The room was filled with endless laughter and the nonstop chatter of Yibo, who, despite the long meeting, was still full of energy. He giggled every now and then, his small body unable to stay still as he continuously shifted in his seat.
Every time a new thought popped into his head, he immediately tugged at the clothes of either his father or his older brother, making sure they paid attention to his every question.
His mind seemed to work a mile a minute, and there was no telling when he would stop.
The older ones in the room could only shake their heads in amusement, occasionally exchanging glances as they laughed at the little boy's antics.
No one had the heart to stop him, nor did they want to. His endless talking, instead of being a disturbance, had somehow lightened the atmosphere, turning what could have been a stiff and awkward meeting into something much more relaxed and comfortable.
It was rare for such discussions to feel anything other than tense, but with Yibo's constant interjections and his innocent yet entertaining remarks, no one could deny that the boy was making everything feel less formal, more like a casual family gathering than a serious conversation.
"Gege, what's your favorite color?" Yibo suddenly asked, his big round eyes looking up at his older brother with eager anticipation.
He had already asked dozens of questions before this, yet he showed no signs of slowing down.
"Red," Zhan answered simply.
As soon as Yibo heard the answer, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he immediately turned to his father with the kind of urgency that made it seem as if he had just made a groundbreaking discovery.
"Then, Papa! We should paint Gege's room red! It's still plain white, and that's boring. You should've asked him before deciding on a room for him!" The boy huffed, puffing out his cheeks in frustration as he crossed his arms over his chest.
His expression was a perfect mix of indignation and determination, as if he was utterly disappointed in his father's lack of thoughtfulness.
Fengyin couldn't help but burst into laughter at Yibo's reaction, the little boy's dramatic way of speaking making it impossible to take his words too seriously.
The way he lectured his own father, with such confidence and certainty, only made the moment even funnier. It was clear that in Yibo's mind, his opinion was the most important, and he wasn't afraid to let everyone know it.
"It's alright, little one," the madam spoke gently. "You can still decorate the room however you like with your gege's help. There's still plenty of time before we move in, so you don't have to worry."
But instead of making Yibo happy, her words only deepened the frown on his face.
His brows furrowed, and his once bright eyes darkened with confusion, as if something wasn't quite making sense to him. His small fingers twitched slightly before curling tightly around the hem of his father's sleeve.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice suddenly much softer than before.
It was rare for him to speak so quietly, and that alone was enough to make everyone turn their full attention to him.
His usual confidence was gone, replaced by something much more fragile.
"Are you not coming home with me and papa?" His voice wavered slightly, and before anyone could answer, his glassy eyes started to well up with unshed tears.
His bottom lip quivered as he stared up at his father and his brother, desperately searching for reassurance.
His small shoulders trembled slightly, and though he hadn't cried yet, the way his face scrunched up showed just how close he was to breaking down. His usual energy and confidence had completely disappeared.
Fengyin once again cast a long, scrutinizing glance at her fiance, narrowing her eyes as if silently questioning him, wondering why he hadn't said anything yet.
She could already tell from the look on Yibo's eager little face that the older man had not explained much to his son, leaving out several important details that the boy clearly needed to hear.
Letting out a quiet sigh, she braced herself to be the one to say what needed to be said, knowing that the child would not stop asking until he received an answer that satisfied him.
"No, little one," she murmured gently, her voice soft yet firm, hoping to ease the boy's worries before he could get even more upset.
At her words, Yibo's expression immediately crumpled, his small frame trembling as a choked little sob slipped past his quivering lips. His tiny shoulders shook, his lower lip jutting out in a heartbreaking pout, and his big, watery eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
The sheer disappointment on his face was enough to make anyone's heart ache, and seeing him like this made Fengyin smack the boy's father.
Seeing his distress, she immediately leaned in to comfort him, reaching out a hand as if to soothe the little boy before his tears could spill over completely.
"But don't be sad, sweetheart. We will be moving in soon, just not quite yet," she reassured him softly, making sure to keep her voice warm and patient so that he would not feel too disappointed.
She did not want him to think that they were going back on their promise, so she quickly added, "It won't be long now, I promise. We just need a little more time."
"Why not?" Yibo sniffled, his voice wobbling slightly as he lifted his small hands to rub at his damp cheeks, using the back of his tiny palms to wipe away the traces of his tears.
His nose was red from crying, and his lips pressed together tightly as if he was trying to stop himself from sobbing again, though his teary eyes still held the same confusion.
"Because, darling, there are still many things we need to arrange first," the madam explained in her gentlest tone, making sure that he knew she was telling him the truth.
She did not want him to think that they were delaying for no reason, so she carefully chose her words, hoping to make him understand.
"But very soon, we'll be living in your home together, just as we promised. There's no need to worry, alright? Everything is being prepared, and it won't be long now."
She smiled at him reassuringly before adding in a softer, more coaxing voice,
"In the meantime, how about this? You can come visit us whenever you have free time and play with your gege. Would you like that, little one?" She tilted her head slightly as she spoke, her expression warm and full of encouragement, knowing that giving him something to look forward to would help lessen his sadness.
At that, Yibo's teary eyes widened, the sadness on his little face slowly replaced by a spark of excitement.
His small mouth opened slightly in surprise, his tiny fingers twitching as if he wanted to grab onto her to make sure she was really telling the truth.
"Really?" he asked, his voice still soft and shaky, but now laced with hope.
Fengyin nodded in affirmation, her lips curling into a gentle smile as she watched the emotions shift in his expression.
The moment he saw her confirmation, Yibo immediately turned to Zhan, his tiny hands reaching out to grasp the older boy's sleeve as he tugged on it insistently.
"Gege?" he called, his voice rising slightly with anticipation, his eyes growing even rounder as he stared up at the older boy.
He was practically bouncing in place now, his earlier sadness momentarily forgotten in his eagerness to hear Zhan's response.
He wanted his gege to say something…anything, to confirm that he would truly be able to see him. His fingers tightened around Zhan's sleeve, his small hands clinging onto the fabric as he waited, his breath held in anticipation.
Xiao Zhan looked down at him, his sharp gaze softening slightly as he studied the little boy's hopeful face.
For a brief moment, he remained quiet, as if weighing his words carefully, before finally speaking.
"Or…" he began slowly, drawing out the word in a deliberate, teasing manner as he let the tension build, his voice lowering than his usual tone, "I can visit you… little one."