When Qin Ya went back to the house together with the two kids, Lin Xinyan was asleep in her room, probably because she had been too worn out by work lately. However, since Zong Jinghao told her that Su Zhan would be here to pick up the kids later, Qin Ya had no choice but to wake her up.
Lin Xinyan opened her eyes and stared groggily at Qin Ya, who was standing next to her bed. She sat upright and rubbed her eyes. “You guys are back home.”
Qin Ya responded, “I’ve bought you some carrots.”
As Lin Xinyan just woke up, her eyes were glassy and her mind was still fuzzy.
Qin Ya poured her a glass of water. She drank half of it to clear up her mind. After putting down the glass on the bedside cabinet, she got out of bed and put on a pair of slippers. “What did you guys have for lunch?” she asked.
While speaking, she cast a glance at the clock and then back at Qin Ya. “I’m surprised it’s so late already.”
Qin Ya had taken the kids out for three hours.
What did they eat that took them so long?
“We had baked fish just now.” Qin Ya made it up, knowing that it was quite normal to wait quite a long time for a plate of baked fish to be served. The dish was made with fresh fish, which had to be gutted on the spot, and it would take at least another half an hour to bake it in the oven. The meal and the visit to the supermarket would make up the three hours’ time.
“You must be hungry now. Let me order some takeaway for you.” The two women then walked together to the living room where the two kids were watching TV on the sofa.
When the kids visited the bakery section of the supermarket just now, they shared the fact with their father that the red bean puffs sold there was Lin Xinyan’s favorite. It was a dessert made from puff pastry stuffed with delicious red bean fillings.
Lin Xinyan had bought it several times before, so the kids knew she loved it.
Because of that, Zong Jinghao decided to buy two boxes of red bean puffs as well as some other desserts, thinking that it would not be nutritious enough if she only had carrots for dinner.
Stretching her body, Qin Ya said, “I’m going to take a shower.”
In fact, she only said so to avoid seeing Su Zhan. Even if he were to die in front of her right now, she would not cave in or forgive him. It was not because she was unable to move on from him. She simply found him to be an eyesore.
The sight of him would remind her of all the ugly memories of her past.
She could change her looks and her voice, but she could not wipe out her memories.
Lin Xinyan nodded at her in acknowledgment before pouring herself a glass of milk from the fridge and putting it down on the dining table.
It was sweet of Zong Yanchen to bring all the desserts over to his mother. “Mommy, we’ve bought red bean puffs and pineapple buns for you.”
“And this, too.” Zong Yanxi brought the carrots over and offered them to her mother.
Sitting on the chair at the dining hall, Lin Xinyan grinned at the two kids, feeling pleased to know that they were now big kids who knew how to take care of their mother.
She caressed her daughter’s head. “Could you do me a favor by washing the carrots?”
“Sure.”
Zong Yanxi was overjoyed; she felt proud to be able to help her mother.
Lin Xinyan took a bite of the red bean puff her son offered her and relished its marvelous taste. Casually, she chatted with her son, “What delicious food did you guys have just now?”
“We had steak,” Zong Yanchen answered.
The little boy had no clue that Qin Ya had told his mother that they had baked fish to make their story sound reasonable.
The hand which Lin Xinyan used to hold the glass of milk froze in midair. She looked up at her son, wondering whether she had heard him wrongly.
Why did he say they had steak while Qin Ya said they ate baked fish for lunch?
Once again, she asked, “What did you guys have for lunch again?”
“Steak.” The little boy blinked in puzzlement as he asked, “Mommy, would you like to have some, too?”
Lin Xinyan shook her head at the little boy but at the same time, she couldn’t help but knit her brows together. The stories from the two parties just didn’t add up.
On top of that, she did not know of any nearby restaurants that served baked fish.
Why did Qin Ya lie?
Smiling, she continued to chat with his son as though she didn’t detect anything amiss. “Where did you guys have the steak?”
