RYEY – Chapter 154 Testing

When her son was first born, his eyes were still closed, and he could drink her milk. But once he opened his eyes, every time he looked at her, Cheng Qiao could feel the cold indifference in the little fellow’s gaze.

Indifference she could endure, but he even refused to drink her milk. Each time she forced the food into his mouth, he would think of every possible way to spit it out. If he couldn’t, he would break into a wailing cry, his voice filled with despair.

Yet every time Li Le came in to hold him, the corners of the little one’s mouth would actually lift slightly, showing an intimate fondness. Cheng Qiao almost thought Li Le was his real mother.

Cheng Qiao couldn’t sleep. She was clearly exhausted, but when she looked at the baby lying beside her, her heart felt unbearably heavy. She had already begun to suspect that this child, too, might have been reborn.

Since she herself could be reborn, why couldn’t her wronged son? She just didn’t know whether this reborn son had come for gratitude or for revenge. Judging by things so far, it was most likely for revenge.

Regret gnawed at her as she held her aching head. She had only one conviction in her heart: even if her son had come for revenge, she would treat him well this lifetime, to make up for what she owed him in the last.

“Son, your father gave you the name Cheng Li. It means you are the dawn of the Cheng family—you are our hope.”

Little Cheng Li lay still with his eyes closed. He knew Auntie Li Le had gone to prepare food for him. Who would want to listen to this bad mother speak?

“Cheng Li, Mama remembers the foolish things she did in the last life. Back then, I failed you—I let you be harmed when you were only three years old.

So in this life, even if I die, I will protect you until the day you grow up.

Last life, Mama was a fool, always tricked by others. First, your father fell off a cliff to his death, then you drowned in the river. But the truth is—you both were harmed by Xu Laidi.”

Cheng Li’s brows twitched slightly. He really had been reborn, but in his previous life, he only lived until three years old. He hadn’t known many things.

The only thing etched in his memory was his mother’s coldness and dislike toward him. So when he was reborn and saw this same detestable woman as his mother again, he had felt utterly disgusted.

He hadn’t expected that his death in his last life had been murder. His sleepiness was driven away, and he pricked up his ears, listening carefully to Cheng Qiao’s self-talk.

“Later, Mama discovered the truth and strangled Xu Laidi to death. A murderer must pay with their life, so I jumped off the same cliff where your father had fallen. But Heaven gave me another chance to set things right—I, too, was reborn.”

Cheng Li’s eyes flew open, staring at Cheng Qiao in disbelief. This mother, who had been as cold to him as a stranger in their past life, was actually also reborn.

“Son, Mama was too stupid last life. Stupid enough to lose her man, stupid enough to lose her child. This life, I will repay double what I owed you both.”

Cheng Qiao scooped Cheng Li into her arms. His little body stiffened at first, but slowly softened. He longed for affection so badly—if what this mother said was true, he would forgive her.

“Cheng Li, Mama’s milk has special nutrients. If you drink it, you’ll grow strong and be much smarter than ordinary children.”

Because Cheng Qiao had always drunk the well water from her space, her skin and body had reached a flawless state. When her son was born, even Granny Sun said she had never seen such a beautiful baby.

Cheng Li hesitated for a while. His belly was indeed hungry. Taking advantage of the moment, Cheng Qiao slipped the food into his mouth. Smelling the sweet fragrance, Cheng Li began to suck earnestly. Milk was indeed tastier than formula.

Seeing her son finally willing to nurse, Cheng Qiao was so happy she nearly burst into tears. But she knew that during confinement she mustn’t cry, so she forcefully held her joy inside.

When Li Le came back with a prepared milk bottle, what she saw was Cheng Li greedily suckling while Cheng Qiao’s face radiated a mother’s glow.

“Second Sister-in-law, you look like you really love Cheng Li. You can’t hide the affection on your face.”

“Yes, Cheng Li is my life. I must repay him double for everything I owed him.”

“Second Sister-in-law, how could you owe Cheng Li? My mother says, in this world there are no parents who don’t love their children, only unfilial children. Since you got pregnant, you’ve always been so careful—you’ve never wronged Cheng Li.”

“No matter what, Cheng Li is my life now. No—he’s more important than my life. I must protect him well.”

“Wife, if our son is your life, then what am I to you?”

Li Huan walked in carrying a big bowl of chicken soup. Hearing Cheng Qiao’s words, sourness welled in his heart. Li Le quickly covered her mouth, laughing as she slipped out—she didn’t want to be the third wheel.

“Cheng Li is my life. And you—you’re the pillar of strength for both me and our son. With you, this family will truly have happiness and peace.”

Li Huan’s throat bobbed, his eyes moist with emotion. With one arm he held Cheng Qiao, and with the other gently stroked the baby’s swaddling cloth.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I’ll never let anyone bully you two.”

Cheng Qiao smiled and nodded, then pointed at a pile of books on the cabinet in the corner. “I’ll give you a task—within two years, review all the middle school textbooks properly.”

“What for? Besides, I’m so busy now, where would I find the time?”

“If you don’t study, then when I take Cheng Li to the big city later, don’t regret it.”

“Wife, explain yourself properly. Why go to the big city all of a sudden? We don’t have urban household registration. What would we eat there? Oh right, you’re a fairy, you’re never short of food—but you still can’t conjure up a hukou.”

“That’s why you need to study. Once you’ve finished middle school, go through the high school books too. As long as you understand everything, naturally we’ll be able to register our household in the city.”

Li Huan scratched his head. He really didn’t understand her words. But in his heart, anything Cheng Qiao said must be right. So from tomorrow onward, he would start studying earnestly.

“Son, let Daddy hold you. Let your mother drink some chicken soup—the more she drinks, the more milk she’ll have, and then you can grow up strong.”

Cheng Qiao gave him a glare, as if he had just compared her to a milk cow, and handed the baby over. Li Huan quickly and carefully took him.

But Li Huan’s body was too warm. Almost instantly, the full and drowsy little one was awakened by the heat. He squirmed in discomfort from the waves of heat radiating against him.

But with his little strength, unable to speak, he could only burst into cries of “Waa, waa, waa.”

The crying startled Li Huan. He didn’t know if he had somehow hurt his son, and turned to Cheng Qiao with a panicked expression.