Chapter 37: Mommy, Where's Daddy?

Why bring it up suddenly now?

Ye Xinluo reached out and pulled the little guy in front of her.

"Jingxi, I'm sorry."

Although the little guy doesn't say it often, Ye Xinluo is well aware inside.

The little guy really wants his dad. A few times when they went to the supermarket together.

Whenever he saw other kids with their moms and dads, Jingxi would stop and stare at them.

Actually, in the little guy's heart, having a dad is something he longs for but cannot have. Ye Xinluo knows, no matter how she treats the little guy,

she can't make up for it. After all, a childhood without a father is incomplete.

She feels very sorry for the little guy, unable to give him a complete childhood, but she has no choice.

From the beginning, she didn't know who Jingxi's father was, not even his name or appearance...

Every time she hears the little guy ask, "Mommy, where's daddy?"

Ye Xinluo's heart would ache tremendously. If it were possible, she really wanted the little guy to have a happy childhood.

But that's all impossible now.

"Mommy, there's nothing to be sorry about. Since daddy isn't around, I'll take care of you in the future."

Ever since he could remember, the little guy understood he was different from other kids.

He never had a dad, only mommy. Therefore, the little guy loved to stick to Ye Xinluo.

Partly because he liked her, partly because he was afraid. Afraid that one day, Ye Xinluo would abandon him like his dad did.

Sometimes at night, he would wake up to find his mommy staring into space alone.

Back then, Jingxi was too young to understand adult emotions. But later, he gradually realized. Mommy has sacrificed so much for him.

These past few years have been hard for her, but she never complained. Jingxi knew all this.

He reached out and hugged Ye Xinluo's neck.

"Mommy, I'll protect you from now on; I won't let you suffer anymore."

A glint of determination flashed in his eyes.

Even though he's still young now, one day when he grows strong, he will surely repay her for raising him.

Jingxi secretly vowed in his heart that he would give mommy a happy life one day.

"Mommy, no matter what happens in the future, please don't leave me, okay?"

The little hands clutching Ye Xinluo's neck tightened.

"Baby, why would mommy ever leave you?" Ye Xinluo felt a bit amused and heartened.

Having such a cute and obedient son, how could she bear to leave?

"Mommy, I don't want daddy anymore, just having you is enough."

Forget about daddy; he's been gone for so long, might as well not have him.

I'm already three years old, and daddy has never shown up. It seems he never will.

"Alright then, we won't want daddy. From now on, it will be just you and mommy against the world."

It's not that she never considered finding a dad for Jingxi. Over the years, Ye Xinluo tried going on blind dates.

But in the end, the ones she was satisfied with couldn't accept her having a child, or they'd get scared off by Jingxi for various reasons.

Just when she thought they might do, Jingxi would always find a flaw with them.

To the point where Ye Xinluo doubted her own judgment. It wasn't a good thing that her son was so brutally honest.

However, the little guy was very pleased with one person. That person was Gong Shaoyu.

But Ye Xinluo didn't feel that way about Gong Shaoyu, regarding him only as a brother.

Therefore, this little wish of the little guy could only remain a thought.

"Mommy, what if daddy shows up one day?"

Jingxi's words made Ye Xinluo pause. This brat, saying the same thing as Shanshan.

"He won't. The grass on your dad's grave is nearly as tall as you now."

Ye Xinluo concocted a random excuse. She didn't believe that man still remembered her.

A man somewhere, busy with his work, sneezed elegantly.

"Who's badmouthing me?"

...

"Mommy, what does that mean?"

Jingxi looked puzzled, not understanding.

"It means that your daddy is long gone, and the grass on his grave is very tall."

She didn't expect the little guy to ask so earnestly. She could only answer against her conscience.

"Oh, like that. Mommy, should we visit daddy's grave then?"

Ye Xinluo: …

Three black lines formed on her forehead, momentarily stumped by the question. It was just something she made up randomly. How did the little guy have so many questions?

Baby, do you really have to pursue this to the end? Thinking she must quickly change the topic, she spoke again.

"Jingxi, is there anything you want to eat? Mommy will bring it back for you in a few days."

"Okay." The little guy seriously started contemplating food.

Whew...

Finally managed to move past that topic…

"Mommy, I want to eat cake."

Ye Xinluo: …

Did you have a grudge against cakes in your past life? Why do you love them so much?

"Nothing else?"

Ye Xinluo felt her son was hopelessly hooked on cakes. It was like he was addicted beyond remedy.

"Then I want to eat daifuku."

"They have those things here. When mommy has time, we'll go buy them."

If this keeps up, who knows how much more food the little guy will mention.

"Mommy can't lie, pinky swear."

He extended his little finger, wanting to hook it with Ye Xinluo's. She had no choice but to comply.

"Pinky swear, hang for a hundred years, no changing. If you do, you're a puppy."

The little guy excitedly danced around.

Oh yay, more cake to eat.

Seems he's living up to that saying, treating cake as life☞.

It's hard to say if the little guy loving cake so much is good or bad.

She lightly flicked his little nose, and Jingxi pushed her hand away in distaste.

"Mommy, don't flick my nose or I'll never find a wife."

Poof…

Ye Xinluo couldn't help but burst into laughter, a bit amused by the little guy.

"It's okay; if you can't find a wife, you'll be with mommy forever."

So young, yet so vain; just imagine when he grows up.

"No way, mommy will look bad by then."

"Oh, so you think mommy is ugly now?" She pretended to tickle him.

"Mommy, I was just joking; how could Jingxi dislike you? Mommy is the most beautiful person in the world."

Realizing he spoke wrongly, he immediately buttered her up, quickly backing away to a safe distance.

"Mommy, I was just joking; how could Jingxi ever dislike you?"

He grinned sheepishly, afraid of upsetting his mom.

"Alright, Jingxi, play by yourself for a bit. Mommy still has to pack."

"Okay."

The little guy returned to his seat with the magazine, continuing to flip through it.

When he came to one page, his pupils shrank sharply. Jingxi didn't recognize some of the words, but he could clearly see the picture. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.