Chapter 76 "Uncle...I like you so much"
As soon as Lu Yu and Lin Che drove to the door of their house, they saw Lu Jinshu wrapped in a beige cashmere coat, holding a chubby little ball in his arms, stamping his feet and breathing out white air.
"Why are you standing outside waiting?" Lin Che hurriedly got out of the car and carefully took the sleeping little guy from Lu Jinshu's arms.
Lu Yuan smacked his lips in his sleep, rubbed his little face against Lin Che's chest, and unconsciously grabbed his collar.
Lu Yu took out the luggage from the trunk, his gaze lingering on his sister's red and swollen eyes for a second, "Let's talk inside." He picked up the two suitcases with one hand, and the other hand naturally rested on Lin Che's lower back.
Warm air blew in. Lin Che looked down at Lu Yu'an, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. The little guy's eyelashes cast fine shadows in the light, and a little glistening saliva hung at the corner of his mouth.
Lu Jinshu took off his coat and hung it up, his voice a little hoarse, "Brother, I... want to ask you for a favor."
Lin Che was still holding Lu Yu'an in his arms. Lu Jinshu, who was usually lively and cheerful, suddenly asked for help with red eyes and a soft temper. He panicked and quickly looked up at Lu Yu.
"What's the matter?" Lu Yu poured a cup of hot water and placed it in front of Lu Jinshu, then sat down next to Lin Che.
"I want you to help me take care of Lu Yu'an for a few days." As Lu Jinshu said this, his eyes unconsciously fell on Lin Che. As long as Lin Che agreed, his brother would definitely agree.
Lin Che's fingers unconsciously stroked Lu Yu'an's soft hair. The child's even breathing was particularly clear in the quiet living room. He looked up at Lu Jinshu. The other's eyes, which always contained a smile, were now red and swollen like two walnuts. Mascara smudged on the lower eyelids, forming two faint gray shadows.
"How many days will you take Yu'an with you?" Lin Che repeated her words, his voice unconsciously lowered, fearing to wake the little girl in his arms. "Of course, but...what happened?"
Lu Yu's arms reached around from behind and quietly took the sleeping Lu Yu'an. The little guy wrinkled his nose during the transfer, but soon found a comfortable position in his uncle's broad arms, rubbing his little face against Lu Yu's chest.
Lu Jinshu's fingers were twisted together, their knuckles white. She lifted the cup of hot water in front of her, and in the steam, Lin Che saw her lips trembling slightly.
"It's just... I have some personal matters to attend to." She took a sip of water, her eyes drifting to the coats hanging in the hallway. "Three or four days, a week at most. I've packed Yu'an's formula, diapers, and a change of clothes. They're in the blue travel bag in the hallway."
Lin Che and Lu Yu exchanged a look.
"Jinshu, are you hungry?" Lin Che suddenly asked, her voice deliberately light. "Have you tried the seafood porridge that Lu Yu made?"
Lu Jinshu was stunned for a moment, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the cup: "I...actually, I don't have much of an appetite."
"It's delicious." Lin Che turned sideways and winked at Lu Yu, asking him to hurry up and get it.
Lu Yu looked at Lin Che's eyes full of thoughts, lowered his head and smiled dotingly, then stood up and walked straight to the refrigerator.
Lin Che took the opportunity to gently place Lu Yu'an in his arms on the sofa. The little guy turned over in his sleep, his little hands grabbing the tassels of the sofa cushion.
He tiptoed towards the hallway and saw a bulging blue travel bag with a small dinosaur-shaped suitcase next to it. When he bent down to check, he found a bottle of children's fever-reducing medicine and a digital thermometer tucked into the side pocket of the bag.
"Even this has been prepared..." Lin Che muttered to himself, his fingertips touching the cool surface of the medicine bottle.
He turned his head and saw Lu Jinshu holding the phone, probably replying to someone's message, his red eyes couldn't be hidden even by his drooping eyelashes.
Lin Che shook her head silently, picked up Lu Yuan's luggage and walked upstairs.
Lu Yu stood at the kitchen door, his slender figure enveloped in the warm yellow light. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing his well-defined wrists. He was still holding a wooden spoon, stirring the porridge in the pot.
"Is it Jiang Tingyun?"
