Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
Su Xi felt that ever since returning from the military camp, the cub’s emotions had been fluctuating inexplicably, which was a bit puzzling.
These past few days, whenever she went online, the cub’s eyes would light up as always. But when she tucked him in like a mother, threw an outer robe at him while he was reading to make sure he didn’t catch a cold, or occasionally stole a couple of eggs from the Ministry of War’s kitchen and tossed them on his table for him to eat, the cub didn’t seem so happy. Instead, a complicated look appeared on his face…
He still looked at her with a gentle expression and thanked her.
…But when he lowered his head, his lips were pursed, as if something was stuck in his chest, something he couldn’t express, and he couldn’t speak.
When Su Xi saw him return from General Zhenyuan’s place, it seemed that the hem of his official robe had been caught on a tree branch, and he hadn’t noticed it himself. If it were any other clothes, it wouldn’t matter; after all, the boy was no longer the boy he used to be, and he had money now, so he could just change into a different outfit. But this was his official robe.
So, while he was asleep at night, Su Xi redeemed the sewing skill from the shop and happily mended it for him.
The next day, the little one discovered it.
Su Xi was somewhat smug when she logged on, expecting to see joy on her son’s chubby face. After all, when she had secretly shown him warmth before, his face had softened as if a warm current had flowed through it. But this time, she saw her son wearing a white undergarment, holding a patched-up official robe, his expression extremely complicated, and his eyes filled with gloom—
Su Xi: …?
The boy seemed lost in thought, not happy at all, but rather somewhat dejected. He touched the patched area on his official robe with his finger, gave a self-deprecating smile, and his expression was somewhat bitter.
Then, that morning, he remained silent for a long time before putting on his official robes and going to the government office.
Before she could even greet him and let him know she was online, Su Xi, who witnessed the subtle expressions on his face the whole time, thought: …???
Su Xi didn’t understand what was wrong with her little character. If it were before, he would have been very happy to do this, staring at her with bright eyes. But now— was he tired of his mother’s company?!
Could it be that her gaming companion had already grown tired of this companionship before she even got tired of playing the game?
Su Xi was struck as if by a thunderbolt from the sky!
After she turned off the screen, her mind went blank as she repeatedly thought about what she had done wrong recently— besides meddling in other people’s business and letting her son go see the daughter of the Minister of War, had she done anything particularly serious?
Why was there always this inexplicable awkwardness between the cub and her since they returned from the military camp…?
These past few days, whenever she earnestly reminded her child to wear more clothes, the child would stiffen. She thought it was just her imagination, but after witnessing firsthand how the child wasn’t as happy as she thought after receiving the clothes she had mended, she finally realized that the awkwardness she had felt these past few days was not just her imagination.
Su Xi couldn’t figure it out, and her mood became somewhat down.
She knew this was probably because every time she logged on, no matter what she did, the cub would always wait for her with bright, dark eyes, which made Su Xi feel needed and cared for. But these past few days, the cub had been acting strangely, his mood odd, and their relationship was incredibly strained. Such that she felt uncomfortable all over.
Why is this happening? Su Xi didn’t understand. Is it really just a rebellious phase? Even at her age, she didn’t want to talk to her parents, preferring to spend time with Gu Qin and Huo Jingchuan. So, is her son also like this, now preferring to be with his friends?
Outside the room, Mother Su was calling Su Xi to eat. Before Su Xi logged off, she switched the interface to the Imperial Academy and saw Yun Xiupang following behind the cub.
These past few days, the cub had been hesitant and reluctant to speak to her, but he was quite open with Yun Xiupang.
The two little ones sat on the steps outside Guangye Hall talking. Talking messages kept popping up above Yun Xiupang’s head. The little one frowned, and although he was taciturn, he did not interrupt him. The two seemed to have been exchanging a lot of information.
Su Xi: …
Seeing this scene, Su Xi felt a pang of pain in her heart, and a sense of loss and desolation arose within her.
Although she secretly hoped that her son would make more friends, so that he wouldn’t be so distracted if she didn’t show up for three days.
But when she really sensed that her child had something on their mind and wasn’t telling her, but instead talking to other children, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.
Thinking about this, Su Xi suddenly realized that she usually rushed into her room to do homework and play games as soon as she got out of school and only played with her best friends at school. But when she received a call from her mother, she would hang up after only a few words. This must really hurt her mother’s feelings.
