Lei Zhao was out on the balcony. He was doing some calls for the company and also asking for some updates in the investigation.

Yan Mei and Niu Niu were on the bed. The little boy was watching a movie while Yan Mei was busy watching Lei Zhao talking to someone on the phone.

’He looks so focused… who is he talking to?’

”Boo-boo…”

Yan Mei snapped out of her thoughts as Niu Niu got her attention.

”What is it?”

”I’m getting sleepy…”

Niu Niu rubbed his eyes as he yawned, Yan Mei smiling as she pulled the sheets, tucking Niu Niu in the bed.

”Then go to sleep. Boo-boo and your uncle will be here and will sleep in a while,” she said, Niu Niu sleepily looking at Yan Mei with droopy eyes.

”Can you tell me a story that you love, Boo-boo?”

”Oh!”

Hearing this from him, the title of a Filipino author’s poem suddenly popped into her mind. It was entitled “Ballad of a Mother’s Heart” by Jose La Villa Tierra.

She had read this before when she had an interest in reading books. She bought a book with a collection of poems. When she read the book, she read the poem by Jose La Villa Tierra, making her love her poem in an instant.

”Boo-boo?”

Yan Mei smiled as she realized that she was in her thoughts again.

”I’ll tell you about a mother’s love. Is that okay?”

Niu Niu nodded, “Anything that Boo-boo tells me, I would love it!”

Yan Mei nodded as she started patting Niu Niu’s small body. She then spoke each line of the poem in verbatim. Since she loved the poem, she knew each line at heart.

”The night was dark, for the moon was young. And the stars were asleep and rare; The clouds were thick, yet Youth went out. To see his Maiden fair.”

Niu Niu furrowed his brows, “What does that mean, Boo-boo?”

Yan Mei smiled, “It means that the boy went out to see his girlfriend late at night.”

”Oh!”

Yan Mei nodded, then she continued saying the next stanzas of the poem.

”‘Dear One,’ he pleaded as he knelt. Before her feet, in tears, ‘My love is true; why have you kept me waiting all these years?’ The maiden looked at him unmoved, it seemed, and whispered low:

’Persistent Youth, you have to prove by deeds your love is true.'”

Niu Niu smiled as he understood what the poem was saying.

”Is the girlfriend challenging the youth?”

Yan Mei nodded, “Yes! Smart, Niu Niu!”

Niu Niu giggled as Yan Mei slightly pinched his nose to compliment him. She then continued the narration of the poem, Niu Niu intently listening to her.

”‘There’s not a thing I would not do for you, Beloved,’ said he. ‘Then go,’ said she, ‘to your mother dear and bring her heart to me.'”

Niu Niu gasped, “Oh! Is the youth going to take her mother’s heart?”

Yan Mei put a finger in front of Niu Niu to silence him. She did not answer his question, but she continued telling him the next stanzas of the poem.

”Without another word, Youth left and went to his mother dear. And opened her breast and took her heart. He did not shed a tear! Then back to his Maiden fair he ran, unmindful of the rain; but his feet slipped and he fell down, and loud he groaned with pain!”

”Hmph!” Niu Niu harrumphed, “It’s his karma! How could he take his mother’s heart?”

Giggling, Yan Mei hushed him once more, continuing the next part of the poem.

”Still in his hand, he held the prize. That would win his Maiden’s hand; And he thought of his mother dear, so kind, so sweet, so fond. And then he heard a voice, not from his lips but all apart: ‘Get up,’ it said; ‘Were you hurt, Child?’ It was his mother’s heart.”

”Wow!” Niu Niu furrowed his brows when Yan Mei had finished telling him the poem. “Even though the son took her heart, the mother still cared for him!”

”Yes,” Yan Mei agreed, continuing to pat Niu Niu’s body to help him sleep. “Now, Niu Niu, let this be a lesson and a reminder. Respect your parents and your elders. Always remember that no one can beat the love of a mother who loves her child.”

Niu Niu yawned, slowly nodding at Yan Mei who continued to pat his sides.

”I will always remember that, Boo-boo,” he sleepily replied, his eyes closing. Yan Mei giggled as she found it cute for Niu Niu to be so active, then suddenly quickly falling asleep.

”Good night and sweet dreams, Niu Niu,” Yan Mei whispered as she kissed his forehead, Yan Mei slowly sitting up as she watched him for a few seconds.

He just asked her to tell her a story, but she did not expect to share the poem that she loved the most about a mother’s love.

She somehow felt melancholic, but the moment she felt arms wrapping around her waist, she was surprised to see Lei Zhao giving her a back hug.

”He fell asleep?” Lei Zhao asked as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Yan Mei nodded as she slowly turned her body to face him, her arms wrapped around his neck.

”Want to hang out on the balcony for a while before we go to bed, hmm?”

Lei Zhao chuckled as he nodded. He gave Yan Mei a kiss on the lips, Yan Mei smiling at him afterward as they locked eyes with each other.

”You never cease to amaze me, Lei Zhao,” she complimented him, Lei Zhao grinning ear to ear as he liked her compliment.

”I would always continue to amaze you, Yan Mei,” he said, now holding her hand. “Want some hot drink before going to bed?”

”Mm,” Yan Mei nodded, “On the balcony. Order one small cake, too, please?”

Lei Zhao and Yan Mei then walked to the balcony as Lei Zhao called for room service. The two of them finally had some time alone after having fun with the little Niu Niu.