The next day, it was overcast and rainy.
When Yu Bai opened his eyes, the sky outside was a hazy gray, and the sound of rain echoed in his ears.
He closed his eyes again.
The gentle raindrops tapped against the window, creating a crisp and pleasant sound.
With the white noise as a lullaby, even the most exhausted mind would relax.
Suddenly, there was movement on the bed.
Xing Xing, who was sprawled in all directions beside Yu Bai, turned over. In a half-awake state, he was awakened by the sound of rain outside.
Xing Xing lazily sat up, his delicate and boneless little body leaning against his small pillow. He rubbed his ink-black eyes with his small hand, and his rosy lips slightly parted.
Yesterday, after he and Yu Bai returned home, he helped Yu Bai prepare dinner and do chores while his teary-eyed dad ran around busily.
Xing Xing slept a bit later than usual last night, but he got up around the same time as usual today.
He felt so sleepy! His eyes were still struggling to stay open… he wanted to sleep a bit longer.
Xing Xing flopped back into the bedding like an upturned onion.
His slightly cool little hands and feet sought out warmth within the covers, and they ended up against Yu Bai’s body.
The soft soles of Xing Xing’s feet lightly pressed against Yu Bai’s arm. He realized that he had placed his feet on Yu Bai.
Dad cried so sadly yesterday and went to bed so late… he must be very tired.
He couldn’t use his chilly little feet to wake Dad up.
Just as Xing Xing was about to retract his feet, his small foot was held by a warm and broad hand.
“Huh?”
Xing Xing lifted his little head and met Yu Bai’s gaze.
Yu Bai had cried hard yesterday, and his eyes had become red and swollen, looking quite comical.
But Xing Xing’s eyes reflected the same situation.
Last night, Xing Xing saw Yu Bai cry, and he had also cried anxiously by his side for a while. Now, Xing Xing’s eyes were swollen like two small walnuts.
Father and son looked at each other and burst into laughter simultaneously.
They were both amused by each other’s puffy eyes.
Seeing Yu Bai awake, Xing Xing nestled up to him like a warm little kitten, willingly snuggling close to his side.
Xing Xing tilted his little head back and leaned against Yu Bai’s chest, just like countless times before.
Yu Bai gently stroked Xing Xing’s furry head with his right hand.
The room fell silent again, with only the sound of rain outside accompanying them.
Yu Bai, who had cast aside all the clutter in his mind, felt unprecedented tranquility in his heart.
He closed his eyes lightly, his lips slightly pursed.
Since his discharge from the hospital, he had been busy working tirelessly from dawn to dusk to support Xing Xing.
In the past month, he had been busier than ever before, with no spare time at all.
Counting the days.
It had been a long, long time since he had held Xing Xing like this and enjoyed the warm moments of being alone with his son.
Yu Bai closed his eyes and took a brief nap. Unknowingly, Xing Xing in his arms fell asleep once again.
Yu Bai looked at Xing Xing’s serene sleeping face and bent down to gently kiss Xing Xing’s forehead.
Yesterday, Xing Xing had gone to great lengths to comfort him.
He would let Xing Xing sleep a little longer today.
Yu Bai got up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom with soft steps.
Entering the bathroom, he looked at his reflection in the mirror – a comical and somewhat ugly face, red and swollen from crying. A faint hint of a mocking smile appeared at the corner of Yu Bai’s lips.
He showed a trace of a smile, tinged with sarcasm.
“Splash.”
The icy water splashed onto his face. It could clear the mind and temporarily reduce the puffiness of his face.
For a moment.
Amidst the gently flowing water, there was a faint sigh from Yu Bai.
Just one night, how could he forget everything?
After washing up, Yu Bai took out his phone.
“Yun He, can you manage the store by yourself this week? I’m taking a week off.”
Yun He was always well-behaved and never pried into Yu Bai’s private matters. He quickly agreed.
During lunch, Xing Xing asked, “Dad, it’s already 12 o’clock now. Shouldn’t we go to the store?”
“We’re not going to the store today… or this week,” Yu Bai turned to Xing Xing and smiled, “We’ll take a week off together.”
Xing Xing looked at the forced smile on Yu Bai’s face, pursing his lips.
He knew that even though Dad had cried, he still wasn’t happy now.
Well… Xing Xing also had times when he wasn’t happy.
But as Xing Xing grew a little each day, his unhappiness would be a bit less each day.
And Dad would always make Xing Xing feel better. Xing Xing might be unhappy for a day or two, but he would become happy again!
He could also make Dad happy every day. Someday, Dad would forget about all the unhappy things!
Xing Xing agreed, “Sure! We don’t need to go to the store this week. I can be with Dad every day!”
Xing Xing’s eyes and brows curved, bubbling with joy.
Yu Bai playfully bent his index finger and flicked Xing Xing’s nose.
“Little mischief.” Yu Bai said, “Are you really this happy to be with me every day?”
“Of course!” Xing Xing’s little hand tightened around Yu Bai’s arm, and the soft flesh on his cheeks trembled, “Xing Xing loves Dad, so Xing Xing can stay with Dad forever.”
“But when you grow up, you’ll eventually meet someone you love.” Yu Bai lifted Xing Xing into his arms, “At that time, you’ll want to spend your whole life with that person…”
Xing Xing blinked his bewildered eyes in confusion, then pouted his small mouth.
In the whole world, he only liked Dad, because Dad loved him the most.
Why would he be with anyone else?
Dad’s words were wrong.
Dad had grown really big now, and there was only Xing Xing to accompany him!
But Xing Xing didn’t want to make Yu Bai feel disappointed, so he secretly kept his little thoughts in his heart and outwardly went along with Yu Bai’s words.
“Dad, so does that mean we’ll stay at home every day this week?”
Yu Bai paused.
Yu Bai chose not to go to the store for two reasons. First, he wanted to sort out his emotions and not bring his feelings to work. Second, he didn’t want to see Ji Rongyu at the store again.
Ji Rongyu was shameless. Yu Bai wasn’t sure if Ji Rongyu would come to him again after being exposed by him yesterday.
If Ji Rongyu came to the snack shop to find him, Yu Bai would have a hard time controlling his emotions… by then, it would only make more people witness his embarrassment.
However… not only did Ji Rongyu know the location of his snack shop, but he also knew where he lived.
It was possible that Ji Rongyu might come to his home.
Yu Bai suddenly stood up.
Xing Xing, holding a piece of corn to nibble on, looked at Yu Bai with slightly puzzled eyes.
Why did Dad suddenly stand up?
Yu Bai paused in his steps, turned to look at Xing Xing, and a slight smile curved his lips.
“Xing Xing, how about we go on a trip this week?”
A trip?
Xing Xing had grown up for so long and had never been on a trip before!
Xing Xing’s bright, watery ink-black eyes sparkled. He readily agreed, “Sure!”
He was going to go on a trip with Dad!
Author’s note:
PS: There’s a second update, in the early morning.
