Volume One, Chapter 9: Her Son Calls Her Selfish

Seeing the astonished looks on the three faces across from them, Ye Sheng ignored them, offering no explanation, and led Huo Xiaobei to another table.

Following the principle of taking only as much as one could eat, they both took very little. Ye Sheng placed a cup of hot milk in front of Huo Xiaobei, who smiled sweetly and thanked her, then said, with a calm, almost mischievous innocence:

“My dad is single.”

Ye Sheng was momentarily stunned, then smiled, saying nothing in response.

Afraid others might overhear, Huo Xiaobei lowered his voice, “I’ve never met my mother. If you really were my mother, that would be wonderful.”

His big eyes blinked adorably. “I’m so good-looking; my mother must be as beautiful as you.”

Ye Sheng nearly choked.

Truth be told, she didn’t know much about Huo Lintong and his son. The years she spent away from M Country, she and her brother had almost lost contact. Later, it was her third brother who told her that Professor Huo had suddenly acquired a son.

Supposedly, he was a foundling from a hospital.

But Huo Xiaobei was unmistakably Huo Lintong’s biological child—there could be no doubt.

Not far away, Huo Cong gripped his soup spoon tightly, staring intently at the pair. As Ye Sheng wiped Huo Xiaobei’s mouth with a napkin, his small hands clenched even tighter.

Hmph, if you don’t want to look after me, there are plenty of others who will!

“Mom!”

Suddenly, Huo Cong called out, startling Qin Minshu. When she realized the child was calling for her, her eyes crinkled with a smile. “Hey, what is it, darling?”

“Mom, I want to eat this. Can you cut it for me?” He pointed at the pizza on his plate.

Qin Minshu cut him a slice, and as he ate, his mouth became messy. She pulled out another napkin to wipe him clean, appearing every bit the devoted mother.

Huo Cong glanced stealthily at Ye Sheng, who kept her head down, seemingly indifferent.

Ye Sheng was eating, but the rice in her mouth was chewed for ages, unable to be swallowed. Her throat felt as though it had been stuffed with a lead ball, unbearably tight.

Huo Cong started loudly calling “Mom” again. Huo Xiaobei turned and whispered, “Shh, keep your voice down. This is a public place; don’t make such a fuss.”

Huo Cong shot Ye Sheng another look and snorted, “Mind your own business.”

Huo Xiaobei shook his head, sighing like a little adult. “What a naughty child.”

Huo Mingtian saw through his son’s antics, handed him a peeled egg, and said, “Eat properly, stop fooling around.”

Just then, Ye Sheng’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID.

“It’s your dad.”

Huo Xiaobei took the phone and called out, “Daddy.”

Huo Mingtian and Huo Cong both perked up their ears, unconsciously leaning to one side.

“We’re having lunch in the restaurant,” Huo Xiaobei said a couple of words, then handed the phone to Ye Sheng. Ye Sheng responded twice, “We’re fine… All right, we’ll wait for you.”

Qin Minshu had just finished serving noodles to the father and son, and when she looked up, saw them nearly leaning out of their seats. She twisted around to glance at Ye Sheng, who, along with Huo Xiaobei, had just finished eating and was getting up. Huo Mingtian and Huo Cong straightened up in perfect synchrony, pretending nothing had happened.

Ye Sheng put away their trays, wiped Huo Xiaobei’s hands with a wet towel. Huo Cong watched, his lips pressed tightly together.

He climbed down from his chair and held out his arms for Qin Minshu to pick him up. “Minshu mommy, when are you going to marry my dad?”

Qin Minshu chuckled, “When do you want me to marry him, little darling?”

Sitting in her arms, Huo Cong gazed toward the door.

“Hurry and marry him, so the three of us can live happily together. You’re a good woman, not like some people—so selfish, abandoning her husband and child, caring only for herself.”

Ye Sheng, holding Huo Xiaobei’s hand, had reached the door. At that word “selfish,” her steps faltered.

Her heart ached with a soft, tingling pain.

Ten months of pregnancy, a year of nursing, never a full night’s sleep, mastitis, stretch marks, scars on her belly… In the end, it all amounted to nothing more than being called “selfish.”