Chapter 100
Xu Cheye's eyes flickered, their meaning unclear.
"I heard from Rou Rou that you and Er Bao both took a leave of absence from school. One of you is working in the entertainment industry, and the other is working hard in the live streaming industry. You are both still young. Why did you choose to take a leave of absence from school?"
"..."
Xu Niancheng's eyebrows twitched. On one hand, she couldn't believe that her mother and the little devil in front of her had such a close relationship that they knew each other inside and out. On the other hand, she found the little devil's mature tone both novel and amusing.
"Kid, mind your own business," Xu Niancheng threatened deliberately. "Or I'll get your teacher to give you more homework."
Xu Cheye raised an eyebrow nonchalantly: "I'm an adult. My seniority is the same as your father's. You three siblings can call me uncle, and I can accept it."
For some reason, Xu Niancheng sensed the same smugness from this face that had nothing to do with He Nianzhu.
What the hell? She had seen clips of this guy on variety shows. He was clearly a cool and aloof guy, just as taciturn as his older brother.
Why did your persona crumble when you met the real person?
Xu Niancheng glared at him, annoyed: "Kid, you can show off your 'uncle' attitude to Brother Yue, but I'm not buying it."
Her unintentional expressions were extremely lively and charming, just like her mother, Xu Yirou.
Xu Cheye smiled slightly and sighed regretfully, "That's a real pity."
He Nianzhu, who had been listening intently, couldn't help but say, "Tsk, kid, you're really precocious for your age. You want to trick my sister into calling you 'uncle'? Who gave you the courage?"
A figure in a crescent-white robe came into view, and a voice above him spoke with an arrogant and nonchalant tone, creating a stark contrast with the refined and dignified white attire.
Xu Cheye raised his neck, and a handsome, wicked face suddenly loomed large, only an inch away from him.
He Nianzhu grinned, his bright white teeth gleaming: "For a delicate little brat like you, I usually like to fry you until golden brown on both sides, sprinkle some cumin, and eat you with chili sauce."
If it were an ordinary cub, it would have been terrified by He Nianzhu's villainous face and would have been screaming and calling for its mother.
However, Xu Cheye was quite eccentric; not only was he not frightened, but he also startled the main villain.
He patted He Nianzhu's shoulder with a smile:
"Fried foods are considered to cause internal heat, so steaming is recommended to better preserve the original flavor of the food."
He Nianzhu: ...Holy crap?
Xu Yue: Oh no! Oh no!
Xu Cheye slipped away with two large red envelopes in his pocket, saying, "Thanks, I'll give you a gift next time."
*
After the family finished their meal in harmony, they stayed for a while before saying goodbye, as was their usual practice.
Butler Zeng had already prepared the gifts, but unexpectedly Xu Qingyan said at this moment:
"Grandma, we'd like to stay here tonight and go back tomorrow."
Qiao Wen paused, her hand holding the teacup still. She raised her eyes slightly, her expression unreadable, took a sip of tea, and calmly instructed, "Old Zeng, go and prepare."
“Yes, Madam.” Compared to Qiao Wen’s indifferent attitude, Uncle Zeng was visibly pleased.
It's been a long time since the young master passed away and the house has been this lively.
It was quite a feat for Uncle Zeng, who, despite his advanced age, managed to run with such a swift movement, fearing that Xu Qingyan might change his mind at the last minute.
The He family's old residence has more than a dozen courtyards of varying sizes, and is cleaned and maintained by dedicated staff every day, so you can move in immediately.
That evening, after taking a fragrant bath, Xu Yirou and Xu Niancheng lay in the same bed, rolling around and playing.
"If I had known the old house was so beautiful, I would have come back to live here sooner."
Perhaps because of the change in her impression of her grandmother Qiao Wen, this old house, which Xu Niancheng remembered as gloomy, was much warmer than she had imagined.
Xu Niancheng felt like she had missed out on a fortune.
Xu Yirou: "Then why didn't you come back to live here before?"
