Seeing Bo Yan’s smile gradually becoming indifferent, Yuran’s smile also faded significantly. Clutching Bo Yan’s hand, she unconsciously tightened her grip. "Brother Qi, could it really be about my background... "
Bo Yan soothingly squeezed her hand. "Baby, it has nothing to do with Yuran herself. It’s related to Fu Yuran."
Yuran was startled and slightly looked up at him, but they had already reached the old mansion, and the conversation halted for the moment.
Zhizhi heard the car horn outside and was the first to dash out, standing at the distant gateway, waving at the two of them, "Look over here, look over here..."
Following behind Zhizhi were Bo Yan’s father and mother. Yuran gathered her thoughts and, ignoring the prior conversation, rushed from the car and collided with the little cannonball that was Zhizhi.
Zhizhi nestled happily in Yuran’s arms, brightly smiling, "Mommy, mommy, Zhizhi missed you so much."
Yuran affectionately kissed his face. "Mommy missed Zhizhi so much too."
Then, holding him, she called out, "Dad, Mom."
Bo’s mother smiled, carefully looking Yuran over, "You’ve lost a lot of weight in the months you were away. You don’t have work coming up, so stay in the old mansion. I’ll take good care of you."
"We’re all family. What’s there to thank for?"
Upon hearing that Yuran had lost weight, Zhizhi quickly climbed off her and was then picked up by Bo Yan who followed. Zhizhi hugged his neck, "Mommy, you’ve lost weight."
Yuran chuckled. "You heard Grandma say I lost weight, and you think so too?"
Zhizhi shook his head, "Zhizhi has Mommy’s photos in his phone. Zhizhi can tell, Mommy is much thinner than before, I know it."
Yuran laughed, and the family joyfully entered the house. Zhizhi hurried upstairs and stood at the stairwell calling out to Bo Yan, "Daddy, I need your help."
Hearing this, Bo Yan quickly sprinted upstairs. What exactly the father and son were up to in the room upstairs remained a mystery, leaving only Bo’s mother and Yuran downstairs, as Bo Yan’s father headed to his study.
Bo’s mother genuinely worried about Yuran, sitting beside her, continually squeezing her hand and lamenting, "Baby, was the food at the set really that bad? Look how thin you’ve become, it’s almost unseemly. You were already slender, and although you gained some weight when you were pregnant with Zhizhi, you lost it again after giving birth, and now you’re even thinner."
Yuran clasped her hand, laughing, "Mom, I’m just right now; as a female artist, I can’t be too chubby. It doesn’t look good on camera."
"I really don’t understand why Bo Yan is so hard on you. He doesn’t even work himself; he lets you earn the money to support the family. Look how hard you’ve been working."
That was a tough comment to respond to.
Yuran cheerfully changed the subject with Bo’s mother, "Mom, thank you for taking care of Zhizhi for so long. It must have been hard on you and dad."
Upon hearing this, Bo’s mother’s eyes twinkled with amusement, "Zhizhi is very well-behaved, not picky with food and has a good temper. Your father and I didn’t find it difficult at all. Your dad takes Zhizhi out for walks in the morning. As for me, I stay at home and work with Mrs. Zhang on making Zhizhi’s favorite fruit pies;
we’re very satisfied with our routine. Saying it like that makes you a stranger."
"Okay, let’s not speak in formalities then. Mom, I want to eat your sweet and sour pork ribs."
Bo’s mother’s eyes lit up, clearly excited to showcase her culinary skills, "Of course, of course, I’ll go make it now, ah."
Watching Bo’s mom get up and head to the kitchen, Yuran felt a serene sense of calm within. Having such a family was truly comfortable, making all interactions exceptionally harmonious and soothing.
At the staircase, the voices of Zhizhi and Bo Yan could be heard, Zhizhi’s youthful voice tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Dad, please hold it carefully. This is the result of my long efforts. If you damage it, I won’t have a gift to give to mom."
Bo Yan responded with a sound of acknowledgment, "Why are you giving this gift to mom?"
Zhizhi answered without hesitation, "Because I love mom."
Yuran had reached the ladder and upon hearing Zhizhi’s confession, couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing her laugh, Zhizhi, his face tinged with shyness, said, "Mom, mom, this is the gift Zhizhi is giving to you."
He gestured for Bo Yan to hold it properly, then Bo Yan turned the huge model in another direction, and Yuran saw a Lego figure nearly as big as herself, with a face resembling a Lego character’s.
While Zhizhi was assembling these Legos, it was unclear what he was thinking, but he did an impressive job.
Yuran, smiling at Zhizhi, asked, "Zhizhi, tell mom, when did you prepare this?"
Zhizhi’s smile widened, "Grandma told Zhizhi that mom’s birthday was coming soon, so Zhizhi asked grandma to go with him to order the Lego. Grandma provided a photo of mom, and Zhizhi thought mom looked very pretty. If mom has to work for a long time in the future, this Lego mom can keep Zhizhi company."
Yuran felt a bit guilty and squatted down to make eye contact with Zhizhi, "Zhizhi, if you miss mom, just call me directly. As long as I’m not working, I can take your calls anytime, okay?"
Zhizhi nodded seriously and asked, "Then mom, can dad and I come to see you again next time?"
"Of course, you can."
Zhizhi immediately became happy.
Although the Lego was quite artistic, for Yuran, it was still refreshing because it was the first gift her son had given her, and he had put so much heart into it, which was rare.
The Lego was brought to their room by Bo Yan, and Yuran went to help in the kitchen. That’s when Bo’s mom commented, "Zhizhi completed this Lego on his own, without asking anyone for help. His dedication to you is quite something. It’s rare for kids to persist with something, but I didn’t expect Zhizhi to stick with your Lego portrait for so long. He worked on it for about half a month."
The family discussions outside had also reached her ears, so she explained everything as if it were nothing unusual.
Yuran, however, sensed Bo’s mom’s indulgence and stood next to the sink, helping her select vegetables. "Mom, I will reduce my workload and spend more time with Zhizhi. We’ll have Brother Seven take over the work."
Bo’s mom scoffed, "Xiaoqi, I doubt he’s that self-motivated to want to work."
Bo’s mom expressed frustration, "Xiaoqi says he’s already reached retirement age, and even without working, his dividends are substantial. He wants to enjoy the pleasure of being with his kids and wife now. He’s not very interested in working, and I don’t know what to say about him. Maybe you can talk to him?"
Yuran: "... that really is..."
Bo’s mom disapprovingly said, "Difficult to explain, isn’t it?"
Yuran nodded, aligning her stance with Bo’s mom instantly, "Indeed. If Brother Seven doesn’t go out to work and , then Zhizhi and I would just be loafing around the old mansion. Mom, don’t mind us then. It’s okay if Brother Seven eats a little less."
"Haha..." Bo’s mom couldn’t help but laugh, amused, "You, are you really okay with that?"