Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I don’t quite remember how it all ended.

I only remember that I was so angry I didn’t even say goodbye.

Because Zhou Shiyu and I had parted on such bad terms, I wasn’t sure if he was just talking or if he truly intended to follow through with his threats.

I hesitated for a moment but decided against calling a taxi back.

Perhaps it was because the round-trip fare would cost nearly as much as a full day’s wages, and it felt better to take the day off than to go back to work just to break even.

Or perhaps it was the six years of missing out on motherhood acting up; I didn’t want to break my promise to Zhou Yi’an.

I waited until 4:30 PM, when the kindergarten let out.

Most of the children in this school came from prominent families. Amidst the stream of luxury cars, I saw a Bentley pull up in front of Zhou Yi’an.

So, I didn’t step forward.

I turned around and started walking slowly back the way I came, suddenly feeling that my previous worries were ridiculous.

What was I thinking?

How could the Zhou Family possibly allow their child to just walk away with me?

The Bentley soon drove off, kicking up a thick cloud of dust as it passed me.

For some reason, I thought of that tender little face.

We probably won’t see each other again.

Driven by some inexplicable impulse, I glanced back.

After the black car left, it revealed the other side of the road it had been blocking. Zhou Yi’an was standing all alone at the kindergarten entrance.

His round eyes met mine.

His eyes lit up, and he was about to rush toward me, but a teacher beside him reached out to stop him.

His little face crumpled, and he said something to the teacher with a hint of indignation.

Afraid he might dash across the road, I found myself instinctively walking several steps toward him before I even realized it.

The teacher saw me and finally felt at ease letting Zhou Yi’an come over.

He ran until he was out of breath, his dark, obsidian-like eyes sparkling.

As he got closer, he slowed his pace, pretending not to care while looking both bashful and happy.

“…You, you really came to pick me up?”

A soft little hand tentatively grasped my fingertips. Seeing that I didn’t pull away, he pursed his lips, stole a glance at me, and tightened his grip.

I gave a soft “mm” and asked him with some uncertainty, “Aren’t you going with him?”

At the mention of Zhou Shiyu, Zhou Yi’an’s face puffed up like a little gas tank ready to explode.

“I don’t want him! Besides, he didn’t come to pick me up!”

“He said it’s hard work for you to take me to and from school, and that I’d be annoying if I pestered you to pick me up every day. He told me not to disturb your work.”

He looked very opinionated, seemingly disdainful of Zhou Shiyu, and added with a serious, proud expression:

“I’m not as stupid as him!”

“I told the teacher about transferring schools today. That way, you won’t have to spend so much time taking me to school anymore!”

He tilted his little face up, his gaze urgent, as if waiting for me to praise him.

I couldn’t help but pat his round, dark little head.

The road home was congested for a long time. After buying groceries at the wet market, the sky began to darken as I led Zhou Yi’an home.

He suddenly remembered something and muttered casually:

“Oh, right. A driver is picking me up after school tomorrow. Daddy said I have to go home tomorrow and take all my changes of clothes with me.”

“But I’m still coming back here to sleep! You’re not allowed to forget me!”

Tomorrow was Friday.

I instinctively tightened my grip on the plastic bag containing the ingredients for braised pork. After a brief pause, I said softly, “Okay.”

Children are always forgetful. Perhaps after one weekend, his family would coax him back, and then… he would forget me.

I treated every meeting as if it were the last.

Because only then, during the long stretches of waiting, would I not feel so lost.