Su Xiaomeng was in a rush, hailed a taxi, and headed to the location sent by Xiao Xiaoang. She estimated the time roughly and felt somewhat uneasy. She dialed Xiao Xiaoang’s number, asking him to keep his phone nearby and stay in touch with her at all times.
"Su Xiaomeng... how much longer until you arrive?"
"Over forty minutes. Aunt is already on the way, Xiaoang hang in there, alright?"
"Oh... take your time on the road and be safe..."
Su Xiaomeng curled her lips. This little guy really is...
"Okay."
Xiao Xiaoang murmured... occasionally chatted with Su Xiaomeng during the ride, and Xiaomeng slowly felt more at ease, thinking he might have eaten something bad yesterday.
Recalling how Xiao Xiaoang was recklessly overeating last night, Xiaomeng had worried the little guy might upset his stomach. It’s baffling that even Xiao Yan, a doctor, stood by and let the boy fill up his belly without intervening.
The phone continuously connected, Yin Shixiu called several times but couldn’t get through.
Xiao Yan’s son...
That’s... Xiao Anhe’s grandson.
Yin Shixiu didn’t have Xiao Yan’s contact, but he had Xiao Anhe’s. Without hesitation, he called Xiao Anhe’s number. Apparently, even heaven didn’t want things to be smooth for Yin Shixiu, as Xiao Anhe was performing surgery at Anhe Hospital, and couldn’t hear the call.
Yin Shixiu felt a bit anxious, but after several unsuccessful calls, he simply sighed. Feeling sensitive like a twenty-year-old lad, it was quite unlike him.
Never mind, Su Xiaomeng should call back when she finds the time. Even if not in the afternoon, at least she would explain everything to him in the evening.
With that thought, he stopped trying to reach Su Xiaomeng.
At the piano classroom, Yin Shixiu casually found a seat and watched Yin Huaiyu play the piano.
The powerful, passionate music surged around, as Yin Shixiu looked at his son, handsome and calm, poised and unworried; indeed, the perfect temperament for business...
He always spoke casually, letting the child choose, valuing the child’s interests as most important. But now... Yin Shixiu merely imagined Huaiyu pursuing music in the future, completely uninterested in his business, and felt quite frustrated.
Huaiyu was a child who easily inspires expectations and hopes in others.
Aunt Shaoqun felt that way, and Mr. Zhou Guangren did as well; even their father, who seemed taciturn, gave toys of planes, tanks, and weaponry, and Yin Shaohui was the same... always subtly hoping that the descendants they valued would inherit their legacy.
Yin Shixiu was genuinely surprised to find himself holding such traditional and somewhat stubborn views.
"Taotao... Come over."
Shixiu’s thoughts drifted, and Yin Jinxi then led Cheng Taotao over, earnestly introducing, "Taotao, this is my dad, the unrivaled, invincible number one Uncle Shuai in the universe!"
"..."
Yin Shixiu glanced at his eccentric mischievous daughter and couldn’t help but smile, "Uncle Shuai?"
"Yep! That’s right!"
"Am I... that old as a father?"
"Not really, but didn’t mom call you uncle, right?" Shuangshuang raised her eyebrows, smiling smugly.
"Uncle Shuai..."
Cheng Taotao mimicked, laughingly calling out.
Yin Shixiu glanced at Cheng Taotao, knowing Zhou Guangren greatly valued this child, saying this little girl is an extraordinary musical prodigy too.
"Cheng Taotao, my brother doesn’t have a good temper, you need to cut him some slack, okay?"
"Not at all, my brother is really nice!"
Cheng Taotao quickly replied and then squinted happily, "My brother is also super handsome; Taotao really likes my brother."
The volume wasn’t low at all, and over there, the focused Yin Huaiyu suddenly heard Cheng Taotao’s "confession" in the middle of his piano play, causing his hand to suddenly tremble.
Being liked by someone, surprisingly isn’t always a joy-inducing thing!
————
Su Xiaomeng urged the taxi driver, and after a hurried journey, finally arrived at the Xiao Family.
The villa district where the Xiao Family resided was undeniably one of Beijing’s top residential areas. Considering the situation, it indeed made sense; it’s not just about Xiao Yan’s earnings as a surgeon, but especially Xiao Anhe’s hospital making money like a "capitalist." Living here is more than sufficient.
Xiaomeng pressed the doorbell, and a middle-aged woman’s voice came from inside, "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"
Xiaomeng paused, about to respond when she heard the voice of Xiao Xiaoang raised sharply from inside, "Su Xiaomeng is here! Aunt Liu, let her in quickly! She’s my friend!"
This voice... sounded full of spirit.
Su Xiaomeng felt like she might’ve been played, as the Xiao Family’s servant opened the door, and Xiaomeng walked inside. As soon as she entered, a tiger-striped bull terrier rushed towards her, enthusiastically wagging its antenna-like tail.
"Little Tiger?"
Xiaomeng laughed lightly, calling the dog’s name, and then saw the dog excitedly spinning in circles and then jumping towards her.
Xiaomeng was overwhelmed by this little guy’s enthusiasm, and then saw Xiao Xiaoang running over in an Ultraman pajama set, chiding Little Tiger, "Go, go, go, she’s my friend!"
