"Mom, I’m okay now," he whispered, "I... just felt a little uncomfortable earlier, but I’m fine now. Heh heh."
As he spoke, he was somewhat sheepish.
Actually, he was perfectly healthy.
It was too bad that Dad had thought of such a way to get Mom to come see him.
But Gu Zhixi couldn’t be at ease; she cradled her son’s little face, carefully checking him all over and then touched his forehead, frowning.
"Your forehead feels a bit hot," she said, her expression serious and eyes slightly red, "I’m going to call the doctor right now."
"Don’t, Mom," the little guy quickly embraced her, refusing to let go, "I really am fine! My forehead is hot because... erm, I was just napping under the blankets. Mom, stay with me for a while, will you?"
Zhixi looked at him with suspicion.
The little guy all but swore to the heavens: "Really! Don’t worry, Mom, if I felt bad, I would definitely tell you."
"Okay." Zhixi finally relaxed, kissed his cheek, and asked softly, "How have you been getting along with Dad these past few days?"
"He forces me to recognize words every single day," the little guy’s voice immediately deflated, sounding listless, "Mom, I don’t want to stay with him anymore; take me home."
Gu Zhixi couldn’t help but chuckle, poking his little face: "You just think Mom is easier to fool, right? Indeed, only your dad can handle you..."
In the last sentence, her voice was tinged with a hint of wistfulness.
Perhaps living with He Jingyao was a good thing for the boy.
"No, Mom!" the little guy suddenly became anxious, "Do you not want me anymore? Don’t leave me alone, wuwuwu..."
As he spoke, his eyes reddened with sadness.
Gu Zhixi’s heart clenched with discomfort: "Xiaobao, be good, Mom could never bear to give you up, I... I will figure something out."
"Yeah," his voice still laced with sobs, "anyway... anyway I don’t want to be separated from you."
Gu Zhixi hugged him tightly, sighing silently.
It turned out making decisions was such a painful thing; she really had made one mistake after another.
"Xiaobao, be good, Mom has to go now," she touched her son’s little face, "Don’t worry, Mom will come to pick you up in a few days, okay?"
"Ah? Mom, you’re leaving already!" the little guy panicked, and as he finished talking, he looked up to see a familiar figure had appeared at the door of the ward.
His eyes widened, and he mouthed: Dad.
He Jingyao shook his head lightly at him, indicating for him to keep quiet.
Then, his gaze fell upon that graceful figure.
Gu Zhixi, oblivious, continued to soothe the little guy: "...your dad must already know you’re his son, Xiaobao, if you want to live with me, Mom will definitely not abandon you."
She had made up her mind. On this matter, her son’s wishes were the most important; she couldn’t selfishly make decisions for Xiaobao.
"But Mom..." the little guy’s voice was quiet, "If I want to live with Dad, won’t you want me anymore?"
Gu Zhixi stiffened, her voice caught.
"And you wouldn’t want Dad either?" The little guy glanced at the man not far away and pressed on with his questioning.
"Even if you live with Dad, you’ll still get to see Mom regularly," Zhixi said with a husky voice, "How could I not want you."