During Xiao Bao's process of learning to speak, no one ever deliberately taught him to say "dad."
The word "dad" was mixed in with a jumble of words like cats, dogs, flowers, and plants, learned from picture cards. Lin Wan had never heard him use that word. Until one day, a little girl of the same age downstairs, whose family had entrusted her to take care of her, was sitting on the carpet playing with building blocks. Lin Wan overheard their conversation.
The little girl went on and on about how wonderful her father was, and then asked, "What about your dad?"
Xiao Bao responded in the most natural tone, "We don't have a dad."
Lin Wan turned around, and the tears immediately fell.
She thought about it all day, then said to her two-year-old son, "Baby, you also have a dad, everyone has a dad." Xiao Bao, looking confused, asked, "Where is he?"
Lin Wan hugged her son tightly, "Dad is sick, and it will take a long time for him to get better. When you're a bit older, you'll be able to see him."
In the days that followed, Xiao Bao would occasionally mention his dad, but after a month or so, he stopped mentioning it altogether. Lin Wan didn't know if he had forgotten, or if he was deliberately not saying it. It wasn't until breakfast today that she decided to bring it up again, tentatively telling her son, "The new friend from yesterday is your dad."
Xiao Bao was very surprised, his mouth hung open for a long time, and his eyes were wide, frozen in a daze. Lin Wan wiped his mouth with a tissue, then gently asked, "What's wrong? Your dad's here, aren't you happy?"
There was no sign of joy on Xiao Bao's face. He lowered his head, rubbed his little hands, hesitating before he spoke, "Dad's not good." Lin Wan was puzzled, and he mumbled, "Niu Niu, and they said that dads and moms sleep in one room, not with the kids. Dad also bullies mom. If that's the case, I don't want a dad."
Looking at her son's confused face, Lin Wan was both amused and shocked. She patiently explained, "Your dad is different from theirs. He has his own place to sleep, not with us. And he doesn't bully mom."
"Really?"
"Yes," she said, pulling her son onto her lap. "Didn't the other kids tell you about the good things about having a dad? Like, dads are strong and can hold you without getting tired, and they can play games with you, kick balls..."
Seeing that Xiao Bao was unresponsive, she teased him, "Well, I'll go tell your dad that Xiao Bao doesn't want him anymore."
Immediately, Xiao Bao grabbed her arm, shaking his head frantically.
Lin Wan smiled and ruffled his hair. "Xiao Bao is really sensitive. Now you'll have one more person who loves you. Isn't that great?"
Xiao Bao stretched his arms and hugged his mom's waist, his small face pressed against her, whispering, "I want mom. I also want a dad. If I can only have one, I still want mom."
Lin Wan hugged her son's small body, feeling a twinge of sorrow in her heart. Her son had never received a father's love, and now, hearing these few words, it seemed he had already convinced himself that having a dad wasn't such a big deal. Who knows? The heart of a child isn't as simple as adults think.
When Lin Wan took Xiao Bao downstairs, Chen Jin was already waiting downstairs, looking fresh and energetic in casual clothes, looking years younger. It seemed as though the four years had not left a trace on him. He first looked at her, smiling gently, and then his gaze dropped to Xiao Bao. His eyes immediately filled with affection, and his voice lifted as though ready to fly, "Xiao Bao, good morning..."
Lin Wan had seen this expression before, but never thought it would be directed at her own child. Xiao Bao didn't share the same enthusiasm as yesterday; he lazily raised his little hand and waved it twice, saying, "Hi, Chen Jin."
Lin Wan gently coughed, and Xiao Bao immediately corrected himself, "Dad."
By the time they spoke, Chen Jin had already walked over quickly. Upon hearing the word, he was visibly stunned, and his expression overflowed with joy. He first cast a grateful glance at Lin Wan, and after her subtle nod, he turned back to Xiao Bao, bent down, and responded excitedly, "Hey, son." Then he extended his hand, "Come on, let Dad give you a hug..."
But Xiao Bao stepped back, hiding behind Lin Wan. Both adults froze, and Chen Jin's smile froze at the corner of his lips, his hand hanging in midair. Lin Wan reacted first, gently patting her son's head to comfort him. She turned to Chen Jin and said, "He needs time to adjust. You need to be patient."
Chen Jin stood up straight, nodding, and responded thoughtfully, "Alright, I'll take it slow."
Chen Jin had arranged for a driver and car with a child safety seat in the back. He carefully placed Xiao Bao in the seat, securing him safely. Lin Wan stroked her son's cheek and asked, "Baby, listen to Dad."
Xiao Bao nodded obediently.
Lin Wan handed her son's small bag to Chen Jin and instructed, "There's water in here. Don't let him drink anything from outside. Don't take him to McDonald's or KFC for lunch, and remember to have him wash his hands before eating..." She added one last piece of advice, "Don't treat him like a three-year-old, think about his feelings."
As the car started, Lin Wan leaned down, waving goodbye to her son. Chen Jin sat next to him, also fortunate to receive her smile. He suddenly had a strange feeling, as if they had never been apart, had gotten married, and had a son. At that moment, Lin Wan seemed just like every other day, sending her husband and son out.
