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Sensing Su Chaoxi's gaze, her mother-in-law put on a pleasing smile and lightly coughed before saying, "As a young lady, it's always right to have some pocket money on you. You've worked hard today."
Su Chaoxi felt even more guilty.
How confused and mindless must she have been in her past life to think that her mother-in-law was nothing but trouble?
Meeting her mother-in-law's cautious gaze, Su Chaoxi knew she had to accept the money.
If she didn't, her mother-in-law might worry that she would harm the children.
So, Su Chaoxi responded with a soft smile, "Thank you, Mom."
Her sweet smile instantly put her mother-in-law at ease.
A smile appeared on her mother-in-law's face, "Don't mention it, we are a family after all. Do you need a hand with anything?"
"No, thank you, Mom."
Having said that, Su Chaoxi knocked on the children's room door.
As if waiting right behind it.
Xie Mizhi swung the door open instantly.
When the little girl saw her mother, her eyes seemed to light up.
With a gentle smile, Su Chaoxi said, "Mimi, it's bath time."
Xie Mizhi, filled with joy, threw herself into Mommy's arms, all anticipation.
Su Chaoxi lifted her daughter and turned her gaze to Xie Xunzhi in the room.
The tiny Xie Xunzhi was standing not far away.
His eyes, just like Xie Tianyin's, resembled a little wolf cub on guard against predators.
Feeling a pang in her heart, Su Chaoxi smiled faintly at him and said, "Xunxun, it's time for your bath."
Xie Xunzhi remained silent.
But he silently followed.
The wariness in his eyes made it clear to Su Chaoxi.
Had she not taken Xie Mizhi away, he would never have gone with her.
He was guarding against her, fearful she'd harm his sister.
Su Chaoxi felt a bitter taste in her mouth, her sense of apology to the children deepening.
Xie Mizhi laughed sweetly in her mother's arms.
Her little hands gestured about as if she was calculating something.
Su Chaoxi was charmed by her daughter and hugged and kissed her repeatedly, "My Mimi is so adorable!"
After picking out their pajamas for the night,
Su Chaoxi led the children into the bathroom.
The grandmother had already filled the bathtub with water.
Seeing Su Chaoxi tenderly holding her daughter, her face showed rare relief.
Could it be that what Su Chaoxi just said was true?
Did she genuinely want to return to the family, and had she herself misunderstood?
Delighted but not daring to ask outright, the grandmother merely said, "Chaoxi, are the two kids bathing together?"
"Together," Su Chaoxi smiled faintly, "if you're free, would you teach me how?"
The grandmother was elated, "Of course, I can!"
Without supervision, she really feared something might happen.
Now that Su Chaoxi was offering an opportunity, why wouldn't she take it?
The grandmother immediately rolled up her sleeves, recently having bathed Xie Xunzhi.
But when Xie Xunzhi's clothes came off, Su Chaoxi saw a bruise on his shoulder.
"My goodness!" the grandmother exclaimed in shock, "How did this happen!"
Su Chaoxi was startled, too, and asked, "Xunxun, how did you get this?"
Xie Xunzhi didn't speak but hugged his arms and lowered his gaze.
The grandmother examined him.
Aside from his shoulder, there were also bruises on his thighs.
The grandmother barely touched them when Xie Xunzhi flinched away in pain.
His little face looked pale and pained.
This broke the grandmother's heart.
Wen Jingshu's eyes reddened, filling with tears as she suddenly looked at Su Chaoxi, resentment and blame in her gaze.
Su Chaoxi felt like she'd been struck by lightning, and spoke up, "Xunxun, can you tell Mommy who did this to you?"
There was a nasality in Su Chaoxi's voice.
Wen Jingshu noticed that Su Chaoxi's hands were tightly clenched and her complexion didn't look good.
It seemed, perhaps, she really wasn't involved?
Xie Xunzhi didn't even glance at Su Chaoxi and stayed silent.
Wen Jingshu wiped away tears and gently said, "Xunxun, tell Grandma who bothered you. Grandma will get back at them for you!"
Xie Mizhi, looking distressed, gently tugged at her brother's hand,
offering silent comfort.
Xie Xunzhi, feeling his sister's sadness, slowly said, "It was... "
He hesitated,
glancing at Su Chaoxi, seemingly afraid to speak.
Immediately understanding, Wen Jingshu turned to Su Chaoxi and said, "Chaoxi, you should step out for a bit. The children won't speak with you here."
In that moment, Su Chaoxi felt as if she'd been struck by lightning.
Seeing her unresponsive, Wen Jingshu couldn't hold back, her voice breaking with tears, "Chaoxi, you know who did it, right? It must be that good brother of yours!"
As if to confirm something, Wen Jingshu asked Xie Xunzhi, "Was it your little uncle?"
Xie Xunzhi's little uncle.
That was Su Chaoxi's brother, the six-year-old Su Aolong!
Xie Xunzhi looked at Su Chaoxi and nodded.
"I knew it!" Wen Jingshu erupted, "It's that kid! When you insisted on taking him to the Su Family's place, Xunxun always came back bruised and battered, not a single spot undamaged!"
Wen Jingshu's tears fell, "Every time it's hidden where it can't be seen. Don't you care as a mother?"
Su Chaoxi's mind buzzed, "I didn't know..."
"How would you know? Every time I mentioned it, you just thought it was kids playing rough, unintentional. You have no idea the suffering your son has been through!"
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