Chapter 435: Chapter 388 Thank You, Mom_2
What she prepared for him was a limited edition One Piece action figure, and a set of Lu Fei’s clothing.
"The action figure is from your dad, and so is the money for the birthday party, but this set of clothes I made myself. It’s a little ugly; don’t despise it."
Mu Qinian unfurled the set of clothes and indeed, it was somewhat different from what he had imagined, with rather awkward stitching. He looked down at her tender fingers, noticing a few red needle marks, and suddenly felt his eyes sting.
"Making clothes isn’t really your thing, yet you still push yourself." Mu Qinian sighed like a little adult and shook his head, but still said, "Thank you."
He went back to his room to change into the clothes, and when he came down again, the living room was lively with chatter. The TV was playing One Piece, and the room had been decorated to resemble a pirate ship, with snacks and fruits related to One Piece laid out on the coffee table.
Mu Qinian thought his birthday had been forgotten, but Gu Qili gave him such a big surprise.
She still remembered the dreams he once told her about, that he wanted to be the King of Pirates, and now she was helping him realize them in her own way.
Mu Qinian had never been so happy. He rushed to the living room with a beaming smile and quickly mingled with his little friends.
The One Piece themed birthday party only ended after dinner. The children were all safely sent home, and Uncle Yu was cleaning up the living room and kitchen.
Gu Qili was getting tired more easily these days and had gone to rest early. Actually, she was not asleep but was nestled in bed scrolling through her phone when the door suddenly opened. Thinking it was Mu Shuoqian, she didn’t pay attention.
Soon, a soft little bundle plopped down in front of her. She lifted her head from her phone screen and smiled at the little boy: "Did you have fun today?"
Mu Qinian nodded: "Why are you sleeping so early?"
The fact that she was sick had always been kept from the little boy. He was too young and didn’t understand what a terminal disease meant. Telling him would only add to his troubles.
"I stayed up late last night." Gu Qili put her phone aside and pinched Mu Qinian’s cheek: "You should also go to bed early."
"Okay." Mu Qinian sat straight up, "Then I will go back."
"Goodnight."
Mu Qinian’s big, clear black and white eyes looked at her, seemingly having something to say but finding it difficult, his gaze fell to his toes, as if he was wrestling with his thoughts.
Gu Qili was a bit puzzled but didn’t press for an answer.
Just when she was about to wish him goodnight again, Mu Qinian suddenly leaned in and kissed her face, his voice tiny and soft: "Thank you... Mommy."
Gu Qili thought she had heard wrong. Did he just call her... Mommy?
Mu Qinian called her Mommy?
Tears instantly soaked her eyes, and she excitedly covered her mouth.
Mu Qinian’s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and after saying it, he ran out before she could respond, running so fast that Gu Qili clearly heard him trip on the carpet in the hallway.
Tears instantly wet her cheeks, Gu Qili was both shocked and joyful, also filled with heavy pride; she had finally gotten Mu Qinian to acknowledge her. Previously, he had always awkwardly called her A-Li, and after being scolded by Mu Shuoqian, he had stopped calling her A-Li and hadn’t used any name for her at all.
Gu Qili had always consoled herself, reasoning that he was young, and after four years apart, he needed time to accept her.
Unexpectedly, he actually called her Mommy. These two simple and direct words had her so excited that she cried tears of joy, no one understood what this title meant to her; even if she were to die right now, she would feel no regrets.
After Mu Shuoqian came back, he saw Gu Qili with her eyes swollen from crying, immediately approaching her with concern: "What happened?"
Gu Qili hugged him, crying and laughing with happiness: "Niannian called me Mommy."
"That little rascal." Mu Shuoqian patted her shoulder, "Actually, he has accepted you in his heart for a long time."
"I know." Gu Qili smiled contentedly, "Like some people, who clearly like someone but keep it bottled up inside, it’s really so awkward."
"How come this ’some people’ sounds so familiar?"
Gu Qili laughed freely and hugged him even tighter, a new beginning for the new year, and she now had more hope for the future.
"Tomorrow we have to go back to the old Mu Family house. We didn’t go over the New Year, and they’ve called to remind us."
"Mommy won’t be unhappy, right?"
"She’s returning to M-country tomorrow. Jason has already sent people to pick her up."
"Tomorrow? That soon?" Gu Qili was quite unwilling to part with Qiu Lan. During their time together, the two had become like mother and daughter. Gu Qili, who had lacked maternal love since childhood, had placed her feelings for a mother onto Qiu Lan.
But Qiu Lan had long adjusted to life in M-country, and Jason was deeply devoted to her. Returning to M-country was her true home.
The next day, the two of them took Qiu Lan to the airport. Jason had sent over a dozen people, and together with Qiu Lan’s own bodyguards, their presence immediately attracted many onlookers.
Gu Qili handed two boxes full of local specialties to the bodyguards, all things that Qiu Lan enjoyed eating and using.
Qiu Lan seldom returned to her home country, and this departure stirred up much reluctance. She was leaving behind her son, her grandson, and also her daughter-in-law. The family gathered for another round of chatter before it was nearly time for boarding.
Qiu Lan took Gu Qili’s hand and whispered softly: "Qili, when you have your surgery, Mommy will definitely come back. You have to wait until Shuoqian finds a suitable donor. Mommy believes in you."
"Mommy, don’t worry. As soon as there is good news, I will inform you."
"Good, my child, what goes around comes around, you will be alright."
After sending Qiu Lan off, the family of three drove to the old Mu Family house. Mu Qinian asked in the car, "What were you whispering with Grandma just now?"