Free Web NovelChapter 288: Chapter 288: Acceptance
"Getting hurt like this... and on your birthday, of all days." Su Li felt terribly guilty.
"I told you it’s fine. It’s just a minor injury, really."
Wu Sheng pointed to the gift box at his side. "Just looking at these makes the pain go away."
"Let me walk you home," Su Li said, glancing at the time. "Little Mo shouldn’t be waking up for a while."
"No, don’t. You’re exhausted. I can get back on my own."
Wu Sheng stood up. "Just walk me downstairs, then."
He was afraid Su Li would just keep feeling guilty if she kept looking at him, so he decided it was best to leave.
"Help me carry my gifts."
After seeing Wu Sheng out, Su Li returned and sat quietly in the living room for a good while.
Little Tang Mo woke up at six.
He smiled, his eyes still hazy with sleep, as soon as he saw Su Li.
"You’re awake." Su Li stroked his head and pointed to his neck. "Does it hurt badly?"
Little Tang Mo shook his head and carefully wrote out a reply.
"It doesn’t hurt anymore. It just feels cool."
"Ah, open up." Su Li had him open his mouth so she could take a look.
Little Tang Mo obediently complied.
Afterward, no matter what Su Li was doing, whether it was cooking or something else, Little Tang Mo stayed by her side, tugging on the corner of her clothes, sometimes helping, sometimes just watching.
Whenever Su Li looked at him, he would smile.
It was the same at the dinner table. He made a point of writing on Su Li’s palm, praising how delicious her cooking was.
Looking at his gentle smile, Su Li pulled him over to the sofa after they finished eating.
"Little Mo, listen. If you don’t feel like smiling at Mommy, that’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself, alright? Only smile when you feel like it. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to."
’Little Tang Mo’s personality is probably just naturally reserved. I shouldn’t force him.’
"Mommy will love you even if you don’t smile. I really will," Su Li stressed.
’He doesn’t have to smile the moment he sees me just to put my mind at ease or make me happy.’
Little Tang Mo tilted his head, thought for a moment, then shook it firmly. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
’But I’m not forcing it.’
"Little Mo, what Mommy’s saying is true. From now on, you can smile when you want to smile and cry when you want to cry. If you don’t feel like smiling, you don’t have to."
Hearing this, Little Tang Mo grew anxious.
He quickly wrote, "No, Mommy, I’m not forcing it! I’m not forcing my smiles. Seeing you just makes me want to smile. It makes me happy."
Little Tang Mo handed the note to Su Li, looking at her with urgency and nodding emphatically.
’I’m not forcing it. I’ve never forced it.’
’Seeing Mommy just makes me happy. It makes me want to smile!’
’With other people, if I can’t smile, I just don’t. It’s as simple as that.’
Su Li read the note, then looked at Little Tang Mo and nodded firmly.
"Okay. As long as you’re not forcing it, that’s all that matters."
Little Tang Mo thought for a moment, then wrote a reply.
"Then Mommy doesn’t have to force herself to smile, either. If you’re sad, you don’t have to smile. It makes me sad to see you force a smile."
Su Li nodded vigorously, then shook her head.
"Okay, Mommy promises. But just like you said, when Mommy smiles at you, I’m not forcing it either. I’m just happy to see you, and that makes me want to smile."
Little Tang Mo reached out and touched Su Li’s face, a smile spreading across his own.
His smile was so radiant and warm, without a single cloud to mar it.
Just like it always was.
This was Little Tang Mo.
This was still her Little Tang Mo.
The mother and son looked at each other and smiled.
After their talk that day, Su Li and Little Tang Mo felt closer than ever, and a sense of calm settled over them.
Mother and son both came to accept the fact that Little Tang Mo might never be able to speak again.
By letting go of that hope—or at least, by not clinging to it so desperately—they both felt a weight lift from their shoulders.
That night, both Su Li and Little Tang Mo slept soundly.
There were no nightmares, no terror—only a deep sense of peace.
