After Zhuang Yuqi finished crying, Ling Ruoke let go of him, then drove home without asking him about Yuan Meng and Zhuang Yicheng again.
Zhuang Yuqi's eyes were red from crying, and she looked pitiful, like a little rabbit.
Ling Ruoke reached out to wipe away his tears, her heart aching. This child, with his dazzling family background, couldn't even get his mother's love and companionship. "Okay, don't cry."
Zhuang Yuqi sniffed, looking even more pitiful.
Ling Ruoke sighed silently, patted his head, and started the car again.
Being a child, his emotions came and went quickly. Before long, Zhuang Yuqi was back to studying the route and the scenery outside the window.
Ling Ruoke felt a heavy weight pressing on her heart. It was as if a stone was weighing on her chest, making even breathing painful. Every time she woke up in the middle of the night and thought of her parents, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, making it hard to breathe. And Zhuang Yuqi was just a child of a few years old!
Soon, the car drove into the garage.
Yang Ziyun had already run out when she heard the commotion. "Where's the little guest you were talking about?"
Ling Ruoke pulled Zhuang Yuqi over and pushed him in front of her. "Look, isn't this it?"
"Hey, whose child is this? His eyes are like a rabbit's. Has he been crying?" Yang Ziyun reached out to pat Zhuang Yuqi's head, but he dodged her hand.
Zhuang Yuqi leaned against Ling Ruoke, staring wide-eyed at Yang Ziyun. "Mom, who is this strange auntie?"
Ling Ruoke took a breath, because of Zhuang Yuqi's calling her "Mom" and "Strange Auntie." She was afraid that Yang Ziyun would misunderstand and get angry, so she carefully watched her expression. Just as she was about to explain, she heard Yang Ziyun suddenly laugh.
Yang Ziyun chuckled as she reached out and ruffled Zhuang Yuqi's hair, ignoring his resistance. "Oh my, whose child is this? So cute! Strange Auntie? It's not entirely a compliment, but I like it when kids call me Auntie, haha..."
Zhuang Yuqi barely managed to escape from her clutches, her soft hair now ruffled and matted like a straw nest.
"Mom, his name is Zhuang Yuqi."
"Ah, so you're the Zhuang family's child. No wonder you're so good-looking. Come, come, Auntie will give you some candy."
Ling Ruoke chuckled. What a bargain… If Zhuang Yuqi calls her "Mom," then wouldn't he call her "Sister"? "Mom, if he calls you 'Auntie,' then Qingfeng shouldn't call Zhuang Yicheng 'Uncle' anymore?"
Yang Ziyun glanced at her, then smiled and pulled Zhuang Yuqi along. "That's their problem. Now it's my problem with the little one, right, little one?" she said, forcefully pulling Zhuang Yuqi inside.
Zhuang Yuqi struggled, but stopped when he saw Ling Ruoke come in too. Instead, he began to curiously look around the villa. To him, the villa wasn't luxurious, but it was where his mother lived, and it meant something different to him.
Seeing that Yang Ziyun wasn't upset, Ling Ruoke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she hadn't done anything wrong, she was worried that Yang Ziyun would mind Zhuang Yuqi's way of addressing her. Now it seemed that Yang Ziyun didn't mind. Since their relationship improved, Yang Ziyun seemed to have become very tolerant, even protective of her.
Aunt Hui happened to come out of the kitchen and saw Zhuang Yuqi, so she came over as well. Older people all love children. "Oh, whose child is this? He's so handsome!"
It wasn't as exaggerated as Yang Ziyun's, but she still reached out and patted Zhuang Yuqi's head.
Zhuang Yuqi frowned slightly, puzzled as to why they all liked to touch his head. However, he didn't dislike them.
Ling Ruoke sat down on the sofa.
Aunt Hui had already brought out the soup for her. She also specially brought a small bowl for Zhuang Yuqi. Today's soup was corn, carrot, and bone broth, which Zhuang Yuqi could also drink.
Yang Ziyun followed her inside.
Zhuang Yuqi sat down next to Ling Ruoke, sipping his soup while looking around with his large, dark eyes. He stared at the wedding photo on the wall for a long, long time, even stopping his soup.
Ling Ruoke couldn't understand what he was thinking, but she could sense his feelings. She reached out and ruffled his hair. "Don't think so much, little one. Adults will handle adult matters, okay?"
"Mom, why can't you marry the commander?" He knew that if they got married, they would live together forever. That way, he could see his mother every day.
Ling Ruoke sighed, unsure how to explain matters of the heart to a child. After a moment's thought, she put her arm around his shoulder and answered, "Because he was the one I met first." She pointed to the colonel in the photo, "He's the one I want to marry. Your father is a good man, but I met him too late; I can no longer love him. It's like how you recognized me as your mother first, and now you don't want to call anyone else 'Mom.'"
Zhuang Yuqi looked at her, and after a while, retorted, "Then you let me like that woman, why can't you like my father?"
Ling Ruoke was stunned, speechless at the question, and unsure how to explain. "Zhuang Yuqi, I don't know how to explain adult matters to you. I can only say that I hope you can grow up happily. Yuan Meng is a very, very good woman. If she could marry your father, he wouldn't always be all alone. Yuan Meng will also treat you very well. Don't you like Xiao Fu'an?"
"That's different!" Zhuang Yuqi shouted, his eyes glistening with tears again. As for how it was different, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Ling Ruoke was speechless again. She realized that all she could do when facing this child was sigh. "Yes, it's different. Let me put it this way, Zhuang Yuqi, no matter what happens, as long as you're willing, I'll be your mother. But if you're willing to gradually accept Yuan Meng, you'll have another person like a mother to love and care for you. Isn't that good?"
"Can I keep calling you Mom? If I miss you, can I come see you?" Zhuang Yuqi asked pitifully, which meant he accepted Ling Ruoke's offer.
Ling Ruoke smiled gently and nodded. "Of course, you can come if you want. But you have to call me before you come. Also, your father has to send someone to bring you. You can't sneak out. You're your father's precious child, and you're precious to many of us. If you get lost or something happens to you, everyone will be terrified, understand?"
"Mmm," Zhuang Yuqi responded, sniffing, feeling a stinging sensation in his nose. "Mommy, I'll be good. Please don't disappear again, okay?"
Ling Ruoke's eyes also welled up with tears. That abrupt departure had left an indelible shadow on the child's heart. If it weren't for his sincere heart, he might already hate her. Or perhaps, Zhuang Yicheng had spoken many good words for her, taking all the blame upon himself.
She reached out and pulled him to her side, smiling as she said, "I promise you, I won't suddenly disappear. Before you go back to T City, I'll give you all the phone numbers that can find me, so you won't be afraid of me disappearing, right?"
Zhuang Yuqi then smiled.
"Dinner's ready!" Yang Ziyun came out carrying the first dish. She shouted loudly as soon as she stepped out of the kitchen door.
Ling Ruoke patted Zhuang Yuqi and said to him, "Go to the yard and call your two uncles back for dinner."
"Okay." Zhuang Yuqi obediently went, running instead.
Ling Ruoke stood up to help set the table. After Yang Ziyun put the dishes down, she went over and took her arm. "Mom, you're not angry with me, are you?"
Yang Ziyun glared at her, but not fiercely at all. "Is your mother the kind of person who holds grudges? Besides, the fact that he calls you 'Mom' means my daughter-in-law is a good person, and I should be happy. Moreover, it's not bad that my grandson has such a good older brother right after birth. You know, the Zhuang family is not simple."
Ling Ruoke smiled helplessly. She knew that Yang Ziyun didn't really care about power and status; she was just joking to put herself at ease.
Dinner began in a lively atmosphere; having a child added to the festive spirit.
The two grandmothers vied to serve Zhuang Yuqi food, and in the end, the child ate until he was stuffed. Mainly, it was this kind of home-cooked food that truly appealed to the child. He didn't understand much yet, but he could feel the atmosphere of family. Those meals truly had warmth and comfort.
Ling Ruoke also ate quite a bit. After dinner, as usual, she wasn't allowed to do any work, so she simply took Zhuang Yuqi for a walk to digest their food.
