3
Why Rely on Men When You Can Rely on Your Son?
Lin Yuxi returned to her apartment building, fished out her keys, opened the door, and collapsed onto the sofa without even bothering to take off her coat, utterly drained both physically and emotionally.
No matter what Fu Tingchuan thought, the most important thing right now was Haohao.
She had to do her best to keep this matter hidden.
A soft click came from the bedroom door.
A six-year-old boy who looked strikingly like Lin Yuxi emerged from the study, a pencil tucked behind his ear.
Seeing the person sprawled on the sofa, he sighed and drawled, “Mommy, how many times have I told you? Take off your coat before lying on the sofa.”
Lin Yuxi forced a smile. “Got it.”
This level of obsession with cleanliness was definitely inherited from his father’s side.
No wonder she had been so shocked when she heard Fu Tingchuan was going to drive.
He was actually willing to touch her car.
Seeing that Lin Yuxi still hadn’t moved, Lin Chenghao shook his head, walked over, and helped her take off her coat.
“Mommy, did you live in a garbage dump for the twenty-two years before I was born?”
Lin Yuxi grimaced. “Your mommy is just lazy, not incapable of taking care of herself.”
She added, “And to be precise, it should be the first twenty-five years. After all, for the first three years of your life, you were just a little milk bun who only knew how to eat and be dressed.”
Truly a science-minded mother—so meticulous when it came to details.
Lin Chenghao conceded defeat. “I must have been sent by heaven to save you.”
He wasn’t wrong about that.
After getting pregnant, Lin Yuxi had only hoped her child would be healthy and happy.
But she never expected that her son would not only be able to support himself as a child model but also take care of her in the process.
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen.
Lin Chenghao stood on a small stool, holding a spatula in one hand and a lid in the other, stir-frying a lovingly prepared dinner.
Lin Yuxi was drawn to the smell and leaned against the doorframe, testing the waters. “Sweetie, what would you think if your biological father showed up someday?”
Lin Chenghao’s little face remained impassive. “Did Fu Tingchuan show up today?”
Lin Yuxi nearly choked on her own saliva.
First, she was stunned that he had guessed so accurately, and second, she was shocked that Haohao actually knew Fu Tingchuan’s name.
She had never once mentioned Fu Tingchuan in front of her child.
“How did you know?”
Lin Chenghao pursed his lips. “Mommy, the marriage certificate you keep in the study is practically worn out… Also, Fu Tingchuan’s face was all over the local news headlines today.”
Lin Yuxi was impressed.
A moment later, she tried to correct him. “Isn’t it a bit rude to call him by his full name?”
Lin Chenghao pouted. “If you don’t acknowledge him, he’s just an irrelevant person.”
Relieved, Lin Yuxi cupped his little face and planted several kisses on it.
“Sweetie, Mommy loves you.”
Lin Chenghao wiped his face in disgust. “I’m about to drown in your drool.”
Lin Yuxi couldn’t help but chuckle, the gloom in her heart completely vanishing.
Her son—always complaining but with a heart of gold.
…
As the food was served, Lin Yuxi grabbed her chopsticks and dug in heartily.
“How was kindergarten today?”
The daily small talk session began as usual, and Lin Chenghao’s reply was as matter-of-fact as ever: “Please have some faith in your son’s abilities.”
How could Lin Yuxi not believe him?
As one of the country’s top child models, Haohao earned around five hundred thousand yuan a year.
If not for Lin Yuxi’s concern for him, his income could have been even higher.
Thanks to his earnings, little Lin Chenghao had already secured himself a spot in an elite kindergarten by the age of six.
Combined with his looks, he became the center of attention throughout the entire kindergarten on his very first day.
“Mommy means you can share both happy and unhappy things.”
“What about you?”
Huh? Lin Yuxi didn’t understand.
The next second, she saw Haohao pushing a bank card toward her.
“Xiao Bai got hurt, didn’t you?”
Xiao Bai was the name they had given to their electric scooter.
