Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 25 - Son

Just as everyone was congratulating each other, a small figure suddenly dashed over towards them.

The little figure ran up to Jian Yiqing and wrapped his arms around Jian Yiqing’s leg, exclaiming in a childlike voice, “Dad, Dad, you’re a bad guy! You promised Jian Qingtian we’d go to the zoo, so why are you still here? Dad, you’re so bad…”

Jian Yiqing, who had been cold-faced just moments ago, instantly lit up with a joyful smile at the sight of his son. He looked like a completely different person; a man filled with the joy of life.

It was a feeling he seemed to have never experienced before.

Moreover, his subordinates were watching this scene in disbelief, as if witnessing something extraordinary. They really wanted to capture this moment to show everyone later.

Look, this is our usually stoic chief with a poker face. Do you still think the difference between him and normal people is that great now?

But Li Minchun’s eyes were fixed on Jian Qingtian.

Her eyes gradually welled up, unblinkingly watching Jian Qingtian in front of her.

This son of hers, whom she had left more than a year ago, she hadn’t seen him since.

Sometimes, when she heard Jian Qingtian calling her mom, Li Minchun would laugh out loud with joy. Then she would suddenly awaken, realizing it was all a dream, and tears of sorrow would fall silently.

It was as if she had suppressed all her emotions tightly.

Although a professional mercenary, she was also a mother. As a mother, how much she wished to be with her child, to watch them grow up healthy and free, even her mood would improve.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible now. She had to complete her mission before she could seek the happiness that originally belonged to her.

At least, out of sight, out of mind, as she couldn’t see them anyway.

But now, it was different. Her son and husband were right beside her, yet she couldn’t acknowledge them; she had to pretend she didn’t recognize them. This feeling was worse than death.

For a moment, Li Minchun felt like she could hardly hold on any longer.

“Have you seen me before? Or my son?” Jian Yiqing sensed the intense gaze and cautiously pulled his son into his arms.

From Jian Yiqing’s shoulder, Jian Qingtian peeked out, curiously observing the scene unfolding before him. Perhaps, in his young mind, he wondered if this woman, who seemed very familiar, was one of Ling Kong’s subordinates.

“No.” Saying this simple word, Li Minchun felt as though she had used all the strength in her body. Yet her facade was so perfect that no one could discern her true feelings.

“Oh.”

“Where’s Aunt Zhang?” Jian Yiqing asked, frowning. For such a long time, it was Zhang Mi who had been helping to take care of Jian Qingtian. Otherwise, he, a rugged man, along with Ru Long, that fool, might have worn Jian Qingtian out in just a few days.

At times like this, he couldn’t help but sigh at how essential having a woman around was.

“I don’t know. She said she had some business to take care of, maybe at the company,” Jian Qingtian responded.

Standing nearby, Li Minchun listened to her son articulating clearly, feeling a sense of relief and pride, thinking her son seemed quite clever. At least, in terms of communication and expression, he wasn’t lacking.

This realization indeed eased her mind significantly.

“Then how about Dad takes you to the zoo?”

To Jian Yiqing’s surprise, as soon as he suggested this, Jian Qingtian immediately frowned, unwillingly saying, “I don’t want to go if it’s just you and me. That would be boring. What if another woman shows up and starts pestering you? What am I supposed to do then?”

Jian Qingtian’s innocent remark amused everyone present, leaving Jian Yiqing feeling rather awkward.

Li Minchun also secretly giggled. It seemed that even after more than a year, Jian Yiqing’s charm hadn’t waned at all.

Though she couldn’t help but wonder if, without her by his side, he could still keep his previous promises. Recalling the time when she was with him, women appeared one after another. What about now?

She couldn’t help but feel a little worried.

“Don’t talk nonsense, you know that in Dad’s heart, there’s no other woman but your mom.”

Jian Yiqing actually explained his feelings to someone else. It was neither a hallucination nor a mishearing.

In front of his son, Jian Yiqing was even more obedient than he was with Li Minchun back then. Truly treating his son like a little prince, he catered to his every whim regardless of the matter.

