After the Maniacal Alpha Settled Down, She Had a Wife and Daughter - Chapter 34

Yu Sui had interacted with many children of this age during her years abroad, whether they were her professor’s or classmates’, but this little dumpling was the first one she felt an immediate connection with.

She bent down and asked gently: “Little one, what are you looking for?”

Xinxin was tugging at her pants leg, and the little plump figure was already squatting down, precariously reaching for a glass marble nearby. Yu Sui followed her gaze and easily picked it up for her.

“Are you looking for this?”

Xinxin was a little nervous. She tightly held the recovered glass marble and stared at Yu Sui. Mom had told her not to talk to strangers. But this older sister helped her pick up the marble, so she couldn’t not speak. Because Mom had also said that a child must not be impolite, and when someone helped her, she must say thank you.

“Thank you, older sister.”

Yu Sui paused, then couldn’t help but reach out and gently stroke her head: “You’re welcome. Where is your mother?”

A child this small couldn’t possibly be at the exhibition alone. She probably accidentally dropped the marble and followed it, and her parents were probably frantic by now.

Xinxin’s eyes were also full of anxiety now. She hadn’t noticed while she was frantically looking for the marble, but now she realized that Mom wasn’t there, Auntie Bai wasn’t there, and she was surrounded by strangers. Her little hands clutched her hair, and her chubby face wrinkled up.

Yu Sui saw this and internally found it incredibly cute, but she had to quickly soothe her. Based on her experience with children, this child was likely to burst into tears next.

“Can’t you find your mom? Shall I help you?”

Yu Sui didn’t directly reach out to Xinxin but extended her hand toward her, waiting for the child to take it. Xinxin pouted, becoming more anxious, but still didn’t reach out her hand.

Mom said not to go with strangers.

“I’ll wait for Mom here.” Xinxin’s wristband suddenly made a sound, startling Yu Sui.

Xinxin’s expression instantly changed, and she became happy: “Mom is coming!”

Before Yu Sui could look up, she heard a hurried female voice rushing towards them.

Chu Jiayun had been reading the detailed toy descriptions just now. She hadn’t expected Xinxin to slip out of Bai Jiling’s grasp in a moment of inattention. This terrified the two adults. The separation of just a few minutes made Chu Jiayun’s heart pound.

She immediately hugged Xinxin, thoroughly checked her, and then held her tightly.

At the same time, she sternly said to her daughter: “Xinxin, you’ve made Mom very worried, and it’s very dangerous to run off by yourself like that!”

Xinxin had also realized it now, or she wouldn’t have been so panicked earlier.

She wrapped her chubby little arms around Chu Jiayun’s neck and rubbed her cheek against her: “Mom, I won’t do it again.”

Chu Jiayun was usually very careful with her words and attitude when interacting with her daughter. She never scolded her casually and had certainly never hit her. But today, she was truly scared. This was the first time bringing her daughter abroad, and in such a crowded exhibition. If she really got lost, the consequences would be unbearable for her.

Xinxin held the glass marble in front of Chu Jiayun: “I dropped the marble. This older sister helped me pick it up. I said thank you, and then I waited for Mom here.”

She looked at Chu Jiayun anxiously, hoping her mother wouldn’t be angry anymore.

Chu Jiayun stood up, tightly holding her daughter’s hand, and was about to thank the ‘older sister’ who had helped her daughter.

But the person had been staring at her blankly for a long time. Probably from the moment she rushed over and hugged her daughter, Yu Sui was completely stunned.

This child was actually Instructor Chu’s. She hadn’t been without thoughts that Chu Jiayun might have a new relationship over the past four years, but she still couldn’t accept that the other person’s child was already this big.

Chu Jiayun’s shock was no less than Yu Sui’s, and she had an added layer of guilt compared to Yu Sui.

“Thank you for helping my daughter pick up her toy just now, and thank you for looking after her for me.”

Yu Sui recovered and spoke with difficulty: “You’re welcome.”

She looked down at Xinxin, who was looking up and smiling at her. Her heart inexplicably softened: “But it’s better not to let little children run around alone. It’s not particularly safe abroad either.”

“I understand. I will be more careful in the future.”

Chu Jiayun planned to leave with her daughter, but Yu Sui couldn’t help but ask her: “Are you well lately?”

“I’m fine. What about you? Are you working in Belgium after graduation?”

Chu Jiayun thought Yu Sui had studied business. Seeing her at the exhibition, she naturally assumed she was a representative of an exhibitor or a buyer. At worst, she might be a staff member of the exhibition organizer. It never occurred to her that the works in this small booth were designed by her.

Though their conversation was polite and distant, they were both secretly taking a good look at each other. Yu Sui looked a little more mature than four years ago. Her hair was past her shoulders. Her former rebelliousness had now been restrained into a quiet demeanor, showing both youthful vitality and a growing mature stability, without lacking a designer’s uniqueness.

Chu Jiayun’s long hair was tied up, making her look capable and mature as before. Perhaps due to becoming a mother, she exuded a gentle aura, quite different from her previous cold hardness. However, the faint fatigue in her eyes also spoke of the hardship of motherhood.

Yu Sui saw Xinxin curiously staring at her booth, so she turned sideways and pointed: “I switched majors to study design. These are all works I designed. I’m here to exhibit today, and I don’t live in Belgium.”

Chu Jiayun was very surprised, not expecting Yu Sui to truly choose a path different from the one the Yu family had designed for her.

“Then I wish you a successful exhibition.”

