Chapter 432| Chapter 433| Chapter 434
Chapter 432: On the Eve of Returning to the Capital
Stepping out into the living room, Sheng Wanyan heard faint sounds coming from the kitchen. Her brow furrowed as she quietly went over to check what was going on.
Inside, Gu Tingxiao was busy cooking noodles. When he saw her walk in, he poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her.
“Drink some water first. The noodles will be ready in a minute.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at him and then at the bubbling pot on the stove, a deep warmth filling her heart. “You didn’t sleep?”
“I lay down for a bit, but I figured you’d wake up hungry.”
Gu Tingxiao had woken up half an hour ago. He knew his wife had only eaten a single meat bun for dinner and would inevitably get up in the middle of the night to forage for food.
Before Sheng Wanyan could say anything else, Gu Tingxiao gently guided her to sit on a stool.
“Just sit tight for a bit. It’s almost done.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. Holding the warm cup, she watched his broad back as he busied himself for her sake.
Gu Tingxiao served up two steaming bowls of tomato and egg noodles, and the couple enjoyed a quiet, cozy midnight snack together in the kitchen.
“Wanyan, our train tickets are for the day after tomorrow,” Gu Tingxiao said as they ate. “I’ve packed up most of our things here. We’ve also gone through almost all the food in the house. Should we leave whatever’s left to your parents?”
He continued, mapping out their next steps. “Once we secure the courtyard house, the first order of business will be transferring your and Yiyi’s household registrations to the Capital.”
Gu Tingxiao had planned out every detail, and Sheng Wanyan naturally had no objections. They had just enough food left to last them the next two days. There was still a sizable stash of eggs, so she decided to boil twenty of them to eat during the train journey and leave the remainder for her parents to enjoy over the Lunar New Year. There were also about ten kilograms of cured bacon and sausage left, which would serve as excellent extra provisions for her parents’ holiday table.
“Sounds good,” she agreed.
“I also asked some comrades from the municipal transport team to help haul our furniture to the Capital,” Gu Tingxiao added. “It should arrive there in about half a month.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. She had spent the last few days sorting through their belongings and stacking the furniture neatly in the living room. All that remained in the apartment was a single quilt for Gu Tingxiao and a few of his daily essentials.
Gu Tingxiao had initially considered moving into the military barracks dormitory, but since they hadn’t received her official university acceptance letter yet, he worried about any unexpected complications. Keeping the lease on the courtyard house for now ensured they would always have a fallback plan if anything went awry.
To the rest of the compound, it appeared the family was simply heading south to the Capital to celebrate the Spring Festival. No one except Father Sheng and a few close friends knew about their long-term arrangements.
On the night before their departure, Mother Sheng invited them across the hall for a farewell dinner. Sheng Wanyan packed up every scrap of their remaining food and carried it over.
“Mom, Dad, keep these for the New Year. I won’t be mailing any holiday packages this time around.”
Initially, her parents protested, insisting that they take the food with them to the Capital. In this day and age, provisions were a precious blessing, and only their daughter could afford to be so extravagant with them. However, hearing that she wouldn’t be mailing packages later on, Mother Sheng relented. It would indeed save a lot of logistical hassle.
“Alright, alright. It’s not as if your father and I are starving anyway,” Mother Sheng said gently. “You have a grueling journey ahead of you and can’t afford to lug too much baggage. Besides, you’ll need all the resources you can get to settle down in the Capital.”
Thinking of the challenges ahead, Mother Sheng let out a quiet sigh. Glancing at Pan Yue, who was busy in the kitchen, she discreetly pulled Sheng Wanyan into the adjoining bedroom.
Mother Sheng reached into her pocket and produced a thick stack of bills, pressing five hundred yuan into her daughter’s palm. This was the extra cash she and Father Sheng had kept on hand, entirely separate from the savings passbook they had given her to purchase their own courtyard house.
