Two minutes later…
The villa’s front door opened.
Zhou Songyan’s tall figure stood in the doorway.
There were steps at the entrance.
Zhou Songyan stood inside, looking down at her from above for a moment, then turned and walked inside without speaking to Li Mai.
Li Mai was used to his mood swings.
She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Entering the living room…
Li Mai asked: “Mr. Zhou, where’s Chengcheng?”
Zhou Songyan: “He’s asleep.”
“That’s okay. I’ll wake him up. Which room is he in?”
Zhou Songyan looked at her sideways: “Li Mai, what’s your point? Chengcheng is already asleep, yet you’re in such a hurry to take him away. What does that mean? Drawing a clear line with me?”
Li Mai: “I’ve troubled Mr. Zhou for several days. I feel quite bad about it and want to take Chengcheng back as soon as possible.”
As for drawing a clear line…
That was an unspoken understanding, wasn’t it?
“Mr. Zhou, please show me the way.”
Seeing her insistence, Zhou Songyan didn’t say anything more.
He led her upstairs to a room.
Chengcheng was sleeping soundly.
He was awakened by a gentle voice.
It was Mom.
He opened his sleepy eyes, saw Li Mai, and was delighted, throwing himself into her arms.
“Mom—Auntie, you’re back!”
Chengcheng corrected himself in time.
Because he saw Zhou Songyan standing nearby.
Li Mai smiled and hugged him.
After not seeing him for several days, she had missed her precious baby so much.
“Chengcheng, will you come home with Auntie?”
Chengcheng nodded.
He had missed Mom too.
Although staying at Dad’s house was nice, he wanted to live with Mom more.
Li Mai packed Chengcheng’s things into the suitcase.
Chengcheng had already gotten up and put on his clothes and jacket: “Auntie, we can go now.”
“Okay.”
Li Mai checked to make sure nothing was left behind.
Turning her head, she saw Zhou Songyan’s somber eyes.
“Mr. Zhou, thank you for these past few days. Goodbye!”
Li Mai took Chengcheng’s hand and left.
Chengcheng looked back at Zhou Songyan, reluctance showing in his eyes: “Goodbye, Uncle.”
Zhou Songyan managed a somewhat gentle smile: “Let me drive you back. It’s too late—it’ll be hard to get a taxi.”
He was angry at Li Mai, but he wasn’t comfortable letting them go back alone.
Li Mai opened her mouth to refuse, but Zhou Songyan took the suitcase from her.
“Li Mai, consider me being nosy. I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you two late at night.”
Li Mai pressed her lips together, looked down at Chengcheng, and ultimately didn’t say the words of refusal.
Zhou Songyan didn’t change clothes—he was still wearing his loungewear.
After putting the small suitcase in the car, he went to the front gate and brought Li Mai’s suitcase in, placing it in the trunk.
Li Mai: “…”
She had forgotten she had left a suitcase at the entrance. How did Zhou Songyan know?
This man’s thoughtfulness really was…
Chengcheng sat in the child safety seat.
Li Mai sat in the passenger seat.
Zhou Songyan and Li Mai didn’t speak, and Chengcheng wasn’t a chattering, noisy child either.
The car was unusually quiet.
Li Mai glanced at Zhou Songyan.
This guy’s expression was terrible.
As if someone owed him hundreds of millions.
At the entrance to Heyun Residential Complex…
Li Mai got out of the car.
Zhou Songyan, with a stern face, lifted Chengcheng out of the car. Seeing Li Mai open the trunk, he walked over and pulled out the suitcases first.
Li Mai looked at him: “Thank you, Mr. Zhou!”
That was just how Zhou Songyan was—no matter how angry, he was always a gentleman.
Zhou Songyan didn’t look at her but rubbed Chengcheng’s head twice: “Go on in.”
“Thank you for driving us home, Uncle!”
“Auntie, let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Mother and son each pulled a suitcase, holding hands as they entered the complex.
Zhou Songyan sat in the car, not driving away until he could no longer see their figures.
Back home, Li Mai told Chengcheng to go to sleep.
The house was a bit dirty, but she didn’t have the energy to clean. She took a shower and went to bed.
The next day was Sunday—no work.
After waking up, Li Mai stayed in bed for a while.
Chengcheng got up.
He saw that the house was clean and tidy, with fragrant breakfast laid out on the dining table.
He smiled and ran to the kitchen, hugging Li Mai’s legs: “Mommy, I missed you so much.”
Li Mai’s heart warmed. She put the milk on the counter, crouched down, and hugged…
…Chengcheng.
“Mommy missed you too.”
The mother and son had never been separated for such a long time before—neither of them was used to it.
Li Mai patted Chengcheng’s little shoulder: “Come on, let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
During the meal, Li Mai looked up at Chengcheng: “Baby, were you… were you happy at Dad’s house?”
Chengcheng paused, then nodded lightly.
But he quickly added: “I’m happiest living with Mommy!”
This sentence was like a declaration of loyalty.
Li Mai’s heart felt both sour and bitter.
Right now, Chengcheng was no different from those children of divorced parents who had to choose between living with Dad or Mom.
Even though Li Mai was afraid her son would be taken away…
She didn’t want to prevent Chengcheng from seeing his father.
That would be too cruel.
Not being able to give Chengcheng a complete family already made her feel terrible—she could only compensate him this way.
What she never had, she wanted her son to have, even if it wasn’t complete.
She had grown up without a father—she understood Chengcheng.
When she was little, she saw other children being loved by their fathers and really wanted a father too.
She asked her mother where her father had gone.
Her mother beat her severely.
After that, she never dared ask again.
Li Mai held Chengcheng’s little hand: “Baby, if you like Dad, you can call him.”
“Mommy…”
Chengcheng could hardly believe it.
He thought Mommy didn’t want him to contact Dad.
Li Mai smiled: “Actually, Mommy doesn’t dislike Dad. It’s just that Mommy and Dad can’t be together anymore.”
“Our relationship doesn’t affect your relationship with Dad. Mommy will find an opportunity to tell Dad that you’re his child.”
Chengcheng slid down from his chair and threw himself into Li Mai’s arms: “Mommy!”
Li Mai hugged him tightly.
She wanted her baby to be happy and joyful.
After breakfast, Li Mai took Chengcheng out to play for the day.
The next day was Monday again.
Li Mai had to go back to work, and Chengcheng stayed home.
She wasn’t the boss—bringing Chengcheng to work would look bad.
At noon, Li Mai received a video call from You Huan.
“Li Mai, look at the scenery here—isn’t it beautiful?”
Li Mai smiled: “So beautiful!”
“Senior, are you having fun?”
“So much fun! After coming out here, my whole heart feels open. I should have come out to play earlier. Why was I at home torturing myself?”
“Have you met any handsome guys?”
You Huan shook her head: “Haven’t found anyone I like yet.”
The two chatted for a while.
You Huan asked: “I heard you went on a business trip that day. What did you do about Chengcheng?”
That day when she called, Li Mai was busy and hung up after a few hurried words.
Li Mai didn’t hide it from her: “I left Chengcheng at Zhou Songyan’s place.”
“What???” You Huan was extremely surprised.
“How could you leave Chengcheng with him? Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out Chengcheng’s identity?”
“If he finds out, he finds out. Chengcheng likes him.”
“Li Mai…”
You Huan knew that Chengcheng was the person Li Mai cared about most.
If Chengcheng were taken away by the Zhou family, she would definitely wish she were dead.
But for Chengcheng’s sake, she could do this.
Li Mai was stronger and braver than she had imagined.