Xu Jia’an scolded, "You child, you’re already at ho, why stay outside?"
"It’s like this, I’m here to visit friends this ti and also to see Auntie. I didn’t want to disturb you, but Grandpa was worried about you living here alone, afraid you’d be wronged. That’s why he told to co and see you." Xu Chunliang implied that if it weren’t for Grandpa’s instructions, he wouldn’t have been eager to co.
The words made Xu Jia’an feel deeply guilty. Even at his father’s old age, he still worries about him, yet he hasn’t even been ho for the New Year, truly unfilial.
Liang Shude laughed, "I wouldn’t dare bully your aunt. By the way, let’s have dinner together tonight; everything is ready."
Xu Chunliang said, "Sorry, I’ve made plans with a few friends tonight." He really didn’t want to stay and continue the pretense; the whole family gave him a bad vibe.
Xu Jia’an said, "Cancel it. How can you co to Auntie’s house and not even have a al?"
Liang Linan said, "Mom, don’t make things difficult for Chunliang. Nowadays, young people have social events, and besides, we young ones don’t enjoy listening to your chatter during dinner."
Xu Chunliang said, "Cousin, you’re you, don’t speak for ."
Everyone laughed, but most of the laughter seed forced.
Xu Chunliang stayed at Auntie’s house for less than an hour before leaving when he got a phone call.
Liang Linan saw him downstairs on behalf of the family, and Xu Chunliang urged him to hurry back, noticing Aunt Xu Jia’an following afterward.
Xu Jia’an had a few words to say to him alone and walked with him outside the community.
Xu Jia’an asked about his father’s health.
Xu Chunliang didn’t understand Auntie’s actions. If she truly cared about Grandpa, why couldn’t she visit him in Dongzhou? Couldn’t she spare even a little ti?
Xu Jia’an took out two thousand yuan to give to Xu Chunliang, asking him to hand it to his father personally.
Xu Chunliang didn’t take it and said to her, "Auntie, Grandpa isn’t short of money. If you really miss him, take the ti to visit."
Xu Jia’an sighed, "I wish I could go back, but as you see, your Uncle’s parents aren’t in good health and need care."
Xu Chunliang thought to himself that Liang Shude’s parents are also parents, isn’t your own father? He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Auntie, "Auntie, no need to see off, I know the way."
Xu Jia’an handed the money to him again, and Xu Chunliang said, "Grandpa has WeChat, just transfer it directly to him."
Xu Chunliang stayed at the Sheraton nearby, intending to remind Zhen Chun, but considering her carefree nature, she might not notice. Of course, it’s possible the family just didn’t like him and might hold a better opinion of this little cousin from Xiangjiang.
Xu Chunliang visited Hu Hai for the first ti. He went to several landmarks and bought so local specialties for Grandpa.
While strolling and sightseeing by the Huangpu River, i Ru Xue called.
In the morning, when he wished Elder Qiao a happy new year, Xu Chunliang already told her he was in Hu Hai.
i Ru Xue asked where he was.
Xu Chunliang told i Ru Xue he was alone, being blown by the cold wind by the Huangpu River.
i Ru Xue couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of him, "Alone, huh?"
"What else?"
i Ru Xue said, "How about I get soone to keep you company?"
Xu Chunliang said, "That would be great, Secretary i’s kindness, I wouldn’t dare refuse."
i Ru Xue said, "Go to the Oriental Pearl, I’ll arrange it for you."
Xu Chunliang hung up, smiling as he looked towards the nearby Oriental Pearl. He realized i Ru Xue might have co to Hu Hai.
Xu Chunliang reached the Oriental Pearl, and indeed saw i Ru Xue standing gracefully amidst the twinkling lights.
i Ru Xue rarely let her long hair fall over her shoulders. Her silky black hair danced lightly in the night breeze.
In the bustling crowd, Xu Chunliang only saw i Ru Xue, and vice versa, they exchanged a smile.
Xu Chunliang strode towards i Ru Xue, already spreading his arms wide from a distance. i Ru Xue smiled reservedly, turned her head, and then back again, finally making up her mind, she bravely ran over like a fawn entering a protective forest.
Xu Chunliang hugged i Ru Xue’s slender waist, spinning them around in circles.
i Ru Xue giggled, "Put down, there are so many people, are you crazy?" In a strange city, the feeling of no one noticing is really nice.
Xu Chunliang said, "Yes, I have lovesickness; Secretary i is like providing charcoal in snowy weather, responding promptly to what I need, she really understands ."
i Ru Xue wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned down, and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead, saying gently, "Why do I feel like a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth?"
"You can treat like a sheep, do whatever you want." Xu Chunliang’s mind was unsettled; he felt that if he didn’t do sothing today, he would fail to live up to i Ru Xue’s long journey to see him.
i Ru Xue got off him and threw herself into his arms again, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. Learning that Xu Chunliang was in Hu Hai, she drove all the way from Nanjiang for a simple reason—because she suddenly missed him. i Ru Xue had always thought she was rational, but now she realized that reason was useless in the face of love.