Chen Jin was moved by his own thoughts, his gaze lingering on her.
By the time the car turned the corner and that graceful figure disappeared, Chen Jin finally stretched his aching neck and slowly turned back, only to be met by his son's big, bright eyes. There was curiosity and inquiry in them, as if he had been watching for a while. Those eyes were so familiar, as if she were looking at him, and he couldn't help but get lost in them. But with such a small body, there was an odd sense of mismatch. What was even funnier was that after staring at him for half a second, Xiao Bao quickly averted his gaze.
Chen Jin chuckled and asked, "We were talking fine yesterday. Why are you so distant today?"
Xiao Bao stared at the back of the chair in front of him, responding seriously, "Yesterday you were a friend, today you're a dad."
"Shouldn't you be closer to your dad?"
Xiao Bao looked down at his small hands, thought for a moment, and honestly said, "I don't know."
Chen Jin was at a loss for words. His son didn't know how to interact with his dad. This was his fault. After a brief moment of contemplation, he lifted his son's small face and declared, "Well then, you can still treat me like a friend, just like yesterday, say whatever comes to mind."
Xiao Bao's big eyes lit up, and he asked, "Can I?"
Chen Jin smiled and nodded, "Of course. Just get used to it."
Xiao Bao gladly accepted the suggestion, though he still needed some psychological adjustment. During a moment of silence, Chen Jin asked, "Has your mom ever mentioned me to you?"
Xiao Bao shook his head. Chen Jin's heart sank. Even though he had prepared himself, he couldn't help but feel disappointed and sad. Until he heard Xiao Bao say, "I think she has, but I forgot."
That made him feel a little better. He patted his son's head. What a thoughtful child, even knowing how to comfort his father's wounded heart.
Xiao Bao, completely unaware of the emotional turmoil his father was going through, suddenly asked, "Do you know how to play with Lego? Niu Niu's dad made her a little car."
Chen Jin scoffed and said, "What's so great about that? Your dad can make you a Transformer."
"Transformer?" Xiao Bao perked up.
"Yeah, a Transformer. It transforms, cool and awesome..."
Xiao Bao listened, impressed by his father's imitation, but then couldn't help but be skeptical. "You're not just boasting, are you?"
Chen Jin raised an eyebrow. "Whether I'm boasting or not, you'll find out soon enough."
As they talked, Xiao Bao became less awkward, letting Chen Jin carry him through the crowd. After buying tickets and entering the exhibit hall, Xiao Bao was completely absorbed in the strange-looking fish and would excitedly flail his arms and shout to share his discoveries with the people around him. His curiosity was endless, constantly asking, "What's this? What's that?" Chen Jin patiently answered all his questions and was pleased to see his son's expressions of admiration and awe.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Being a dad felt incredible. He had cousins with children, but he had never been this patient with them. But now, having a son made everything different. Xiao Bao was like a little sun, making him willingly spin around him with joy.
At lunch, in order to build a better relationship with his son, Chen Jin used a little trick. Xiao Bao wanted to eat a burger and chicken wings, so Chen Jin bought a bunch of food from McDonald's and took him to a Chinese restaurant. He made a secret agreement with his son, "This is our little secret, don't tell Mom." Xiao Bao grinned mischievously, nodded, and reached into the paper bag for a chicken wing, using his greasy little fingers to make a pinky swear with him.
After their fusion-style lunch, as they were about to leave, Chen Jin asked to carry Xiao Bao. But Xiao Bao blinked his eyes and softly asked, "Can I sit on your shoulders?"
Chen Jin happily agreed, "Of course."
When Xiao Bao climbed onto his shoulders and got settled, Chen Jin held his hand steady and stood up. He started walking slowly at first, then gradually picked up speed, teasing, "Are you scared?"
The little guy answered brightly, "Not scared."
Chen Jin quickened his pace, and Xiao Bao felt like he was soaring through the air, laughing with glee. The sensation of being so high up was exhilarating, and as they looked down at the people below, Xiao Bao proudly exclaimed, "Dad, I'm taller than them!"
Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Lin Wan was sitting on the bed, peeling a pomelo.
Over the years, her father had been trying hard to make up for everything, doing countless things big and small. She wasn't made of stone, and she was moved. Her feelings for him, which had grown cold over the years, gradually warmed up, and the years of accumulated distance slowly faded away. Her aunt and half-brother had also been incredibly supportive in her daily life. When she was pregnant with Xiao Bao and had little appetite and poor health, her aunt personally cooked various soups to nourish her. She accompanied her to every prenatal checkup, making her feel less lonely and awkward. She even prepared a full set of clothes and supplies for Xiao Bao before he was born. When Lin Wan suffered from postpartum depression, it was her aunt who helped take care of her. After Xiao Bao learned to talk, she taught him to call her "grandma," and her aunt cried tears of joy.
Her brother, Lin Wei, was nine years younger than her, and looked very much like her. They had a close sibling bond, and when he was in high school, he would come over to spend half the day with her every weekend. Now, he was studying at a university far away, but he still called her every week. Xiao Bao really liked his little uncle. In a boy's upbringing, male relatives played an irreplaceable role. With his dad not around, at least he had his grandfather and uncle to fill that gap.