There was a softness in the woman's heart.
She had done something so awful to it that it had gotten angry enough to make her sick. And yet, all it wanted was a strawberry cake she made with her own hands?
What a fool.
It didn't even want an apology?
Xiao Xiao started walking again.
The woman was startled, then followed after him.
She was already thinking about what kind of strawberry cake she could make, even if it was many years late.
Actually, strawberry cake was what she'd wanted to make all those years ago, too.
Because she knew Little Red loved strawberries most of all.
Xiao Xiao stopped.
The woman looked up and realized they were still inside the residential compound. She couldn't help feeling puzzled. "Xiao Xiao, are we—"
The rest of her words died in her throat.
Because she saw a figure lying on a stone bench not far ahead.
Even with one hand resting over his eyes, blocking half his face, she recognized him at a glance. It was Han Rui, her son.
"Rui Rui."
The woman murmured softly.
Then she turned to Xiao Xiao. "Xiao Xiao?"
"Go talk to him."
Xiao Xiao raised a hand to stop her from speaking. "I'll go buy the ingredients for the strawberry cake."
"Besides, it's better if you don't walk too much while you're still unwell."
"...Thank you."
The woman didn't ask how Xiao Xiao knew Rui Rui was here. She gave him a slight, earnest bow. "I really am sorry for the trouble."
Then she walked toward her son.
She'd spent all this time worrying about his future, and it had been so long since she'd had a proper talk with him.
And now her son had nearly gone astray.
She had failed as