"I don't dislike Mommy," Little Harvey said sullenly.
Xavier didn't say anything further. Harvey was seven years old, no longer a child. There were some things he had to learn to think about and decide for himself.
Little Harvey was distressed. He looked at his father, instinctively waiting for his father to offer a solution.
But his father remained silent, just waiting for him.
After a long while, Harvey couldn't help but urge, "Dad, why aren't you talking?"
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Why should I talk?"
Little Harvey frowned. "Aren't you going to help me think of a way?"
Xavier thought for a moment, then said, "When you grow up, will I always be by your side to think of ways for you?"
Confusion suddenly appeared in Little Harvey's eyes. He didn't understand.
Xavier sighed and beckoned Harvey over.
Harvey's eyes immediately brightened, and he rushed towards his father.
Xavier ruffled Harvey's hair and said, "Harvey, you're seven this year, a big kid now. So, starting this year, you have to learn to think for yourself. Dad can't do everything for you."
Little Harvey's eyes widened, and he looked at his father in disbelief.
"You called me over and ruffled my hair just to say this?" Little Harvey asked indignantly.
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "What else?"
"Hmph!"
"You're taking advantage of me!"
Little Harvey snorted loudly, angry.
Xavier chuckled, then said, "Harvey, Dad isn't joking with you. You saw it when Lu Wanqing was live-streaming with the other children before, right?"
That little girl from the Yu family, Yu Shu, was very smart. By the age of six, she could think independently and even find ways to make money.
Little Harvey: "!!!"
"I'm not worse than them!" Little Harvey said indignantly, but his voice was clearly less confident towards the end.
Xavier sighed and said again, "It's not your fault."
"Harvey, you used to wander the interstellar with Dad. You didn't have a good learning environment like they did, so you..."
"But you can start learning now. You have to gradually learn what you want and what you don't want."
"Let me give you an example, like your mother. If you like Lu Wanqing, don't pout all day looking like you dislike her. That will only push Lu Wanqing further away, and even create a psychological barrier between you, making it impossible for her to be close to you in the future."
"I didn't," Harvey stubbornly retorted.
"Whether you did or not, think about it calmly yourself, instead of denying it with your mouth. Think about your behavior recently, your attitude, your feelings. Have you hurt Lu Wanqing?" Xavier said calmly.
Little Harvey: "..."
"If you don't like Lu Wanqing, then you can maintain your previous attitude: always wearing a long face, getting unhappy whenever you see Lu Wanqing, running back to your room as soon as you return to the palace, locking your door, and not interacting with Lu Wanqing," Xavier added.
Harvey became anxious, his eyes turning red. "I'm not, I... I didn't."
Xavier fell silent for a moment. He suddenly remembered that Lu Wanqing liked to coax children with candy, and that seemed to work quite well.
Xavier fumbled in his pocket and took out a piece of candy, handing it to Harvey, who was on the verge of tears.
When Little Harvey saw the candy his father offered, the tears that were about to fall were stuck in his eyes. He looked up at his father, bewildered.
Xavier ruffled Little Harvey's hair and said calmly, "Harvey, you're only seven. You're not small anymore, but you're not big either. If you make a mistake, go apologize to your mother and act cute, and she'll forgive you."
"But remember this incident. If you truly like someone, don't blame or hurt them casually. If you push them away, you might never get a chance to get them back."
"You can't always be a child, and the people you'll face in the future won't always be your mother who will forgive you unconditionally. You might meet others – brothers, friends, or lovers. But no matter who it is, they can't withstand the hurt of your hot and cold treatment."
Little Harvey slowly took the candy. His mind was buzzing. His dad had said so much today. He felt like he understood, but also like he didn't.
"Mom is going to Earth," Little Harvey said sullenly, clutching the candy.
Xavier looked at the little cub and thought he was incredibly stupid.
Of all the children Lu Wanqing had genetically cultivated, this one was the dumbest.
The other brats were all racking their brains to get their mother to stay with them. This little fool Harvey, who clearly liked and wanted his mother so much, was pushing her away himself.
If it weren't for Harvey's recent rejection, making Lu Wanqing feel that Harvey wasn't attached to her and didn't like her, Lu Wanqing might not have so easily proposed leaving for a while.
"So?"
"What do you want?"
Xavier watched Harvey, waiting for him to come to a conclusion.
Harvey bit his lip and said sullenly, "I... Dad, doesn't Mom like me anymore?"
Xavier snorted. "That's not the case."
Although Lu Wanqing didn't take care of Harvey as closely as she did the other children, it was because she sensed Harvey's rejection. So, from another perspective, she was trying to give this child more space and freedom.
Little Harvey looked up at his father, bewildered.
Xavier thought for a moment, then said, "Didn't they promise to take you to Earth when the winter break starts? You just need to remember the time and make sure they keep their promise and take you to Earth with them then."
Xavier couldn't help but think that Earth held a special significance for Lu Wanqing, and for the entire interstellar community. If Harvey could go to Earth with Lu Wanqing, it would be more worthwhile than for the other children.
Little Harvey still looked a little unhappy.
"If you feel you didn't intentionally dislike Lu Wanqing, then go apologize to her. Didn't you always say what you wanted to say and do what you wanted to do before? When did you become so awkward and indecisive?" Xavier said disdainfully.
Little Harvey blinked, then his eyes lit up. He quickly nodded. "Okay!"
After speaking, Little Harvey ran out quickly.
Xavier watched the little guy's retreating figure, smiled after a long moment, and shook his head.
In the living room, Lu Wanqing was waiting. Then she saw Little Harvey running downstairs with his eyes shining brightly and a happy expression.
Lu Wanqing was stunned and quickly stood up. Why was the little guy so happy? Had Xavier said something to him?
Little Harvey rushed down in one go and ran to Lu Wanqing. He said loudly, "Mommy, I'm sorry. I don't dislike you. I... I didn't intentionally push you away before."