Chapter Index

    When he woke up for breakfast, Chen Feng told his mother that he was going back to Xiuzhou that afternoon.

    During the New Year, Chen Feng had already told his family that he had partnered with someone to open a milk tea shop in Xiuzhou. He had also mentioned his stock trading. Moreover, his nominal girlfriend and his god-sister, Wu Mengting, were both going back to Xiuzhou after the New Year.

    So, it was only natural for Chen Feng to go to Xiuzhou after the New Year.

    His family couldn’t object, but Zhao Xiaolan still hoped he could come back to live in his hometown sooner.

    A mother always worries about her son who is far away. Besides, their family was doing quite well now. They had opened two car detailing shops in their hometown. Being your own boss was always better than working hard for someone else in a big city for a salary of less than ten thousand a month.

    Of course, the prerequisite was that Chen Feng could find a partner soon and bring her back to his hometown.

    Sun Xiaorui, whom they had video-chatted with before, didn’t count. Unless the partner was Wu Mengting, Zhao Xiaolan wouldn’t be very opposed to them continuing to live in Xiuzhou. She would even support them in their endeavors there and help them find a way to buy a house.

    Zhao Xiaolan had always been direct with her son, Chen Feng. Before he left, she once again expressed her fondness for Wu Mengting and her hopes for their future. She hoped they would settle their lifelong commitment within the year, and that Chen Feng would bring Wu Mengting home by the end of the year, so that Wu Mengting could directly call her “Mom.”

    Chen Feng wasn’t very repulsed by his mother’s expectations, and he didn’t even feel as awkward as before.

    Because he had discovered a possible life-saving method last night.

    If he, who originally had at most a few months to live, was still alive and well by the end of this year, and Wu Mengting’s feelings for him hadn’t changed, then he really had no reason to refuse her pure love.

    After having lunch with his family and saying goodbye, when he was about to leave in the afternoon, the trunk of his car was stuffed with vegetables and some local specialties prepared by his parents. After her earnest exhortations, Chen Feng finally managed to start the car and leave.

    It wasn’t until the car was on the national highway that Chen Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    When his mother started nagging, it was really too much for him to bear.

    He pulled over to the side of the road and first sent a WeChat message to Wu Mengting, saying that he had left home and would wait for her at the first highway service area.

    Wu Mengting quickly replied with an “OK.”

    Then Chen Feng sent a WeChat message to Lin Yujiao, saying that he was going back to Xiuzhou now and bidding her farewell.

    He also told her that after the shop on Longhua Street was recovered, she could go there to open her shop, and he would give her a discounted rent. If it was convenient, he would make a special trip back to Lushi to formally take over the shop and also formally sign a rental contract with her.

    Lin Yujiao hadn’t expected Chen Feng to go back to Xiuzhou now, without even meeting her to say goodbye. Thinking about how Chen Feng had barely paid any attention to her these past few days, and hadn’t spent the night with her, made her heart feel even more stifled.

    She immediately called Chen Feng, and he answered.

    “Are… are you leaving right now?”

    Lin Yujiao had originally wanted to complain to him a little, but the words changed as they came out, and her tone became soft and weak, as if she had no confidence at all.

    “Yes. I was originally going to go over to your place to meet, but it’s daytime now, there are too many people, and it’s too close to my home. My mom is always watching, and she can see my car at a glance, so I didn’t go to your place.”

    Of course, Chen Feng also knew that leaving without meeting her was a bit heartless, but what he said was also the truth.

    It was necessary to explain like this to avoid Lin Yujiao being sad and misunderstanding.

    Sure enough, as soon as Lin Yujiao heard Chen Feng’s explanation, the dissatisfaction in her heart immediately dissipated. But her tone was still a little sad as she said, “Then… then we, we…”

    Lin Yujiao didn’t know what to say, or how to express it.

    Of course, Chen Feng understood her meaning and immediately said with a smile, “Of course we’ll still keep in touch and maintain our current relationship. As long as you’re willing, you’ll always be my woman. I’ll continue to give you living expenses every month.”

    Hearing Chen Feng’s words, a trace of joy rose in Lin Yujiao’s heart. She had been worried all this time that after Chen Feng returned to Xiuzhou after the New Year, their relationship would be over.

    It wasn’t mainly because she was heartbroken about losing the thirty thousand yuan in living expenses per month, but because she was really reluctant to break up with Chen Feng now, even if it was just to maintain a nominal, temporary relationship with him.

    After spending this period of time together, Lin Yujiao couldn’t deny that she had developed feelings for Chen Feng, even love.

