DLRC – Chapter 46 Comforting My Son

Yu Wei was beside herself with worry, her voice anxious and hurried. “Huihui, what’s wrong? Why did you come out? Weren’t you waiting for me at home? Hm? What happened?”

The moment Yu Hui saw Yu Wei, his little heart—adrift and unanchored—finally found some semblance of relief. But the lingering sadness still outweighed the joy of seeing his mother.

He couldn’t stop sobbing softly. In a flash, he threw himself into Yu Wei’s arms and began gasping for breath, like a fish that had been swept ashore gasping for air, only to be thrown back into the sea—finally able to breathe again.

He was still crying so heartbreakingly, as if he were about to cry out his liver and lungs. Yu Wei’s heart twisted into a knot.

How long had it been since her well-behaved son last cried? He’d been emotionally stable lately—just last night, he’d laughed and told her he wanted to eat spring rolls in the morning. So how had things suddenly regressed so drastically?

Yu Wei’s heart pounded violently, her panic and unease rising and falling with his sobs.

She looked up, seeking answers from Du Yuerong, who stood nearby. Their eyes met, and Du Yuerong pursed her lips and said speechlessly, “What kind of mother are you? Your son nearly cried himself to death at home.”

Yu Wei’s heart dropped to the floor, already suspended in worry, now plummeting even further.

“Wh-what happened to my son…?”

“You haven’t been home all day, and your door lock’s broken. Your son thought you abandoned him. He was absolutely heartbroken!”

Feeling her son’s still-chilled little body in her arms, Yu Wei’s heart ached terribly. She silently cursed herself for being so careless.

She’d been so caught up worrying about whether she could keep her dessert shop, she’d completely forgotten that her son was still at home waiting for her.

Truly…

She gently patted his thin, helpless shoulders, whispering softly to comfort him. “Baby, my sweet boy, Huihui, don’t cry. Mommy’s here now. I didn’t abandon you, okay? Don’t cry anymore…”

It hurt to listen to him. His little body trembled pitifully, his voice choked and babyish as he sobbed, helplessly calling, “Mommy, Mommy…”

“Mommy’s here, don’t cry, sweetheart. I’m here, I’ve always been here. Don’t be scared.”

Du Yuerong had no patience for the emotional reunion between mother and son. Her eyelids were already drooping from exhaustion. As she turned to head upstairs to sleep, she remembered she still had the new keys in her pocket. She took them out and handed them over.

“Here. I replaced your lock—cost me six yuan. These are the keys.”

Yu Wei quickly reached out to take the keys, thanking her profusely, but Du Yuerong had already turned and walked off. Yu Wei watched her retreating figure all the way up the stairs until she disappeared from view.

Her son was still crying. Though his shoulders weren’t shaking as violently as before, it was clear he was still deeply upset.

Yu Wei sighed, knowing that after what had happened today, Yu Hui would remain anxious for quite a while.

She gathered him up in her arms. The soft little guy drooped against her shoulder, his tiny hands curled into fists. After rubbing his sore, swollen eyes a few times, he finally stopped crying.

“Mommy…”

His eyes were sore from all the crying and too tired to open. Pitifully, he kept them closed and nestled into Yu Wei’s arms. His body slowly began to warm up, and the gentle motion of her walking brought him a much-needed sense of security.

“I’m sorry, Huihui. Mommy’s here. I’ve always been here.”

Yu Wei took out the keys and prepared to open the door, only to find it hadn’t been locked. The familiar old lock had been replaced, the old one discarded on the ground and a new one quietly installed.

She sighed, bent down—one hand holding Yu Hui—and tossed the old lock into the trash before carrying her son into the living room, nudging the door closed behind them.

The room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Yu Wei set her son down in a chair by the dining table, but the moment she stood up, he clung tightly to her neck, refusing to let go.

“Mommy…”

“Mommy’s going to make you breakfast. Is my little Huihui hungry?”

“Mommy…” Yu Hui didn’t reply. He just stared at her, trying to convey all his sorrow and helplessness with his eyes.

Fortunately, Yu Wei understood—and her heart ached all over again.

