"Back?" Nangong Yehen looked up at the sound of footsteps and asked him.
If he had been paying close enough attention, he would have noticed the flicker of tension on Nangong Yichen's small face.
"Mm." Nangong Yichen responded, his gaze fixed on his right arm.
He was wearing a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, just enough to expose the injured area. Although it was bandaged, seeing the wound still made Nangong Yichen's heart clench.
"Come here." Nangong Yehen beckoned him over, his voice low but lacking the usual coldness.
Nangong Yichen walked over with small steps and asked, "Nangong, your hand won't be crippled, will it?"
Nangong Yehen let out two hearty laughs, raising his arm and rotating it. "It's not that easy to cripple."
Chu Lingzhi, coming downstairs, happened to hear the man's pleasant laughter. She stood at the stairway, watching them with a smile.
No matter how high Nangong Yehen's social status was or how cold he was in front of others, in front of his children, he was always a father. She could tell that Nangong Yehen loved his son. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought her out as soon as he returned to T City and asked her to bring Chu Junyu to live in the manor.
"Daddy..."
Chu Junyu's voice drifted in before he even entered.
Nangong Yehen and Chu Lingzhi looked toward the sound, seeing his graceful figure run in and then throw himself into Nangong Yehen's arms.
"Daddy, I was so worried about you. Does your wound hurt?" Chu Junyu tilted his delicate face up, looking at Nangong Yehen with a pained expression.
His childish voice, along with Nangong Yichen's cold yet concerned gaze, warmed Nangong Yehen's heart. He wrapped his arms around them both and said with a smile, "The wound doesn't hurt anymore. Don't worry."
"Did it bleed a lot? I was so scared."
Nangong Yichen pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. What an act.
Scared? When he shot that person earlier, where was the fear?
"Don't be scared." Nangong Yehen's voice was unusually gentle.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Chu Lingzhi's heart stirred, creating a warm ripple.
Children with parents by their side were truly happy. If her own children could always be this happy, she wouldn't mind being with Nangong Yehen.
Chu Junyu picked up Nangong Yehen's arm, looking at his wound with concern, and even blew on it.
"It must have hurt a lot back then, and there must have been a lot of blood." Chu Junyu pouted, looking like he was about to cry from worry.
Chu Lingzhi couldn't help but smile. If Chu Junyu were a girl, he'd definitely be even better at winning people over.
Nangong Yichen really wanted to pinch Chu Junyu's face. Still putting on an act.
"I'm going upstairs." He couldn't stand watching anymore.
As he reached Chu Lingzhi, Nangong Yichen stopped, looked up at her, and said, "Thank you for saving Nangong."
"Sweetie, you don't need to be so polite with Mommy," Chu Lingzhi said with a smile.
For some reason, seeing him so polite with her made her heart ache.
Nangong Yichen didn't say anything more and walked up the stairs.
Watching his small figure, she always felt he was too cold.
Chu Lingzhi pursed her lips and sighed. "When will you call me Mommy as happily as Junyu does?"
Nangong Yichen, who had reached the door of his room, heard her words. His hand paused on the doorknob, and his clear eyes flickered.
"As long as he's your own son, why does it matter what he calls you?" Nangong Yehen said. That kid had been calling him "Nangong" ever since he started talking.