Yang Ziyun wasn't seriously injured. Huo Zhixun stayed for three days before she sent him back to take care of important business. Huo Zhixun naturally wanted to take his wife back with him, but Yang Ziyun was thinking about her daughter-in-law and her grandson, so she refused to leave and sent him back alone.
A few days later, Grandpa also went back to B City.
Yang Ziyun, Ahui, and the two bodyguards stayed behind. The two women spent their days preparing delicious meals for Ling Ruoke, focusing on how to nourish her body. The two bodyguards accompanied her to and from work every day to protect her safety.
New Year's Day has passed, and the Lunar New Year is just over a month away. All projects are entering their busiest phase, and the year-end season is particularly busy with events and prone to problems. Ling Ruoke is pregnant and can't go out, so Xia Mo is handling everything remotely from the office.
That afternoon, Ling Ruoke was busy replying to urgent emails from clients in her office when the phone suddenly rang. Without even looking at the caller ID, she pressed the answer button, held the phone to her ear, and started typing. "Hello, who is this?"
"Mommy, sob sob..." The person on the other end cried out "Mommy!" and then started to cry.
Ling Ruoke stopped what she was doing, picked up her phone, and frowned slightly. "Who are you?" Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. "Zhuang Yuqi, is that you?"
"Waaah, Mommy..."
This was tantamount to confirming that the person opposite was Zhuang Yuqi. Ling Ruoke paused for a moment before asking, "Zhuang Yuqi, what's wrong? Did your classmate bully you, or did your father scold you? Don't cry, tell me what happened, okay?"
She sniffled and said pitifully, "Mom, I'm outside your house, but they said you don't live here anymore. Where are you?" As she spoke, she looked like she was about to cry again.
Ling Ruoke suddenly stood up, her voice urgent. "You're in Z City? In my old place, right?"
"Um."
"Then stay there and don't move. I'll come get you. Just sit by the flower bed downstairs and don't go anywhere, okay?" Ling Ruoke instructed as she picked up her keys and headed out the door.
I went downstairs, got in my car, and headed straight for Happiness Residential Area. Before I even reached the building, I saw a small figure sitting by the flowerbed. Who else could it be but Zhuang Yuqi!
As soon as Zhuang Yuqi saw the car appear, he stood up and ran towards it.
Ling Ruoke stopped the car and got out. Before she could even stand properly, Zhuang Yuqi lunged at her. She quickly reached out to stop him from hitting her.
"Mom!" Even after more than a year, he still called her Mom. He still missed her, and he still only recognized her.
Ling Ruoke supported him, then let go, allowing him to hug her waist tightly. Seeing the large backpack on his back, she thought helplessly, "He just ran here like this; I wonder how worried his family is." "Zhuang Yuqi, do they know you came here? Did you sneak out?"
Zhuang Yuqi buried his head in her arms, pretending to be dead and not making a sound.
Ling Ruoke knew he must have sneaked out on his own. She sighed softly and reached out to ruffle his hair. "How could you sneak out? Your family will be so worried!"
"It's their fault for not letting me come out to find my mother!" Zhuang Yuqi retorted in a muffled voice. Finally, she peeked out from her arms, her cheeks puffed out.
“You can’t just sneak out like that…” Ling Ruoke wanted to reason with him, but seeing his aggrieved look, she softened.
Zhuang Yuqi grabbed her hand and shook it. "Mom, I haven't eaten since last night, I'm starving."
Ling Ruoke frowned, and as she shoved him into the car, she asked, "Why aren't you eating?"
Zhuang Yuqi fidgeted with his fingers, keeping his head down so only the top of his head was visible to her. "I used up all my money on train tickets, and I have no money for food."
Ling Ruoke understood. Even though he came from a prominent family, they wouldn't give a seven-year-old a lot of money. She sighed helplessly and reached out to pat his head. "Alright, don't be upset. I'll take you to eat something delicious, okay?"
Zhuang Yuqi didn't say anything, but just grinned at her.
Ling Ruoke ruffled his hair and shook her head with a smile. "Don't just laugh, quickly call your dad. You're not allowed not to, or I'll pack you up and put you on a plane."
