When it was time to get into the car to go home, Shen Yi reached out to hold Zhouzhou, but Zhouzhou dodged him, clinging tightly to Ye Wanwan and refusing to let go.
"It’s okay, I’ll hold him," Ye Wanwan said.
Shen Yi did not insist, letting Ye Wanwan hold Zhouzhou first to get into the car; only after they had settled did Shen Yi get into the car.
On the way back, Ye Wanwan let Zhouzhou sit in her arms and then gently asked Zhouzhou, "Zhouzhou, why did you push the auntie just now?"
Zhouzhou looked at Ye Wanwan, his lips pursed, not saying a word.
Ye Wanwan didn’t get angry but continued asking softly, "Zhouzhou, can you tell mom, please? Why did you push that auntie?"
Zhouzhou still didn’t speak, and Ye Wanwan glanced at Shen Yi before speaking somewhat sternly to Zhouzhou, "Zhouzhou, what you did today was wrong; we shouldn’t push people like that. You pushed the auntie, and she got hurt."
Zhouzhou realized he was being disciplined; his lips turned downward as he tried to hold back his tears, a sad quaver in his voice when he said, "Bad person!"
"Does Zhouzhou think that auntie is a bad person?" Ye Wanwan was somewhat surprised; when Zhouzhou pushed Fang Xian, he had also cried out "bad person."
Zhouzhou nodded and, with tears of grievance falling, continued, "Bad person bullied mom."
Hearing Zhouzhou’s words felt like someone hammered Ye Wanwan’s heart fiercely, the pain leaving her entire being numb.
"So Zhouzhou pushed the auntie because he thought she was bullying mom?" Ye Wanwan’s voice was tinged with emotion, and she continued despite trying to suppress her tears.
"Mmm!" Zhouzhou nodded vigorously, unable to control the tears cascading from his eyes, and then Zhouzhou couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into loud crying.
Zhouzhou clung to Ye Wanwan’s neck, crying deeply and sorrowfully.
"Don’t cry, Zhouzhou!" Ye Wanwan had to quickly console Zhouzhou; her heart was already moved by his words, and seeing Zhouzhou cry from her disciplining made her feel even more remorseful!
Zhouzhou hugged Ye Wanwan tightly, crying and repeating, "Bad person bullied mom!"
"Don’t cry, okay Zhouzhou? Mom is super strong; she won’t be bullied by the auntie, and dad and Zhouzhou will protect mom too. The auntie doesn’t have a chance to bully mom!"
Ye Wanwan hastily soothed Zhouzhou, and after a very long time, Zhouzhou’s crying gradually subsided.
But Zhouzhou still clung to Ye Wanwan like a soft milky bundle, unwilling to let go.
Shen Yi comforted Ye Wanwan from the side, "Zhouzhou is a sensitive child; he probably sensed that Fang Xian harbored malice towards you."
"Hmm, that must be it," Ye Wanwan nodded, looking down at Zhouzhou in her arms, her heart aching with empathy.
Shen Yi looked at Ye Wanwan, his emotions changing faintly as he gazed at Zhouzhou.
After returning home, Shen Yi bathed Zhouzhou while Ye Wanwan was busy with other things. Watching Zhouzhou quietly play with a rubber duck, Shen Yi couldn’t help calling out, "Zhouzhou."
Zhouzhou looked up at his dad, his eyes watery as if there were stars twinkling within them.
Shen Yi reached out to touch his head and said softly, "Zhouzhou, dad will protect mom well, and will also protect Zhouzhou well. This time, all Zhouzhou needs to do is grow up safely and healthily."
Shen Yi said too much at once, and Zhouzhou, unable to comprehend it all, could only look at him with a blank face.