"Are you my Mommy?"
Wan Wan asked in an extremely soft voice like a mosquito's and yet it was like a bomb exploding right beside He Yi's ears.
Her petite figure staggered and she almost lost her balance.
What a smart child! She could analyze the words of the people around her and guessed the truth despite no one telling her that He Yi was her mother.
He Yi knew that she had to answer the question with extreme care. She took a deep breath and reminded herself over and over that she could not attack Chu Tianyi's character or Wan Wan would be cautious and guard against her.
An impassable distance was formed between them throughout the five years of Wan Wan growing up without her coupled with Chu Tianyi and Su Anqi's provocation. What He Yi needed to do was to reduce the gap bit by bit instead of pushing her child away even further.
"Wan Wan, I'm sure that you already have an answer! You must have asked your daddy about this before. Can you tell me how he answered your question? He Yi threw the question carefully.
Wan Wan's face fell when Chu Tianyi's answer was mentioned. She lowered her head and kept silent sadly.
He Yi figured that Chu Tianyi must have said bad things about her based on Wan Wan's reaction. She maintained her expression and held Wan Wan's tiny hands very gently as if she was a tiny bird in her palms because she was afraid to spook her. She had to provide Wan Wan sufficient patience and love, exactly what she was deprived of while growing up.
"There is some misunderstanding between me and your dad so I had to leave despite my will! I know that no excuse will ever be enough to compensate for your lack of a mother's care and I'm sorry for all the pain you suffered throughout these years!" He Yi spoke with caution but her voice trembled as she suppressed her agitation. She was trying to induce Wan Wan's sadness and resentment toward the Chu family throughout the years instead of hostility or repulse toward her. "I shouldn't talk about those to a five-year-old child, but I believed that you will understand because you are way more mature than kids your age!"
Wan Wan finally looked up, the tears in her huge eyes remained. She sobbed and asked He Yi, "Why did you leave me? Why didn't you stay with daddy?"
She would have a complete family like the other kids if He Yi never left and she would never have to live her days under Su Anqi's disdain.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault!" He Yi glanced at Su Anqi who was still talking, she knew that she was running out of time. She took another deep breath and spoke at a faster pace, "I have nothing right now but I will work hard and regain everything for you. If you ever feel unhappy in the Chu family, you can request to come to me! You recognizing me as your mom is my lifelong wish but I understand if you refuse to. After all, I left you for a whole five years! Wan Wan, you should go back and really consider! Just give me a call when you're in trouble, my number will always be available for you!"
The number she gave to Wan Wan at Guibin Hotel was specially created for her. She made sure that the number was available at all times so that she would never miss anything from Wan Wan.
Wan Wan stared at He Yi's tearful face and raised her hand to wipe her tears gently.
Her small gesture triggered He Yi's tear glands once again and she cried with delight. She took Wan Wan's tiny hand to her lips and planted a light kiss as she sobbed, "Wan Wan, Mommy loves you!"
Wan Wan's tiny body shook when she heard the word "Mommy". She retracted her tiny hand as if she was pricked and turned to flee.
He Yi's heart bled as she stared at the adorable tiny figure running back to Su Anqi. She suppressed her emotions and reminded herself not to be impulsive repetitively. Her impulse five years ago almost ruined her whole life and she would never do anything as stupid as that again no matter what!
*
Su Anqi had to end her complaint call with Su Yuzhi swiftly as Ke Ke kept bothering her and asked for hugs. She then noticed Wan Wan walking over with a new teddy bear as she carried Ke Ke.
She paused and asked with suspicion, "Who gave you the teddy bear?
Wan Wan lowered her head and refused to answer.
"Stop making that arrogant face, who do you think you are?" Su Anqi became agitated the moment she saw Wan Wan's face, not to mention the stubborn look that she always hated. "I'll keep it since you're not answering me. Give it to me!"
She reached out to grab the teddy bear in Wan Wan's arms.
Wan Wan took a few steps back like a puppy protecting its bone. "Mommy gave it to me!"
She was afraid to call He Yi Mommy in front of He Yi but she had to let Su Anqi know that she was also a child loved by her mother.
"What? When did that wench He Yi come?" Su Anqi got a huge shock and looked around immediately. However, she could not see which car He Yi was in as there were cars with tinted windows everywhere.
After looking around and failing to detect He Yi, Su Anqi lashed out at Wan Wan, "She's always hiding because she's afraid of me! Your mother isn't just a wench, she's also a coward! Give me the bear!"
"No! Mommy gave it to me!" Stubborn Wan Wan would rather get beaten than compromising when provoked.
"You brat, are you defying me?" Su Anqi was furious and she charged forward to grab the teddy bear. Failing to control her agitation when Wan Wan scratched her, Su Anqi hurled her arms at Wan Wan to give her four slaps from both sides!
The tiny figure staggered and fell as the teddy bear rolled to the ground. Wan Wan struggled to get up, her cheeks burning with pain. She glared at the vicious witch in front of her courageously instead of crying.
Su Anqi was already agitated because of Chu Tianyi and Chu Piaoyun. Coupled with Ke Ke's tantrum disturbing her from complaining to Su Yuzhi, she could no longer hold her temper and she started kicking Wan Wan's stomach with the sharp edge of her heels.
"Stop!" A powerful voice rose and stopped Su Anqi's violent acts in time. Su Anqi paused immediately and realized that she snapped in public. As Chu Tianyi's wife, she was a known figure in Yun City and she would be in trouble if her outbreak was filmed and sold to paparazzi.
Su Anqi turned fearfully to see a spirited old lady dashing over along with a middle-aged woman. She looked properly and realized that it was Old Lady Yi and Fang Yaqin!
A hint of fear flashed past her mind before she put up a smile and greeted courteously, "Hello, Granny! Hello, Aunt!"
Old Lady Yi was composed when she gave a glance to the smiling Su Anqi before turning to check on Wan Wan whose eyes were filled with rage. It hurt her to see that the girl's delicate cheeks were all swollen and red. She turned to Su Anqi and asked sternly, "Anqi, are you abusing your stepdaughter?"