The last sentence was intimidating, and Zhuang Yuqi obediently took out his phone to dial his father's number. He had kept his phone off, afraid that his father would find him. He only turned it on when he couldn't find Ruoke. "Dad..." he called out cautiously.
"Zhuang Yuqi!" came a shout from the other end.
Zhuang Yuqi immediately shrank his neck.
Ling Ruoke stopped the car and reached for her phone. "Hello, Mr. Zhuang, this is Ruoke."
The roar from the other end abruptly stopped.
"I've found Zhuang Yuqi, so don't worry." Ling Ruoke was also a little embarrassed, or rather, she didn't know if he had moved on, so she didn't want to have any contact with him at all. Not loving him, yet appearing in his life, was the cruelest thing. And she was most afraid of doing such a thing.
Zhuang Yicheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Could you please keep an eye on him for me for now and make sure he doesn't wander off? I'll send someone to pick him up right away."
Ling Ruoke also took a deep breath. "No rush, let him stay with me for a couple of days. I'll have a good talk with him to prevent him from running away again."
"Thank you for your help. Let him stay for two days, and I'll send someone to pick him up after that."
"I don't want to go back!" Zhuang Yuqi shouted into the phone.
Ling Ruoke gently patted his head. She spoke a few more words to Zhuang Yicheng before hanging up. She wanted to say something to him, but remembering he was still hungry, she said nothing. She decided to let him fill his stomach first, and then reason with him properly.
She started the car and drove the runaway kid straight to a Hunan restaurant in the city. Since it wasn't lunchtime, the restaurant was nearly empty. Ling Ruoke chose a corner seat and handed him the menu. "You order, eat whatever you want."
Zhuang Yuqi looked at her, then actually lowered his head to look at the menu carefully and ordered five dishes.
Ling Ruoke didn't look at the menu, closed it, and handed it to the waiter. "This child has been hungry for a long time. Could you please ask the kitchen to cook a dish for him first, and then bring him a bowl of rice? Thank you."
"Mom, you're so kind." As soon as the waiter left, Zhuang Yuqi said with a beaming smile, revealing a set of bright white teeth.
Ling Ruoke raised her hand and gave him a flick on the forehead, saying with a mix of amusement and helplessness, "Sweet words won't help. I'll punish you again after you've eaten. Also, you have to call me godmother properly from now on, and don't call me that randomly, understand?" If Yang Ziyun heard this, there would be no way to explain it.
"No!" Zhuang Yuqi pouted, stubbornly insisting. "Even if you kill me, I'll still call her Mom!" Despite his father's repeated telling him she wasn't his mother, he didn't care. In his heart, she was his mother!
Ling Ruoke raised her hand and gave him another flick on the forehead, but looking into his bright eyes, she suddenly couldn't say anything. What was the point of arguing with a child? "Disobedient little brat!"
Zhuang Yuqi puffed out his cheeks as he looked at her.
Ling Ruoke reached out and pinched his cheek. "If you puff it up any more, you'll look like a frog!" she said, then couldn't help but chuckle. She ruffled his hair, her heart softening.
Everyone says children forget easily, but almost two years have passed, and he still remembers her, stubbornly regarding her as his mother. It's not that she was exceptionally good to him. It was just a small act of kindness from back then that he's remembered to this day.
"Mom, why didn't you wait for me in Guilin that day?" Zhuang Yuqi asked, his lips trembling as he recalled the past, on the verge of tears. He had cried and made a scene countless times since being brought back to T City from Guilin, but to no avail.
Ling Ruoke stopped arguing with him about how to address him; she knew it was pointless. She also didn't know how to answer the child's question. "Because I have very important things to do."
She wanted to say, "I'm not your mother, I can't always be by your side." But the words wouldn't come out. The child has grown up without a mother; this precious memory shouldn't be taken away.
"But you didn't even call me! You're lying! All adults are like this, they all like to lie!" Zhuang Yuqi was very aggrieved, and his eyes were filled with tears. He wasn't a child who cried easily, but this matter hurt him too much.
Ling Ruoke couldn't explain the complexities of adult relationships to him, so she simply sighed silently and reached out to pat his head. "Zhuang Yuqi, the adult world is very complicated, and you don't understand it now. When you grow up, you will understand."
