that Si Xiaotie seemed a little unhappy, sullen, and lying motionless on the table.
He thought for a moment, then picked up his favorite steamed bun, jumped off the chair, and walked to her side. "Xiao Tie, here you go!"
Si Xiaotie pouted and turned to lie on the other side of her face.
Gu Yiyi then walked to the other side.
Si Xiaotie changed again, her flushed little face scrunched up on the table.
Gu Yiyi walked over again and this time pressed her down to stop her from moving. "Xiao Tie, are you unhappy?"
The girl looked aggrieved, her little mouth pouting. "My mom and dad had a fight. They didn't talk to each other this morning."
In the morning, Dad secretly glanced at Mom several times, and Mom also secretly glanced at Dad several times. They both looked very serious, just like Teacher Bai's grumpy face when the children misbehave. Si Xiaotie didn't understand what was going on, but since her parents were unhappy, she was unhappy too.
"Huh?" Gu Yi plopped down on the empty stool next to her. "Are they getting a divorce?"
What is divorce?
"Hmm... divorce means separation? Like Yuanyuan leaving us." Gu Yiyi scratched the back of her head. "I don't know."
"Will arguing lead to divorce?"
"I don't know, but whenever my mom and dad argue, she says she wants a divorce."
"Did your parents get divorced?"
"not yet."
Si Xiaotie didn't know the specific meaning of divorce, but hearing it made him even sadder. "Gu Yiyi, I don't want my parents to separate. I want them to be with me forever."
"Well, then Xiao Tie's parents shouldn't fight, they should make up."
“Yes!” The girl sat up straight and looked at the person, “Gu Yiyi.”
Si Xiaotie suddenly had an idea.
......
Lin Ke went to pick up her daughter from school at 4:30.
The girl, who was usually full of energy, was a little listless today and could barely walk. Lin Ke picked her up, and the little girl nestled softly against her shoulder.
Her voice was soft: "Mom... do I have a cold?"
Judging from his appearance, it might be, but he was clearly dressed properly when he went out today. How did he catch a cold again?
Lin Ke touched her forehead; her temperature was normal. "Is Xiao Tie feeling unwell?"
"A little bit."
"Let's go home first."
"Um......"
When they got home, the little girl was even more listless. Lin Ke changed her clothes and carried her to bed. Si Xiaotie struggled to open one eye and asked, "Mommy... do I have a cold?"
Lin Ke thought she was scared and comforted her, "It's okay, baby. We'll rest if you catch a cold."
"Hmm..." Si Xiaotie took her hand, his voice soft and gentle, "Where's Daddy?"
"Dad is still at work."
"When will he be back?"
Lin Ke glanced at her watch, unable to give her a definite answer, "Mom doesn't know either, Dad will be back after get off work."
"Okay, Mom, I want to drink water."
"Okay, Mom will pour it for you."
After his mother left the room, Si Xiaotie dragged his heavy little body to find the tablet.
Her mother taught her how to use the tablet to video chat with her father. After fiddling with it for a while, she finally managed to make a video call to her father.
Dad answered immediately, but there were many uncles and aunts on his end. Si Xiaotie couldn't care less; two tears streamed down his face. "Dad, I have a cold... I'm not feeling well... Please come back soon..."
The man's voice tightened, "Where's Mom?"
"I feel unwell, and my head is spinning."
Is Grandma Chen home?
"Waaaaah, Daddy, I miss you."
"Dad is going back now."
"Um!"
It seemed like Mom had poured water and was coming this way. The little girl immediately tapped the red circle with her little finger, then haphazardly stuffed the tablet into the blanket and lay down.
Si Xiaotie really caught a cold. He hadn't been lying down for long when he started yawning and had a runny nose. When his temperature was taken, he also developed a low-grade fever.
Lin Ke suspected it was the flu, so she called Teacher Bai. Teacher Bai was surprised: "How did you catch a cold? It was cold today and the kindergarten didn't arrange any outdoor activities. You were also well covered up with your blankets during your nap."
"Teacher Bai, have any other children in the kindergarten recently had a cold or fever?"
No.
"I understand. I'll ask for a day off for her tomorrow. Thank you, Teacher Bai."
