Listening to Su Banxia, Fang Shiqing couldn't help but tease, "The way you say that makes it sound like you're so old!"
"After all, I'm a mother now. Shiqing, when it comes to liking someone, you have to learn to hold on tight."
Su Banxia said sincerely.
Fang Shiqing pouted, a faint smile on her face, her eyes full of anticipation. When it came to Yan Xin, she was truly smitten. Through their back-and-forth interactions, she had genuinely fallen for that gentle and refined man.
Not getting a response from the other end of the line, Su Banxia knew what was on her mind. She cleared her throat, exchanged a brief goodbye, and hung up.
The hospital was a bit boring. With nothing else to do, Su Banxia picked up a magazine nearby and flipped through it casually. Drowsiness gradually set in, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up again, it was already completely dark. Looking at the sky outside, Su Banxia stretched comfortably.
She had been living a bit of a hazy, indulgent life lately, but she was thoroughly enjoying it.
Not long after, the hospital room door was gently pushed open, and Su Guoguo and Su Hao stood before her in unison.
"Mom, are you feeling better now?"
Su Guoguo asked in her childish voice, looking at her.
Surprised by the sudden appearance of her two little ones, Su Banxia let out a soft smile and shook her head. "Mom's fine. I'll be discharged soon."
"If Uncle裴 bullies you again, my brother and I won't let him off easy."
Su Guoguo snorted, her tone full of dissatisfaction with Pei Shaoze.
Su Banxia was taken aback, a smile spreading across her face. After all these years, she hadn't raised these two little darlings for nothing.
"Why can't you take better care of yourself no matter where you are?"
Unlike Su Guoguo's gentleness, Su Hao was cold and stern, his words carrying a hint of reproach, though the meaning was the same.
Hearing her son's complaint, Su Banxia felt a pang of guilt. "This time, Mom didn't take care of herself, and I made you worry."
Su Hao turned his face away, a bit displeased. "Uncle裴 said you can be discharged tomorrow."
"Hmm?"
Su Banxia gasped, her face lighting up with obvious joy.
Her medical reports had shown no issues, but Pei Shaoze had insisted she stay in the hospital, refusing to let her leave until she was fully recovered.
"After one more checkup tomorrow, you can be discharged."
As the mother and children chatted, Pei Shaoze walked in with a cold expression, perfectly matching his usual demeanor.
"Shaoze."
Su Banxia forced a smile and greeted him.
"I had Aunt Li make this soup especially for you. It's very nutritious."
Pei Shaoze placed the lunchbox by her bedside, his face devoid of any extra expression throughout.
Su Banxia thanked him, took the lunchbox, and inhaled the fragrant aroma, feeling a wave of comfort.
Su Hao caught every little move Su Banxia made. The small child's face showed a flicker of unusual emotion. He paused, then glanced back at Pei Shaoze.
The two, one big and one small, walked out of the hospital room one after the other. Su Hao stopped in front of Pei Shaoze and asked seriously, "How much do you like Mom?"
"Why the sudden question?"
Pei Shaoze looked at the little guy with interest.
"Even though that woman can be a bit dense sometimes, she's not stupid. If you bully her, I'll never forgive you."
Su Hao said coldly, his face stern.
Hearing Su Hao's words, Pei Shaoze couldn't help but take a deep breath. "Your personality is a bit like your mother's, isn't it?"
"How much do you like Mom?"
Su Hao ignored his teasing and pressed on.
"Don't all my recent actions speak for themselves?"
Pei Shaoze replied with a question instead of an answer, a faint smile on his face.
Su Hao turned away, his eyes showing complex emotions. "Even though Guoguo and I don't really want Mom to remarry, since she's chosen you, please take good care of her from now on."
His tone was like that of a little adult, out of place for his age.
Pei Shaoze smiled. "I won't. That's my promise to you."
He had truly fallen for Su Banxia. Every move, every word, every smile of that woman deeply tugged at his heart.
With his promise, Su Hao finally let out a sigh of relief and walked back into the hospital room.
Su Guoguo and Su Banxia were chatting about something, laughing heartily, the atmosphere in the room warm and harmonious.
"Brother, Mom just said she thinks she's gained a lot of weight. Do you think Mom's gotten fat?"
Seeing him come in, Su Guoguo asked seriously.
"Yeah."
Su Hao nodded coldly, his demeanor aloof.
Seeing him like that, Su Guoguo couldn't help but pout. Every time she talked to her brother, he was like this—so boring!
Unlike Su Guoguo, Su Banxia's attention was drawn to the striking similarity in the expressions of Pei Shaoze and Su Hao.
She didn't know what the father and son had talked about outside, but when they came in, she could clearly sense a strong, shared emotion on their faces.
"Have you been slacking on your homework while I've been away?"
Su Banxia put on a stern face and asked somewhat seriously.
"Of course not. Uncle裴 has been doing homework with us these past few days."
Su Guoguo reported everything.
Su Banxia couldn't help but glance at him again. The look in Pei Shaoze's eyes was unreadable.
The four of them chatted in the hospital room for a long time before the two children reluctantly left with the driver.
Soon, only Pei Shaoze and Su Banxia were left in the room. Without the children as a buffer, the atmosphere felt a bit awkward.
Su Banxia cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Thank you for taking care of them during this time."
"Hao Hao is a lot like me."
Pei Shaoze's words made Su Banxia's heart sink unexpectedly.
"Is... is that so?"
Su Banxia smiled, her face clearly uneasy.
Pei Shaoze ignored her reaction, stepped forward, and lay down beside her fully clothed. "I heard that when you were in France, Lin Tongze took good care of you?"
"Huh?"
Su Banxia nodded reluctantly. "Back in France, Tongze and I had a deep bond. He looked out for me a lot."
"You don't need that anymore."
Pei Shaoze said coldly.
Su Banxia's heart tightened. Before she could say anything, Pei Shaoze's low, captivating voice reached her ears again. "You have me now."