Chapter 137 Suspicion

Chapter 137: Suspicion

Wang Shilan conceded the point; children are prone to bumps and scrapes, and their delicate skin makes even minor injuries appear severe.

Ultimately, she didn't blame Du Ze, but earnestly cautioned Niu Niu to walk more carefully in the future.

Seeing Niu Niu’s knee fully recovered, Wang Shilan tucked her daughter in, kissed her forehead, and prepared to rise.

Her hand was gently held by Niu Niu, who had awakened at some point.

Realizing she had disturbed the child, Wang Shilan guiltily patted her back, saying, “It’s okay, Niu Niu, go back to sleep.”

Niu Niu shook her head, her eyes still hazy with sleep, and called out in a soft, childlike voice, “Mommy.”

Wang Shilan lay down beside her to soothe her. “Mommy’s here.”

Niu Niu snuggled closer, burrowing into her mother’s soft embrace.

“Mommy, I missed you so much. Why did you come back so late?”

Niu Niu was timid, and only around her mother did she become more talkative.

Wang Shilan had been exceptionally busy lately, often returning home after Niu Niu had already fallen asleep.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she hugged Niu Niu and said, “Mommy won’t be so busy these next few days. I’ll be with you every day, okay?”

Niu Niu lifted her face, her eyes brightening. “Really?”

“Of course, Mommy never lies.”

Niu Niu was overjoyed, clinging to Wang Shilan and refusing to let her go.

Wang Shilan simply took off her shoes and lay down on the bed, covering herself and Niu Niu with the blanket.

Some time later, as Wang Shilan held her soft, warm daughter and was on the verge of sleep, she heard Niu Niu mumble something, as if talking in her sleep.

“Mommy, can you also fill in?”

Niu Niu was thinking of Uncle Shen, who had been a substitute on the parenting show, and wished her mother could take his place as her companion.

Wang Shilan’s eyes immediately snapped open. “Did Daddy not treat you well?”

Otherwise, why would Niu Niu have such a thought?

Niu Niu didn’t answer the question, but instead clutched her mother’s collar and whispered, “Auntie Hua Zhao said my hair is very pretty.”

It took Wang Shilan a few seconds to recall who Auntie Hua Zhao was, but she soon remembered she was a new guest on the parenting show.

Wang Shilan murmured in agreement. “Niu Niu’s hair is indeed very pretty, like a little princess’s. How about Mommy takes you to the mall tomorrow to buy a little crown?”

Niu Niu nodded, wanting to tell her mother that Daddy didn’t like her long hair and had talked about taking her to cut it off.

The little girl couldn’t bring herself to say she disliked Daddy, but Auntie Hua Zhao had told her she could always tell Mommy anything.

Mommy would support her unconditionally—Mommy was the person who loved her most in the world.

“Daddy… Daddy said he wants to cut off Niu Niu’s hair.” Niu Niu gathered her courage, steeling herself to share her worries with her mother.

Perhaps it was the first time she had spoken negatively about Daddy to Mommy, as Niu Niu’s tone was anxious, and Wang Shilan could clearly feel her little chest rising and falling rapidly.

Wang Shilan was horrified, unable to imagine that the man who seemed so gentle and kind would tell Niu Niu to cut off her cherished long hair.

“Mommy, can you tell Daddy that Niu Niu will learn to wash her hair slowly? Can he please not cut off Niu Niu’s hair?”

Wang Shilan stiffened, her voice trembling slightly. “Daddy told you to wash your own hair?”

Niu Niu nodded. “Daddy said Niu Niu is a big girl now and should take care of her own things.”

A buzzing noise filled Wang Shilan’s mind. As a single mother, entering a new marriage had required immense courage, and at home, two nannies were primarily responsible for caring for Niu Niu.

She only remembered telling Niu Niu not to let Daddy bathe her.

But making Niu Niu wash her own hair—wasn’t that going too far?

Wang Shilan got up, locked the door of the children’s room, and held Niu Niu, gently urging her to recount everything that had happened.

Niu Niu’s memory wasn’t the best, and in her impression, Daddy had actually been quite kind to her. But those who wear masks eventually reveal their true selves.

The Du Ze described by Niu Niu was someone Wang Shilan didn’t recognize—not only inconsiderate but even harshly scolding Niu Niu.

Wang Shilan’s heart surged with shock and turmoil. She held Niu Niu tightly, softly coaxing her to sleep.

Within minutes, Niu Niu was fast asleep again.

Wang Shilan, however, stayed awake for a long time. She never doubted Niu Niu’s words, though she still held onto a glimmer of doubt.

Perhaps Du Ze was just too exhausted from taking care of the child alone—after all, every parent has moments when they’re overwhelmed.

...But no matter how angry he was, he shouldn’t neglect Niu Niu or make her wash her own hair.

Her phone on the bedside table vibrated. Wang Shilan picked it up and saw a message from Du Ze. It was sweet, written in his typical style.

He called her “wife,” asking if she had finished seeing Niu Niu and saying he couldn’t fall asleep without her by his side.

In the past, Wang Shilan would have found Du Ze caring and attentive, and she would have returned to him after seeing Niu Niu.

But today, she didn’t reply. She dismissed the message and lay down beside Niu Niu.

When Du Ze woke up the next day, Wang Shilan and Niu Niu were already dressed, and the nanny was getting Niu Niu’s things ready for the outing.

“Ahem.” Du Ze came downstairs and cleared his throat pointedly.

Wang Shilan looked up, her eyes cold, then averted her gaze as if she hadn’t seen him.

She was not exactly warm, reserving all her patience and tenderness for Niu Niu—something Du Ze knew well.

Wang Shilan wasn’t like those gentle women you see out there; her life was filled with work, not very warm or passionate, her personality aloof.

He pulled himself together, put on a smile, and called out, “Wife, are you taking Niu Niu out today?”

Niu Niu, sitting at the dining table drinking milk, peeked over shyly at the sound of Du Ze’s voice.

“Yes, I’m taking Niu Niu to the mall,” Wang Shilan said coldly.

Du Ze came over, took the items from the nanny, and put them into a backpack, zipping it up.

“I don’t have much to do today. I’ll join you.”

Niu Niu stopped drinking, her little eyebrows knitting tightly.

Wang Shilan took the bag from Du Ze's hands, "I can take Niu Niu. Don’t you have an interview today?"

Du Ze was just making conversation—he had no patience to go shopping with a kid and was merely putting on an act.

"Alright then, don’t push yourself too hard. I’ll cook tonight—you haven’t had my cooking in a while."

Wang Shilan studied him closely, trying to detect any deception or pretense in the man’s eyes.

His gaze was clear and direct, a smile on his face.

Perhaps it was Niu Niu’s words from last night that had turned her suspicion of Du Ze from a speck of dust into a tangible dark mass that had grown overnight.

Wang Shilan looked away, "No need to wait for us."

She turned and took Niu Niu by the hand. One tall, one short, they quickly disappeared from Du Ze’s sight.

Wang Shilan knew Du Ze was still watching her, but she didn’t look back.

She wondered to herself: Was Du Ze acting that way toward Niu Niu just because he didn’t like her?

Yet every time he looked at her, the love in his eyes was undeniably intense.