"Tongtong likes the Lucky Bear too. I'm going to give her all my toys! And this new backpack I just bought, I think she really likes it. Dad said Tongtong is very pitiful and wants me to take care of her more, so I'll give her all my treasures!" Keke said very seriously as she packed her things.
Li Mengyao couldn't help but look at Ye Yun. When Ye Yun called her, he only mentioned having dinner with Keke outside that evening and didn't elaborate on the details.
Ye Yun nodded and sighed.
"I went to her place. It's not better than the apartment we rented before. With elders above and children below, she's the only one carrying the burden for three people, and life is hard."
"You know that life is hard," Li Mengyao mumbled. Although she didn't specify, Ye Yun could easily tell from her tone.
She was complaining about her past self, letting a woman bear the full weight of life.
Ye Yun smiled, then sat on the sofa and pulled Li Mengyao into his arms.
"My dear wife, I'm sorry! It was all my fault in the past. I swear, I will never let you suffer any harm again. It's just that I helped out because her situation seemed a bit like yours."
"Hmph, I think it's because Tongtong's mom is good-looking," Li Mengyao snorted, saying it sourly.
Although Ye Yun knew Li Mengyao wasn't angry, he still held her tightly and explained.
"Be good, don't overthink it. If I had any ulterior motives, I wouldn't have brought Keke along, nor would I have told you. I will be honest with you about everything. Mengyao, in this life, I only want to grow old with you, believe me, just as I believe in you, okay?" Ye Yun said sincerely, looking into Li Mengyao's eyes.
Li Mengyao looked up at Ye Yun. His eyes were full of sincerity.
She felt a pang of guilt for suspecting him.
How could she doubt her husband? It was unnecessary jealousy!
Her husband had clearly decided to change. Helping others was also about setting a good example for their daughter.
Besides, even if Ye Yun had any improper thoughts, his body wouldn't support him!
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been jealous, I..." Li Mengyao began.
"No," Ye Yun placed a finger on Li Mengyao's lips and smiled. "I really like it when you're jealous like this. If you weren't jealous, I would be sad."
Li Mengyao burst into laughter, clearly amused by Ye Yun's playful antics.
Seeing Keke diligently packing, even Li Mengyao couldn't help but wholeheartedly support her.
She prepared almost everything she could from their home, including some pretty children's clothes and common medicine for sprains and bruises.
These were things she had prepared at home in the past, after Ye Yun's domestic violence.
Everything was packed into a suitcase, and she instructed Ye Yun to deliver it together with Keke another day.
The family of three busied themselves with great enthusiasm, their laughter filling the entire house.
Ye Yun watched the scene with a knowing smile.
In the following days, Ye Yun fully embraced his role as the "kid-pick-up pioneer," picking up and dropping off the two children from school every day.
Every evening, he would cook at Wu Ziqiong's place, and sometimes Li Mengyao would join them for dinner after work.
As for Ye Yun's cooking skills, there was no need to elaborate; both Keke and Xintong devoured their meals every time.
As Zhong Xintong became more familiar with Ye Yun, she grew increasingly attached to him.
Every time he went grocery shopping or cooked, she would follow him like a little shadow.
When tired, she, like Keke, would ask Ye Yun to carry her.
When sleepy, she liked to fall asleep in Ye Yun's arms.
As they grew closer, Ye Yun began calling the little girl "Tongtong" instead of Xintong.
And it wasn't just Zhong Xintong; Wu Ziqiong also became more accustomed to Ye Yun's presence.
Perhaps it was because she rarely had a man caring for her so attentively that she found herself becoming somewhat infatuated with the feeling.
Sometimes, she even wondered if it would be good if her leg never healed.
Then this man could stay with her and her daughter forever.
The moment this thought crossed her mind, she was startled.
She even dared not look at Li Mengyao when they had dinner together.
A strong sense of guilt gnawed at her heart.
Mr. Ye... he had a family! A lovely daughter, a beautiful, kind, and excellent wife!
And she was just a single mother, how could she possibly deserve such a treasure?
So, after only four days, when Wu Ziqiong could barely walk,
She took the initiative to cook and invited Ye Yun and his daughter over for dinner, informing them that she could now manage on her own and they didn't need to trouble Ye Yun's family anymore.
"My body has recovered a lot, and I can take care of Tongtong myself now."
Wu Ziqiong's cast had been removed. To prove it, she deliberately took a couple of steps.
Although she tried her best to maintain her balance, her slightly furrowed brow and awkward gait still indicated that her leg injury had not yet healed.
Ye Yun naturally understood what she was thinking and didn't try to force anything. He smiled and said,
"Okay, but even if you can take care of Keke now, don't forget to take your medicine. Also, don't do any heavy physical labor; it would be troublesome if the injury relapses."
"Okay... okay," Wu Ziqiong tried her best to act nonchalant.
"Uncle, Uncle, are you not coming to pick up Tongtong anymore?" At this moment, Zhong Xintong ran over, her starry eyes shining as she looked at Ye Yun, her gaze filled with endless expectation.
"Your mother's leg is better, so Uncle won't be coming anymore. Little Tongtong, you have to listen to your mother from now on," Ye Yun said, gently stroking Zhong Xintong's head.
"I... I don't want... I don't want Uncle to go." The little girl's eyes instantly turned red, and she clung to Ye Yun's leg, refusing to let go.
"Tongtong, let go. Uncle has his own things to do, he's very busy. Say goodbye to Uncle," Wu Ziqiong said, pulling Zhong Xintong away.
"Wuwuwuwu, I don't want Uncle to go, wuwuwu, I don't want Uncle to go." The little girl cried inconsolably.
Her arms flailed like an octopus.
Wu Ziqiong hugged her daughter and looked at Ye Yun, a trace of embarrassment on her face.
"Mr. Ye, the child is being disobedient. Please, you should go quickly..."
"It's okay, I really like Tongtong. Then we'll be going. Tongtong, we'll see each other at school too, bye-bye~ Keke, say goodbye to Tongtong and Aunt Wu." Ye Yun said, and then turned to leave, pulling Keke along.
"Goodbye Tongtong, goodbye Aunt Wu!" Keke waved vigorously.
"Uncle!" However, Zhong Xintong cried even harder.
Suddenly, she broke free from Wu Ziqiong's embrace and stumbled towards Ye Yun. Wu Ziqiong quickly stepped forward to hold her daughter back.
When Ye Yun turned to look,
Bang!
The door closed tightly. From behind the door came Zhong Xintong's heart-wrenching cries.
"Uncle! Uncle!"
After all, it was an old residential area, and the soundproofing wasn't good. The entire corridor was filled with the little girl's hoarse cries.
Sharp.
Piercing.
Anyone who heard such a sound would be heartbroken.