Chapter 68: Mother’s Tricks Work Wonders

“But why am I the one responsible for treating him? You’re Yunbai’s father—shouldn’t you have some responsibility too?” Su Jingluo had no intention of letting Xiao Jingxuan believe he bore no part in this. Yunbai may have caused the trouble, but he still had to be held accountable. What, does he get a son for nothing and leave everything to me, as if I were a single mother raising a child alone?

Uh… Xiao Jingxuan hadn’t expected Su Jingluo to bring up such a point. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made, and he found himself with no words to argue back.

“I—I don’t know medicine. Then what am I supposed to do? Should I… should I pay you a consultation fee?” Xiao Jingxuan pondered and realized he wasn’t of much use here. Since Su Jingluo loved money, perhaps financial compensation was all he could offer.

“That won’t be necessary. It’s enough that you care. Or, if you insist, you can be responsible for the apologies instead?” Su Jingluo wanted Xiao Jingxuan to at least have the mindset of a father, but truth be told, there wasn’t much he could do about this particular incident.

“No, we can’t let anyone know it was Yunbai’s doing. Otherwise, if anything happens in the future, as long as Yunbai is present, everyone will suspect and blame him.” Xiao Jingxuan wasn’t afraid of apologizing, but he dreaded the idea of Yunbai being scapegoated for every misfortune thereafter.

“Oh, so that’s your reasoning? Very well, then we’ll focus on the treatment and forgo the apology.” Su Jingluo appeared to reply to Xiao Jingxuan, but in truth, her eyes drifted to Yunbai, who was hiding by the doorway. See? Your father still cares about you.

Yunbai darted out from the room, grabbed Xiao Jingxuan’s large hand, and looked up with a soft, adorably earnest face. In a childish voice, he said, “Thank you, Father. Thank you for thinking of me.”

!!!

Yunbai’s deliberately gentle voice and affectionate tone struck Xiao Jingxuan’s heart like a hammer, overwhelming him with fatherly love. Why did it feel like, in the short time he’d stepped out, Yunbai had become someone entirely different? Xiao Jingxuan stared at Yunbai in disbelief, then glanced at Su Jingluo, who wore a gentle, motherly smile.

Even Su Jingluo was stunned. This child learned far too quickly—he’d left his father utterly dumbfounded.

Seeing Xiao Jingxuan silent for so long, Yunbai thought his tactic had failed. Crestfallen, he lowered his head and mumbled softly, “Father, do you not forgive me? Do you not like me? I know I’m not like Xiao Chengze. He has a pony, he has fine clothes, everything he owns is the best. He says his imperial father dotes on him. I have nothing—so it must be because Father doesn’t like me.”

Yunbai’s mutterings made Su Jingluo realize where this child’s lack of security came from, why he always thought his father didn’t love him. The root was that show-off Xiao Chengze—one must be careful in choosing friends, and that boy had a sharp tongue.

Xiao Jingxuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned and made for the door.

“Hey, where are you going? Aren’t you taking me to detoxify Lin Wanwan?” Su Jingluo was confused. Wasn’t detoxifying Lin Wanwan supposed to be Xiao Jingxuan’s top priority?

“I’m going to the stables to pick out a few horses for Yunbai. That’s more urgent. And as for you, isn’t your priority to collect some compensation?” Xiao Jingxuan turned back and gave Yunbai a deep look.

“Don’t listen to Xiao Chengze’s nonsense. You’re the one I cherish most,” Xiao Jingxuan replied resolutely, flushing, then strode out.

Yunbai was a little stunned too. Was getting a pony really that simple? He turned to Su Jingluo, his face alight with joy.

“Mother, your advice worked wonders.”

“Uh, Yunbai, that wasn’t really a trick. It’s… how should I put it… It’s just that you like him, and he likes you. If you put yourself in his shoes, you’ll treat your father well too. Understand?” Yunbai’s way of putting it was a bit odd, but after all, he was a child—he’d need gentle guidance.