Su Qing took her son inside for a tour, and immediately, a staff member warmly greeted them, leading them to a seat.
Before she could even settle in, her son tugged at her hand, pulling her toward the ball pit. It seemed her son was quite fascinated by the colorful balls.
She followed him to the edge of the pit, helped him take off his shoes, and watched as he carefully descended the small ladder. The moment he plunged into the sea of balls, he began playing joyfully.
Several other children around his age were already inside. Kids always bond quickly when playing together, and soon they were all having a great time.
Su Qing stood watching for a while before turning back to her seat, where her mother-in-law was also sitting, keeping an eye on Xiao Bao.
Her mother-in-law leaned in and whispered, "This restaurant probably isn't cheap. Should we go somewhere else? It looks expensive."
Su Qing shook her head. "Mom, let's not worry about saving money. As long as Xiao Bao is happy, it's worth it. We work hard to provide for him."Her mother-in-law pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
Just then, a server brought over menus for them to browse. Su Qing flipped through and saw that the dishes looked decent—there were set meals as well as à la carte options.
She ordered a set meal for each of the three of them.
While waiting for the food, Su Qing asked, "Mom, what are your thoughts on this matter? Are you really going to forgive Dad just like that? What if that woman insists on Xiao Ji getting tested as a donor for her son? Would you agree? Or what if Dad forces Xiao Ji to do it? What then?"
Her mother-in-law tore her gaze away from Xiao Bao, her eyes dimming. She shook her head and lifted her sorrowful eyes to meet Su Qing's.
"I don't know what to do. I lie awake every night, agonizing over this. As for whether Xiao Ji is willing to go, that's his decision. For now, I just want to delay things as long as possible. I don't want him to know about this—I don't want him to suffer another blow.
"If it weren't for Xiao Ji, I wouldn't still be living like this, letting him deceive me all these years. I regret it so much… I regret ever getting back together with him."
At the word "remarriage,"her mother-in-law paused, covering her mouth slightly, as if realizing she had said too much to Su Qing.
Su Qing was surprised to learn that her mother-in-law and father-in-law had divorced and then remarried.
Tears began rolling down her mother-in-law's cheeks again, and Su Qing quickly handed her a couple of tissues.
Softly, she said, "Mom, don't cry. Tell me everything—maybe I can help you figure something out. You can't keep this bottled up; it'll make you sick. No one else can bear this pain for you.
"No matter what, Mom, I'll stand by you."
Su Qing squeezed her mother-in-law's hand, giving her an encouraging look.
Her mother-in-law wiped her tears with the tissue and said hoarsely, "I don't know who else to talk to. No one can advise me. You're the only one I can confide in now. But please, don't tell Xiao Ji. Every time I think about this, I can't sleep. Sometimes, I don't even want to live anymore—but then I look at Xiao Bao and can't bring myself to do it.
"Honestly, Xiao Bao is the only reason I keep going. You've seen it yourself—Xiao Ji has been cold toward me and his father all these years. I thought remarrying his dad would give him a complete family, but in the end, it only brought more hurt."
Her voice broke as she spoke, and she covered her face with her hands, tears slipping through her fingers.
"Mom, I know. Ever since Xiao Bao was born, you've been the one taking care of him every day. He's your lifeline. Even though I'm his mother, he spends far more time with you than with me. Aside from carrying and giving birth to him, you've done more for him than any mother could.
"You've taken such good care of him that I've never had to worry. Mom, no matter what, you can't give up. Even if Xiao Ji isn't reliable, you still have Xiao Bao. You have to see him grow up, get married, have children of his own—and be there for you in your old age."
Her mother-in-law lowered her hands, her face streaked with tears. She tried to force a smile, but the strained pull of her lips only made her look heartbroken.
"All these years, Xiao Ji has been so distant from me and his father. I really thought remarrying his dad would fix things, but in the end..."
Just then, Su Qing's phone rang. She glanced at the screen—it was Xiao Ji calling.
She answered, and his voice came through: "Where did you and Mom go? It's getting late—why aren't you back yet? Dad and I haven't eaten."
Su Qing looked at her mother-in-law, hesitating for a moment. Her mother-in-law, too, fell silent, her attention fixed on the phone in Su Qing's hand.
"Then you and Dad should go out to eat, or order—"