Wu Ziqiong quickened her pace, apologizing to Ye Yun as she went.
"Mr. Ye, I'm so sorry, I..."
"Don't misunderstand, I'm just worried about Keke's health. Children have weak immune systems and fall ill easily. Making some soup to ward off the cold will put us adults at ease," Ye Yun interrupted with a smile, explaining.
Hearing this, Wu Ziqiong felt even more inferior. Could a fallen woman like herself truly be worthy of this radiant man?
Without refuting Ye Yun's suggestion, Wu Ziqiong followed him submissively. Her mind was in turmoil, torn between worry for Keke and a sense of security from being alone with Ye Yun. These two complex emotions intertwined, leaving her unsure of how to proceed. Ye Yun's presence had provided her with a much-needed anchor.
Fortunately, when they descended the mountain, the ride-hailing driver from earlier was still waiting. It was past three in the morning by the time Ye Yun and the two girls returned to the house in Ying Tian Fu. Li Mengyao and Wu Kexin were already waiting. Seeing that Zhong Xintong had been successfully brought back, both women breathed a sigh of relief.
When Wu Ziqiong saw the palatial mansion that was Ye Yun's new residence, her sense of inadequacy deepened. However, caring for Zhong Xintong was the most important thing, so she didn't turn to leave. Ye Yun first helped Tong Tong take a simple bath, prepared some ginseng soup, and gave the little girl a licorice pill. Soon, the girl's condition improved rapidly.
With everything in order, Wu Kexin bid them farewell. As she left, she gave Ye Yun a meaningful look. She was puzzled as to why Ye Yun was so certain that Tong Tong was at the Nanshan racetrack. How did he know about Wang Xiaoqiang's wife's affair, which nearly cost him his life? Ye Yun... this man was full of mysteries. However, she also knew that tonight was not the time to ask.
In the guest room.
"You've gone to so much trouble for us. Tong Tong is feeling better, we should head back..." Wu Ziqiong, seeing her daughter's rosy cheeks and returning consciousness, was about to leave.
"Mom... I want Uncle Ye! I want Uncle Ye! I don't want to go, I don't want to go! Wuwuwu!" Hearing that they were leaving, Zhong Xintong burst into tears, clutching Ye Yun's arm and refusing to let go.
"Shh, Uncle isn't leaving, Uncle will stay with you," Ye Yun could sense the little girl's anxiety. Perhaps she had developed a strong attachment to him.
Seeing this, Wu Ziqiong's face stiffened. Her own child speaking like this in front of Li Mengyao? She walked over, raised her hand, and began to spank Zhong Xintong's bottom. As she spanked, she scolded, "Who told you to run off like that, who told you to run off!"
Whether it was genuine worry for Tong Tong's comfort or other emotions, Wu Ziqiong spanked her very hard. Life was already so difficult, and her daughter was disobedient, nearly scaring her to death today! Now that she was awake, she was still clinging to Ye Yun and refusing to leave!
With so many spanks on her bottom, Tong Tong, who had already been crying seeing Ye Yun, cried even harder. Ye Yun and Li Mengyao quickly intervened.
"Tong Tong's mom, please stop, stop, don't hit her anymore..."
Before the two could stop her, Wu Ziqiong herself stopped, hugging Tong Tong and weeping. Tears streamed down her face, falling onto Tong Tong's cheeks, her cries heart-wrenching.
"You scared your mother to death, why did you run off, do you know how scared you made your mother!" Her voice was deeply moving, and even a child like Tong Tong could feel the immense love. Cradling Wu Ziqiong, she cried, "Mom, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Mother and daughter embraced, weeping, the blood ties within them proving to be the greatest force in the world. Li Mengyao, also moved, leaned her teary eyes against Ye Yun's shoulder. Ye Yun sighed inwardly. This mother and daughter were truly pitiable, now relying on each other for survival.
Wu Ziqiong, being the adult, regained her composure, filled with a profound sense of guilt towards her daughter. "Did Mom hurt you? Tong Tong, I'm sorry, Mommy was so worried about you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you, I'm sorry... Let's go home now." Holding her daughter tightly, Wu Ziqiong spoke somewhat incoherently.
However, upon hearing the word "home," Tong Tong reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her hands immediately gripped Ye Yun again. Though she said nothing, her tightening arms and pleading eyes clearly conveyed her desire: I don't want to go, I want Uncle Ye!
Li Mengyao, without overthinking, said, "Tong Tong's mom, it's late, don't go back tonight. Tong Tong is Keke's best friend. I hear Keke talk about it all the time, asking when she can invite Tong Tong over to watch Peppa Pig. She'll be so happy to see Tong Tong in the morning. Besides, we have plenty of guest rooms, why don't you stay for a couple of days? It'll add some life to the house. It feels a bit strange for just our family of three living here."
Li Mengyao's thoughtfulness, coupled with her daughter's longing, left Wu Ziqiong with no reason to refuse. After a long silence, she finally nodded. Soon, Li Mengyao and Wu Ziqiong tidied up a guest room together. Wu Ziqiong then took a refreshing bath. After all the commotion, it was past five in the morning, and the sky in the distance was beginning to show the first signs of dawn.
When she entered the room, Tong Tong was still awake. Seeing Ye Yun again, the little girl became unusually excited and insisted on being told a story, refusing to be placated. Ye Yun and Li Mengyao didn't think much of it, assuming the child was simply seeking comfort after a frightening night. However, Wu Ziqiong felt awkward and shy. Why? Her face was already flushed from her bath, and she was wearing Li Mengyao's pajamas. Typically, after a bath, women would wear pajamas to sleep and not wear undergarments all night. Sleeping in undergarments could have adverse effects on one's figure, especially for someone who practiced yoga like Wu Ziqiong. Thus, at this moment, she was wearing nothing underneath her pajamas, feeling a chill. Seeing Ye Yun, a man, in the room, Wu Ziqiong's face burned like fire, and her heart pounded. Instinctively, she clutched her pajamas tightly, as if afraid Ye Yun might see a glimpse of her through the buttons.
Li Mengyao and Ye Yun were currently telling Tong Tong a story. Seeing Wu Ziqiong come out in her sleepwear, Li Mengyao said, "Tong Tong's mom is here, that's good. Ye Yun and I will go back to sleep then."
"I don't want to, I want Uncle Ye to sleep with me!" Tong Tong immediately shouted.
"Tong Tong, don't throw a tantrum," Wu Ziqiong chided. Then, she said to Li Mengyao, "Children don't understand..."
"It's alright, it's clear Tong Tong likes Ye Yun a lot. But it's too late now. Tong Tong, be good, let Uncle Ye and Auntie rest first. When you wake up tomorrow, Uncle Ye can take you and Keke to play, okay?"