"Okay, it's alright."
After the call ended, Lin Ke looked down at the little one whimpering on the bed. Their eyes met, and the little one quickly grabbed the blanket and pulled it over their head. A couple of seconds later, they peeked out with their big, bright eyes again, "Mommy..."
Lin Ke tapped her forehead, "I'll settle the score with you after you're better."
Si Xiaotie grinned, spitting out an achoo as he spoke, "Daddy... Achoo... Is Daddy back?"
"Not yet? You miss him that much?"
"Okay, Mom, you call Dad."
"OK."
As Lin Ke went out, Aunt Chen walked over, holding something in her hand. "Ke Ke, I took Mr. Lin's clothes to the dry cleaners today. This is from his pocket. I think it's quite important. Please keep it."
Lin Ke was stunned when she saw what was in Aunt Chen's palm.
A slightly faded amulet, with the character "珂" in the lower right corner reminding me that she once sewed it by hand.
Lin Ke picked it up to confirm, and it was indeed something she had made herself. "How did he get this?"
Aunt Chen: "I don't know, it was in the inner pocket of the suit jacket."
Aunt Chen left to cook, and she stood there for a while, slowly sorting out her thoughts.
Could all that stuff he talked about last night be related to this talisman?
The doorbell rang as it unlocked, and Lin Ke put the amulet into her pocket.
The man walked in anxiously, and paused when he saw her. "You're home?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Si Yuming didn't think much of it, "How about Xiao Tie?"
"I have a cold and a low-grade fever, and I'm resting now."
"I'll go take a look."
Si Yuming pushed open the door to the children's room. The little girl was still awake and looked over expectantly, "Daddy."
He sat down on the edge of the bed and first touched her forehead.
I did develop a fever, and my face was a little red.
Si Yuming pinched her cheek, pretending to be serious, "Did you take off your clothes again?"
"No, that's not it."
"Then how did you catch a cold?"
“It’s just…” Si Xiaotie blinked and tugged at his father’s sleeve, “Dad, I’m hungry.”
"Let's eat."
Once the child's father returned, Lin Ke didn't have to worry about much; feeding and soothing the child were all taken care of by him.
However, this little girl is a bit of a handful. After finishing her meal, she insists on pulling her parents to sleep together, so the couple squeezes onto her small, 1.5-meter-long bed, one on each side.
The temperature outside was low, and it seemed like snowflakes were falling. Lin Ke covered her with a blanket and said, "Okay, go to sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow after a good night's sleep."
Si Xiaotie looked at his parents from left to right, then lay down comfortably, a smile spreading across his rosy cheeks. "Daddy, tell me a story."
Si Yuming glanced at his daughter, then at his wife, before turning to pick up a science book from the bedside table and beginning to read.
"Brachiosaurus lived during the Late Jurassic period, mainly found in North America and Africa, and was about 22-26 meters long, with some reaching 12-15 meters in height..."
Si Xiaotie interrupted, "How many meters is 22 meters?"
“…” Si Yuming thought for a moment and said, “It’s about the length of two buses.”
The little girl was shocked. Her big, bright black eyes widened. "Bigger than a baby Stegosaurus!"
“Yes.” Si Yuming continued reading, “Brachiosaurus was herbivorous, feeding on the leaves of tall coniferous trees, cycads, and ginkgo trees…”
As she read, she noticed that Si Xiaotie was playing with her hands. A minute later, the little girl held the two adults' hands together.
The couple looked up at the same time, exchanged a glance, and then looked down at the "sick" girl who was happily playing with her hands, and smiled helplessly.
Lin Ke asked, "Baby, what are you doing?"
Si Xiaotie suddenly had another great idea, "Mom, let's play a kissing game!"
"??"
The girl tilted her head back, gave her mother a big kiss, and then looked at her father with a giggle: "Now it's Daddy's turn to kiss Mommy!"
Si Yuming didn't know what Si Xiaotie was up to; maybe it was just a game. He leaned over and kissed Lin Ke.
"I want a kiss on the lips~"
Lin Ke found it amusing, "Si Lezhen!"
