Chapter 46 - A memory or a dream

Chapter 46: Chapter 46 - A memory or a dream

Ying Mao’s face crumpled. He immediately pulled out his phone with shaking hands. "I’ll ask Dad!"

Mo Yuxin’s expression changed. "Mao Mao, don’t—"

With trembling hands, the young child called the familiar yet unused number on his phone. The call connected.

"Dad!"

The moment Ying Rui answered, Ying Mao burst into tears again.

"Dad! I want Jua Ge! I want Jua Ge to stay!"

His voice was full of sobs, making it difficult to understand what he was saying.

Mo Yuxin frowned. "Mao Mao, your father is busy."

But Ying Mao ran away from her hiding behind a pedestal.

"Dad, please! Don’t make Jua Ge leave! I want him here! I don’t want him to go!"

There was a short silence on the other end.

Then Ying Rui’s tired voice came through. "Mao Mao, Who said he was leaving?"

Ying Mao sniffled. "Mom said..."

"I said he only needs to stay in the servants’ quarters for now."

Ying Mao immediately shook his head. "No!" His voice became louder. "I don’t want that! I want him here! I want Jua Ge to sleep in the house!"

Jua rubbed his forehead.

This child really knows how to make a simple situation complicated.

But despite his thoughts, he couldn’t help feeling a little amused.

Ying Rui sighed from the other end. "Mao Mao, stop crying."

"I won’t!" Ying Mao sobbed. "I want Jua Ge!"

Jua looked at the phone in the child’s hand.

For someone who had sounded so bored and uninterested only a short while ago, Ying Rui was surprisingly patient with his youngest son.

There was another long silence.

Finally, Ying Rui spoke. "Fine."

Ying Mao stopped crying for half a second. "Really?"

"Jua Gu can stay in the main house. He doesn’t need to move."

The servant standing nearby immediately lowered his head.

Mo Yuxin’s face turned pale. "but honey you know he is a pervert! Why must we ave him here! its not sfae fo rteh kids!" she shouted.

Ying rui’s voice came tiredly. "its okay yyuxin, mao mao seems attached to him. let him stay. If he does something agin illhandle it. you don’t ahev to worry about it."

Don’t have to worry about it!

This was her home!

Yet... she coudlnt even send a fucking rat out of here.

Gritting her teeth she bit her lips hard enough to taste blood. "o-okay... whatever you say honey."

Ying Mao’s eyes lit up through his tears. "Thank you, Dad!"

The call ended soon after.

Ying Mao immediately turned toward Jua and hugged him again, this time with a huge relieved smile on his tear-streaked face.

"Jua Ge can stay!"

Jua looked toward Mo Yuxin.

She stood there stiffly, clearly trying very hard not to explode.

Jua raised a brow.

Well.

He glanced at the bag beside him.

That was surprisingly easy.

He reached over and patted Ying Mao’s head. "Stop crying first. Your face is a mess."

Ying Mao sniffed and rubbed his cheeks. "I don’t care."

"I can see that." He helped wipe his snorty nose with his sleeves whilst grimacing.

The young boy grabbed Jua’s huge luggage and dragged it toward the stairs with all his strength.

"Come, Jua Ge! Let’s go upstairs! You have to unpack everything!"

"Mao Mao..." Mo Yuxin called, her voice turning gentle again as she stepped forward. "Don’t get close to him. This man is dangerous. Look at what he has done to your poor brother."

She gestured toward Ying Di, who was standing nearby with his head tilted slightly to the side, his expression as blank as ever.

"Listen to Mommy. Let him stay with the servants."

Ying Mao finally stopped and looked back at her.

His greenish eyes, still damp from crying, slowly turned into a heavy shade of red as he stared up at her. The childish fear from earlier was gone, replaced by a stubbornness that made even the servants nearby hold their breath.

"Stay out of our business."

Mo Yuxin froze.

"Mao Mao..."

She stepped closer, trying to soften her expression.

But the boy’s glare only intensified.

"You are not my mother," he said, his little voice shaking with anger. "And you... you can’t control me."

He turned away from her, grabbed the heavy luggage again and tried to drag it up the stairs.

The bag was clearly too heavy for him. His small arms trembled as he pulled it along, and the wheels bumped against every step.

