Chapter 1081 - 456: Last Wish (Part 2)
Yueyao truly didn’t care: "Let them say what they want! Rumors end with the wise."
Since Yueyao, the person involved, didn’t care, Mingzhu naturally didn’t dwell on it either. After leaving the studio, she played with Xiao Kexin for a while before heading back.
The rumors outside didn’t affect Yueyao, but Tingzheng couldn’t stay so calm. Tingzheng actually didn’t know that his birth mother was a prostitute. When he heard the rumors outside, he didn’t believe them at all, but since the stories were so detailed, it made him doubtful. The only person who could clear his doubts was undoubtedly Yueyao.
Tingzheng went to the An Mansion but didn’t see Yueyao.
Xi Yu said respectfully: "Fourth Young Master, the young lady is painting in the studio. No one can disturb the young lady when she is painting." Unless it’s a big deal, they wouldn’t bother Yueyao.
Although Tingzheng was anxious, he also knew Yueyao’s habits, so he calmed his anxious heart and waited patiently. He waited until An Zhichen returned, but Yueyao hadn’t come out yet.
An Zhichen knew that Mr. Yu Shan had given Yueyao some tasks, so he wasn’t surprised. Seeing Tingzheng’s expression, he could roughly guess what he wanted to ask about: "Is it about the rumors outside?"
Tingzheng’s expression was stiff. He had always thought his birth mother was a Maternal Auntie, and now to suddenly hear that she was a prostitute, he didn’t know what to feel.
An Zhichen remembered Yueyao’s words, saying that Tingzheng lacked experience and wasn’t stable in temperament: "Even if the rumors are true, what can you change by asking your sister? If they’re false, how should your sister feel about you asking such things?" An Zhichen had heard this rumor long ago, but he never asked Yueyao about it. It’s simple; Tingzheng, regardless of who gave birth to him, was now under the name of his mother-in-law, making him her son. Pursuing such trivial matters holds no meaning.
Tingzheng was stumped by An Zhichen’s question.
An Zhichen didn’t say much more. This was something Tingzheng had to figure out on his own; others couldn’t help: "Go back and think it over." Yueyao has been very busy lately trying to complete Mr. Yu Shan’s task, and he didn’t want Tingzheng to add to Yueyao’s burden.
Tingzheng felt a little sad, but he still listened to An Zhichen and went back.
Yueyao didn’t paint too late, remembering that Kexin needed to be nursed, so she came out as dusk fell. Upon entering the room, she saw An Zhichen accompanying Kexin.
By the time Yueyao came out, Xiao Kexin had already eaten some supplementary food, but compared to that, Xiao Kexin still preferred nursing.
After feeding Kexin, Yueyao was about to have a meal when she realized An Zhichen hadn’t eaten either; he was waiting to dine with her. Yueyao said, "Next time, if this happens again, you should eat first. Don’t stay hungry waiting for me."
An Zhichen smiled: "Okay." As for whether he would follow through, only An Zhichen himself would know.
Yueyao stayed busy for over half a month.
That day, when An Zhichen returned, Yueyao was again in the studio. He didn’t mind initially, but come evening, Yueyao still hadn’t come out. Xiao Kexin hadn’t seen her mother for most of the day and hadn’t nursed, so she started crying loudly. Hearing her cry, An Zhichen sighed, thinking how great it would be if Kexin were a boy.
When Xiao Kexin cried for two minutes and Yueyao still hadn’t come out, An Zhichen took Xiao Kexin into the studio. Upon entering, he saw Yueyao with her eyes fixed on her painting, oblivious to Xiao Kexin’s cries.
Yes, An Zhichen was sure; Yueyao wasn’t pretending not to hear—she genuinely didn’t hear, as all her focus was on the painting.
An Zhichen called out Xi Yu, telling her not to disturb Yueyao: "Let her be; let her focus." He had heard before that great painters could reach a level of selflessness while painting, and now he finally witnessed it firsthand. Yueyao looked as if she had reached this level of selflessness.
An Zhichen left the studio with his daughter, and Nanny Hua also brought over some supplementary food. An Zhichen coaxed his daughter to eat the food and played with Xiao Kexin for a while until she finally fell asleep.
After putting Xiao Kexin to bed, An Zhichen finally went to bathe.
Xi Yu couldn’t help but tell Nanny Hao: "My sister’s husband is truly a good husband."
Nanny Hao, having lived so many years, has never seen a man who cherishes his wife and daughter so much. Madam has been busy painting all this time, and Old Master not only hasn’t complained a bit, but also returns home to handle housework after finishing at the Yamen. His love for Xiao Kexin is immense, and when Madam is busy, he takes care of the child himself, which moved her deeply: "Indeed, very rare, our Madam is truly blessed."