"Mom, can I stay here for a couple more days? Today is Thursday, and I'll go back on Monday, okay?" Zhuang Yuqi didn't want to leave at all, but he knew he had to go back to T City. He didn't dare to make a fuss; he was afraid his mother wouldn't like him.
Hearing the child's cautious, pleading tone, Ling Ruoke felt a pang of sadness. She reached out and took his hand in hers. "If the teacher won't object, then of course it's fine. But when you get home, you have to be good, okay?"
"Okay!" Zhuang Yuqi nodded vigorously. He seemed very happy to receive her approval. He didn't tell Ruoke that school was already on holiday. He had only run out with his schoolbag on his back after finishing his final exams. "Mom, will you come to the amusement park with me tomorrow?"
"Going to an amusement park in this cold weather? They'd think we're crazy. But we can go to an indoor one. Just so you know, I won't ride with you, I'll just watch from the sidelines." You can bring your camera and take some nice pictures of him.
Zhuang Yuqi pouted. "Why?"
Ling Ruoke reached out and poked his chin. "Because Mom is pregnant, she can't do those strenuous exercises." Since he insisted on calling her "Mom," she decided to let him be, if it made him happy.
Zhuang Yuqi suddenly widened his eyes and stared at her, then looked down at her stomach. Then, he suddenly reached out and touched her stomach.
Ling Ruoke couldn't help but laugh, thinking how adorable the child was! "He's too small now to touch. In two or three months, he'll be able to stretch his arms and legs inside my belly."
Zhuang Yuqi found it incredible, his mouth agape. "You're putting your arms out of your stomach?"
“Yes.” Ling Ruoke pinched his cheek, thinking to herself, “Now that’s more like a child.”
Zhuang Yuqi's jaw dropped for a moment, then he exclaimed, "Mom, can I come over then? I want to see him stretch his arms and legs in your belly!" He was partly curious and partly wanted to see his mother.
"Sure." But she should be in the army at that time, so she could only take a couple of days out of her busy schedule to play with him.
"Mom, did I used to stretch out my arms and legs in that person's belly like this?" Zhuang Yuqi suddenly asked again, her voice muffled.
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment before realizing who he meant by "that person." She found it strange that Zhuang Yuqi's tone was so unfriendly when he mentioned his biological mother. "Of course. Every child has been like this in their mother's womb, and you're no exception. So, every child is their mother's precious treasure."
"Mom, if I'm her precious child, why didn't she want me to leave?" Zhuang Yuqi had only recently learned that his mother was still alive, though she had passed away. It turned out she hadn't died. He had always thought she was dead.
Ling Ruoke was speechless again. She had always believed that Zhuang Yuqi's mother had died when he was young. Could it be that the woman had simply abandoned her husband and child? "Zhuang Yuqi, as people grow up, they encounter many troubles and helplessness. Perhaps she doesn't abandon you; she just has her own difficulties, which is why she can't be by your side. I think she must miss you too."
"I don't care!" Zhuang Yuqi shouted loudly, stubbornly raising his chin.
Ling Ruoke didn't know what to say to him, so she could only hold his hand with one hand and reach out with the other to pat his head. It seemed like she had been doing this gesture all day, because this child needed comfort so much. "Zhuang Yuqi, your father, me, and many others, to us, you are our precious baby."
Zhuang Yuqi pulled his hand out of hers and wrapped his small arms around her waist. Her waist was slender, and he was able to wrap his small arms around it tightly.
Ling Ruoke was initially afraid that he would press against her stomach, and reached out to push him away, but in the end she gently patted his back. She let him rub his face against her chest and pour out all her grievances.
The two, one big and one small, held hands and walked around the neighborhood before heading back.
After Ling Ruoke coaxed him, Zhuang Yuqi became happy again.
When they got home, Ling Ruoke took him to take a bath.
Zhuang Yuqi can already bathe herself, so she doesn't need her help. Besides, the bathroom is a slippery place, and she's already very careful when bathing herself, so it's not suitable for her to bathe a child, who would go crazy playing in the water.
While he was taking a shower, Ling Ruoke tidied up the empty guest room and made up the bedding for him.
