Maybe Han Qing isn’t the one who sent Little Bean to my house. In that case, who was it? The more Yan tried to figure it out, the more confused she became.
Thud! The sharp pain on her forehead made Yan snap back to her senses. She realized that she was so engrossed in her own thoughts that she wasn’t aware that Han Qing had stopped in front of her and had walked into him. She covered her forehead as it throbbed in pain while stumbling backward and scowling in pain. I just walked into Han Qing again. Coupled with that incident in the elevator, will Han Qing think that I did it on purpose? She blurted out to avoid any further misunderstanding, “Why on earth did you stop without warning?”
The person in front of her paused, as if he hadn’t expected her to question him so blatantly after knocking into him. He turned around with a cold stare and answered her in an aloof tone, “We are here.”
After Han Qing reminded Yan, she realized that he already arrived at the car driver’s seat. She obviously followed him from behind in a distracted manner without noticing her surroundings. He must have stood there for some time to enter the car after unlocking the door when she knocked into him from behind due to her carelessness. Forget about bumping into him from behind, I can’t believe that I questioned him loudly as to why he stopped suddenly. This is so embarrassing! Oh my goodness, this is embarrassing!
Yan covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry.” After that, she walked around the car to open the back door.
Han Qing squinted at her when he noticed her opening the door and entering the backseat.
Yan kept her head bowed even after she settled in the backseat of the car. Initially, she was about to sit at the front passenger seat, but something struck her swiftly, so she stopped at the back passenger seat and entered it after opening the car door. If it had been in the past, she would have most probably taken the front passenger seat boldly to seize the chance to be closer to Han Qing. However, she now wanted nothing more than to stay as far as possible from him right now. I’ll just hang in there. Once Han Qing picks Little Bean up, I’d be free. Han Qing would look after Little Bean and I just have to make sure the timings of my hospital visits do not coincide with his. In that case, I won’t have to see him anymore in the future.
It was complete silence throughout the car ride. Yan still kept her head bowed when she heard a voice speak to her from the front suddenly, “Address.”
“Huh?” Yan was still in a daze because Han Qing spoke out of the blue.
He looked at her via the rearview mirror. “How do I pick Little Bean up if you would not tell me the address? Do you think I have the ability to foresee the unknown?”
Yan snapped back to her senses and provided her address. After that, they remained silent throughout the journey and the car was quiet up until their destination.
Yan broke the silence nervously once the car was parked, “Uhm, President Han, please wait here for a while. I will bring Little Bean down.” Then, she opened the car door swiftly before running out of the car.
Han Qing stared quietly at the young lady’s back view until she disappeared out of his sight. Then, he looked away while he slouched in his chair and he closed his eyes. The things I’ve done recently seem to slightly contradict my original intentions. What on earth am I doing?
Little Bean looked bewildered when he heard that Han Qing was there to pick him up, so he sat motionless on the bed. “Why is Uncle Qing suddenly here to take me home?” This is strange. No one has mentioned anything about this. Why is this suddenly happening?
“How could I possibly guess your Uncle Qing’s thoughts? Anyway, he is adamant on picking you up, so my hands are tied. You should start packing,” Yan urged Little Bean. After that, she smacked his little bum when he still sat on the bed. “Quick.”
However, Little Bean clung onto her arm suddenly. “I don’t want to! Aunt Yan, I want to stay here and play with you. I do not want to return home with Uncle Qing.”
Little Bean’s childish actions softened Yan’s heart swiftly. However, she recalled what Han Qing said at the hospital. He asked me how I, as an outsider, could possibly take care of Little Bean. “Please be an obedient boy. Your Uncle Qing wants to personally take care of you. You should fulfill his request.”
Yan obviously did not reveal her true thoughts in front of Little Bean because she knew that it would land herself in an embarrassing and difficult position, hence, she had no choice but to patiently coax Little Bean.
However, Little Bean was stubborn and reluctant to leave. In the end, he clung onto Yan stubbornly. “I don’t want to leave with him! I want to stay with Aunt Yan! Otherwise, I will live with Mommy! Aunt Yan, you are only allowed to choose one out of these two options. In any case, I will never leave with Uncle Qing!”
Uncle Qing broke Aunt Yan’s heart. He is a meanie! He is the same as Daddy! He is a meanie who is only capable of breaking a woman’s heart! Little Bean even thought to himself in silence, When I’m an adult, I will never let the woman I love cry over me! My daddy and Uncle Qing both failed in that aspect! They are bad guys!
Yan never expected Little Bean to be so stubborn, so she was at a loss for words. The moment she reminded herself that Han Qing was waiting for Little Bean downstairs, she whispered gently, “Little Bean, your Uncle Qing did not offend you, so why don’t you want to live with him? He is waiting for you downstairs now. Why don’t we head downstairs together so that you can head home with your Uncle Qing now? Stay with him for a few days and I will pick you up after a couple of days, alright?”
Luo Huimei, who eavesdropped the entire time, lost her patience and barged in. “What is happening? Why the ruckus in the middle of the night? If the child wants to stay here, you should let him stay here. He is just a child and it is not like your Dad and I can’t look after him.”
“Mom, it is not the issue of whether you can look after him or not. It is just that his uncle is waiting for him downstairs.”
“Why does that matter?” Luo Huimei retorted. “If you are shy about it, I will head down to speak with Little Bean’s Uncle Qing. I will tell him that Little Bean is asleep and that he should drop by another day.”
This method sounds promising. Usually, I would most probably have done that. However, right now… Yan bit her lower lip and she seemed torn as she stared at Little Bean.
“It’s decided then. I’m going downstairs now.”
Yan panicked immediately when Luo Huimei mentioned that she was headed downstairs to meet Han Qing, hence, Yan grabbed onto her mother’s hand. “Mom, you shouldn’t go! Don’t go!”
Luo Huimei was stunned to silence because this was the first time that she saw Yan panicking helplessly. Furthermore, when she squinted at Yan, the latter avoided her gaze. It was obvious that her daughter couldn’t meet her eyes.
Luo Huimei realized instantly something was amiss. She initially didn’t think much of whether to go downstairs or not. Come to think of it… it’s best I head down this time. Once she made up her mind, Luo Huimei stated calmly, “Little Bean, since your Uncle Qing insists on taking you home, you should start packing.”
Little Bean immediately looked aggrieved when he heard that, as though he was being bullied.
Luo Huimei was rendered speechless by his reaction. Damn it! He is an exceptionally smart child! “Forget it, forget it.” She waved her hand, clearly giving in to Little Bean. “Stay here since you are clearly unwilling to leave. Yan, you should accompany him and I will go downstairs to speak with his uncle.”
“Mom! You really shouldn’t go. I will talk to him in person.” With that, Yan stood up abruptly and ran out of the house.
Watching Yan dashing out of the house, Luo Huimei did not chase after her and instead approached Little Bean with a smile. “Little Bean, come, I have some questions for you.”