“Take this five hundred. Keep it on you in case of any emergencies when you land in the Capital.”
Sheng Wanyan immediately tried to push the money back. She already held her parents’ main savings passbook; there was no way she was going to strip them of their remaining few hundred yuan.
“Mom, I have plenty of money. You know exactly how much I pull in each month.”
Of course Mother Sheng knew. She had previously assumed her daughter earned a respectable four or five hundred yuan a month, only to discover the true figure was well over a thousand. But the thought of her daughter traveling all the way to the capital—knowing they wouldn’t see each other again until the following year—weighed heavily on her. Her husband and she didn’t possess grand political clout, but she flatly refused to let her daughter feel slighted or disadvantaged when dealing with her in-laws.
“Take it,” Mother Sheng insisted firmly. “Use it to buy some nice gifts for your husband’s elder brother and sister-in-law when you arrive. The three of you are going to be encroaching on their household for a while, after all.”
Her eyes softened with motherly concern. “My dear girl, you’re both still so young. I truly wish you could just stay by my side to celebrate the New Year. But traveling with a toddler always brings unforeseen expenses and can easily cause friction when staying under someone else’s roof. Besides, since you and Xiao Gu are permanently relocating your careers to the Capital, having his eldest brother look after you early on will make things much smoother. But you must remember: even between family, financial boundaries must be kept crystal clear.”
Sheng Wanyan understood this perfectly. When she envisioned their return to the Capital, she had never intended to become a prolonged burden to Eldest Brother Gu and his wife. The moment the New Year celebrations concluded, she fully intended to secure an independent courtyard house and move her family out.
“Mom, I understand all of that,” Sheng Wanyan said softly but firmly. “But I truly do not lack money. You and Dad only have this small reserve left on you. If you give it to me, what will you do if an emergency arises here? Rest assured, Tingxiao and I have more than enough capital.”
Refusing to accept the bills, Sheng Wanyan instead reached into her own robe pocket, pulled out a separate envelope of cash, and pressed it into her mother’s hands.
“You child! What are you doing?” Mother Sheng gasped.
“Mom, you and Dad need to keep this cash for your own security,” Sheng Wanyan said, her voice full of earnest affection. “Since I won’t be around to care for you daily, providing for you financially is the only way I can show my filial piety. Holding onto this will give me peace of mind while I’m away in the Capital, knowing that you, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma aren’t wanting for anything.”
Without giving her mother a chance to argue, Sheng Wanyan swiftly tucked the five hundred yuan she had prepared into Mother Sheng’s hand and darted out of the bedroom.
Mother Sheng hurried out after her, but Pan Yue had already finished setting the dining table, and the entire family was waiting for them to sit down. She had no choice but to slip the envelope into her pocket and take her seat, knowing that causing a scene now would only make Pan Yue feel awkward.
Once the meal concluded, Gu Tingxiao sat in the living room holding Yiyi, chatting warmly with the four elders, while Sheng Wanyan and Pan Yue handled the dishes in the kitchen. Sheng Wanyan deliberately avoided giving her mother any further opportunity to corner her alone, and she quickly gathered Gu Tingxiao and Yiyi to head back to their apartment early.
The unresolved interaction left Mother Sheng tossing and turning all night. Watching her pace around the room, Father Sheng looked up from the bed in confusion.
“What’s troubling you? Didn’t you manage to hand the emergency cash to our daughter?” he asked, noticing her heavy sighs.
“Hand it to her?” Mother Sheng grumbled, sitting on the edge of the mattress. “Your daughter flatly refused to take a single cent. Instead, she somehow managed to stuff five hundred yuan of her own into my hands!”
Hearing this, Father Sheng sat up straight, his eyes widening in surprise. “How is that possible? She’s journeying to the capital completely on her own, not to mention she has to manage Yiyi. There are countless expenses ahead of her; why on earth is she sending money back to us?”
