Page 139

Story: Noble Marriage

"Sweetheart, Mommy has a gift for you too." She kissed him fiercely, and Xiaocong smiled happily, hugging her and kissing her back.

The thing mother and son loved to do the most was kiss each other’s cheeks, as if that was the only way to express their love for one another.

The dinner that day was made by Lin Xinlan, each dish infused with her painstaking effort and love.

Xiaocong and Grandma Lin enjoyed their meal immensely, and Lin Xinlan did too; almost all the food on the full table was polished off by them.

When it was time to sleep at night, Lin Xinlan said to Grandma Lin, "Mom, let’s all sleep together tonight."

Ever since she had grown up, she hadn’t slept with her mother.

Grandma Lin was inclined to agree but said with concern, "I’m worried it might be too cramped, and you and Xiaocong won’t sleep well. You have a long bus ride tomorrow; you should rest well tonight."

"It’s okay, the bed is so big, it won’t be too crowded. Mom, let’s sleep together tonight," Lin Xinlan pleaded with a smile.

Xiaocong was very clever. He hugged his grandmother’s arm and whined, "Grandma, let’s sleep together. Xiaocong wants to sleep with you and with Mommy too."

Grandma Lin’s favorite was him, and she was helpless against his coquetry.

"Alright, all three of us will sleep together; that settles it."

"Grandma is the best, long live Grandma, I love you, Grandma." Xiaocong tiptoed to kiss her, and Grandma Lin moved her face closer, receiving a slobbery kiss from him.

"You’re such a sweet talker, Xiaocong, Grandma loves you so much." Grandma Lin was so happy that she hugged him close, and he giggled uncontrollably.

During the days of her return, the house was filled with laughter every day.

They seemed to live in paradise, without any sorrow or trouble, only joy.

How Xinlan wished she could live with her child and mother every day, even if it meant being a bit harder, a bit more tired.

No matter how reluctant she was, she still had to leave the next day.

She needed to catch the eight o’clock bus in the morning, so she had to get up early, have breakfast, and then go to the bus station.

Xiaocong was sleeping deeply, and after Xinlan got up, she didn’t have the heart to wake him.

She said to Grandma Lin, "Mom, I can go to the bus station by myself; it’s still early. You should sleep a little more."

Grandma Lin shook her head, firm in her decision, "No, I’m going to see you off. Wake up Xiaocong too; if he sees you leave without a word, he’ll definitely cry for days."

"But he’s still asleep, let’s not wake him. Let him sleep more. Also, if he sees me off, I won’t be able to bear leaving..."

Xiaocong opened his eyes groggily, overhearing the conversation between his mother and grandmother.

The realization jolted him awake, and he hurriedly climbed up, yelling anxiously, "Mommy, I’m awake! Don’t you sneak away; I want to take you to the bus!"

Xinlan, worried he might fall out of bed, quickly went to hold him.

He immediately clutched at her clothes tightly, repeating insistently, "Mommy, don’t sneak away. Let me take you. I want to see you off."

"Alright, Mommy won’t sneak away. I’ll let you see me off, okay?" Xinlan reassured him with a smile.

Xiaocong finally calmed down, smiling. Then he quickly put on his clothes and went to wash up.

He moved swiftly, his face free of any reluctance, always smiling. Xinlan thought as long as he wasn’t crying, it was okay; that was what she was afraid of.

While Xinlan was packing her luggage, Xiaocong brought over a heap of his snacks and fumbled as he put them in her suitcase.

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