Tang Yue: "..."
"Our Chenchen is still young, Xiao Yue, you wouldn’t want Chenchen to be taken away at such a young age, right?" Si Yu was adamant about this point. Whenever Si Yu was at home, he would guard against Chu Huaijin and An Bai, those mischievous kids.
"You’re overthinking it; Chenchen is only five." Tang Yue couldn’t help but remind him.
"What’s wrong with being five? Five is still a girl." Si Yu kissed her earlobe and said, "No matter the age, you still have to be cautious."
In the darkness, Tang Yue rolled her eyes and said, "Alright, alright, you do your guarding, and I’ll say mine. Lucy sent over a message asking me to participate in the autumn fashion show. It’s a one-way trip that will take about twenty days."
This meant that for twenty days, they wouldn’t be able to see each other.
In autumn, both kids were attending kindergarten. Bringing them abroad while she was busy with the fashion show would be inconvenient, and she certainly couldn’t take them with her.
From when the kids were born until now, she had never been apart from them for a day.
Si Yu tightened his grip around her waist, then exhaled and said, "Honey, if you want to go to F Country, just go. Don’t worry about home. I’ll come back every day and take care of the two kids, making sure they grow up nice and chubby."
"Are you raising them like pigs?" Tang Yue turned over, holding his hand, and asked, "You’re at the company every day and come home late at night. My mom and your mom can take good care of the kids, but I can’t bear to part with them."
"It’s just them you can’t bear to part with?" Si Yu rubbed her nose with his. She carried a fresh scent from her shower, a faint fragrance that was very pleasant. He took a deep breath, wishing he could shrink her down and carry her with him every day, right by his side.
"Hmm." Tang Yue nodded.
In the darkness, Si Yu leaned in and kissed her lips.
Tang Yue grinned and said, "I can’t bear to part with the two kids. Aren’t you an adult now, feeling embarrassed?"
"Why should a wife feel embarrassed about missing her husband?" Si Yu gave her another peck and said, "Honey, if you can’t bear to part with me, I can’t bear to part with you either. However, I support your decision. When I go on business trips, you’re the one waiting for me to come home. Now, it’s my turn to wait for you to come home."
Si Yu’s words were sincere, without a trace of pretense.
Tang Yue’s smile deepened. The next moment, she felt a weight on her, and his low voice came from beside her ear, saying, "Honey, let’s make up for those twenty days of exercise in advance."
The wave of emotion Tang Yue just felt disappeared instantly, without a trace.
*
"Chu Huaijin, this is the third piece of clothing you’ve torn today. Why are you climbing trees in the middle of summer?"
"The dates aren’t ripe yet. Even if you climb up now, you can’t eat them."
An Yu glared at her son, who had been obsessed with climbing trees recently, feeling quite speechless.
How does someone who usually loves cleanliness get into climbing trees?
"Mom, I just want to practice climbing trees." Chu Huaijin didn’t care, climbing up step by step, then carefully climbing back down, repeatedly, sweating profusely.
"Let him climb." Old Mr. Qin sat under another big tree, fanning himself, and said, "Kids are resilient; it doesn’t matter. If the clothes get ruined, just buy new ones."
Years had passed, and even though Old Mr. Qin had aged, his spirit hadn’t dimmed.
Qin Anhao and Xie Ziyao got married, and in December 1995, they had a son, Qin Fan, who was now a chubby-headed toddler. Every time Old Mr. Qin saw the child, he felt he could live a few more years.
"Dad, you’re just indulging him." An Yu held her throbbing head, aware that her usually obedient Chu Huaijin was the kind of child whose determination couldn’t be swayed by a team of horses.
Chu Huaijin pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I definitely won’t give up halfway."
"Good." Chu Hong first taught Chu Huaijin to practice stance training.
Chu Huaijin earnestly practiced. No matter how tired he got, he never complained.
An Yu watched her son as if seeing him for the first time and said, "Chu Hong, don’t you think there’s something off with your son?"
"He wants to train and hone his skills; that’s a good thing. What’s off about that?" Chu Hong retorted.
Chu Hong had wanted Chu Huaijin to learn before, but he wasn’t willing. Now, with Chu Huaijin willing to learn, Chu Hong couldn’t be happier.
An Yu mumbled to herself, not thinking much more about it.
*
"Zaozao, Chenchen, tomorrow I’ll take you to the Ocean Park to see the animals, and then we can go swimming. How does that sound?" Tang Yue had finally finished the custom-made clothes for the month and had time to take the two kids out to play.
She had promised to take them to Ocean Park but had postponed it for half a year before finding time.
"Really?" Zaozao looked skeptical.
Chenchen was more direct, saying, "Mom, are you lying to me again?"
Tang Yue: "..." In the hearts of these two kids, was she really... so untrustworthy?

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