Jichen left the breakfast table with a satisfied smile. After tucking Xiaoxing in bed the previous night, he had felt a strange warmth he hadn't experienced in a long time. It wasn't just about protecting her; it was something deeper, a bond he never thought he'd form. As he picked up his briefcase and straightened his suit, Liu Jian, his right-hand man, nodded to him, signaling the car was ready.
"Boss, all set," Liu Jian said, holding the door open as Jichen stepped into the sleek black car. "You sure you don't want to check on Xiaoxing before you go?"
Jichen smiled, shaking his head. "She's sleeping soundly. Let her rest. I'll check on her later."
The car pulled away from the mansion as Jichen immersed himself in thoughts of the day's meetings and deals. Little did he know, an unexpected visitor would soon throw his carefully controlled life into delightful chaos.
---
Back at the mansion, Li Mei stood at the entrance, frowning slightly as she stared at the familiar doors of her son's home. She had been staying at the hospital for weeks, taking care of her comatose husband, but today, she felt an overwhelming urge to visit Jichen. No matter how busy life had been, she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to see her son. Maybe it was motherly intuition, or maybe it was just her desire to check on him personally.
Brushing off the unease, Li Mei entered the mansion, the staff greeting her with surprise but respect. "Madam, welcome!" they chimed in.
"Where's Jichen?" Li Mei asked as she handed her coat to one of the maids.
"He just left for the office, Madam. Would you like tea, or perhaps breakfast?" the butler offered politely.
Li Mei sighed. "Of course, he's working. No matter, I'll just freshen up."
She was halfway to the stairs when a sound caught her ear—a small giggle, like a child's laughter. Her brow furrowed. A child? In Jichen's house?
Confused, she followed the sound down the hallway, which led her toward one of the guest rooms. As she approached, the door was slightly ajar, and there, in the middle of the room, sat a little girl, happily talking to herself as she combed the hair of a stuffed teddy bear.
Li Mei's jaw nearly hit the floor. "W-who...?"
The little girl, noticing the door move, turned and blinked at her. "Oh, hello!" she said cheerfully, completely unfazed by the sudden appearance of a stranger. "Are you here to see Papa?"
Li Mei's eyes widened. Papa? Her brain struggled to process the situation. Who was this child? And what did she mean by 'Papa'? Surely, this wasn't—no, it couldn't be!
"I—I—" Li Mei stammered, completely caught off guard.
Xiaoxing, with her innocent smile, grabbed her teddy bear and walked over to Li Mei. "Papa said I could stay here! But he forgot to pack my other toys. You don't look like one of Papa's friends. Do you work here?"
Li Mei stared down at the little girl, speechless. Papa? Jichen? What was happening here? Her mind raced, trying to connect the dots. "I... I'm Li Mei," she finally said, attempting to regain her composure. "I'm Jichen's... mother."
"Oh!" Xiaoxing's eyes lit up. "You're Papa's mama! That makes you my grandma!"
Li Mei blinked, her entire world flipping upside down. "Grandma?!"
Xiaoxing nodded enthusiastically, hugging her teddy bear. "Yep! Papa is my Papa now, so you're my grandma! Does this mean you'll make me cookies? Grandma's are supposed to make cookies, right?"
Li Mei's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "Cookies...? Wait, wait. Hold on a second. What do you mean your Papa? When did—how did...?"
Xiaoxing tilted her head. "Papa didn't tell you? He said I could stay here because he's going to take care of me now! He's nice like that."
Li Mei felt a strange blend of shock and amusement. So, Jichen hadn't even mentioned a child? Of all the things he's kept from me...
She knelt down, taking a good look at Xiaoxing's face. The little girl was adorable, with big eyes and an infectious smile. Despite the whirlwind of confusion, Li Mei found herself softening. This little bundle of energy wasn't the problem—it was her son. Jichen had somehow failed to mention that he had suddenly become a father figure!
"Xiaoxing, is it?" Li Mei said, trying to wrap her head around this. "How long have you been here with... with Jichen?"
Xiaoxing thought for a moment, scrunching up her nose. "Not too long. A few days, I think. Papa said he had to make sure I was safe and take care of me."
"Safe? From what?" Li Mei asked, alarm creeping into her voice.
But before Xiaoxing could answer, she wrinkled her nose, changing the subject entirely. "Do you want to play? I was playing with Mr. Teddy, but we could have tea!"
Li Mei blinked again, her bewilderment mounting. "Tea?"
"Yes! A tea party! Papa's mama should have tea with me, right? It's only fair!" Xiaoxing declared, already heading toward her small play tea set.
Li Mei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Here she was, trying to piece together the mystery of how her son had become a sudden 'Papa,' while this charming little girl simply wanted to play pretend.
Shaking her head, she chuckled under her breath. "Alright, alright, let's have tea."
Xiaoxing beamed, setting up the cups with the precision of a seasoned host. "You'll be the guest of honor, and Mr. Teddy will join us too."
As the makeshift tea party began, Li Mei couldn't help but marvel at the situation. So, Jichen is raising a child now. And a spirited one at that. But what on earth happened here? She made a mental note to corner her son as soon as possible and demand answers.
---
Later that day, Li Mei sat in the living room, still thinking about the strange and unexpected encounter with Xiaoxing. She had just finished playing "grandma" to the little girl and couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Just then, the front door opened, and in walked Jichen, back from the office. He froze mid-step when he saw his mother sitting there with an expectant look on her face.
"Mother, you're here," Jichen said, his eyes narrowing slightly. He could already sense that something was off.
Li Mei folded her arms, arching a brow. "Oh, I'm here all right. Care to explain?"
"Explain what?" Jichen's brow furrowed in confusion.
Li Mei pointed upstairs. "The little girl upstairs calling you 'Papa.' You might want to start there."
Jichen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Ah... I see you've met Xiaoxing."
"Yes. I've met her, and she's quite charming. But how is it that my son suddenly has a child and didn't think it important to mention this to me?"
"It's... complicated," Jichen replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Li Mei shook her head. "Complicated? I would say so! Care to simplify it for me?"
Jichen sighed. "I'll explain everything, but first, let's sit down. It's a long story."
Li Mei couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm all ears. Just know that you're not getting out of this without a proper explanation, young man."