"Is there a room for me?" Little Jingshi asked in surprise.
"Yes," Ming Yutong said as she led him to see it, explaining, "When I was preparing, I thought that maybe one day, I would have the opportunity to have you stay here. So, I've been keeping it ready for you."
"I want to see!" Little Jingshi said.
Ming Yutong showed him around, saying, "We'll go to the mall this weekend, and you can pick out whatever you like to decorate it."
"Okay," Little Jingshi nodded eagerly, "Tong Tong, I really like it!"
Ming Yutong smiled gently at Little Jingshi, but just then, a phone call interrupted the pleasant atmosphere.
Ming Yutong took out her phone, and the screen showed Jiang Lulian's name.
Sighing, Ming Yutong walked back to the living room to answer the call.
Unexpectedly, Little Jingshi followed her closely, not letting go for a moment.
Little Jingshi looked up with an innocent face.
But in his heart, he was thinking, "Dad, I'm doing my best to keep an eye on Tong Tong!"
Ming Yutong lightly tapped Little Jingshi's soft, smooth nose. She knew exactly what this little guy was thinking.
However, she didn't mind Little Jingshi listening in.
There was nothing that needed to be hidden.
So, Ming Yutong sat on the sofa, and Little Jingshi climbed onto her lap with effort.
Ming Yutong wrapped him in her arms and answered the phone, "Lulian."
"Yutong, I... I'm downstairs at your place," Jiang Lulian said hesitantly over the phone.
Ming Yutong raised her eyebrows and smiled casually, "Why did you come over so late? You should go home and rest."
"Can I come up? Or, if you come down, I just want to say a few words and then leave," Jiang Lulian said.
He hadn't explained anything to Ming Yutong, hadn't told her about his discharge, and had quietly started dating someone else. He feared Ming Yutong would look down on him for this.
In reality, knowing that there was no chance for him and Ming Yutong, it might be better not to meet.
The two of them were never going to be together, so how Ming Yutong viewed him didn't really matter.
Yet, he couldn't let go. He cared too much.
This was obsession.
"There's nothing more to say. The words I spoke to you that day represent my current attitude," Ming Yutong said. "Really, you don't need to worry. What you're doing now is good, and I'm grateful for your choice."
If Jiang Lulian continued to pursue her after hearing this, it would be like pushing her into a fire pit.
Ming Yutong wouldn't be as polite as now if that happened.
Jiang Lulian stood by the car, looking up at the lights on the building, "Yutong, give me a chance, just this once. Let's meet privately, and after this, I won't trouble you with personal matters again. If you don't come down, I'll stay here and wait."
Without giving Ming Yutong a chance to reply, Jiang Lulian hung up the phone.
Ming Yutong frowned, looking at the phone with displeasure.
She couldn't let Jiang Lulian wait outside indefinitely, but she didn't want to go down either.
Unfortunately, Ming Yutong's father was not around at the moment.
Ming Yutong went to the balcony and saw Jiang Lulian's car downstairs.
Just as she sighed, her gaze shifted, and she saw Fu Yinxiu's car still there.
He hasn't left?
If he hasn't left, where was he now?
Still in the car…
Was he planning to wait here silently all night?
If Fu Yinxiu was waiting in the car, he would probably see Jiang Lulian.
Ming Yutong felt relieved knowing that Fu Yinxiu was there.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, thinking about Fu Yinxiu's presence made her feel secure.
Ming Yutong walked back to the living room, gently patting Little Jingshi's soft, round head, and said, "You stay here for a while, and I'll be back soon."
"Is Uncle Jiang downstairs?" Little Jingshi, being smart, guessed immediately, "Then I'll go with you. What if he bullies you?"
"It's fine, he won't bully me," Ming Yutong said patiently. "I need to clarify things with him so he doesn't keep bothering me."
Seeing Little Jingshi pouting, Ming Yutong added, "I can only feel at ease if you stay at home. Otherwise, I'd be worried about you."
"Okay," Little Jingshi reluctantly agreed. "If anything happens, you must tell me!"
"Don't worry," Ming Yutong said, gently pinching Little Jingshi's tender cheek. "With a man in the house, I feel much more secure."
Little Jingshi beamed, nodding his head enthusiastically.
"Of course! Don't worry, Tong Tong, I'll protect you and keep the house safe!" Little Jingshi patted his chest.
Ming Yutong: "…"
He's not exactly a guardian deity for the home, but here he was, claiming to protect the house.
Little Jingshi looked at her, a bit awkward. "Ah, but I'm still too young! It would be so much more reassuring if Dad were here. Even just his stern look could scare someone away."
Little Jingshi made sure to speak highly of Fu Yinxiu at every opportunity.
Ming Yutong laughed, put on a coat, and, as she was about to open the door, reminded Little Jingshi not to open the door for anyone, no matter who came.
After receiving Little Jingshi's assurance, she finally opened the door.
Before she could step outside, she saw Fu Yinxiu leaning against the wall by the door.
Although she had seen Fu Yinxiu's car parked downstairs and guessed that he might still be waiting, she had assumed he would be in the car. She didn't expect him to be right at her door.
If she didn't open the door or come out, was he planning to stand there all night?
"Dad, why haven't you left?" Little Jingshi asked in surprise.
Fu Yinxiu glanced at him, then turned his full attention to Ming Yutong.
"I wanted to stay closer to you. Since you won't let me in, I'll just wait here for you," Fu Yinxiu said, looking at Ming Yutong with longing. "Tong Tong, are you…"
Are you going to let him in because you feel sorry for him?
Fu Yinxiu had already started considering whether he could buy an apartment in the same building to be closer to Ming Yutong while waiting at the door.
Before Ming Yutong could explain, Little Jingshi spoke up first, "It's that Uncle Jiang who insisted on seeing Tong Tong. If Tong Tong doesn't go down, he refuses to leave."
Fu Yinxiu's face darkened immediately.
Jiang Lulian, how long will this go on?
He had already moved on and started dating someone else, so why was he still being so stubborn with Ming Yutong?
Fu Yinxiu completely forgot that he was also stubbornly waiting for Ming Yutong.
Ming Yutong didn't argue.
She simply remindedLittle Jingshi to stay at home and assured him she would be back soon.
Without saying anything more to Fu Yinxiu, Ming Yutong prepared to leave.
Fu Yinxiu followed silently, clearly pleased that he wasn't being sent away.
***
Jiang Lulian leaned against his car, and as soon as he saw Ming Yutong walk out from the building under the streetlight, he straightened up.
His heart began to race at the sight of her.