Chapter 6 — Today, I’m Done Waiting

The little boy nodded, caught somewhere between understanding and confusion. The driver standing nearby gave a sharp nudge, and Thicket was guided into the vehicle. Before the door slid shut, the child still stretched his upper body out of the window to look back at me. Until the car vanished completely into the distance, he never turned his head back to sit properly. I stood rooted to the spot for a long, heavy while. The teacher stepped out.

Teacher Ta, Thicket has not been in a very good mental state lately.

During nap time, he often cries, and when I ask him what is wrong, he refuses to speak.

There is one more thing. The teacher hesitated slightly. The emergency contact person for him was changed just yesterday.

Originally, the primary contact person was you, but now it has been changed to his paternal grandmother.

I asked: Who changed it?

His father.

I nodded.

Could you please send me a copy of the form?

I will fill it out again.

The teacher wore a troubled expression.

The current information was submitted and confirmed by his father. If you wish to re-register, it must go through the school administration's approval process.

Just send it to me first.

Leaving the kindergarten, I went straight to the hospital. The follow-up examination results showed no major issues. The doctor told me to continue resting, to avoid lifting heavy objects, and not to let my emotions become overly agitated. She looked around my surroundings.

Did no family members come with you?

No.

Was you alone during your previous surgery as well?

Yes.

The doctor sighed.

Is there anyone to take care of you when you get home?

I can take care of myself.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how often this sentence had been repeated lately. Everyone else had already concluded on my behalf that I was incapable of taking care of myself properly. Yet throughout the ten days I spent dealing with a miscarriage, surgery, and discharge from the hospital, not a single person asked what I needed. Only when I wanted a divorce and wanted to bring my child back did they suddenly remember that my health was poor. I took the follow-up exam report and returned to the bookstore. The workers had already finished cleaning up the second floor. The children's bed had also been delivered and was currently being assembled. I placed a few comic books that Thicket liked at the head of the bed, then laid out a foam mat right against the wall. In the past, the boy had always loved sprawling across the floor to draw. Wen-xuan did not like that. He said the floor was cold and, furthermore, lacked any sense of refinement. Whenever he saw it, he would instruct the nanny to pick Thicket up. Afterward, whenever he painted, Thicket would always sit rigidly straight, as if he were diligently completing an assigned duty. I cleaned until evening when the sound of vehicles echoed from outside. Several interior design company vans parked along the roadside. The workers stepped out and began hauling materials inside. I walked toward the entrance.

Who called you here?

The person in charge looked slightly dazed.

Mr. Ta.

He said the shop is going to be completely renovated, so we should just come and do the measurements tonight.

Move your things out.

But Mr. Ta has already paid.

This place belongs to me.

Without my permission, no one is allowed to touch a thing.

The person in charge immediately made a phone call. Ten minutes later, Wen-xuan arrived, followed by his young assistant, who was carrying several folders. He stepped into the shop, swept his gaze around, and furrowed his brows deeply.

Do you intend to live in a place like this?

Is there a problem?

The walls are damp and moldy, the wiring is outdated, and even the fire safety standards might not be up to code.

I had someone inspect it today.

I will have it renovated.

Wen-xuan tossed the stack of documents onto the table.

These are the blueprints for the renovation.

I have also purchased the two commercial spaces on either side.

Once we knock down the dividing walls, we can restore the bookstore to its original scale.

I could not be bothered to flip through them.

Tell your people to leave.

Qing-sui, I am trying to help you.

I do not need it.

You do need it. He suppressed his rising anger. The place you are staying in right now does not even have a proper bedroom.

And Thicket definitely cannot move into a place like this.

Is that why you instructed the kindergarten not to let me pick up my son?

It is only temporary.