“Alright, let Mommy check if our Huihui’s little tummy is empty.” Yu Wei smiled gently as she reached to lift his shirt. His soft, pale little belly was exposed to the air.

Yu Wei gently stroked it. The belly instinctively shrank inward. Yu Hui trembled slightly, sniffled, and his eyes and nose were still red.

“Mommy, my tummy’s hungry…”

Hearing her son’s voice again after so long made Yu Wei incredibly emotional. She gave his warm belly a few more gentle rubs, then patted it lightly. “Mommy sees it! Huihui’s tummy is completely flat! I’ll go make you breakfast, okay? Do you want a fried egg? And spring rolls—how about Mommy makes spring rolls today?”

Yu Hui thought for a moment, let go of her neck, and gave a small nod. Then he raised a hand to rub his eyes with the back of it.

“Okay.”

The good mood she’d started the day with had been completely destroyed by that so-called new landlord. Especially seeing her son cry like this—Yu Wei was absolutely furious!

Tomorrow, she was going to find out exactly which jerk had bought her shop!

She was livid.

That morning’s breakfast was especially lavish. To soothe her little son’s tender heart, Yu Wei decided not to open the shop today. She’d stay home with Huihui to comfort his emotional wounds—and maybe settle her own rollercoaster of a heart while she was at it.

No one knew how long it took, but Yu Hui’s mood finally stabilized.

His once fair and soft cheeks were now streaked with dried tears. After Yu Wei washed his face with warm water, faint marks still remained.

Mother and son lay in bed, snuggled under the blankets. Huihui wasn’t warm today—not the little heater he usually was—so Yu Wei decided she had to help him reclaim his title!

Huihui lay in his mother’s arms. His eyes, dry and sore from crying so long in the morning, remained closed. He relied on touch to feel her presence.

And now, nestled in Yu Wei’s arms, he could feel her more clearly than ever. The loneliness from earlier was finally beginning to fade.

In the stillness of the room, Yu Hui suddenly spoke. His voice no longer soft and babyish, but hoarse and pitiful.

“Mommy…”

“Hmm?” Yu Wei gently rubbed his back. He was warm now, but his mood was still low—something she could feel clearly.

“Mommy, did you not want me anymore this morning?”

Yu Wei quickly denied it, desperate to squash that dangerous thought. “No, sweetheart, don’t think that. Mommy just went out to buy groceries, and then the landlord uncle wanted to talk to me, so I stopped by the dessert shop. I didn’t abandon you.”

It was a long time before Yu Hui asked again, “Then Mommy… can you not leave me home alone for that long again? Please?”

Yu Wei’s heart melted into a puddle. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and the urge to cry welled up all over again.

She didn’t even know who Huihui’s biological father was—but suddenly, she desperately wanted to know. What kind of bastard leaves behind such a sweet child? If not a bastard, then what?

Still, she forced herself to calm down and gently promised, “Okay. Mommy won’t leave you alone for that long again. I’ll come home faster next time and make you a delicious breakfast, alright?”

“Okay…”

Huihui finally calmed down. He knew he’d overreacted that morning, but the emotions had overwhelmed him—something beyond his control.

Being locked in a closed room had left a physiological shadow on him. A darkness that, most likely, would stay with him for life.

Which was why he murmured again, anxiously, “Mommy, I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

“That’s not true. Mommy will always love you. You’ll always be my precious baby. Will you forgive me for this morning?”

After a long pause, Huihui nuzzled her neck and said generously, “I forgive you.”

“Thank you, my sweet boy.”

Finally soothed by his mother’s loving words, Huihui fell asleep without realizing it. He must have been truly exhausted.

It was already 10:30. Yu Wei decided she’d let Huihui nap for another thirty minutes, then wake him for lunch and head out to open the shop.

Yu Wei couldn’t sleep. She had too much on her mind—today was clearly destined to be an emotionally heavy day.

Lunch was also bountiful. Around noon, Song Xia came home, and Yu Wei went over to get some groceries.

After chatting briefly, Yu Wei quickly excused herself. She didn’t want Huihui to worry about her absence.

The little guy was sitting at the table, drawing. The pens were ones Yu Wei had found in a drawer. Huihui hadn’t known about the new set she’d bought, which was why he hadn’t drawn anything that morning.

