In his mind, he told himself over and over again. That is not real. If I am afraid, I’m being tricked.
He must not be afraid.
Steadily he walked towards the bed, then he held the blanket and jerked hard to remove it. However, there was nothing under the covers. He turned around, looked at Zong Jinghao who was standing at the doorway and asked, “Where’s that doll?”
When Zong Jinghao was bringing him up here, someone was sent to get rid of it.
He was proud of Lin Xichen’s bravery and he felt comforted as well.
He walked in and his huge palm caressed Lin Xichen’s head affectionately. “You are a brave boy!”
“Of course,” Lin Xichen lifted his head in pride. He looked a little arrogant. “I am mummy’s son. Of course I’m brave. I promised her that when I grow up, I’ll protect her, but…”
Just now when we arrived, mummy seemed upset.
What should I do?
“Mummy seemed upset.” Lin Xichen blinked his eyes.
Zong Jinghao noticed that. “Let’s go,” he said.
He took Lin Xichen downstairs and sent him to the private room to have dinner with Shen Peichuan and the others. Then, he went to find Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan was still standing on the steps. She was struggling with herself and felt deeply troubled.
She was rather regretful that she did not stop them just now.
Seeing Lin Xinyan, Zong Jinghao stopped. Then he walked steadily towards her, “You have to trust our son.”
Lin Xinyan turned and looked at him standing not far away from her. Of course she believed in her son, but he was only five!
“Zong Jinghao, are you insane?” She rushed over, punching and kicking him. He stood unmoving like a mountain, letting her vent her anger.
Lin Xinyan was too emotional. She flung her hands about and Zong Jinghao was worried that she would hurt herself. He grabbed her hands, and held her in his arms tightly, saying, “Calm down.”
“If you let him look, it means that he will get hurt for a second time? How can I keep calm? If he is frightened out of his mind, I’ll hate myself for the rest of my life!”
Zong Jinghao rubbed her back again and again, speaking softly to her, “Good girl, he won’t be scared out of his mind.”
His hand and his voice seemed to have some type of power. In his embrace, Lin Xinyan gradually calmed down.
She raised her head and looked at him. So close to him, Lin Xinyan could see every hair on his face. His skin was very smooth. No, she was getting carried away. She willed her thoughts back to her son, “How is he?”
“He’s fine,” Zong Jinghao sighed softly, “In future, please trust me. I know what I am doing.”
Lin Xinyan lowered her eyes as she explained, “It’s not that I do not believe in you. It’s just …”
“You have no faith in your son?” Zong Jinghao interrupted her.
Zong Jinghao knew that she was worried. She was worried her son would be hurt.
“He is a boy. He needs to grow up. In future, he will have to face real blood-and-flesh humans. Sometimes, the human heart is more horrifying than that doll. He has to learn to face and overcome. Being overprotective might not be good for him.”
She understood what Zong Jinghao meant but her heart ached for her child.
“In future, whatever you want to do, can you possibly ask for my permission first?” Lin Xinyan was not as tough as Zong Jinghao.
As if aware of the incorrectness of her words, she quickly explained, “I mean things concerning our son- discuss with me first.”
She did not want Zong Jinghao to misunderstand her and think that she was trying to interfere with his work.
Zong Jinghao put on a smile that lit up his face. Teasingly, he said, “And if I do not discuss with you?”
Lin Xinyan lifted her hand, pretending to hit him, “I’ll beat you…”
Zong Jinghao caught her hand and planted a kiss on her palm, “Hit me here.”
Holding her hand, he placed it on his face.
Lin Xinyan was only kidding. Hitting a man on the face was no laughing matter.
She snatched back her hand, “Stop playing.”
Zong Jinghao did not continue teasing her. The disagreement over the doll incident had more or less been resolved and the atmosphere had cleared much. He held her shoulders, saying, “You must be hungry. Let’s go and eat something.”
Lin Xinyan was hungry. Indeed, she had gone without food for nearly a day.
After Yao Qingqing’s clothing store was destroyed, she took care of the aftermath. Then she stayed at home without looking for a job during this time.
Alas, Bai Yinning went to her house and found her there.
