âAuntie Youning, you have to get better like Uncle Yuechuan. I hope you can stay with me forever.â
As soon as Mumu finished speaking, Xu Youning froze immediately.
After that, she felt as if her chest had been struck forcefully, and a form of strange dull pain spread through her veins, causing her entire chest to shake.
Mumu said that he hoped that she could stay with him forever.
This was something that one could easily blurt out.
Xu Youning also heard a kind of saying that companionship was the most affectionate confession.
However, long-term companionship was the most difficult thing to achieve in the world.
Xu Youning hugged Mumu and intimately rubbed her forehead against the little boyâs. âMumu, I also hope to be with you forever, so I will try my best.â
In fact, she knew very well that she couldnât be with him forever.
She even knew that they would eventually be separated because of her death or the hatred between her and Kang Ruicheng.
However, at this moment, just like Mumuâs wish, they both hoped to be with each other forever. That was enough.
And it was also enough to make a promise although the best promise would never be realized.
Mumu took Xu Youningâs promise seriously. He happily hummed and rubbed against Xu Youningâs arms. His soft voice got to her. âAuntie Youning, I believe in you. We will be together forever!â
Xu Youning touched the little boyâs head with a smile and turned to look out of the window.
The veil of the night had suddenly descended, and it was like a grey and hazy net had enveloped the world and indicated that night was about to descend.
Xu Youning couldnât help hugging Mumu more tightly.
No matter how dark and confusing the future was, the faith in her heart would not change.
At about eight oâclock, Mumu began to yawn. His clear eyes were overflowing with sleepy tears. He looked pitiful and adorable.
Xu Youning recalled that the little boy hadnât taken a nap, so she rubbed his head and said, âIâll take you to take a shower and go to bed immediately after that, okay?â
Mumu was really sleepy. He nodded in a daze and let Xu Youning take him into the bathroom.
After taking a shower, Mumu couldnât open his eyes anymore. He refused to walk and pouted, asking Xu Youning to take him back to the bedroom.
The little boy was only willful occasionally, but Xu Youning was still a little unaccustomed to it. She couldnât help wondering if she had been spoiling him too much.
âHowever, time is ticking. Weâll have fewer and fewer chances to see and hug each other.
âIn that case, why shouldnât I cherish the opportunity Iâm having?â
âNo problem.â Xu Youning picked Mumu up and said, âAfter I take you back to the bedroom, youâll go to sleep immediately. Donât make trouble again, understand?â
âOkay, got itâ¦â
Mumu lay on Xu Youningâs shoulder. His voice sounded hoarse and sleepy.
Only then did Xu Youning realize that even if Mumu wanted to argue with her, he didnât have the energy to do so.
She could rest assured.
The bathroom was not very big and the shower was not separated from the rest of the room. Mumu played with water while taking a shower. After he finished it, the bathroom was full of water and the floor was a little slippery.
Xu Youning held Mumu in her arms with a little more strength, so she overlooked the slippery floor. She staggered as soon as she took the first step. She slipped and lost control of her pace. Her center of gravity began to deviate as she fell to the floor.
It wouldnât be a big deal if she fell, but it was a big deal if Mumu and the baby were hurt.
Xu Youning reflexively held Mumu with one hand and supported herself by the sink with the other.
She didnât know if she could hold on.
If something were to happen, Mumu would be hurt, her baby would be lost, and all her secrets would be revealed.
âAh!â
At the most critical moment, Xu Youning blurted out a scream.
Mumu was about to fall asleep when he suddenly felt that he was tilting. He soon realized that Xu Youning was about to fall, so he screamed along and hugged her tightly, almost crying. âBoo-hoo! Auntie Youning!â
He was afraid of falling and Xu Youning getting hurt, so his voice was not only full of horror but also worry.
As soon as Kang Ruicheng stepped into Xu Youningâs room, he heard Xu Youning and Mumu screaming one after another.
âItâs coming from⦠the bathroom!â
âA Ning!â
Kang Ruicheng called Xu Youning and quickly walked toward the bathroom, with big and hurried strides.
In the bathroom, Xu Youning heard Kang Ruichengâs voice and gasped inwardly. Almost at the same time, she held the edge of the sink and held Mumu tightly.
âIâm safe, and so is Mumu and the baby in me.
âI donât need to worry about anything.
âTherefore, I have to stay calm. I canât panic and canât have Kang Ruicheng notice my abnormality.â
Perhaps it was the strong self-protection awareness in her or the instinct that had been trained that made Xu Youning forget the fear just now in an instant. She put Mumu down and asked softly, âMumu, how are you? Are you startled? Itâs okay. Donât be afraid.â
Kang Ruicheng pushed the door open in a hurry and saw Xu Youning comforting Mumu.
The little boy was obviously startled. His grape-like eyes were wide open, and he leaned against Xu Youningâs arms like a small animal. He grabbed her sleeve with both hands, and there was still fear in his eyes.
