Surrounded by the Billionaire's Deep Doting Chapter 535 - 410: Su Xiaomeng, She’s Tormenting Herself

"Don’t speak in such a sarcastic tone, we’re classmates, isn’t there a way to get along?"

Su Xiaong finished speaking and looked out the window, feeling a slight sense of satisfaction...

"..."

Yin Shixiu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Su Xiaong to respond so coldly.

After pressing his lips together, he said,

"That boy nad Han Tan, he’s not soone to be trifled with. Eric ntioned him to before, and I didn’t pay it much mind. Seeing you close to him today, it reminded of that."

Xiao ng thought, if being powerful ans staying away, does it an Yin Shixiu is powerless?

"So what if he’s influential? In school, we’re all classmates. Isn’t it tiring to overthink?"

"Regardless, try to avoid him."

"Don’t you think you’re getting too involved?"

Su Xiaong frowned slightly and turned to look at him,

"I can make my own judgnts. Do you really have the ti and energy to worry about who I’m close to or distant from, amidst all your responsibilities?"

"I’m not trying to interfere with your decisions, nor—"

"Yes, you are!"

Su Xiaong was extrely frustrated with his flat-out denial!

He was clearly interfering, yet finding other excuses to cover up!

"Screech—"

The tires skidded against the road, making a sharp screech as the car steadily stopped at a temporary parking spot by the roadside.

"Cough cough cough..."

Su Xiaong grabbed a tissue, coughed a few tis into it, and felt like she was about to pass out from lack of oxygen.

"Why did you stop?"

Yin Shixiu was already sulking and his tone could not have been kind.

But seeing her cough like that, his tone softened,

"What’s wrong with you? Why are your words so sharp?"

"When did I speak sharply? Cough cough... cough cough..."

Su Xiaong’s excitent sent her into another fit of coughing, and Yin Shixiu, feeling helpless, couldn’t continue his inquiry as intended.

He reached out to pat Su Xiaong’s back,

"Alright, stop talking, close your eyes and rest for a bit. I’ll wake you when we get ho."

"..."

Su Xiaong didn’t look at him, she just adjusted her seat back and lay down.

Yin Shixiu retrieved a blanket from the back seat—which he had intentionally brought along— and covered her with it.

The car started up again, driving steadily, just as it always did when she was tired and sleeping.

————

Ho.

Xiao ng went straight to her room. Shuangshuang and Huang Huang wanted to hug and kiss her, but she refused.

She was afraid of spreading her cold to the children.

Shuangshuang and Huang Huang followed her to the master bedroom, but they didn’t go in. They knew Mom was worried about them getting sick, even though neither sibling was afraid of catching Mom’s cold.

"Mommy, get well soon..."

Shuangshuang said seriously, making a cheering-up gesture.

Xiao ng ca over and smiled,

"Yes, Mommy will get better soon. Were you well-behaved at ho today? Did you upset Aunt Claire?"

At this mont, Xiao ng was really unwell, her limbs weak and her mouth dry. She could clearly feel her body temperature rising. Her eyes were stinging from the heat.

But she just leaned against the doorfra. Although she couldn’t be affectionate with her children, she could still stand there and chat for a bit.

After all...

She couldn’t bear to neglect them as they clung to her.

As soon as Xiao ng asked if they upset Claire, Shuangshuang quickly said, "Ate my lunch..."

And then pretended nothing had happened and turned away.

Though young and unsteady on their feet, their minds were sharp.

Xiao ng didn’t call her out, but Prince Huang looked at Su Xiaong with concern...

Although the siblings were young, it was hard to say exactly how much they understood about relationships and situations.

But the siblings were indeed slightly better than average in language, communication, learning, and understanding for their age.

Comparing the siblings, Huang Huang was more sensitive than Shuangshuang.

Maybe he didn’t know exactly what happened, but he faintly sensed their mom’s unhappiness...

His small hand reached for Su Xiaong’s—

"Hey, Huang Huang, don’t touch mommy."

Prince Huang pouted... It was rare to see such a coquettish expression.

Su Xiaong’s heart softened, she reached out a hand...

Prince Huang imdiately grabbed it.

"Hey... count to three, okay? One, two..."

"Mommy."

"Yes?"

"Do you hate Dad?"

"..."

Prince Huang asked seriously, his big eyes watching her, just like being stared at by Yin Shixiu...

She didn’t expect Prince Huang to ask that question...

Her first reaction was, how could a two-and-a-half-year-old have such deep thoughts?

And then she reflected on whether she was showing it too obviously...

Actually, Xiao ng was overthinking it.

Prince Huang was serious, but he was just randomly asking. He tended to initiate conversation this way because it allowed him to hold his mom’s hand longer.

Yet, he indeed had a keen insight.

He wasn’t as talkative or rowdy as Shuangshuang, but he was observant, thinking things through before speaking or acting.

Even at his age, Prince Huang was much more systematic than Shuangshuang.

He observed his parents’ interactions daily. Xiao ng thought she was hiding it well, but the usual intimacy between his parents seed to have vanished in his eyes!

Prince Huang’s goal wasn’t to get an answer from Mom.

But suddenly, Xiao ng squatted down and asked Prince Huang a question,

"Does Huang Huang like Mommy more, or Daddy more?"

If Huang Huang were older, around seven or eight... this question could take another form—

When parents divorce, who do you want to stay with?

Su Xiaong’s tone was calm, her expression was calm when she asked...

But to her surprise, Prince Huang didn’t answer for a long ti. He just kept staring at Su Xiaong, and then suddenly, he puckered his lips and started to cry...

"Waa waa..."

Xiao ng was suddenly at a loss.

Yin Shixiu rushed over upon hearing the crying,

"What happened?"

Xiao ng found it hard to speak, but she knew she couldn’t just stay silent. So she vaguely said,

"I just asked him whether he liked Dad or Mom more... and then he suddenly cried... cough cough... cough cough cough..."

Yin Shixiu’s body stiffened, and when he held Prince Huang in his arms, his gaze remained fixed on Su Xiaong.

Why...

Why did he feel so uneasy inside?

Why would Su Xiaong ask such a question?

Asking whether soone likes Dad or Mom more might seem like an innocent question in the eyes of relatives and friends who co over.

But as parents, they understand very well that it’s not a good question for a child.

It’s like asking them to choose between their parents...

Making a choice...

"You go console him, I just asked casually. Who would’ve thought... I’ll go shower first, cough cough..."

Before Yin Shixiu could respond, Xiao ng had already shut the bedroom door.

What was going on with Su Xiaong?

A deep feeling of unease lingered...

In the evening, Xiao ng was in the study catching up on schoolwork, books, and assignnts spread across the table. But before she managed to flip any notes, she had already laid her head down.

When Yin Shixiu entered, she was burning up with a terrifying fever!

He quickly carried her to the bedroom and asked Claire to call the family doctor.

Su Xiaong lay weakly on the bed, moaning...

The family doctor lived nearby, so it was just a matter of ten-odd minutes. Yin Shixiu stood by the bed, watching the frail Su Xiaong...

For a long ti...

He finally realized what was causing his unease.

He had always felt there was sothing off, and finally pinpointed it.

No need!

Being this sick, there was no need to go to school, no need to do howork, no need...

Yet she insisted on going!

This stubbornness was not because she loved studying! Nor because she was afraid of falling behind!

Even if only for the children’s sake, she should have tried to recover quickly! Especially since she hated being sick more than anyone!

Su Xiaong... She was torturing herself.