The chubby little one flinched and nodded in reluctant agreement. After all, Papa’s stern expression was scarier than any monster’s.
Yin Yue smiled in satisfaction and turned to Ladapha.
“You can wait around here for a bit.”“Where are you going?” she asked curiously.
A faint smile curved on his lips. “I’m going to buy the bear for Ayu.”
“Should I come along and help?”
Yin Yue shook his head. “I’ll leave Ayu with you for a while. I’ll be quick.”
“Alright,” Ladapha replied as he nodded and headed back into the souvenir area.
Meanwhile, Ayu, despite getting his way, didn’t look happy. Instead, his cheeks pu
Chapter 43 Mr. Bear stole Ayu's bed.The chubby little one flinched and nodded in reluctant agreement. After all, Papa’s stern expression was scarier than any monster’s.Yin Yue smiled in satisfaction and turned to Ladapha.“You can wait around here for a bit.”“Where are you going?” she asked curiously.A faint smile curved on his lips. “I’m going to buy the bear for Ayu.”“Should I come along and help?”Yin Yue shook his head. “I’ll leave Ayu with you for a while. I’ll be quick.”“Alright,” Ladapha replied as he nodded and headed back into the souvenir area.Meanwhile, Ayu, despite getting his way, didn’t look happy. Instead, his cheeks pu
Chapter 42 Finding a Friend for Little Bear.‘Please let me see him.’‘Give him back to me, please… give my family back to me.’The woman raised her hands to block out the voice echoing in her ears, a sound too painful to bear. The confusion and sorrow overwhelmed her, leaving her trembling with fear. Tears streamed down her face before she even realized it. Her hands slowly unclasped from her ears as the voice faded away. ‘Do you still love her?’ Her own voice! It was unmistakable. Ladapha’s eyes widened and quivered in fear as the sound of her own voice reverberated in her mind. She shut her eyes tightly, wishing to escape from it all. If that question had indeed been directed at him, forcin
Chapter 41 sharing a hot bath as a family.Because of the exhaustion of traveling earlier in the day, the family stayed in the house instead of going out. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, a small but insistent voice started protesting for dinner. Ayu, having just woken up from a nap, stretched lazily before wandering groggily to Ladapha, who was sitting on the balcony reading a book.“Mama,” Ayu called softly.Ladapha set her book on her lap and turned to him with a warm smile.“Are you hungry, Ayu?”Ayu nodded, rubbing his little tummy for emphasis.Standing up, Ladapha took his hand and led him inside. “Wait here, sweetie. I’ll go get Papa,” she said in a gentle tone.She walked to the bedroom and carefully opened the door. Her eyes
Chapter 40 A feeling of confusion.“I care about you.”Her wide eyes gazed at him, overwhelmed by emotions she couldn’t describe. An inner yearning and the call of her heart compelled her to step closer to him. Rising on her toes, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away quickly, her hand instinctively rising to touch her lips. She couldn’t believe she had lost her composure like that.Yin Yue smiled faintly, reaching out to grab her arm and pulling her close. Ladapha’s eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively placed her hands on his firm chest to push him away. But he held her tighter with his other hand, drawing her closer until their bodies pressed together. Then, he bent his head and captured her lips in a soft k
Chapter 39 Soul and MemoriesTime passed until the young woman had nearly finished her meal. She set down her knife and fork, reached for her glass to take a sip of water, and dabbed her mouth with a napkin before getting up.“I’ll just go to the restroom,” she said.Yin Yue nodded in acknowledgment as she walked away.Ladapha headed toward the restroom in another part of the restaurant, closing the door behind her once she entered. Heavy sighs escaped her lips intermittently. She didn’t need to use the facilities but sought a quiet moment to gather herself and regain her composure.The words of Ayu Lan had left her indecisive. Even though she felt happy with him, a pang of guilt stirred deep within her subconscious. As she dwelled on these thoughts, tears bega
Chapter 38 Ayu is my son, and no one else's!Ladapha pushed open the door to the coffee shop, holding it for Yu Lan to walk in. They headed toward a quiet corner after ordering their drinks. Despite sitting across from her, Yu Lan remained silent, sipping her coffee calmly as if she had all the time in the world.“Is there something you wanted to talk about?” Ladapha broke the silence, her voice steady but laced with unease.“I just…” Yu Lan hesitated, lowering her gaze and taking a deep breath before continuing, “I just wanted to ask for your help in reconciling with Yin Yue.”“In what capacity?” Ladapha asked, her voice dropping to a whisper, betraying her anxiety. Her hands trembled slightly as she braced herself for the response.Yu Lan lowered her head, avoiding eye contact, but there was no attempt to dodge the question. “Not as a friend. As his lover.”Lover? Ladapha felt a jolt of shock, her face going numb as her thoughts spiraled. What did this woman really want? Why was she