Chapter 15
Only Lin Huaixi invited him a few more times, but Qi Wang never came to stay over again, nor did he sleep with him in the same little bed.
Lin Yunmi noticed Lin Huaixi’s disappointment and soothingly patted his head. “I know Xixi really likes Qi Wang, but Qi Wang has a mommy too. If Xixi were always staying at someone else’s house, wouldn’t you miss Mommy?”
Sitting in Lin Yunmi’s lap, Lin Huaixi hugged his mother’s arm softly and shook his head like a little rattle drum. “Xixi would miss Mommy a lot!”
Lin Yunmi patiently guided him along. “Then do you think Mommy would miss you a lot too?”
Without even thinking, Lin Huaixi answered right away, “Mommy would definitely miss me a lot. Mommy is even so scared of the dark. She’d be too scared to sleep.”
Then Lin Huaixi suddenly tilted his head and asked in a pure, curious tone, “Then did Mommy curl up in the blanket and cry?”
Lin Yunmi: “…”
She could not help blushing a little and began reflecting on her recent words and actions.
When she ate cake, she wanted Xixi to feed her.
When she slept, she wanted Xixi to stay with her.
When she went out for a walk, she wanted Xixi to protect her too.
…
It really was a little much, but this was her first time raising a child, okay? And Xixi was just this adorable and clever. She could not help acting it out a few more times, which was only natural.
Lin Yunmi gave a cough, showing absolutely no intention of repenting, and dragged the topic back. “So, Qi Wang misses his mommy very much, and his mommy misses him very much too. How could he stay at our house every single day?”
Lin Huaixi was very sensible, obedient, and full of empathy. He immediately realized his mistake and said softly, “Then I won’t say those things to Qi Wang anymore. Xixi can hold it in. Xixi actually doesn’t want to sleep with Qi Wang at all.”
Lin Yunmi fell silent for a few seconds, then pinched Lin Huaixi’s pouted little mouth and teased, “Your mouth’s already turned into a little duck bill, and you still say you don’t want to at all. Xixi, why do you like Qi Wang so much? If this keeps up, Mommy is going to get jealous.”
Lin Huaixi was right at that age when curiosity was at its peak. After discovering that other children had brothers and sisters, he felt that he and Qi Wang could become real brothers too. It was not that he truly wanted a younger brother or sister.
Lin Yunmi was acting too convincingly. Seeing his mother look sad, Lin Huaixi immediately climbed up from her lap, cupped her face in his little hands, and looked at her with eyes full of clear sincerity and attachment. “Mommy is different from everyone else. The person who brought Xixi into this world is Mommy, and the first person Xixi saw was Mommy too. Mommy doesn’t need to be jealous of anyone at all. Xixi will know lots of good friends in the future, but I only have one mommy.”
Lin Yunmi had only been putting on a show, wanting to tease a little, but she had not been prepared in the slightest. Her son’s sweet words left her speechless.
A warm current rose in her heart. The tip of Lin Yunmi’s nose turned sour, and her eyes grew hot. She was almost unable to stop her tears from falling.
“Got it,” Lin Yunmi sniffed and tried hard to steady her tone and emotions. “Mommy won’t get jealous anymore.”
Lin Yunmi was good at expressing love and always had endless sweet talk. Lin Huaixi copied everything from her. Using his short, stubby fingers, he made a little heart and pressed it against the left side of Lin Yunmi’s chest. “Mommy is so great. I’m giving you a little heart.”
“…” Lin Yunmi was utterly defeated by her son. She had originally wanted to use this chance to tease and educate Lin Huaixi, but he was just too cute, and she completely threw away her principles. Taking the initiative, she said, “Qi Wang can’t come stay at our house, but you can call him. Mommy will lend you my phone.”
Hearing this, Lin Huaixi’s eyes lit up. He spread his little hands and made a gesture like scattering flowers. “Long live Mommy! Mommy is the best!”
Lin Yunmi was so thoroughly charmed by him that she took the initiative to contact Wen Qianshu so the two children could have a long phone chat.
She handed the phone to Lin Huaixi and went to the bathroom to wash up.
The bedroom door could not completely block out sound. Though she could not hear every word clearly, that childish little voice lingered by her ears. Lin Yunmi could tell that Lin Huaixi was very happy and had endless things to say to Qi Wang.
Lin Yunmi’s skincare routine was very elaborate. By the time she came out of the bathroom, half an hour had already passed, and Lin Huaixi was still chatting away on the phone.
Lin Huaixi was lying on his stomach on the bed, with both plump little feet lifted up and swaying playfully. His pajama pants had naturally slipped down below his knees, revealing lotus-root-like little calves, pale and soft.
Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked down at the phone and said in a crisp voice, “Qi Wang, Mommy just bought me a fairy tale book. I think you’ll like it, so I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”
Qi Wang’s voice came from the other side of the phone. “Okay.”
Lin Huaixi stretched lazily, then flopped onto the bed in a soft boneless heap. “Qi Wang, I still have so many things I want to say to you. Let’s go to school together tomorrow.”
Lin Yunmi: “…” Oh my, that little mouth really was sweet.
Qi Wang, just like her, could not withstand it. After a few seconds of silence, he started speaking more. “Then I’ll come find you in the morning.”
“Okay!” Lin Huaixi sat up straight and waved toward the little window by the bed. “Qi Wang, can you see me?… Mm, I’m going to sleep now.”
After hanging up, Lin Huaixi crawled up, rubbing over to Lin Yunmi with his fluffy messy hair, and returned the phone to her.
Then he lifted the blanket by himself and obediently lay down, leaving only his round little face exposed.
Lin Yunmi was so overwhelmed by how cute her son looked that her heart almost burst. Unable to resist, she grabbed Xixi and kissed and rubbed all over him wildly.
Lin Huaixi had just taken a bath and carried a faint milky scent. His body still had baby fat and felt soft and squishy. Like someone cuddling a cat, Lin Yunmi buried her face in him and rubbed around everywhere.
Lin Huaixi knew that Mommy occasionally had her little episodes and had long since gotten used to it. His mental state was extremely stable, and his expression was patient too. He even smacked his lips twice and let out a huge yawn.
Only after “cuddling” her child enough did Lin Yunmi remember to care about appearances. She gave a fake serious cough and said with motherly concern, “It’s getting late. Xixi, go to sleep early.”
Lin Huaixi fought against his sleepiness and did not close his eyes yet. He patted the spot beside him. “Mommy should rest early too.”
Before sleeping, Lin Yunmi had the habit of playing on her phone and simply could not stop. Every time, it was only after the phone dropped and smacked her in the face that she unwillingly went to sleep. Then the next morning, she would be so sleepy she felt half-dead, regretting that she had not gone to bed earlier the night before.
But ever since she started sleeping beside her son, her routine had improved, and her sleep quality had soared. She did not even make up a single excuse. Right away, she placed the phone on the farthest table and lay down beside her son.
Before bedtime was not only emo time, but also conscience-awakening time. Lin Yunmi realized she did not really act much like a mom and could not help asking, “Compared to other parents, does Xixi think Mommy isn’t steady enough? And Xixi doesn’t like how Mommy was just now either?”
Lin Huaixi crawled up from under the blanket, scooted over to Lin Yunmi, and used his soft little hand to gently fix the hair he had rubbed messy. In a sweet childish voice, he said, “Mommy is so pretty. You’re not just my mommy, you’re also a fairy from TV and a princess from fairy tale books. Xixi will grow up quickly and protect Mommy, so Mommy doesn’t have to act like a grown-up.”
Lin Huaixi wanted to tuck the blanket around Lin Yunmi the same way she always did for him, but he was too little and too weak. He strained with all his strength, yet the blanket trapped beneath her would not budge.
Lin Huaixi: o_o ….
He deflated for one second, then could only pat Lin Yunmi on the shoulder with his little hand. Resting his soft cheek against Mommy’s shoulder, he looked at her with sparkling eyes. “Good night, Mommy.”
“Good night.”
After Lin Yunmi turned off the light, she closed her eyes too. Once the little person beside her was breathing softly and evenly, Lin Yunmi opened her eyes again and covered her nose with her hand.
Oh heavens, she could not take it anymore. Her baby was so cute he was about to make her nosebleed!
That phone call from last night really was effective. Qi Wang came early in the morning to wait for Lin Huaixi and was even fed a custard bun.
The two little boys went to school together, one wearing a cool black jacket, the other a tender yellow hoodie, shoulders pressed close together like two adorable little dumplings.
That morning, they had Chinese and math class. After class, Lin Huaixi counted on his fingers while doing addition problems, his neat little brows furrowed and his face full of distress. His fingers curled and stretched again and again, working so hard they were practically about to cramp up.
After a great deal of effort, he finally finished his homework and turned to Qi Wang with an eager expression. “Let’s go outside and play!”
Qi Wang was not very interested, but when he looked into Lin Huaixi’s eyes, he still nodded.
Wang Xiaohu had already been waiting for them. The children were like little birds released from a cage, running all over the yard, and this small world instantly filled with laughter and joy.
Crystal-like beads of sweat appeared on Lin Huaixi’s nose tip and forehead, and his cheeks turned a healthy red. Qi Wang reached out to stop him. “You promised Auntie that after playing for a while, you’d drink water.”
