When it came to buying things for Little Jingshi, Ming Yutong couldn't control herself.
She bought multiple items of everything, wishing she could get him every style and color available.
In the end, she also bought him a children's sonic toothbrush and a Care Bears toothbrush cup.
She bought a set of children's skincare products, finally feeling satisfied as she took Little Jingshi into the car.
The guards dropped them off at the door without entering Ming Yutong's house.
Ming Yutong offered them water inside, but they politely declined, so Ming Yutong didn't press further.
After the Alpha Guards came out, they glanced at each other. One of them swallowed hard and felt immense pressure as he took out his phone and called Fu Yinxiu.
There's a guest room in Ming Yutong's house, but it's not used often.
Little Jingshi went to the bathroom by himself, took a shower, and came out in his new pajamas. His hair was still damp, so Ming Yutong fetched a hair dryer and had Little Jingshi sit on the sofa.
She turned on the TV and handed the remote to Little Jingshi, letting him choose his favorite program while she dried his hair.
"Do you have a lot of homework this weekend?" Ming Yutong asked as she blow-dried his hair.
"Not really. There aren't many textbook assignments from our school; we have more practical assignments," Little Jingshi replied.
Jixia Academy aims for comprehensive development, with an educational model more similar to that of foreign countries. So, returning from M country, Little Jingshi didn't have much trouble adjusting to school.
"This weekend, besides spelling Chinese characters and English words, there are a few math problems. The teacher also asked us to draw a diary, depicting the most memorable things from the weekend. Then the teacher will put everyone's drawings on the wall behind the classroom," Little Jingshi said. "The teacher also said to go out and play more on weekends, like hiking, and not to stay home all the time."
Ming Yutong listened with a smile, never getting enough of Little Jingshi's words.
After drying his hair, Little Jingshi said, "Tong Tong, can I sleep with you?"
"Sure," Ming Yutong eagerly nodded.
Originally worried that Little Jingshi, being a boy, wouldn't like to sleep with her.
So Ming Yutong took out new pillows and blankets, spreading them on her bed.
Little Jingshi lost interest in TV for the first time, turned off the TV, and climbed onto the bed, patting the spot next to him. "Tong Tong, come quickly."
Ming Yutong came over readily, and at first, Little Jingshi was quite nervous, lying obediently. But as he laid there, he snuggled into Ming Yutong's arms.
Ming Yutong gently patted Little Jingshi's back, her palms on his back soft and warm.
"Little Jingshi, what's wrong?" Ming Yutong grasped Little Jingshi's shoulders and gently pulled him back a bit, noticing tears on his face.
Even the pillow beneath his head was dampened.
"What's the matter?" Ming Yutong worried, "Do you miss home?"
Little Jingshi shook his head and said, "I miss mom."
Hearing this, Ming Yutong couldn't hold back her tears either.
Her eyes stung with tears, a warmth surged up, and she quickly closed her eyes to hold them back.
After taking several deep breaths, she opened her eyes.
She wiped the tears from Little Jingshi's face, but her tenderness only made Little Jingshi cry harder, his tears unstoppable.
"Little Jingshi, do you... do you blame your mom?" Ming Yutong asked with a choked voice, omitting the word "you," as if this way, she could finally speak to him as Little Jingshi's mom.
Little Jingshi sniffled a few times, softly shaking his head.
"Why?" Ming Yutong couldn't contain her joy and excitement, nervously asking.
"I believe that Mom must have had something happen, forcing her to leave me. These years, I haven't been by Mom's side, and she must have been lonely and sad. When I've been searching for Mom, she must have been searching for me too." Little Jingshi looked at Ming Yutong with teary eyes.
Ming Yutong almost thought that Little Jingshi was about to call her "Mom."
"Tong Tong, didn't you tell me the same?" Little Jingshi said.
"Yeah, all these years, your mom never stopped looking for you." Ming Yutong paused, afraid Little Jingshi might doubt, so she added, "She must be like that. I... I have a son too."
Little Jingshi's mouth trembled, "Is he... the same age as me?"
"Yeah, the same age as you. I just gave birth to him and was sent away, and the child was taken away. I've been looking for him for a long time." Ming Yutong couldn't hold back her tears.
Little Jingshi reached out and wiped Ming Yutong's tears away.
Such an intimate gesture made Ming Yutong's tears flow even more.
Just like how she had comforted Little Jingshi earlier, Little Jingshi ended up crying harder.
"I've tried every possible way to find him. I want to tell him that Mom didn't abandon him." Ming Yutong looked seriously at Little Jingshi.
"Mom was driven away, not leaving him behind. The biggest wish in Mom's life is to find him and never be apart again. I want... I want to hear him call me Mom."
"I'm so afraid... afraid that he will blame me, blame me for leaving him, for not caring about him."
"He won't, you... you didn't mean to!" Little Jingshi said anxiously.
"Yeah, I didn't mean to," Ming Yutong said.
"Then... then after you find him, will you leave?" Little Jingshi asked.