Ming Yutong first went to the living room, but no one was there.
Her home, though not excessively large, was a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment in the city center. One bedroom was the master, another was used as a study, and the third was a guest room.
Neither the dining room nor the living room had anyone, and the bathroom next to the living room was also dark.
Ming Yutong knocked on the bathroom door, but there was no response from inside.
She turned on the bathroom light and said through the door, "I'm coming in."
Closing her eyes and bracing herself, she opened the door.
There was no sound inside either.
She slightly opened one eye and saw that the bathroom was empty.
Helpless, Ming Yutong had no choice but to return to the bedroom, planning to ask Little Jingshi about Fu Yinxiu's whereabouts.
She comforted herself with a glimmer of hope, thinking that Fu Yinxiu might have left in a fit of anger.
But then, she thought, what if Fu Yinxiu had taken the opportunity to take Little Jingshi home?
She had bought so many clothes for Little Jingshi that he hadn't even had a chance to wear yet.
With these thoughts racing through her mind, Ming Yutong became anxious.
She hurried back to the bedroom, only to be stunned by the scene before her.
Fu Yinxiu, whom she had been searching for, was lying in her bed next to Little Jingshi.
The sight of the two of them, one big and one small, lying together was so heartwarming.
If only Fu Yinxiu wasn't lying in the spot where she had slept.
He was even using her blanket.
"Tong Tong!" Little Jingshi, who hadn't been asleep, immediately sat up when he saw her return and patted the spot beside him, which he had originally left for Fu Yinxiu. "Tong Tong, come to bed."
Ming Yutong looked at Fu Yinxiu awkwardly. Fu Yinxiu slowly opened his eyes, glanced at her briefly, then closed them again without moving.
"I've tidied up the guest room," Ming Yutong said to Fu Yinxiu.
However, without specifically addressing him, Fu Yinxiu acted as if he hadn't heard her.
"Tong Tong, Dad is sleeping here tonight. You come too," Little Jingshi said.
Ming Yutong looked at Fu Yinxiu uneasily, unwilling to share a bed with him.
With no other option, Ming Yutong said, "Then I'll sleep in the guest room."
"You're the host; how can you sleep in the guest room? Don't you want to sleep with us?" Little Jingshi pouted.
Ming Yutong thought about suggesting she and Little Jingshi sleep in the guest room together.
But she knew Fu Yinxiu wouldn't allow it.
But the rare chance to be close to Little Jingshi made Ming Yutong reluctant to sleep alone.
Seeing her hesitation, Little Jingshi immediately grinned and patted the spot beside him. "Tong Tong, come on. I'll sleep in the middle. It's okay."
Ming Yutong looked at Fu Yinxiu, who still had his eyes closed and no reaction. She turned and left without saying a word.
Little Jingshi was puzzled. "Is Tong Tong really planning to sleep alone?"
Fu Yinxiu opened his eyes and sneered, "Don't try to match us together."
Little Jingshi puffed up his cheeks. "Fine, then I'll sleep with Tong Yong."
"Impossible." Fu Yinxiu pinned him down.
"Dad, why can't you let me be with Tong Tong?" Little Jingshi was both angry and anxious, his eyes reddening. "Tong Tong is all alone. It's so pitiful!"
"She has family. How is she pitiful?" Fu Yinxiu scoffed coldly.
"Tong Tong said she didn't abandon me. She was chased out of the hospital right after giving birth and didn't even get to see me. When she came back to look for me, I was already gone. She's been searching for me all these years. Tong Tong is a good mother. She never gave up on me." Little Jingshi choked out, tears streaming down his face.
Fu Yinxiu's gaze turned sharp. "Did you two recognize each other?"
Fu Yinxiu's stern demeanor made even Little Jingshi a bit nervous. He mumbled, "No. It's just that when Tong Tong held me, it felt so warm. I couldn't help but cry. Tong Tong asked me what was wrong, and I said I missed my mom. Tong Tong said she missed her son too and told me she never abandoned her son and has been looking for him all these years."
"Ha." Fu Yinxiu sneered. "How do you know she's telling the truth? She abandoned you back then, and now she's just telling you what you want to hear because she regrets it. And you believe her?"
"I believe her! Tong Tong wouldn't lie. She cried too," Little Jingshi insisted.
Fu Yinxiu's eyes briefly flashed with surprise before he retorted, "Her tears are worthless. I personally went to the hospital back then. I saw the surveillance footage with my own eyes. She left the hospital with her brother. This nonsense about being chased out is a lie!"
Just as Little Jingshi was about to say something, Fu Yinxiu's ear twitched, and he shot him a look that made him immediately fall silent.
Ming Yutong entered, holding a pillow and blanket.
Before she came in, Fu Yinxiu had already closed his eyes, pretending not to see her.
Ming Yutong felt embarrassed, her face flushing red.
"Tong Tong, you're back!" Little Jingshi said happily, thinking she was going to sleep in the guest room. He patted the spot beside him. "Come on, come on."
Ming Yutong smiled at Little Jingshi, trying to avoid looking at Fu Yinxiu. She quickly turned off the light, thinking it would be less awkward if she couldn't see him.
Then she awkwardly crawled to the other side of the bed and lay down gently, as if afraid of disturbing anyone—whether it was Little Jingshi or Fu Yinxiu.
Even with Little Jingshi between them, Ming Yutong felt extremely uncomfortable. Her heart raced, and sleep seemed impossible.
She didn't dare to turn over, fearing Fu Yinxiu would notice.
If she turned to hold Little Jingshi, her hand might accidentally touch Fu Yinxiu.
Regret washed over her. She should have just gone to sleep in the guest room by herself.
After a while, Little Jingshi snuggled into Ming Yutong's arms on his own.