The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Xie Yumin looked at Ruolan's hand pointing to the door, her throat felt like it was blocked by a wad of cotton, she opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound.

Her gaze swept over the plush toys that Mengmeng had casually tossed aside in the ward, and the little girl's soft laughter from those days seemed to still linger in her ears.

"I can go."

Xie Yumin gritted her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms, "But I have to make things clear to Mengmeng."

"What else is there to say? Is there something you need to explain?"

Ruolan crossed her arms and a mocking smile played on her lips: "What? You're not hoping to get Mengmeng to garner some sympathy for you and make a child ask you to stay, are you?"

"I advise you not to waste your energy. Mengmeng is a family person and you can't take her away."

"I just wanted to say goodbye to her."

Xie Yumin's voice trembled slightly as she forced herself to calm down, "After all, this period of time..."

"okay!"

Ruolan interrupted her impatiently, "I want to see you completely disappear by nine o'clock in the morning three days from now!"

"As for saying goodbye to Mengmeng, hmph, I can agree, but don't even think about saying anything irrelevant to her."

Xie Yumin clenched her fists, and in the end could only nod silently.

In the following days, Xie Yumin pretended to be calm and remained the gentle aunt in front of Mengmeng.

But whenever Mengmeng wasn't paying attention, she couldn't help but take a few more glances, etching the little girl's image into her heart.

Mengmeng also noticed something was wrong, and her clear eyes were full of doubt.

"Auntie, is there something you're hiding from me?"

One evening, Mengmeng suddenly asked.

Xie Yumin paused in her act of peeling an apple for her, then smiled and said, "How could that be? Mengmeng, don't think too much. Just focus on getting better, and Auntie will take you to eat ice cream when you're all better."

"really?"

Mengmeng tilted her head and said, "Then Auntie, you can't lie to me."

"Do not lie to you."

Xie Yumin handed her the peeled apple, her fingers gently tracing Mengmeng's cheek, but her heart ached as if pricked by needles.

Privately, Ruolan's urging became more and more frequent.

"Xie Yumin, you'd better keep your word. Don't think that dragging things out for a few days will change anything."

Ruolan said coldly, "President Gu will be back tomorrow. Don't make a fool of yourself then."

Xie Yumin took a deep breath. "I want to see Mengmeng one last time. There are some things I must tell her in person."

"But I hope you won't be there."

"Who do you think you are?" Ruolan scoffed. "Why should I listen to you?"

"Just because of the time I've taken care of Mengmeng," Xie Yumin looked directly into her eyes, "and I promise I won't say anything I shouldn't."

Ruolan stared at her for a long time before finally letting out a cold snort: "Fine, I'll give you one more chance."

"But if you dare say a single word that you shouldn't, I will absolutely not let you off!"

The next morning, Xie Yumin packed her luggage and stood outside Mengmeng's ward, hesitant to go in.

After taking a few deep breaths, she pushed open the door.

Mengmeng was playing with a puzzle on the bed when she saw her come in and her eyes lit up: "Auntie!"

But then he noticed the suitcase behind her, and his smile froze on his face. "Auntie, you... are you leaving?"

Xie Yumin forced back her tears, sat down by the bed, and held Mengmeng's hand: "Mengmeng, Auntie has some things to do and has to leave for a while, but Auntie promises you, I will definitely come back to see you."

"you're lying!"

Mengmeng suddenly shook off her hand, her eyes instantly reddening, "You clearly said you would always be with me!"

"I'm sorry, Mengmeng."

Xie Yumin's voice choked with emotion, "But Auntie really had no choice. But you must remember, Auntie will always love you."

She pulled out a piece of paper with her phone number written on it. "This is Auntie's phone number. If you encounter anything unpleasant or feel uncomfortable, be sure to call Auntie immediately, okay?"

Mengmeng shook her head, crying, and buried her face in the blanket: "I don't want to! You just don't want me anymore!"

Hearing Mengmeng's tearful accusations, Xie Yumin felt so heartbroken she could hardly breathe.

"Hmph... You're about to leave and you still have to play these tricks? Aren't you just making yourself miserable?"

Before Xie Yumin could speak, Ruolan's voice immediately rang out from the side.

Turning to look at Ruolan, who was standing at the door sneering, Xie Yumin suddenly stood up, her voice icy: "Ruolan, get out!"

"You want me to leave?"

Ruolan raised an eyebrow: "What? Getting impatient?"

"That's right, I'm telling you to get out!"

Xie Yumin raised her voice, "Don't think I don't know what kind of shady things you've done. I will definitely do what I promised you, but don't push your luck!"

"If you're planning to keep watching this farce, I'll tell Mengmeng everything right now!"

Ruolan's expression changed.

Is it...

"Okay...you're good!"

Ruolan was speechless for a moment after Xie Yumin's words, and could only spit indignantly, "I'll be waiting outside the door, so don't even think about resorting to desperate measures!"

After saying that, Ruolan slammed the door and left, cursing.

"call……"

Xie Yumin took a deep breath, sat down again, and gently hugged Mengmeng: "I'm sorry, it's my fault, but this isn't my home after all. If I stay here any longer, Aunt Ruolan will definitely get annoyed with me."

Recalling that Mengmeng wasn't an immature little girl, Xie Yumin could only force a smile, "Mengmeng doesn't want to make things difficult for Auntie, right?"

Mengmeng's little face tightened, and she just kept sobbing.

"Mengmeng, be good. You must keep the things Auntie gave you safe, and you must memorize this number."

Seeing that Mengmeng was no longer speaking, Xie Yumin knew that Mengmeng must have heard what she said. "Promise Auntie, okay?"

Mengmeng sobbed in her arms, and it took her a long time to recite the number in fits and starts.

With each number she memorized, Xie Yumin's heart clenched tighter.

"Remember?"

Xie Yumin wiped away Mengmeng's tears, "If you're not happy here, be sure to contact Auntie, and Auntie will come to pick you up right away."

"Then why aren't you picking me up now?" Mengmeng looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

Xie Yumin's throat tightened, and she could only hug her even tighter: "When the time is right, Auntie will definitely come to pick you up."

"But now, you have to be good and take good care of yourself, okay?"

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Ruolan's voice rang out: "Xie Yumin, it's time!"

Xie Yumin finally kissed Mengmeng on the forehead, and her legs felt weak when she stood up.

She dragged her suitcase to the door, then looked back one last time.

Mengmeng sat on the bed, crying like an abandoned kitten.

"Mengmeng, wait for me."

Xie Yumin said softly, then turned and left, letting tears stream down her face.

Ruolan walked past her like a victor, entered the ward, and didn't forget to sneer, "Some people should know their place."

Xie Yumin did not respond, but quickened her pace.