The weather in Mo City was getting colder and colder by day.
Outside the window, snowflakes drifted in the air.
Recently, the butler had been sending and picking Xie Yumu up from the kindergarten. Xu Youyou was worried Xie Yumu would be bored at home so they thought it was best to let him return to the kindergarten.
When Xu Youyou went downstairs, she saw Mo Shenbai and Xie Yumu were already sitting at the dining table. One was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper while the other was slowly drinking milk. It was a rather harmonious scene.
When Xie Yumu saw Xu Youyou, he called out in a crisp voice, “Good morning, Godmother.”
Mo Shenbai raised his head immediately. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Mr. Bai. Good morning, Mumu,” Xu Youyou said as she walked over to the dining table with light steps.
“Godmother, you’re too biased. I greeted you first,” Xie Yumu complained, feeling jealous. After spending time with his godmother, he had fallen in love with his cute godmother. Mo Shenbai’s position in his heart was at stake now.
Xu Youyou said jokingly, “He’s old. We have to respect our elders.”
“Oh,” Xie Yumu said and nodded obediently.
Mo Shenbai cocked an eyebrow and asked, “I’m old?”
With Xie Yumu’s presence, Xu Youyou said fearlessly, “Well, you’re indeed much older than I am.”
Mo Shenbai scoffed before he said, “Heh! I’ll remember this.”
The helper served breakfast, and the trio ate their breakfast.
After breakfast, Mo Shenbai did not even speak to her before he left for the company.
Xu Youyou did not have classes in the morning so she sent Xie Yumu to the kindergarten. She was afraid he would be cold so she wrapped a blue scarf around him.
Mo Shenbai was not around so Xie Yumu said boldly, “Godmother, Godfather has such a bad temper. When I grow up, you should divorce him. I’ll marry you! I promise to treat you well!”
Xie Yumu bravely tried to poach Xu Youyou now that Mo Shenbai was not around.
Xu Youyou was amused by these words. She said, “When you grow up, I’ll be an old woman. Will you still marry me?”
Xie Yumu said seriously, “Yes! Godmother, you’re very young and very beautiful. All my classmates thought you were my sister!”
“How eloquent,” Xu Youyou said as she pinched Xie Yumu’s cheeks, “Don’t think that you don’t have to go to the kindergarten just because you said that. Get in the car.”
Xie Yumu’s attempt to curry favor failed so he could only climb into the backseat of the car dejectedly.
The kindergarten Yun Youwei enrolled Xie Yumu in was just an ordinary kindergarten. It was quite far from the Moon Pavilion, and the journey took almost an hour.
When they arrived, Xu Youyou carried Xie Yumu out of the. She could only carry him briefly since the addition of the heavy winter clothes made him heavier. She held his hand and was about to walk to the entrance of the kindergarten when she caught a glimpse of a man dressed in a long white coat. He was tall, elegant, and eye-catching.
Upon seeing the man, Xie Yumu instinctively hid behind Xu Youyou, seeking a sense of security.
Xu Youyou wrapped her arm around Xie Yumu’s shoulders to reassure him. Then, she looked at Xie Tingxi and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“It’s going to snow in two days. I bought a children’s duvet for his naptime in the kindergarten.”
Xie Tingxi handed the bag in his hand to Xu Youyou.
Xu Youyou did not take it. “Everything is provided in the kindergarten.”
Xie Tingxi glanced at the kindergarten’s shabby entrance behind him before he said, “Even if he’s not by my side, I don’t want him to suffer.”
In Xie Tingxi’s opinion, Xie Yumu could have attended a prestigious kindergarten and enjoyed the best treatment.
Xu Youyou was silent for a moment before she took the bag.
Xie Tingxi pushed the glasses on his face up before he placed his hands on his back. He looked at Xie Yumu and said, “Daddy will be a little busy for a few days. I’ll visit you at your godfather’s house in a few days.”
Xie Yumu hid behind Xu Youyou and did not reply.
Xie Tingxi did not mind. He straightened his back and nodded at Xu Youyou before he walked to the Cayenne that was parked by the side of the road.
Xu Youyou looked at Xie Tingxi’s back and thought that he was a person with a split personality. One moment, he was cold and heartless, but in another moment, he was gentle and refined.
Xie Yumu tugged on Xu Youyou’s sleeve at this time.
Xu Youyou looked down and met Xie Yumu’s curious gaze.
“Godmother, is he really my father?”
Xu Youyou did not hide anything from Xie Yumu. She nodded and squatted down as she said, “Mumu, he’s your biological father. However, if you really don’t want to live with him, it doesn’t matter. You can stay with your godfather and your godmother.”
Xie Yumu lowered his gaze and did not speak.
Xu Youyou did not know how to comfort Xie Yumu. In the end, she only patted his head and said, “Let’s go. Otherwise, you’ll be late.”
…
It rained in the evening.
When Xu Youyou returned from the university, Mo Shenbai was not back yet.
The butler had gone to pick Xie Yumu up from the kindergarten.
Xu Youyou took a shower and changed into her home clothes before going to the studio to paint. She was so engrossed in painting that she did not realize the door to the studio had been pushed open.
Mo Shenbai wore a pair of golden-rimmed glasses. It was the first time he had worn a pair of glasses. He was dressed in a pair of dark pants that accentuated his long legs, and instead of a dark shirt, he wore a white shirt today. The top few buttons were unbuttoned, revealing a little of his collarbone and neck. He looked very refined and elegant.
When Xu Youyou saw Mo Shenbai, she could not help but gulp as she thought to herself, ‘Is this 1.89 cm tall man who’s 9 years older than I am my husband?’
Based on Xu Youyou’s expression, Mo Shenbai knew his choice of attire was not wrong.
“Mr. Bai… A-are you near-sighted?” Xu Youyou said as she averted her gaze.
‘No, I can’t look at him anymore. My little heart can’t take it. He’s too handsome!’
“No,” Mo Shenbai replied. His dark eyes behind the glasses were sparkling, and a faint smile could be seen on his face.
Xu Youyou’s heart thumped wildly in her chest as she snuck a look at him.
‘He’s really so handsome!’
Mo Shenbai silently observed Xu Youyou’s reaction. His voice was gentle and affectionate as he said, “Little treasure, come here.”
His low and husky voice was bewitching.
Xu Youyou bit her lower lip, wondering if she should go over.
“Do you want me to come over and carry you?” Mo Shenbai asked.
Xu Youyou no longer hesitated upon hearing these words. She rose to her feet and walked over immediately. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and when she looked at him, she felt like her heart was going to melt. If he had dressed like this the first time they met, she would have fallen in love with him immediately.
Xu Youyou stopped one step away from Mo Shenbai.
Mo Shenbai reached out and held her slender waist, pulling her into his arms. He lowered his head; the tips of their noses were almost touching. His low voice was seductive as he asked, “Do you still think I’m old?”
Xu Youyou looked at his face. His skin seemed even more flawless up close. His eyes seemed to shine brighter behind the glasses as well. His eyelashes were long and thick. She did not hesitate as she shook her head.
‘How are you old? You’re a young man! Like the handsome boy-next-door that girls fall in love with!’
Xu Youyou said, “You look very good like this. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re younger than I am…”