His brow furrowed with anxiety, but Mother Sheng could only sigh, recounting the entirety of their bedroom conversation. Father Sheng fell silent, letting out a long breath. Children naturally worried over their aging parents, but did parents ever truly stop worrying over their children?
“Tomorrow morning, before they leave, get up early to prepare some travel provisions for them,” Father Sheng instructed quietly. “Tuck the emergency cash directly into the food parcel. And wife… include the five hundred yuan our daughter gave us as well.”
Mother Sheng shot him an irritated glare. What was wrong with this man? They had explicitly agreed to supplement their daughter’s pockets!
“Listen to me,” Father Sheng explained gently, catching her hand. “If we force her to keep our five hundred yuan, do you honestly believe she won’t just mail us double that amount the moment she touches down? Our daughter is an exceptionally capable woman; she genuinely doesn’t need our small savings. It’s better to accept her gesture so she can travel with a light heart. We can quietly save this capital for her, and down the line, if she ever faces a true financial crunch, we can step in and produce it.”
He offered a reassuring smile. “This way, she can focus entirely on her studies in the Capital without constantly worrying about whether her parents have enough to get by.”
His practical wisdom finally mollified Mother Sheng’s anxieties, though her heart still ached slightly at the thought of her daughter forging her path so independently in the grand city far away.
Chapter 433: A Family of Three Returns to the Capital
“Don’t you know what your daughter is like? She’s the type who won’t say a single word even if she’s in deep trouble!” Father Sheng countered. “If she won’t take the money, we’ll save it for Yiyi. We can build up a proper dowry for her, ensuring she can hold her head high in her husband’s family when the time comes.”
Ever since Sheng Wanyan married into the Gu family, Father and Mother Sheng had felt completely powerless whenever major events arose. This sense of inadequacy drove Father Sheng to vow that he would provide handsomely for his granddaughter, ensuring she would always stand tall and confident. Since Sheng Wanze didn’t have a daughter yet, Yiyi was his only granddaughter, and he was already planning far into her future.
He had recently inquired about the real estate market in the Capital. A standard courtyard house cost around one thousand yuan, meaning their three thousand yuan of savings could easily secure two properties. His plan was clear: when the time came for him and his wife to pass on, they would leave one courtyard house to Sheng Wanze and the other to Sheng Wanyan. With only two children, it was only natural to divide their assets equally.
As for any future grandchildren, that would be for Sheng Wanze and Pan Yue to worry about, not him and Mother Sheng. While they would always step in to help their son if he faced hard times, that didn’t mean their entire life’s accumulation belonged solely to him. Sheng Wanyan was their child just the same.
Mother Sheng found his logic completely sound. Saving a generous dowry for their granddaughter was the perfect way to give the girl ironclad confidence for her future.
“Yes, you’re absolutely right,” Mother Sheng agreed, a sense of clarity washing over her. Since she couldn’t easily alleviate her daughter’s burdens right now, she would focus on securing a flawless path forward for her granddaughter. “Let’s get some sleep. We still have to see them off tomorrow morning.”
The next morning, Mother Sheng woke up before dawn to prepare travel provisions for the journey. She packed a generous assortment of food, wrapped the bundle securely in a clean cloth, and carefully tucked the five hundred yuan deep inside it.
Sheng Wanyan was also up early, organizing their luggage. While she and Gu Tingxiao could easily purchase meals on the train, Yiyi’s diet required meticulous attention. She carefully packed five fresh apples and five crisp pears into their daypack, ensuring the little girl would have her favorite fruits.
Yiyi’s miniature green backpack was stuffed with her favorite biscuits, candies, and her milk bottles. But most importantly, she insisted on holding her beloved plush rabbit doll.
“Mommy, Yiyi wants big bunny too,” the toddler piped up, pointing toward the one-meter-tall stuffed rabbit that Father Gu had gifted her. She was used to sleeping with the massive toy by her side, often draping herself over it like a pillow.
