“Okay.” Xiaoqi patted her shoulder. “Mommy, Xiaoqi can walk.”
Ling Sheng held Xiaoqi’s hand and walked around the entrance for a long time. It was a small mall, and it was quite old. It was past 11 o’clock at night and close to 12 o’clock. Besides the movie-goers, there was no one else there.
It was winter, and the wind was howling. It was so cold that it was bone-chilling. Not only was it cold, but it was also drizzling.
Ling Sheng was not wearing much. She was wearing a woolen sweater inside and a coat over it. She was freezing, and she could not find Huo Ci even after searching around.
However, when she headed to the cafe, she looked up and saw two familiar figures in the private room on the second floor. It was her Second Uncle and Sister Yu. They were discussing something, so she could not disturb them.
It was extremely cold outside. Not only had they not found her father, but the rain was also getting heavier. She could only flag down a taxi with her son and go home.
Su Xiyin opened the door and saw the mother and son, whose faces were pale from the cold. Her heart ached as she dragged them into the house. “Where’s your father? Isn’t he with you? Why are the two of you home?”
Xiaoqi was a child, so he spoke the truth. His voice was trembling because of the cold. “Grandpa left. Mommy and I took a taxi back.”
Huo Xiao walked out of the house. Upon hearing Xiaoqi’s words, he cursed angrily. “I told you not to go out with him. He’s a scumbag. I’ll settle the score with him when he gets home!”
It was a really dark and cold day, and it was raining outside. Why was he not worried at all about letting a girl like Sheng Sheng take a child—Xiaoqi—home?
The house was warm. Ling Sheng dragged her son to the sofa and wrapped him tightly in a blanket. Her grandma even passed him a heat pack and placed it in Xiaoqi’s embrace. He was finally warm.
Afraid that the duo would catch a cold, Su Xiyin even boiled some brown sugar ginger water.
Ling Sheng was a little hungry, so she asked her to make two poached eggs.
Su Xiyin put on some longan and red dates. When she saw Ling Sheng run to the kitchen door from the sofa, her heart ached. “Wait on the sofa. It’ll be ready soon.”
Ling Sheng looked at the old woman in the kitchen, her eyes wet as warm bubbles formed in her heart. She walked over and hugged her from behind. In a soft voice, she said, “Grandma, I missed you.”
Su Xiyin patted her hand lovingly and said gently, “Grandma missed you too.”
This girl had only been gone for half a month. Why was she becoming increasingly clingier? She was like a child that warmed one’s heart.
Ling Sheng was afraid. What had happened in the Maldives had scared her deep down. She was afraid that she would disappear and never see her family again.
“What’s wrong?” Su Xiyin sensed that her mood had gotten worse. She frowned, her face full of worry. “Your father made you suffer again. He’s a scumbag. Don’t stoop to his level. Your grandparents dote on you.”
“I won’t.” Ling Sheng felt that she had to cherish the happy life she had now. She had long known about her father’s bad temper and had already developed the ability to resist. She would not get angry if he did something such as abandon them—a mother and son duo. “I just missed you and grandpa.”
Su Xiyin smiled. Her granddaughter was sweet and considerate. She did not know what that scumbag Ci Er was thinking. She would punish him when he got home. In a gentle voice, she replied, “Okay.”
Girls were better. Ci Er had never said anything so considerate to her in his life. He always made her angry, but what should she do? No matter what, he was still her son.
The brown sugar ginger water was ready very soon. Su Xiyin looked at the mother and son sitting next to each other in front of the table. Their eating movements were identical. Xiaoqi had a small bowl in front of him, while Sheng Sheng had a big bowl.
When the duo finished drinking the water, they looked up at her in unison with a sweet smile. They even spoke in unison.
“Grandma, another bowl.”
“Great-grandmother, another bowl.”
Su Xiyin was overjoyed. Her face was full of affection and comfort. After thinking about it for most of her life, her wish had finally come true. However, she was a little regretful that she had not been there for her granddaughter’s childhood. It was as though she had grown up overnight.