Si Xiaotie said in a serious tone, "When children kiss each other on the cheek, parents should kiss each other on the lips."
"......"
Si Yuming chuckled, then leaned in and kissed his wife's lips briefly before pulling away.
"Now it's Mom's turn!"
Lin Ke had no choice but to kiss Si Yuming as well.
Si Xiaotie was overjoyed, hugging both his father and mother, "Daddy, keep telling the story~"
Si Yuming continued, and this time the little girl didn't cause any more trouble and listened attentively.
The man's voice was gentle, and soon Si Xiaotie became sleepy. Lin Ke also closed her eyes and breathed evenly in the gentle lullaby.
After seven or eight minutes, Si Yuming put down his science book and looked at the two sleeping soundly, one big and one small.
At this moment, the mother and daughter looked like they were cut from the same mold, with long eyelashes, straight noses, and pouty jawlines, exactly the same.
He watched quietly for a while, then pulled Si Xiaotie out of his mother's arms, covered her with a blanket, got out of bed, went around to the other side, and picked up Lin Ke.
Lin Ke wasn't sleeping soundly; she woke up as soon as he hugged her.
They looked at each other, speechless.
The snow fell more heavily outside the window, and the man's footsteps were steady and powerful.
Once back in the bedroom, Lin Ke called out to the person, "Si Yuming."
She took the amulet from the bedside table drawer and asked him, "What's this?"
The man stood by the bed, his expression remaining relatively calm upon seeing the talisman. He lifted his eyelids, waiting for her next words.
"Did you get it from Meng Jing?"
"yes."
"So all that you said last night, so you asked me if I have feelings for you?" Lin Ke laughed, "Did you still think I liked Meng Jing?"
He didn't answer, his lips pressed tightly together.
Lin Ke found the whole thing absurd, but thanks to the talisman, the veil that had been covering their eyes was lifted.
She was surprised by what he said last night, so she has been seriously considering it all day.
It has been more than three months since he returned in September. These three months have been completely different from his previous life. He has returned to his family and become a good father, and Si Xiaotie is happier every day.
The couple seemed to be slowly growing closer, able to discuss things and touch upon some emotions they hadn't experienced before.
The examples of Zhang Man and Si Yun taught me that men are all bad. I might find someone better after leaving him, but I'm more likely to run into a scumbag.
There's so much more... In the past, I always had idealistic thoughts, thinking that I and Si Yuming would divorce peacefully, so that the harm to Si Xiaotie wouldn't be so great. But the reality told me that harm is harm, and there is no distinction between big and small.
More importantly, her heart seemed to grow up slowly, no longer clinging to the past, and able to see the future clearly.
She is already luckier than most people, so whether his answer is responsibility or love, as long as he is willing to continue walking with her, she is willing to explore more possibilities with him.
As for that agreement, she believed a proper solution would eventually be found.
Lin Ke held the talisman in her palm and said seriously, "This talisman is not for Brother Meng Jing, it's for me. We met a few times in college. After he learned about my major, he lent me a few textbooks. I put the talisman in the books and forgot to take it out. When I was packing my luggage after graduation, he happened to be at school, so I returned the books to him."
"Si Yuming, if Aunt Chen hadn't discovered this talisman, would you have condemned me? Am I just a frivolous person? How could I love someone else yet still marry you and have a child with you?"
Lin Ke looked into his eyes and said, “In the blink of an eye, we have been married for five years, but we are still like strangers, especially after Xiao Tie was born. Do you know where the problem lies? We are apart most of the time, we are not close, we do not communicate or interact... You treat me as your wife, but you do not treat me as your lover.”
“Of course, I was wrong too…” Lin Ke bit her lower lip. “Before you came back in September, I did think about divorce. I felt that I could live without you. I could raise my daughter on my own. Maybe my daughter and I would be happier if we got divorced.”
Si Yuming didn't let her continue. He took two steps forward, hugged her tightly, and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry."
Lin Ke leaned on his shoulder, smelling the familiar sweet milky scent of the shower gel, and closed her eyes.
Finally, a hole was torn open.
"Lin Ke, let's start over."
-----------------------
Author's note: Here comes the little red envelope~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com