Will He Come Again Tomorrow?

After washing up that evening, Zhou Jingyi came out of her room and, unusually, found Gu Zhuoling still awake. He was sitting steadily beside his little table, looking like a thinker.

She couldn't help laughing. "What's wrong, Aling? What are you thinking about?"

Gu Zhuoling didn't speak. He stared blankly out the window, as though he hadn't heard Zhou Jingyi.

Zhou Jingyi knew her son had heard her. He was probably putting his thoughts into words. If he didn't want to talk, he would have silently shaken his head and gone back to bed, refusing to communicate.

"Mom."

Only after a long while did Gu Zhuoling speak.

Hearing him call her Mom made Zhou Jingyi's heart melt. Her son had always been independent and liked to keep things to himself. It was a rare occasion for him to ask for help, so something must really be troubling him.

"Will he come again tomorrow?"

Gu Zhuoling was really troubled. He had bitten Shen Xinde's finger by accident today.

When Shen Xinde had left, all he'd said to him was bye-bye. He hadn't said he'd come play again tomorrow.

Was he still mad?

Was it because I'd been too careless when I blew on it?

Zhou Jingyi: ?

What was this about?

"Today I accidentally. Bit Haohao."

Gu Zhuoling didn't make his mom guess; he revealed the answer himself.

Zhou Jingyi: ?

Hadn't they already put that behind them?

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Xinde wasn't mad at you today, was he? You even blew on it for him. He must have forgiven you."

Zhou Jingyi thought for a moment, then offered more advice. "If Xinde doesn't come looking for you tomorrow, you can just go find him and ask him to play."

Gu Zhuoling felt a little embarrassed. He licked his somewhat dry lips, got up and went back to bed.

Zhou Jingyi knew her son had taken her advice to heart, so she didn't press the matter. She said good night to Gu Zhuoling and left his room.

The next day.

Zhou Jingyi had a busy day ahead and got up early to get ready for work. Gu Ruize did too, of course.

Gu Zhuoling didn't get up early today. He was presumably still unable to pull himself out of his gloom.

Zhou Jingyi hadn't expected her son, who barely seemed able to get a word out, to be so sensitive about this sort of thing. After some thought, she turned and instructed a servant to notify him immediately if the young master of the Shen family next door came to play.

Meanwhile, over at Shen Xinde's.

He simply couldn't get up that early in the morning and was back asleep in his little bed, his bottom sticking up in the air.

When Shen Qiming got up for work that morning, he had already come over and kissed his little darling.

Later, Xia Wanqing came into the room and finally managed to pull the little sleepyhead out of bed for breakfast.

"Mom has to go report to school today. How about you go to work with Dad today, Haohao?" Xia Wanqing cut into the steamed egg, poured a little seasoning over it and set it in front of Shen Xinde, speaking gently as she discussed it with him.

Xinde was doing better by the day, and Xia Wanqing was planning to gradually return to work. The couple had agreed that if Xia Wanqing had classes to teach, Shen Qiming would take care of Shen Xinde.

Xia Wanqing had actually asked Shen Xinde about going back to work. Afraid he wouldn't understand, she'd put it much more plainly: Mom wouldn't be able to stay with him every moment.

To her surprise, Shen Xinde understood and was so sensible that he agreed right away.

Xia Wanqing was a woman with plans and ideas of her own. She didn't want to limit herself to staying home and raising a child every day. She loved Haohao very much, but she couldn't give up her career for him.

Shen Qiming supported his wife unconditionally. Of course both parents had to pitch in to look after Haohao. How could they leave all the childcare to Mom alone?

Shen Xinde rubbed his eyes and sniffed the fragrant steamed egg. Without another word, he picked up his spoon, ready to enjoy his meal. Hearing Xia Wanqing, he nodded in agreement.

"Mom work! Haohao play by himself! Okay!"

Xia Wanqing's heart melted completely. She reached out to smooth Shen Xinde's soft hair and said with a smile, "You can play with Dad."

