"Of course!" Huangfu Jue fondly scooped him into his arms, adjusting his own position to make it more comfortable for him to sit, then reached out to take the yogurt cup and held it in his palm, "Go ahead and eat!"
The little guy stretched out and speared a piece of strawberry, but instead of eating it, he lifted his small hand to feed him.
Although he wasn’t particularly hungry, Huangfu Jue cooperated by opening his mouth to accept the fruit on the fork.
The little guy also took a bite. Then he reached out, grabbed a piece of pastry, and brought it to Huangfu Jue, who still cooperated by accepting it. Watching him chew on the pastry, Gan Tang offered his yogurt once more.
"Daddy, can you help me eat it?"
He saw that he had been eating with relish earlier, and now, after only eating a small portion, he didn’t want it anymore.
"Don’t you like it? Or does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"
The little guy shook his head, his big eyes looking brightly at him, "Daddy, do you think I’m dirty?"
"How could I?" Taking the spoon from his hand, Huangfu Jue smiled and brought it to his mouth.
The little guy smiled contentedly and then scooped another large spoonful of yogurt to bring over, "Before, Mommy would always buy me yogurt. Mommy said that if I had indigestion or didn’t feel like eating, having some yogurt could stimulate my appetite and help with digestion..."
As he mentioned Gan Yuan, Huangfu Jue’s blue eyes grew heavier.
Noticing his expression, Gan Tang pursed his little mouth, "I’m sorry, Daddy... I... shouldn’t have mentioned Mommy."
"You... you seem unhappy."
Seeing the little guy’s misunderstanding, Huangfu Jue set the yogurt aside and turned him around in his arms to face himself.
"No, Daddy isn’t unhappy. I just... miss her a bit."
The little guy’s face fell, "I do too. I really miss the way she smelled."
The Royal Palace had everything, whatever one wished for. Grandmother and grandfather... everyone was good to him, but he still couldn’t help missing his mother. He longed for her kisses at bedtime, to burrow into her fragrant and soft embrace, to inhale her scent.
Heart aching, Huangfu Jue gently hugged his soft little body to his chest, resting his chin on top of his head.
"I’m sorry, it’s all Daddy’s fault."
He was full of self-reproach. Gan Yuan had already hinted several times before that she might bring disaster upon him.
It was his overconfidence, his impatience... If only he had prepared earlier, he wouldn’t have been caught off guard by that news piece, and she wouldn’t have been ostracized by everyone.
A staff member entered, whispering a few words to Will.
Looking at the father and son huddled together, Will couldn’t bear to interrupt and waited for a moment before approaching.
"Sir, Miss Locke would like to see you."
"Miss Locke?" Huangfu Jue straightened up, "Qian Xueying?"
"Yes," Will said, "she mentioned... she has some important matters to inform you about."
Gan Tang immediately clung to his neck, "Daddy, no!"
"Xiaotang, be good," Huangfu Jue consoled, lifting him onto the chair, "Daddy will go and meet the guest and be right back."
Feeling anxious, Gan Tang hurriedly clutched his arm, "Do you like her?"
"Qian Xueying?" Huangfu Jue frowned, "How could that be? Daddy has business to discuss with her."
"You really don’t like her?" The little guy was still a bit insecure.
Now that Mommy wasn’t here, he couldn’t let another woman take Daddy away.
"Of course it’s true." Huangfu Jue crouched down, holding his tiny shoulders, "Daddy promises you."