Listening to the tone, this little guy seemed to be competing with a dog out of jealousy.
"Su Xiaomeng, what would you like to eat or drink? I’ll ask Aunt Liu to make it ready for you!"
Xiao Xiaoang assumed the posture of a little host, worried about neglecting Su Xiaomeng as a guest.
Xiao Meng squatted down, "Your stomach doesn’t hurt anymore?"
Xiao Xiaoang hurriedly said, "It’s not that it doesn’t hurt, it’s just that it hurts for a while, then gets better... mm..."
As he spoke, his face was a little red... Aunt Liu quickly helped Xiao Xiaoang by adding, "Young Master started having a bit of diarrhea since noon. I gave him some medicine for diarrhea, and he’s better now. At noon, he was in so much pain that his face was tight and pale, and I called both Master and Young Master, but neither answered. Young Master then said he wanted to call an aunt..."
Xiao Meng looked carefully at Xiao Xiaoang again; his complexion indeed didn’t look very good. She touched his head, "Aunt will take you to the hospital; the doctor can take a look and will feel more at ease, okay?"
"Oh, then I don’t hurt anymore! I don’t want to go to the hospital."
"..."
"Besides, Xiao Yan will come back tonight; it’s hard for you to come to my home, so of course, I want to show you around!"
As he spoke, Xiao Xiaoang held Su Xiaomeng’s hand and walked inside, showing her from the living room to the bedroom, from the bedroom to the restroom, and also the study room on the second floor, the children’s art studio, his music room, etc...
On the top floor, there’s a terrace, and only after Xiao Xiaoang showed Su Xiaomeng around the terrace did he contentedly sit down with her.
Although Xiao Xiaoang seemed in good spirits, he actually wasn’t in good condition. You could tell by his little habit of occasionally touching his stomach.
Finally settled down, Xiao Xiaoang still looked cheerful, not like he intended to quiet down, supporting his chin with both hands, urging her to eat cake, then drink juice, and then to pet Little Tiger,
"Little Tiger really likes you!"
"Hmm... maybe dogs are just like that, especially grateful, they remember that I’ve saved its life."
"Yeah, Little Tiger will never forget the life-saving grace."
"Xiao Ang, shouldn’t you best be lying in bed? Aunt sees your face doesn’t look good; is your stomach still hurting?"
Xiao Xiaoang pouted and muttered, "It’s okay..."
"Are you afraid that if you lie in bed, I’ll leave?"
Xiao Xiaoang didn’t respond, but he instinctively swallowed.
"I won’t leave; I’ll stay here with you until your dad comes back, and then I’ll leave, okay?"
"Really?" Xiao Xiaoang immediately raised his head.
"Really." Xiao Meng nodded.
After gaining Xiao Meng’s assurance, Xiao Xiaoang didn’t fuss anymore and led Su Xiaomeng to his bedroom.
Xiao Ang’s bedroom has a distinct style; the walls are covered with things boys like, like Iron Man, Transformers, Superman...
"Why are you laughing?"
Xiao Xiaoang questioned when he saw Su Xiaomeng laughing upon entering.
"My aunt’s son is just like you; he also likes these superheroes and car models."
After Xiao Meng finished speaking, Xiao Xiaoang didn’t really want to continue the conversation. He dragged a small sofa chair to his bed, patted the chair, and said, "Sit here."
Xiao Meng sat down, and Xiao Xiaoang climbed onto the bed, obediently lying in it. He really wasn’t feeling great; as soon as he lay down, his eyelids drooped... looking somewhat dazed at Su Xiaomeng,
"Were you at your home earlier?"
Xiao Ang asked Xiao Meng.
"No, I went to a place earlier."
"Where?"
"Hmm, an orphanage."
"Orphanage?"
"Yeah, it’s a place where some children may not have dads and moms for some reasons."
"I know about orphanages." Xiao Xiaoang mumbled, "Why did you go there?"
"Because the young man I know is learning piano there, so Aunt went to see."
"What’s there to learn piano at the orphanage..." Xiao Ang grumbled in confusion.
"Yeah, very strange, right? But the orphanage has many cute children, maybe the young man’s teacher thinks the environment there is pretty good."
"...Oh."
"Does Xiao Ang want to go? Maybe mention it to your dad later, and he can take you to play for a while?"
Xiao Xiaoang immediately shook his head in rejection, "I don’t want to go to the orphanage. I have a dad."
"..." Su Xiaomeng was momentarily stunned before realizing she might have said the wrong thing, quickly changing her words, "Aunt means... to make friends at the orphanage, not to send you away there."
"Anyway, I don’t want to go! I’m not a child nobody wants!"
Xiao Xiaoang stubbornly said.
Xiao Meng smiled, "Alright, Aunt said the wrong thing. It’s time for you to rest, isn’t it?"
"Hmm... Yep..."
"What’s the matter?" Xiao Meng asked upon seeing him hesitate and act shyly.
"Can you hold me while I sleep for a bit, just for a little while..." Xiao Xiaoang held up a finger in front of his little face, looking absolutely adorable.