The question was asked lightly, but it was like a thunderclap hitting Lu Jinshu's ears.
She looked up suddenly, her pupils shrank slightly, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the phone, her knuckles turning white.
Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but also as if a scar had been unexpectedly uncovered, and even her breathing stopped for a moment.
In the kitchen, the seafood porridge was bubbling, and the steaming hot air was lingering in the air.
Lu Jinshu opened his mouth, his throat tight, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "...How do you know?"
Lu Yu didn't answer immediately, but turned around and stirred the porridge with a wooden spoon, neither hurried nor slow.
"You only have this expression when you mention him." His tone was light, but every word was clear. "It's like someone is strangling your throat, and you even have to breathe carefully."
Lu Jinshu's fingers curled unconsciously, her nails digging into her palms, causing a slight pain. She lowered her eyelashes, which cast a shadow under her eyes, covering up her momentary embarrassment.
"He's back?" Lu Yu asked, his voice was soft but could not be avoided.
Lu Jinshu was silent for a second, and finally said "hmm" softly.
Lin Che came down from upstairs, clutching a light gray down jacket with the tag still attached to the cuff. He gently shook it open and walked over to Lu Jinshu, saying with a hint of helplessness, "This is new. Your brother's is too big for you. Try mine."
He reached out and put the down jacket on her shoulders. "It's so cold outside, why don't you wear more clothes?"
Lu Jinshu was stunned, her fingers instinctively grasping the edge of her down jacket. The garment still lingered with the faint scent of laundry detergent, mingling with a hint of Lin Che's unique warmth. She looked down at the cuffs, where a small embroidery—Lin Che's initials, custom-made by Lu Yu—was found.
"Thank you..." Her voice was very soft, as if something was choking her throat.
Lu Yu walked out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of steaming seafood porridge. He glanced at his sister, who was wrapped in a down jacket, then at Lin Che, and placed the bowl of porridge in front of Lu Jinshu. "Eat something first."
Lu Jinshu stared at the bowl of rich, fragrant porridge. Shrimp and crabmeat floated on the surface, garnished with chopped green onions. It was her favorite dish from childhood. Her eyes suddenly reddened again, and her fingers clenched tightly around the corner of her down jacket.
"Eat. Once you're full, you'll forget everything." Lin Che said hurriedly, noticing Lu Jinshu's unstable mood.
Lu Jinshu lowered her head, her trembling fingers gripping the porcelain spoon as she scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. The hot rice, coated in the sweetness of the seafood, melted on her tongue, yet she couldn't taste anything. Tears streamed down her cheeks, silently falling into the porridge.
Lu Yu's palm fell on the top of her head, and his warm palm gently rubbed her hair.
This action is exactly the same as when she was a child - every time she fell down or was sad, her brother would always comfort her silently like this.
"elder brother......"
Lu Jinshu's voice was broken in sobs, and the spoon fell into the bowl with a "clang". She suddenly collapsed and grabbed the corner of Lu Yu's clothes, resting her forehead on his waist, and her thin shoulders trembled violently.
Lu Yu's hand slid down her long hair to her back, patting it gently like he was petting a kitten. Lin Che silently handed her a tissue and saw Lu Yu mouth the words "Go look after Yu'an" to him.
The little guy on the sofa had sat up and was rubbing his eyes, looking over here blankly.
Lin Che quickly walked over and squatted down, blocking the child's view. "An An, are you awake? Do you want some milk?"
Lu Yuan shook her head and grabbed Lin Che's collar with her soft hands: "Why is Mommy crying?"
Amidst the aroma of porridge wafting from the kitchen, Lu Jinshu's sobs gradually faded. When she raised her head, a dark stain of water had spread across the waist of Lu Yu's shirt.
"I'm sorry..." she said hoarsely, taking the tissue Lin Che handed her and wiping her face roughly. Her mascara smudged even more, leaving two gray streaks under her eyes.
Lu Yu unbuttoned his cuffs with one hand and pushed the bowl of porridge towards her: "Finish eating."
Those three words carried an irresistible meaning. Lu Jinshu sniffed and picked up the spoon again. This time, she ate seriously, spoonful after spoonful, as if completing some important ritual.