However, their load was already substantial. Between the winter clothes for the three of them and the heavy suitcases, they were pushing the limits of what they could carry.
“Yiyi, we have too many bags to carry today,” Sheng Wanyan coaxed gently. “How about we let Daddy ship the giant rabbit along with the rest of our furniture?”
She pointed to the luggage stacked on the floor to show her. There were already two crates dedicated entirely to the toddler—one for her daily essentials and one for her small toys. When added to the couple’s clothing, Yiyi’s milk powder, diapers, toothbrushes, Sheng Wanyan’s original dowry chest, and their food parcels, the pile was immense.
Yiyi looked at the mountain of luggage and was just about to nod in reluctant agreement when Gu Tingxiao walked into the room, holding the giant stuffed rabbit.
“We’ll take it,” he stated firmly. “I’ll carry it.”
When it came to Yiyi’s comfort, Gu Tingxiao was incredibly indulgent. He knew the little girl genuinely needed the toy to sleep peacefully through the long journey.
Hearing her father’s verdict, Yiyi squealed with delight and ran over to wrap her arms around his leg. “Thank you, Daddy~”
Sheng Wanyan could only smile and shake her head. Since the two of them had formed a united front, there was no point in arguing. She fetched a large canvas bag and neatly compressed the giant plush rabbit inside. It wasn’t particularly heavy, so she could easily manage it herself.
“Let’s move. It’s almost time,” Gu Tingxiao said.
Sheng Wanze was already waiting by the military base’s vehicle depot, ready to drive them into the city terminal. Grandpa and Grandma Sheng, Father and Mother Sheng, Pan Yue, and little Huzi all walked out into the crisp morning air to see them off.
“Keep this close on the train,” Mother Sheng said, handing over the heavy cloth bundle of food. “And keep a sharp eye on Yiyi. The railway stations are packed with all kinds of people.” She murmured endless reminders, ensuring they were fully alert.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Gu Tingxiao reassured her. He had already taken total precautions. When booking the travel arrangements, he had purchased all four berths in their sleeper compartment. This meant the three of them would have the entire room to themselves for the duration of the trip.
If it were just the two of them, a standard ticket would have sufficed, but traveling with a toddler required absolute vigilance. Yiyi was fair-skinned and exceptionally beautiful, making her a prime target. Human traffickers were notoriously rampant during this era, specifically hunting for healthy, attractive children. In an age devoid of digital surveillance or security cameras, a child abducted at a train station vanished completely, with the chances of recovery being practically zero.
The elder Sheng couple reposed absolute trust in Gu Tingxiao. They knew that with his military background and protective instincts, he would shield both mother and daughter from any harm.
“I am placing Wanyan in your hands,” Father Sheng said, clapping his son-in-law firmly on the shoulder. It was his ultimate charge as a father.
Gu Tingxiao met his gaze with absolute solemnity. “Dad, rest assured. I will protect her with my life.”
Father Sheng nodded, deeply comforted. Over the years, he had witnessed firsthand just how deeply his son-in-law cherished his daughter. Still, he knew that once they arrived in the Capital, Wanyan would have to navigate the complex social dynamics of the elite Gu family estate, and he secretly worried that any domestic friction might strain the couple’s relationship.
“Wanyan, look after your health and take care of the baby once you land in the capital,” Father Sheng instructed softly. “And be sure to pass along our warmest regards to your in-laws.”
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng could barely contain their tears as they clung to their granddaughter. Ever since her wedding, she had remained right across the hall from them. This sudden, long-distance separation felt like a heavy blow to their hearts.
“Grandpa, Grandma, please don’t fret,” Sheng Wanyan comforted them, squeezing their hands. “I will convey your greetings perfectly. Please promise me you’ll take care of your health while I’m away.” Her greatest worry was that the bitter winter cold might cause the elderly couple to fall ill, but she took comfort in the knowledge that they would all be reunited in the Capital in just a few months.
