Ming Yutong didn't want Little Jingshi to be disturbed so late, especially after she had held him in her arms and slept peacefully for most of the night.
Now that Little Jingshi wanted to leave, she felt a hollow ache in her heart, as if someone had taken away a piece of it.
Unconsciously, Ming Yutong's words took on a pleading tone. "Yes, yes!" Little Jingshi, gripping Ming Yutong's pajamas tightly from behind, nodded incessantly. "Dad, let me sleep here until morning."
Afraid that Fu Yinxiu might disagree, Little Jingshi preemptively added, "If you're worried, why don't you stay here too!"
This suggestion startled Ming Yutong. She couldn't help but look at Little Jingshi in shock and desperately signal to him not to try to persuade Fu Yinxiu to stay.
Moreover, how could he possibly stay?
Ming Yutong was already mentally preparing herself for Fu Yinxiu's sarcastic remarks and rebukes.
Pretending not to notice Ming Yutong's hints, Little Jingshi deliberately suggested that his dad should stay. Wouldn't that help them bond better?
Seeing Ming Yutong's displeased expression, Fu Yinxiu felt as though his decision to stay was causing her great distress.
Couldn't she stand seeing him here?
Well then, he would stay precisely because of that.
The more she disliked it, the more determined he was to stay, just to prevent her from feeling at ease.
What, had she done something wrong and was only now feeling guilty about it?
Fu Yinxiu sneered. When Little Jingshi proposed that he stay, he found himself not opposed to the idea at all.
Instinctively, he wanted to agree.
It wasn't that he was reluctant to leave this warmth or that he coveted this woman. He simply didn't want Ming Yutong to feel comfortable.
That was it!
Fu Yinxiu's lips curled slightly as he nodded. "Fine, that works. I'll take Little Jingshi back early tomorrow morning."
Ming Yutong was utterly shocked and didn't know how to react, staring dumbfoundedly at Fu Yinxiu.
What had gotten into this man today?
How could he agree to stay?
Fu Yinxiu's sudden agreement stunned Ming Yutong, causing his expression to darken.
Was she really so unwelcoming towards him?
Little Jingshi, oblivious to all this, cheered loudly and immediately patted the spot behind him. "Dad, the bed here is really big. Come sleep here too!"
Ming Yutong: "..."
She quickly got out of bed and glanced at Fu Yinxiu.
Was she asking if he had truly decided to stay?
Fu Yinxiu remained cold and aloof, yet still didn't voice any refusal.
Ming Yutong could only say, "I'll go tidy up the guest room," and nearly rushed out the door.
She still couldn't understand why Fu Yinxiu had decided to stay.
Inside the guest room's closet were new bedding sets. Ming Yutong opened the closet to retrieve new pillows and blankets when she suddenly heard Fu Yinxiu's cold, stern voice, "Didn't I warn you not to get close to Jingshi again?"
Ming Yutong turned around and realized Fu Yinxiu was standing extremely close to her, almost pressing against her.
She instinctively stepped back, but the wardrobe blocked her path after just half a step.
Ming Yutong's head and back were pressed tightly against the wardrobe door.
"Jingshi is my son, isn't he?" Ming Yutong asked softly.
Fu Yinxiu's face tightened suddenly. He lifted his hand to grasp her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "No, Jingshi is from another woman. Jingshi is so good. How could he have a mother like you?"
Ming Yutong shook her head in disbelief. "Fu Yinxiu, please, don't stop me from seeing him. I'm begging you. Even if he's my son, I promise I won't interfere. I'll pretend I don't know anything."
She spoke as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Fu Yinxiu was close to her, almost embracing her.
"I just want to spend more time with him, to be close to him. I'm begging you, I won't say anything to him. Please don't stop me from seeing him," Ming Yutong pleaded desperately, reaching out to grab Fu Yinxiu's shirt at the sides of his waist.
Gripping his shirt, her hands clenched into fists, occasionally brushing against his waist.
The warmth of her fingers transmitted through the shirt, making his waist tighten and his body tense further.
Fu Yinxiu increased the pressure on Ming Yutong's chin. Through gritted teeth, he said, "What right do you have to bring this up? Jingshi is not your son. Stop deluding yourself. You abandoned a child before. Now you want to get close to someone else's child. Shameless, aren't you?"
"I—" She wanted to say something more, but Fu Yinxiu rudely let go of her chin and turned to leave the guest room.
Ming Yutong covered her face and sank to the floor, leaning against the wardrobe door.
She hadn't abandoned her child. She hadn't!
She had searched desperately for him but couldn't find him.
She didn't abandon him on purpose!
She was despicable, begging Fu Yinxiu so submissively, all for Jingshi. But she was willing.
But what was most despicable about her was that she still couldn't forget Fu Yinxiu.
Every time she told herself to let go of him.
But when she saw him, she couldn't control herself.
Ming Yutong covered her face and cried softly for a while. Then, quietly, she went to the bathroom, washed her face, splashed cold water on her eyes until they weren't so red, and dried her face.
Returning to the guest room, she prepared the bed for Fu Yinxiu.
She didn't know where Fu Yinxiu had gone after leaving. Her home was so small.
If she hadn't been forced, Ming Yutong really didn't want to go find him now, didn't want to face him at all.
She took several deep breaths heavily before leaving the guest room.