Chapter 19: The White Glutinous Rice Dumpling

Lu Mingyue was completely puzzled, unable to fathom the child’s line of thinking. What did he mean by “dirty things”? Judging from his expression, it was probably not something pleasant.

Huo Zheng glanced at Lu Mingyue, cleared his throat, and lowered his voice to ask, “Son, what dirty things?”

Huo Minglei glanced at Lu Mingyue, then signaled for his father to lower his head and block his view, before confiding the story’s details to him.

“Dad, do you think there might be dirty things in there? Will I have to say goodbye to you all like Mom did?”

Mom?

Lu Mingyue looked at Huo Zheng, wondering if the child had been by his mother’s side before she passed away. She refrained from asking further, fearing it might stir painful memories for the boy.

Huo Zheng recalled the first time he met Minglei. After completing a mission, he returned carrying the ashes of his comrade, only to find his younger brother’s widow already lifeless, and a grieving child crying by the bedside.

He had promised his late brother to take care of the two children. After their mother’s passing, he brought them to live with him.

Back then, Minglei was just two years old. They thought the child would forget, but he still vaguely remembered the scene of his mother’s death.

“Minglei, Dad promises you that nothing like that will happen. People are different.”

On the way over, Lu Mingyue had already learned about the two children’s past from Huo Zheng, which was why she could wholeheartedly treat these children, unrelated by blood, as her own.

After the father and son finished sharing their story, Lu Mingyue reassured Minglei, promising that what he feared would not happen.

Huo Minglei felt much relief upon receiving his father’s assurance.

Dad had said a man’s word is his bond, unbreakable once given.

He trusted his father and believed he wouldn’t let such a thing occur.

“Minglei, don’t worry. What you’re afraid of will never happen. These two little darlings are so adorable—I’d never want to part with them.”

Lu Mingyue gently rubbed the cheek of the little girl sitting beside her. The softness was irresistible, like a walking cotton candy.

Yao Yao giggled softly at the touch.

It had been a long time since a bowl of dumpling soup, and Minglei felt no discomfort. Between their assurances, his doubts had been fully eased.

Taking her time to finish the meal, Lu Mingyue first bathed the little girl. The house lacked a dedicated bathtub, only a large basin normally used for washing hands.

She cleaned the basin thoroughly, while Huo Zheng fetched water mixed to the right temperature and poured it in, also preparing a bucket of spare water nearby, reminding them to ask if they needed anything.

Yao Yao fit perfectly in the basin. While washing her, Lu Mingyue’s sharp eyes caught something amiss—several scratches on the little girl’s arm.

After pondering for a moment, she gently asked, “Yao Yao, what have you been playing lately?”

Tilting her head, Yao Yao thought for a bit and replied, “I play every day with my brother and Xiao Hua—dodgeball, throwing stones, catching little fish, and…”

Suddenly, a spark lit her eyes. “And climbing trees!”

Lu Mingyue understood immediately; the scratches on her arm must have come from climbing.

But considering how Yao Yao was barely as tall as her knees, could she really climb trees?

Curious, she asked.

Yao Yao smiled and said, “I can’t climb up by myself. My brother says my legs are too short and pulled me up.”

The trees they climbed weren’t very tall—the one today was about one meter seventy to seventy-eight centimeters high. Sitting at the fork, Yao Yao dared not even open her eyes looking down.

Once on the tree, she moved as slowly as a caterpillar.

She shared the full story with her new mom.

Faced with the child’s sparkling eyes, no one could say no, but letting the two children climb trees outside was truly risky.

Lu Mingyue thought of a solution. She gently rubbed Yao Yao’s wounds and said, “Mom can’t climb trees either. Next time you want to climb, can you call me to come along?”

Climb trees with mom?

Is that a good idea?

It’s a wonderful idea!

Most of Yao Yao’s playmates were her age; this was the first time an adult was willing to join their games.

Daddy from the fragmented family played dodgeball with them but forbade activities like climbing trees, saying they were too young for such dangerous sports.

Children at this age often want to do things more when told not to.

Yao Yao nodded vigorously, “Of course I can.”

Lu Mingyue thought it was easiest to persuade children this age; it reminded her of playing with children back home.

Yao Yao was soft and fragrant, like a glutinous rice dumpling.

This child had never been picky. After the bowl of dumpling soup, her little belly was nicely rounded.

After bathing her, Lu Mingyue wrapped her in a large blanket and carried her inside.

Their luggage was still unpacked, scattered messily in the living room.

Lu Mingyue took out a jar of snow cream from her bag, scooped some with her hand, and evenly applied it on Yao Yao’s face.

The scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Yao Yao sneezed, bashfully covering her nose, thankfully not spraying saliva on mom’s face.

Having settled the little one, Lu Mingyue kissed her before leaving, “Alright, our good baby is all clean. I’m going to take a shower. You rest here for a while, okay? I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay~”

Yao Yao answered in her sweet, childish voice, hugging her little blanket and obediently lying on the pillow to wait.

Hehe, the new mom was so good to her.

She finally had a mom; Yao Yao was very happy.

Lu Mingyue quickly finished tidying up, clearing space for the father and son.

When she returned inside, Yao Yao was sleeping soundly.

Lu Mingyue gently closed the door, returned to the living room, and began unpacking their belongings.

“You go rest. I’ll take care of this.”

Huo Zheng had planned to rest in the afternoon before unpacking, but after his shower, he found Lu Mingyue already squatting there.

He hurried over, snatched the items from her hands, and without a word, “sent” Lu Mingyue away.

Lu Mingyue thought, fine, since he was so diligent, she might as well be a bit lazy to keep the household balance.

The green train shook more than usual. She hadn’t slept well on the train; the moment her head touched the pillow, she quickly lost consciousness.

Lu Mingyue’s belongings were packed separately in a small bag. Huo Zheng wasn’t sure if she had specific plans for them, so he put them aside.

Other daily necessities were placed in their designated spots.

After finishing his bath, Huo Minglei came out and saw his father leaning over the table writing.

Huo Zheng looked up and asked, “Finished washing?”

Minglei nodded and asked, “Dad, are you studying?”

Sometimes Huo Zheng brought home newspapers or books and told the children he was studying at home.