The next day, when Little Tang Mo woke up, his eyes darted about before he suddenly sat bolt upright.
He hastily scribbled on a notepad, then PITTER-PATTERED into Su Li’s room, climbed onto her bed, and shook her awake.
When Su Li woke up, the first thing she saw was Little Tang Mo’s note. It read:
"Mommy, do you like Uncle Wu? Will you marry him?"
Hit with such a bombshell first thing in the morning, Su Li’s face instantly flushed red.
"Why are you asking questions like this so early in the morning?" Su Li said as she rolled out of bed, giving a light pat to Little Tang Mo’s bottom as he clung to her back.
"Little Mo, you’re still young. What’s all this about ’liking’ someone? Aren’t you embarrassed? You’re not allowed to ask questions like that again."
Little Tang Mo pouted in silent protest.
’I’m not little anymore! I know all about ’liking’ someone!’
"Mommy, I’m going to school," Little Tang Mo wrote on another note.
"Your throat still hasn’t recovered. You can take the day off. I already called the school for you," Su Li said after reading the note.
Little Tang Mo shook his head, writing emphatically, "No, I want to go, I want to go."
He went to wash his face and get ready on his own initiative.
Seeing how determined he was, Su Li didn’t argue. She got ready and took him to school.
"If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"
Little Tang Mo nodded and waved his hand, urging Su Li to leave. He had written, "Mommy should go to school too. Be good."
Su Li held the note and couldn’t help but chuckle at the words "be good." She tucked the piece of paper into her bag.
On her way, she passed a bookstore. After a moment’s thought, she went inside to make a phone call.
She was calling Wu Sheng.
"Wu Sheng, are you feeling any better? Is the pain bad?"
"It was hurting a little, but it stopped the moment I heard your voice," Wu Sheng’s cheerful voice came over the line. He sounded full of energy.
Su Li: "...You’re already up?"
"Of course! At this hour? I’m already back from my morning run!"
Wu Sheng took a sip of water. "What about you? Are you at home?"
"I’m heading to class now."
"And Little Point?" Wu Sheng asked.
"He’s the one who insisted on going. He said he’s fine."
"Good to hear," Wu Sheng said. "Well, you go ’study hard and aim high’ too. Try not to get distracted in class thinking about me. I’m doing great."
Su Li: "...You know you’re not supposed to get your hand wet, right?"
Wu Sheng’s reply was comically serious. "Yes, Ma’am."
「The last two days of December passed, and soon it was the New Year.」
Her classmates were all busy writing New Year’s cards for their close friends. After some thought, Su Li bought two cards herself, wrote messages in them, and mailed them to Li Hongqin and Yin Cuihua.
They would surely receive them late, but it was the thought that counted.
The teachers at Little Tang Mo’s school also had the students make their own holiday cards.
When Su Li went to pick up Little Tang Mo after school, she received a New Year’s card from him.
In addition to her card, Little Tang Mo was holding another one.
"Who’s the other one for?" Su Li asked, curious.
An awkward expression flickered across Little Tang Mo’s face as he hesitantly handed the card to Su Li.
Su Li opened it. It was for Wu Sheng.
Unlike the smiley face on her card, this one was decorated with drawings of several pieces of candy.
Su Li let out a snort of laughter.
"He likes candy," Little Tang Mo quickly wrote, as if to clarify.
"Mhm, I know," Su Li said, trying to hold back her laughter.
Little Tang Mo huffed, taking the card back and putting it away before sneaking a glance at Su Li.
"We’ll give it to your Uncle Wu when he has time, okay? He probably can’t make it today."
Little Tang Mo nodded, then gestured for Su Li to take him to buy milk candies.
"Don’t we still have some at home?" Su Li asked, puzzled.
Little Tang Mo tugged on Su Li’s hand, shaking it coaxingly. He just had to have them.
"Alright, alright. I’ll take you." freewebnøvel.com
Su Li took Little Tang Mo to buy the milk candies, and he immediately grabbed two bags.
