Becoming a Scum A in an Old-School Melodramatic Novel - Chapter 11

When the adult and the child came into the living room, Lin Qinghan had just finished tidying up and changed into her pajamas. As she came out of her room, she saw the pair snuggled up together looking at a phone. They were chatting happily, clearly enjoying themselves, and it made her feel a little jealous — after all, Tian Tian used to cling to her the most.

“Mommy, what’s this made of? Is it yummy?” Shen Tian asked, blinking her big eyes and shaking her little pigtails.

“It’s yummy. The bottom part is made with milk, and there’s a layer of mango on top. It’s smooth and soft — Tian Tian will definitely like it,” Shen Xian explained.

After the evening’s activities, it was already getting late — past nine o’clock. It wouldn’t be good for a child to eat too much this late, so Shen Xian simply ordered three servings of mango double-skin milk pudding. The portions were small enough not to overfill Tian Tian, and the dessert was nutritious enough not to harm her health.

“Then Mommy, when will the milk pudding get here?” Tian Tian leaned into Shen Xian’s arms, her eyes glued to the picture of the dessert on the screen.

Shen Xian found her adorable and gently rubbed the top of the little foodie’s head. “It’ll be here soon. As for mangosteens, Mommy will buy some for you tomorrow after school, okay?”

“Okay~” Tian Tian sang, dragging out the last syllable.

Before long, the delivery guy arrived with the pudding. Shen Xian was still at the door when the little one had already run over and hugged her leg tightly. Shen Xian picked her up and laughed, “Tian Tian, are you that eager? Mommy will get it ready for you right away.”

She opened the bag to find three small bowls neatly packed. She took out one, removed the lid for Tian Tian, and handed her a little spoon. “Here, Tian Tian, eat.”

With her soft little voice and a big smile, Tian Tian replied, “Okay~ then Tian Tian’s gonna eat now!”

She scooped a small spoonful, cautiously put it in her mouth, and then her eyes lit up as she blinked at Shen Xian.

“Mommy, the milk pudding is so yummy! Tian Tian likes it!” she said with a bright smile.

“I’m glad you like it. Mommy will buy more for you next time,” Shen Xian replied, gently stroking her little face with a smile.

Then she opened another pudding, stuck a spoon in it, looked at Lin Qinghan sitting on the other end of the sofa, and handed it over. “Qinghan, you have some too. You’ve had a long night.”

Lin Qinghan leaned tiredly against the sofa, glanced at Shen Xian, and said, “I’m fine. Save it for Tian Tian.”

“Dairy products don’t keep well. If Tian Tian wants more tomorrow, I’ll just buy fresh ones.” Shen Xian didn’t pull her hand back. Lin Qinghan looked at her for a moment, then finally accepted the pudding.

Shen Xian had keenly noticed that ever since Lin Zhixin left, the number above Lin Qinghan’s head had dropped to [-90], while Tian Tian’s had changed to [10] — it was now a positive number. That made Shen Xian happy, and she picked up her own bowl of pudding to eat.

It was already 10 PM. Shen Xian turned to Lin Qinghan and said, “Qinghan, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. You and Tian Tian should get some rest too.”

Tian Tian’s face immediately fell when she heard Shen Xian was leaving. Even the delicious pudding in her mouth didn’t taste as good anymore. Her big eyes looked up at Shen Xian innocently as she asked, “Mommy, are you really leaving? But if Mommy’s not here, Tian Tian gets scared and can’t sleep.” As she spoke, her small hand grabbed onto Shen Xian’s arm.

Shen Xian looked at her daughter, clearly not wanting her to leave, and felt torn. She knew Lin Qinghan definitely wouldn’t want her to stay overnight. After all, she was an alpha, and considering everything she had done in the past, having her stay over would be like a ticking time bomb for Lin Qinghan.

Not wanting to put Lin Qinghan in a difficult position, Shen Xian gently picked up Tian Tian and tried to soothe her. “Be good, Tian Tian. If you go to bed early, you can go to kindergarten tomorrow and play with your friends. And then you’ll see Mommy again.”

Tian Tian pouted, her eyes starting to turn red. She just knew that Mommy seemed different now — softer, more gentle. This Mommy would talk to her kindly, hold her in her arms to comfort her, buy her tasty treats, and even chase away the mean uncle. She knew other kids lived with their mommy or mom, and she wanted that too.

She looked at Shen Xian, then back at Lin Qinghan, wrapping her little arms around Shen Xian’s waist, clearly not wanting her to leave. She didn’t know why exactly — just that she felt safe when Mommy was around.

Lin Qinghan hesitated for a long while. Seeing Tian Tian’s pitiful little face, she finally said, “It’s already past ten. You might as well stay. You can sleep in the guest room.”

As soon as Tian Tian heard Lin Qinghan give in, she happily wrapped her arms around Shen Xian’s waist and grinned. “Mommy, Mom wants you to stay too! If Mommy listens to Mom just like Tian Tian does, then Mommy’s a good girl too~”

Hearing her own daughter trying to reason with her like that made Shen Xian laugh, and she responded, “Alright, Mommy will stay and keep Tian Tian company.”

She didn’t mean anything by it, but Lin Qinghan, on the other hand, blushed slightly at Tian Tian’s words. She gave a soft cough and quickly said, “Tian Tian, don’t talk nonsense.”

Shen Tian blinked her big eyes and reasoned seriously, “Tian Tian isn’t making things up. Mengmeng’s mommy also listens to her own mom very well. Mengmeng told me that.”

