Chapter 2 II
"Mom! I think I smell something burning..."
Ren Yunyou peeked his little head out from the kitchen doorway.
He rested his hands on the glass platform without moving, seemingly lost in thought again.
"How about we order takeout, Mom?" Ren Yunyou walked to her side and took her hand.
Renyi quickly stirred the meat in the pot a couple more times, and fortunately it hadn't burned yet.
"We'll be eating soon, Yunyun, take the bowls and chopsticks out."
Ren Yunyou obediently placed the bowl and chopsticks on the dining table.
She ate dinner alone with her mother.
Ruan Mianmian did not go home with them.
A phone call came in, and Ruan Mianmian answered it as she walked out of the alley, brushing past Ren Yi.
The two didn't even exchange a single, slightly longer sentence.
He tried to grab her wrist, but was a step too late and missed.
"Mianmian!" She turned around and saw that Ruan Mianmian had already gotten into an unfamiliar car.
They no longer had the strength to catch up.
Is Mianmian trying to avoid her?
I have absolutely no clue what to do.
What exactly went wrong?
Mingming was perfectly fine on New Year's Day. Ruan Mianmian happily told her that the tutoring center was doing very well this year, and the year-end bonus might be higher than last year. She was also planning whether to replace the old appliances at home.
Before the two could discuss it further, Ruan Mianmian left home the day before New Year's Eve and went on a trip alone.
Was it the trivial matters at home that made Mianmian feel tired? That's why she couldn't wait to leave.
Or perhaps it was because she did something wrong that angered Ruan Mianmian, which is why she suddenly distanced herself from her.
Habitual self-reflection.
Like a film reel on an old-fashioned projector, frame by frame, she forced herself to recall it carefully.
Two years ago, Ren Yi was participating in an awards competition, and often left all the housework to Ruan Mianmian because of work.
Last year, Ren Yunyou underwent surgery for a laryngeal cyst, and during that time, Ruan Mianmian took care of all of Ren Yunyou's studies and life.
Last semester, they planned to go on a trip, but it was disrupted again by some work-related issues.
That's too much.
He gripped the spatula tightly in his hand.
Why does she always realize her mistakes only after they've happened?
Mianmian must have been utterly disappointed in her to leave.
So, if she obediently admits her mistakes and corrects them, will Mianmian come back?
Renyi seemed to have figured everything out.
The delicious and visually appealing shredded pork with garlic sauce is ready to serve, along with a cold salad and Yunyun's favorite tomato and egg soup, all placed securely on the table.
Ren Yunyou served rice to his mother first, and then served rice to himself.
"Has anything interesting happened in class lately?" Renyi asked her.
"Hmm... A student from the next class brought his pet hamster to school. During class, it jumped out of his backpack and ran all over the classroom, scaring the English teacher so much that she jumped onto her stool!"
The little girl spoke vividly, and Renyi listened attentively. Sometimes she would deliberately stop halfway through her story, and Renyi would follow up with questions. When she got excited, the little girl would put down her chopsticks and gesture wildly, and Renyi would laugh with his head tilted back. Finally, she would pull out a tissue.
"Wipe your mouth, little kitten."
After dinner, Ren Yunyou volunteered to wash the dishes with Renyi. Renyi brought her a small stool so she could stand on it and reach the sink.
"When will I be as tall as Mommy?" she pouted, annoyed by her height.
"If Yunyun eats well, she will grow taller, and maybe she will even be taller than Mommy."
Before bed, Ren Yunyou would take the craft book to the living room and work on it while watching the daily episode of the cartoon, while Ren Yi kept her company, lying on the sofa reading.
Ren Yiben wanted to help her take a bath, but Ren Yunyou resolutely refused.
She's a big kid now, and people will laugh at her if she still needs her mom to bathe her.
"I want my mom to stay with me at the door." Just as Renyi was about to leave, she opened the door a crack again.
"Okay." Renyi then brought over a small stool and sat down in front of the bathroom door.
After Yunyun finished washing, it was her mother's turn.
She wanted to sleep next to her mother tonight, so she ran over and carried the blanket her mother was using to her own bed.
When Ren Yunyou returned to his room and saw the bare bed, he immediately understood Ren Yunyou's clever trick, and he started drying his hair faster.
"Which storybook does Yunyun want Mommy to read to her today?" Before bed, I randomly pick up a few storybooks and let her choose.
The little girl looked at it from all angles, but she wasn't very satisfied.
“I want to hear Mom sing,” Ren Yunyou suddenly said.
Ruan Mianmian often sang to her.
She's only seven years old, the age when she misses her mom.
"Okay, what song would Yunyun like to hear?"
"Anything is fine, I like all the songs Mom sings." Ren Yunyou had never heard Ren Yi sing before, and his eyes were full of anticipation.
He took off his glasses, lay down on the bed, tucked Ren Yunyou in with her blanket, and held her in his arms.
Singing is not her forte, but fortunately she has a very gentle voice.
She placed her hand on Ren Yunyou's back and patted him gently:
My darling baby/I'll give you something sweet/So you can sleep soundly tonight.
"My little devil, my little devil/I'll tease your eyes and brows/So you'll love this world."
"Wah la la la la la my baby / When I'm tired, I have someone to keep me company..."
Ren Yunyou drifted off to sleep, smelling the soap and body lotion on his mother's body.
Accompanied by the patter of rain, the damp moonlight fell on my pillow.
In her rented room, Ruan Mianmian put on her headphones and played a recording of a random humming song that she had listened to countless times.
Unseen tears and sobs were crammed into the cramped space.
How long will it take for dawn to break?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com