Little George sat on the huge bed.
His slender frame made his large, black, agate-like eyes appear all the more spirited.
He stared unwaveringly at the door, his hands paused in the midst of playing with small building blocks on the bed table, alert.
Mother and son gazed at each other for a while.
Under Song Zhen's encouraging gaze, Gu Xinzhou looked toward the door and mustered the courage to enter the room.
Song Zhen also took her small hand, leading her closer to the bed.
George instinctively leaned back, his entire back almost pressing against the headboard.
Dr. Li spoke up at just the right time, "George, didn't you really enjoy the millet porridge today? This is the cook who made it, would you like to meet her?"
Shen Shiqing stood up from one side, looking at Gu Xinzhou, "George ate well today. The chicken soup in the millet porridge was diluted, you were very thoughtful."
The child had just started on liquid food, and couldn't be given rich nourishment or it would harm his body. Gu Xinzhou had prepared the chicken soup with great care, diluting it with water to ensure nutrients while removing the greasiness before adding the millet to stew until it was fragrant.
Originally, Shen Shiqing didn't know this.
At noon, as he and Song Zhen were dining in the restaurant, they tasted the chicken soup. Song Zhen instantly recognized it as the fragrant flavor from the millet porridge, only richer.
Gu Xinzhou's lips were tightly pressed together, she dared not move.
Regarding the preparation of the millet porridge, she did not take credit in front of the child.
Because a mother personally cooking for her child is both a duty and a responsibility, and she had delayed fulfilling this duty and assuming this responsibility for a full four years.
She looked at George eagerly.
Too many emotions swirled in her bright eyes, which she struggled mightily to restrain. She didn't dare show too much emotion, didn't dare to cry, to laugh, or to move; she was afraid of frightening the child.
And George also stared at Gu Xinzhou, his little face impassive, showing no sign of emotions.
Song Zhen broke the silence, "Ahem, George, this is Aunt Zhouzhou. Aunt Zhouzhou made you millet porridge today, would you like to meet her?"
Suddenly, George lowered his head, not letting anyone see his eyes, and remained silent.
Nobody knew what the little guy was thinking.
Song Zhen looked at Dr. Li.
Dr. Li tentatively asked, "George, Aunt Zhouzhou really likes children. She wants to be your friend, to play with building blocks with you, to talk to you. Is that okay?"
George picked up the building blocks and began to stack them haphazardly, still without speaking.
Dr. Li helplessly looked at Song Zhen and shook his head.
Tears were poised in Gu Xinzhou's eyes, about to fall.
She turned her face away, quickly wiped them away while George wasn't looking, then turned back and said softly, "If George likes the food I make, I can continue to cook for George! Besides millet porridge, I can make many other delicious dishes. George, rest well. Auntie will step out now, but whenever you want to play with Auntie, you can ask!"
Song Zhen, seeing her frequent tears these past few days, felt a pang of heartache.
He stepped forward, one arm wrapping around Gu Xinzhou's waist, the other cupping her head against his chest, "Take it slow, give the child some time."
Suddenly, George looked up towards the direction of Song Zhen and Gu Xinzhou.
His childish voice, devoid of any emotion, suddenly asked, "Uncle Song Zhen, are you and her husband and wife?"
Everyone looked at George at once.
Song Zhen replied, "Yes."