Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“You are truly a weird kid.” Gao Yi touched Rainy’s little bald head. A child’s temper could be unpredictable at times.

Rainy was still swaying her tiny feet. Once she had worn her shoes, Gao Yi carried her and put her on the ground.

“Uncle.” Rainy reached out to him with one hand, and Gao Yi held it. “Mommy, take this hand.” She stretched out the other hand towards Xia Ruoxin, and she instinctively took the hand that was offered to her.

She was stunned for a moment as she captured a gleam of unfathomable expression on Gao Yi’s smiling face. She lowered her gaze. At this point of time, the closeness and emotions they had for each other resembled those of a real family.

While Rainy was their doting daughter.

“Come. Let’s go for a stroll.” Gao Yi brought the mother and daughter outside. Rainy was thrilled as she smiled from ear to ear. Her tiny feet kept walking while she mumbled constantly. No one could understand what she was saying to herself.

Compared to her, the two adults were silent. However, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. One could vaguely feel the bliss in the air.

The sky, too, had become warmer now.

“Uncle, can you tell me when will I grow up?”

“You’ll have to wait for the leaves to grow and fall a few times.”

“Uncle, what will I be when I grow up?”

“When you grow up? You will be big Rainy, not little Rainy.”

“But I like to be a little Rainy.”

“Then you should not grow up.”

“Okay. I won’t grow up for now. I will only do that once I’ve enjoyed being a little Rainy.

“Uncle, do you like me?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then, do you like Mommy?”

Both Gao Yi and Xia Ruoxin were shocked at her innocent question. How could this child have so many questions?

“That will depend on whether your mother likes me.” He patted gently on Rainy bald head.

…

Xia Ruoxin sat on a bench as she took a break to rest her feet. She was tired of walking. Rainy had been busy collecting the fallen leaves one by one and putting them on Gao Yi’s hand.

Warm rays of sunlight shone on her body. She closed her eyes gently as a faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

She had never been this relaxed before in her life. All she wanted to do was to take a nap just for a little while.

“Mommy…” Rainy ran towards Xia Ruoxin, but Gao Yi caught her tiny frame in a flash.

She blinked her eyes in curiosity.

“Sshh. Your mother is resting. Don’t wake her up.” Gao Yi lay a finger on Rainy’s lips, and she nodded her head lightly.

He put her down and made his way towards Xia Ruoxin. He removed his jacket and lay it carefully over Xia Ruoxin’s body.

“Rest well. Don’t worry about anything. All you need to do now is to have a good nap.”

He was holding a bundle of leaves in his hands, and he left them by Xia Ruoxin’s side. Once he was done, he stood up again and walked towards Rainy.

He carried Rainy who was playing on the ground and walked further away. There were more fallen leaves over at the other side.

Xia Ruoxin had no idea how long she was asleep for. When she woke up, she looked down at the jacket as she pulled it over her body properly. It had Gao Yi’s scent, one she had been very familiar with. Not far away, Rainy was playing with Gao Yi. The child’s pink dress fluttered around her legs as she ran like a little butterfly. She looked so adorable while she was having fun.

Xia Ruoxin sat up. A leaf had fallen at her feet. She picked it up and placed it on her palm. There was an exceptionally clean smile on her face.

At times, all one needed in life was a little simplicity. She placed the leaf against her chest and pulled the jacket tighter. This feeling was warm and relaxing.

…

Rainy was swinging her feet in the car. As she sat on Xia Ruoxin’s lap, she kept glancing outside while both her eyes blinked. Recently, she had cheered up considerably.

Gao Yi removed his sunglasses. He reached out with his hand and rubbed Rainy’s head. She was wearing her sun hat. “What are you so curious about?”

Rainy smiled sweetly. “I have never sat in a car before.” She turned around and hugged Xia Ruoxin’s neck. “Mommy always carried me.”

Xia Ruoxin patted her daughter’s shoulder, and she looked a little sad. She had truly been shortchanging her child.

“Rainy, if you like, I can bring you on a car ride every day.” He rubbed at the child’s head again with a warm smile. Rainy nodded her head hard and picked her doll up. She was really looking good lately. The blush had returned to her cheeks, and naturally, she had also gained some weight all because Gao Yi had been feeding her well. That enabled her to get much better in a short span of time.

“Sit tight. We are leaving.” Gao Yi put on his sunglasses. While his eyes remained on the road, the smile on his lips never diminished. In fact, this was a great feeling.

Gao Yi and Xia Ruoxin each had one hand in Rainy’s at the amusement park. Gao Yi held Rainy’s dolly in his other hand. For a grown-up man to be holding a doll, it did make him look weird. However, he was carrying an adorable child in his arms, and so it made him look like a loving father.

Rainy was walking very fast on her little feet. She was wearing a stunning pair of red shoes made from cow’s leather.

“Rainy, do you want some ice cream?” Gao Yi asked as he released her hand. She bit on her finger before replying meekly, “Yes.”

“Okay. I will buy it for you.” He put the doll into her hands and gave Xia Ruoxin a smile. “Give me a minute. I will be back very fast.” He adjusted the hat on her head naturally. She wasn’t wearing a wig. It might take longer for her hair to grow, and so she needed to wear a hat like Rainy.

“I know.” Xia Ruoxin smiled back at him. She no longer rejected his occasional display of affection. Perhaps it had turned into a habit, or she really did not want to be alone anymore.

“Come, Rainy. Let’s go over there to rest.” She carried her daughter. The child had walked for some distance on her own today. She must be tired.

Rainy obeyed and allowed Xia Ruoxin to carry her to rest on the bench. Her face was flushed from running in the sun, but she looked very healthy.

She took in her surroundings with her bright, wide eyes. Suddenly, she jumped off the bench. “Mommy, I’m going to pick something.”

Before Xia Ruoxin could reply to her, she was running wobbly away.

Xia Ruoxin got on her feet and followed from behind.