So she turned off her phone and went into the kitchen, her eyes brimming with tears, and said to her mother, “Mom, don’t go playing cards this afternoon, I’ll go shopping with you.”
Mother Su looked bewildered, carrying the dishes toward the dining room, and impatiently waved her away: “Go away, go find your friends to play with. How old are you, still bothering me? I have a card game appointment this afternoon.”
Su Xi: …
Su Xi was disliked both inside and outside the game. Today happened to be the weekend, so she simply invited Gu Qin to go to the library to study.
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Academy, Yun Xiupang was eager to say more to get Lu Huan’s attention, but Lu Huan beside him kept his brows furrowed, with a hint of melancholy in his expression, as if he were lost in thought and hadn’t heard a word Yun Xiupang said.
….
Lu Huan used to think that it would be good enough if the ghost could stay with him forever.
He was always happy whenever she appeared by his side, bringing him something or giving him advice.
He so cherished the warmth of her company, and her kindness and care.
But gradually, as Lu Huan became aware of the inappropriate possessiveness, jealousy, protectiveness, and even some unsavory thoughts welling up within him, and as the thoughts of a young man began to rush forth without him realizing it, she remained…
She treated him like family.
Because she treated him like family, she was kind to him, cared about him, reminded him to wear more clothes when it was cold, and secretly mended clothes for him.
But she would never be like him, obsessively anticipating the day they would meet; she would never understand his anxieties and jealousy of her friends in her world; nor would she, like him, feel as if a day apart from him was like an eternity.
She even sincerely hoped that one day he would meet another woman and settle down and start a family.
His world revolved around her, but her world contained many other people and other things.
She didn’t seem to want his world to revolve solely around her; rather, she hoped he would turn his attention to others and not focus too much on her.
Liking someone wasn’t like that.
Therefore, she didn’t like him; she only felt some familial affection for him.
Lu Huan felt a heavy weight in his heart, his whole body immersed in icy water, unwilling yet helpless.
….
Su Xi was facing her midterm exams this semester.
Before this exam, to avoid a repeat of the last situation, she told her son in advance and tried to make him understand that she had something important to do and might not be online for several days.
Although the boy didn’t say anything, only telling her to be careful in everything, his expression clearly darkened.
After Su Xi told him she was leaving, before she had completely turned off the screen, she saw the cub slowly fading out of sight, sitting alone on the steps in the courtyard of the official residence, looking preoccupied.
The sight similar to a kindergarten child watching his mother walk away with longing eyes, not knowing where she was going or where to look, his dark eyes filled with a sorrowful look, instantly made Su Xi’s heart clench. She almost couldn’t help but run back and pinch her child’s cheek again.
However, the exam is only three days long, and it will be about eight days in the game. Eight days apart isn’t a big problem, right?
Besides, doesn’t the cub have other friends now?
Thinking of Yun Xiupang, Su Xi sighed. Her little one had finally made a friend, and she should be happy. But these past few days, she had noticed that her little one didn’t tell her anything that was on his mind. Why did she feel so uneasy?
Su Xi shook her head, deciding that important matters came first. For the next three days, she voluntarily gave her phone to her mother and focused on her exams.
This midterm exam was a bit more difficult than the last one, and Su Xi wasn’t initially very confident. However, having studied with her son recently, she had actually done more practice problems than before. As a result, several question types on the exam were ones she had seen while doing her homework the night before. During the exam, Su Xi was pleasantly surprised and quickly finished the questions. With this in mind, she felt her grades wouldn’t be too bad this time.
After finishing the last exam, Su Xi, carrying her exam bag, walked out of the exam hall with the crowd and finally let out a sigh of relief.
After leaving the examination room, it was always the busiest time. Some students were in a hurry to go home and kept saying “excuse me” as they squeezed forward.
As Su Xi walked up the stairs, she was shoved by the crowd behind her. She had fallen countless times since she was a child, so when the familiar feeling of weightlessness washed over her, her pupils widened and a bad premonition rose in her heart. But this time, a student in front of her blocked her way, causing her to only twist her ankle and barely regain her balance on the stairs.
She actually managed to stand firm?! Su Xi looked at her feet in disbelief.
She thought that, given her unlucky constitution, she would either twist her ankle badly or fall somewhere.
Su Xi thought it was because her luck was starting to improve. She took a breath and quickly followed the crowd in the hallway back to the classroom.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron and access advance chapters on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents• Next