Xu Niancheng's smile faltered for a moment, and she turned her back and mumbled, "Maybe I was too busy before, so I didn't have time to come."
An even simpler reason, of course, is that he's afraid of his grandmother and not close to her.
My mother doesn't remember the past, but she does, so she feels extremely embarrassed.
"Then Mommy will bring you back to stay often from now on."
Xu Yirou played with a strand of her daughter's hair, occasionally sniffing it: "Little Bao, your grandma must be very lonely living alone in the old house. We should come back to keep her company more often."
Xu Niancheng initially thought Qiao Wen preferred peace and quiet, but now she thinks that might not be the case.
They took a family photo during the day. The grandmother in the photo looked just like any other kind and gentle old lady, and seemed to be welcoming them.
Xu Niancheng rolled over and hugged her newborn mother, who smelled of milk: "Mmm~ Mom, I'll do whatever you say."
"By the way, Mom, why did you tell Cheche about my brother and me dropping out of school? Did he ask us about it?"
After He Ting's death, Xu Yirou's health deteriorated year by year. The year she was diagnosed with cancer, she and He Nianzhu chose to suspend their studies without hesitation to take care of and accompany Xu Yirou, hoping that her condition would improve.
"I didn't tell Cheche."
Xu Yirou was bewildered.
“You didn’t tell him?” Xu Niancheng asked in surprise. “Then how… did he know? Mom, he said you told him.”
"I didn't say that." Xu Yirou shook her head firmly, denying that she hadn't said it. "I don't remember it at all."
That's strange.
If it wasn't his mother who told him, then who else could it be?
Xu Niancheng's mind raced, and suddenly, someone appeared on her list: Xu Yue.
Xu Niancheng gritted her teeth; he must have let it slip.
Thinking about it that way, it makes sense.
Just then, the baby's mother sat up abruptly, brushing her messy hair aside: "Little one, take me to find Mommy. Mommy is scared to sleep alone."
"?"
"Mom, are you leaving me?" Xu Niancheng was caught off guard. "We've already taken a bath, and the bed is all warm and cozy."
Hsu Yi-jou: Finger poking each other (jpg).
"Oh dear, Mommy has already slept with you for several days now." The mother tugged at her daughter's sleeve and rocked her affectionately. "Little one, can Mommy sleep with you again tomorrow?"
Who can resist the sweet, coquettish advances of a four-year-old's mother?
In any case, Xu Niancheng couldn't withstand it and was defeated without much struggle.
Xu Niancheng carried Xu Yirou and quietly arrived at Qiao Wen's room door.
The moment the door opened, Qiao Wen looked surprised when she saw the two people.
"Grandma, are you asleep?" Xu Niancheng asked a little embarrassedly, "It's so late and I'm disturbing your rest."
Qiao Wen, wearing an overcoat, asked, "It's nothing, what's wrong?"
"Mommy, hug me." Xu Yirou stretched out her fair arms, openly asking for a hug.
Qiao Wen naturally accepted it.
"Mom, I want to sleep with you."
Xu Yirou hugged Qiao Wen's neck, her soft little face pressed tightly against her collar: "Rou Rou misses Mommy."
Xu Niancheng looked on expectantly.
"Okay." Qiao Wen was always exceptionally indulgent towards Xu Yirou. "Then Niancheng, you go back first. I will take good care of your mother."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Grandma." Xu Niancheng waved with a smile, "Mom, Grandma, goodnight."
When Xu Yirou first came to Qiao Wen's bedroom, she wiggled her little bottom and touched and looked around everywhere.
Then, she saw the family photo that had just been taken during the day next to her desk.
The only difference was that there were two more people in the family photo. Xu Yirou felt that the slightly younger man looked familiar. After thinking about it carefully, she slowly widened her eyes.
Xu Yirou clung to the edge of the table, her dark eyes fixed on the table.
"Mommy, why are Da Bao, Er Bao, and Xiao Bao's dads in the photo? He didn't come this morning."
"And who is this old man next to him?"
