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The stream was very strong, hitting me right in the face.
I stopped smiling.
I wiped my face and took a deep breath.
The boy’s surname was Lu like James, and his name was Leo. When James wasn’t around, I always called him “little bean” which felt natural and affectionate.
Now I didn’t dare, so I put on a sad expression instead.
“Leo, do you still hate me?” I covered my face and cried. With my face all wet, you couldn’t tell if I was really crying. My voice choked up as if I was extremely upset.
“Auntie has done everything she can. I buy you whatever you want. Why do you still hate me…”
Leo was stunned again.
His little brain couldn’t understand such abstract adult behavior. He tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Leo?”
Didn’t she always call him “little bean“?
I choked again, about to break character. I quickly got up to heat some milk for the child.
Leo was an extremely picky eater, so I always had him eat small frequent meals to make sure he got enough nutrition.
Thinking back, Leo and I had a very rough start too.
The day James and I got married, he disappeared. He just gave me the keys to the villa and told me to settle in on my own.
So when I realized James wasn’t around and I had full control of this villa, I threw a huge celebration that very night.
I made myself a big pot of spicy hotpot.
A really extravagant one.
I bought loads of shrimp, meat, and meatballs – things I never dared to imagine before.
The first time Leo saw me, before I could even speak, he came at me with punches and kicks. He was surprisingly strong.
Like a furious little lion defending his territory.
I got angry too and spanked his little bottom, warning him he’d get no dinner if he was so rude again.
Leo didn’t listen, so I really didn’t prepare any dinner for him.
By the time I had almost finished my hotpot, I finally remembered the child.
Feeling guilty, I cooked the remaining beef and put it in a bowl for Leo.
At first he refused to eat, but as the smell of hotpot spread, he got too hungry and finally dug in with a scowl.
Then he had diarrhea for three days and nights.
I had no idea the kid’s stomach was so delicate. As a first–timer with no experience, I was terrified. I carried Leo to the hospital in a cold sweat.
The whole time I held him, rubbing his tummy when it hurt and singing lullabies when he whimpered in discomfort.
Leo clutched me tightly with his little hands. We stayed like that for three days and nights.
11:10 AM
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After that, he never hit me again.
And that’s how one hotpot cured a problem child.
