Chapter 116: Who Is Whose Support

Song Yi immediately turned and called Chen Xin.

When Chen Xin answered the phone, she had just arrived at the library entrance and hadn’t even stepped inside yet, only to hear something utterly baffling.

Rubbing her brow, she told Song Yi that she wouldn’t be going to the shop that evening anymore, and that from now on, anyone who came looking for her phone number at the store should simply be ignored.

“Strange, why would someone suddenly come looking for me?” she shook her head in puzzlement. But just as she reached out to grab a book, a possibility suddenly crossed her mind.

“Could it be that they want to get a task from me? But I’m not even the person in charge—what use would finding me be?” Later that evening, while chatting on the phone with Bai Mengqing, Chen Xin was still perplexed about the matter.

“Finding you might be useless, but they can get to Teacher Cao through you,” Bai Mengqing, who had spent some time working in government offices, bureaucracies, and those soul-draining social groups, understood these convoluted maneuvers well. “I suspect he’s not getting much attention from Teacher Zhan. Probably nearing graduation, and without a project, he can’t write his thesis. So, he has to find another route. If he can transfer under your teacher, this translation task would be enough for his thesis. Even if he does nothing else, just borrowing your manuscript to submit would suffice.”

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow. “Do you take me for a fool? Is he some kind of heir to a fortune or from a dazzlingly beautiful family? I’m not going to fawn over him like that. You’re thinking too much.”

Bai Mengqing chuckled on the other end. “Maybe he thinks that after you’ve had a child, you won’t get married again, so anyone interested in you is already doing you a huge favor.”

Chen Xin rolled her eyes. “I really owe his ancestors a debt of gratitude.”

“Enough about him. When is your project ending? The graduation defense should be coming up.”

“I’m not defending this year,” Chen Xin said decisively. “I applied for a graduation extension and plan to take the postgraduate entrance exam next year. After finishing this project, I won’t participate in any others for a while. The newly established foundation here is gearing up to start official operations between late August and early September. I’ll mainly work part-time there. After I graduate with my master’s, I’ll consider other things.”

“Oh, by the way, didn’t you get a little villa? Rent me a room. My current lease is ending, and I have a lot of materials that are inconvenient to move. I plan to stay at your place until the foundation’s office is ready, then move.”

“Why rent? Come live with me. Just wait for your big sister to favor you. And you can help me look after Little Fatty and the house.”

“Where are you going now?” Bai Mengqing was utterly baffled by Chen Xin’s constant busyness, always disappearing like a ghost.

“I’m going to Jinda University to attend a few classes, probably for about two weeks. They only provide student dormitories, so I can’t bring Little Fatty. If you can’t help, he’ll either have to go back to the mountain or be entrusted to Grandma Liu for care.”

Fortunately, the kindergarten where Little Fatty and the others attend had stopped summer vacations starting this year, though children attending during the summer had to pay a bit more. This was designed to ease the worries of parents without dual incomes—pay a little extra, and you don’t have to worry about your child’s safety. Plus, it costs much less than hiring a nanny, and the children might even learn a thing or two.

Bai Mengqing just needed to pick him up and drop him off morning and evening; dinner could be at the café with Song Yi and the chef around, so they wouldn’t be at a loss.

After hanging up, Chen Xin found herself sleepless. She glanced at the little one sleeping with his little bottom sticking up, then sat in his room, leaning against the wall, lost in thought.

It had already been two or three years, and the past was beginning to blur. Her life’s focus was now in the present, and surprisingly, she didn’t feel any pain about it. Without Little Fatty, she wasn’t sure if she could have integrated into this world so quickly. Everyone thought Little Fatty was a burden to her; only she knew he was her salvation, the very root of her swift recovery and ability to live well.

“Auntie, the pork is delicious,” Little Fatty said, smacking his lips as if still savoring the sweet and sour pineapple pork from dinner. He was so fond of it that, not wanting to eat much else, he pointed to two bowls of the dish. If Chen Xin hadn’t stopped him, he might have devoured the whole plate.

The next morning, Chen Xin prepared Little Fatty a bear-shaped omelet rice.

Tomatoes, peas, and diced chicken were stir-fried with tomato sauce and oyster sauce, then wrapped in a pre-cooked omelet. She used a mixture of mayo and ketchup to draw the bear’s face, cut cheese slices for the mouth, and seaweed for the eyes and nose. The adorable little bear was sure to whet Little Fatty’s appetite.

Alongside this palm-sized omelet rice, she made a box of bear-shaped cookies for him to share with his classmates.

Just as she set the meal on the table, Little Fatty, still sporting a messy mop of fuzzy hair, got up by himself, washed his face, dressed, and ran out to hug Chen Xin’s leg, asking what was for breakfast.

“We’re eating ‘Little Fatty,’” Chen Xin teased him. “Look at your little rolls—you’re practically rippling with fat. If you don’t eat, what are you waiting for, the New Year?”

“Hahaha, Auntie, don’t pinch me, it tickles!” Little Fatty laughed, snuggling against her. “If you don’t eat me, when I grow up, I’ll buy delicious food for you.”

As they spoke, Chen Xin held him on his little dining chair. Seeing the bear-shaped omelet rice on his cartoon plate, he smiled brightly again.

“Eat up, Little Fatty, eat this, okay?”

Chen Xin couldn’t help but laugh and pinched his soft cheeks. “Eat quickly. Auntie brought you cookies. Remember to give a share to Liu Mei, and share the rest with your friends.”

“Okay!” Little Fatty was quite good at eating by himself now. He used to drop some food, but now the plate’s edges were spotless, and he never dirtied his clothes.

Cheng Jie often said Little Fatty was a remarkable little guy, much better than her own daughter, who was a delicate little princess and insisted her dad feed her a couple of bites before she’d eat herself.

Actually, Chen Xin wanted to say that those children who act delicate do so because they know they have support and are cherished. You see, children from poor families dare not be so pampered in daily life.

Still, some children are naturally mature and emotionally intelligent, very considerate of their families. Little Fatty might not be that emotionally savvy, but overall, he was a truly endearing little warm boy.

During meals, Chen Xin told Little Fatty that she might be at Jinda University for about ten days before the holidays. During that time, he would have to rely on Auntie Bai’s care.

“You mustn’t be naughty. Auntie Bai isn’t in the best health and can’t be overworked. Don’t ask Auntie Bai to carry you too much; try to walk by yourself, okay?”

“I’m a real man now; I don’t want to be carried,” Little Fatty corrected her seriously. “I haven’t asked you to carry me for a long time!”

“All right, all right, Auntie was wrong. Sorry, Student Zhang, please forgive me.”

“It’s okay!” Little Fatty laughed and hugged Chen Xin tightly. “I like Auntie the most.”

Just as the aunt and nephew were cozying up, they heard a knock at the door.