Chixuan took a whole two weeks to recover from his injuries.
Elvis and Lea had discussed that it would be too late to stock up on food if they hurried back to Saint Nazaire now. As such, they would have to spend winter in Sauder. Hence, during Chixuan’s recovery period, Lea was in charge of remaining at home to take care of Gu Mengmeng and Chixuan, while Elvis led the other three little ones out on hunting expeditions. Father and sons brought back piles of hunted game every day.
The air today brought along with it a harsh chill. Gu Mengmeng could feel… winter had come.
Lea went up to the second floor of the stone castle to retrieve some animal hides to seal up the windows. Meanwhile, Gu Mengmeng sat beside Chixuan and gently caressed his head, murmuring soothing words to him now and then.
Suddenly, Chixuan stood up.
Before Gu Mengmeng had time to exclaim at Chixuan recovery, he promptly scuttled towards the door.
“Chixuan!” Gu Mengmeng called out in shock.
Chixuan paused for a moment and turned around. He gave Gu Mengmeng a meaningful look. It was as if he was saying farewell.
Gu Mengmeng wanted to give chase but Chixuan dashed out without further hesitation.
At that moment, large snowflakes drifted down from the sky, obscuring one’s line of sight and the road ahead. It also blurred the footprints left behind.
How ironic. The one time she was absolutely certain of her son’s intention, was that very moment when he turned around.
He didn’t say anything but Gu Mengmeng knew very well that Chixuan… was going to look for Cole.
Gu Mengmeng slumped down on the floor, sobbing silently into her hands.
Lea flew down from upstairs on hearing the commotion, only to see Gu Mengmeng sitting at the doorway crying, while Chixuan was nowhere to be seen.
There was no need to ask what happened. Lea knew.
Holding Gu Mengmeng and patting her gently on the back, Lea said soothingly, “Chixuan is the biggest bargaining chip that Cole has against you. He will not let anything happen to Chixuan.”
Gu Mengmeng clung onto Lea’s arm and buried her face in his chest. She knew Cole would never let anything happen to Chixuan. She was crying because Chixuan’s resolute back profile was like a sword piercing straight through her heart.
Cole had said: How could you be sure that he wouldn’t insist on being with me after he awakens? Since then, Gu Mengmeng had been fearing that she might lose Chixuan anytime. And that look Chixuan had given her just now…
It was as if he was saying: Mummy, sorry. Mummy, goodbye…
Her Chixuan had chosen Cole over her.
It was not because of the poison’s control. It was not because of any coercion or threat. Cole had not even appeared before Chixuan during this period.
It was solely because in Chixuan’s heart, Cole had become even more important than his own mother.
Feeling as if her throat was being viciously squeezed, Gu Mengmeng took several deep breaths but still felt suffocated. She had lost Chixuan. She had really lost Chixuan.
That feeling was akin to someone using a knife and carving out a piece of flesh from her heart. Fresh blood spraying everywhere…
By the time Elvis and the three young ones returned, Gu Mengmeng had already cried herself to sleep.
Lea handed Gu Mengmeng—whose eyes were as swollen as peaches—over to Elvis. Lea sighed. “Why don’t I… try and find him.”
Elvis shook his head. “He wants Cole. Even if you drag him back, he will run away again. Never mind, let him be. My son can take responsibility for his own life. This is the pathway he has chosen, and even his own parents cannot stop his will. As for Xiao Meng…”
Elvis glanced imperiously at the three young ones out of the corner of his eye. “Since your own brother created this mess, the rest of you are in charge of the clean-up.”