"Can Haohao play with Dolly?"

Shen Xinde stuffed a spoonful of egg custard into his mouth, thought for a moment, then spoke.

This time, it was Shen Qiming's turn to lose his composure.

"Why won't you play with Dad? Dad can take you up a tall building to see the view, and Dad can take you to eat yummy food too."

Shen Qiming knew, of course, that the Gu boy next door had only met Haohao twice, but Haohao liked this big brother so much. They'd only been back in the country a few days, yet the moment he opened his eyes, it was Dolly, Dolly. He didn't even call for Dad anymore.

Shen Xinde patted his utterly immature dad beside him, who was sobbing and on the verge of tears, as if to comfort him. "Dad, when you get off work, Haohao will come keep you company."

Seeing her husband hugging the little tot and sobbing, Xia Wanqing smiled too. "Of course. Haohao can play with Brother Zhuoling today."

Xia Wanqing felt quite reassured about the Gu family. From their interactions over the past two days, she knew the Gu child could play on his own, and the servants were specially trained to keep children safe without disturbing their play.

With that in mind, Xia Wanqing contacted Zhou Jingyi. After receiving an affirmative and supportive response, she felt reassured as she took Shen Xinde to the Gu family's door.

As soon as the door opened, a servant respectfully led Shen Xinde inside. Xia Wanqing handed the servant Shen Xinde's own little bag, gave her a few instructions and said goodbye to Shen Xinde before leaving, reassured.

"Is Brother still sleeping?"

Shen Xinde obediently held the servant's hand as he walked into the house and asked.

"The young master is awake, but he hasn't come out of his room. Young Master Shen, would you like me to take you upstairs?"

Gu Zhuoling was still lying under the covers. For once, instead of being disciplined, he was shutting himself away.

After lying there for a while, he suddenly heard two knocks on his bedroom door. Gu Zhuoling remained silent, feeling glum.

Someone came in but didn't speak either. The air was quiet for two minutes, and Gu Zhuoling grew a little puzzled.

The servants usually wouldn't come straight into his room without his permission. Who was being so rude?

As soon as his head emerged from under the covers, he saw an adorable little figure leaning against his bedside.

Gu Zhuoling: !!!

Shen Xinde was dressed especially cutely today. He wore a light green short-sleeved polo shirt with an especially pretty flower embroidered on the chest, khaki shorts, and pale yellow socks embroidered with little puppies on his fair, chubby legs.

The little boy with the sleek hair was staring at him with round eyes.

Gu Zhuoling was so shocked by the sudden appearance of the person he'd spent all night fretting over that he couldn't speak. He didn't know whether to ask why Shen Xinde had come or wonder whether he was dressed presentably.

"Dolly, you're lazy." Shen Xinde's eyes curved as he smiled. Without Gu Zhuoling's permission, he didn't climb onto the bed, but leaned against its edge instead.

Well, forget everything he'd just been thinking.

What Gu Zhuoling needed to explain now was that he wasn't lazy. He'd just felt that without Shen Xinde around today, things suddenly seemed rather dull, so he hadn't gotten up early.

"Getting up now." After a long struggle, Gu Zhuoling squeezed out the three words and nimbly scrambled out of bed.

After a moment's thought, he pointed to the little sofa in the room. "Sit there. Wait for me a little bit."

Shen Xinde obediently sat down. Gu Zhuoling even brought a little doll and put it in Shen Xinde's arms. After thinking it over, he worried Shen Xinde might get impatient waiting, so he also found a tablet and put on a children's cartoon for him.

It was a cartoon Gu Zhuoling had researched, recommended for four-year-olds.

Watching Gu Zhuoling, who seemed at a bit of a loss, Shen Xinde grinned and giggled. "Slow, slow, Dolly. Haohao will wait for you."

Only then did Gu Zhuoling feel reassured enough to go into the bathroom.