午夜的女人

“Hello, handsome man. Nice to meet you!” said Jiu Jiu.

Su Ruowan corrected her, “Jiu Jiu, call him uncle.”

Li Muchen nodded at Su Ruowan, then shouted to Jing Yanxi, “Come up here!”

Jing Yanxi held the crumpled birthday invitation card and reluctantly went upstairs.

Su Ruowan sat on the sofa, holding Jiu Jiu’s soft hands. Her heart was filled with worry towards Jing Yanxi. Although Li Muchen looked much kinder than Jing Muchen, just now…

After a while, Jing Yanxi went back downstairs. With drooping shoulders, he walked towards Su Ruowan listlessly and said, “Wan Wan… on my birthday, I’ll pick Jiu Jiu up at your house. If you have something to do, just go ahead.” Sadness surged up from the bottom of Su Ruowan’s heart when she saw the depressed look on Jing Yangxi’s face. She reached out her hand and stroked his black hair gently.

Jing Yanxi lowered his head and looked at his little toes that cocked restlessly. Su Ruowan really didn’t have the heart to let him down, so she said, “Yan Yan, Jiu Jiu’s birthday will be on the next day after yours. Come to our house and celebrate her birthday with us, okay?”

Jing Yanxi raised his head and looked at her with his big, clear, and dark eyes. He didn’t smile until he saw her nod.

On Jing Yanxi’s birthday, Su Ruowan got up very early to bake some cookies. She put them into a pink bag and sealed it. Then she said, “Jiu Jiu, this is your gift for Yan Yan. Remember to give it to him when you arrive at his home later. Don’t eat it, okay?”

She thought about the gift for a long time and finally decided to make these cookies she was good at. Jiu Jiu was fond of it, so Yan Yan might also like it.

Jiu Jiu pouted and said, “Mommy, let’s go together.”

“Jiu Jiu…” Su Ruowan sat down, straightened Jiu Jiu’s white chiffon dress, and tied the pink ribbon around her waist into a bowknot. “I have something to do today. So can you go there on my behalf?”

“No.” Jiu Jiu shook her head, reached out her hand, and wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks. “Mommy… let’s go together, please. I don’t want to go there alone.”

Su Ruowan persuaded her, “Today is Yan Yan’s birthday. Remember how nice he is to you. If you don’t go, he will be sad. Do you want him to feel sad? Besides, our birthday gift is ready.”

“No,” Jiu Jiu replied with a frown. Her tearful face was full of reluctance. “Mommy, let’s go together.”

Su Ruowan felt helpless. She held Jiu Jiu in her arms, and wiped her tears while still pacifying her. Even when Jing Yanxi arrived, Jiu Jiu was still sobbing. She tightly wrapped her arms around Su Ruowan’s neck, unwilling to go downstairs.

Su Ruowan had no choice but to go downstairs with the little girl in her arms.

When they got downstairs, she put Jiu Jiu down in the back seat and was about to step back. “Mommy… Boo-hoo!” Jiu Jiu quickly wrapped her arms around Su Ruowan’s neck again and burst into tears.

Su Ruowan sighed, beginning to regret her decision. She had planned to celebrate the two children’s birthday together on Jiu Jiu’s birthday. As for Jing Yanxi’s birthday party, the Jing family must have invited many guests, especially children. As one of them, she thought Jiu Jiu wouldn’t be too conspicuous. She didn’t feel uncomfortable letting Jiu Jiu go to Jing Yanxi’s birthday party because she knew that Jing Muchen already believed that she had a husband the last time they met at the kindergarten. Besides, letting Jiu Jiu go also alleviated her regret that she had to turn down the little boy’s invitation.

But now… Seeing Jiu Jiu’s swollen eyes from crying made her heart ache. She didn’t want Jiu Jiu to face strangers alone at such a young age.

Jing Yanxi frowned and looked at Jiu Jiu awkwardly. “Wan Wan, I’m so sad to see Jiu Jiu crying like this. What should we do?”

He was dressed in a white suit, and a red bowtie was tied around his neck. His hair was gelled and set into an off-center hairstyle, revealing his forehead. With his white teeth and red lips, he looked very handsome.

Lao Zhou glanced at his watch and suggested, “Miss Su, I think you should get in the car too. Let’s go there together first.”

Su Ruowan had no choice. She got into the back seat, then the car started.

Having her mother beside her, holding her hands, Jiu Jiu finally stopped crying on the way to the Jing family’s villa.

Su Ruowan took out soft facial tissue and wiped Jiu Jiu’s red and swollen eyes lovingly. She said in a playful tone, “You’re almost five years old. Why are you still so clingy to me? You want Yan Yan to laugh at you?”

Jiu Jiu sniffed, glanced at Jing Yanxi, and pouted. “Yan Yan won’t laugh at me.” Su Ruowan touched the tip of Jiu Jiu’s nose and said, “Of course! You are the bravest, aren’t you? Don’t worry. Yan Yan will always be by your side. He will protect you, so don’t be afraid, okay?”

Jiu Jiu was still hesitant, but Su Ruowan’s comforting words finally made her nod.

Feeling relieved, Su Ruowan handed Jiu Jiu’s hand to Jing Yanxi and said, “Yan Yan… I’m entrusting her to you today. Can you take care of her for me?”

Jing Yanxi looked at Su Ruowan. Feeling that she trusted him, he was greatly encouraged. He raised his little face and shouted, “I will take good care of Jiu Jiu!” He then kept nodding his head.

“Also…” Su Ruowan thought for a while and continued, “Jiu Jiu, be polite to adults, and… don’t talk about Daddy Hclian and me, okay?”

Lao Zhou drove fast and steadily, so they soon arrived at the Jing family’s villa.

Su Ruowan carried Jiu Jiu out of the car and said, “Jiu Jiu, be a good girl, okay? Go inside with Yan Yan. You can see me after he blows his birthday candles.” Jiu Jiu glanced at Su Ruowan reluctantly and walked towards the door with the bag of gift in her hand. Jing Yanxi was holding her tightly.

Lao Zhou rang the doorbell. After someone responded from the inside, the door opened automatically, and two little figures walked in step by step.

Su Ruowan watched the receding backs of the two children until the door closed. All of a sudden, she wanted to cry, feeling a little empty in her heart. Lao Zhou sat back in the driver’s seat and started the car.

Su Ruowan said, “Lao Zhou, I’m sorry. Can you please send me back? I left something at home.”

Lao Zhou nodded and started to back the car. But all of a sudden, they heard two beeps from behind. He looked back and said, “It’s the Jing family’s car. It’s blocking the way..”