Chapter 2 The Next Day

I was awakened by a heavy knocking on the door. My first reaction was to grab my phone and check the time.

It was already past eight o'clock. I immediately scrambled out of bed.

Outside the door, Pei Shiyu stood with a dark face, Xiao Long beside her. Knowing that I had broken my promise from last night, I immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I had insomnia last night and overslept."

"Don't promise things you can't do in the future."

After Pei Shiyu finished speaking, she went back to her room. I took Xiao Long's hand and led him into my room. While getting dressed, I asked, "Xiao Long, when did you guys get up?"

"I knocked on your door, but you didn't open it."

"Uncle was sleeping soundly and didn't hear you. I didn't mean not to open it."

"Auntie is angry and scolded you."

I asked with a smile, "What did she say?"

"She said you're like a dead pig."

I deliberately rolled up my sleeves and said, "Let's go settle the score with her and beat her up."

Xiao Long took it seriously and desperately grabbed the corner of my clothes, saying, "Don't hit people."

"Then what about her scolding people?"

"You can just scold her once here."

"That won't do. I can't swallow this."

Xiao Long reacted quickly and immediately ran out of my room. I followed him and saw Pei Shiyu carrying a very delicate suitcase, planning to go downstairs. Before I could say anything, Xiao Long protected her and said, "Auntie, hurry and leave, Uncle is going to hit you."

Pei Shiyu's eyes quickly turned to me. She put the suitcase down on the floor and asked, "Hit who?"

I immediately pushed the responsibility onto Xiao Long and replied, "Why did you scold me so early in the morning?"

"I missed my flight. Do you think I shouldn't scold you? Would a responsible man sleep so soundly? Was I wrong to call you a dead pig?"

Pei Shiyu fired off a series of questions without even taking a breath. This time, I didn't want to compromise. I met her gaze and replied, "It's just sleeping a little soundly, wasn't I already apologized? Since you needed to catch a flight, why didn't you just go to the airport? I already promised you I would take care of Xiao Long..."

She quickly interrupted me, "You just woke up now. My flight was at seven o'clock. Xiao Long wakes up very early every day. Who will take care of him during that time?"

I could never seem to follow Pei Shiyu's logic. I could only put on a straight face and urged, "You can leave now. How many days will you be back? You should at least tell me that, right?"

"At least three days. Don't wander around. Call me if anything happens."

"Got it." In order to put her at ease, I changed my attitude and replied meekly.

The moment Pei Shiyu turned around, I asked again, a little confused, "Why don't you just take us with you? It would save you from having to return to Rome."

"I'm going to Milan. After the negotiations are finalized there, I still need to sign the contract here. Do you think it's more convenient to stay here or to go with me?"

"Go... go... go..."

This woman doesn't explain things clearly, leaving me confused. But I can't win against her in an argument, so I simply waved my hand to shoo her away.

...

In the evening, it was my first time sleeping with a child, but Xiao Long was like a different person from the daytime. He kept crying for Pei Shiyu to come back. I coaxed him for about half an hour, feeling exhausted. I didn't want to say anything harsh, afraid that he would cry even harder.

He was currently sitting on the floor, and I was starting to lose my patience. I gently pulled him up from the floor and persuaded him, "Didn't you watch your auntie leave this morning? She said she would be back in three days. We'll just wait for her here. What's wrong with sleeping with Uncle?"

"I don't like sleeping with you." He was still making a fuss, but he could still answer my questions.

"I'm not going to eat you. If you don't like me, then I'll go back tomorrow and leave you here alone."

He looked at me with his dark eyes, as if he were an adult trying to discern the truth of my words. Then I told him seriously again, "Uncle is telling the truth. I came here to take care of you, didn't you know that? If you don't like me, why would I stay here?"

I saw him climb onto the bed very slowly, take off his clothes by himself, and then crawl into bed, looking a little aggrieved. He was taken abroad without even going to kindergarten. It seemed that what I said to Pei Shiyu last time had had some effect.

And Pei Shiyu hadn't even called since she left this morning. Although this might be a sign of trust in me, after last night's contact, I still had some expectations, and that feeling was getting stronger.

Xiao Long fell asleep in no time, sleeping with his back to me, his entire body only revealing the back of his head.

Being used to staying up late, it was too early for me to sleep at this time. Even after getting into bed, I couldn't fall asleep. I took out my phone and wanted to chat with Wang Rui again, but when I called, the line was busy.

Just as I was about to put down my phone, my mother called unexpectedly and asked me right away, "Why aren't you with Youxiang and the others?"

"I'll be back in a few days. I have some things to do right now."

"Wang Rui said you're chasing a girl in Italy?"

I immediately denied it, "Don't listen to her nonsense. I'm just having a good time while I'm out here."

"There's nothing shameful about chasing a girl. Mom will always support you."

"It's not about support or not. It's too early to talk about this."

I originally wanted to deny it completely, but thinking about what happened last night, I left some room for myself, which could also be considered as giving myself a little hope.

"Then you guys have to come back in a few days. You can't stay too long. Work comes first."

"Not necessarily. I might go to other countries to travel around."

"Why do you lose all sense of proportion when you go abroad? Are you even managing the restaurant?"

"Of course I'm managing it. It's not like it's going to be a long time."

My mother wanted to keep nagging, so I hung up immediately because Pei Shiyu was calling. I quickly answered like I was in a hurry, "You still know to call? You lose all sense of proportion when you go out."

I used what my mother had just said to her.

"What are you calling for if there's nothing wrong?" Pei Shiyu seemed to be in a good mood. Although her words were a bit harsh, her tone was very gentle.

"Then what is it? Tell me."

"Did you bathe Xiao Long?"

"Do you think I'm capable of carrying out this sacred task?"

"Did you wash his face?"

I had indeed forgotten. I quickly walked to Xiao Long and carefully observed him. He was quite clean, except for a black dot on his right cheek. I reached out and wiped it clean.

After eliminating the dirt, I started to lie, "I washed it. Why are you worrying about this from so far away? Ask us how we're doing."

"You have food and drinks, and you're staying in a hotel for free. I've been busy since this morning and just got back to the hotel. Do you think I have time to worry about so much? I've entrusted the child to you, so you have to arrange your time properly. Otherwise, why would you come to Rome?"

"Alright then, try to come back as soon as possible."

"I might have to delay it for a few days. I'm also going to see other places."

After hearing this, I felt a pang of annoyance. Not only was it difficult to communicate here, but I came here for her in the first place. Now that she's gone, leaving me and Xiao Long, the time will feel especially long.