"There are many people at home now, and we only met today. I want to be alone with you. I'll take you there another day. By the way, your Aunt Ye is also there, but don't tell your father about this," Jiang Mi instructed her daughter.
"Yes, ma'am, I absolutely won't say a word!" Mianmian immediately promised.
"Mom, where have you been all these years? I've missed you so much," Mianmian asked, holding her mother's hand.
"Are you hungry? Shall we order some supper? I'll tell you everything slowly then."
"Okay," Mianmian readily agreed.
"Mom will help you take a bath first, then we'll talk," Jiang Mi said, pulling her daughter towards the bathroom.
Jiang Mianmian felt a bit shy this time, saying, "Mom, I'm grown up now, I can bathe myself."
Jiang Mi stopped, her heart aching. "Look at me, I forgot my daughter is a young lady. I still thought you were a little child who needed Mom to bathe you."
"I can do it myself," Mianmian was in her early teens and already sensible. She would feel embarrassed if she bathed with someone else.
"Then you go ahead and wash, I'll wash in the other bathroom. Call me if you need anything," Jiang Mi also wanted to take a bath and then talk with her daughter.
"Mhm, mhm," Mianmian immediately agreed.
Jiang Mi smiled and went into the bathroom, checking the water temperature and the towels for her daughter, making sure nothing was missing.
After the mother and daughter finished their baths, Mianmian looked a bit flustered. She regretted it slightly, thinking she should have bathed with her mother. What if her mother disappeared again?
Fortunately, she saw her mother.
Jiang Mi didn't miss the anxiety in her daughter's eyes and her heart ached. She walked over and said, "Don't worry, I won't leave without your permission."
"I will never allow you to leave!" Mianmian said with red eyes.
"Then I will never leave!" Jiang Mi promised her daughter.
Only then did Mianmian breathe a sigh of relief.
Jiang Mi personally blew dry her daughter's long hair, helped her change into the pajamas she had prepared, and after they were both ready, the hotel dinner was delivered. The mother and daughter sat on the sofa, Mianmian leaning tightly against her mother.
"How has your health been all these years? Have you fully recovered?" Jiang Mi asked with concern.
"Yes, I'm all better. Dad takes me for regular check-ups, and Uncle Jin says my health is excellent," Mianmian explained with a smile.
"That's good." Jiang Mi felt a pang of guilt. Sometimes she wondered if it was because she wasn't good at taking care of children that her daughter had been so frail and sickly. Look, her health had always been good when she was with her father.
"Mom, tell me quickly, where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back to find me? I missed you so much," Mianmian asked, pulling her mother's arm.
"I... I was harmed by someone, I was seriously injured, and almost died. It took more than two years for my body to recover," Jiang Mi thought of Jiang Jingxiu's attempt to kill her and felt immense hatred.
"Who was it? Who wanted to harm you? I'll tell Dad, and I'll make him beat him to death!" Jiang Mianmian said angrily.
"Mianmian, it's all in the past. Mom is fine now. Let the past stay in the past," Jiang Mi forced herself to let go of the hatred, even though it was difficult.
"No, bad people should be punished! Especially those who hurt Mom, they can never be forgiven." Mianmian said firmly. If Mom wouldn't tell, she would find out herself. She would definitely find out who wanted to harm her mother.
Jiang Mi closed her eyes helplessly. "Let's not talk about this for now. Mianmian, you love your dad, right?"