“We ate at Mumbassi’s Kitchen, the place where Mr. Shao treated us to a meal last time,” Zong Yanchen said truthfully.
“Oh, I see.” Lin Xinyan lowered her gaze in contemplation as she thought about the restaurant. It was a high-end venue with minimum spending of eight thousand per table. On top of that, it was located some distance away from home.
Why did Qin Ya bring the kids there? And why did she lie to me just now?
At that moment, Zong Yanxi returned with the washed carrots. “Mommy, here you go. You don’t have to worry because I’ve cleaned them very thoroughly.”
Lin Xinyan took the carrots but she had no more appetite. Looking at the two kids, she felt a little uneasy.
Why did Qin Ya lie?
Did she do something which she didn’t want me to know about?
Ding-dong!
Her train of thought was disrupted by the sudden ringing of the doorbell. Just as she was about to answer the door, Zong Yanxi volunteered. “Let me do it.”
She had dashed toward the door in no time.
Lin Xinyan returned to her seat and glanced in the direction of the door. She normally would not expect visitors at this hour; Shao Yun also seldom visited them at night.
Soon, the door opened. Su Zhan was standing outside. The moment Lin Xinyan saw him, she went wide-eyed and gaped. Her entire body went numb. She was in so much shock that she suddenly lost her senses.
Why is he here?
Clenching her fists tightly, she was surprised to see him there. At the same time, she felt a flurry of anticipation as she strained her eyes, trying to see if there was anyone standing behind him.
“Uncle Su,” Zong Yanxi greeted him with a smile and invited him in.
There was not a trace of surprise in the little girl’s voice given she had just met the man not too long ago.
Su Zhan walked into the house and greeted Lin Xinyan.
“H-How do you know I stay here?” she tried her best to sound composed and calm.
“I’ve been trying to track you down for Jinghao because he misses the kids too much. In fact, I just discovered this place not too long ago,” Su Zhan tried to explain the reason for his appearance at her house at this hour.
Lin Xinyan was clenching her fists so tightly that her palms started sweating. The truth was that she had intended to let Zong Jinghao have the kids back then because she knew he needed their company.
However, she later found herself unable to be separated from the kids. It was hard enough to handle his departure. She was worried she might not be able to pull through without the kids.
“May I bring the kids to B City for a few days?” Su Zhan went straight to the point.
Slowly, Lin Xinyan looked up at him. She had the urge to ask about Zong Jinghao but didn’t manage to say anything in the end. At last, she muttered, “Yes, you may.”
The kids were his, too.
She stood up to excuse herself. “I’m going to pack some clothes for them. In the meantime, please make yourself comfortable.”
“Sure.”
Su Zhan sat down on the sofa.
“Would you like anything to drink?” Lin Xinyan asked.
“Just a glass of water will do.”
“I’m on it,” Zong Yanxi volunteered gleefully.
Lin Xinyan supposed her daughter was in such a buoyant mood because she knew she was about to meet her father.
She then made her way to her bedroom where the kids’ clothes were stored.
The moment she opened the wardrobe, she suddenly recalled the dream she had. Everything in the dream felt so realistic, including the sweaty smell of his body and his husky voice telling her how much he missed her.
Was that merely a dream?
Did Su Zhan really come here just by himself?
She started having doubts about this trip he proposed. At the same time, her body started to move on its own will toward the bedroom window with a feeling of anticipation. Gently, she drew the curtains apart to take a look at the street outside.
There was a car parked by the quiet street which looked familiar to her. She couldn’t remember whether she had seen it at the parking lot of the hospital or of a restaurant.
Soon, she spotted a familiar figure next to the car.
Under the dim light of the lamp post, Zong Jinghao was seen leaning against his car. At this time he was on a call with Guan Jing discussing work. As Zong Jinghao would not be in office for the next few days, he would have to complete his work online.
He seemed to be able to sense Lin Xinyan’s gaze on him——he looked up at her bedroom window at the same time.
