Chapter 21: Meow
Jing Zhi put Jing Mimi down, mouthed “My mom” to Jiang Suifeng, and walked straight out of the ward.
When he received his mother’s message asking where he was, he had casually lied about working to avoid unnecessary trouble, not really intending to hide anything from her.
Now, it was hard to explain.
Jing Zhi closed the door behind him and said to Xu Sumei, “Mom, let’s talk over there.”
The ward’s soundproofing wasn’t good, and he was afraid the people inside would hear them.
Xu Sumei lowered her hand clutching the phone tightly. Her chest was still heaving, but she wasn’t an impatient person and didn’t explode immediately. She followed Jing Zhi to the end of the corridor.
In the past, when Jing Zhi went out with Jiang Suifeng, they had also encountered Xu Sumei, but they never spoke. Either Xu Sumei turned and left, giving him a “lecture and conversion” over the phone at night, or he quickly led Jiang Suifeng away, afraid of being seen by his mother again and causing trouble.
Counting it up, this was actually the first time he had interacted with his mother after bumping into her with Jiang Suifeng.
This time was very different from before. He didn’t know how long his mother had been standing outside the door, how much she had heard, or if she had misunderstood Mimi’s existence.
He wasn’t someone who kept his mouth shut, nor did he like unnecessary misunderstandings. After stopping, he confessed directly: “That child was lost. His family couldn’t be found in the DNA database. Currently, the police have arranged for him to live in the welfare institute. I feel a connection with him and like him very much, so I plan to adopt him after the notice period ends.”
Xu Sumei was stunned, and the heaving of her chest slowed down a bit. “I saw he looked a bit like you when you were little, so I thought…”
Jing Zhi nodded: “I also think he looks a bit like me, that’s why I said we have a connection.”
Xu Sumei was still a bit worried and asked, “Have you done a paternity test?”
Jing Zhi roughly knew what his mother was worried about. He couldn’t possibly be the kind of person who tricked girls into having children or obtained children through illegal means. He replied, “Yes, the police station did it. Because I found the child and called the police, and he was very close to me and called me Papa, the police were afraid I was some irresponsible scum, so they did a paternity test immediately. There is no blood relationship with me.”
The big stone hanging in Xu Sumei’s heart finally landed.
Really… scared her to death.
Fortunately, it was just a false alarm.
The feeling of surviving a disaster was relaxing. Xu Sumei asked, “Have you thought clearly about really adopting that child?”
Because of the single-parent family, Jing Zhi matured early. Once he decided on something, he usually wouldn’t change it, and he wouldn’t say things he wasn’t sure about in advance.
In her opinion, Jing Zhi wanted to adopt the child because he and his boyfriend were both men and couldn’t have offspring. The formal and legal way was to adopt a child. Although there was no blood relationship, as long as they raised him well, it was actually no different from a biological child.
In the past, when IVF technology wasn’t mature, her neighbor next door in her hometown couldn’t conceive for a long time, so they adopted a daughter from another family who couldn’t afford to raise children. Although there was no blood relationship, they raised their daughter as their own, and the family was happy and harmonious. After the daughter grew up and learned about her background, she didn’t mind. She still treated them as her biological parents and took them to live in the city, being very filial to them.
People, ah, it’s just sincerity for sincerity.
Jing Zhi nodded seriously. “He already calls me Papa.”
Xu Sumei was silent for a long time after hearing this, so long that Jing Zhi began to feel uneasy again. Finally, he heard her sigh deeply and say, “Alright, alright.”
Jing Zhi couldn’t quite figure out her meaning and didn’t dare to speak.
Xu Sumei: “With a child in the future, the responsibility on your shoulders will be heavier. Live well and be a good father.”
Jing Zhi: “…?”
Jing Zhi couldn’t believe his ears.
What did his mother mean?
Was this accepting him being with Jiang Suifeng?
It was so sudden that he felt like he was dreaming or hallucinating.
…
He had tried to persuade her for so long before without any effect. How did she suddenly accept it?
Jing Zhi couldn’t figure it out and decided to ask her directly: “Mom, why did you suddenly accept my sexual orientation?”
Xu Sumei answered slowly: “Men are too unreliable, but one’s own child is different.”
Jing Zhi: “…?”
“Look at your deadbeat dad, not only unreliable but also disgusting. But you have always been Mom’s pride. Mom raised you personally, treated you well, and you treat Mom well. Mom is very happy to have your company for the rest of her life.”
“So I hope you can get married and have children normally. If the other half is a girl, it’s best for the family to live well after marriage. Even if you misjudge the person and she turns out to be like your dad later—cheating, whoring, having low character—you can be like Mom, take your child away from the scum, and live a good life.”
“But men can’t give you any guarantee. If you break up in the future, you won’t even have a child to take care of you in old age and send you off.”
Jing Zhi: “…”
His mom really hated men other than him a bit.
“Now you’ve met a child you have a connection with. Although there is no blood relationship, I see you get along very well. Raise him well, be a good father. He will definitely be good to you in the future. Mom can’t accompany you to old age, but with that child around, Mom is relieved knowing someone will take care of you.”
Jing Zhi understood.
It wasn’t that his mother had an ideological awakening and accepted his sexual orientation; it was that he had always misunderstood what his mother really cared about.
Like the older generation with traditional thinking, Mom felt one must have a child, and the child was even much more important than a partner.
