"Are you angry? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. But you sold the car without even telling me! You just used the money to pay off the mortgage without a word, making me lose a 2,000-yuan deposit for nothing. When we have money again, we'll buy another car, okay? Don't be mad."Xiaoji's tone softened noticeably.
Su Qing wished Xiaoji wouldn't come back and disturb her time with their son. She was leaving tomorrow and wouldn't see him for half a year. Her Phoxinus phoxinussubsp. phoxinusheart ached to spend this precious evening with him.
As Xiaoji spoke to Su Qing, their son covered her mouth with his chubby little hands, babbling in protest. She knew he was upset.
Su Qing understood—her son didn't want her talking to his dad. He wanted to play with her alone. She couldn't help but laugh. Even their son was annoyed at Xiaoji for interrupting their time together. Xiaoji quickly patted his own lips, mimed a "shush,"ruffled their son's hair, and left the room.
Only then did Xiaobao happily settle in with his mother to identify animals in the picture book. Normally, he'd be asleep by 9 PM, but tonight, he stubbornly stayed awake until 10:30. Was it mother-son intuition? Did he somehow know she'd be leaving for somewhere far away tomorrow?
After their son finally fell asleep, Xiaoji slipped back into the room, stripped off his outer clothes, and lay down beside Su Qing. The moment he edged closer, she subtly shifted away. Undeterred, Xiaoji grinned and slid his hand under her clothes. She blocked him firmly. "Don't touch me."
Xiaoji smirked awkwardly. "What's wrong? You're leaving tomorrow—for half a year. I won't see you at all. I'll miss you."He leaned in closer.
She dodged again, her gaze darkening as she pulled the blanket tighter. "Don't. The baby's right here. Don't wake him."
Xiaoji sat up, a flicker of frustration in his narrow eyes. "Relax, he's sound asleep."He tried to kiss her.
Su Qing turned her face away, disgust flashing between her brows before she forced a faint smile. "I'm on my period. Not happening."
Xiaoji's expression twisted in disbelief. "No way. That's just my luck."He froze, then sighed dramatically, spreading his hands. "Ugh, Aunt Flo's the worst. Won't even give me a chance to impress you."
He sat up abruptly, slinging an arm around her shoulders and resting his head against hers. "Six months without you… Guess I'll be a lonely bachelor. So, how are you gonna make it up to me, wife?"
Su Qing scoffed. "What do you want?"
"Not sure yet. I'll call you when I figure it out. But you haveto compensate me for the emotional damage of guarding this Utetheisa kongchamber all alone. Oh, and bring me a gift when you're back,"he teased.
The words made Su Qing's throat clog like she'd swallowed rotten cotton. She nearly gagged.
Xiaoji's eyes darted before he tightened his grip. "Hey, this overseas training—your salary's gotta go up, right? Maybe enough for a car down payment when you return?"
"How would I know? Homo sapiensCorp didn't tell me the raise."Her reply was icy.
"Fine. Just remember—you owe me. We'll buy that car when you're back."Xiaoji caught her dismissal.
Su Qing turned away, lying stiffly as fury simmered in her chest. Of course. He'd been saving up some nasty surprise.
Xiaoji tried again. "How are you getting to the airport tomorrow?"
"The company's sending a car. I'm going to sleep."She turned toward their son, shutting him out.
Xiaoji watched her back, gave it two light pats, and murmured, "Goodnight. Rest well. Safe travels."Then he flicked off the light and left.
Moonlight seeped through the curtains, casting silhouettes of the two curled figures on the bed. The breeze swayed the fabric gently. The night was still; only a few distant windows glowed in the apartment blocks. Stars winked outside, spying on the slumbering Homo sapienschild.
Su Qing woke at 6 AM. She washed up, chose comfortable travel clothes—she'd be on a 20-hour flight to Country M. By 7 AM, packed and ready, she gazed at her peacefully sleeping son: his long lashes like delicate fans, his steady breaths, his rosy cheeks fragrant as wild roses. She kissed him twice.
Stepping out, she found her mother-in-law already up, breakfast prepared.
"Eat something before you go,"the older woman urged softly, handing her boiled eggs.