Rebirth 70: I am a Koi

After the lively celebration, life seemed to return to normal. The children also went back to school, and everything was back on track.

However, this peace was soon broken.

One afternoon, I received a call from a school teacher saying that the children had not performed well in school recently, their grades had dropped, and they were always unhappy. My heart tightened, and I immediately put down the work at hand and rushed to the school.

When I met the teacher, I realized that the children had been distracted in class recently and did not like to participate in group activities, so their grades naturally plummeted.

My heart felt like it was being tugged at by something. Could it be that we were too focused on our careers and neglected the feelings of our children?

In the evening, Hanchuan and I called the children to our side and asked about their school situation. At first, they were very silent. After I asked them repeatedly, the eldest son whispered: "Mom and Dad, you are very busy recently and rarely accompany us. We..."

His voice became quieter and quieter, but I understood what he had not yet said. It turns out that we have always thought that as long as we provide children with the best material life, we are doing them good, but we have overlooked that what they really need is the company and care of their parents.

Hanchuan and I looked at each other and saw guilt and heartache in each other's eyes. Over the years, for the sake of our careers, we have indeed sacrificed a lot of time with our children and missed many important moments in their growth.

"Baby, we're sorry. It's mom and dad's fault." Hanchuan gently hugged the children, his tone full of self-blame.

We decided to put aside our work and spend more time with our children. We picked them up from school on time every day, played games with them, told them stories... We also took advantage of the weekends to take the children on outings and to the playground to make up for the parent-child time we once missed.

However, I always feel a little uneasy in my heart. Will the children really forget their previous neglect because of our current companionship?

One night, after I coaxed the children to sleep, I went to the study to discuss with Hanchuan. Before I could open my mouth, I heard him answer the phone with a serious tone: "What did you say? The project is suspended? This..."

After hanging up the phone, Hanchuan's face was heavy and his brows were furrowed. I walked over and gently held his hand: "What's wrong?"

"There was a problem at the company, I may have to rush back to deal with it as soon as possible." Hanchuan's voice sounded a little tired.

"What about the children?" I asked worriedly.

"I will handle it as soon as possible and try to come back earlier." Hanchuan hugged me in his arms with a firm tone.

Looking at Hanchuan's exhausted expression, I felt mixed emotions. Career and family always seemed to be a difficult balance.

Just then, the phone rang suddenly. I picked up the receiver and heard Lin Xiao's voice: "Jinli, I know a very good psychologist. Maybe..."

Lin Xiao's words were like a beam of light, illuminating the confused corner of my heart. Yes, why didn't we think of seeking help from professionals?

I immediately contacted the psychologist introduced by Lin Xiao and arranged a consultation time.

The children were very resistant during the first consultation, but under the patient guidance of the counselor, they gradually opened up. The counselor helped the children express their true thoughts through games and drawings, which also helped us better understand the children's inner world.

After several consultations, I found that the children's problems were more serious than we thought. Not only did they lack a sense of security, but they were also full of confusion and anxiety about the future.

After the consultation, Hanchuan and I fell into deep thought. We realized that material satisfaction alone is far from enough, and what children need is more attention, understanding and support from their parents.

We began to listen to our children more patiently, encourage them to express their emotions, and participate in their lives as much as possible. On weekends, we no longer just take them to the playground, but choose activities that can better enhance parent-child relationships, such as making crafts together, baking cakes together, and so on.

Gradually, I found that the children smiled more and were no longer as silent as before. They would take the initiative to share interesting things in school with us, and would also act coquettishly and ask for hugs from us.

Seeing our children become happier day by day, Hanchuan and I feel extremely relieved. We have finally found the best way to balance family and career, which is to accompany them with our heart and protect them with love.

However, fate always seems to like playing jokes on us.

Just when family relations had begun to ease, Hanchuan's company encountered a serious financial crisis.

"How could this happen?" I felt so distressed when I saw Hanchuan's anxious look.

"This crisis is more serious than I thought. I must go back and deal with it as soon as possible." Hanchuan's tone was full of helplessness and fatigue.

Watching Hanchuan walk away with heavy steps, my heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and I couldn't breathe. Is a happy life really just a flash in the pan?

Late at night, I sat on the sofa in the living room, looking at the flashing neon lights outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in my mind. Hanchuan hadn't come back yet, and I called him several times, but no one answered.

With a click, the door was gently pushed open, and Han Chuan's tired figure appeared at the door. He saw me and forced a smile: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

I stood up and poured him a glass of water. Looking at his tired expression, I seemed to want to say something but stopped myself.

"Things at the company are very tricky, I..." Hanchuan's voice was low and hoarse.

I knew what he wanted to say and the pressure he was under at the moment. However, looking at the children who had just gotten better, I couldn't bear to let him neglect his family for work again.

"Hanchuan, we..."

In the living room, Hanchuan and I sat in silence, with only the clock on the wall ticking to record the passage of time...

"Hanchuan, we..." I clenched the water cup in my hand, and my throat seemed to be blocked by something, and I couldn't speak. The children finally came out of the shadow of the past. If Hanchuan neglected the family because of work at this time, wouldn't all our previous efforts be in vain?

Hanchuan put down the cup in his hand and gently hugged me. "I'm sorry, Jinli, I made you worry." His voice was low and tired. "The company's situation is worse than I thought. I must find a way to solve it as soon as possible."

I understand his difficulties, but when I think of the expectant eyes of the children, I can't bear to let him bear it all alone. "Hanchuan, let's face it together, okay? The children need you, and I need you too." My voice was a little choked, but full of determination.

Hanchuan's body stiffened slightly, and then he hugged me even tighter, "Jinli..." He seemed to be hesitant to speak, and I knew he must be weighing something in his mind.

We hugged each other quietly like that, no one spoke, only the wall clock was still ticking, recording the passage of time, as if reminding us of the current difficulties and future challenges.

After a long time, Hanchuan gently pushed me away and looked at me deeply, "Jinli, do you believe me?" His tone was firm and serious.

"Of course I believe you." I answered without hesitation. Over the years, we have been through ups and downs together. I have seen and remembered his love for me and his dedication to this family.

Hanchuan took a deep breath, as if he had made an important decision, "Jinli, I may need to leave for a while..."

My heart sank. "Leave? Where to?"

"There is a project that, if we can get it, can solve the company's current predicament..." Hanchuan paused, with a hint of helplessness in his tone, "However, this project is abroad, and I need to go there in person..."

"How long?" I grabbed his hand, with a bad feeling in my heart.

"Not sure yet. If everything goes well, maybe a month..." Hanchuan frowned, as if he had something to hide.

At this moment, a rapid phone ring broke the silence in the living room. Hanchuan glanced at the caller ID and his face suddenly became solemn...