Chapter 36: Exactly the same?!!!

“Huo Yin, why aren’t you saying anything? I’m talking to you! Why can’t you just stay upstairs like I told you? What happened when I left? Have you really become this disobedient?”

After hearing that his son had sneaked downstairs—forcing him to cut short an important meeting—Huo Siju stormed into the office, launching into a furious scolding.

Mo Bao: ……
Mo Bao felt utterly betrayed. He wanted to scream, *I’m not even the kid you’re looking for!* I’m someone else entirely! How was I supposed to know that little uptight brat suddenly decided to bolt downstairs?

Slumped on the couch, Mo Bao cradled his tiny face in his hands, pouting like a storm cloud about to burst.

"Daddy, stop yelling at me—I’m stressed too! If I came down here, it’s because I wanted to play! I’m five now, not some baby who needs to be locked up all day!"

"What?"

Huo Siju froze behind his desk, certain he’d misheard.

Huo Yin never spoke much—never more than a few words at a time. He didn’t complain. Didn’t say “I’m frustrated.” The boy was withdrawn to the point of near isolation. When upset, he’d just lock himself in his room and vanish.
The word “frustrated”? Impossible.
And now he was saying he shouldn’t be caged? That he wasn’t a little kid anymore? That he wanted to go out and play?

Something was off.

Huo Siju frowned, pushed back his chair, and walked straight toward the child.

"Huo Yin, look at me. Tell me—did that lady say something to you?"

"Huh?"

Mo Bao snapped his head up, eyes wide and round like crescent moons, blinking rapidly at Daddy.

Huo Siju’s brow tightened further. "The doctor who brought you here—what did she say this morning? Why did you suddenly follow her? What exactly happened between you two?"

His tone was sharp, accusatory—like the woman had committed some unforgivable crime against his son. Disgust and fury burned across his face.

So this was how he treated Mommy all the time?

A grown man abandoning a woman and two kids, then daring to lecture her? To bully her?

Mo Bao exploded.

He shot up from the couch, chest puffed out, standing defiantly in front of his dad.

"Daddy, what are you implying? What did she do? She gave you treatment! She brought me here! Where was she wrong? Why are you treating her like some criminal?"

Even the word *accuse* slipped out—perfectly used, perfectly aimed.

Huo Siju froze.

He hadn’t realized his son could argue back. Not once had he seen this side of him—no silent retreats, no hiding in rooms. Never before had he fought back with words.

"Huo Yin," he said slowly, voice low, "I’m not accusing her. I’m just telling you—don’t trust people too easily."

"She’s not a stranger!" Mo Bao yelled, tears welling up. "She’s the nicest person in the whole world to me!"

That was it.

With a final, furious shout, he leapt off the couch and bolted for the door.

This jerk of a daddy? He didn’t want him! Not ever!

How dare he tell him not to trust Mommy—Mommy was the best person in existence! Even if he lost this awful father, he’d never lose Mommy.

Mo Bao dashed toward the exit, eyes red, heart pounding.

Huo Siju stood frozen, hands twitching, already reaching out to chase after him—when suddenly, Xiao Lin appeared at the doorway.

"Sir? What happened? Why did you make the young master cry?"

Xiao Lin shut the door behind him and stepped in front of Mo Bao, blocking his path.

Huo Siju: ……

He clenched his fingers tightly on the edge of the sofa, stiff as stone. Then, with a sigh, he moved forward.

"Sorry… it was my fault. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to that lady like that. Please forgive me, okay?"

Huo Siju knelt down in front of the child, speaking directly, sincerely—apologizing.

And honestly? This man knew how to own up. He believed in clear lines: right was right, wrong was wrong. If he was wrong—even as a father—he would apologize. No excuses.

And today? He *had* been wrong.

Yes, the woman was infuriating—but she *had* helped him. And she’d shown real care for this child. He shouldn’t have judged her through his own bitter lens, especially not in front of his son.

Gently, he scooped up the quieting boy and carried him back into the office.

—

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the same boy—Huo Yin—was being forcibly dragged back to kindergarten, where he experienced the most shocking, chaotic moment of his life so far.

"Big brother," whispered Ruoruo, clinging to his hand as Grandma Lan guided them back inside, "thank goodness I found you. If I hadn’t brought you back, Mama might’ve come to get you herself."

Huo Yin had resisted fiercely—he hated being touched.

But the entire walk had been torture. The little girl kept patting and poking him with her chubby little hands, finally ending up clinging to his arm like a koala, then wrapping both arms around his neck.

By the time they reached the classroom, he was numb.
Completely done in.