Mr. He was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Are you missing your mom and dad?"
Xixi hummed in response.
Mr. He put down his spoon, took out a tissue to wipe his mouth, and said, "Since you've made up your mind, tell me your home address, and I'll personally take you back."
Xixi refused, "No need. I can go back by myself."
"You can't go by yourself," Mr. He absolutely could not agree. "Either let me take you back, or I'll call your mom and dad to pick you up."
Xixi felt he didn't trust him. "Don't judge me by my size; I'm actually very capable. Don't worry about bad people kidnapping me; I can go home by myself."
"Silly child, of course, I believe you," Mr. He coaxed patiently. "But that's no reason for you to go out alone. I know you're smart, but you're still young. If you were to encounter bad people, you wouldn't have the strength to resist. You need to be obedient."
Xixi pouted, clearly unconvinced.
Mr. He looked at him, then suddenly reached out and patted his head. "Tell Uncle, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Earlier, the child had been unwilling to go back.
Xixi picked at the seam of his pants. "I just miss my mom and dad, so I want to go home. This isn't my home, after all, and I can't stay here forever."
Mr. He felt it wasn't the reason. "Did I do something to upset you?"
Xixi paused.
Mr. He felt he had guessed correctly. "Then you have to tell Uncle what I did wrong, and I'll apologize."
Upon hearing this, Xixi's defenses crumbled instantly.
"What is wrong with you?"
He had been adorable since arriving at this house, never so fierce before. Mr. He and the housekeeper were both startled.
They exchanged a look, both utterly bewildered.
Mr. He asked gently, "It seems Uncle really did upset you."
Xixi glared at him.
Mr. He, confused, asked with a hint of caution, "Uncle has never been this close to any child before. Getting to know you, I truly feel a connection, and it's my first time trying to get along with a child. I hope you can give me a chance. If I've done anything to displease you, tell me, and I'll apologize. I'll definitely change."
His heartfelt words touched and surprised the housekeeper, who had been with Mr. He for decades. This was the first time he had ever seen his employer so patient and so humble with a child.
Mr. He looked at Xixi with eager eyes.
Xixi bit his lip and suddenly stood up. He was only 7 years old this year, and he had grown a bit taller, but facing Mr. He, the author, he was still shorter.
He tilted his head up, full of imposing energy.
"You're so foolish. You're not feeling well, so why are you pushing yourself? This morning, when I asked you to take me out, you could have refused. Why didn't you?"
Mr. He was speechless.
Xixi's small mouth fired off questions like a rapid-fire gun. "Are you some kind of Mother Mary, sacrificing yourself for others?"
Even though Mr. He didn't spend much time online, he understood the meaning of "Mother Mary." "... Of course, I'm not."
"Then you should have resolutely refused me this morning!" Xixi put his hands on his hips and said earnestly, "One must prioritize oneself. Mom taught me not to compromise myself for anyone."
Mr. He stared at him blankly.
Xixi said sternly, "Even a child like me understands this simple principle. Why don't you?"
Being lectured by a child was a humiliating experience, yet Mr. He didn't feel angry at all. He even felt like laughing.
Seeing the child speak with such righteous indignation, his face solemn as he admonished him to understand what even children knew, Mr. He's heart felt warm.
"I understand."
"Understand what?" Xixi blinked.
"You're right," Mr. He said with gentle eyes and a tender expression on his handsome face. "I should take good care of myself. I was wrong today. I apologize to you, child. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Hearing him say this, Xixi was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Mr. He to apologize so readily. All the words he had prepared suddenly failed to come out.
If he had argued or even been dismissive, Xixi could have lectured him sternly. But the other party's attitude was incredibly good.
He stammered for a long time and said, "Don't think this is over just because you admit you're wrong."
Mr. He said good-naturedly, "Okay, then what do you want me to do?"
"You're not well now, so you need to follow the doctor's orders and rest immediately!"
Xixi pushed Mr. He down onto the bed.
In reality, with a child's strength, he couldn't have forced Mr. He down. It was he who willingly cooperated. After lying down, he looked at the child.
"What should I do next?"
Xixi pulled the quilt over him, carefully tucking in the edges. "Now you need to close your eyes and go to sleep. I'll go to the kitchen with Uncle housekeeper to prepare some delicious food for you. Also, we need to find a doctor to examine you. No refusing."
Mr. He, who had no intention of refusing anyway, was speechless.
Xixi turned to the housekeeper, who was very perceptive and didn't wait to be told. "I'll go find the family doctor right now."
He turned and left immediately, as if he were in a great hurry, lest Mr. He be called for an impromptu meeting.
As it turned out, he worried needlessly.
By the time he brought the doctor back, young Xixi was still by the bedside, watching the restless patient. The patient could only lie there obediently. Young Xixi was impartial and expressionless.
Mr. He couldn't even say a word to him.
Seeing the doctor arrive, Xixi immediately led him to the bedside. "Please examine Uncle for me."
The doctor stepped forward at once.
Xixi stepped back. He could tell Mr. He was merely weak and needed rest, not at the point where he needed to take action.
The doctor's examination results were indeed as he had said. The doctor then prescribed some medication and provided a dietary supplement plan before leaving.
The housekeeper escorted the doctor out. After watching the doctor's car drive away, he returned to the villa. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he saw Mr. He sitting up in bed.
He hurried over. "What are you doing, sir?"
Mr. He said, "There are still a few documents in the study that need my attention. I'll finish them and then rest. You wait for me here."
"No!"
Before the housekeeper could speak, young Xixi climbed onto the bed and pushed him down. His delicate face held an undeniable determination.
"You need to rest now, no working!"
"Xixi..."
"I said you need to rest." No matter how pitiful he looked, Xixi remained unmoved. "If you don't listen, then I won't stay at your house anymore. I've already called Mom and Dad, and they said I can come home anytime and they're not angry with me. Once I get home, I'm never coming back."