Chapter 281: Nightmare

Chapter 281: The Nightmare

"Things are good now. Wan Er is such a good girl, and life feels full. I feel very happy," Fu Yanju replied with a smile.

Su He understood the meaning behind her words.

"That's right. Wan Er is such a good child. My Niu Niu, on the other hand, is almost spoiled by me," Su He changed the subject.

Though she claimed Niu Niu was spoiled, she couldn't hide her proud smile.

"Niu Niu has a wonderful personality. And she’s so adorable—she's got such a lucky face," Fu Yanju replied with a smile.

Just like that, the talk drifted to other things.

They didn't talk much more before the car arrived home.

"Ting Hua, why don’t you go take a shower first? The water’s ready."

As soon as they got home, Su He told Fu Tinghua to go shower.

She knew he probably had a long day and wanted him to rest early.

"Yeah," Fu Tinghua didn’t argue. He always did as his wife said.

Su He pushed open the door to Zai Zai and Niu Niu’s room and found it silent—the two children must already be asleep.

She walked to the bedside and, under the bright moonlight streaming through the window, could just see their sleeping faces.

"So adorable," Su He whispered, unable to resist reaching out to pinch her daughter Niu Niu’s little cheek.

When she slept, the child’s face turned rosy.

"Night night, sweet dreams."

She kissed each child lightly on the cheek, then quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Little did she know that the moment she stepped out, Zai Zai opened his eyes.

He sat up and looked at his sister Niu Niu, still sound asleep beside him, then put a hand over his heart.

He wasn't dead?

He lifted his hands, as if checking if every part of him was intact.

He must have moved too loudly because it woke Niu Niu.

"Brother?"

Seeing him, Niu Niu sat up too, rubbing her eyes.

"Xinyi," Zai Zai called out, sounding confused.

"Brother? That's weird—why are you calling me that out of nowhere?" Niu Niu asked, confused.

"Nothing," Zai Zai said, then suddenly reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Brother, you’re so mean! Just like Mom, pinching my face," Niu Niu pouted, complaining.

She liked it when Mom did it because it meant Mom loved her. She hoped Mom would never stop—that way she'd always be loved, she thought.

"But then her brother pinched her—"

"Mom?" Zai Zai mumbled.

"Niu Niu’s eyes grew wide as she asked curiously.

"Nothing." Zai Zai smiled and didn’t continue the topic.

"Brother, why did you wake me up? I want to sleep with Mom." Niu Niu said, glancing toward the door again.

"You’re a big girl now—still needing Mom to sleep? How embarrassing!" Zai Zai teased.

Niu Niu thought her brother seemed different. He never talked to her this playfully.

He’d usually just frown and say no sternly.

"Brother, what’s wrong with you?" Niu Niu asked, pressing the back of her hand against Zai Zai’s forehead.

That’s how Mom always checked if they had a fever.

Niu Niu copied grown-ups flawlessly.

"Go to sleep, or I’ll smack your butt!" Zai Zai mercilessly pulled Niu Niu’s hand away.

"Brother’s so mean!" Niu Niu grumbled.

Su He, fresh from her shower, came upstairs, heard voices from the room, and couldn’t resist opening the door to take a look.

The sight stopped her in her tracks.

Both children were sitting up and chatting.

"What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be asleep?" Su He asked before turning on the light.

Light flooded the room, making them squint.

"Why aren’t you sleeping?" Su He walked to the bedside and asked.

"Mom, it’s brother—he woke me up!" Niu Niu blurted out.

Su He smirked at Niu Niu’s boldness.

"Did your brother really wake you? Your brother sleeps like an angel."

As she spoke, Su He gave Zai Zai a reassuring pat.

She suspected Niu Niu was blaming him unfairly.

After all, her son was always so obedient when sleeping.

Once, Su He caught Niu Niu playing with a doll under the covers instead of sleeping.

Zai Zai froze when he saw Su He.

He held still as Su He ruffled his hair.

"He DID wake me up! Ask him!"

Niu Niu panicked—Mom didn’t believe her!

"Okay, Mommy does believe you."

Su He lifted Niu Niu up from the bed and cuddled her, then comforting her.

"Okay, don’t be upset. How about I sleep with you tonight? Sound good?" Su He coaxed while cradling her daughter.

"Yay! Mommy’s the best!" Niu Niu perked right up.

Watching this heartwarming scene, Zai Zai on the bed couldn’t help but drift into thought.

"Zai Zai? Zai Zai?"

Su He called his name twice but got no response. Worried, she quickly placed Niu Niu back on the bed and then pulled Zai Zai into her embrace.

By the time Zai Zai came back to himself and tried to break free, her familiar, comforting smell surrounded him, making him reluctant to push her away.

"Zai Zai, did you have a nightmare?" Su He said softly while tweaking his solemn little cheek.

Truth be told, Zai Zai was always so grown-up and even-keeled that Su He sometimes missed what he was feeling.

Unlike Niu Niu, who got all the cuddles, Zai Zai was her independent little boy who rarely clung to his mother.

"Mm-hmm," Zai Zai answered softly.

"It’s okay. I'll stay with you tonight, alright? Don’t be scared." Su He hugged him and patted his back reassuringly.

Honestly, when a good kid gets hurt, it’s even more heartbreaking.

Su He still remembered how her heart had just about stopped when Zai Zai was slapped that time.

"Mommy, you won’t disappear again, will you?" Zai Zai suddenly looked up and asked her seriously.

"Of course not. Mommy will always be with you."

He had asked her this more than once before.

The dream must have been terrifying for him to be this afraid.

"Mommy, I had a nightmare. Do you want to hear what it was about?" Zai Zai suddenly asked.

"Of course. Tell Mommy, okay?" Su He encouraged him gently.

At that moment, Niu Niu leaned in and chimed, "Me too! Tell me too! Is it a scary story, Brother?"