Although Jing Zhi didn’t quite agree—after all, raising a child well was too difficult, and he wasn’t sure if he could really be a good parent or if any accidents would happen to the child in the future—he knew when to quit while he was ahead.
“Got it, Mom. Why did you come to the hospital? And to the children’s inpatient department.”
Xu Sumei looked away guiltily. “My eyes were a bit uncomfortable, so I booked an expert appointment. It’s still early, so I just walked around casually…”
Jing Zhi roughly guessed that his mother had followed him and Jiang Suifeng here, but he didn’t expose it and said, “I’ll accompany you to the checkup.”
Xu Sumei didn’t refuse.
Jing Zhi hadn’t lived at home since college, only going back regularly to accompany her. He seemed particularly busy recently and hadn’t been home for several weeks, probably because of this child.
She had also retired and enrolled in a university for the elderly. Taking classes every day, learning musical instruments, and occasionally traveling with her old sisters was quite fulfilling.
It was just that in recent years, her old sisters went one by one to take care of their grandchildren, so they couldn’t meet up often, which was a bit disappointing.
But she was still envious. Who didn’t like having the younger generation around their knees, lively and bustling?
“What’s the child’s name?”
“Temporarily called Mimi. If adopted later, we’ll give him a proper name.”
Jing Zhi hadn’t told his mother much about the kitten Mimi because she was particularly afraid of animals and heard she was allergic to animal fur. But since she never got close, Jing Zhi hadn’t seen her allergic reaction.
So Xu Sumei only knew Jing Zhi raised a cat but didn’t know the cat’s name. Maybe she had heard it once but didn’t take it to heart and forgot.
“Why is his hair that color? Is he mixed-race?”
“…Maybe.”
Jing Zhi secretly added in his heart: Mixed with British cat blood.
“Does he have anything he likes? Or likes to eat.”
“Likes to eat fish.”
Xu Sumei noted it down secretly.
Chatting along the way, it was Xu Sumei’s turn. Jing Zhi accompanied her inside for the checkup.
The result was a bit of conjunctivitis. Just go back and use some eye drops; no big problem. Pay more attention to eye hygiene usually.
During this time, Jing Zhi replied to the text message from Jiang Suifeng.
Jiang Suifeng: [What did your mom say? Is the situation okay?]
Jing Zhi: [It’s fine, nothing serious. I’m accompanying her to check her eyes, will be back later.]
Jiang Suifeng: [Okay.]
Jiang Suifeng: [Mimi is playing with the child in the next bed. There’s a surprise when you come back.]
Jing Zhi didn’t reply again. Clutching the phone in his pocket, his heart was filled with mixed feelings. Even Mimi’s surprise couldn’t wash away these chaotic emotions.
He… was wavering again.
Because his mother suddenly accepted him being with Jiang Suifeng.
If it were before, he would have happily shared it with Jiang Suifeng immediately, but now his mind was too messy, like it was filled with tens of thousands of scrambled puzzle pieces.
While he was dazing, Xu Sumei got up with the prescription from the doctor, nudged him standing behind her, and said, “Let’s go, get the medicine.”
Jing Zhi snapped back to reality, gave a “Mmhmm,” and went to the first floor with her to pay and get the medicine.
Getting the medicine, Xu Sumei couldn’t wait to open it and use the eye drops.
After finishing, she packed up again and asked Jing Zhi hesitantly, “Little Jing, is it convenient for me to go see that child? …And your boyfriend.”
Jing Zhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed quickly.
The first half was naturally fine. Mimi was a very good child; Mom would definitely like him.
But the second half…
Jiang Suifeng was no longer his boyfriend.
***
A few minutes later, Jing Zhi and Xu Sumei returned to the children’s inpatient department.
Jing Zhi sent a text message to Jiang Suifeng in advance: [My mom wants to come see Mimi. You should avoid her.]
Jiang Suifeng: [Where should I go to avoid her?]
Jing Zhi: [Anywhere is fine, just don’t bump into my mom.]
Jiang Suifeng: [Alright, avoided.]
Jing Zhi didn’t know where he went to avoid her. Anyway, when he and his mom arrived at the ward, the person had disappeared, and no shadow was seen around.
When dealing with elders, Jiang Suifeng was relatively serious and wouldn’t play any tricks.
Jing Zhi’s explanation to Xu Sumei was: Jiang Suifeng suddenly had some urgent company matters and left first just now.
Xu Sumei didn’t suspect anything.
She mainly came to see her little grandson Mimi. To be honest, she wasn’t ready to meet her son’s boyfriend yet. Hearing that he left due to company matters, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief instead.
When the two arrived at the ward, Jing Mimi was playing with the child in the next bed, chatting and laughing.
The child in the next bed was older than Mimi, probably already in elementary school, often holding a history book in his hand, looking like a little scholar.
Seeing Jing Zhi return, Jing Mimi’s eyes lit up instantly. He stopped playing with the child next to him and got up to lean over directly, holding the cup of rock sugar snow pear soup that was bigger than his small hand.
Jing Zhi casually found a topic to start: “Mimi, is the rock sugar snow pear soup tasty? Do you like it?”
Jing Mimi nodded his little head quickly and replied, “Meow-zai meow-zai! This humble one likes it very much!” (Note: Using archaic/scholarly language style but with meows)
Jing Zhi: “?”
Whose ancient-style kitten is this?
***
Author’s Note:
Mimi: I should be meowing in the Jianghu (martial arts world)——
The little foreign cat turns into an ancient-style cat.
