I Became the Mother of His Child-Chapter 447: I Also Want to Play

Xiuxiu’s cold hadn’t improved as Yuanhuan had hoped, since taking medication didn’t swiftly cure it. In the two to three days that followed, Xiuxiu remained groggy and out of sorts. Usually healthy, she tended to drag out even minor ailments for half a month, and it even got worse by the time Yuanhuan was prepared to drive back to his hometown for the Lunar New Year. Although her cold had worsened, it still didn’t hinder their travel plans back home.

Xiuxiu, wrapped up snugly in a coat by Yuanhuan, soon fell into a deep sleep in their family car. Their three children were exceptionally well-behaved, aware that Xiuxiu wasn’t feeling well after sitting in the car all day. None of them fussed. Song Chengguang, as the eldest sibling, took good care of his younger brother and sister. Seated side by side in the back, they would listen to stories told patiently by Song Chengguang, which kept them quietly entertained.

Because he was worried about Xiuxiu’s worsening cold, Yuanhuan didn’t make many stops on the way back home. He found a decent motel to sleep in the first evening and continued the journey home the next day. During this time, Xiuxiu’s head remained foggy, which wasn’t typical for just a cold, but knowing Yuanhuan was by her side gave her a profound sense of security. Sporting a small temperament due to her cold, her true nature revealed itself, and despite this, Yuanhuan still loved her deeply.

When they finally reached Song Family Village from Imperial City, it was near the end of the year, just at dusk, right when the sun had set. After spending the entire day in the car, the three children were exhausted. However, as the car came to a stable stop and they realized they were home, they energetically hopped off. Only Yuanhuan remained, gently coaxing Xiuxiu.

"Xiuxiu, we’re home now, wake up, love. Let’s go inside and you can continue sleeping, okay?" Yuanhuan said, amused and fond, looking at the flu-stricken Xiuxiu wrapped up warmly in the car, her cheeks a rosy picture of health. This simple-hearted woman only showed this side of herself to him, otherwise he would constantly worry about her.

"Mm!" Xiuxiu slightly lifted her eyelids. "Are we home?" Her voice was nasally from her cold.

"We’re home," Yuanhuan replied, gently straightening her somewhat disheveled hair from her naps.

Meanwhile, Song Chengguang, who had already exited the car, showed a manly concern as he approached Xiuxiu’s seat, opened the car door from the outside, and asked worriedly, "Mom, are you feeling better? Let Chengguang help you inside!" He was nothing short of gentlemanly.

"I’m okay, much better," Xiuxiu responded, shaking her head as she got out of the car on her own. "Chengguang, keep an eye on your brother and sister!" With the boy and girl twins still young, they hardly remembered last year’s visit home, so everything seemed fresh to them this year. Despite her cold and feeling unwell, Xiuxiu still cared deeply for the three children.

"Mm!" Seeing that Xiuxiu really was managing okay, and with his father by her side, Song Chengguang confidently nodded and went over to his siblings.

Hearing the sound of the car outside, Mrs. Song immediately hurried out of the house, just in time to see the three children lined up at the doorstep, and Xiuxiu just getting out of the car, not looking very well. "Xiuxiu, what’s wrong? Do you have a cold? Or is something else making you uncomfortable? Your face looks so worn out!" she asked, approaching with a face full of concern.

Originally, when she stepped out of her front door and caught sight of her three lively grandchildren, Mrs. Song felt overjoyed. However, when she turned her head and saw the visibly poor condition of Xu Xiuxiu, Mrs. Song couldn’t help but worry. This daughter-in-law was usually in good health—what was causing this unusual appearance now? As an elderly person, she naturally became anxious.

"Mom, I’m fine, just a bit of a cold after a rough journey back; I’ll be better after I rest up inside for a while," Xu Xiuxiu mumbled. Although she was groggy, she still had an instinctive stubborn streak when dealing with Song Yuanhuan, but she dared not act spoiled in front of Mrs. Song. Thus, she cleared the bewildered look in her eyes before responding.

"You better hurry into the house! It’s warm inside, and this winter, I tell you, is even colder than the years before. Despite the bright sunshine, it’s still bone-chilling cold outside; the frost is about an inch thick!" Mrs. Song spoke with the intent of getting Xu Xiuxiu inside quickly, possibly because of the common blabbering habit of rural elderly women. As they walked toward the house, she explained the basic situation at home and then couldn’t help but glance toward the three children—who had just called her "grandma" and were now curiously standing at the gate looking up at the long icicles hanging from the wall.

"Chengguang! It’s cold outside, don’t stare at the ice pillars any longer, hurry and bring your brother and sister inside. It’s nice and warm inside; grandma has lit the stove, and it’s very cozy in the main hall!" Mrs. Song called out, her face displaying a coaxing expression for the children.

"I know, Grandma," Song Chengguang responded obediently. As it was already evening and the sun had set, the cold was indeed unbearable, so he took his sister’s hand and led her toward the house.

"Brother, I want to play too," Little Baby exclaimed, her gaze focused on a girl nearby who was similar in age but noticeably thinner and darker, and seemingly with much thinner clothing.

At that moment, the girl was huddled near the corner of the fence, her thin, ruddy hands holding a straw-strung ice pillar. Her large, dark eyes, filled with a mix of timidity and curiosity typical of her age, were fixed in their direction.

Little Moon, standing by Little Baby’s side, heard her sister’s words and looked in that direction too, then pursed her lips in silence.

"Xiaoqi, why are you outside? And playing with that cold ice pillar, no less. Drop the icicle and go inside to find your mother," Mrs. Song, following the gaze of her three grandchildren, also saw the little girl huddled in the corner. Seeing her timorous expression, she gently coaxed her.

Although this little girl was not her own kin, she had arrived with the new daughter-in-law and tenderly called her "grandma." Additionally, because she was rather shy and timid, Mrs. Song spoke with a softened tone.

"Yes," the girl named Xiaoqi replied, pursing her lips and then quietly nodding her head. She tossed aside the ice pillar from her hand and pitter-patted across with shoes that seemed ill-fitting, then entered the house, disappearing from everyone’s sight.