Shocking! A three-year-old brings his aloof mother to their door.

Mo Ye looked at his daughter's face, which was clearly saying "Why aren't you following the script?", paused for a moment, and then laughed: "Why did you mention Tongtong?"

Tongtong swallowed the beef in his mouth: "The kids in Tongtong's class said that he broke a cup, and his parents beat him up. He's too scared to sit down now."

As she spoke, she shrank back like a frightened fawn, touching her own bottom as if she were experiencing the same thing herself.

Mo Ye reached out and ruffled her little head. Her hair was soft and warm under his palm, carrying the unique milky scent of a child: "You didn't do it on purpose, why did Daddy hit you?"

Tongtong's eyes lit up, like two small lamps that had been lit. She turned to look at He Wanqing, her big eyes full of expectation, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Mommy~".

He Wanqing put down her chopsticks, took a tissue to wipe her mouth, then reached out and pinched Tongtong's little face, a faint smile on her lips, her voice light: "As long as Tongtong didn't do it on purpose, that's fine."

Tongtong's eyes narrowed, and she smiled like two crescent moons. She slid down from Mo Ye's arms and ran back to the stairwell with a "tap tap tap" sound, like a little rabbit that had been pardoned, disappearing around the corner of the stairs.

After the two finished eating, He Wanqing stood up and began to clear the dishes.

Mo Ye also stood up, and the two of them, one washing the dishes and the other wiping the plates, were so quiet in the kitchen that the only sounds were the running water from the tap and the clinking of the dishes.

Jiang Shuya leaned against the kitchen door frame, arms crossed, watching their busy figures, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

She asked, "Are you two spending the night here?"

Mo Ye put the last bowl into the cupboard, wiped his hands, turned around, looked at Jiang Shuya, and spoke in a gentle voice with a hint of apology:

"Auntie, I have to take my graduation photos at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, so I won't be staying here tonight."

Jiang Shuya: "Do you want me to come with you to take graduation photos tomorrow?"

Mo Ye quickly waved his hand, his voice fast and urgent, as if afraid that Jiang Shuya would misunderstand that he was disliking her: "Auntie, there's no need to go to so much trouble."

Jiang Shuya picked up a piece of apple from the fruit plate and took a bite: "It's okay, Auntie has nothing to do."

Mo Ye looked at Jiang Shuya and knew that it would be inappropriate to refuse her again.

He nodded, his voice gentle and sincere: "Then I'll trouble you, Auntie, to take my graduation photos."

Jiang Shuya smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, her voice filled with genuine, undisguised joy and anticipation: "I love watching energetic young people."

Mo Ye smiled and nodded, then called out towards the stairwell, "Tongtong~"

A little head peeked out from the stairwell, its little pigtails drooping crookedly, its big eyes darting around, and it called out in a childish voice, "Daddy, what's wrong!"

Mo Ye's voice was gentle and slightly conciliatory: "Tongtong, will you stay at Grandma's house tonight, or go home with Mom and Dad?"

Tongtong peeked halfway out from the stairwell, her chubby little hands gripping the handrail. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, pouted, and her expression changed from hesitation to confusion, and then from confusion to reluctance.

Her voice was muffled: "Aren't Mom and Dad staying overnight at Grandma's?"

Mo Ye nodded: "Dad has something to do tomorrow."

Tongtong bit her nails, hesitant.

She also wanted to play with her auntie. Although her auntie always bullied her, she bought a little crab that was really fun to play with. The claws could move and even light up.

Jiang Shuya smiled at Tongtong's conflicted little face, walked over, took her hand from the stairwell, squatted down, and looked her in the eye.

"Sweetie, Grandma will take you to see Daddy tomorrow morning. You'll stay at Grandma's house tonight."

Upon hearing this, Tongtong nodded her little head vigorously, her little tuft of hair swaying slightly, and her voice was crisp and bright: "Then Tongtong will stay at Grandma's house!"

Mo Ye and He Wanqing exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

Mo Ye and He Wanqing looked at Jiang Shuya and said at the same time, "Auntie, Mom, we're leaving Tongtong in your care."

Jiang Shuya waved her hand, picked up Tongtong, and let her sit in the crook of her arm, resting her chin on Tongtong's little head, her voice full of affection:

"I was the one who asked you to bring her over. I'd love for Tongtong to stay a few more days. She loves little Tongtong the most."

Tongtong nestled in Jiang Shuya's arms, rubbing her little face against her shoulder. "Tongtong likes Grandma too."

Mo Ye and He Wanqing nodded simultaneously and said in unison, "Then let's go home first."

Jiang Shuya carried Tongtong to the door and reminded them, "Be careful on the road."

Mo Ye and He Wanqing nodded and walked out hand in hand.

He Wanqing sat in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and turned her head to look at Mo Ye.

The streetlights outside the car window receded one by one, their orange glow flickering inside the carriage.

Her voice was filled with excitement and anticipation: "We can have some alone time together today!"

Mo Ye gripped the steering wheel, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. His voice held a mischievous chuckle and a hint of probing: "So, how does my wife want to live?"

He Wanqing touched her chin, tapped her jawline twice with her fingers, and then shook her head.

She didn't know how to get through the day, but as long as she was with him, she was already happy and didn't need to do anything special.

Mo Ye reached out and squeezed her hand resting on her lap, gently scratching her palm with his fingertips: "Then let's think about it again when we get back."

He Wanqing nodded, tightened her grip on his hand, and their fingers intertwined.

The car was parked in the garage of Qingzhuyuan.

Mo Ye turned off the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt, and turned his head to look at He Wanqing.

He Wanqing didn't rush to get out of the car. Instead, she turned around, stretched out her hands to him, and said in a soft, sweet voice, as if she were soaking in honey water: "Mo Ye, hug me."

Mo Ye grinned mischievously, his voice laced with a knowing, knowing laugh: "What's up? Wife, want to try it out in the car?"

He Wanqing's eyes widened, and her expression changed from anticipation to shock, and then from shock to shyness.

Her face flushed instantly, the redness spreading from her ears all the way down her neck, like a flower that had been roasted by fire.

She lowered her head shyly, her voice muffled, tinged with a hint of exasperation and guilt: "What are you thinking about!"

Mo Ye smiled, unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed open the car door, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the car door.

He Wanqing came out, and then, like a startled little rabbit, ran out with her long legs, her footsteps echoing in the empty garage.

Mo Ye watched her run away and followed behind her at a leisurely pace.

He was just saying it...