Mommy and Baby

Four-4

That night, after going to sleep but not falling asleep yet, on her own mobile phone, which was put beside her pillow, Choi Hun-ae received a chat invitation from Choi So-dong.

“Unexpected,” guessed Choi Hun-ae. In the past, to prevent others from hearing what they were talking about, they merely textually contact each other, after she went home. At this moment, as Choi So-dong sent such invitation to her, it meant that the former decided to vocally and visibly contacted her. Such event never happened during those days.

Although Choi Hun-ae felt it unexpected, as she was actually glad to see such event happening, she immediately picked up her mobile phone and used her quilt to completely cover herself—this was a method to prevent her voice from being heard by persons out of her bedroom—along with the tool. After accepting the invitation and starting the chat, looking at the screen, she saw that Choi So-dong was doing the same thing.

“We’re xin you ling xi, baby,” Choi Hun-ae, regarding this detail as interesting, laughed and said to her lover, in a low voice.

“What does xin you ling xi mean, mommy?” Choi So-dong consulted.

“Oh dear, I have forgotten that you are different from me,” Choi Hun-ae mocked herself.

Although Koreans were greatly affected by Chinese culture, Choi So-dong was never in China since she was born, different from Choi Hun-ae, who had lived in China for so many years; accordingly, Choi So-dong was unaware of Chinese proverbs that did not exist in Korea. Having noticed this problem, Choi Hun-ae explained to her in detail:

“There were rhinos in the south of ancient China, and Chinese people then regarded the rhino as a kind of wise and even holy animal. According to a Chinese legend, the rhino could know what a human being was guessing; as a result, Chinese people used a proverb xin you ling xi—namely ‘There is a rhino in the heart’—to mean that two persons were agree without prior without previous consultation. For example, although we didn’t discuss in the past, both of us are hiding ourselves to prevent others from hearing our words. This is why such proverb is so suitable for us.”

“OK, I see,” replied Choi So-dong, who joked right after this. “Besides a diplomat, you’re suitable for being a Chinese teacher, mommy.”

Although Choi Hun-ae was happy to hear this sentence, it was after all not what she desired to talk about with her lover.

“I miss you everyday, baby,” she told Choi So-dong.

“So do I, mommy,” replied the latter. “This is why I often m*********d myself, as I can’t meet you now.”

These words caused Choi Hun-ae to be sexually excited; however, the reason urged her to remind her lover: “Don’t do that too frequently, baby. Although that behavior itself isn’t harmful, if you do it too frequently, you’re possible to become sick.”

“Don’t worry, mommy,” Choi So-dong comforted her. “I understand. By the way, is the pneumonia discovered in Wuhan affecting your city?”

“Not yet,” answered Choi Hun-ae. “But I changed my mind and guessed I should pay attention to this problem. This morning I and some family members went to buy new year’s presents for our relatives in Korea; before entering the shopping mall, each of us specially wore a mask.”

Before Choi So-dong could reply, Choi Hun-ae suddenly felt guilty and therefore apologized to her: “I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t buy or send such present to you.”

“Never mind, mommy,” said Choi So-dong. “You’re the best present for me, aren’t you? What’s more, since now, I hope we can chat in this way, as long as others won’t hear what we’re speaking.”

Choi Hun-ae promised: “No problem, baby. In fact, I don’t want to merely post texts with you. Before I meet you again, when it’s safe, let’s genuinely chat with each other.”