Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 239 1 Family

Even after bringing Zhiyuan home, Lin Qingping was still seething with anger.

She told Zhiyuan to take a hot bath first, while she went into the kitchen to make him ginger soup.

At that time, Yunqi was still here, along with Gu Juncheng and his second sister, none of whom knew what had happened.

"You two talk, I'll go check on her." Gu Juncheng went into the kitchen and saw her making ginger soup. "What's wrong? Is it cold outside?"

Lin Qingping shook her head. "It's alright, I'll make some ginger soup for the child to prevent this."

She planned to tell Gu Juncheng later that Yunqi was still here, and she didn't want outsiders to know what Zhiyuan had experienced today.

Yes, Yunqi is an outsider in her eyes. Not to mention, he and the second sister are only pursuing each other now. Even if they might get together in the future, Zhiyuan's childhood traumas are still his personal privacy.

"Are you really alright?" Gu Juncheng thought it was unlikely.

"Okay, you can go now, I'll be done in a bit." Lin Qingping deftly smashed the whole piece of ginger and threw it into the pot.

After leaving the kitchen, Gu Juncheng wanted to ask Zhiyuan, but Zhiyuan was still taking a shower.

Okay, we'll talk about it later.

After Lin Qingping finished making the ginger soup, Zhiyuan had already taken a bath and was sitting with Gu Juncheng and the other two. His face was flushed, whether from the hot water or something else.

Lin Qingping touched his forehead and, finding it not too hot, quickly gave him the ginger soup and watched him drink it.

"Why don't you just go to sleep and get some fresh air under the covers?" Lin Qingping was genuinely worried, as she had walked quite a distance in the cold wind dressed so thinly.

Zhiyuan behaved very well, and Ren Linqingping led him back to the room. He obediently let Ren Linqingping tuck him into the quilt.

His schoolbag was still on the table, next to a framed photo of his father, which was upside down.

Lin Qingping wiped her hands, solemnly picked up the photo, took a stool, and hung it on the wall, making sure it was hung up straight and carefully.

Back in Gujia Village, Zhiyuan's father's photo was hanging in his own room.

When he came to the capital, he brought his father's photo with him. On the first day of the move, when setting up the house, Lin Qingping asked Zhiyuan whether the photo should be hung inside his room or outside. Zhiyuan chose to hang it in his room.

So, Gu Juncheng hammered in the nails, and Lin Qingping hung the photo up herself.

Both moves were like this.

What I thought was just an ordinary little thing turned out to be a huge event today.

Zhiyuan lay in bed, watching her every move, his eyes gradually reddening.

When Lin Qingping got off the stool and turned around, she saw tears glistening in his eyes.

She was shocked and quickly sat down next to him, gently wiping the corner of his eye. "Zhiyuan, don't be sad anymore. There won't be a next time. No one will come looking for you again."

The tears in Zhiyuan's eyes, however, were not for this.

He remained motionless, the skin at the corner of his eye pressed against her warm fingers, and when he spoke, his voice was already choked with emotion, "Mom, aren't you afraid?"

Lin Qingping was taken aback, but quickly understood what this "fear" referred to.

She gently tapped the corner of his eye with her finger. "Why would I be afraid? Your father loves you, I love you, and your father Gu also loves you. How could someone who has love in their heart be afraid?"

People in this era rarely say the word "love." Zhiyuan was stunned when he heard this, and his eyes filled with even more tears, almost overflowing.

“Zhiyuan, we’re all family. You call us Mom and Dad, so your dad is our brother. Of course we’re family, we’re not afraid.” Her fingers were wet with warm tears, and she felt her heart was soaked with tears.

She'd known Zhiyuan for two lifetimes; when had she ever seen this child cry?

“But…” Zhiyuan sobbed, “She’s still my own mother, she…she, and they, are all…afraid of…why are they afraid? My father…is gone, he wouldn’t…wouldn’t come to beat them…”

Lin Qingping truly hates the Wen family!

He didn't want to leave any more room for the Wen family, and said gently, "Zhiyuan, only those with guilty consciences are afraid of the dead. Therefore, one must be open and honest, and never be a petty person."

Zhiyuan paused for a moment, seemingly understanding, and nodded. But in an instant, he suddenly threw himself into her arms, his tears soaking her clothes.

“Zhiyuan…” She wanted to pull him up and comfort him.

He held her tightly, choking back tears, calling her name again and again, "Mom, Mom..."

Lin Qingping then realized that he didn't need any comforting.

Perhaps, all he needs is a hug, a quiet embrace, someone who can respond when he calls for "Mom"...