Ever since Ruan Jiaojiao had fallen ill and was hospitalized, Liao Zhaoji had been sent back to the Liao Family by Ruan Jiandang.
During that time, Ruan Jiandang had gone to see her, but it was for the purpose of filing for divorce. However, since Liao Zhaoji was unwilling to cooperate, their marriage could not be dissolved, and in the end, the matter was left unresolved.
Liao Zhaoji was unwilling to believe that Ruan Jiandang truly didn’t want her anymore, especially when she hadn’t committed any serious wrongdoing and had borne him three sons.
She was even more convinced that her three sons couldn’t bear to disown her; she felt that as long as they were given some time to cool down, she would be able to return to the Ruan Family.
So after being sent away, she settled down with some peace of mind.
Having stayed there for over a week, she felt the timing was about right. She quietly returned to probe the situation, but she did not dare go to the Ruan Family’s home. She could only wait here, never expecting to actually cross paths with Ruan Wei.
As the youngest child, Liao Zhaoji always considered herself the most affectionate towards him. Pulling him to a secluded corner, she crouched down and hugged him, asking gently, "Xiaowei, did you miss Mommy?"
Ruan Wei, looking at her, still hesitated, pursing his little lips.
He was the youngest in the second room, but he never felt that this mother had been particularly loving towards him. In contrast, it was the Ruanlin Family who would include them brothers whenever there were tasty treats.
As for Liao Zhaoji, she only served them salty vegetable clumps and all sorts of pickles. On reflection, he couldn’t recall a single memory where his mother had given him something delicious to eat. That was why he felt genuinely upset when he found out Liao Zhaoji had taken all the meat to her grandmother’s.
He may have been the youngest in the second room, but that wasn’t the case among all the kids; at nine years old and in his third year of school, he understood how things stood.
Yet, even saddened, he did not wish to be a child without a mother, nor to have a stepmother like Xiu Xi did.
"What’s the matter with you, child, struck dumb? Why aren’t you talking?" Seeing him silent for so long, Liao Zhaoji quickly lost patience, and her brief moment of tenderness disappeared, replaced by annoyance as she slapped him lightly.
Ruan Wei instantly snapped out of it, looking up at Liao Zhaoji. Although hesitant, he gave a small nod.
Liao Zhaoji smiled, satisfied.
He was, after all, her own flesh and blood. No matter what, he would stand by her.
She softened again, stroking his little cheek, full of pity, "Mommy hasn’t been home these days; you must not have eaten well. Look how thin your little face has gotten, really..."
"I have eaten well; Grandma makes delicious food every day," Ruan Wei immediately retorted.
Before Liao Zhaoji left, they would only occasionally eat at Grandma’s, but now they ate with her every day. Even if the dishes were sometimes the same, the Ruanlin Family made them taste better than Liao Zhaoji ever did because she put in effort. While she loved Ruan Jiaojiao the most, she naturally wouldn’t neglect her own grandchildren, especially since the boys were at an age where they needed to grow, and couldn’t be left wanting.
Therefore, even if there was no meat every day, the Ruanlin Family would bring home a couple of bones every so often and cook up a hearty pot of soup with seaweed, which was enough for the several boys to have their fill.
Consequently, with Liao Zhaoji absent these days, not only had they not lost weight, but they had also put on some flesh and grown taller.
Ruan Wei didn’t care much about other matters, but he didn’t like anyone speaking ill of his Grandma or his sister—even if that person was Liao Zhaoji.
Mid-sentence, Liao Zhaoji was so choked by Ruan Wei’s retort that she nearly lost her breath.