Chapter 449 - Side Story 8: Zhang Yi Hai

Zhang Yu Han always thought that he would be closer to his daughter than his son.

However, his daughter, Zhang Li Xue was someone who would love to stick to her mother from the moment she was born. If it was not for her love of basketball, Zhang Yu Han did not know whether his daughter would want to voluntarily play with him. 

It was different for his son, Zhang Yi Hai. Though Zhang Yu Han would often give him a stern look, that little boy would stand quietly at the side to watch his father with his bright eyes. It was until his father called him over would the little boy move over to his father.

From the moment that he was in his mother's belly, Zhang Yi Hai has been making things difficult for his mother to the moment that he came out to the world. 

Every time Zhang Yu Han remembered how painful it was for his wife to carry this boy for months and had given birth to him without a doctor at her side or anything to ease her pain, Zhang Yu Han would always feel painful.

When Zhang Yi Hai was still a baby, other than changing his diaper and feeding him, his father would not spend a lot of time to play with him.

Therefore, when the others saw this, they would think that Zhang Yu Han bore a grudge on his son for making things difficult for his wife as anyone close to the family would know at how much Zhang Yu Han doted on his wife.

Of course, what others thought was not true. 

Zhang Yi Hai was, after all, his son. Though he intentionally did not get close to him, how could he bore a grudge on his son?

Just like his sister, Zhang Yi Hai loved to stick around her mother and Li Qin Yao loved her son very much as the little boy resembled his father the most. Except for his eyes that resembled his mother's, Zhang Yi Hai looked like a carbon copy of his father.

Perhaps, it was because he had let his mother suffer a little bit when she was carrying and giving birth to him, but Zhang Yi Hai as a baby was very easy to take care of. Other than crying because he was hungry or he wet his diaper, little Yi Hai did not cry too much.

As Zhang Yi Hai grew up, he loved most was to stand behind his father while admiring his tall and sturdy build. Looking at his father's broad shoulders would always give him a sense of security, and gradually, the little boy started to follow his father around and hope that someday he could be just like him.

...

Zhang Yu Han was in his study as he reviewed some important documents when he noticed that the door made a creaking sound.

Just a while ago, his wife had come over to deliver a cup of coffee to him and had left the door slightly ajar. Zhang Yu Han frowned at the thought that the wind had blown the door open, but before he could stand up, a small figure suddenly emerged and peeking from behind the door. 

"Why are you here?"

The boy did not speak but simply stared back at his father. 

"Where is your mother?"

"Mommy is teaching elder sister to read," Zhang Yi Hai answered in his sweet, milky voice.

As his mother's and sister's attention was not on him, the little boy had taken this opportunity to peek at his father. He did not expect that he would be caught so early by her father.

Seeing her father narrowing his eyes at him, little Yi Hai took a step back to retreat. But after a second, he decided to be brave.

"Daddy."

"Hmm?"

"Can I stay here and draw? I promise I won't make a noise."

Zhang Yu Han frowned as he looked at his son. The look in Zhang Yi Hai's eyes was the same as his wife's whenever she was acting cute to get something from him.

Suddenly, he recalled the last time when he found the little boy sleeping just outside his door as if he was waiting for him to come out. 

"Alright," Zhang Yu Han said after a brief pause. "Come inside."

Soon, the boy's lips tilted into a bright smile. Zhang Yi Hai entered the room with his short legs and walked over the carpeted area. His sister would often spend her time in the room and had left some papers and colored pencils on the small table. He grabbed the stationary and quietly stayed to draw something as his father went back to look at the documents. 

Once in a while, Zhang Yu Han would lift his head and see the boy engrossed in drawing something on his paper. 

Zhang Yi Hai was a quiet child as compared to his sister. Though he had his father's look, his temperament was more similar to his mother. Zhang Yu Han thought that the way his son was scribbling something quietly mirrored the way his mother when she was doing her work.

After some thoughts, Zhang Yu Han stood up and walked over to his son. He peeked at the paper and saw four scribbles in four different colors and sizes.

"What are you drawing?"

Zhang Yi Hai tilted his head up and looked at his father. As he pointed to the scribbles, Zhang Yi Hai began to explain that the things he drew were his father, mother, sister, and himself.

Upon looking at the tallest scribble that does not resemble a human shape on the paper, Zhang Yu Han felt the corner of his lips twitched. His son did not even know how to draw a stick figure, and instead, drew a few lumps of mess to represent everyone.

"Daddy."

"Hmm?"

"Is it pretty?"

"Well, it's good."

The little boy lowered his gaze before he looked up again. "Daddy, I love you."

Zhang Yu Han froze. Then, he crouched down beside him and patted him on his head. "Well, daddy loves you too."

His eyes brightened and his happiness was apparent. "When I grow up, I want to be tall and strong just like you."

"Of course you can." Zhang Yu Han planted a kiss on his chubby cheek and pulled him into his embrace. "When you grow tall and strong, you have to look after your mother and sister and help me to protect them and make them happy, alright. Because you are my son, the task to protect your mommy and sister will fall onto your shoulder, you know?"

Zhang Yi Hai pondered over his father's words and nodded. "Un. I know. When I grow up, I will help you to look after mommy and sister."