“Alright, the vehicle is loaded. We should set off,” Sheng Wanze called out.
Father and Mother Sheng climbed into the vehicle alongside Sheng Wanze, determined to accompany the family all the way to the city train station to maximize their final moments together. Sheng Wanyan didn’t object, her own heart aching at the approaching departure.
“Grandpa, Grandma, we’re leaving now,” Sheng Wanyan called out through the window. “You must look after yourselves. If anything happens, have Sister-in-law send us a telegram immediately.”
“We will, we will,” Grandpa Sheng nodded, a proud yet wistful smile on his face. Though his heart was heavy, he knew his daughter’s brilliant future was the most important thing.
Sheng Wanyan then turned her attention to Pan Yue, pulling her slightly aside. “Sister-in-law, I’m relying on you to look after my grandparents and parents during this stretch.”
Pan Yue immediately waved off the formality with a gentle scold. “Why are you being so polite all of a sudden? Rest assured, I will take excellent care of the elders. Just focus on your journey, and remember to write to us the second you arrive in the Capital.”
“Auntie~” Huzi chimed in, tugging firmly on the hem of Sheng Wanyan’s coat. “Huzi is going to miss you and baby sister so much.”
Sheng Wanyan immediately knelt down, wrapping the boy in a warm embrace. “Auntie and Yiyi will miss our Huzi terribly, too. The moment you arrive in the Capital, Auntie will take you and your sister to see all the magnificent sights.”
Huzi’s face split into a wide grin. His initial sadness vanished, replaced by pure excitement at the promise of an upcoming reunion. “Deal!”
It had only been a few days since his birthday, and the little boy was officially a proud three-year-old.
Chapter 434: Awakening to the Meaning of Separation
For Huzi’s third birthday, Sheng Wanyan had kept her promise, meticulously crafting a custom toy chest adorned with hand-painted animals. The little boy absolutely adored it. His attachment to his aunt had always been rooted in deep familial affection, but now, it was mixed with a profound sense of childish admiration.
“Huzi,” Sheng Wanyan said, kneeling before him. “While Auntie is away, you need to be a big boy and help your mommy take care of your great-grandparents, your grandpa, and your grandma. Can you handle that mission?”
Hearing this, Huzi immediately slapped his chest, lifting his chin high with immense pride. “Mission accepted! I’ll complete it flawlessly!”
His voice was bright, clear, and ringing with a toddler’s solemnity, allowing Sheng Wanyan to feel completely at ease leaving her parents behind. She smoothed his hair with a tender smile, exchanged a final round of warm farewells with the rest of the family, and carried Yiyi toward the waiting military vehicle.
Sheng Wanze and Gu Tingxiao took their spots in the front seats, with Maodou curling up obediently at Gu Tingxiao’s boots. In the back, Sheng Wanyan sat sandwiched between her father and mother, cradling Yiyi securely in her lap. Standing in the crisp morning air, Grandpa and Grandma Sheng waved reluctantly, their figures gradually shrinking until the car finally rounded the bend and vanished from sight.
Inside the car, Father and Mother Sheng took turns holding Yiyi, utterly loath to let her go. They had only just managed to break through her initial shyness and forge a deep bond with their precious granddaughter, yet now, an immense distance was about to separate them once more.
“Yiyi, when you arrive in the Capital, you must be a good girl and listen to your mommy and daddy, alright?” Mother Sheng murmured, her voice laced with emotion. “Eat heartily, sleep peacefully, and grow up big and strong.”
Mother Sheng offered endless, gentle instructions throughout the drive, and no matter what she said, Yiyi simply nodded her little head in quiet response. The toddler could sense a strange, heavy solemnity hanging over the adults today, but her young mind hadn’t yet grasped the true weight of a separation.
By the time the reality finally began to register, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao had already navigated the bustling terminal and carried her aboard the train. It was there, amidst the clattering of the tracks, that she consciously experienced the bittersweet sting of farewell for the very first time.
