Fang Miaomiao let out a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. "As expected, I'm more suited to being a 'cloud parent'."
Let him be angry. Who was afraid of whom?
If you don't want to talk to me, I don't want to talk to you either.
Who wasn't a giant baby?
That's what she told herself.
But by the time she realized it, she was already standing outside Wen Yan'an's room.
Fang Miaomiao nearly bit off her tongue as she snapped back to reality.
Just as she was about to leave, feeling guilty, a voice called out from behind her.
Fang Miaomiao stiffened, then plastered on a smile and turned around.
"Hey there, Xiao An'an, we meet again."
Her smile was so fake.
Wen Yan'an's small face turned serious. "Aunt Miaomiao, is there something else?"
"Oh." Fang Miaomiao blinked. "Uncle Chen Tianming from the crew sent a notice, saying we need to gather at Shixi Airport tomorrow morning."
Seeing him nod, Fang Miaomiao was about to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere when she heard him say, "I know, Aunt Miaomiao. You can go about your business."
The smile on Fang Miaomiao's face froze for an instant, but she quickly recovered. "Okay, thank you, An'an."
With that, she turned and left without looking back.
Back in her bedroom, Fang Miaomiao dejectedly collapsed onto the sofa, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
In her past life, her parents had died early. Her grandmother loved her dearly, but she was old and frail, unable to do much.
Neither neighbors nor distant relatives were willing to interact with them.
So, her personality gradually became cold and indifferent.
She had never experienced familial affection, nor did she know how to respond to it, especially not from Wen Yan'an, someone who had no relation to her.
She could play with Wen Yan'an, and out of consideration for Wen Zhiyan, she could show concern for Wen Yan'an. But she knew that what Wen Yan'an truly desired, she couldn't give.
Therefore, she subconsciously wanted to avoid it. She didn't want to answer the question, didn't want to apologize to Wen Yan'an, and didn't want to explain, not even with a clumsy excuse.
It was so annoying.
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became.
Fang Miaomiao impatiently buried her head in a throw pillow.
...
"Has she... returned?"
Wen Yan'an heard his father's question and replied, "She has."
"Unhappy?"
"No."
"An'an, I'm sorry, we didn't intend to not come back last night. Some things happened, and I suddenly had a fever, so we had to stay at the apartment nearby."
"You were sick?"
"Don't worry, I'm mostly recovered." Wen Zhiyan's voice was gentle. "Are you perhaps upset that she didn't explain to you after she came back?"
An'an was too much like himself, even more reserved. He definitely wouldn't proactively ask Fang Miaomiao about last night.
Moreover, although Fang Miaomiao was here, he could tell her heart was guarded. Others could play with her, confide in her, and she would care for them out of gratitude and because An'an was well-behaved.
But all of this was only within the boundaries of a casual relationship.
After observing her for several days, he realized that this Fang Miaomiao was a paradox. She was so conflicted that perhaps even she didn't know what she wanted. She was cautious, never revealing her true thoughts to anyone.
She was also strong. Even when attacked, she would just smile indifferently, unfazed. The words of the trolls were so infuriating that even he would be angry, but Fang Miaomiao found them more and more amusing.
She was also very brave. Knowing that the other party had ill intentions, she still went deep into the enemy's camp with cameras and recorders, all to find evidence that would be fatal to them.
She understood that he was helping her, which was why she was willing to take care of him all night and cook for him.
It was this very paradox that drew him in.
Wen Yan'an remained silent.
He just wanted an explanation, even a fabricated one, and he would believe it.
But there was none.
"You know, she doesn't have feelings for us," Wen Zhiyan stated the cruel truth.
Wen Yan'an was silent for a while before asking, "Is it because I'm not good?"
"An'an is very good," Wen Zhiyan comforted him. "She's just not familiar with us yet. Once she gets to know us, she'll know An'an is a wonderful child."
"I understand."
Wen Yan'an's eyes welled up, and tears like large beans began to fall. He held his phone in one hand and a tissue in the other, diligently wiping away the tears.
He couldn't cry. The TV said that children who cry don't get favored by adults, so she wouldn't like children who cry.
She wasn't familiar with them yet, so he had to try to make her familiar with him, to make her like him, so that she would genuinely like him and not treat him like someone else's child.
Even though, he wasn't her biological son.
"Alright, Dad has other things to attend to. I'll be entrusting the rest of the time to An'an."
"Mmm."
After dinner.
Wen Yan'an held Fang Miaomiao's hand.
It was soft and felt very comfortable.
"What is it?" Fang Miaomiao asked, puzzled.
"Can I... sleep with you?"
Fang Miaomiao was stunned. Since returning that morning, she had only seen Wen Yan'an three times.
The first two times, Wen Yan'an hadn't spoken to her.
How could it be that after this afternoon, Wen Yan'an wanted to sleep with her?
However, looking at his grape-sized eyes filled with hope, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Furthermore, it had been her fault in the first place.
"Yes."
Back in the bedroom, Wen Yan'an washed up quickly and obediently got into bed to wait for her.
Fang Miaomiao also got into bed after washing up.
Her gaze drifted to the side.
A fairy tale book.
It was the first time she had seen Wen Yan'an holding a fairy tale book.
And why wasn't he reading? Instead, his little head followed her wherever she went.
A fleeting image flashed through Fang Miaomiao's mind, and she suddenly understood. With a hint of doubt, she said to Wen Yan'an, "I can read you a fairy tale."
She thought she might be mistaken, but Wen Yan'an immediately handed her the book and burrowed under the covers, his big, sparkling eyes fixed on her.
At that moment, his clear eyes reflected her image completely.
Her heart began to beat uncontrollably.
"Just once, okay?"
Fang Miaomiao came to her senses and saw Wen Yan'an holding a corner of her sleeve, speaking to her in a pleading tone.
Sigh, what a pity for the little guy.
It was just telling a story. Fine, she would tell one!
Fang Miaomiao generously nodded, agreed, and opened the book.
She chose a classic fairy tale and began to read softly.
Time dripped by, minute by minute, as the story unfolded.
When she finished one story, the little one beside her had fallen sound asleep.
The little guy slept soundly.
Looking at his sleeping face, Fang Miaomiao found herself smiling unconsciously.
"Goodnight, little guy."