Lin Che came over, carrying Lu Yu'an. The child leaned on her shoulder, looking at her curiously. Lu Jinshu forced a smile and reached out to touch her son's chubby face. "Mom is fine."
"An An, you can live with your uncle these few days, okay? You must be obedient, okay?"
Lu Yu'an frowned and looked at Lin Che seriously, then turned to look at his uncle and nodded solemnly.
——
After giving Lu Yu'an a bath, Lin Che held the sleeping baby and gently placed him on the bed.
Lu Jinshu, who was standing outside the door, looked at it twice with red eyes and then closed the door with reluctance.
Lu Jinshu stood at the entrance, his fingers tightly gripping the strap of his bag until his knuckles turned white. "Well, I have an appointment with my lawyer tomorrow morning."
Lu Yu stared at her silently, his gaze lingering for a moment on her swollen eyelids and her bitten lower lip. He turned and retrieved his car keys from the closet. "I'll take you there."
"No thanks, I'll take a taxi..."
Lu Yu interrupted her, his voice low, "You can't get a taxi at this time."
Lin Che tiptoed out of the bedroom, a cashmere scarf in hand. "Put this on." He expertly tied the scarf for Lu Jinshu and slipped a hand warmer into her coat pocket. "Relax, I'll send you a video of An An when I have time."
Lu Jinshu's eyes were red again. She hurriedly lowered her head to hide it, but she heard Lin Che continue, "Don't worry about An An. He said last time that he wanted to eat the soufflé I made. Tomorrow is just the right time..."
"Lin Che——" Lu Yu suddenly spoke, signaling him to look in the direction of the bedroom.
A little head popped out of the door at some point - Lu Yu'an was standing there barefoot, holding a dinosaur doll tightly in his arms, his big eyes filled with tears.
"Mom, are you leaving?" The child's crying voice was like a blunt knife, cutting through everyone's heart.
Lu Jinshu froze in place, the hem of her coat wrinkled. She took a deep breath, squatted down, and opened her arms. "An An, come here."
The little guy rushed into her arms like a cannonball, rubbing his warm little face against her neck. Lu Jinshu could smell the faint scent of milk shower gel on his hair, which was the one Lin Che had used when she bathed him just now.
"Mommy's going to fight monsters," she whispered in her son's ear, combing her fingers through his soft hair, "just like Ultraman. I'll be back to pick up An An after I'm done, okay?"
Lu Yu'an raised his tearful eyes and asked, "Is it a huge monster?"
"Yeah, it's really big." Lu Jinshu nuzzled Lu Yu'an's fair face. The child turned his head to look at the two people standing beside him, and suddenly raised his pinky finger: "Let's make a pinky promise."
——
It started snowing outside the window again. In the end, Lu Yu insisted on sending Lu Jinshu home, and Lin Che stayed at home to accompany Lu Yuan to sleep.
After taking a shower, Lu Yu'an exuded a faint scent of milk. His hair was still wet and was gently rubbed by Lin Che with a towel.
"Uncle Lin." The little guy suddenly raised his head, blinking his big eyes, "Should I stop calling you Uncle Lin?"
Lin Che was stunned and paused: "...Then what does An An want to be called?"
Lu Yu'an tilted his head, as if thinking seriously, and after a while he murmured softly, "Uncle."
Lin Che's breath hitched, his heart clenched gently. He looked down at the little girl in his arms. Lu Yu'an's eyes were half-lidded, her long eyelashes casting fine shadows in the light. Her cheeks were a faint pink from having just showered, making her look sweet and soft.
He couldn't help but lower his head and kissed the child lightly on the forehead, his voice incredibly gentle: "Okay, An An can call you whatever you want."
Lu Yuan hummed in satisfaction, nudged his little head into his arms, found a comfortable position, and murmured vaguely: "Uncle... I like you so much."
Lin Che patted his back gently and coaxed him in a low voice, "Uncle likes An An, too."
The child's breathing gradually evened out, his small hands still unconsciously clutching the corner of Lin Che's clothes, as if afraid he would leave. Lin Che looked at him quietly for a moment, his fingertips gently brushing against his soft forehead hair, his heart softening.
Outside the window, the snow is still falling silently——
Inside the house, there was warmth.
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