Volume One, Chapter 104: It Was Your Mother Who Donated the Bone Marrow to You
“No.” Ye Sheng gave a wry smile. “There was a cut on the back of my head, had a few stitches, but it’s nothing serious.”
“Oh.” Huo Cong nodded, letting out a small sigh of relief.
Perhaps it was the waiting through the night, or maybe the two had grown more accustomed to each other over time. Now, Cong’er no longer greeted Ye Sheng with cold words but often showed a childlike side. Certain little expressions mirrored those of Huo Xiaobei perfectly. It seemed that the longer people spent together, the more alike they became.
Watching this, Ye Sheng’s resolve to gain custody of Cong’er only strengthened. She absolutely could not allow him to grow up by Qin Minshu’s side. That woman was far too sinister.
Their voices were low, yet they still managed to wake Huo Xiaobei. Xiaobei had not been fully asleep—just dozing lightly with his eyelids heavy—but as soon as he saw Ye Sheng, he perked up.
“Shengsheng, you’re back!”
Without hesitation, he threw off the covers and plopped down right on top of Huo Cong, reaching out to touch Ye Sheng. “Are you okay?”
Huo Cong, tickled by the weight on his belly, couldn’t help but laugh softly. Pushing him gently, he said, “Don’t press on my stomach, you’re too heavy.”
“Then you get up.”
Unabashed, Huo Xiaobei’s large eyes scanned Ye Sheng from head to toe, clearly worried.
Ye Sheng stroked his small face. “I’m fine. Don’t worry, Xiaobei.”
“That’s good.” Xiaobei relaxed upon seeing she wasn’t hurt, then chattered nonstop, “Dad left in such a hurry and didn’t say what was going on. But since you didn’t come back, we guessed something must’ve happened to you. I called Uncle Wang Liang, but he wouldn’t tell us. We heard someone on the phone shouting about a head injury. Huo Cong thought you had been hit on the head and was terrified…”
As he spoke, Huo Cong tried to stop him but couldn’t. With nowhere to hide, his small face flushed bright red.
But Ye Sheng’s eyes brimmed with tears.
She hadn’t expected Cong’er to be so anxious and worried about her, waiting up all night.
“Good children,” Ye Sheng murmured, gently patting the heads of the two little ones, touched by their concern.
Xiaobei smiled mischievously at her, while Cong blushed, looking down, a bit flustered.
“Go to sleep now. It’s almost dawn.”
Ye Sheng tucked both children under the covers and pulled the blankets over them. Noticing Huo Cong staring at her intently, as if wanting to say something, she leaned closer.
“Yes?” she prompted. “What is it? Speak.”
After a long pause, Huo Cong stammered, “About the hat… I’m sorry.”
Ye Sheng was taken aback.
He had long wanted to apologize. She had painstakingly knitted him a hat, but he hadn’t protected it well.
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault.”
Lowering her eyes to his pure, snow-like face, she smiled gently. “If the hat’s broken, I can make another. But can you promise me you’ll take good care of it?”
Cong’s mouth opened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected… that she would still be willing to knit him a hat.
He nodded.
Seeing no response, he nodded seriously again, promising, “I will.”
“Really?” Ye Sheng held out her hand. “Then pinky swear.”
“…”
Cong’s cheeks flushed again. He linked his pinky with hers and muttered quietly, “Even three-year-olds don’t do such childish things anymore.”
Ye Sheng laughed, playfully brushing his little nose.
Huo Xiaobei peeked out from under the blanket, giggling at the scene.
“All right, now go to sleep.”
Ye Sheng switched off the bedside lamp, then suddenly bent down and whispered softly into Huo Cong’s ear:
“Cong’er, you don’t need to feel guilty about Qin Minshu donating bone marrow to you. That wasn’t her doing. Two years ago, it was Mommy who gave you the bone marrow transplant. I personally came back from abroad to perform the surgery.”
“You are my child. We share the same bloodline. Mommy only wants you to live healthily and happily. So, there’s no reason for you to feel any guilt, understand?”
Ah… Huo Cong’s eyes opened wide in astonishment.