After Jiang XinYan had boarded the plane in the first-class cabinets, she ate her supper and then went to the private bathroom to shower and do her skincare routine.
It took a whole hour until she was semi-finished. She came out with hair in a ponytail and a hydrating sheet mask. Because the lights had dimmed, added with the mask obscuring some of her vision. She could not see much.
And so, she stumbled upon something and fell. When she got her balance back, a resounding whimper of toddler resonated.
Jiang Xin Yan looked back and instantly recognised the little dumpling from earlier.
"Xiao Lo'Bao, don't cry, aunt is sorry, she did not see you." Her reaction was to instantly embrace the child and comfort him.
The reason the little dumpling had cried was not because he fell and hurt himself. It was because he got startled by the mask on her face and forgot to move and so he ended up hurting her.
Wen Xi Lan felt warm and cosy in her hug. Usually, he didn't like other people hugging him or touching him with exception of his family, however her hug felt very different.
Wen Xi Lan instantly wrapped his little arms around her neck tightly. He didn't want to let go of her embrace. He was finally hugged by her. He did not ever want to let go.
"Xiao Lo'Bao, are you alright?" Jiang Xi Lan grabbed his forearm and released his hands from her to look at him.
Wen Xi Lan saw her mask and was speechless again. He did not like that he could not see her face and so he hugged her again. He nestled his head in between her shoulder and breathed deeply. Sighing gently as he enjoyed her slightly familiar smell.
Jiang Xin Yan was taken aback. She never thought the little dumpling would embrace her so tightly like this, as if he belonged right there in her arms.
The warm feeling melted her heart and she couldn't help smell his fresh baby scent. As she got up, he insisted on being picked up while in her embrace.
Jiang Xin Yan also didn't want to let him go. There was something about this child that was so pleasing to her.
After Doctor Lian had told her that she might not have any children in the future due to her accident, Jiang Xi Lan had accepted that she would live the rest of her life without having children.
This didn't bother her. Her focus was on her career and bringing her grandfather's company to its splendour. Thoughts of marriage and settling down were the furthest thing from her mind.
She told herself that if she really wanted a child in the future, she would just contend with adopting one.
"XiaoLo'Bao, how come you never speak with aunt. Hmm?" she asked him.
His response was to nuzzle on her neck sleepily.
"Xiao Lo'bao, don't sleep yet, I have to return you to your parent. You have to show me the way." She gently coaxed.
Wen Xi Lan still had his head cradled between her neck and shoulder when he shifted one arm from her neck and pointed forward.
Jiang Xin Yan sighed. This child really refused to speak. One time was not worrying, but now she was suspecting that something was wrong.
Nevertheless, she walked onwards. As people were still sleeping, she whispered gently as to not wake them.
"Where is your parent Xiao Lo'bao?"
He still pointed further and so Jiang XinYan walked past her seat and then trekked further. After three rows of seats, the little dumpling stopped pointing and so she guessed they arrived.
"Here?" She asked.
He nodded and then pointed at his father.
Jiang Xin Yan saw a refined man sitting while working on his laptop.
Her heart shook at his attractive appearance. His was everything she dreamed of in a man: tailored suit, pristine hair, sharp jawline and peerless peach blossom eyes.
Jiang XinYan thanked the heavens she was still wearing a mask. It hid how her cheeks were suddenly blushing red underneath it.
Remembering who she was, she quickly cleared her throat and with a confident demeanour, she asked,
"Excuse me, is this your child?"
When Wen JunXi heard her voice, his head instantly snapped up.
He saw a woman with a hydrating sheet mask on her face. She held Wen Xi Lan who appeared to have a cheeky expression on his face while snuggling her.
Jiang Xin Yan suddenly understood where the little dumpling got all his looks from. He was eighty percent the replica of his father. Even down to the glassy sparkling eyes. Although his father's features were more mature and refined.
The man's expression however was stoic and the deep questioning eyes left her feeling weirdly self-conscious.
It seemed to be a family thing. As like little dumpling also the father did not really speak much.
"Xiao Lo'bao is this your daddy?" Jiang Xi Lan asked to double check.
The little dumpling in her arms sleepily nodded.
"Sorry, I bumped into your son earlier. Although I didn't hurt him, he still got frightened. Please accept my apology."
Silence.
Jiang Xin Yan was very savvy especially since her work required bossing people around, however she had never met such an opponent. Usually, she always had the upper hand and would always lead people in any conversation.
This was out of her depth.
"Um...okay then." She carefully released the little dumpling and was about to settle him on the floor when the little guy startled and refused to be let down.
Wen Xi Lan was very comfortable in her arms. He felt very sleepy. This sleepiness was heavy and he never felt so comfortable like this before.
Knowing she was about to leave again, the little dumpling panicked. He couldn't lose her again. So, he held on to her neck with both arms and softly whined.
"Xiao Lo'Bao, darling, you have to come down. This aunt has returned you to your parent."
Wen Xi Lan whined and shook his head. His arm tightened even more around her as if afraid of her leaving him.
Jiang Xin Yan felt helpless, she looked at his father for help, however the man was staring holes on her face as if in a world of his own.
"Xiao Lo'Bao, why don't you want to come down, are you sleepy? Aunt will set you down so you can sleep comfortably in your seat. You know it can become a bed too."
The little dumpling was stubborn, he refused to cooperate with her. Jiang Xin Yan felt out of her depth. To his father eyes it might have appeared that she had abducted and bewitched his son.
"N....N-no." Wen Xi Lan suddenly spoke. "Want to sleep... with mommy."
Jiang Xin Yan didn't know that this was the first time Wen Xi Lan had ever spoken in his entire life. She just thought the child was very quiet and picky with his words.
Wen JunXi on the other hand trembled in reaction. He stared at his son who had just spoken for the first time in his life in disbelief. Then his eyes moved to the woman whose voice was so similar to Yan Yan.
It was too good to be true.
Although he could not see her face, the voice was the same, the built was the same. However, the personalities were completely different.
His Yan Yan was timid and completely reliant on him, she would recognise him instantly if she ever saw him again.
This woman did not even recognise him. Although she was gentle and kind with Wen Xi Lan, the gentleness was extended to that of a neighbour's child and not of one's own.
So even if she were Yan Yan she would remember that Wen Xi Lan was her child. She would never refer herself as "aunt" to him.
Also, the air was completely different. Yan Yan had never exuded such a confidence and assuredness of oneself. She needed him to navigate his world. Their relationship had always been a give and take, they both needed each other for different things.
He provided her safety and security and the feeling of never having to worry about when the next meal will be. In return, she submitted herself to him.
Since he had always been averse toward people touching him. She was the only exception. Somehow, she was the only one whose touch he didn't dislike. Discovering this had opened a new Pandora box for Wen Jun Xi. His desire for her grew into mountain and as soon as he realised this, he immediately took her abroad to marry.
Therefore, Wen JunXi was very confused. Was there a chance that two people would look the same and yet be so different?
In order to truly confirm it, he would have to see her back shoulder. Yan Yan had a small birth mark in the shape of a butterfly just there. This would confirm his doubts.