The voice was so soft that Gu Xingyi had to perk up his ears to catch it.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he picked up the phone box on the table and began unboxing it.

A sky-blue new phone was taken out. He removed the protective cover, turned it on, and the pleasant startup chime rang out. After doing a quick setup, Gu Xingyi handed it to Xia Xiyao.

“This phone is for you. You’ll need to get your own SIM card. I’ve already saved my number in it. If I’m not home and something comes up, you can call me.”

As he spoke, Gu Xingyi pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket and placed it in front of her.

“This is some cash I just withdrew. If you’ve got nothing to do this afternoon, take the kid out for a walk. Staying cooped up at home all the time isn’t good. If there’s anything you want, buy it—especially clothes. It looks like both of your clothes are too small. Also, get a bank card. Carrying cash isn’t safe or convenient…”

He rambled on, pouring out everything he had been thinking.

Xia Xiyao lifted her head and stared closely at the man in front of her, her eyes slowly reddening as she listened to his mumbling.

Seeing her not taking the phone, Gu Xingyi scratched his nose in mild frustration.

“You don’t like this phone? I thought the color looked nice, and it’s the latest model. If you don’t like it, we can go get another one you prefer.”

Xia Xiyao shook her head, then gave Gu Xingyi a long, deep look.

“No, I like it. Thank you.”

Her voice was still very soft, slightly choked, with a tremble in it.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Gu Xingyi instinctively looked away, though he felt relieved inside.

“As long as you like it. No need to thank me. Alright then, I’m going to eat.”

With that, he stood up and headed to the dining table, where he started devouring the food.

Xia Xiyao still wondered where he got all the money to buy these things, but since he didn’t mention it, she didn’t feel comfortable asking.

She picked up the new phone on the table and gave it a look. The sky-blue casing had a refined texture, and the box included a proper charger. Even the earbuds were bought and placed to the side—sleek, white in-ear headphones.

At that moment, Xiao Nainai also put down her toy, her little head leaning over to curiously check out the new phone in her mama’s hands.

Xia Xiyao gently patted her daughter’s head, and the two of them—one big, one small—started exploring the phone together.

Because he had sweated a lot in the morning, Gu Xingyi wanted to take a hot shower after eating and washing the dishes. But the mother and daughter had been lounging in the living room the whole time, making him feel awkward about using the bathroom, so he sulkily returned to the side bedroom instead.

By 3 PM, the sun outside had finally cooled down a bit. Xia Xiyao sat on the sofa, hesitating for a while, then picked up the cash and took Xiao Nainai out the door.

It had been a very, very long time since Xiao Nainai had gone outside. She loved playing outdoors, but her mama never took her out, and papa never allowed it. So now that she was finally outside, she was overjoyed.

The little one held a doll in one hand and her mama’s hand in the other, bouncing and hopping along the road, her big, round eyes darting everywhere with wonder.

Everything outside was fresh and new to her.

Xia Xiyao, however, felt uneasy. Her steps quickened unconsciously, and she kept glancing at the passersby. For some reason, she felt inferior.

Especially because of the ill-fitting clothes she and Xiao Nainai were wearing—it felt like people’s gazes lingered on them a little longer than usual.

The mall wasn’t far. She vaguely remembered it being just two streets away.

It looked a bit different now compared to what she remembered. In just two years, it had been renovated and looked much fancier.

Right at the entrance was a phone store, and inside was a counter for setting up SIM cards. After a moment’s hesitation, Xia Xiyao led her daughter inside.

The store was busy, with staff bustling about. Having not interacted with people for a long time, Xia Xiyao stood there somewhat lost.

Fortunately, a female clerk noticed her and Xiao Nainai. She walked over, gently patted Xiao Nainai’s head, and greeted them with a smile, “What a sweet little one. Miss, are you here to buy a phone?”

Hearing her daughter being complimented made Xia Xiyao smile. She shook her head.

“No, I already have a phone. I’d like to get a SIM card. Can I do that now?”

The clerk smiled warmly, guiding her to the counter as they spoke.

“Of course, right this way. We have several plans to choose from. May I ask what brand your phone is? If it’s from our store, there are some exclusive discounts!”

At the mention of discounts, Xia Xiyao’s eyes lit up. She quickly pulled the phone from her pocket and handed it over.

“This one—does it qualify? I think it’s your brand, and it was just bought this morning.”

The clerk’s expression froze for a moment as she took another careful look at Xia Xiyao.

There had only been a couple of sales of that latest model this morning. Now here was someone coming in for a SIM card—it wasn’t hard for her to connect the dots.

Could this mother and daughter be the wife and child of that handsome guy from this morning? But why do they both look so thin? And their clothes are clearly not the right size.

That guy didn’t seem like the type to mistreat his wife and kid… plus, they’re both so good-looking. It didn’t make sense!

The clerk couldn’t figure it out, but she didn’t pry. With a smile still on her face, she exclaimed, “Wow! So that handsome guy who came this morning must be your husband, right? You’re so lucky—this phone is our latest model! With this, you can get on our special plan: top-up once, get one free, and enjoy six months of free call minutes…”

Her service was just as enthusiastic as before—only this time, the recipient had changed from Gu Xingyi to Xia Xiyao.

Caught up in the whirlwind, Xia Xiyao ended up paying and completing the setup. Even as she walked out of the store, her head was still buzzing with the clerk’s excited voice.

Too overwhelming!

But… she actually called Gu Xingyi a good man?

Xia Xiyao really wanted to say, “If he’s so great, why don’t you take him home with you?”

After getting the SIM card, Xia Xiyao also opened a bank account and deposited all the cash. After paying for the SIM card, she still had 4,900 left. Gu Xingyi had given her a full 5,000 this time.

Leaving the bank with her phone and new bank card in hand, Xia Xiyao looked at the tall buildings around her and suddenly felt alive.

Now she could leave with her child. With the money in her hand, she could find a job, support herself and her daughter—maybe even chase her dreams again.

The sudden sense of freedom left Xia Xiyao frozen on the spot, dazed.

Until a childish voice tugged her back to reality.

“Mama, mama! Can Nainai have an ice cream?”

She snapped out of it instantly. Xiao Nainai was still holding her hand, her big, shiny eyes staring longingly at the nearby ice cream shop, drool nearly dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Xia Xiyao laughed—brightly, sweetly, radiantly.

“Of course you can! But only one, okay? Or your tummy will hurt!”

“Okay! Nainai loves mama the most!”