Xiao Mei asked, not understanding, "Where is the young madam going? Is she never coming back?"
Gu Susu realized she couldn't let Qin Tianyi know she still wanted to leave, so she shook her head and said, "I was just talking nonsense. With a child and no money or acquaintances, where could I go? It's you I'm sorry for, coming here to look after Xiao Xingxing and following someone who has lost her status. It's not a promising future for you."
"What is a promising future?" Xiao Mei asked, still looking bewildered. "I don't understand these things. In our village, my family was the poorest. My parents only let me finish junior high before taking me out of school. Staying at home, I could only help them with farm work. When Chen Ma went back to visit relatives, she saw how pitiful I was and brought me here."
Gu Susu smiled and said, "Chen Ma didn't see you as pitiful; she saw you as diligent and honest."
Xiao Mei became a little excited as she spoke. "As soon as I arrived in Lancheng, I felt like I had entered paradise. Wow, big cities are truly so prosperous! Chen Ma's workplace is so luxurious! I'm already content just being able to help Chen Ma and not worry about food or clothing. I know you're a good person, young madam, at least better than that Miss Shu. I'm so happy to be able to take care of you and the young master."
Gu Susu took her hand. "Thank you."
Xiao Mei said, "But I'm a little worried about Chen Ma. If that Miss Shu really moves into the villa, she definitely won't treat Chen Ma kindly."
Gu Susu was also a little worried. That Shu Yan was very arrogant; she looked like someone who had been spoiled at home. Chen Ma had clashed with Shu Yan twice for her sake. This was something she needed to remind Qin Tianyi about. After all, in Qin Tianyi's heart, Chen Ma was not just a servant; she held a special place, more like family than a servant.
"Qin Tianyi will protect Chen Ma. She followed Qin Tianyi's mother. Cherishing that old connection, he won't let Shu Yan bully Chen Ma."
Hearing Gu Susu say this, Xiao Mei's face brightened again. "That's great. I'll go tidy up the young master's room. He's coming back tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, go and tidy up. Xiao Xingxing really likes you as a sister and loves playing with you. I feel very relieved with you here," Gu Susu said with a smile.
Xiao Mei smiled happily and said no more. She put down her luggage and went to busy herself in Xiao Xingxing's room.
...
The next day, Xiao Xingxing returned from the training camp. Gu Susu looked at her child, who had returned to her side, and hugged him, kissing him repeatedly. She saw that his skin had darkened a bit, but his small body had become sturdier.
Xiao Xingxing missed her too. He hugged her tightly and acted spoiled in her arms for a while. Then he let go and asked, "Mom, why are we living here? Where's Dad? Doesn't he want us anymore?"
Gu Susu held him, making him sit firmly on her lap, and said with a smile, "The big house we lived in before is being renovated, so we have to move here temporarily. He hasn't abandoned you; he's just busy with work and will visit you often."
In fact, she didn't know how to explain it to Xiao Xingxing, so she could only coax him like this for now.
But Xiao Xingxing was still dejected. Pouting, he asked, "So I won't be able to see Dad every day anymore? Can he still sleep with me and tell me bedtime stories?"
Gu Susu saw that the child had only spent a short time with Qin Tianyi, yet he was so attached to him, as if he couldn't accept life without him. A strange anger welled up inside her.
"Yes, not every day, but occasionally."
Xiao Xingxing immediately pouted, about to cry. "But I want to see Dad every day. Why don't you call him? I want to talk to Dad."
Gu Susu, unable to contain her frustration, scooped up Xiao Xingxing, put him down from her lap, and became stern. "Always talking about Dad, Dad! He's not your..." She almost blurted out that Qin Tianyi was deceiving him, that Qin Tianyi wasn't his father!
"Mom," Xiao Xingxing looked up at Gu Susu in fear. "What's wrong?"
Gu Susu controlled her emotions and tried to soften her tone as she spoke to the child. "He's too busy with work. You can't keep pestering him and affect his work, understand?"
"Oh, I understand." Xiao Xingxing dared not ask Gu Susu to call Qin Tianyi again. He lowered his head and began to cry.
Xiao Mei came out of the kitchen. She hadn't heard what the mother and son were saying, but seeing Xiao Xingxing unhappy and Gu Susu looking serious, she sensed that the atmosphere was not right.
She went to take Xiao Xingxing's hand. "Why is the young master unhappy? I'll take you to your room. The young master bought you a lot of new toys. They're all in your room. You'll definitely like them."
"Dad bought me toys?" A little spark flashed in Xiao Xingxing's eyes, and he was no longer so wronged and sad.
"Come on, I'll play with you," she said, leading him to the newly arranged children's room.
Gu Susu sat alone in the living room, feeling particularly distressed. Qin Tianyi had not only taken custody of the child but also the child's heart.
But Xiao Xingxing was clearly her child, hers. She had raised him through hardship.
As night fell, Gu Susu, Xiao Xingxing, and Xiao Mei were about to have dinner when Qin Tianyi suddenly appeared.
This surprised Gu Susu a little. She had thought he would be happily spending time with his fiancée these days and wouldn't think of them for at least a month or two.
Xiao Mei, who had been treating herself as part of the family and chatting happily with Gu Susu while eating, quickly stood up when she saw Qin Tianyi arrive. "Young master, you're here. Have you eaten? I'll get you an extra bowl and chopsticks."
Qin Tianyi grunted and then looked at Gu Susu, asking, "Are you all settled? Do you need anything else?"
"We don't need anything," Gu Susu replied, not looking at him, and continued to put food into Xiao Xingxing's bowl.
Seeing Qin Tianyi, Xiao Xingxing was overjoyed, but he was also sensible enough to know that he shouldn't be too happy to see his father, as it would make his mother unhappy.
Xiao Mei quickly brought a new set of bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen and placed them on the empty main seat.
Qin Tianyi patted Xiao Xingxing's head and sat down. "My little man, you must have gained a lot from your training."
Xiao Xingxing glanced at Gu Susu. Seeing that she wasn't particularly unhappy, he dared to turn to Qin Tianyi and replied, "Dad, the instructor praised me at the training camp, and I was made the leader of the youngest group. Many children cried every night, but I didn't cry and completed all the tasks the instructor assigned us."
Qin Tianyi gave him a thumbs-up. "Amazing. What reward do you want? Dad can satisfy any of your wishes."
"I want..." Xiao Xingxing began, then looked at Gu Susu again. Gu Susu's expression was impassive. She watched Xiao Xingxing excitedly recount his experiences at the training camp upon seeing Qin Tianyi.
These were things he hadn't told her, his mother. She didn't know how to describe how she felt, or how to make Xiao Xingxing understand that the man he thought was his father was unreliable and that he shouldn't cling to him.