Sheng Wanyan’s primary focus was to shield Yiyi, keeping both the child and herself secure through the frantic boarding rush. Gu Tingxiao bore the brunt of their physical belongings; he was practically buried under their luggage, hoisting an enormous rucksack onto his back, clutching three heavy crates in his hands, and balancing several massive canvas totes along his powerful arms. Still, given his formidable military conditioning, the heavy load posed no challenge at all. He moved fluidly, keeping a vigilant eye on his wife and daughter’s every step.
Gu Tingxiao forged ahead to clear a path through the crowded aisles, while Sheng Wanyan followed closely, holding Yiyi tightly against her chest.
It was Yiyi’s first time encountering a locomotive. Confronted by the deafening clamor of the passengers, the shifting sea of strangers, and the pungent, unfamiliar odors of the transit car, she buried her face deep into her mother’s shoulder out of pure instinct.
“Mommy~” she whimpered, her tiny fingers tightening around Sheng Wanyan’s neck. Yet, despite her fear, curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she peeked out cautiously from the safety of her mother’s embrace to study the unfamiliar carriage.
“It’s alright, baby. Mommy and Daddy are right here,” Sheng Wanyan comforted her, rhythmically patting her back. Wrapped in that familiar warmth, the toddler’s tense frame gradually began to unwind.
Gu Tingxiao guided them into their private sleeper compartment. The couple systematically arranged their heavy baggage onto the empty berths.
“Wife, you and Yiyi take the upper bunk,” Gu Tingxiao instructed, prioritizing their security. “I’ll stay on the lower one to keep watch.”
An upper berth offered maximum privacy and safety from the bustling corridor, so Sheng Wanyan readily agreed. “Alright.”
As the train slowly chugged out of the station, Yiyi transformed into a bundle of endless curiosity. She touched the smooth trim of the berth and leaned her little face against the glass pane, completely captivated by the blurred winter landscape sweeping past the window.
“Look, Yiyi. We’re officially on the train,” Sheng Wanyan noted softly.
“Train?” Yiyi repeated, tilting her head.
The concept was entirely new to her. Seizing the opportunity, Sheng Wanyan unbuckled the toddler’s small green backpack and began explaining how locomotives functioned. Yiyi quickly plunged into the vast ocean of knowledge, entirely spellbound as her mother detailed the mechanical structure of steam engines and iron tracks.
Listening from below, Gu Tingxiao could only huff with silent amusement on his daughter’s behalf. He knew all too well that once his brilliant wife began an academic lecture, she wouldn’t stop for hours.
Gu Tingxiao methodically organized their supplies, setting out the food parcels and daily essentials they would require over the next few days before heading down the corridor to fill their thermos with boiling water. Through seamless coordination, the couple transformed the cramped compartment into a cozy, organized haven within an hour.
Yiyi sat cross-legged on the crisp sheets, contentedly arranging her small toys. But as she played, a sudden thought seemed to strike her. She paused, looking up at her parents with wide, searching eyes.
“Mommy, Yiyi wants to go play with Brother Huzi and Grandma now~”
Sheng Wanyan settled onto the edge of the mattress, gathering her daughter’s hands to explain the reality of their journey with immense patience. “Yiyi, we can’t see them right now. We’re traveling far away to visit your other grandparents in the capital. Once some time passes, we’ll see Grandma and Grandpa Sheng again.”
“No Great-grandma and Great-grandpa?” Yiyi’s lower lip trembled slightly.
“Not for now, sweetheart. We have to complete our journey to the Capital first.”
“No Waiwai either?”
Yiyi had always used her own sweet, garbled nickname for her great-grandparents, a childish term of endearment that the elders had thoroughly indulged. Hearing that tiny voice call out to them had always brought endless joy to the old couple across the hall.
“No Brother Huzi? No Uncle? No Auntie?” she pressed, her voice cracking.
