Stop There, Daddy

Wen Shuyue had been under great pressure since she’d made a bet with Chang Ning. Everybody in the industry knew about Chang Ning’s great talent for fashion design, but Wen Shuyue… It was very likely that many people misunderstood her as Chang Ning did.

“She’s skipping her meal again? Does Mom really have to push herself so hard?”

Looking at the unoccupied seat at the dining table, He Siming could not help but furrow his brows. Wen Baobao, looking at He Siming, asked him about it, feeling hard done by.

“It’s been a long time since Mom last dined with us. What on earth has she been busy with lately? It’s so frustrating!”

He Siming was amused by Wen Baobao’s words. He gave the servant some instructions, then grabbed a bowl of soup and strode upstairs.

“You’re skipping another meal? This is detrimental to your stomach health.”

Wen Shuyue was looking at the design in her hand attentively. She had no time whatsoever to think about anything else. Not until she heard He Siming’s voice did she lift her head.

Having been designing clothes for a long time, Wen Shuyue looked somewhat weary. There were dark circles under her eyes, the sight of which gave He Siming a pang of heartache.

“Stop pushing yourself so hard. Look at you. Here, drink some soup. Later you may go downstairs and have some congee,” He Siming said, standing by her side.

Wen Shuyue firmly shook her head. She did not put down the design in her hand. After a glance at the bowl of soup that He Siming was carrying, she took it and set it aside.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

“If there’s nothing else, you may leave. I need to put the finishing touches to my design. When it’s done, I’ll go downstairs to eat!”

After saying that, Wen Shuyue resumed working raptly. He Siming wanted to say something else, but Wen Shuyue lifted her head as if they shared some kind of telepathic bond. She rose to her feet, placed her hands on He Siming’s shoulders and directly pushed him out of her room.

“Okay, okay. I know what you’re going to say. I’ll take good care of my health. I won’t tire myself out. Please go outside. You’re keeping me from my work!”

With that Wen Shuyue closed the door before He Siming could say anything.

Looking at the closed door, He Siming pulled a wry face. He turned around to find Wen Baobao standing behind him. He did not know how long the boy had been standing there.

“Mom chucked you out!”

Wen Baobao made a remark with absolute certainty.

He Siming gave a sigh resignedly, walked over and stroked Wen Baobao’s head, then went straight downstairs.

“Your mom’s striving for something. We should not disturb her.”

Things kept going that way for a long time. None of Wen Shuyue’s designs struck her as satisfying. Having noticed how frantically Wen Shuyue had been working, He Siming and Wen Baobao did not know whether they should try to talk her out of it or give her their full support.

“Mom hasn’t had a meal with me for a long time.”

“It’s been a long time since she last talked to me…”

He Siming and Wen Baobao were eating alone at the dining table, expression their depression to each other.

After saying those words, the two of them looked up at the upstairs room at the same time. The door was tightly shut. The one inside did not show the slightest inclination to come out.

“We need to do something about it. Your mom has been working flat out for days. We can’t let her keep doing that. How about we take her out for a walk?”

He Siming looked at Wen Baobao who was sitting in front of him. He suggested that they trick Wen Shuyue into going out. He Siming knew he could not do it unaided, that Wen Baobao was the key to the success of his plan.

Wen Baobao looked at He Siming. After pondering for a long moment, the boy nodded his agreement.

“You’ve got a point.”

Having roped Wen Baobao in, He Siming quickly told the boy about his plan. The two of them both had a sly gleam in their eyes.

“Mommy!”

Wen Shuyue was fully occupied with her design when she heard an injured voice. She swiveled her head around and saw Wen Baobao standing at the door, looking hard done by.

Wen Shuyue walked up to Wen Baobao, squatted down in front of him and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

“Mommy, do you not love me anymore? You haven’t talked to me for a long time… Mommy…”

Looking at the hurt expression on Wen Baobao’s face, Wen Shuyue felt a pang of heartache. She reached out her arms and swept her son into her embrace.

“I’ve been busy recently. Didn’t I tell you that? I have a design to finish. I’ll take you out to play when it’s done, okay?”

Wen Shuyue had always struck people as a highly career-driven woman, but when faced with Wen Baobao, she displayed her gentle side. Feeling a twinge of heartache, she coaxed Wen Baobao. There was a hint of guilt in her voice.

Wen Baobao wanted to say okay, but at the thought of his agreement with He Siming, Wen Baobao wrapped his arms tightly around Wen Shuyue’s and looked at her piteously.

“Mommy, I want you to keep me company today. I haven’t gone out to play for a long time. Mommy, take me to an amusement park, okay? Mommy…”

Wen Baobao kept shaking Wen Shuyue’s arm. On hearing Wen Baobao’s words, Wen Shuyue subconsciously felt an urge to refuse, but He Siming showed up beside the two of them in a timely manner.

At the sight of He Siming, Wen Shuyue felt as if her savior had come to her help. She hastily lifted her head to look at He Siming. “Would you please take him to an amusement park? I haven’t finished my design yet. I can’t leave.”

“No! I don’t want that! I want Mommy! I want Mommy to go with me!”

Wen Baobao started clamoring before He Siming could say anything. Wen Baobao’s reaction gave Wen Shuyue a headache.

“It’s been quite a while since you last kept him company. Give yourself a break and take the day off. We may go out for a walk together. Maybe you’ll get some inspiration during the process.”

He Siming walked up to Wen Shuyue and stroked her head. Wen Shuyue looked a little haggard and pitiable, but she still maintained the strong side of herself.

After hearing He Siming’s words and gazing at Wen Baobao’s eager face for a moment, Wen Shuyue nodded her agreement.

“Yeah! Go and change clothes, Mommy! We’ll be waiting for you downstairs!”

With that Wen Baobao directly pushed Wen Shuyue into the coatroom and then quickly drew He Siming downstairs.

Wen Shuyue went into the checkroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Only then did she understand why He Siming and Wen Baobao were so worried. In the mirror, she looked terribly drawn, and her housecoat was somewhat baggy now. She appeared rather listless.

After dressing up, Wen Shuyue went downstairs. He Siming and Wen Baobao had been waiting for her beside the car for quite some time.

“Please get into the car, beautiful lady.”

He Siming pulled open the car door for her in a particularly gentlemanly manner. Amused by his action, Wen Shuyue couldn’t help but smile.

“We’re going to the amusement park.”

After getting into the car, He Siming looked at Wen Shuyue and said something to her. Wen Shuyue agreed. She was too busy coaxing Wen Baobao to make any remarks.