"Then I don't want to grow up, I just don't want to grow up!" he shouted, throwing a tantrum.
Ling Ruoke smiled helplessly, her hand stroking his head even more gently. "Alright, you don't have to grow up." Just then, the waiter brought out the first dish. "The food's here, eat up, weren't you starving?"
"Hmm." Zhuang Yuqi picked up his chopsticks and started eating; he was truly starving. He wasn't lying; he really hadn't eaten anything since last night.
Actually, he had enough money for a train ticket to avoid going hungry, but a child can't travel alone and needs someone to accompany him. So he gave his money to someone else to help him onto the train, which is why he pitifully went hungry for so long.
Ling Ruoke had eaten lunch not long ago and wasn't hungry yet. But she still picked up her chopsticks and ate a little with him. She was lucky; she hadn't experienced any pregnancy symptoms, and aside from being easily fatigued, she ate and slept well. Of course, she slept quite a lot.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you!" Ling Ruoke hurriedly reminded him as she watched him wolf down his food, afraid he'd choke. It was obvious he hadn't eaten for several meals. He was so young; she wondered if he'd cried from hunger before he met her.
Zhuang Yuqi ate two bowls of rice in one go and finished most of the dishes before wiping his mouth and saying he was full.
Ling Ruoke pulled out a tissue and handed it to him to wipe his mouth. But he just pouted his mouth forward and wiped it with her hand. Helpless, she had to hold his head down and wipe his mouth clean for him.
After paying the bill, the two walked out of the restaurant.
Are you sleepy? Are you tired?
Zhuang Yuqi grinned and shook his head. "Not sleepy, not tired either."
Ling Ruoke was considering whether to take him home or back to her office when the phone rang. It turned out there were several important financial documents that needed her immediate approval. So, she took him back to the company.
Once inside the office, Ling Ruoke pointed to the sofa. "Sit there and wait for me. I'll be done soon."
"Oh," Zhuang Yuqi responded, looked around, and then sat down on the sofa.
Ling Ruoke reviewed the financial statements and replied to an email. When she looked up, she saw Zhuang Yuqi asleep with his head tilted to one side. She shook her head helplessly, got up, carefully laid him down on the sofa, and then covered him with her own warm blanket.
Xia Mo came in to discuss something with her, and when he saw the child on the sofa, he raised an eyebrow. "You're bringing your family to work?"
Ling Ruoke smiled but didn't explain.
Later, Mei Yanting came in. She knew Zhuang Yuqi. Seeing Zhuang Yuqi sleeping, she said a few words to Ruoke and then left. Actually, Mei Yanting had always been very curious because she originally thought Sister Ximeng and Mr. Zhuang were a couple, but now it seemed she was with Huo Qingfeng. However, she clearly remembered that Zhuang Yuqi called Sister Ximeng "Mom." She had never been able to figure out the relationship between these people, and of course, she didn't want to ask.
Zhuang Yuqi was exhausted and terrified when he couldn't find his mother. Now that she had been found and had eaten and drunk her fill, he was sleeping soundly like a little pig. He was oblivious to the people coming and going in the office and was even snoring away.
Ling Ruoke originally intended to take him home to rest after dealing with this matter, but now that he was asleep, she simply let him be and continued with her work.
Zhuang Yuqi was busy until it was time to leave work. She didn't wake up, her face still flushed from sleep.
Ling Ruoke stood up and stretched. She had to go back, otherwise her mother-in-law would call again to urge her. Just then, her phone rang. It was Yang Ziyun. "Mom, I was just about to turn off the computer."
"That's good. Come back quickly, your Aunt Hui made something delicious today."
Ling Ruoke smiled helplessly, thinking to herself, "When hasn't Aunt Hui cooked something delicious? She's been preparing different dishes for me every day, making large quantities, and practically wanting me to eat it all." "I know. Mom, I'll be there soon. Oh, and I've brought a little guest with me."
"Little guest? Who is it?"
"I won't tell you now, you'll find out later. Mom, I'm hanging up now."
"Okay, okay, go home now."
Ling Ruoke hung up the phone and went to wake Zhuang Yuqi. She called him several times, but he didn't respond. She reached out and patted his face, and he mumbled something, rolled over, and stuck his butt out towards her. She chuckled and gave his bottom a light slap. After a while, she finally managed to wake him up.