She seemed like she had just come back from shopping. Seeing Bai Yinning, she was surprised at first and then quickly ran over to him, asking, “What are you doing here?”
Bai Yinning smiled calmly, “I just came to see you, how have you been?”
Yao Qingqing smiled, “Very good.”
The air was still.
What they most dreaded of came true- they ran out of topics to chat about.
The atmosphere was embarrassing.
Bai Yinning spoke first, looking at the food in Yao Qingqing’s hands, “Eating so late?”
“Yes,” Yao Qingqing lowered her head.
“Aren’t you inviting me inside?” Bai Yinning asked smilingly.
Yao Qingqing hurried in front to lead the way, saying, “I hoped you would come.”
“Do you live alone?” Bai Yinning asked while they were entering the lift.
Yao Qingqing nodded her head, “Yes, after I reached adolescence, I hardly go back to see my adoptive parents. They don’t treat me very well. I don’t really like going back. When I still had my clothing store, I did save some money. I’ll be looking for a job soon.”
“That’s good.” Bai Yinning regretted coming to see her. When she was in the orphanage, she was a very simple girl and she had the best relationship with him. After being adopted, she had a bad life until they met again. He helped her a bit and her life took a turn for the better.
How could she do something like that?
“Are you here to see me for something?” Yao Qingqing held tight to the plastic bag in her hands as she asked.
“No. I can just come to visit you, can’t I?” Bai Yinning was still smiling.
Yao Qingqing smiled, saying, “You can, of course, I’ll be glad. If there is anything you need, please tell me honestly.”
As she spoke, the elevator stopped.
Gao Yuan pushed Bai Yinning out of the elevator, while Yao Qingqing walked ahead of them and opened the door.
The studio apartment she lived in was small but had all the necessities. Furthermore, it was kept tidy and neat.
“It’s just a small place.” Yao Qingqing put down the things she was holding on the table. She served Bai Yinning a cup of water.
“Thank you.” Bai Yinning reached out and took it, holding it in his hand without drinking. Instead, he looked around the room and finally fixed his eyes on a photo frame on the bedside table.
It was a photo of him and her posing together when they were children.
He recalled that it was taken on the day he was adopted by Bai Hongfei.
Yao Qingqing came over, picked up the photo frame and looked at the children in the picture. She laughed, saying, “At that time, you were so young and so was I. How I wish we had not been separated.”
Bai Yinning’s was moved, not by Yao Qingqing, but by his past memories.
“I never thought you would still keep it.”
Bai Yinning was quite surprised that he could still see a photo of himself taken at the time he was living in the orphanage.
Yao Qingqing’s finger pointed gently on the boy’s face in the photo. She spoke, “After I was adopted, my life was really sad. Each time I find it too unbearable, I would look at him and I eventually found the courage to go on living.”
Obviously, there was a deeper meaning behind her words but Bai Yinning pretended not to understand. “I have something to do, so I’ve got to go. If there is any help you need, you can contact me.”
“I’m sorry. I…” Only then did Yao Qingqing realize what had accidentally slipped her tongue.
She was a little upset.
“It’s alright.” Bai Yinning did not mind at all. He could not reply and so he pretended not to understand.
To him, she was just a friend or a family member.
There was nothing else.
“I’ll walk you out,” Yao Qingqing put down the photo frame, feeling a little flustered.
Bai Yinning glanced at the children in the frame. It was obvious that the photo was reprinted. At that time, photos were not laminated and could not be kept for that long.
“Don’t put such a photo by your bedside.”
Yao Qingqing looked at him, as if to say something but stopped herself. “Okay,” she just replied.
“Let’s go.”
Gao Yuan pushed him out of the room and Yao Qingqing walked with them to the elevator. Bai Yinning waved to her, “It’s alright, you may go back.”
Yao Qingqing did not go back. She stood in front of the elevator.
Soon, the elevator door closed slowly, blocking her view. Gao Yuan spoke his mind, “Ms. Yao looks very kind, I don’t think she did it.”
But Bai Yinning’s expression showed he had doubts.
He believed that Zong Jinghao would not make presumptions without proof. Yet, he doubted Yao Qingqing was the type who could do such things.
“You send someone to watch her. See what she does at home everyday.”
