Surrounded by the Billionaire's Deep Doting-Chapter 535 - 410: Su Xiaomeng, She’s Tormenting Herself
"Don’t speak in such a sarcastic tone, we’re classmates, isn’t there a way to get along?"
Su Xiaomeng finished speaking and looked out the window, feeling a slight sense of satisfaction...
"..."
Yin Shixiu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Su Xiaomeng to respond so coldly.
After pressing his lips together, he said,
"That boy named Han Tan, he’s not someone to be trifled with. Eric mentioned him to me before, and I didn’t pay it much mind. Seeing you close to him today, it reminded me of that."
Xiao Meng thought, if being powerful means staying away, does it mean Yin Shixiu is powerless?
"So what if he’s influential? In school, we’re all classmates. Isn’t it tiring to overthink?"
"Regardless, try to avoid him."
"Don’t you think you’re getting too involved?"
Su Xiaomeng frowned slightly and turned to look at him,
"I can make my own judgments. Do you really have the time and energy to worry about who I’m close to or distant from, amidst all your responsibilities?"
"I’m not trying to interfere with your decisions, nor—"
"Yes, you are!"
Su Xiaomeng was extremely frustrated with his flat-out denial!
He was clearly interfering, yet finding other excuses to cover up!
"Screech—"
The tires skidded against the road, making a sharp screech as the car steadily stopped at a temporary parking spot by the roadside.
"Cough cough cough..."
Su Xiaomeng grabbed a tissue, coughed a few times into it, and felt like she was about to pass out from lack of oxygen.
"Why did you stop?"
Yin Shixiu was already sulking and his tone could not have been kind.
But seeing her cough like that, his tone softened,
"What’s wrong with you? Why are your words so sharp?"
"When did I speak sharply? Cough cough... cough cough..."
Su Xiaomeng’s excitement sent her into another fit of coughing, and Yin Shixiu, feeling helpless, couldn’t continue his inquiry as intended.
He reached out to pat Su Xiaomeng’s back,
"Alright, stop talking, close your eyes and rest for a bit. I’ll wake you when we get home."
"..."
Su Xiaomeng didn’t look at him, she just adjusted her seat back and lay down.
Yin Shixiu retrieved a blanket from the back seat—which he had intentionally brought along— and covered her with it.
The car started up again, driving steadily, just as it always did when she was tired and sleeping.
————
Home.
Xiao Meng went straight to her room. Shuangshuang and Huang Huang wanted to hug and kiss her, but she refused.
She was afraid of spreading her cold to the children.
Shuangshuang and Huang Huang followed her to the master bedroom, but they didn’t go in. They knew Mom was worried about them getting sick, even though neither sibling was afraid of catching Mom’s cold.
"Mommy, get well soon..."
Shuangshuang said seriously, making a cheering-up gesture.
Xiao Meng came over and smiled,
"Yes, Mommy will get better soon. Were you well-behaved at home today? Did you upset Aunt Claire?"
At this moment, Xiao Meng was really unwell, her limbs weak and her mouth dry. She could clearly feel her body temperature rising. Her eyes were stinging from the heat.
But she just leaned against the doorframe. Although she couldn’t be affectionate with her children, she could still stand there and chat for a bit.
After all...
She couldn’t bear to neglect them as they clung to her.
As soon as Xiao Meng asked if they upset Claire, Shuangshuang quickly said, "Ate my lunch..."
And then pretended nothing had happened and turned away.
Though young and unsteady on their feet, their minds were sharp.
Xiao Meng didn’t call her out, but Prince Huang looked at Su Xiaomeng with concern...
Although the siblings were young, it was hard to say exactly how much they understood about relationships and situations.
But the siblings were indeed slightly better than average in language, communication, learning, and understanding for their age.
Comparing the siblings, Huang Huang was more sensitive than Shuangshuang.
Maybe he didn’t know exactly what happened, but he faintly sensed their mom’s unhappiness...
His small hand reached for Su Xiaomeng’s—
"Hey, Huang Huang, don’t touch mommy."
Prince Huang pouted... It was rare to see such a coquettish expression.
Su Xiaomeng’s heart softened, she reached out a hand...
Prince Huang immediately grabbed it.
"Hey... count to three, okay? One, two..."
"Mommy."
"Yes?"
"Do you hate Dad?"
"..."
Prince Huang asked seriously, his big eyes watching her, just like being stared at by Yin Shixiu...
She didn’t expect Prince Huang to ask that question...
Her first reaction was, how could a two-and-a-half-year-old have such deep thoughts?
And then she reflected on whether she was showing it too obviously...
Actually, Xiao Meng was overthinking it.
Prince Huang was serious, but he was just randomly asking. He tended to initiate conversation this way because it allowed him to hold his mom’s hand longer.
Yet, he indeed had a keen insight.
He wasn’t as talkative or rowdy as Shuangshuang, but he was observant, thinking things through before speaking or acting.
Even at his age, Prince Huang was much more systematic than Shuangshuang.
He observed his parents’ interactions daily. Xiao Meng thought she was hiding it well, but the usual intimacy between his parents seemed to have vanished in his eyes!
Prince Huang’s goal wasn’t to get an answer from Mom.
But suddenly, Xiao Meng squatted down and asked Prince Huang a question,
"Does Huang Huang like Mommy more, or Daddy more?"
If Huang Huang were older, around seven or eight... this question could take another form—
When parents divorce, who do you want to stay with?
Su Xiaomeng’s tone was calm, her expression was calm when she asked...
But to her surprise, Prince Huang didn’t answer for a long time. He just kept staring at Su Xiaomeng, and then suddenly, he puckered his lips and started to cry...
"Waa waa..."
Xiao Meng was suddenly at a loss.
Yin Shixiu rushed over upon hearing the crying,
"What happened?"
Xiao Meng found it hard to speak, but she knew she couldn’t just stay silent. So she vaguely said,
"I just asked him whether he liked Dad or Mom more... and then he suddenly cried... cough cough... cough cough cough..."
Yin Shixiu’s body stiffened, and when he held Prince Huang in his arms, his gaze remained fixed on Su Xiaomeng.
Why...
Why did he feel so uneasy inside?
Why would Su Xiaomeng ask such a question?
Asking whether someone likes Dad or Mom more might seem like an innocent question in the eyes of relatives and friends who come over.
But as parents, they understand very well that it’s not a good question for a child.
It’s like asking them to choose between their parents...
Making a choice...
"You go console him, I just asked casually. Who would’ve thought... I’ll go shower first, cough cough..."
Before Yin Shixiu could respond, Xiao Meng had already shut the bedroom door.
What was going on with Su Xiaomeng?
A deep feeling of unease lingered...
In the evening, Xiao Meng was in the study catching up on schoolwork, books, and assignments spread across the table. But before she managed to flip any notes, she had already laid her head down.
When Yin Shixiu entered, she was burning up with a terrifying fever!
He quickly carried her to the bedroom and asked Claire to call the family doctor.
Su Xiaomeng lay weakly on the bed, moaning...
The family doctor lived nearby, so it was just a matter of ten-odd minutes. Yin Shixiu stood by the bed, watching the frail Su Xiaomeng...
For a long time...
He finally realized what was causing his unease.
He had always felt there was something off, and finally pinpointed it.
No need!
Being this sick, there was no need to go to school, no need to do homework, no need...
Yet she insisted on going!
This stubbornness was not because she loved studying! Nor because she was afraid of falling behind!
Even if only for the children’s sake, she should have tried to recover quickly! Especially since she hated being sick more than anyone!
Su Xiaomeng... She was torturing herself.
