I Became the Mother of His Child

"Oh! Okay." Song Chengguang was obedient and didn't question or protest Song Yuanhuan's request. He let go of the puzzle in his hands obediently, "Little Baby, Little Moon, play by yourselves. Big brother is going to wash the dishes, then I'll play with you." Saying this, Song Chengguang's little legs automatically made their way to the small stool in the corner of the living room, then he carried the stool into the kitchen.

Song Yuanhuan began to clear the dining table and piled all the plates and utensils in front of Song Chengguang.

Yet, little Song Chengguang, when facing the small bowls with his meal, he could barely manage to wash them, but the plates were large and heavily loaded. Song Chengguang's little chubby hands had to work extra hard, and he couldn't easily grasp the plates to wash them. His entire body blushed from the effort, then he turned to look at Song Yuanhuan, who was standing beside him with his arms crossed, looking high and mighty, and gave him a look as if he was about to cry.

"Dad, Chengguang can't handle it…" Song Chengguang felt slightly aggrieved.

"You are a man, and men have to be able to cope—hurry, keep washing." Song Yuanhuan's mood did not fluctuate at all, his tone cold as he continued to torture his son with serious encouragement, never admitting that there was a very intense personal emotion involved.

Song Chengguang opened his mouth to look at Song Yuanhuan, then helplessly bowed his head and compromised, continuing the struggle with plates larger than his face. Soon, his whole body began to get wet with dishwater, and froth smeared his cheeks and clothes.

Song Yuanhuan stood by from beginning to end, like a harsh overseer, watching his son's pathetic, hardworking state; he felt somewhat guilty and swiftly looked away. Clearing his throat, Song Yuanhuan said, "Well, you've washed enough – leave the rest to Dad." He looked at the dishes and utensils in the sink that had mostly been dealt with and gracefully said, "Go back to your room, change your clothes, and get cleaned up. And don't tell your mom I had you washing dishes again, okay?" Knowing Xu Xiuxiu's temper, if she found out he made his son wash dishes again, he might not be able to get into bed tonight.

He absolutely had to nip such a scenario in the bud before it ever happened.

"I got it." Song Chengguang hung his head in resignation, yet clever schemes began to form in his mind.

"Good boy." Song Chengguang finally reached out and patted his oldest son's head, praising him with a satisfied smirk of a naughty uncle. Then he rolled up his sleeves and began to clean the kitchen floor that seemed to be flooded, resigned to picking up the mess.

When Xu Xiuxiu woke up in the afternoon, the three children had already been successfully sent by Song Yuanhuan to nap in their room; when Xu Xiuxiu stepped out of the bedroom, she also successfully avoided the initial awkwardness in her heart, relieved not to face the curious eyes of the children.

"The kids are taking their naps?" Xu Xiuxiu asked Song Yuanhuan, then she rubbed her slender waist seemingly in complaint, remembering what she and Song Yuanhuan had done in the bedroom and how they just left the three children in the living room. She felt she had been too crazy; she actually let Song Yuanhuan sweet-talk her into it, that detestable lecher.

"Yeah!" Song Yuanhuan approached Xu Xiuxiu with a smile, solicitously hugging her and reaching for her slender waist, "Does your back hurt?" Despite the question, his gestures were particularly considerate, but the smile on his face and in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

"Get away." Xu Xiuxiu immediately slapped his hand away upon seeing this.

"Wife, let me massage you! A massage will ease the soreness." Song Yuanhuan shamelessly continued his solicitous and pleasing attempts.

"Who asked you to rub?" Xu Xiuxiu said playfully.

Song Yuanhuan smiled as he followed his wife to the sofa, where he immediately sat down close to Xu Xiuxiu. Then, solicitous, he massaged her shoulders and back until their three children awoke from their naps. Yuanhuan tried every trick in the book and finally managed to coax his pouting wife back into a good mood.

Amidst the noisy chaos, Yuanhuan played with the three children with clay and did intelligence puzzles. Song Chengguang watched Yuanhuan entertain his younger siblings, then the clever little guy ran to Xu Xiuxiu's side, puckered his lips, and whispered in her ear, "Mom, is Dad bullying you?" Chengguang asked, casting a wary glance at Yuanhuan as if afraid he might overhear his concern for his mother.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiuxiu's expression froze and she turned to look at her caring eldest son, "Yes, your dad is bullying Mom." Xu Xiuxiu openly admitted, not feeling it would betray Yuanhuan.

Chengguang clenched his little fists and huffed, looking like he knew it all along, as if to say, dad really was bullying mom, dad is a bad guy, which made Xiuxiu laugh.

"Mom's not afraid, if Dad bullies you again, just call for Chengguang, Chengguang will protect you." Although Chengguang was as obedient as a dumpling in front of Yuanhuan, in front of Xiuxiu, he occasionally showed the bravery of being a boy.

"Thank you, son." Xu Xiuxiu instantly felt a soft spot in her heart touched, and she kissed her little boy's cheeks several times.

Meanwhile, sitting next to the boy and girl twins, watching his eldest son and wife whispering together and then seeing his wife happily kissing their son, a wave of jealousy started brewing inside him.

"What are you talking about?" Yuanhuan didn't bother to hide it, looking at his wife who was staring back with a defiant expression and directly asked.

"I'm not telling you." Xu Xiuxiu retorted haughtily.

In Chengguang's eyes, although Yuanhuan was incredibly dignified, now Chengguang, feeling allied with Xiuxiu after being "mistreated" by Yuanhuan, puffed out his little chest bravely, "Right, won't tell dad, dad is bad." Then, grabbing the hem of Xu Xiuxiu's sleeve, he said, "Mom, dad made me wash the dishes today and even had Chengguang do his own laundry!" The supposed secret-keeper blurted out in front of Yuanhuan, tattling about his dad's mistreatment.

Yuanhuan was helplessly betrayed by his son then, and immediately earned a glare from his wife which clearly showed that the goodwill he had earned by massaging her all afternoon had instantly evaporated due to his son's remarks, proving again that sons indeed come to settle scores.

Yuanhuan thought through gritted teeth and hugged his precious daughter into his arms.

"Dad, you can't bully Mom anymore, if you bully Mom again, Chengguang will get angry," Chengguang, after catching a complex look from Yuanhuan, pursed his lips, looking a bit nervous, but still mustered up the courage to walk up to Yuanhuan. The little guy tilted his head up imagining a man-to-man talk with Yuanhuan.

"You'll get angry?" Yuanhuan raised an eyebrow, looking at his eldest son whose confidence seemed lacking, strangely wanting to tease him.