Lin Huaixi nodded and reached for his little yellow duck cup, but Qi Wang thought his hands were dirty, so he poured a cup for him instead and watched him drink it all.
After handing the cup back to Qi Wang, Lin Huaixi rummaged around in his pocket with his little hand. Among a pile of pretty candy wrappers and marbles, he finally found the piece of candy he had specially brought.
Lin Huaixi clenched his hand into a fist and held it out in front of Qi Wang. Only after meeting Qi Wang’s puzzled gaze did he slowly open his hand like revealing a surprise. “For you!”
The wrapper of the milk candy had gone a little soft, with the corners slightly lifted. It had clearly been in his pocket for a long time. Lin Huaixi treated it like a treasure. Even though he had craved it and touched it many times, he had held back and wanted to save it for Qi Wang.
Qi Wang fell silent for a few seconds and reached out to take it. But just before he could touch it, Lin Huaixi was suddenly bumped. Losing his balance, he let the candy slip from his palm. It drew a straight line through the air and dropped into the crack of the drain.
Lin Huaixi’s eyes widened sharply, and his whole expression went blank. He did not even see Sun Baiyi striding past proudly at his side, giving an intentional snort, his face full of the satisfaction of a prank successfully pulled off.
He had wanted to teach Lin Huaixi a small lesson and was already prepared for a fight, but Lin Huaixi only flattened his mouth and crouched down on the ground like a little mushroom, his whole face full of sadness as he stared at the milk candy in the drain.
Wuwuwu, his milk candy was gone!
Sun Baiyi had not expected that reaction from Lin Huaixi. He froze for a few seconds, looking somewhat awkward.
He had never been taught to reflect on himself or respect other people. Even if he felt a little guilty, he was still brazen. “Isn’t it just one piece of milk candy? My family has lots of…”
Before he could finish, he met Qi Wang’s dark eyes.
Qi Wang was just another child like him, yet Sun Baiyi could not stop himself from feeling afraid. Guilt made him blink again and again. Even after forcing himself to be brave, he still did not dare keep meeting Qi Wang’s gaze and fled for the first time in his life.
After Sun Baiyi left, Qi Wang walked over to Lin Huaixi’s side. He noticed Lin Huaixi’s eyes were slightly red, his gaze full of reluctance, and that he was biting his lower lip hard, as though he wished he could crawl into the drain and keep his beloved milk candy company.
Worried that Lin Huaixi might burst into tears, Qi Wang took out a piece of candy from his pocket and waved it in front of him. “Don’t be sad. There’s still another one here.”
Lin Huaixi was instantly comforted. Looking at Qi Wang with shining eyes, he asked, “How come you have one too?”
Grandma had given them each one. Lin Huaixi had wanted to save his for Qi Wang, and Qi Wang had happened to have exactly the same thought.
“Hurry and eat it.” Qi Wang pulled Lin Huaixi back to his feet.
Lin Huaixi immediately unwrapped the candy and opened his mouth wide. But just before tossing the milk candy inside, he suddenly thought of something. He bit off only half and put the other half back in the wrapper, then handed it to Qi Wang. “You eat too.”
Qi Wang looked at the bite mark on the candy and did not even frown. He simply put it into his mouth.
A sweet milky taste spread over the tip of the tongue, making it feel as though his whole person were wrapped in milk. Lin Huaixi blissfully narrowed his eyes. He could not even bear to bite down on it and only licked it a few times with his tongue.
Watching his expression, Qi Wang also could not help but start savoring it seriously.
…
Yesterday, in a fit of anger, Sun Baiyi had thrown away all his chocolate and sworn never to share with other children again. But today he had secretly brought one piece anyway.
Thinking of the way Lin Huaixi had looked as if he were about to cry, he reluctantly walked over with the candy in hand. He disliked Lin Huaixi the most. Crying over losing a piece of candy—wasn’t that embarrassing? And this chocolate was already starting to melt anyway, so he did not want to eat it. He might as well give it to Lin Huaixi, and then that annoying brat would stop calling him “despicable.”
Right, exactly like that!
Sun Baiyi kept his head lowered, feeling so awkward that even the way he walked turned stiff. He had just figured out what he wanted to say when he looked up and saw Lin Huaixi sharing candy with Qi Wang, his face showing not the slightest trace of having cried, as though nothing had happened at all.
“…”
That should have suited Sun Baiyi perfectly. It meant he did not have to give away his candy after all. But instead he became furious. His cheeks puffed up, and after kicking the wall hard, he turned around and threw the chocolate into the trash.
Hmph. He’d rather throw it away than let Lin Huaixi eat it!
