237: Son arrives

When Lin Zifeng returned to Yushu County, the streetlights were already flickering to life.

He parked his car next to a small noodle shop, planning to have a bowl of noodles before going home to sleep.

After getting out of the car, Lin Zifeng walked into the noodle shop alone, ordered a bowl of noodles, and sat in a corner.

Just as the waiter placed the noodles in front of him, his phone rang. Seeing it was a call from Chen Yuxi, he picked up and began to eat while talking.

"Hubby, are you home yet?"

"I'm eating noodles at a small shop not far from home! I'll head back as soon as I'm finished."

"Oh, then I'm relieved. Hubby, you have no idea—when that Little fellow Haotian woke up from his nap and found out you were gone, he cried and made a fuss for a long time. It took my sister and me quite a while to soothe him."

"The Little fellow is really attached to you. Do you think when our child is born, they will be just as clingy?"

Hearing Chen Yuxi's words, Lin Zifeng felt a stir in his heart and said, "Wife, I'm sure they will be. It's just that I won't have much time to accompany them as they grow up, so it will be hard on you all."

The two chatted for over ten minutes. By the time Lin Zifeng finished his noodles, they hung up the phone.

Lin Zifeng settled the bill and was about to walk out when a customer at a nearby table stood up, looked at him, and said, "Friend, why do you look so familiar? I feel like I've seen you somewhere, but I can't quite place it for a moment."

The other customers also turned their gazes toward Lin Zifeng.

One of them spoke up, "How can you look so much like County Magistrate Lin?"

"Isn't this our County Magistrate Lin? Would a county magistrate really come to such a small noodle shop to eat?"

Another person said with some excitement.

Seeing that the other party had recognized him and was reaching out to shake hands, Lin Zifeng shook his hand and said, "A county magistrate is only human!"

"We also have to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. It shouldn't be strange to eat here, right?"

After the group had each shaken hands with Lin Zifeng, he spoke again, "Please, everyone, take your time. Enjoy your meal. Goodbye!"

Bidding them farewell, Lin Zifeng quickly departed.

"Our County Magistrate Lin is truly approachable! A dignified county magistrate, yet he's just like us, eating a five-yuan bowl of noodles."

"I heard someone mention that last year, someone falsely accused our County Magistrate Lin. Even the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection got involved. After a long investigation, it turned out our young County Magistrate Lin had less than twenty thousand yuan in savings."

"It was a hard slap in the face for the accuser. Our county magistrate is definitely an upright and honest official."

Watching Lin Zifeng's receding figure, the group began to discuss him in low voices.

Lin Zifeng drove home, washed up, and went to bed.

In the period that followed, Lin Zifeng continued to be busy with work.

If there were no important social engagements in the evening, he would go to his parents' house for dinner before returning home to sleep.

Every half month, he would make a trip to the provincial capital to visit Chen Yuxi and spend time with little Haotian, staying for the weekend.

Time passed quickly, and over two months went by, bringing them to late September.

One evening, he had just showered and was preparing for bed when his phone rang.

Seeing it was a call from Chen Yuqing, he lay on the bed and answered.

"Hello, Yuqing. Is there something wrong, calling so late?"

"I wanted to let you know something in advance. Our son has been clamoring that he misses you again these past two days."

"Isn't National Day coming up soon? I haven't been to the scenic area in a long time, so I plan to use the National Day holiday to inspect various aspects of the work there."

"Since our son is clamoring for you, I plan to bring him along. You need to arrange your schedule and accompany him properly."

Hearing Chen Yuqing's words, Lin Zifeng suddenly sat up and said with some excitement, "Are you serious?"

Hearing the anticipation and urgency in his voice, Chen Yuqing felt a wave of happiness in her heart.

"Would I lie to you? I've already told Yuxi. Mom and the Nanny will take good care of her. I'm going to stay for a few days this time."

Lin Zifeng was overjoyed, and his voice became cheerful.

"That's great! I welcome you and our son. You should stay at my place when the time comes!"

There was a few seconds of silence on the phone before a soft 'mm' came from Chen Yuqing, and then she hung up.

Lin Zifeng put down his phone, so excited that he didn't drift into a groggy sleep until midnight.

To welcome little Haotian's arrival, Lin Zifeng specifically bought some toys to bring home and prepared other daily necessities.

After work on September 30th, Li Qiang and Wang Zhongyu dropped him off at the Residential Community. He didn't go upstairs immediately; once he saw them drive away, he got into his Audi and drove out of the community, heading straight for the Yuqing Trading Company Office.

He had just exchanged messages with Chen Yuqing; she would arrive in about half an hour.

This time, her assistant and driver were accompanying her, so he and Chen Yuqing had agreed that he would wait for the mother and son at the office.

Once Chen Yuqing met with the office staff and briefly arranged the work, she would come out to find him.

Lin Zifeng arrived near the office but didn't park directly at the entrance. Instead, he stopped about two hundred meters away, as he and Chen Yuqing had previously agreed.

After parking the car in the spot designated by Chen Yuqing, Lin Zifeng began to wait patiently.

Over an hour passed quickly. Under his expectant gaze, Chen Yuqing led Chen Haotian toward the car, drawing closer from a distance.

Lin Zifeng quickly unlocked the doors. Once the mother and son were inside, the Little fellow hugged his neck from behind and said affectionately, "Maternal Aunt's Husband, I see you again! This is so great, I've missed you for so long."

"I missed Haotian too. Let's go home first, and I'll play with you once we're there."

As Lin Zifeng spoke, he started the car. Chen Yuqing quickly said, "Haotian, let go of your Maternal Aunt's Husband quickly, otherwise it won't be safe for him to drive."

Only then did the Little fellow let go.

All the way back home, Lin Zifeng opened the door to the room he had prepared for Chen Haotian in advance. Seeing the various new toys in the room, the Little fellow cheered and went to play with them.

Chen Yuqing looked at him and said, "You were very thoughtful, Zifeng."

"It's not right for you to say that. Don't forget, Haotian is my biological son. Isn't it only right for me to do all this?"

"You play with our son for a while, and I'll go make dinner."

Lin Zifeng said as if it were a matter of course.

Hearing his words, Chen Yuqing's heart skipped a beat. At this moment, a feeling of happiness as a family of three sprouted in her heart.

So she gave a sweet smile and said, "Let me give you a hand!"

"No need. Stay and play with our son. Before I went to work this morning, I prepared the ingredients and put them in the fridge."

"Now I just need to put them in the pot."

Lin Zifeng waved his hand and walked into the kitchen as he spoke.