    Even though she knew it would be difficult for her to have a future with Chen Feng, she just didn’t want to break up with him so easily.

    Of course, Lin Yujiao was happy to hear Chen Feng’s words now, but thinking about being in a different city from Chen Feng in the future, her mood quickly sank again, “If you leave, then we can’t see each other often in the future.”

    Chen Feng heard the sadness in her voice and knew that she was reluctant to part with him. He felt a little proud of his charm and said with a smile, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. If you have time in the future, you can come to Xiuzhou to find me, or I can come back to Lushi to find you when I have time.”

    After saying this, to avoid her misunderstanding, Chen Feng added, “Of course, if you meet someone suitable, don’t miss out. I can’t give you any promises.”

    Lin Yujiao was originally very happy to hear Chen Feng’s previous words and was even looking forward to their future rendezvous, flying back and forth. But now that he added this, it was really a mood killer. The passion that had risen in her heart was instantly extinguished by more than half.

    “I’m with you now, and my parents and relatives all think I’m dating you. How can I find someone else?”

    She was really indignant in her heart: You were clearly the one who seduced me (at least that’s what she thought). Now that you’re tired of playing, you can just generously give me away? Are you, Chen Feng, really willing to let me be with another man?

    But she heard Chen Feng say in a relaxed tone, “Nowadays, many people get divorced after getting married. We’re just nominally dating now. It’s perfectly normal if we don’t end up together. That’s what we agreed on from the beginning. Of course, in my heart, I certainly don’t want you to find another man. It’s just that I really don’t plan to get married again in the next year or two. I’m also afraid of delaying you. After all, you’re not young anymore.”

    “Thank you for your kindness,” Lin Yujiao couldn’t help but say sarcastically, then asked, “Where are you now? I’ll go meet you.”

    Chen Feng hadn’t planned to meet her. Now that she asked, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m on the national highway at the town exit, pulled over to the side.”

    “Okay, I’ll go find you right away.”

    After saying this, Lin Yujiao hung up the phone directly.

    In less than ten minutes, Lin Yujiao drove over and parked in front of Chen Feng’s car.

    Then, Lin Yujiao sent a message to Chen Feng: [Let’s go to a hotel.]

    Chen Feng hadn’t expected her to be so proactive. After a moment of stunned silence, he sent her a shy emoji.

    Lin Yujiao was very direct again: [I’ll drive over first.]

    Then, Lin Yujiao started the car and drove forward.

    Seeing this, Chen Feng was a little speechless, but he also immediately started the car and followed.

    She was so proactive, and as a man, Chen Feng really had no reason to refuse.

    Twenty minutes later, in a room at the Yujing Grand Hotel.

    More than half an hour later, Chen Feng was leaning against the headboard.

    Chen Feng glanced at Lin Yujiao, who was lying next to him with her eyes closed. Seeing the smile on her lips, he asked, “What are you smiling about?”

    “Nothing.”

    “I clearly saw you smile.”

    “Alright then. I smiled. I just think fate is very magical. It was always you who took the initiative before, but this time it was me. Are you a little unaccustomed to it?”

    Chen Feng was indeed a little unaccustomed to it at first. After all, she was being more proactive and enthusiastic than him.

    “A little. But it’s also pretty good,” Chen Feng said with a smile, reaching out to touch her face, then he rolled over and got out of bed.

    “Are you leaving now?” The smile on Lin Yujiao’s face disappeared, and she looked at him getting dressed with some disappointment.

    “Yes. I arranged with Mengting to wait for her at the first highway service area. She’s probably waiting for me now.”

    Hearing Wu Mengting’s name, although their relationship was pretty good now, Lin Yujiao couldn’t help but feel a little sour. She couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on between you and Mengting? I’m really curious. She’s so young, beautiful, educated, and has such a good temperament. How could you not want her?”

    Chen Feng turned his head to look at her and said in an annoyed tone, “Don’t ask too much about my business with her. Just mind your own business.”

    Lin Yujiao felt wronged by Chen Feng’s attitude, but she didn’t dare to say anything more and just frowned without speaking.

    Seeing this, Chen Feng felt a little bad. He went over and kissed her on the cheek, saying with a smile, “I’ll be back in a month or so at most, and we can see each other again then. Or, if you have time, you can come to Xiuzhou to find me. I’ll reimburse your round-trip plane tickets.”

    Lin Yujiao’s heart skipped a beat. To be honest, she really had the idea of going to Xiuzhou. But it wasn’t good to say it directly now. She just said to Chen Feng, “I know. We’ll talk about it then.”

    Chen Feng nodded, continued to get dressed, and quickly finished.

