The little one behaves well while eating, not like other kids who demand to be fed...
At two years old, the little one can eat by himself, so Ye Xinluo doesn't need to worry at all.
No need to chase after him with a bowl, unlike other parents when their kids won't eat.
She remembers when Jingxi was nearly two, he always refused to eat on time, and the maids of the Gong Family often chased after him with a bowl of food.
One time, at mealtime, the little one was busy playing with blocks, and wouldn't eat after being called several times.
Finally, the maid had no choice but to seek help from Ye Xinluo.
Ye Xinluo glanced at the little one who was playing eagerly in the living room.
"No need, just keep the food warm, let him eat when he's ready."
After finishing her meal, Ye Xinluo sat on the sofa watching TV, occasionally glancing at the little one who was playing happily.
Not long after, whether from tiredness or hunger,
the little one put down the blocks in hand, stood up, and wobbled over to Ye Xinluo.
Ye Xinluo bent over, picked him up, and sat him on her lap without speaking first.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
The little one sat on Ye Xinluo's lap, looking at her with eager eyes,
He was too focused on playing to feel hungry, and since the maid hadn't called him, he didn't care much.
Only when he felt tired did he realize it was already past mealtime.
Looking at the little one in her arms, Ye Xinluo spoke gently.
"Jingxi, meals have a schedule, and if you miss it, there's nothing to eat. Do you understand?"
Jingxi looked at Ye Xinluo with a vague understanding, somewhat at a loss.
"If you keep playing with your toys in the future, once mealtime is over, there won't be anything to eat, and Jingxi will have to go hungry."
The little one understood this sentence.
Since this incident, the little one has been particularly well-behaved at mealtimes, no calling needed.
Because he knows, if he doesn't eat, he'll go hungry.
Ye Xinluo snapped back to reality and put some food in the little one's bowl.
After the two finished eating, Jingxi sat on the sofa watching cartoons.
Ye Xinluo tidied up the tableware and took it to the kitchen.
Just as she was about to start washing, she heard the little one's voice behind her.
"Mommy, I'll help you."
Ye Xinluo turned to see the little one holding a small stool he found somewhere.
He walked over to her, placed the stool on the ground, and stood on it.
"Mommy, I'll help you wash the dishes."
The little one stretched out his chubby hands, squeezed some detergent, and started washing a bowl seriously.
Ye Xinluo stood watching, a smile on her lips.
The little one was very considerate, Ye Xinluo almost never had to worry.
She remembered the year Jingxi was born, Gong Shaoyu had arranged for Ye Xinluo to go back to school.
While catching up on missed classes, she had to earn credits,
and the little one needed to be fed.
That time nearly overwhelmed Ye Xinluo.
But thankfully, she made it through.
The two finished washing the dishes and put them back in the cabinet.
After wiping their hands, Ye Xinluo carried Jingxi out of the kitchen.
Sitting down by the sofa, Ye Xinluo placed Jingxi on her lap, watching TV with him.
"Jingxi, how about Mommy takes you to school in a few days?"
"No way. Jingxi doesn't want to go to school."
The little one, watching TV, pouted his lips high upon hearing Ye Xinluo.
"Jingxi wants to accompany Mommy, otherwise, what if bad uncles take Mommy away?"
"Who told you this?"
"Daddy Shaoyu did."
Jingxi looked up, blinking his eyes.
Daddy Shaoyu said to stick with Mommy and not let bad men take her away...
Uh...
Ye Xinluo's lips twitched imperceptibly.
What nonsense?
How could Shaoyu tell Jingxi such jumbled stuff?
No, she needs to find a time to talk to Shaoyu about this.
Thinking this, Ye Xinluo spoke again, "Okay, then Mommy won't look for a job anymore."
Jingxi heard this and smiled broadly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes...
The next second, the smile stiffened.
"Then there won't be any sweets for Jingxi in the future..."
Ye Xinluo said this slowly, with a hint of regret in her tone.
She had no choice but to play her trump card...
Sure enough, the little one's smile became even more frozen.
Ye Xinluo caught all of Jingxi's expressions, curling her lips into a smile.
"Mommy will just stay at home to accompany Jingxi then, okay?" Her smile widened even more.
One second,
two seconds,
three seconds.
By the time Ye Xinluo counted silently to the fourth second, Jingxi finally reacted.
The little one stood there dazed for a while before digesting Ye Xinluo's words.
A boom went off in his mind...
What did Mommy say?
"Then there won't be any sweets for Jingxi in the future."
Cakes flew past his eyes, yet he couldn't grasp them no matter how hard he tried,
and then, they vanished.
He shook his head, shaking off all those mixed thoughts.
No way, sweets are his.
No one is allowed to touch them!
With a sweet smile, he turned around and hugged Ye Xinluo's neck with a fawning expression.
"Mommy, Jingxi doesn't need you to accompany him, Jingxi can go to school."
He planted a big kiss on Ye Xinluo's face.
Is this really her son?
How did one mention of sweets settle everything?
Ye Xinluo felt a deep sense of helplessness inside, wondering if this was real.
Or does she have a fake son?
Other people's sons would wish their mom could accompany them every day.
But here he is, selling his mom just for some sweets...
And without any hesitation too...
She pinched the little one's nose, pretending to be helpless.
"Didn't Jingxi just say you were afraid Mommy would be taken by bad uncles?"
"No, I won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
Ye Xinluo asked curiously.
"Because I'm three years old."
"And then?" Ye Xinluo didn't prompt him to continue.
"Not every uncle wants to be a stepdad, and I'm not liked by every uncle either."
Stepdad?
You don't even know who your real dad is, where he is, let alone a stepdad?
Ye Xinluo secretly mused, though her expression remained unchanged.
"Did Daddy Shaoyu also tell you this?"
If he says yes, then.
She really needs to have a good talk with Gong Shaoyu...
"Saw it on TV."
"And also..."
"And what?" Ye Xinluo furrowed her brow, having a bad feeling.
She had the sense that whatever followed was...
"Mommy, your looks are alright, but your figure isn't great, and you have a tagalong, probably hard to find a husband."
Ye Xinluo was choked by the little one's words, three black lines appearing on her forehead.
What do you mean 'looks are alright, figure isn't great'?
Ye Xinluo looked down at herself.
It's fine.
Very balanced, no excess fat.
What's wrong with her figure, does it have to be all fleshy to be considered good?
Just thinking about being chubby all over, wobbling with each step,
gave her an involuntary shiver.
Just the thought is terrifying...
But the most crucial point is he said it's hard for her to marry.
Come on, back in school, she had plenty of admirers, right?
It's just, at that time, Ye Xinluo was busy with school,
and taking care of the little one, so she didn't have time to think about these things.