He sat across the table from her. With his little hands propping his head contentedly, he said, "Not at all! Youyou is happy if mommy enjoys my cooking."
"Youyou cooks very well; it's better than those made by Michelin chefs!" She held up her thumb and unabashedly showered her baby with praises.
Blushing, he hastily urged, "Mommy, quickly finish your dinner. What if it turns cold again?"
"Eh!"
She lifted her bowl of rice and gobbled down its recently heated content.
Her son observed her for a bit before he said in a hushed voice, "Mommy, Youyou wants to ask something!"
"Huh?"
"That man you introduced as your university professor… um… Who is he exactly?"
She had just swallowed a mouthful of rice when he asked that question. It got her coughing non-stop.
He readily presented soup before her to help her wash down the stuck food in her throat with it. Seeing her down the soup in big gulps, he said wryly, "Mommy, you look ugly when you eat!"
"Youyou," she grudgingly asked, "are you saying that I look terrible when eating?"
"Eh. You don't look elegant at all. Mommy, you shouldn't eat like this when you are outside, or else you'll scare others off. Your baby here is used to your inelegant table manners, so it's okay to behave like this at home." He had a resigned look on his face.
"What is the problem with the way I eat?"
She did not take his words to heart. His earlier question had just given her so much shock she had choked on her food.
"Don't change the topic! You always avoid answering when I ask a question. Don't take me for a kid, mommy; I'm not that gullible." He could see that she was trying to maneuver herself away from the question again. This time, though, he would not let her off.
"Am I doing that?"
"Answer my question, then; who exactly is that uncle?" She was cornered by his graceful smile and relentless questioning.
She sighed sheepishly, put down the utensils, and looked him in the eye. "I'm sorry. Mommy lied to Youyou previously; he's not my university professor."
"I know." He cocked a brow at her.
"You do? Last time—"
"Mommy, sometimes your IQ is really lacking! I was just playing along with you last time. I do look in the mirror, you know?"
He looked at her resignedly. It was clear from his words that he easily saw the physical similarities between him and that man.
The boy had known his relationship with Mu Yazhe for quite some time.
He was only asking now to give her a chance to come clean for once. He did not want her to hide the truth from him anymore.
"Eh! He's… your daddy," she announced slowly, carefully studying his expression. His calmness gave her a start.
"Why aren't you surprised?"
He drew close to her and elbowed her waist. "That uncle seems to really like you!"