C10 Her Mother Please Don't Leave Xiaobao Behind

"Yay!"

"Let's pinky promise."

Xiaobao extended his pinky, and Shen Qinghuang did the same.

"Pinky promise, hang it on a hook, and for a hundred years, it cannot be shook!"

"Come on, let's go have some food first. Mommy has prepared a feast for you."

She assisted Xiaobao off the bed and dressed him in new clothes, shoes, and socks she had prepared.

Standing before the bed, Xiaobao showed hesitation. "Mommy, you go ahead."

"What's the matter?" Shen Qinghuang furrowed her brow, sensing that something was off.

Nevertheless, she obediently walked ahead.

Xiaobao breathed a sigh of relief, then stepped forward with his left foot and lifted his right, trying his best to walk in a way that appeared normal to anyone watching.

His leg was lame.

He had overheard the medical staff saying that when he was born, someone had stepped on him.

The person had intended to crush him to death, but luckily, they slipped, only injuring his right leg.

He couldn't fathom why someone would want him dead.

But he also knew that the person was formidable. He didn't want his mother to worry or get hurt because of him.

So, he chose to conceal his injury.

Yet, children will be children, and he couldn't hide his secret from Shen Qinghuang, who possessed an extraordinary perception.

Reaching the staircase, Shen Qinghuang paused, listening to Xiaobao's footsteps drawing closer.

She turned and said, "Come here, Xiaobao, let Mommy carry you."

She bent down and scooped him into her arms, regardless of whether he was ready or not.

In the dining hall, Yun Zheng, having been informed earlier, had prepared a lavish spread of food.

Following Shen Qinghuang's instructions, the dishes were primarily designed to replenish Qi and blood.

After four years at the base, she believed her son was in dire need of nourishment!

As they neared the dining table, Yun Zheng quickly stepped forward to assist with the chairs.

Shen Qinghuang settled Xiaobao into his seat and then pulled up a chair beside him before sitting down.

To prevent Xiaobao from overthinking, she gently prompted, "Sweetheart, try the food and see if it suits your taste."

"If you don't like it, I can make something else for you," she offered warmly.

The chef at Moon Hugging Mountain Manor had been personally trained by Qinghuang herself. Though they had only mastered a fraction of her culinary prowess, they were considered among the elite chefs in all of Dragon Country.

Xiaobao eagerly reached for a serving of the potato braised beef. The potatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within, while the beef was a harmonious mix of fat and lean, tender without falling apart. With one bite, Xiaobao nearly swallowed his tongue in delight.

"Delicious!" he exclaimed.

For the past four years at the base, he had subsisted almost entirely on nutritional supplements to sustain himself. He had never experienced such a symphony of flavors.

"If you like it, have some more," she encouraged.

But Xiaobao, being only four years old, couldn't possibly finish the feast laid out before him. He sampled a little of each dish, but his attention kept returning to the potato braised beef.

Shen Qinghuang then filled a bowl with carrot and pumpkin red rice porridge. These ingredients were not only nutritious, providing energy and blood replenishment, but they also helped prevent anemia. Following the rich beef dish with a bowl of the light, wholesome porridge was simply perfect.

Observing Xiaobao's contentedly rounded belly, a look of satisfaction graced Qinghuang's face.

"Sweetheart, sit and rest a bit. Mommy has to take care of something, but I'll be back shortly to keep you company," she said.

After exchanging a knowing glance with Yun Zheng, Qinghuang turned to leave. However, Xiaobao sprang from his chair like a coiled spring and clung to her legs.

"Mommy, don't leave Xiaobao behind!" he pleaded.

A sudden worry crossed his mind—had he eaten too much, causing his mother to be displeased with him? Surely that was it! He resolved to eat less in the future.

Kneeling on the ground, he wrapped his arms around Qinghuang's legs, gazing up at her with his large, watery eyes, a picture of vulnerability.