Although he was a bit indulgent, Jian Yiqing sincerely devoted himself to nurturing his son.

“Okay, how about we find someone else to go to the zoo with us today?” Jian Qingtian asked in a negotiating tone while gently patting Jian Yiqing’s slightly scratchy chin with his small, soft hand.

“Alright.”

Sure enough, Jian Yiqing compromised.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Jian Qingtian extended his finger and swept it in a circle, encompassing them all. Those pointed at felt a jolt of anxiety, while those who weren’t were relieved.

Everyone knew that Jian Yiqing’s son was quite the little mischief, full of tricks despite his young age.

In his dad’s presence, he was as well-behaved as an angel, yet would quickly turn into a little devil when you least expected it.

Many among them had fallen victim to his antics. Worse still, even if they suffered at Jian Qingtian’s hands, they couldn’t dare complain to Jian Yiqing.

Jian Qingtian would simply regard them with disdain and say, “Shame on you, are you just going to be so useless at your age…”

What can you do? When faced with a situation where your boss’s son threatens you like this, what can you really do?

“Alright, it’s you!”

Jian Qingtian’s finger ultimately landed in front of Li Minchun.

“Thank goodness!”

Li Minchun clearly heard the voices of relief from those around her. It seemed as if they were quite afraid of being chosen for this task.

Li Minchun furrowed her brows and asked, “Is it okay for me?”

Jian Yiqing nodded.

In reality, she had long wanted to savor such a situation. Although she was the one accompanying her son when he was very young, back then he wasn’t old enough to remember those precious moments with her.

Now, with such a wonderful opportunity, she naturally wanted to make the most of it.

“Shall I go to the zoo with you?” Li Minchun asked, and Jian Qingtian nodded.

Unbeknownst to her, a mischievous smile had already crept onto Jian Qingtian’s lips.

Although it had been a long time since she last spent time with Jian Yiqing and Jian Qingtian, Li Minchun, now known as Su Xin, had to maintain her cover and could not reveal her true identity.

She noticed that Jian Yiqing seemed even more aloof than before, as if he were wrapped in a layer of frost, making others hesitant to approach him.

He spoke very little, often staring quietly into the distance, lost in thought, with no one knowing what he was thinking. Yet Li Minchun could detect a faint sadness in his expression.

She couldn’t help but wonder if this man’s melancholy was somehow because of her.

“Let’s go.”

After Li Minchun helped Jian Qingtian out of the car, he immediately took her hand, ready to dash off into the distance.

Li Minchun was surprised, “Isn’t your dad coming with us?”

What seemed like a simple question carried endless implications for Jian Qingtian. Squinting his innocent eyes at Li Minchun, he asked, “Are you interested in my dad?”

“What?” For a moment, Li Minchun was stunned, unsure of what he was getting at.

Jian Qingtian, however, persisted, “Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. Everyone who sees my dad falls in love with him; it’s a normal thing. But you might be disappointed because Dad only has Mom in his heart. He said he’ll never let another woman into his heart in this lifetime, so you should give up!”

His words left Li Minchun deep in thought.

She was somewhat skeptical about the truth of Jian Qingtian’s statements, yet she couldn’t help but feel they might be true.

While pondering this, she was already being pulled into the zoo by Jian Qingtian.

She couldn’t quite understand why children loved this place so much, but since she was accompanying her son, Li Minchun was quite attentive and focused.

She tried hard to push those other thoughts aside, maintaining her original mood, as if she were merely there with her son.

Many parents often do this, don’t they? Now, she felt fortunate to have the honor of enjoying such a moment.

With this in mind, the monotonous zoo suddenly became more interesting.

“You seem different from everyone else,” Jian Qingtian remarked as he looked at Li Minchun.

Intrigued, Li Minchun asked, “Tell me, how am I different from them?”

Jian Qingtian tilted his head, pondering for a moment before saying, “You’re smarter than them.”

This simple statement left Li Minchun somewhat perplexed. What exactly was this little guy trying to convey?