Movie outings naturally meant no bodyguards inside; they waited by the door. Mr. He took him to buy tickets. They had already booked them in advance, but the child suddenly wanted to watch a different movie.
Coincidentally, that movie was showing today, but it required queuing up for tickets.
Mr. He then took the child to join the queue.
There were about 30 more people ahead. Mr. He worried the child would get tired standing, so he picked him up. However, Xixi's expression darkened further.
"Aren't you feeling uncomfortable?" he suddenly asked.
Mr. He looked down at him. "Why do you ask?"
Xixi turned his head away, no longer looking at him.
Mr. He didn't understand children's minds. He felt they were quite capricious, but he didn't find it bothersome at all.
"Cotton candy, do you want some?"
Xixi looked over and saw a small cart by the roadside outside the cinema. The vendor was making cotton candy on the spot. Many young men and women, as well as children, were around.
The colorful cotton candy looked soft, fluffy, and tempting.
Xixi glanced at Mr. He, then suddenly struggled to be put down. Mr. He, not understanding, still placed him on the ground.
"What is it?"
"Uncle He, can you buy me some cotton candy?"
Xixi blinked his big eyes, looking particularly cute.
Mr. He said, "Okay, but you have to come with me. I don't feel at ease leaving you here alone."
Xixi went with him.
The entrance to the cinema led to a street lined with food stalls. Behind this food street was a small, open-air rest park.
In the center were green trees, grass, flowers, benches, and a swing set, all enclosed by a fence.
Mr. He asked him, "What do you want to eat? Tell Uncle, then you can wait in the park, and Uncle will be back soon."
"Okay."
Xixi entered the rest park. He was fair-skinned and cute, and immediately other children came over wanting to play with him. But Xixi ignored them all.
He gripped the railing with both hands, watching Mr. He in the queue.
Was this person an idiot? He was clearly feeling unwell but still followed his words, queuing under the scorching sun to buy food.
Was he trying to die?
The more he watched, the angrier he became.
By the time Mr. He returned with the snacks, his face was even paler than before, but he still wore a gentle smile.
"Which one do you want to eat first?"
In his left hand, he held fried skewers, string skewers, and various grilled skewers, emitting a savory aroma. In his right hand, he held cotton candy, pastries, small cakes, and all sorts of toys, along with a few balloons.
The balloons were decorated with cartoon characters.
Xixi looked at him expressionlessly. "I don't want to eat anymore. Let's go back."
Mr. He was taken aback. "Aren't we going to watch the movie?"
"No." Xixi left the park and walked outside. Mr. He followed behind, not understanding why the little one was unhappy. Had he been bullied in the park?
His expression darkened, and he glanced back at the park staff.
They returned home like that. Xixi kept his head down, looking uninterested. "I'm going back to my room to rest."
Mr. He sat on the sofa, still holding a pile of food. He sighed softly. "Butler, please distribute this to the servants."
It would be a waste to throw it away.
The butler took the food and told the servants to distribute it among themselves. He returned to the living room and saw Mr. He still sitting on the sofa.
He couldn't help but ask, "Sir, why does the young master seem unhappy? Did something happen during your outing today?"
Mr. He let out a soft breath. "I don't know. Do you think children's minds are always so mysterious?"
He was somewhat perplexed.
One moment he had a smile on his face, and the next he was suddenly unhappy.
And he couldn't even tell him why.
"I'm not clear about children's matters. As you know, I've never had children in my life." The butler chuckled, looking at his slightly pale complexion. "Sir, you should go back and rest. The doctor advised you to rest well, yet you insisted on going out today."
Seeing that the butler was about to launch into his sermon, Mr. He quickly stood up and coughed lightly. "I'm a bit tired. I'll go back to rest."
"You shouldn't have gone out today. Go back to your room and rest. Don't come out again. I'll have lunch and dinner sent to your room. Please follow the doctor's orders."
The butler followed him upstairs.
Mr. He rubbed his forehead, feeling utterly helpless.
Once they returned to the room, the butler closed the door and didn't leave, standing guard at the entrance.
Meanwhile, in the adjoining bedroom.
Xixi lay on the bed, his little feet kicking non-stop. He held his phone to his ear, chattering away his complaints.
"Mommy, do you think this person is silly? He's clearly not feeling well but insists on pretending. The doctor told him to rest at home, but he insisted on coming out to play with me."
Shen Qingqing listened patiently. "Then what do you plan to do?"
Xixi huffed. "I plan to go home now. I've taught him enough of a lesson, and I don't want to waste any more time here."
Shen Qingqing wholeheartedly agreed. "That's wonderful! Come back quickly. When do you plan to leave? Mommy will drive to pick you up."
"No need, Mommy." Xixi flipped over, looking at the texture on the ceiling. "I can go back by myself. I want to inform him in advance. Mommy, just wait for me at home. Preferably, make me some blueberry-flavored small cakes!"
Shen Qingqing chuckled. "Okay, Mommy will wait for you at home and prepare your favorite foods. But you have to keep your word."
"Mhm mhm!"
After a few more words with his mommy, Xixi felt much better. He hung up the phone and pattered downstairs, but he didn't see Mr. He.
He casually asked a servant and learned that Mr. He had returned to his room. He then hurried to Mr. He's bedroom and knocked.
Mr. He quickly opened the door.
He was wearing pajamas and looked a bit tired and listless, but still very patient.
"What is it?"
Just as Xixi was about to speak, he saw the butler carrying a tray with freshly brewed nourishing soup. He hesitated and said, "Drink your soup first. I'll tell you after you're done."
"I can't finish this much by myself. Why don't you have some with me?"
Mr. He said with a smile.
Xixi hesitated, thinking that it was best to state his intention to leave as soon as possible. It was always better to act sooner rather than later, so he agreed.
The butler placed the soup bowls on the table. Seeing the two of them, one big and one small, sitting neatly at the table, he couldn't help but sigh. The scene was extremely heartwarming, making one feel warm inside.
There were no strict rules of silence at the dining table. Usually, the two of them would chat intermittently while eating.
But today, both were unusually silent.
Mr. He was unwell, and Xixi also appeared preoccupied.
After finishing the soup, Xixi put down his spoon and said, "I'm going home."