"Yes, my male cousin and his wife," Mo Xiaoyu explained. "Si Yu, this is my neighbor, Leng Hua, who also happens to run a toy store next to my clothing shop."
Tang Yue stealthily exchanged a glance with Meng Siyu. Standing up, Meng Siyu introduced himself: "Meng Siyu."
Wrapping his arm around Tang Yue's slender waist, Meng Siyu declared his territory: "My wife, Tang Yue."
After calling Tang Yue 'my wife' just once, Meng Siyu couldn't stop himself, and from then on, he always called her 'my wife' instead of 'wife', as he felt it was much more endearing.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Leng Hua, Xiao Yu's neighbor," Leng Hua introduced himself with ease, aware that Meng Siyu was sizing him up, yet remaining unfazed, he said, "I just got back from the store, and the smell of this meal is truly appetizing."
Mo Xiaoyu thought about how Leng Hua usually took care of her and naturally left some food for him.
Meng Siyu looked at Leng Hua, seeing someone pletely different from Xie Quan.
Xie Quan seemed simple and honest, but his appearance was quite ordinary and plain.
And Leng Hua?
Even though his clothes were modest, his bearing was extraordinary. Just considering facial features and appearance, he was streets ahead of Xie Quan.
This sumptuous dinner became somewhat awkward with the addition of Leng Hua.
After Leng Hua left, Meng Siyu said, "Xiao Yu, we'll stay here tonight, there's a guest room, right?"
"Yes," Mo Xiaoyu nodded, knowing in her heart that Meng Siyu's decision to stay was because of Leng Hua. She couldn't help explaining: "Si Yu, don't overthink it. Leng Hua and I are just neighbors, ordinary neighbors."
Mo Xiaoyu emphasized it again.
Meng Siyu glanced at her and said, "He likes you."
"I, he, I..." Mo Xiaoyu stuttered, unable to form a plete sentence.
"Xiao Yu, I'm not against you remarrying, but his background must be plicated," Meng Siyu explained.
"Ah..."
Mo Xiaoyu looked bewilderedly at Meng Siyu.
Meng Siyu took Tang Yue by the hand, saying, "Wife, you'll sleep with Xiao Yu and Tiantian tonight. I'm meeting some people tonight and won't be back early."
Tang Yue nodded, aware that Meng Siyu must be going to investigate Leng Hua. She didn't refuse and went to bathe with Tiantian.
After the bath, Xie Tiantian cuddled her doll and finally fell asleep from exhaustion. It was only then that Tang Yue began to inquire about Leng Hua.
It turned out that Leng Hua had opened his shop even before Mo Xiaoyu. He owned a toy store and, because it was next door, as well as their living places, they became familiar with one another through frequent encounters.
Once, when Xie Tiantian developed a fever in the middle of the night, Mo Xiaoyu went to the hospital with her daughter, coincidentally running into Leng Hua. Leng Hua kindly offered to take them to the hospital, and after running back and forth to handle matters, their relationship became much closer.
However, that last layer of metaphorical paper had not been pierced through yet.
"Xiao Yu, what do you think?" Tang Yue asked.
Last year when she came, that scumbag Xie Quan was keeping a mistress outside, which infuriated her. A year has passed, and Mo Xiaoyu has bee even more outstanding, so it's normal for an excellent man like Leng Hua to take a fancy to her. However, Tang Yue was a bit worried that Mo Xiaoyu wouldn't be able to walk out of the shadows of her past.
"I, I'm not worthy of him." Mo Xiaoyu mumbled, with her head hung low: "I'm someone who's been married twice, and I even have Tiantian. I've heard he's not married yet."
"I pletely disagree with you." Tang Yue objected: "Even those who've remarried have the right to pursue their happiness, and besides, you didn't hide the fact that you divorced. If Leng Hua really looked down upon you for being married before, why would he still get close to you?"
"Judging from the way he treats Tiantian, he does seem pretty decent." Tang Yue reflected on their encounter today; on the surface, Leng Hua seems to care a lot about Xie Tiantian.
He often stocks up on snacks that Xie Tiantian likes to eat at home. Moreover, Xie Tiantian calls him Uncle Leng all the time – children can't fake these things at all. If Leng Hua didn't genuinely like Xie Tiantian, she certainly wouldn't be so close to him.
"Xiao Yue, do you really think so?" Mo Xiaoyu was a bit surprised.
Tang Yue smiled and nodded: "Of course, it's not like you divorced because you did something wrong. It was Xie Quan who was at fault, not you. Life is long, who hasn't met a few jerks?"
"Jerks?" Mo Xiaoyu thought about describing Xie Quan with that word, which seemed quite apt.
"Self-centered, always taking without giving, ungrateful, and playing with other's feelings – if that's not a jerk, what is?" Tang Yue had no good impression of Xie Quan. She asked, "By the way, Xie Quan didn't e looking for you afterward, did he?"
"No." Mo Xiaoyu shook her head. When Tang Yue and Meng Siyu left last time, Mo Xiaoyu was quite worried, fearful that Xie Quan would suddenly show up causing trouble. Well, even if he came to pester her, it would leave Mo Xiaoyu unsure of what to do.
Unexpectedly, Xie Quan disappeared pletely as if he'd vanished, without showing up before her at all.
"That's good." Tang Yue thought of what Meng Siyu did last year; it was likely that Xie Quan wouldn't e back for a few years.
She looked up and said: "Xiao Yu, encountering a jerk isn't scary, but we can't let a jerk stop us from loving again, right?"
Mo Xiaoyu pursed her lips and said nothing. As for her feelings toward Leng Hua, even she was unclear about whether it was love.
Because of what happened with Xie Quan, she indeed dared not think about love. All she wanted now was to acpany Xie Tiantian as she grew up and to run her shop well.
"No matter what Leng Hua is like, if you meet someone you like in the future, be sure not to miss out," Tang Yue spoke earnestly.
Even if Uncle Mo and Aunt Mo did not say it out loud, it was certain that they were worried about Mo Xiaoyu in their hearts.
Mo Xiaoyu was still so young. She couldn't possibly spend her whole life with her daughter alone. After her daughter grew up and married, should Mo Xiaoyu really lead a solitary life forever?
That would be too much of a pity.
During the night, Tang Yue and Mo Xiaoyu talked for a long time, chatting until the wee hours of the morning, drifting off to a drowsy sleep. Tang Yue did not hear Meng Siyu ing back; she had wanted to wait up but, in the end, couldn't stay awake.
The next day.
Tang Yue woke up bright and early, seeing Meng Siyu asleep in the living room, with traces of dark circles under his eyes.
Tang Yue's heart ached instantly. She quietly took a thin blanket, decorated with cute bunnies – seemingly Tiantian's little cover for sleeping – and draped it over him gently, trying to move away, but then a force pulled her back.
In the next moment, Tang Yue fell into Meng Siyu's embrace. She simply lay half over the sofa and asked softly, "Did I wake you up?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers