Shen Xuan sniffled softly, wiping his nose with the back of his tiny hand. "Daddy… I… I didn't do anything bad…"
"I'm not angry," Shen Xiao murmured, though his obsidian eyes remained dark and unreadable. "I just want to know… have you… have you said anything to Mommy recently?"
Shen Xuan hesitated, chewing on his lower lip nervously.
"Anything… that might have made her sad?" Shen Xiao pressed gently, his large hand resting heavy and warm on the boy's small shoulder.
Shen Xuan's eyes welled up again as his chest heaved with a quiet sob.
"I… I just… I told her that… that… if Mommy Zhi was my real mommy… everything would be okay…" he whispered brokenly, his voice trembling with guilt and confusion. "I told her… she's always crying… and yelling… and… and that she makes you sad… but Mommy Zhi makes you smile… and… and… if Mommy Zhi were my mommy… You wouldn't be sad anymore…"