Jua watched for a moment before sighing.

"Mao Mao, leave it."

He reached down and pulled the luggage from the boy’s hands.

"I can carry it myself."

"But you need to rest," Ying Mao immediately protested.

"I’ll survive."

Jua lifted the bag with one hand and started walking upstairs.

Ying Mao quickly followed behind him, leaving Mo Yuxin standing at the bottom of the staircase.

She gritted her teeth as she watched them disappear upward.

Around her, the servants exchanged nervous glances. A few began whispering among themselves, unable to hide their surprise at what had just happened.

"Shut up!"

Mo Yuxin suddenly snapped her head toward them.

Every servant immediately fell silent.

"Get back to work!"

They scattered at once.

Mo Yuxin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Then she noticed Ying Di walking toward her.

Her expression immediately softened.

Finally.

At least her beloved son would come to her.

She opened her arms, already preparing to pull him into a hug.

But Ying Di simply walked past her.

He didn’t even stop.

Mo Yuxin’s arms remained open for several seconds before slowly falling back to her sides.

"Di Di?"

Ying Di continued toward the stairs.

"Di Di, why are you avoiding Mommy for that boy?" Her voice trembled with disbelief. "I’m the one who loves you more than the whole world. Not him!"

Ying Di stopped halfway up the stairs.

He slowly turned his head.

His blank eyes looked back at her without a trace of emotion.

He said nothing.

Then he turned around and continued climbing.

Mo Yuxin stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase.

For a while, she didn’t know how to react.

That cold, empty look in his eyes hurt far more than she wanted to admit.

Her own son hadn’t even taken her side.

Not even once.

"Why...?"

Her voice came out as a whisper.

"Why must he be seduced by that vixen? Why?"

Her fingers curled tightly at her sides.

Jua Haisin.

That boy reminded her so much of Feng Yao.

Just like Feng Yao, he seemed to receive everyone’s affection without even trying. People naturally gathered around him, protected him, trusted him.

And now even her own son had been pulled away from her.

Mo Yuxin lowered her head, her expression twisting with resentment.

She had fought so hard for everything she had.

She had taken Ying Rui.

She had taken this family.

She had given birth to a lovely son.

Yet..

Yet somehow, she was still the one standing alone.

Without saying another word, Mo Yuxin turned around and walked back toward her room.

Jua Gu carried the luggage back to his room with Ying Mao following closely behind.

The moment they entered, Ying Mao hurried pushed the bag down unzipped it and started to pull the clothes out. "t-there.. is...your clothes... are a mess." sniffling, he carefully shoved the clothes back into place, arranging them one by one as though making sure Jua really was going to stay.

Every now and then, a quiet sob escaped him.

Jua watched him for a moment before walking over and gently patting his back.

"Mao Mao, you don’t have to unpack everything yourself."

The moment he touched him, Ying Mao suddenly turned around and threw himself into Jua’s arms.

He hugged him tightly, pressing his face against Jua’s chest.

"You were almost sent away..." His little voice trembled. "I almost lost you..."

His small fingers grabbed the front of his shirt and held on tightly, as though he might disappear the moment he loosened his grip.

Jua’s expression softened. He reached down and rubbed the boy’s back. "I already told you I wasn’t going anywhere."

Ying Mao sniffled. "I thought... I thought you wouldn’t be here anymore."

He hugged Jua Ge tightly if not he would leave... he would leave. A sharp pain in his eye made him flinch violently.

The pain came without warning.

His vision blurred for a second.

Then something flashed before his eyes.

A young man dressed in traditional Chinese clothing stood with his back toward him, the long fabric of his clothes moving gently in the wind. He seemed happy, almost carefree, dancing near the edge of a high ledge.

Mao’s heart clenched.

The image disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.

His heart clenched at the sight of that familiar back. who was he... why...

He... he could not breathe...

Jua frowned and suddenly pushed the boy away slightly.

"Mao Mao?"

His face suddenly twisted in pain.

His hands flew to his chest.

"It hurts..."

He stumbled backward.

"It hurts..."

"Mao Mao!"

The boy’s knees gave out.

He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest as his eyes rolled shut.

"Mao Mao!"