Chapter 14
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This time, she had successfully run away from home.
Jing Ning had previously been in a severe car accident, but she had forgotten the terror of being on the brink of death back then. However, she absolutely dared not take the wheel now. So when she ran away, she didn’t bring the car keys. She threw her large backpack onto her back with all her might and pointed the way for Zhu Zhu.
“Let’s go.”
Jing Ning forgot to hold Zhu Zhu’s hand, but the little bundle followed on her own.
The night was pitch black. This was a city Zhu Zhu had never been to before, but following her mother, her courage was remarkable. Her short legs stepped in rhythm, crossing and moving confidently.
Jing Ning opened a ride-hailing app and entered the destination without hesitation.
No matter what, they had to find a place to stay.
The quality of life for a young lady could not be compromised—they had to choose the best star-rated hotel in the northern part of the city.
The driver was quite talkative, mumbling about how such a small child was still awake in the middle of the night.
“It’s still quite far. How about letting the child nap for a bit?”
Zhu Zhu’s eyes shone brightly like two little light bulbs, wide open and sparkling, showing no intention of resting.
Jing Ning looked at her little bundle.
The child sat upright with perfect manners, hands placed neatly on her knees, obedient like an honor student in kindergarten.
Bai Hui had once told Jing Ning about some of her own unreliable childhood experiences.
In this respect, Zhu Zhu was nothing like her.
So much had happened in one day that Jing Ning still hadn’t fully processed it all. Considering the strange behavior of those around her over the past few days, their inexplicable trip to the southern city to pick up a child, the sample provided for the paternity test, and her parents’ tacit acceptance just now—all pointed to one conclusion: she truly had a daughter.
Jing Ning rested her chin on her hand.
How confused must she have been to have a child and then forget about her?
The driver gently applied the brakes, and a hotel attendant came forward to open the car door.
Jing Ning, accustomed to luxury, immediately requested the presidential suite.
“Sorry, ma’am,” the front desk said, “there is only one presidential suite on the top floor, and it has already been booked by a gentleman.”
“Or you could choose the deluxe suite,” the receptionist suggested, explaining the size and amenities.
Zhu Zhu waited patiently nearby, yawning slightly.
In the end, Jing Ning accepted the room card for the deluxe suite.
That day, little Zhu Zhu had a grand experience.
She moved from one castle to another. The hotel room’s carpet was soft; the little girl’s feet barely pressed down, as if stepping on clouds.
Jing Ning sprawled on the plush bed, then propped her head up.
Should she be taking care of this child?
But Zhu Zhu didn’t seem to need much care; even the most troublesome bedtime routine—washing up—she didn’t ask her mother for help.
Watching her come out of the bathroom, Jing Ning pressed her lips together.
The child smelled sweet, but the ugly clothes she wore were hard to look at.
Jing Ning asked Zhu Zhu to change out of the ugly pants first, then helped blow dry her hair.
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In the Zhao family of Yongrui Village, Zhu Zhu never used a hairdryer.
When it was hot, she would go around with wet hair, letting the electric fan dry it. When it was cool, the fan was put away, but the breeze outside was strong, so her hair dried naturally as she walked.
This was the first time her hair was gently touched and dried by warm air, fluttering in front of her eyes.
Zhu Zhu tilted her head back. When she heard her mother tell her not to move, she immediately obeyed, blinking, her little face flushed with excitement.
She was like a soft, delicate little toy.
Speaking to her, one felt compelled to soften their tone. When Jing Ning put down the hairdryer, a strange emotion still flowed quietly within her.
Zhu Zhu’s head began to nod occasionally.
She was sleepy.
“All right,” Jing Ning rubbed her head, then suddenly caught sight of a wound on her little leg. “You’re hurt.”
She called the front desk to send a first aid kit.
The wound on Zhu Zhu’s leg was from being kicked to the ground by Qin Meilan at noon.
It had hurt badly and made her feel wronged then, but now, snuggled in her mother’s embrace, she was the happiest child in the world.
“It hurts a little,” Jing Ning clumsily applied medicine. “You have to bear it—”
Before she finished, she noticed Zhu Zhu’s eyelashes trembling with her eyelids lowered.
Clearly, it hurt—the little teeth were clenched so tightly she almost made a sound—but she didn’t whimper.
Jing Ning’s slender, fair hand held the cotton swab lightly, moving even slower.
She had seen the struggles of little bitter melons trending online; those children’s lives had to be difficult, very difficult…
“You don’t have to bear it,” Jing Ning corrected herself. “If you want to cry, just cry.”
Zhu Zhu quickly shook her head back and forth like a rattle drum.
She was so happy, she didn’t want to cry at all.
She shook her head more vigorously but grew even sleepier.
No one knew how long she held on before finally, the little bundle, drained of energy, quietly fell asleep in Jing Ning’s arms.
Jing Ning, who had always been prone to minor ailments, had become more disciplined after her amnesia, but now it seemed her true nature was resurfacing. She pushed the first aid kit aside to make room for a calm rest.
Just as she was about to lie down, she realized her shirt was being tugged.
Zhu Zhu was already asleep.
Her two little hands clutched Jing Ning’s clothes, refusing to let go.
Even in her dreams, the little one lacked a sense of security.
She was afraid that if she didn’t hold tight enough, when she woke up the next day, the mother she had just seen might disappear again.
Jing Ning didn’t pull away the little hands.
Her thoughts swirled; she still struggled to accept the change in her identity.
At that moment, a serious question came to mind.
Did the child have a father?
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Jing Ning looked up at the sky—
Back then, she must have met an irresponsible man and had to become a single mother on her own.
…
The next morning, Jing Ning was still groggy when she felt a round little figure lying beside her.
She opened her eyes, and when their gazes met, mother and daughter’s minds simultaneously switched on, activating their mental gears.
Everything that had happened last night was no dream.
Jing Ning lazily opened the electric curtains just a crack.
Warm sunlight poured into the room, shining on Zhu Zhu’s face, which looked like a little ripe peach.
Having never played with children before, Jing Ning didn’t know what to do next.
She poked her little belly with her finger.
So cute.
Zhu Zhu shyly pulled in her belly.
Jing Ning was not a planner and hadn’t considered what to do today.
After waking up, she casually tied up her long hair. “Let’s go have breakfast first.”
After washing up, Zhu Zhu became her mother’s little shadow again.
Her mother said they were going to eat a buffet breakfast, something Zhu Zhu had never heard of, but she obediently followed along.
In the hotel restaurant, the buffet offered a wide variety of dishes.
The little one seemed as if she hadn’t eaten for days and nights, every bite delicious.
The ham and the spoon were both unruly—one running, the other chasing.
Using knife and fork was something Zhu Zhu hadn’t tried yet, but before she could learn, her mother pinched a slice of ham with her fingers and popped it into her mouth.
Zhu Zhu’s eyes widened like saucers, mimicking her mother, eating with even more gusto.
Mom was the most amazing adult she had ever seen.
What neither of them noticed was a sharp gaze not far away.
After a long while, the person withdrew his eyes and suddenly took off running swiftly.
Assistant Wen took the elevator straight to the top floor, intercepting Mr. Jiang, panting heavily.
Jiang Cheng moved left, and he moved left.
Jiang Cheng moved right, and he ran right to block him.
Jiang Cheng stopped in his tracks: “?”
“Mr. Jiang, I—I saw her!”