"Mama... don't cry." Qiqi lifted his small hand and seriously wiped away the tears on Qiao Mo's face.
Qiao Mo's eyes were red, and she tried to force a smile for him: "Qiqi is such a good boy."
"Qiqi will protect Mama." Qiqi's eyes were bright, filled with seriousness and determination, particularly striking on his pale little face.
Qiao Mo shook her head, cupped her son's small face, and softly said, "Mama doesn't need Qiqi to protect her, Mama just wants Qiqi to be healthy all his life, to always be happy."
Qiqi blinked his watery eyes at her.
Qiao Mo gently said, "Promise Mama, okay, always be healthy and safe, always be happy."
Seeing the teardrops in Qiao Mo's eyes, Qiqi raised his small hand once again to wipe them away. Under her expectant and anxious gaze, he nodded firmly.
"Such a good boy." Qiao Mo held him in her arms, her gaze falling on the distant surgery room.
Silently praying that both of them would be safe and sound.
...
The next day, early in the morning.