Sheng Wanyan refused to mislead her. She nodded truthfully, allowing the child to process the weight of the transition. Yiyi’s face instantly puckered, her tiny heart breaking under the sudden realization that her beloved daily companions were no longer just across the hall. A torrent of silent tears spilled over her flushed cheeks, dissolving into a heartbreaking sob.
“Waaah… Waaah… Yiyi wants to go back to Waiwai~” she wept, her voice thick with grief. “Waaah…”
Yiyi never screamed or threw violent tantrums when she cried; instead, she let out a quiet, profoundly pitiful whimper that could stir a deep, aching sorrow in anyone who overheard it. She reached out her chubby arms, begging for comfort, and Sheng Wanyan immediately pulled her close, rocking her against her chest.
“Mommy… Waaah…”
Sheng Wanyan simply held her, letting the little girl pour out her raw grief. She knew that trying to inject logical adult reasoning right now would be completely futile.
“Daddy and Mommy are right here with you,” Sheng Wanyan whispered into her hair, offering an ironclad sense of emotional security. Yiyi wept inconsolably for a long while, until the sheer exhaustion of her emotions finally depleted her energy.
For the first time in her two years of life, she truly understood the meaning of separation—and she decided she didn’t like it one bit.
Seeing that the storm of tears had passed, Gu Tingxiao gently handed over a prepared bottle of warm water so she could replenish her fluids. Sheng Wanyan fetched a clean cloth to tenderly wipe away the tear stains, watching her daughter gradually steady her breathing.
“Are we all done crying now, baby?”
Yiyi let out a small, lingering hiccup and shook her head, her long eyelashes still damp. “Hiccup… No more crying.”
“Good girl. Now that the tears are gone, listen closely to Mommy.” Sheng Wanyan brushed a stray lock of hair away from the girl’s damp forehead. “It’s not that we’ll never see your grandparents again. We’re simply traveling south to celebrate the Lunar New Year with your other family. Remember how wonderfully good Grandpa and Grandma Sheng are to Yiyi? Remember all those lovely clothes and toys they always mail to you?”
The toddler nodded slowly, nursing her water bottle as she listened with absolute, wide-eyed compliance, her initial panic entirely subdued.
“They love our Yiyi immensely,” Sheng Wanyan continued softly. “And since the holidays are a time for the whole family to unite, it’s only right that we go visit them, isn’t it?”
“It’s a must~” Yiyi mumbled around the nipple of her bottle, her pronunciation thick and garbled.
If Sheng Wanyan hadn’t been right in the middle of a serious parenting moment, she would have burst out laughing at the adorable sight. She cleared her throat to maintain her composure.
Gu Tingxiao, however, quickly turned his face toward the window, desperately suppressing the broad grin tugging at the corners of his mouth to avoid drawing his wife’s disciplinary gaze onto himself.
“That’s exactly right,” Sheng Wanyan praised, her tone warm. “Once our holiday visit is complete, Grandpa and Grandma Sheng will travel down to the Capital to join us. Everyone dotes on our Yiyi. You’ll be playing with them again before you know it.”
Having fully digested the reassurance, Yiyi’s anxieties completely dissolved, and a profound sense of peace returned to her face. But a second later, she looked between her mother and father, her innocent eyes shining with a sudden, deep vulnerability.
“Then… will Mommy and Daddy ever leave Yiyi behind?” she whispered. “Will you stay by Yiyi’s side for the rest of your life?”
Faced with the raw innocence of the question, Sheng Wanyan found her voice catching in her throat. As an adult, she knew they couldn’t stay with their children forever; the natural law of the world meant they would eventually grow old and depart. Yet, looking into those wide, trusting eyes filled with such absolute dependence, she couldn’t bear to shatter the child’s fragile sense of security.
Gu Tingxiao’s hand paused over the luggage straps. He turned around, reached into the berth, and swept his daughter securely into his powerful arms, holding her right against his chest.