    “Alright, I’m leaving now. You can check out later.”

    This time, the room was booked with Lin Yujiao’s ID, and she had paid for it at first. Of course, Chen Feng sent her a red envelope later.

    Lin Yujiao hummed in agreement, then watched as Chen Feng hurriedly left without looking back.

    Hearing the door slam shut, Lin Yujiao’s mood sank again. Ever since she brought Chen Feng back to her home that one time, this divorced woman, who had thought she could never fall in love with a man again, had become frequently sentimental, and her emotions often fluctuated with just a word from Chen Feng.

    Sigh! No matter how strong a woman is, she becomes exceptionally fragile once she falls in love.

    So, it’s better for women not to fall in love easily. But this kind of thing is often not something they can control themselves.

    Chen Feng having such an encounter before leaving was really not in his plan.

    But Lin Yujiao was so proactive, and he hadn’t spent the night with her for several days. Now that he was leaving again, her reaction was normal.

    After leaving the hotel and getting into the car, Chen Feng immediately sent a voice message to Wu Mengting: [There’s a traffic jam on the highway here, I might be a little late.]

    After speaking, he put down his phone, started the car, and hurried to the highway. He was already almost an hour late. Wu Mengting was probably already waiting for him at the highway service area.

    But in fact, Wu Mengting was still at home at this moment. Her parents were stopping her from going back to Xiuzhou.

    When they found out that Wu Mengting had already quit her job and was writing full-time, they strongly disapproved of her continuing to go to Xiuzhou. They said that since she was writing full-time, it would be great to stay at home. She wouldn’t have to do housework or cook for herself; she could just eat ready-made meals. More importantly, the family could live together.

    But in fact, Wu Mengting knew this was just their excuse. She had been very independent since she was a child. She had been in full-time boarding school since elementary, middle, and high school, and rarely saw them even once a month. At that time, they didn’t seem to miss their precious daughter that much. The couple rarely went to school to visit her. It was even more so in college. Wu Mengting spent her winter and summer vacations doing internships and working to train herself. She only came home for the New Year, and they didn’t object, let alone look forward to her coming home every day.

    Now they suddenly couldn’t bear to part with her. This was clearly an excuse. The reason was nothing more than not wanting her to have further contact with Chen Feng.

    This, in turn, made Wu Mengting even more rebellious. At first, she could still reason with her parents calmly and said that she planned to find a part-time job in Xiuzhou this time.

    But her parents just took turns persuading her earnestly, not letting her go back to Xiuzhou.

    Finally, Wu Mengting got annoyed and started packing her luggage on her own. Her mother came over and grabbed her hand to stop her. Wu Mengting felt extremely tired. She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and said loudly, “Mom, I’m already grown up. I have my own thoughts and my own pursuits. I know you’re doing this for my own good, but this really disgusts me. I’ll count to three. If you stop me again, I’ll never come back to this home.”

    “Tingting, what nonsense are you talking about? Is that how you talk to your mother?” her father scolded.

    Wu Mengting was unmoved and started counting, “1! 2!…”

    “Fine, fine, fine. I’m scared of you! I’m scared of you, my little ancestor!”

    In the end, her mother was scared. She quickly let go of her daughter. She knew her daughter’s temper very well. If she made up her mind, she would really do what she said. Moreover, they only had this one precious daughter, so of course, they were afraid that she would really not come home in the future.

    In the end, Wu Mengting successfully left home, although it was almost an hour later than planned.

    Her parents stood at the door, sighing as they watched their daughter’s car drive away.

    “What do we do now? She’s as stubborn as a mule, she’s going to follow this path to the end,” her mother said with a look of anger and worry.

    Her father sighed, “We’ve raised this daughter for nothing.”

    “It’s all your fault,” her mother started to complain. “You said you wanted to cultivate her self-care ability and independent living ability from a young age, so you sent her to boarding school since elementary school. Now look, she’s self-sufficient in everything, independent in everything. She doesn’t want us, her parents, to interfere in her life or her relationships.”

    Her father frowned, “What’s the use of saying this now? When we sent her to boarding school back then, wasn’t it because you didn’t want to take care of the child?”

    “Was I the only one who didn’t want to? You didn’t want to either. And your mother…”

    “What’s the point of talking about my mother? She’s been gone for so long,” her father said angrily, then immediately changed the subject with practiced ease. “There’s nothing we can do now. We can only solve this matter by starting with that Chen Feng. I’ll go to Xiuzhou tomorrow and talk to him in person.”

    “I’m going too.”

    “Okay, we’ll go together.”


    0 Comments

    Enter your details or log in with:
    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note