Chapter 90 I’m Sick, Stay Away from Me

Chapter 90 I'm Sick, Stay Away From Me

The little rocking horse was his least favorite toy.

Only You You would find joy in such a dull plaything.

Perhaps the thought of You You stirred something in him, as the stern-faced little boy finally reached out and gripped the rocking horse's handles.

Hua Zhao gently patted his head and began to rock the horse.

"You You likes rocking horses too," Pei Xu suddenly remarked.

*Of course,* Hua Zhao thought to herself, *otherwise I wouldn't have singled out this particular toy from so many for him to play with.*

There were about a dozen children in the play area, all observing the cold-faced little boy who refused to join them inside, opting instead to play with a rocking horse by the door.

That little boy was truly peculiar—he didn't even crack a smile while playing. If anyone looked at him, he'd lift his eyes and stare back, looking quite fierce.

In short, no one dared to approach him. A few curious children did gather around, waving the plastic ocean balls in their hands, attempting to invite him to play.

Pei Qiqi turned his face away, offering no response.

In his world, only You You wouldn't hurt him. He wanted no part in playing with others; they would only snatch his toys and scold him.

Pei Yi nervously rubbed his hands, took a deep breath, and asked gravely, "Doctor, please tell me, what's Qi Qi's condition?"

The doctor interlaced his fingers, resting his arms on the table. "Qi Qi's condition isn't too severe. At least he's willing to communicate with us."

"But he absolutely refuses to go to kindergarten," Pei Yi said, a hint of distress in his voice.

As a responsible uncle, he was genuinely worried that Qi Qi would fall behind his peers academically.

However, a child's mental well-being was equally crucial. All in all, this matter had caused Pei Yi so much anxiety that he'd lost quite a few strands of hair.

The kind-faced psychologist had, of course, already thoroughly understood the reasons behind Qi Qi's current state.

Not to mention Qi Qi, even an adult might struggle to maintain a healthy mental state after experiencing such an ordeal.

According to Qi Qi's uncle, the reason Qi Qi survived the car accident was that his father had shielded him with his own body.

"Qi Qi instinctively resists kindergarten. My suggestion is that parents should not send him there for now.

It would be best for parents to provide full-time companionship, strengthening his sense of security, and gradually introduce him to other children his age. Qi Qi mentioned he has a good friend, didn't he?"

Pei Yi recalled a sweet little boy with curly hair and nodded. "Yes, a neighbor's child named You You."

The psychologist also smiled. During his conversation with Qi Qi, whenever this friend was mentioned, Qi Qi would display a very gentle expression, and his tightly pursed little mouth would relax into a faint smile.

He seemed like a very well-behaved child who could make Pei Xu feel secure.

"It's a good sign that he's willing to make friends. He's slowly getting better."

Pei Yi breathed a sigh of relief but then grew worried again. Qi Qi couldn't possibly stay home playing with You You forever.

You You would have to go to kindergarten too, after all.

After talking with the doctor for about half an hour, Pei Yi couldn't quite pinpoint his exact feelings.

Healing from psychological trauma couldn't be rushed; it had to be a gradual process.

He walked to the door, stood in the corridor, and his gaze fell upon the children's play area at the far end.

Dressed in a gray tracksuit, Qi Qi sat astride a blue rocking horse, leaning forward slightly, gripping the handles, and swaying with the horse's rocking motion.

This was actually the first time Pei Yi had ever seen Qi Qi on a rocking horse.

Beside him, Hua Zhao smiled as she played along, rhythmically helping to rock the horse.

As he approached, Pei Yi saw a faint smile gracing the face of his usually stern nephew.

Pei Yi stood to their side with his hands in his pockets, firmly believing that Qi Qi would definitely recover.

Upon returning home after the doctor's appointment, Pei Xu spotted You You riding his toy car and playing by the entrance.

Qi Qi's eyes lit up. "You You."

The little one, seated in his toy car, turned his head. Upon seeing him, he immediately steered the car around to stop in front of him.

"Brother Qi Qi, did you go to the hospital again?"

Faced with the little one's concern, Qi Qi nodded and murmured, "Mm."

Then he saw two people following behind the little car—one was Brother Xiao Tang, and the other was someone he hadn't met before, a very slender, pretty woman.

Qi Qi instinctively stepped back, declining the little one's invitation to get in the car.

Chu Ying offered a warm smile. "It's okay, you can play with You You."

Pei Xu was visibly stunned by her words. She had clearly heard about his illness, yet she was still willing to let him play with You You.

Wasn't she afraid that You You would catch something from him?

At just four years old, Pei Qiqi didn't understand that children don't always transmit illnesses, let alone psychological ones.

He merely recalled that in kindergarten, when he wore clothes that weren't fully dry and fell ill, the teacher would confine him to a separate dormitory, saying he had a contagious illness that would spread to other children.

This had happened several times, and each time he had to stay alone in the dormitory for a few days, unable to go out.

Pei Xu became lost in his memories, and his mood grew very, very somber. Then he heard You You calling him.

"Brother Qi Qi, hurry up!"

The little one got out of the car himself, opened the door, and invited him to play together.

Pei Qiqi clenched his fists and shook his head. He was sick and might infect You You.

Su Youli was an impatient little one. Seeing him hesitate for so long, he couldn't wait any longer and simply ran over to take his hand without giving him time to think.

"Brother Qi Qi, you're so slow. Is it because you took medicine?"

When he used to get sick and take medicine, he would also move slowly.

Pei Xu shook his head and explained, "I didn't take medicine, and I didn't get any injections."

"Huh? No medicine and no shots?"

Little Su Youli carefully examined Brother Qi Qi's body, first reaching up to feel Pei Qiqi's forehead like he'd seen adults do, then asking Pei Qiqi to stick out his tongue.

No idea where he picked that up.

Pei Qiqi felt a bit nervous and, after some thought, decided to share his secret with his best friend.

"The doctor said I'm sick, here." He pointed to his chest.

The little one's eyes widened, and he reached out his small hand to touch Pei Qiqi's chest: "What?"

Pei Qiqi didn't know how to explain it. As the little one leaned in closer, he instinctively recoiled, afraid that his "sickness" would spread to You You.

The obvious evasive action made the little one frown. "Brother Qi Qi?"

Pei Xu pursed his lips and said seriously, "I'm sick. Stay away from me."

The little one was deeply hurt, his small mouth immediately pouting.

Why did he have to stay away when he was sick? The little one didn't understand and looked at Pei Xu with a wounded expression.

Su Youli had big, sparkling eyes that seemed to hold stars. Whenever he looked at someone like that, it was hard to resist.

Pei Qiqi struggled for a moment before saying, "...I wasn't mad at you. Don't be sad."