novelraw Chapter 431: From now on, live a good life!
Chapter 431: From now on, live a good life!
That night, Le Tong followed Ji Rui, meeting many people and hearing numerous topics she rarely touched upon.She knew very well that Ji Rui was helping her expand her social circle, so she silently remembered those people and carefully pondered over the topics, marking the parts she needed to research more once she returned home.
Baobao was still recovering, and his sleep schedule was precise, so a little past eight, Ji Rui bid farewell to the host of the banquet with Le Tong and Baobao.
Back at Le Tong’s house, both Baobao and Ji Rui were sent off to shower by Le Tong, while she went to the kitchen to cook noodles. When she brought it out, the little one was sitting on his daddy’s lap, whispering something funny.
"Hungry, aren’t you? It’s getting late; how about a simple bowl of noodles?"
"Sure! Baobao loves mommy’s noodles the most!"
Baobao quickly let go of Ji Rui, slipped off barefoot, dragged a little stool over, and started slurping the noodles.
Ji Rui seemed quite hungry too, picked up a bowl, and followed Baobao’s example, making slurping sounds.
"Tsk, like father like son!"
Le Tong casually picked up her phone and took several snaps of the father and son’s hearty eating.
After taking the photos, Le Tong sent them to Ji Rui and then picked up her noodles to eat.
After finishing the noodles, Ji Rui sat on the sofa browsing through documents, while Le Tong washed the dishes and Baobao wandered around the house, supposedly to digest.
After finally getting Baobao to bed, Le Tong showered, and in the living room, Ji Rui was still reading a document. Seeing her come out, he closed the document, gestured at her to come over.
Le Tong assumed he wanted to discuss business, so she sat beside him with a serious expression.
"Take a look at this!" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on N0velFire.ɴet
Ji Rui’s face looked the same as usual, calm and without any emotion, though there was a bit of weariness. However, his unique charisma made Le Tong inexplicably feel at ease.
"What is it?"
Le Tong took the zipped bag, not in a hurry to open it, looking at the man with confusion.
"Open it and see." Ji Rui gestured with his chin, indicating for Le Tong to look.
Curiously, Le Tong opened the zipper, reached in, and pulled out first a plastic wristband.
The wristband, which seemed aged at first glance, clearly had the basic details like Baobao’s birth date, birth weight, and height written on it.
Seeing the wristband, Le Tong’s hands couldn’t help but shake a little.
"You went to get it back?" Le Tong’s voice trembled a bit, raising her slightly reddened eyes to look at Ji Rui.
"Yes." Ji Rui extended his hand, wrapping her slightly trembling hand in both of his large palms.
"Baobao is the crystallization of our love, right?!"
With deep eyes, Ji Rui fixed his gaze on Le Tong’s eyes.
Le Tong’s eyes reddened a bit more. So, this man knew her worries. Or perhaps, this was something he also avoided?
"Hmm!"
Although both knew it was a lie, Le Tong and Ji Rui felt it was the best protection for Baobao.
Ji Rui released her hand, gently pulled her into an embrace with one arm around her shoulder, and picked up the box with the hand and footprints printed on it with the other. "Baobao’s hands are so small, and his feet so short!"
Le Tong took the box with tears in her eyes, emotionally caressing the little hand and footprints on it.
"I thought these had all been thrown away."
On the third day of Baobao’s birth, he was taken away, and none of the items related to Baobao were left with Le Tong by the hospital. In fact, she didn’t even know the hospital had preserved hand and footprints for Baobao.
It’s probably because they feared she’d keep them as evidence of the mother-son relationship and cause trouble.
"Theoretically, it should’ve been given to me, but they didn’t at that time, and I didn’t ask."
Reflecting on it, Ji Rui realized his mind was entirely occupied by Ji Family matters back then. Baobao, to him, was merely a tool to secure the position of Ji Family’s president. His attention wasn’t on the little one; as long as what was handed to him was undoubtedly his son, nothing else mattered.
Now, he realized that he had missed something precious over the past few years.
Le Tong kept silent, perhaps also remembering how Baobao was not favored in Ji Rui’s place back then.
"Le Tong, from now on, the three of us will live well together, okay?"
Ji Rui’s words were almost a veiled proposal. The usually sharp Le Tong, at this moment, was filled with the grievances and hardships Baobao had suffered over the years, so she didn’t listen carefully, just dazedly and passively nodded her head.
"Okay!"
Ji Rui’s eyes sparkled with a hint of delight, and he reached out to pull her into his arms. However, upon seeing her absent-minded expression, it was clear her mind wasn’t there.
Ji Rui showed a bitter smile, raised his hand to gently wipe the moisture from the corner of her eyes with his fingertip.
"Le Tong, believe me, I won’t let you and Baobao suffer anymore or endure any grievances."
Ji Rui spoke softly, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
Le Tong, still immersed in her memories, responded simply to his words.
"I didn’t."
She actually wanted to say she hadn’t suffered or endured any grievance. In her view, even if she had suffered, it was what she deserved!
It was just Baobao who suffered so much, all because he had such a selfish mom.
Ji Rui stared at her, slowly understanding from her face the expression of pain and self-blame.
"Le Tong, don’t think too much. You are not wrong! You are a good daughter, and a good mom!"
Ji Rui held her tightly in his arms, his face lightly rubbing against her soft hair, stroking it tenderly.
This woman always moved him more than anyone else.
Whether it was anger or being touched!
Le Tong buried her head in his chest, at first without any movement, and Ji Rui didn’t say anything, just quietly held her.
After a while, Ji Rui felt the head in his arms move, and Le Tong’s hand slipped under his armpit, gently wrapping around his back.
Suddenly, something filled up within Ji Rui, so full and bloated. This feeling of fulfillment was unfamiliar to him but not unwelcome. On the contrary, he found it incredibly enchanting.
"Ji Rui, I’m not a good mom..."
The head in his arms restlessly rubbed a few times, and then Ji Rui heard Le Tong’s tearful complaint.
"You are! Baobao told me you are!" Ji Rui softly reassured with confidence.
"I’m not! I’m not!"
Le Tong’s voice seemed uncontrollably raised, and soon, Ji Rui felt his chest becoming warm and wet.
Was she crying?!
"Baby, it’s okay to cry, I’m here, don’t be afraid!" Ji Rui said tenderly, gently patting her back to comfort her.