Xia Yufan

“Mommy,” a tender voice from a six or seven-year-old boy came through the phone. “Why aren’t you home yet?”

Hearing her son’s voice, Xia Yuwei’s expression softened, and a smile unconsciously spread across her face. She playfully replied, “Yufan, Mommy had such a busy and tiring day. I’m already on my way, I’ll be home very soon.”

“Oh, alright. I’ll wait for you,” little Yufan said coolly, ending the call.

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Turning the key, Xia Yuwei opened the door to her apartment and stepped inside, pulling out her keys with her head bowed.

“Mommy!” Xia Yufan’s voice rang from the sofa in the living room.

“Oh! Yufan!” She kicked off her three-inch crystal heels, put on the slippers at the entrance, closed the door, and walked into the house.

“Mommy, where did you go to ‘mess around’ today? You didn’t stay home and cook for me.”

Xia Yufan sat upright on the sofa, his big, clear eyes fixed on Xia Yuwei, arms crossed over his chest, scrutinizing her with the air of a little adult.

“Yufan, how about Mommy takes you out to eat? I really don’t feel like cooking today.”

Xia Yuwei pressed her hand to her forehead and rubbed it. She suspected that perhaps Yufan had inherited some troublesome traits from Lu Yichen—at just seven years old, his intelligence was remarkable, and he often surprised her with what he said.

“If I waited for you to come home and cook, I’d starve to death,” Yufan said, standing up and picking up the bowl from the coffee table.

“Mommy, I made this instant noodles myself. I’ve already eaten, this is for you!” He looked at Xia Yuwei proudly as he handed her the bowl.

“Oh, my precious darling!” Xia Yuwei took the bowl from him, her heart overflowing with joy. “You know, Mommy usually doesn’t eat dinner—trying to lose weight…”

“No way! Mommy, you must eat!” Little Yufan interrupted her forcefully, glaring at her.

He really was so much like Lu Yichen! Xia Yuwei sighed inwardly.

“Mommy never said she wouldn’t eat. How could I refuse noodles made by your own hands?” She playfully tapped his little nose, laughing.

Apparently displeased by her treating him like a child, Yufan touched his nose and watched as Xia Yuwei sat down on the sofa. Suddenly, he came forward and wrapped his arms around her neck, whispering mysteriously in her ear, “Mommy, did you get a ‘wolf kiss’?”

Xia Yuwei nearly spat out her noodles, startled. She looked at Yufan in frustration. “Yufan, where on earth did you learn all this?”

“Don’t forget, Mommy, I grew up reading your books!” Yufan grinned mischievously at his exasperated mother.

Touching Xia Yuwei’s neck, Yufan said seriously, “Look, you have so many ‘strawberries’—Mommy, come on, tell me what happened today…”

Xia Yuwei put down the bowl and chopsticks, letting Yufan sit on her lap as she held him close. She sighed. “Yufan, today I met your daddy.”

“Daddy? Really? Hmph, if I ever meet him, I’ll give him a good beating!”

“Yufan…” Xia Yuwei looked at her son, torn between laughter and tears. “Why so violent?”

“Because he bullied my beloved mommy! No one is allowed to bully my mommy—not even daddy!” Yufan clenched his little fists, his eyes sparkling with determination.

“Yufan,” Xia Yuwei stroked his hair. “You really are so much like your daddy…”

“Am I?” The little one looked at her suspiciously, scoffing, “I don’t want to be like him…”

“Why not?”

“He wasn’t good to you. I don’t love him!”

Looking at Yufan’s innocent yet stubborn face, Xia Yuwei spoke gently, “Did you know, when I met your daddy, he was a year younger than you are now…”

“Really?” Yufan gazed at her intently. In truth, he was eager to learn more about his father.

“It was that summer…” Xia Yuwei held Yufan in her arms, falling deep into reminiscence.