Zhuang Yuqi was exhausted after these two days of running around. So when he came out of the shower, Ling Ruoke urged him to go to bed. He was reluctant and clung to Ling Ruoke, not wanting her to leave.
Ling Ruoke had no choice but to sit by the bed and let him hold her hand as he slept. Once he was asleep, she slowly pulled her hand away, thankfully he didn't wake up.
Ling Ruoke closed the guest room door and stepped out. As soon as she came out, she saw Yang Ziyun standing by the door. "Mom."
"This child likes you very much." Yang Ziyun said, looking at the darkened room, her expression unreadable.
Ling Ruoke's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at her nervously.
Yang Ziyun smiled. "Don't be nervous, I'm not that heartless. I know you only have Qingfeng in your heart, don't I? It's just that you can't keep too many people and things on your mind, otherwise you'll only tire yourself out."
"Mom, I understand." Ling Ruoke took her arm and walked towards the stairwell.
When they reached the stairwell, Yang Ziyun ushered her into the master bedroom. "Hurry up and take a shower and go to bed. Get some rest. If you're not sleepy, my grandson needs to rest."
Ling Ruoke didn't say much, just told her to go to bed early, and then went into her room. She wrote a novel on the computer for a while, then went into the bathroom to take a shower.
I slept soundly all night. Although the next day was Friday, I had promised Zhuang Yuqi I would go to the amusement park with him, and naturally I couldn't break my promise. Anyway, I could go to the amusement park in the morning and take care of some business at the company in the afternoon.
Amusement parks, these children's playgrounds, are always a favorite among kids, no matter the time of year. Because it's cold outside, indoor amusement parks get busier. Otherwise, on ordinary days, indoor parks are nowhere near as crowded as outdoor ones, since they have fewer attractions and rides.
Ling Ruoke chose a quiet spot to sit down and watched Zhuang Yuqi play. She occasionally took some nice photos of him. The little rascal was quite the performer, striking poses and making funny faces at the camera.
They played for almost three hours before Ling Ruoke reluctantly dragged him to eat. Before leaving, he snatched her camera and found an uncle. "Uncle, could you take a picture of me and my mom?"
The man was also there with his child, so he was happy to help.
Ling Ruoke couldn't bear to go against the child's wishes, so she bent down slightly, put her arm around his little shoulder, and the two of them smiled brightly at the camera.
With a "click," this blissful moment was captured.
Ling Ruoke was about to stand up and take the camera when Zhuang Yuqi stopped her. "Uncle, can we take another picture?"
Then, Ling Ruoke was pulled down by Zhuang Yuqi. "Mom, give me a kiss."
Ling Ruoke smiled and granted his request, gently kissing his cheek. She had someone take a picture of the moment before releasing him. "Are you satisfied now?"
Zhuang Yuqi chuckled and ran over to retrieve the camera. He fiddled with the photos, looking at them, and his smile widened as he looked.
The two of them had lunch together, which was brought over by Yang Ziyun.
Ling Ruoke was in her office handling some matters in the afternoon.
Zhuang Yuqi was watching TV on the sofa using an unused computer, wearing headphones. She was quite well-behaved and didn't bother her, playing by herself. Only occasionally would she look up to see her working, and then she would grin foolishly.
Over the weekend, Ling Ruoke took him shopping, to the park, and of course, to eat KFC and other similar things. She even picked out two outfits for him, which made Zhuang Yuqi overjoyed, like he'd received a precious treasure. If Ling Ruoke hadn't been worried about bacteria in unwashed clothes—after all, there had been news reports about newly bought clothes being toxic—and therefore wouldn't have let him wear them, he would have happily put them on right away.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and by Monday, Zhuang Yuqi didn't want to leave. So he brought up his reason: school was already on holiday.
Ling Ruoke didn't know what to do. School was out for break, and if Zhuang Yicheng had no objections, she really shouldn't send the child away. But Huo Qingfeng would probably be back soon, and his application to accompany him to the military base should be approved by now. If she went to the army base then, who would take care of him?
In the end, Ling Ruoke had no choice but to personally escort him back. She also wanted to visit Fu'an and Yuan Meng in T City.
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