As a Scummy Omega, I Ran Away with the Baby - Chapter 55.2

The bear stayed by her side for five years. After she reunited with Bai Qingqiu and came to know Bai Xia, she gave the bear to Xia Xia, hoping that during the days when work kept her from being with the child, the little bear could keep her company in her place.

Why had things turned out this way?

In the five years they loved each other, and the five years they spent apart, what had they missed, what had they misunderstood—and how had they ended up where they were now?

With Gu Yining and Aunt Han keeping vigil, Bai Xia finally hugged her Huggy Bear, took her fever medicine, and fell asleep once more.

Only then did Gu Yining and Aunt Han breathe a sigh of relief. It was already late, so the two of them decided to go downstairs together to prepare something to eat before turning in.

Before heading down the stairs, Gu Yining glanced back at the study door—still tightly closed, now utterly silent. She withdrew her gaze with complicated emotions and followed Aunt Han.

“Aunt Han,” Gu Yining called softly, watching her hurry toward the kitchen. “All these years, has she always been this busy?”

She didn’t say Bai Qingqiu’s name, but both of them knew exactly who she meant.

Worried that Gu Yining might be hungry, Aunt Han had already taken food out of the refrigerator. At the question, her movements paused, then she let out a quiet sigh and continued reheating the dishes as she spoke.

“Yes. Miss Bai is very busy with work, so I usually don’t disturb her. Xia Xia has been healthy—she rarely gets sick. The last time she had a fever was when she was teething. She was fussy for a few nights, just like now. Back then too, Miss Bai went to work, and I stayed to take care of Xia Xia.” After speaking, Aunt Han seemed afraid Gu Yining might misunderstand. She quickly turned to add, “But Miss Gu, please don’t think too much about it. Miss Bai loves Xia Xia. What mother in this world doesn’t love her own child?”

Gu Yining cradled her cup and took small sips, responding with mixed feelings.

“Mm. I know. She loves Xia Xia very much.”

Seeing the desolation on Gu Yining’s face, Aunt Han hesitated. She wiped her hands on her apron, clearly unsure whether to continue.

Gu Yining looked at her in question, signaling that she could go on.

Receiving the cue, Aunt Han sighed again before speaking.

“And besides, Miss Gu, there’s something you may not know. Miss Bai—no one knows what she went through before—but she’s actually very afraid of hospitals.” Aunt Han paused, an indescribable tenderness surfacing on her face. “When Xia Xia was born, I went to the hospital with her. We hadn’t even reached the entrance yet when she was already so nervous she kept gripping my hand. Her palms were soaked with cold sweat. Not long after we got to the ward, she had a panic attack. That scene, even now, just thinking about it still scares me.”

Gu Yining froze completely.

Aunt Han was still talking, but Gu Yining barely heard another word. In her mind, the scene from two days ago replayed over and over—her standing at the bottom of the stairs, shouting herself hoarse at Bai Qingqiu.

“At a time like this, and your foot is already swollen like that!”

“Bai Qingqiu, this isn’t the office. I’m not your subordinate. You don’t have to care about face—about whether I’ll look down on you. I won’t! I’m worried about you!”

She had practically yelled at her. She had taken Bai Qingqiu’s fear and dismissed it as misplaced pride. With what she called concern, she had struck Bai Qingqiu’s wounds again and again—without even realizing it. She had even felt disappointed in her because of it, thinking she was stubborn and deserved the consequences, thinking she wouldn’t even accompany her daughter to the hospital, that she was irresponsible.

She thought she knew Bai Qingqiu well enough—knew her obstinacy, her pride, her reticence. But it turned out that what she knew was only the tip of the iceberg, the side Bai Qingqiu was willing to let her see. The real Bai Qingqiu had always been hiding in a corner unseen by anyone, bearing pains known only to herself.

Those unknown pasts, the suffering Gu Yining had never shared, together with the life of Bai Qingqiu she could see—only together did they make up the whole of Bai Qingqiu.

And until now, she had known none of it.

The belated ache and remorse surged over Gu Yining all at once, nearly drowning her. She picked up her bowl and chopsticks and ate the late-night meal Aunt Han had prepared. The familiar, homey flavors tasted utterly bland in her mouth.

She was submerged entirely in pain—this time not for herself, but for Bai Qingqiu, who licked her wounds alone, forcing herself to appear strong.