She had decided. She would cast aside all dignity and pride—she needed to go home, she must go home.
"Mommy, I’m sorry." Xiaocong said apologetically as soon as he had the phone.
"I shouldn’t be such a bother. I will be very obedient and stop demanding Mommy’s presence. Mommy, please focus on your work and don’t be angry with Xiaocong. I will never do this again."
Xiaocong was very understanding. He had overheard the content of the conversation his grandmother had on the phone. Worried that his mother might be angry and blame him, he hurriedly apologized to her.
Lin Xinlan felt a pang of pain in her heart. She stabilized herself and managed a forced smile, "Xiaocong, don’t be sad. Mommy isn’t angry with you. Actually, it is Mommy who should say sorry to you. My treasure, I am sorry. I haven’t come home to see you for a long time, it is all Mommy’s fault. I’ve decided that I will come home to see you in a few days, is that okay?"
"Really?!" Xiaocong immediately asked with joy.
Then he hesitated, speaking tentatively, "Mommy, you don’t need to come back, I don’t miss you anymore. Please, just focus on your work."
Despite his young age, he knew their family was poor, relying solely on his mother’s income to get by, which was a hard life. If Mommy came home to see him, could she end up losing her job?
Moreover, it would be very tough for Mommy to travel back and forth.
He didn’t want Mommy to suffer that much because it would make him very sad.
Lin Xinlan was touched by her child’s thoughtfulness. She knew what was going through his mind. A mother’s eyes could not easily be deceived by her own child’s thoughts.
She smiled softly and said, "Xiaocong, don’t worry. Mommy is now on vacation and can take a few days off. I’ll come back to see you and Grandma. Mommy misses you both very much, and it would be very hard for me not to see you. Please, let Mommy come home for a few days, okay?"
Xiaocong was a child after all, and he believed her words.
He couldn’t help giggling and, imitating an adult’s tone, he said, "Alright then, you can come back. Just remember not to disturb your work, okay?"
What he meant was that she shouldn’t delay her work, but his vocabulary was too limited. Disturb was the most appropriate verb he could find.
Lin Xinlan laughed as well, "Got it, little butler. I won’t delay my work, you can rest assured. Mommy has earned a lot of money which can buy you lots of toys and tasty things. Tell Mommy, what would you like to eat and what toys do you want to play with?"
Xiaocong wasn’t particularly interested or had much concept of food and toys.
After thinking for a while, he said bashfully, "I want that sweet ice cream."
The best thing he had ever eaten was ice cream.
Lin Xinlan’s nose tingled and she nodded in response, "Mhm, Mommy will buy you ice cream."
Worried that a long phone call might be overheard, she spoke with her child a little while longer, then hung up.
She booted up her computer, found a travel agency, inquired about trips to Hainan Island, and then joined a tour group.
This was a pretext, pretending it was a vacation when, in fact, she wanted to go home.
That evening, when Rong Shaoze returned, she followed him into his room and closed the door behind her.
The man turned around, his eyebrows raised, looking at her in silence.
Lin Xinlan leaned against the door, her eyes flickering as she met his gaze, her small face slowly turning red.
"I..." She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.
Rong Shaoze crossed his arms and waited to see what she wanted to tell him.