Qiao Wen picked up the photo frame, led the little girl to the bedside and sat down. The little girl's fluffy head nestled in her arms.
Her eyes were lowered, and her slender, slightly wrinkled fingers gently caressed the photograph inch by inch.
A faint sadness and longing flickered in her calm gaze: "The younger one is my son, He Ting, and the older one is my husband, who is also He Ting's father."
After losing her husband and son one after another, how could she not be in pain?
"I didn't see them this morning, so why are they in the photo?"
“I had someone add it,” Qiao Wen said gently. “Since it’s a family photo, how can anyone be absent?”
Xu Yirou asked, puzzled, "Then why didn't they come?"
Qiao Wen knew that Xu Yirou had lost many memories, so she wasn't angry about the questions she raised.
However, when faced with this question, she involuntarily fell into a brief silence.
Xu Yirou pursed her lips, realizing something, and cautiously looked up:
"Mom, did they... go to heaven?"
Qiao Wen clenched her fists, her gaze darkening slightly. She touched the little girl's long, loose hair and nodded gently: "They've passed away."
Xu Yirou has lived forty-five years and faced death directly. That fear of dying is etched into her bones even after she shrinks.
Her nose stung with tears, and she turned to hug Qiao Wen, her soft voice trembling slightly:
"Mommy, don't cry, Mommy, don't be sad. Rou Rou will be good to you, Rou Rou will take care of you."
"Grandpa and the babies' fathers will become stars in the sky to keep you company."
Qiao Wen: "I won't cry."
Her husband and son didn't die young; they passed away when she was already all white-haired. Life is full of joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, just as the moon waxes and wanes. To be able to stay with them for so many years...
When you really think about it, it's not so regrettable.
Although she was saddened by their passing, she didn't shed many tears and remained calm and composed.
“Mommy, you’re crying in here.” The little one’s soft fingertips poked her chest. “Mommy, you’re very sad, I can hear it.”
Qiao Wen's cloudy eyes met Xu Yirou's clear pupils, and she couldn't help but slow her breathing, lost in thought.
The little girl, with her eyes brimming with empathy, sniffled and murmured, "They will come back."
Qiao Wen didn't believe in reincarnation, but she still went along with the cub's words and rubbed the corner of her eye.
"It's getting late, let's go to sleep."
"Mom, may I ask one last question?"
Qiao Wen lit the incense by the bedside: "Okay."
"Mommy, what kind of person is Da Bao, Er Bao, and Xiao Bao's dad?" Xu Yirou asked, lying on her little pillow, her fair and delicate feet kicking up and down. "Does he smile often? Does he play with Da Bao, Er Bao, and Xiao Bao?"
Qiao Wen brushed away non-existent dust from the bedside table and rearranged the photo frame.
“I’m not close to He Ting, but I know he’s a good father.”
In his youth, He Ting was rebellious and disobedient. After a big argument, he ran away from home for several years, cutting off all contact with them. Five years later, he suddenly reappeared, bringing back a young girl holding a child.
The He family has reached its current position and no longer cares whether their daughter-in-law is a good match in terms of social status or whether they need to sacrifice He Ting's happiness through a business marriage. As long as their daughter-in-law is of good character and lives a down-to-earth life, they will not interfere.
Later, He Ting got his wish and married the girl he liked, started his own family, and became more composed and attentive in his dealings with people than before, becoming a fully capable leader.
Meanwhile, Qiao Wen and He Ting also became a mother and son who, although living in the same city and less than 15 kilometers apart, rarely saw each other.
"What I can see is limited." Qiao Wen's tone remained indifferent. "Rou Rou, if you want to know what kind of father He Ting is, you should ask the three children for their opinions."
Xu Yirou's eyes darted around, and she pressed her advantage by asking in a low voice, "So what kind of son is he?"
Qiao Wen leaned against the headboard, her profile hidden in the dim light, her expression inscrutable.
After a moment of silence, her soft voice carried a faint fragrance.
"He's a good man, a very good son."
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