Mr. Bo, Madam Is Pregnant!
Chapter 288: One Step and Ninety-Nine Steps

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: One Step and Ninety-Nine Steps

"What... what’s wrong?" Qiao Li was a bit flustered by her gaze, and he even sounded a bit nervous when he spoke.

He thought about it, then said, helplessly, "Is it still because I was playing with Xiao Le, and you’re not happy?"

Qiao Li knew that Su Lu wasn’t one to be petty, but when it came to child education, every parent has their own principles they don’t want others to break; he worried that he might have violated the rules Su Lu had set for Xiao Le.

"No," Su Lu shook her head, her lips curling up into a peaceful smile, "Don’t be nervous."

"How can I not be nervous?" Qiao Li raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of teasing as he joked, "If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think you’ve developed an improper interest in me."

The arc of Su Lu’s smile grew wider. She paused for a few seconds, her fingers tightening imperceptibly, a sharp pain pricking her palm as she continued with an unchanged smile, "How do you know I have no interest in you? Brother Qiao, you are such a good person; don’t belittle yourself."

Qiao Li’s mouth hung open slightly, his expression full of astonishment, as if Su Lu’s words were completely unexpected.

"Who are you?" Qiao Li suddenly asked. He looked around before grabbing his cup from the table. Then, touching the water droplets on the cup with his finger, he flicked them toward Su Lu’s head.

As he flicked the water, he spoke, pretending to be very serious, "You are not Lulu; who are you, really? Possessing our Lulu’s body, get out! Go out right now!"

Su Lu didn’t initially understand what he was doing with the water until he made the motions of sprinkling Holy Water Talisman Water while trying to exorcise evil spirits. She couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"Brother Qiao, what are you..." Su Lu laughed so hard she could hardly catch her breath, "What are you doing? Where did you learn this act? You used to be so serious..."

Qiao Li couldn’t help but laugh as well. The serious expression he had when exorcising spirits vanished in an instant, and he seemed quite amused, "Just recently—some secretaries at the company got hooked on a medical drama and insisted I watch it, saying it’s relevant to my medical background. So, I gave it a chance, and there was this scene in it. I found it interesting and thought about performing it for you sometime, and now, here’s the opportunity."

Su Lu smiled as she looked at him, and Qiao Li also wore a smile.

The two gazed at each other with smiles, and Qiao Li’s look gradually turned serious as he asked, "Lulu, what’s really the matter?"

"It’s just that..." Su Lu pursed her lips, pausing for a moment before continuing, "I just think you are exceptionally good to Xiao Le. I’m really not angry that you played games with Xiao Le; I’m not that petty. I just think you are exceptionally good to Xiao Le..."

"Isn’t that how it should be? Who wouldn’t be good to Xiao Le? Everyone is kind to him; he’s so adorable," Qiao Li didn’t see any issue with that, "Even if he were not your son, any child this adorable would be treated well by people. And since he is your son, that adds another layer of meaning for me."

"Brother Qiao..." Su Lu called him softly.

"You don’t have to feel any pressure," Qiao Li said gently, "if my being good to Xiao Le is causing you any stress, then it really puts me in a difficult spot. After all, resisting the urge to be kind to such a child is quite challenging."

Su Lu gently shook her head, "No, it’s not that. I just... think you are exceptionally good to Xiao Le. I just feel that Xiao Le deserves to be treated so well."

"Of course, he deserves it," Qiao Li said with a smile, then after thinking, added, "You deserve it too."

He reached out and gently ruffled Su Lu’s hair. She didn’t move away, letting his hand lightly massage her hair.

Qiao Li tentatively asked, "So... does the offer to take Xiao Le to the Three Gardens still stand?"

Su Lu blinked and looked at him, "Of course, it stands. I’ve already booked the package tickets."

Qiao Li sighed in relief, "That’s good; I was worried you wouldn’t let me go."

Su Lu helplessly replied, "Do I seem like the kind of person to go back on my word?"

"Then I’m reassured."

Qiao Li didn’t linger much that day because he wanted to clear a week to accompany Su Lu and her child to Three Gardens for fun, so he needed to rush his work before then, to make sure he could spend quality time with them.

Before leaving, Su Lu walked him to the entrance where Qiao Li changed his shoes. He didn’t head out right away but instead turned and gazed steadily at Su Lu.

"What’s wrong?" Su Lu asked.

Qiao Li thought it over and eventually couldn’t resist asking, "Lulu, can I... take this as a chance you’re giving me? If I can, just nod your head; if not... I’ll ask again next time."

Su Lu remained silent, and after a moment finally nodded very lightly.

Qiao Li’s eyes suddenly widened a bit, a rush of ecstatic joy filled his gaze, and he couldn’t contain his grin, beaming brilliantly.

When he left, his steps were so light, filled with boundless joy.

Su Lu watched him enter the elevator, and just as she was about to close the door, Qiao Li popped his head out from the elevator, "Then I’ll hurry and get busy with work, so I can have a good time with you and Xiao Le."

"Okay," Su Lu nodded, "Take care on the road."

Qiao Li then stepped into the elevator.

Su Lu closed the door and stood at the entrance for quite a while without moving. Moments later, she moved into the bathroom, her face no longer smiling but rather showing signs of fatigue as she splashed water on her face.

Then, looking at herself in the mirror, her face was drenched with droplets of water, bare without makeup, yet incredibly clean and beautiful.

She felt she was no longer young, but probably due to Zhao Ying’s good genes, the passage of time had been especially gentle on Su Lu’s face.

Su Lu looked at herself in the mirror and, as if hypnotizing herself, said, "No matter what, I’ve finally taken the first step. Mom was right, I really should step out."

If a relationship was a two-way journey, when one person took ninety-nine steps, the other should at least take one.

However, back then she had taken ninety-nine steps, Bo Jingshen not only failed to take the final step, but he even took a step back? Before taking a step back, he had also pushed her, sending her far away.

So Su Lu thought, with Qiao Li, she couldn’t take ninety-nine steps, but she at least needed to take one step out; that was the most basic respect for the other person.

However, Su Lu thought she still needed to ask Zhao Xiaole’s opinion on this matter.

Therefore that night, after giving Zhao Xiaole a nice bath and wrapping the child in a towel to carry him to the bed, while applying lotion to his skin, she casually asked, "Baby, what do you think of Uncle Qiao?"

The lotion pump had a duck head, and Zhao Xiaole always liked to twist it. As he focused on turning the duck head, without even lifting his eyes, he said, "I think he’s good because he’s nice to Mommy."