Chapter 21 Yin Yin, come here...

Her face grew even paler.

Huo Siju’s words had actually been gentle—probably because of how she’d risked her own life last night, slicing open her own skin to save the child. If it were anyone else, he might’ve said something far harsher.

Yeah… what right did she have to see him now?

She’d already abandoned him once—already caused enough pain. Now showing up again, claiming, “Hey, I’m your mom. I didn’t die—I just left you.” That wouldn’t just hurt him. It would shatter him.

“Madam,” Xiao Lin said softly, “you’re wrong about the CEO not wanting the boy. He’s treated little Master Huo with such care over the years. He does everything himself—every single thing. You know why he insisted on bringing the boy along when he went to get treatment at your place? Because little Master Huo is weak, and his blood type is extremely rare. The CEO was afraid that if he stayed too long without supervision, something could happen. So he kept him close.”

“…”

Long silence. Wen Xuxu finally lifted her stiffened head, voice barely a whisper: “Blood type… rare?”

Xiao Lin nodded. “Yes. Just like you. Both of you are Rh-negative—very uncommon. When he was born prematurely and nearly died, the hospital ran out of blood. The CEO flew him by helicopter straight to the capital’s main hospital overnight. That’s how he survived. So please, Madam, don’t doubt for a second that he’d ever neglect or reject this child.”

Xiao Lin spoke with quiet sincerity.

Wen Xuxu froze. Her throat tightened. She couldn’t speak. Her expression dimmed, hollowed out—like frost had settled over her soul.

“I understand,” she said quietly. “You can go now. Thank you for last night. Oh—and please… don’t call me ‘Madam’ anymore. I’m not your boss’s wife anymore. Wouldn’t want the boss to be upset.”

“…”

Xiao Lin opened his mouth to reply, but then sighed instead, turned, and walked away.

Wen Xuxu never went to find Huo Yin again. She stayed in her cabin, focused solely on healing.

Huo Siju, seeing she’d finally settled down, stopped having her locked up. She was given full freedom to move around.

But neither of them expected it—their agreement not to meet the child—when, just as the ship neared its destination, Huo Yin suddenly showed up unannounced.

“What are you still locked up for?”

It wasn’t exactly a visit. Huo Yin had come to the railing to fly his drone, so it wasn’t like he’d sought her out directly.

But the moment Wen Xuxu saw him, her body went rigid.

“Yin Yin! You—you came? Did you run off alone? Didn’t your dad watch you?”

“Why would he need to?”

Huo Yin snapped back, annoyed. Then he turned and walked away, gripping his remote.

This kid was nothing like Mo Bao. Mo Bao was always warm, polite, bright—full of sunshine. But this one? Cold. Distant. Even at five, he carried the same heavy silence as his father.

Wen Xuxu’s chest ached.

She hurried after him, stepping carefully beside him. “I’m sorry, Yin Yin. I misunderstood. Wow, you’re really good at flying drones—so high!”

She was fishing for conversation.

Ever since Xiao Lin told her that story, she’d avoided facing this child. She feared saying the wrong thing. And every time she looked at him, guilt surged through her like a wave—too strong to bear.

Of course, he didn’t respond.

He stood at the railing, fingers moving over the remote, his face unreadable—like she wasn’t even there.

Her heart twisted.

She glanced up at the drone circling above.

“Oh! Yin Yin, I forgot to tell you—adding a tiny piece of aluminum foil to the tail can make it fly higher and give you better control.”

That got a reaction.

The cold little boy finally turned his head toward her.

Wen Xuxu lit up. “Really! If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.”

She dashed off immediately, searching the ship for foil.

She’d learned this trick from Mo Bao. Though the two boys had never met, their interests were uncannily alike. Huo Yin loved drones. So did the other little guy at home—her house was filled with them. She’d seen Mo Bao do this before.

She quickly found a few empty cigarette packs, rushed back to where he stood.

“Look, Yin Yin—this foil paper. Wait here, I’ll get it out.”

Panting, she crouched in front of him, tore open the pack, and pulled out the shiny inner lining. She started peeling off the foil.

At first, Huo Yin didn’t care.

But kids are curious. Seeing her actually strip off the entire sheet in one smooth motion, he paused. His eyes narrowed. He watched her closely.

“Have you ever played with foil like this before?” she asked gently.

Silence.

No answer.

Even though he stood right beside her, his quiet, withdrawn nature kept him from speaking.