Lin Yuxi guessed Haohao must have seen what happened downstairs from the window.
Nothing could escape her son’s sharp eyes.
“Your mommy can handle it.”
Lin Chenghao remained calm, “If you can rely on your son, why rely on a man?”
“…”
That actually made sense.
Lin Yuxi narrowed her eyes, “Are you sure?”
Lin Chenghao sensed another wave of affectionate attacks coming and raised a hand in a stopping gesture.
“No need for thanks.”
“Alright.” Lin Yuxi didn’t stand on ceremony either, accepting the card, “But let’s be clear, this money is a loan from you to Mommy.”
“Mhm.”
Lin Chenghao responded casually.
He had a porcelain-like fair face, with features that were ninety percent similar to Lin Yuxi’s, and skin so smooth and delicate it seemed peeled from an eggshell.
The more Lin Yuxi looked at him, the more her heart swelled with affection. Unable to resist, she hugged him and planted several kisses on his cheeks.
Lin Chenghao helplessly pulled out a tissue and wiped his face, “Mommy, please respect my cleanliness obsession.”
Lin Yuxi acknowledged her mistake, “I’ll try to control myself next time.”
“…”
She’d probably do it again anyway.
Throughout the meal, Lin Yuxi’s gaze kept drifting to her son’s face, marveling at how excellent her genes were.
She had actually given birth to a champion child model.
…
Back in her bedroom, Lin Yuxi anxiously opened her phone.
Fu Tingchuan already knew her address—there was no telling when he might suddenly show up.
If he were to see Haohao, she wouldn’t be able to explain it away even with a hundred mouths.
Fortunately, the hospital where she had given birth was under the Shen family’s umbrella.
Shen Xiaoxiao was her best friend, and altering medical records would be a breeze for her.
Just as Lin Yuxi was about to make the call, her phone rang—Shen Xiaoxiao was calling at that very moment.
“Yuxi, did that bastard upset you at the airport today?”
It was Shen Xiaoxiao who had told Lin Yuxi about Fu Tingchuan’s return.
Her boyfriend and fiancé, Feng Zixu, had been close friends with Fu Tingchuan since they were toddlers running around in split pants.
Shen Xiaoxiao had originally hoped the couple could clear up their misunderstandings, but she never expected Qin Ruoshi to return to the country with Fu Tingchuan.
Given another chance, she would have brought a spiked club to the airport to teach them a lesson.
She had witnessed firsthand how much Lin Yuxi loved Fu Tingchuan over the years.
When Lin Yuxi gave birth to Haohao, she went into premature labor and nearly died on the operating table.
And what about Fu Tingchuan?
If he had paid even the slightest attention, he would have known about it.
It was as if he were blind.
Fu and Qin—a blind man paired with a green tea bitch.
A new kind of combo.
Just perfect.
“Let’s not talk about him tonight,” Lin Yuxi had more pressing matters, “Xiaoxiao, do you have access to modify medical records? Can you change the premature birth record to full-term?”
That way, the timeline wouldn’t match up, and Fu Tingchuan wouldn’t suspect Haohao was his child.
“Why didn’t I think of that!” Shen Xiaoxiao exclaimed, “Don’t worry, altering a record is a piece of cake.”
Lin Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s great. I’ll treat you to a meal another day.”
“Rather than having a meal, I’d much rather steal your Haohao away,” Shen Xiaoxiao said mischievously. “My children’s clothing brand is launching new designs next week. How about bringing Haohao along for a photoshoot? It’s paid work.”
The year she took the college entrance exams, Shen Xiaoxiao had been pressured and coaxed by her parents into choosing artificial intelligence as her major at Peking University.
After starting university, she realized she had no talent for it. After struggling through four arduous years, she finally graduated and switched careers to fashion design.
Lin Yuxi laughed, “Sure, I’ll ask Haohao about it later. You’re his godmother—even if it were unpaid, it’d be fine, let alone paid.”