Shen Xian listened to the little one arguing with Lin Qinghan and couldn’t help but chuckle. She coaxed gently, “Okay, okay, Tian Tian makes sense. Mommy will also be good and listen to mom from now on, okay?”

Receiving Shen Xian’s affirmation, the little one nodded seriously. Shen Xian found her quite adorable and turned with a smile to look at Lin Qinghan — only to see her glaring back.

Shen Xian was immediately full of question marks. As a straight woman, she really had no idea why Lin Qinghan was glaring at her.

Seeing Shen Tian finish the double-skin milk, Lin Qinghan felt a bit jealous at how clingy she was with Shen Xian. She had obviously spent the most time with Shen Tian. Still, she softened her voice and said to Shen Tian, “Mom will take you to brush your teeth, okay?”

Shen Tian looked at Shen Xian reluctantly and said, “Okay. Mommy, then Tian Tian will go rinse her mouth first. Later, Mommy also has to go, okay? Be a good mommy.”

Shen Xian held back a laugh and replied, “Alright, Mommy will be good. Tian Tian, go ahead.”

Lin Qinghan carried Shen Tian onto a small stool, squeezed out some toothpaste, then pursed her lips and asked quietly, “Tian Tian, do you like Mommy now?”

Shen Tian looked at Lin Qinghan through the mirror and smiled, revealing two small dimples. “Tian Tian likes Mom the most. But… but Mommy has also changed for the better. Tian Tian also likes this version of Mommy~”

Lin Qinghan sighed and said nothing. She also hoped Shen Xian could stay like this, but no one knew Shen Xian better than she did. She was afraid Tian Tian would be disappointed again.

After helping Shen Tian rinse her mouth, Lin Qinghan was ready to take her back to the bedroom. Shen Tian looked at Shen Xian on the couch and asked Lin Qinghan, “Mom, is Mommy going to sleep with us?”

At that, Shen Xian saw Lin Qinghan’s face visibly turn cold. In order to salvage her already fragile favorability score, Shen Xian quickly cut in, “Um, Mommy will sleep alone tonight, okay? Don’t worry, Tian Tian. With Mommy around, you’re safe. Mommy will drive all the bad guys away. You just need to sleep soundly and listen to your mom.”

Although Shen Tian felt a little disappointed that Shen Xian wouldn’t sleep with them, she still reminded her like a little adult, “Then Mommy has to be good and listen to Mom too.”

Shen Xian smiled and coaxed, “Okay, Mommy will be just like Tian Tian — both good, alright?”

Only then did Shen Tian nod, letting Lin Qinghan lead her into the bedroom.

Shen Xian found some disposable toiletries in the bathroom, freshened up, and came out to see Lin Qinghan still in the living room. She asked, “Um… is Tian Tian asleep?”

Lin Qinghan gave Shen Xian a cold glance and nodded, then hesitated before saying, “Don’t take what Tian Tian said earlier to heart. She’s just a child, she didn’t mean anything by it.”

Shen Xian nodded. “Mm, I understand. I also know you hate me. What happened in the past really was my fault. Qinghan, I want to formally apologize to you today. I’m sorry. I know no matter what I say now, it won’t mean much, but I’ll prove it — I’ve really changed. I hope that maybe, one day, we can be friends again.”

Shen Xian sounded sincere, but to Lin Qinghan, it stirred no emotion. Shen Xian had said similar things many times before, none of which turned out to be true. Just because she’d changed recently didn’t mean Lin Qinghan could let her guard down. She looked at Shen Xian calmly and said, “Thank you for what you did today. Anyway, as long as you understand that we’re not possible anymore, that’s enough.”

As she spoke, Lin Qinghan pulled out a pheromone blocker and sprayed it. The air was quickly filled with the scent of an air freshener. After spraying, she turned and went into the bedroom, coming back out shortly with a nightdress, which she handed to Shen Xian. “Wear this for now. I’ve washed it. It’s clean.”

“Alright, thanks. You should get some rest too. Good night.”

Lin Qinghan gave Shen Xian a glance and finally replied, “Good night.”

Shen Xian changed into Lin Qinghan’s nightdress and lay down on the bed, calling Fang Jinglan on the phone. “Mom, I’m staying over at Tian Tian’s place tonight. I won’t be coming home.”

Fang Jinglan thought for a moment and asked, “Did you and Qinghan get back together?”

“No, Mom, don’t say that. Lin Zhixin caused trouble earlier and scared Tian Tian so much she couldn’t sleep. That’s why I stayed. You should rest early too.” Shen Xian said a few more words before hanging up.

Shen Xian had always been an early riser. Since she didn’t have a key, she didn’t go out for a morning run. Seeing there were still some shrimp left in the fridge from the other day, she went to the kitchen to make seafood congee. By the time Shen Tian and Lin Qinghan woke up, the house was already filled with a delicious aroma.

Still half-asleep, Shen Tian perked up instantly at the smell. “Mom, it smells so good. Tian Tian is hungry!”

Just out of bed, Lin Qinghan’s voice carried a rare softness. “Alright, Mom will get you dressed and help you wash up first.”

When Lin Qinghan and Shen Tian came out, they saw Shen Xian in the kitchen. Shen Xian smiled and greeted them, one big and one small, “Morning! Just in time — the congee’s ready.”

Perhaps because she wasn’t fully awake yet, Lin Qinghan returned a rare smile and said, “Morning. I’ll take Tian Tian to wash up first.”