Two years passed, and Tang Yu's child could already walk.
At first glance, Tang Xiaomin always felt that the child's features bore a slight resemblance to Tang Zhongcheng.
There's a saying about intergenerational inheritance, perhaps that was the reason.
She scooped up the child and lifted him high. "My darling, you've grown so much, let your aunt hold you."
The child's eyes, clear and unstained, looked at Tang Xiaomin, incredibly endearing.
Wang Na exclaimed, "Xiao Min, you're really back."
She hadn't quite believed it when Tang Ye told her earlier.
...
Back home, the furnishings were the same as two years ago. Only now, several toy strollers and toys occupied a corner of the living room.
At first glance, it felt much warmer than before.
Under the bar counter by the floor-to-ceiling window, several sunflowers lay scattered, their yellow petals strewn across the floor.
It was likely the little darling's masterpiece.
"Xiao Min, I'll call your brother and the others to come back for a good reunion."
Wang Na walked towards the kitchen while on the phone.
"Aunt Li, please make tonight's dinner extra special, the whole family is coming."
"Okay, I understand."
...
While Wang Na was in the kitchen, Tang Xiaomin, holding the child, went to the bar counter.
She picked up the scattered sunflowers from the floor, arranged them in a vase, creating a beautiful display.
Whenever Zhang Meiyu was around, she always made this corner of the house the most eye-catching scene.
"Ababa... Abba..."
...
The child showed great interest in the sunflowers, pulling on Tang Xiaomin's leg and holding up his hands to ask for them.
"These are Grandma's favorite flowers, little darling, you mustn't ruin them."
"Auntie will take you to play with the toy car, that's more suitable for boys."
Children are so easily appeased.
Her eyes landed on the largest toy car in the corner. It wasn't huge, but an adult could barely squeeze inside.
Tang Xiaomin's eyes lit up. She sat inside, holding the child with one hand and steering with the other.
"Here we go!"
Rumble...
The sound of plastic tires against the ground, and the child's giggles, echoed outside the villa.
Those who didn't know would have thought a big child was playing with a small child.
The scene was exceptionally warm and happy.
Wang Na watched the scene outside the window, a smile gracing her lips.
"This is wonderful."
...
Tang Ye and Tang Yu returned. After two years apart, their eyes held a newfound depth and maturity.
The biggest change was in Tang Ye; he had transformed from an idol into a complete businessman, his aura entirely different.
"Xiao Min, you're finally back. Do you know how much I missed you these past two years?"
Tang Ye stepped forward, intending to give Tang Xiaomin a big hug.
Seeing this, Tang Xiaomin, with a hint of disgust, shoved the child into his arms, stopping him.
Tang Ye's charm lasted less than three seconds, and he reverted to his usual self, retracting his words.
"You little brat, go find your mom."
Tang Ye placed the child on the ground and gently patted his bottom, trying to shoo him away.
"Ababa..."
The little darling didn't leave. Instead, he grabbed Tang Ye's leg.
Tang Ye looked down at the child's expression, trying to decipher his meaning, and instinctively sniffed.
The next second, he frowned, quickly covered his nose, and his expression changed.
"You've pooped again."
"You're so disgusting."
"Oh dear..."
Tang Ye, with a look of disgust, picked up the child like a chick and rushed into the house.
"Where's the nanny? Hurry and take this stinky brat to wash up, he smells again."
"Coming, coming!"
A young female nanny hurried down from upstairs and quickly took the child to the bathroom to clean him up.
Tang Yu walked over, patted Tang Xiaomin's shoulder, and said with forced sincerity,
"It's good that you're back."
...
Night fell, and dinner was over, but there was still no sign of Tang Yan.
The original family of seven was now reduced to four. Tang Yan's absence was a matter of great concern for Tang Xiaomin.
"Why isn't Tang Yan coming back?"
Wang Na replied, "I called him today, and he said he was very busy."
"However, he rarely came home to stay during the two years you were away."
Tang Yan had been sentenced to several years in prison. Later, due to Zhang Meiyu's critical illness, Tang Xiaomin had managed to get him released on parole.
As a special case, he was subject to special treatment and was not allowed to leave Modu.
At 8:30 PM.
Tang Xiaomin went to the garage, got into the car Tang Zhongcheng had given her, and drove to a car repair shop.
From a distance, she saw a person covered in dirt, holding a tool and installing a tire on a car.
The person's face was so black, one would believe they had crawled out of a coal mine.
But with those defiant eyes, Tang Xiaomin recognized him instantly.
It was Tang Yan.
He routinely accepted payment, washed his face, changed into clean clothes, and leaned back on a bamboo chair, playing with his phone.
He didn't close the shop, seemingly waiting for something.
Another half hour passed, and a McLaren drove into the repair shop.
As soon as the car stopped, Tang Yan eagerly stepped forward to speak to the driver, a rare gentle curve gracing his lips.
That expression was something he had only ever shown to Tang Yiyi before.
Never to Tang Xiaomin.
A girl in a JK skirt, short boots, and a vest stepped out of the car and directly sat on the bamboo chair Tang Yan had been leaning on.
She silently waited for Tang Yan to repair her car.
Tang Yan was not truly idle; since childhood, he had been tinkering with car parts, specializing in engineering.
It was just that he had taken the wrong path later in life, which had cost him dearly.
Another half hour passed, the hood of the McLaren was closed, and the car was repaired.
"You waited for me so late, Tang Yan. Let's go for some late-night snacks. My treat."
"Sure, I haven't had dinner yet," Tang Yan said as if it were a matter of course.
Or perhaps, he had intentionally skipped dinner.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
The girl got into the car first, and Tang Yan opened the passenger door.
At this moment, Tang Xiaomin's car drove in, and the moment she entered, she began honking incessantly.
Beep beep...
Beep beep beep...
"Sorry, we're closed today," Tang Yan said.
Suddenly, he turned his head, looking at the car, and confirmed the license plate number.
It was indeed Tang Xiaomin's car!
The car window slowly rolled down, and Tang Xiaomin glanced at Tang Yan.
"The battery in this car is dead, you need to replace it for me."
It hadn't started when she arrived; she had used a wire to get it going temporarily. The battery had been sitting for too long and wouldn't hold a charge.
Tang Yan looked at the girl in the McLaren, then at Tang Xiaomin.
He quite liked this girl. This was a rare opportunity to go for late-night snacks together, and he really didn't want to miss it.
"Can you wait for me for another half hour?"