After leaving the company, Tang Chen followed his mother and Quan Lian to a restaurant nearby.
Tang Chen still did not like Quan Lian that much, especially seeing him getting close to her. However, when he recalled how Quan Lian had helped him when he had fallen earlier, Tang Chen decided to get along with this man.
The food arrived not too long after the order was placed.
Tang Chen lowered his head to eat while his mother and Quan Lian were discussing some business matters. Once in a while, his mother would put a dish in his bowl and Tang Chen would eat quietly.
At a time like this, Tang Chen wished that his little sister was around.
Xiao Xiao would like to eat the food here and the adorable cakes.
Then, he will also have someone to talk to instead of listening to a conversation that he could not understand.
"Chen Chen, how is it? Is the food delicious?"
Tang Chen looked up and saw the gentle look on his mother's face. He ate another piece of chicken and nodded. "Mommy, it's delicious."
A warm smile appeared on Tang Shi Yi's face when she saw that her son was enjoying the food. Tang Shi Yi fed her son a little more food until the little boy was full.
Seeing him rubbing his stomach almost made her laugh.
Quan Lian was about to say something regarding the company matters when he saw the gentle look in Tang Shi Yi's eyes.
His heart skipped a beat.
Quan Lian hoped that the woman in front of him would look at him gently as well. However, Quan Lian realized that the gentle look in Tang Shi Yi's eyes would only be reserved for her children.
As for him, he could only watch her from the side while hoping that one day, Tang Shi Yi would open her heart and maybe look at him with the same gentleness.
"That's right."
Tang Shi Yi's voice snapped Quan Lian out of his trance.
"Quan Lian, weren't you going to say something to me earlier?"
The two of them continued to discuss their work.
Meanwhile, Tang Chen sat while listening to their conversation. After a while, his eyes began to feel a little heavy. His head almost hit the table when Tang Chen realized what was about to happen.
His eyes snapped open. Tang Chen sat up straight again and looked at the two adults. Tang Chen was relieved to see that they both had not noticed what was about to happen.
It seemed that his mother's work discussion with Uncle Quan Lian was going to be longer than he had expected.
Tang Chen did not want to disturb his mother at work.
He knew that once his mother realized that he was sleepy, she would suggest for them to go back.
The little boy pursed his lips into a thin line as he pondered about what he wanted to do. After a while, Tang Chen tugged at his mother's sleeve.
"Chen Chen?" Tang Shi Yi paused her discussion with Quan Lian and looked at her son. "What is it?"
Tang Chen waved his hand, motioning for his mother to come closer. He cupped his hand at his mouth and whispered. "Mommy, I'm going to the restroom."
"Then, I'll come over with you." Tang Shi Yi was about to push her chair when her son stopped her.
"Mommy, it's alright." Tang Chen spoke. "I can go to the restroom by myself. It was only at the corner, right?"
Tang Shi Yi looked at her son with worry. "Are you sure you will be fine going there alone?"
"Un." Tang Chen nodded. "Mommy, I'm a boy. You cannot go with me. This was not the first time that I had gone to the restroom alone. You should not worry. Mommy, you should continue your discussion with Uncle Quan. I will be right back shortly."
Tang Shi Yi watched her son jump off the chair and walk to the door with a helpless look in her eyes. Being with Tang Chen would sometimes make her feel as if he was an adult.
"He will be fine," Quan Lian said. "The restroom is just across the room and the security is good. If you are still worried, I will go and look after him."
Tang Shi Yi considered Quan Lian's suggestion. "It's fine. Chen Chen will be alright." She realized that she could not always be by Chen Chen's side. There was a certain thing that her son would have to learn to do alone.
Quan Lian heaved a sigh.
Even though Tang Shi Yi said that she should not worry, Quan Lian noticed that his friend had her eyes on the door as she was waiting for her son to return.
...
Meanwhile, Tang Chen rushed over to the bathroom and entered one of the cubicles.
He was already at the age where he could go to the restroom by himself.
As the only male in the family, Tang Chen had learned to do this from early on. He thought that it was too embarrassing to head to the female restroom with his mother or his grandmother.
Not wanting for his mother to worry, Tang Chen decided not to stay for too long in the restroom. He was just going to take a while to relieve himself and wash his face so that he would no longer be sleepy.
After a few minutes, the little boy walked out of the cubicle and walked to the washing area.
His movement halted.
Tang Chen realized that the sink in the restroom was too high and someone like him would not be able to reach it.
The little boy stared at the sink area with a dazed look on his face. If he knew that this would happen, he would let his mother come with him.
"Do you need help?"
The voice snapped Tang Chen out of his thoughts. He raised his head and was surprised to see a familiar face in front of him.
"Uncle, hello."
"Little boy, it's you." Ye Heng chuckled when he realized that the boy who was standing in front of the sink area was someone that he knew.