Xu Youning didnât have much of a reaction. She squatted in front of Mumu as if nothing had happened while comforting the little boy.
Kang Ruicheng asked coldly with a gloomy face, âWhat happened?â
Mumu came to his senses from shock. He looked at Kang Ruicheng and then at Xu Youning without saying anything.
Xu Youning took the little boyâs hand and answered Kang Ruicheng lightly, âItâs nothing. I was holding Mumu just now and almost fell. I was afraid of getting him hurt, so I screamed.â
Kang Ruicheng recalled the voice of Xu Youning he had just heard. It was obviously full of panic, but was it just because she was afraid of getting Mumu hurt?
Kang Ruicheng turned to Mumu and asked tentatively, âAre you hurt?â
Mumu was so scared that he was no longer sleepy. He shook his head and said, âAuntie Youning has been protecting me. Iâm not hurt.â
Xu Youning looked at the water stains on the floor and explained, âThere is water on the floor. Itâs easy to slip. But now everythingâs fine. You donât need to worry.â
Kang Ruicheng didnât continue this topic. He reached out to Mumu and said, âCome out with me.â
Mumu glanced at Xu Youning and answered perfunctorily with an âokayâ before he took Kang Ruichengâs hand and obediently followed him out.
Xu Youning took a deep breath quietly and followed Kang Ruicheng and Mumu out.
As soon as they returned to the bedroom, Mumu immediately got rid of Kang Ruichengâs hand, stretched himself, and yawned. He said to Xu Youning in a childish voice, âAuntie Youning, Iâm sleepy. I want to sleepâ¦â
âOkay, you can sleep right away.â Xu Youning turned to Kang Ruicheng and asked, âWhat did you come up here?â
âNothing.â Kang Ruicheng looked into Xu Youningâs eyes. âI just wanted to see if you were asleep.â
âOkay.â Xu Youning vaguely asked him to leave. âWeâre going to sleep now.â
In other words, he could leave now.
When she spoke, her expression didnât change much, and there was no abnormality on her face. She still looked cold and indifferent as usual.
Kang Ruicheng once suspected that maybe Xu Youning was worried about something when she screamed so loudly just now.
Now it seemed to him that she was really just worried about Mumu.
âGo to sleep,â Kang Ruicheng said. âI have something to do. I wonât be at home tonight. Call me if you need anything.â
Xu Youning nodded and motioned for Kang Ruicheng to rest assured, saying, âI will take good care of Mumu. Iâll leave you to your business now.â
Kang Ruicheng glanced at Mumu. The little boy was yawning hard with his hand covering his mouth, and his tender face was full of impatience.
He didnât say anything further. He left the room and closed the door behind him.
After a long time, after making sure that Kang Ruicheng was far away, Xu Youning looked at Mumu. The little boy was still covering his mouth, but he did not look sleepy.
Xu Youning squatted down and looked at Mumu. âAre you really sleepy?â
âIâm not sleepy anymore.â Mumu shook his head and said innocently, âI thought I was going to hit the floor just now and I was scared awake!â
Xu Youning couldnât help laughing and rubbed the little boyâs head. âSo, did you yawn just to help me?â
Mumu didnât admit or deny it. Instead, he asked, âAuntie Youning, were you hiding something from Daddy just now?â
Xu Youning didnât expect the little boy to see through her intention.
In that case, there was no need for her to hide it.
Xu Youning nodded and said after a while, âHowever, Mumu, I canât tell you about it for the time being.â
Mumu understood Xu Youningâs decision very well and was not very curious about her secret.
The little boy replied with an âokayâ and jumped into bed. He looked at Xu Youning with a chuckle and said, âGood night, Auntie Youning.â
Xu Youning was touched by the things Mumu had done. She sat down by the bed, tucked the little boy in, and kissed his forehead. âGood night.â
Mumu closed his eyes, held Xu Youningâs arm, and soon fell asleep.
Xu Youning looked at his sleeping face and couldnât help fixing his hair.
Perhaps Mumu had inherited his motherâs personality. He had been very obedient since he was younger. He was so obedient that it made people feel sorry for him.
In addition to being obedient, Xu Youning saw kindness in the little boy.
If it werenât for kindness, he wouldnât keep worrying about Xiao Yunyun and Shen Yuechuan all the time and wouldnât hope that they could stay together forever.
Xiao Yunyun was Su Jianâanâs cousin and also Lu Boyanâs cousin. She naturally hated Kang Ruicheng.
However, if she knew that Mumu had always been concerned about Shen Yuechuan, she would definitely not shift her hatred for Kang Ruicheng to the little boy.
Xu Youning thought that the greatest similarity between Xiao Yunyun and Mumu was that they were both simple.
âTherefore, Xiao Yunyun will also dote on Mumu very much, wonât she?
âUnfortunately, sheâs far away in a private hospital and knows nothing about the truth. I donât know if I will have a chance to tell her all thisâ¦â