He’d never been taught how to draw. In the past, he would just scribble for fun. After Yu Wei introduced him to some art books, he started copying the simple illustrations from them.

The drawings were… well, strange. But he was a child, and children had vivid imaginations. It was perfectly normal for their art to be abstract.

Not wanting to stifle his creativity, Yu Wei always praised him generously whenever he proudly showed her his “masterpieces.”

“Huihui, you’re amazing! You could become a little artist and earn money to support Mommy!”

“Support Mommy…”

Huihui blinked. His throat was still hoarse from the morning’s crying and hadn’t recovered yet. This raspy voice would probably stick around for a while.

He seriously thought about it: Wow, I can earn money by drawing? Just like Mommy earns money selling cakes? I can support her too…

Children’s emotions come and go quickly. Yu Hui’s maturity made Yu Wei both proud and heartbroken.

Just a few hours of comforting, and he was back to normal. But his clinginess had intensified—he seemed unwilling to be separated from her even for a second.

…

Lunch was ready by 12:30. They had twice-cooked pork with green peppers, glass noodle soup, and tender chicken braised with chestnuts and mushrooms.

After the meal, Yu Hui suddenly remembered something very important!

“Mommy! Gugu Jiji has been hungry all morning!”

Without waiting for a response, he dashed to the balcony—but it was locked! Yu Wei hadn’t had a chance to unlock it yet.

He shouted anxiously, “Mommy! I can’t open the door!”

Yu Wei, still washing dishes, grabbed the key and quickly went over. The door was locked mainly for Huihui’s safety—to prevent any chance of him falling from the balcony.

Though he was usually well-behaved and didn’t climb, you never knew. Accidents could happen. So when he was alone at home, Yu Wei would always lock the balcony door.

She unlocked it, and Huihui darted out. But the birdcage was hung too high—he couldn’t reach it. His little face scrunched up as he called again, “Mommy…”

Yu Wei helplessly went over, brought the birdcage down, and placed it on the floor. Only then did Huihui beam happily. As he picked up the cage, he grumbled, “Mommy, don’t hang it so high next time—I can’t reach it.”

Yu Wei chuckled. “Okay, next time I’ll put it on the floor.”

Satisfied, Huihui brought Gugu Jiji into the living room to feed them.

He went to the kitchen to grab some millet, but when he opened the cupboard, he saw there was barely any left.

Poor Gugu Jiji—starved all morning and now not even enough food for lunch.

He gathered the last of the millet—barely enough—but still suitable for two tiny bird bellies.

“Mommy, Gugu Jiji’s millet is all gone!”

“Alright, Mommy will buy more later.”

Huihui ran back and squatted in front of the birdcage. He opened the door and eagerly stroked the birds’ heads. Once they happily nuzzled his fingers, he was satisfied.

“Mommy, Gugu Jiji still likes me.” They didn’t stop playing with him even after missing a meal.

“Of course. Huihui is sweet, well-behaved, and adorable—Gugu Jiji will always love you.”

Huihui’s little hand paused slightly, a bit bashful now. Yu Wei checked the time and called out to her son.

“Come on, sweetheart. Time to open the shop.”

Huihui patted his hands clean and went to wash up before waving to his chirping birds.

“Bye-bye, Gugu Jiji! I’m going with Mommy to open the shop!”

Yu Wei took his warm little hand in hers—it was soft and toasty again. Her little heater had returned.

She gently squeezed his chubby hand. Huihui really is the perfect winter essential. So warm.

Once outside, a chilly breeze slipped down Yu Wei’s collar. She bent down and picked Huihui up. Instantly, her body felt warmer.

“You really are Mommy’s little thermal jacket!”

Yu Wei leaned in to kiss his face, then his warm little neck. She kissed him over and over until the little guy giggled uncontrollably before she finally let go.

“Mommy… that tickles…”

“That’s the point!” Yu Wei rubbed his neck with her hair, and the sound of her son’s cheerful giggles echoed down the street.

_{The FL is definitely being hypocritical here — she forgot her own son, yet turns around and blames the father and even the new landlord. Honestly, I don’t like her in this moment.}