Xingxing turned around, lifting his arm only to let it fall down in helplessness. He glanced up at Ye Ziyu, then quickly lowered his head to stare at his toes.
"I'm not praising them as a mother, but all three of them are very lively and adorable. You are of similar ages and will get along quickly," Ye Ziyu said, trying to encourage Xingxing to socialize.
If his mother were still alive, would she apologize to others on his behalf?
Xingxing sank into his own world.
With no response to her words, Ye Ziyu took another step forward.
After a moment of hesitation, her hand landed on Xingxing's head. "Auntie can feel that you are a smart and polite child. I really hope you can play with my children."
Feeling the warmth from his forehead, Xingxing looked up at the Ye Ziyu standing close by in a daze.
She carried a scent, very fragrant, yet different from those pungent perfume smells. It was unique, as if it belonged only to her.
Xingxing couldn't help but move forward, step by step, actively shortening the distance between himself and Ye Ziyu.
His closeness surprised Ye Ziyu. Despite being surrounded by three children every day, she still felt a little reserved when facing Xingxing.
She withdrew her hand from his head, crouched down, and met Xingxing's gaze. "I'm taking them to the amusement park this weekend. Do you want to come with us?"
Footsteps sounded from behind, and Xingxing instantly retreated.
Ye Shaoting appeared from the turn of the stairs, his sharp gaze piercing through Ye Ziyu to rest on Xingxing.
Seeing Xingxing's sudden evasive look, Ye Ziyu glanced back behind her nervously. She turned her head in confusion to check.
"What are you two talking about?" Ye Shaoting asked, his eyes softening as he walked forward.
Xingxing walked towards him willingly.
Ye Shaoting placed a hand on his slender shoulder, pulling at the corner of his lips in a half-smile as he asked, "Did you do something wrong?"
"No. It's just that the weekend is approaching, and I'm taking the children to the amusement park. I wanted to ask Xingxing if he wanted to join us," Ye Ziyu explained.
"Amusement park?" Ye Shaoting repeated. He looked down at Xingxing and patted his shoulder. "Do you want to go?"
Xingxing, listening to Ye Shaoting, turned to Ye Ziyu and coldly refused, "I have to study this weekend. I don't have time."
Ye Ziyu couldn't understand why a child so young would need to study on a weekend without rest.
She moved closer to Xingxing, but Ye Shaoting stepped between them. "He won't go. You have fun. I still need to check Xingxing's homework. I'll take him back to his room now."
Xingxing followed Ye Shaoting away.
For some reason, Ye Ziyu always felt that Xingxing acted like an employee under Ye Shaoting's command.
Never mind, fostering a relationship with him wouldn't be achieved by rushing.
...
"Godfather."
Back in the room, Xingxing stood nervously behind Ye Shaoting.
Ye Shaoting turned and scanned him, then reached out and patted the empty space beside him. "Come sit."
Xingxing shook his head, still standing before him.
"Speak. What do you want to ask?"
He had brought the infant back and raised him under his watchful eye all these years. Ye Shaoting could guess what Xingxing was thinking just by his breathing.
"Did they really kill my parents?" Xingxing asked.
The word "they" was wrong!
Ye Shaoting crossed his legs and loosened the knot at his collar. "Only Di Mingjue was responsible for your parents' death. You must remember clearly who your enemy is!"
"Wasn't that the person from just now?" Xingxing's excitement was uncontrollable.
He liked Ye Ziyu, not because of the bowl of tomato noodles, but he felt inexplicably close to her, as if they were blood relatives.
Ye Shaoting stared at the joy welling up on Xingxing's face and gave a cold, dismissive hum.