Under normal circumstances, if her daughter was eagerly staring at something, Chu Jiayun wouldn’t ignore it. But now, she just wanted to quickly leave with her daughter, afraid that Yu Sui would ask more questions. Moreover, she was afraid Yu Sui might notice something about Xinxin.

“Mom, the older sister’s toys are so pretty.”

Chu Jiayun and Yu Sui suddenly both felt stifled by the address “older sister.” Chu Jiayun thought, even if you two don’t know each other’s identities, Xinxin, you absolutely cannot call her older sister!

Yu Sui was even more unwilling to be downgraded a generation for no reason. Even if she and Instructor Chu were fated to be apart, she couldn’t be on the same generation level as Xinxin.

She bent down, smiled gently, and playfully touched Xinxin’s nose: “Little one, what’s your name?”

Xinxin looked up at her mother, who showed no sign of stopping her.

She whispered: “My name is Xinxin. What about you, Older Sister?”

Yu Sui had never realized that she could connect so well with a small child. She felt an urge to be close to her, and the smile on her face became even gentler: “I’m not an older sister. You should call me Auntie.”

She also glanced at Chu Jiayun. Seeing her remain silent, she continued to speak to Xinxin: “My name is Yu Sui. You can call me Auntie Yu.”

Xinxin obediently changed her address: “Auntie Yu.”

After speaking, she couldn’t help but mutter: “But you clearly look like an older sister.”

Perhaps because of her design major, compared to her business major classmates, Yu Sui’s clothing style in recent years was mostly casual. Fully enjoying her freedom and leisure, she genuinely didn’t look her age compared to her peers.

Just then, Bai Jiling hurried over. She was relieved to see Xinxin was fine, but she was surprised to see Yu Sui here.

“Yu Sui, what a coincidence. Are you here to see the exhibition too?”

“Hello, Instructor Bai. I’m here to exhibit.”

Bai Jiling glanced at Yu Sui’s booth. It wasn’t large, and the location wasn’t ideal, but the works were quite diverse. However, she hadn’t studied this area much, so she couldn’t immediately see much value.

She noticed that Chu Jiayun’s mood wasn’t right. She thought it was the lingering shock from Xinxin getting lost, and she hadn’t calmed down yet.

So, Bai Jiling softly said: “Are you alright? Maybe we should leave instead of staying. Let’s go back.”

Xinxin was desperate when she heard they were leaving so soon.

She loved it here. The dazzling array of toys—there were so many she liked.

“Mom, I want to keep playing.”

Chu Jiayun looked down at her daughter’s pleading face. Whether it was because of meeting Yu Sui or the earlier scare, her guilt and care for her daughter instantly surged.

“Then you are not allowed to run around again.”

“I’ll hold Mom’s hand all the time.”

Seeing that both mother and daughter wanted to stay, Bai Jiling stopped trying to persuade them. Due to the Yu family’s status, she couldn’t overly snub Yu Sui, even though she knew Yu Sui had been estranged from Yu Zhongqing and hadn’t been home for years.

But that didn’t change the fact that Yu Sui was a Yu family member. Wealthy families generally valued blood ties more, and the father and daughter might reconcile one day.

“I remember you all applied for business majors at the time. I didn’t expect you to become a designer now.”

Based on Yu Sui’s current status, she was only a prospective graduate with a design major. Strictly speaking, she couldn’t be called a designer yet. Bai Jiling’s words clearly elevated her.

Yu Sui handed a promotional flyer to Bai Jiling and also gave one to Chu Jiayun.

“I’m just starting out, still in the trial stage.”

Bai Jiling felt guilty about Xinxin running away from her, so she smiled and said to Xinxin: “Xinxin, which toy do you want? Shall Auntie buy it for you?”

Since arriving at the exhibition, Xinxin’s eyes had been inadequate. She made them stop for a while at every particularly interesting item. Others brought children to watch the excitement; they brought the child to genuinely see the exhibition.

Chu Jiayun sometimes found it strange that her daughter, who was generally well-behaved, obedient, and never threw tantrums since she was little, had an unusual obsession with toys. Moreover, she didn’t like ordinary toys but preferred those with complex designs, clearly not the simple kind meant for young children.

Now, seeing Yu Sui and her designs, Chu Jiayun suddenly understood.

But her heart felt even more bitter, and she could only tightly purse her lips.

Yu Sui’s attention remained on Chu Jiayun and her daughter, but Chu Jiayun deliberately avoided her gaze. With Bai Jiling also present, she didn’t have a chance to ask much.

However, hearing Bai Jiling also refer to herself as ‘Auntie,’ it confirmed that Xinxin couldn’t be her child. Yu Sui’s previous guess seemed increasingly likely to be true. She wanted to take another good look at Xinxin.

So, she reached out again, smiling at Xinxin: “Shall Auntie Yu help you choose a gift? Whichever one you like, Auntie will give it to you.”

Most of the works at the exhibition today were not for on-site sale. Independent designers’ works could be customized through private contact or sold exclusively after signing a contract with a professional channel partner.

Bai Jiling might not be able to buy one, but if Yu Sui said she would give it, then it was possible.

Xinxin had just missed out on several favorite toys. Now, hearing that she had a chance to get one, she was thrilled.

But this time, she behaved and didn’t move. She looked eagerly at her mother, hoping Chu Jiayun would agree to let her hold Auntie Yu’s hand.

Yu Sui looked at Chu Jiayun: “The child likes toys. Just let her be happy for a bit.”

Chu Jiayun slowly released her hand. Xinxin immediately happily placed her small hand in Yu Sui’s palm and took a few steps closer to the booth with her.

Chu Jiayun naturally followed them. Bai Jiling watched the backs of the three of them and felt a little strange in her heart.