Zhuang Yuqi sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes.
"Are you awake?" Ling Ruoke rubbed his head.
Zhuang Yuqi yawned, clearly still not fully awake. "Mom, are you off work?"
"Okay, it's time to get off work. Let's go home." Ling Ruoke took his hand and led him out of the office.
Zhuang Yuqi was led by her hand, his other hand reaching over to hers, both arms wrapped around her. He liked the word "home," and he wanted a home too, with a mother besides his father. He didn't need a baby; just him was enough.
Ling Ruoke took Zhuang Yuqi home. All the way, she thought about how to introduce Zhuang Yuqi to her mother-in-law. How to explain his presence here…
From the moment his car drove out of the company building's garage, Zhuang Yuqi looked around curiously, trying to remember this place and this road so he wouldn't make the same mistake next time he came.
Ling Ruoke reached out and tapped him on the head. "You're not allowed to sneak out again. If you want to come here, call me right away, okay?"
Speaking of this, she suddenly remembered the key point. "How did you get my number? Did you find it in your dad's phone?" But if she found it in Zhuang Yicheng's phone, why did he only come out now? Or did he finally manage to scrape together the money?
Zhuang Yuqi pouted and looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. "I saw it on that woman's phone."
"That woman? Who is she?" Ling Ruoke frowned. Could she be Zhuang Yicheng's mistress? But how would Zhuang Yicheng's mistress have her number? Or perhaps she knows her?
Zhuang Yuqi didn't answer, but blinked her big eyes and asked, "Mom, isn't Fu'an your son? Why did he become that woman's son?"
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then understood. The "woman" Zhuang Yuqi was referring to was Yuan Meng! She was secretly surprised. Yuan Meng and Zhuang Yicheng? They were together? "Zhuang Yuqi, did you see Fu'an in T City?"
"Hmm." Zhuang Yuqi sullenly lowered his head, squeezing his fingers even harder, his lips pouting high. In his heart, his mother was only Ling Ruoke; no one else could do it. In other words, regardless of whether this woman was Yuan Meng or not, he couldn't accept her. Because he stubbornly reserved the position of mother to Ruoke; no matter how good others were, it was all in vain. At least for now, that was the case.
Ling Ruoke was still in shock. She hadn't expected Zhuang Yicheng and Yuan Meng to get together. But then she thought, it wasn't so bad. Zhuang Yicheng was a good man, and Yuan Meng was a good woman; it was a good thing they were together. This way, neither Zhuang Yicheng nor Yuan Meng would be lonely anymore, and both of them were people she cared about!
"Zhuang Yuqi, don't you like Yuan Meng?" Yuan Meng is gentle and kind, so it's surprising that Zhuang Yuqi doesn't like her. However, children's thoughts are different from adults'. Children only believe their intuition and don't yet use reason to analyze things.
Zhuang Yuqi turned his head and glared at her, seemingly angry. "I don't want anyone else to be my mother!" He was genuinely angry; his mother didn't understand at all! She probably didn't even remember him anymore!
Thinking about this, Zhuang Yuqi was about to cry again. Her eyes filled with tears, making her look as pitiful as an abandoned little animal. She bit her lip tightly, looking very aggrieved.
Ling Ruoke didn't know whether to be happy or sad about this persistent child. She sighed and reached out to stroke his head. "Zhuang Yuqi, I have my own family now. Although you insist on calling me 'Mom,' I can't live with you like a mother, pick you up from school every day, take you to the amusement park, attend parent-teacher conferences... I can't do any of these things for you, understand?"
"I don't care!" he said, but tears were already welling up in his eyes. Ruoke wasn't just the mother he considered his mother; she was his most cherished memory. Although it was only for a few months, he had truly felt the warmth of maternal love. It was the first time in his life that he had experienced the warmth and beauty of maternal love.
Ling Ruoke was at a loss for words. She stopped the car, leaned over, and hugged him.
Zhuang Yuqi grabbed her clothes and started crying in her arms, not just shedding tears, but wailing loudly.
As Ling Ruoke listened, she couldn't help but tear up.
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