Walking by the river had a different ambiance when there was soone by your side; it beca romantic.
i Ru Xue held onto Xu Chunliang’s arm, nestling next to him like a little bird and murmured dreamily, "It’s so nice here, no one knows you, and no one knows ."
Xu Chunliang said, "Doesn’t it feel like an affair?"
i Ru Xue spat, "Nonsense, you’re ruining the mood."
Xu Chunliang laughed heartily, but his laughter abruptly stopped because he saw a middle-aged woman smiling at them from a distance. They had just said no one recognized them, and now they had bumped into soone familiar.
Feng Mingjun waved at him and said, "Chunliang, what a coincidence!"
i Ru Xue’s cheeks ward, and she quickly let go of Xu Chunliang’s arm as if she had been stung by a bee. She had never t Feng Mingjun and didn’t know her connection with Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang also felt it was quite the coincidence; Hu Hai was so big, yet he managed to run into his mother twice in one day. He hadn’t seen her as much in his entire life; he was pondering how to introduce i Ru Xue.
Feng Mingjun had already extended her hand towards i Ru Xue, "Hello, I’m Feng Mingjun, Chunliang’s mother."
i Ru Xue’s cheeks reddened even further. She had never expected to et Xu Chunliang’s mother. Xu Chunliang had told her before that when he was an infant, his parents left him, so why was his mother here? Had they arranged to et beforehand?
Even soone as accustod to life’s ups and downs as i Ru Xue felt a bit nervous in front of her future mother-in-law. She shook hands with Feng Mingjun, "Hello, Auntie! I’m i Ru Xue."
Feng Mingjun said, "Chunliang, you have such a pretty girlfriend, why didn’t you tell ?"
Xu Chunliang said, "We just t, why are you here?"
Feng Mingjun let go of i Ru Xue’s hand and waved the cara in her hand, "I ca to take so night photos, never expected to run into you two. Do you want to take photos for you?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Thank you very much."
From the conversation between mother and son, i Ru Xue discerned a sense of estrangent between them.
The two stood by the river while Feng Mingjun took several photos of them together and then proposed individual photos with both i Ru Xue and Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang, reluctantly engaged, finally got a proper photo with his mother.
Feng Mingjun suggested they walk around together, handing her cara and handbag to Xu Chunliang to carry. She and i Ru Xue walked ahead, chatting as they went, while Xu Chunliang followed behind, playing the role of porter.
Feng Mingjun was very talkative, and i Ru Xue quickly adapted to her pace; they chatted happily.
Xu Chunliang realized that Feng Mingjun really knew what she was doing; she never once inquired about i Ru Xue’s family or work, focusing instead on fashion topics, which was Feng Mingjun’s brilliance; probing too deeply on a first eting could easily unsettle the other party.
After a few exchanges, i Ru Xue realized Feng Mingjun was an extraordinarily knowledgeable woman; she thought it wasn’t surprising, only such a woman could have raised such an outstanding son like Xu Chunliang.
Before coming to Hu Hai, i Ru Xue had already reserved a restaurant, planning for a romantic dinner with Xu Chunliang. However, Feng Mingjun’s appearance forced her to alter her plans.
Feng Mingjun said, "I’m hungry, shall we eat together?"
Both turned around at the sa ti and saw Xu Chunliang lagging five ters behind, laden with bags and cara. They both burst into laughter.
i Ru Xue said, "There’s a place called Zungui up ahead, it’s quite creative."
Feng Mingjun said, "Let’s go to Dian Nan Road. I rember there are many small restaurant gems, I want to try so specialty snacks."
i Ru Xue said, "Sure!"
Feng Mingjun made a phone call, and the driver soon arrived nearby.
Xu Chunliang sat in the front passenger seat, while Feng Mingjun and i Ru Xue sat in the back.
i Ru Xue asked, "Auntie, when did you return to the country?"
"I returned yesterday. I originally planned to celebrate the New Year here, but a friend passed away, and I went to pay my respects today, where I ran into Chunliang. The last ti I saw him, he was only two months old." Feng Mingjun was not shy about discussing this.
i Ru Xue sighed inwardly; she and Xu Chunliang both shared the experience of being left by their parents as children and raised by their grandparents, although Xu Chunliang was sowhat luckier as both his parents were still alive.
Feng Mingjun said, "I ca here in a rush and didn’t expect to et you. Although today is our first eting, I have a very good impression of Miss i. Chunliang is lucky to have t you."
Receiving approval from her future mother-in-law made i Ru Xue feel very gratified.
Feng Mingjun took off her jade bracelet, "This bracelet was a gift from his father, apparently a Xu Family heirloom. I was not supposed to keep it after divorcing Xu Jiaxuan, I always wanted to return it, but never found the right opportunity. Today it will be my gift to you."
i Ru Xue instantly recognized the bracelet’s significant value and quickly declined, "Auntie, this is too precious, I can’t accept it."
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