Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 423: Later, My Sweetheart and My Buttercup

Chapter 423: Later, My Sweetheart and My Buttercup

"...it’s almost six," whispered Leslie, her breath fanning Calix’s lower face and neck, "You should go downstairs now."

"The last one," replied Calix begrudgingly. He nibbled on Leslie’s lower lip, unwilling to step away from her yet.

"Hehe, you’ve said that a few times already."

Leslie playfully slapped Calix’s back before pulling away from him, creating a distance between them. She laughed at the sight of his pouty lips.

Placing both palms on his face, she gently stroked his cheeks. Honey dripped from her fond gaze toward his discontent one.

Aiya, why did he become so clingy now?

Leslie let out a chuckle. She traced one finger on Calix’s two small moles under his left eye before tapping twice.

"Go safely and return safely for us, en?"

Calix pursed his lips, letting the genuine care in Leslie’s voice settle in his heart. Taking her left hand in his, he brushed his lips on her knuckles.

"I will."

Calix slowly let go of Leslie before helping her to sit in the wheelchair. Her legs were slightly wobbly despite he supported her frame earlier. They headed out of her bedroom.

Only to be met with...

"Papa! Mama!"

Calliope ran across the hallway, leaving her bedroom door open. Her sudden appearance surprised Calix and Leslie. They had just intended to check on their daughter before going downstairs.

"Oh! My buttercup has woken up!"

Calix swiftly carried Calliope in his arms. The little dumpling was still in her pink frilly nightgown. She didn’t forget to bring her toy Mimo along.

"Good morning, Mama and Papa~"

Calliope burst out laughing when Calix smothered her chubby face with little kisses. Her tiny left hand playfully smacked his shoulders.

Leslie smiled watching the father and daughter. She was relieved to see the little dumpling was already awake, right on time before the man’s departure.

"Your papa needs to go now, Poppy," Leslie reached for Calliope’s left hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "Let’s go and see him off."

"Oh... Papa will go..."

Calliope pouted like a deflated balloon. Her initial happiness changed to glum. She had already known about her father’s work trip. Her mother brought it up a few times already.

"Papa will be home soon, my buttercup," Calix gently stroked Calliope’s back, hoping to ease the little one’s worries, "Let’s talk over video calls later, en? You can tell me everything you do with Mama."

Calliope nodded once without looking at Calix, "En..."

Calix and Leslie exchanged a helpless smile. Calliope was still dejected over having to be separated from her father for a few days. She had never experienced this before.

The husband and wife went downstairs. Calix was still comforting the little Calliope.

Aunt Wendy and Uncle Raymond waited at the entryway, including Mrs. Su. Logan and his colleagues were outside, staying by the car. Calix’s suitcase had been moved into the trunk.

Lowering Calliope to the floor, Calix crouched opposite the little done. He whispered tenderly, "Papa has to go now. Poppy stays at home with Mama and everyone, en?"

"En..." Calliope tilted up her chin, showing a pair of glossy eyes to Calix. She tightly hugged Mimo in her short arms, "Papa, come home soon."

"I will, my buttercup," Calix patted Calliope’s head, feeling sorry to see his daughter’s downcast look, "Let’s chat on the phone later, en?"

"Okay..."

Feebleness swept over Calix’s heart. Having to part with Leslie and Calliope at the same time was hard on him. He couldn’t help but wonder if his father and elder brother also felt this way before.

Calix shifted his eyes to Leslie. He saw the same look of helplessness on her countenance. It seemed both of them were worried about their little daughter.

This would be the first time Calliope experienced quite a long separation from one of her parents. Calix hoped the little one wouldn’t be too discouraged about it.

"Well, let’s have a group hug ah."

"En? Ah!"

Calliope was startled when Calix suddenly picked her up. He brought her to Leslie before hugging both of his wife and daughter.

Logan and his colleagues refrained from saying anything. They could afford to give their boss a few more minutes before leaving the manor.

Embracing both Leslie and Calliope, Calix said, "Don’t look so down ah. We can talk on the phone, okay? It’s not like I’m heading to the moon."

Leslie chuckled while Calliope nodded with pouty lips. Calix patted the little one’s head before kissing her chubby cheeks. He did the same to Leslie, catching her off guard.

"I really need to go now. Later, my sweetheart and my buttercup."

"...be safe."

"Bye-bye, Papa."

Calix hugged Leslie and Calliope for the last time before straightening his posture. Turning on his heels, he strode to the car.

The little one stood by her mother’s wheelchair, watching her father get inside the vehicle. She abruptly yelled when he wound down the car window, startling everyone.

"Papa! Take Mimo!"

"Poppy!"

Uncle Raymond quickly picked Calliope up when the little dumpling suddenly ran toward the car without wearing shoes. The middle-aged man carried her to the car.

Mrs. Su wheeled Leslie down the ramp of the entryway, following Uncle Raymond and Calliope. The little one handed the crochet fox toy to the stunned Calix through the window.

"Papa, take Mimo," Calliope insisted when seeing there was no movement from the stunned Calix, "Bring Mimo with Papa."

The crochet fox toy dangled in front of Calix. Emerging from his trance, he took the toy Mimo from Calliope.

"Is this okay, Poppy?" asked Calix, wanting to be certain, "What if you miss it?"

"Take Mimo with Papa," Calliope reiterated. A tiny smile finally bloomed on her initially gloomy face, "Take photos too, Papa."

"Okay. Papa will surely take many photos. Of Mimo too."

Laughing at himself, Calix stretched one arm out of the window. He gently pinched Calliope’s right cheek, earning giggles from the little one.

"Bye-bye, Papa~ Call Poppy and Mama!" Calliope waved one hand while the other grabbed Uncle Raymond’s shirt. Her face was significantly happier than before.

"Hehe, okay. Get inside. Bye."

Waving at Calliope, Calix’s eyes wandered to Leslie. They exchanged a relieved smile. The car eventually left the porch but, he hadn’t wound up the window.

"Boss Xu, do you need tissues? Are you crying?"

Logan’s voice from the driver’s seat received chuckles from Calix. The man simply looked at his wife and daughter’s figure getting smaller before they vanished from his sight.

Holding Mimo in his right hand, Calix prayed these four days would end well for him. He didn’t notice the faint fleeting glow on the crochet fox’s beady eyes.