Twenty-something and thirty-something are no different. His rational approach to Jiang Zhilan was not due to maturity, but because the object was wrong. The only one who could drive him crazy was always Xiao Susu.
The passionate emotions made his desired reward so low. Another time of throwing himself into the fire, if he still ended up heartbroken, he could only laugh at his own foolishness. He was afraid he was destined to be a man who would be clumsy in love for a lifetime.
Isn’t it fair? Having lived for thirty-two years, he was a lucky man in everyone’s eyes. How else could one believe that heaven is fair without carrying some lifelong regrets?
This time… would he still be true to his emotions? Would things be different?
He dared not think.
“Susu, shall we go abroad together?” he asked the person in his arms.
“I… don’t know foreign languages, and we’d have to take a plane…” Worry immediately surfaced, and she spoke nervously. Previously, her parents would have stopped her, but now what could she do? She was so afraid of those foreigners of different races and cultures.
“We’ll go to Canada. We have our own house there, it’s very quiet, with beautiful and serene scenery, and not many people. Don’t be afraid.”
In the past, he could have given a direct order, but in recent months, she had changed somewhat. He hoped she would make her own decision. His only action was to coax: “We’re just going on vacation. Xiao Qian is about to have winter break. We’ll spend the New Year abroad together. Think about it, he’s seven years old and hasn’t had the chance to travel with his parents. Isn’t that pitiful?”
“Hmm, last time he told me every classmate has been abroad.” She momentarily forgot her fear, thinking about her son.
“I promised to teach him skiing this year. If you come too, he’ll be very happy.”
“Really?” Maternal love made her heart waver.
“Don’t worry, with me and Xue Qian, you have nothing to fear.” He smiled, and the matter of going abroad was thus decided. Kissing her slightly pale face, he decided to add a touch of rosiness after winter.
To ease her fear of going abroad, Tang Hua decided to take her to Taipei for a few days; once she became accustomed to going with the flow, she would no longer feel anxious about different environments.
He told her he would arrange for their son to commute to school, so she could see him every day.
“But I have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places.”
Chen’s wife had already packed her clothes, and she had changed into outdoor attire. Everything was ready, but her worried heart was still wavering, unsure what to do.
“Everything will be fine with me.” He patted her hand reassuringly.
“Then…” she remembered that night at Shanlin Stream when she could sleep peacefully because of his presence. “Can you sleep in the same bed with me?”
Tang Hua slightly nodded, not entirely confident in his self-control, only able to bitterly smile to himself.
“Let’s go, let’s surprise Xue Qian.”
“Okay.” She finally relaxed, happily smiling, letting him help her into the car, no longer letting worry occupy her entire heart.
Taipei left her with both a blurry and terrifying impression. She remembered their wedding at a five-star hotel in Taipei, with many people coming and going, all approaching her to scrutinize and introduce themselves. She was so scared she had no courage to respond, cowering next to Tang’s body, trembling and secretly shedding tears.
The worst was the young men and women’s teasing, constantly proposing pranks on the newlyweds like drinking with high heels, removing her intimate clothing… Fortunately, Tang Hua spoke to stop them, and others didn’t dare to go too far. But this malice had already made her, who was extremely timid, even more averse to his family circle – especially since the family circle was incredibly large, beyond her capacity to handle.
The people of Taipei had become her nightmare. She knew their evaluation of her wasn’t good either, with some even calling her a “wooden doll”.
If this trip to Taipei could be just about spending time with her son, that would be wonderful. She hoped no one would come to look at her, as she was terrified of being examined like a strange creature and feared being asked to take on the role of Tang family’s mistress and become the matriarch of the Tang clan.
He shouldn’t arrange such things again… right?
Stealing a glance at him, worrisome thoughts came in waves. Those days seven years ago were a lifelong disaster for her.
Maybe during those days in Taipei, she could let him know her heart and more clearly confirm whether her feelings stem from gratitude or love. This was her last chance. She had to try. Did she want to wait numbly until he announced loving someone else and then cry? If he also left her life, she didn’t know what could support her to continue living. As the answer in her heart gradually became clear, her heart became more anxious. All the “what ifs” converged into a panic occupying her chest… Cannot retreat! Really cannot retreat! 11 Don’t ask me why I love you It just suddenly came Like spring thunder awakening the earth without warning yet Suddenly attacking And so I know I fell in love with you as the earth responds with green wilderness 22
Section 8
Experiencing a “normal” family life for the first time, Tang Xueqian felt deeply troubled. Of course, when he saw his parents come to pick him up together, he happily rushed into his mother’s arms, so excited that he forgot self-restraint and propriety. But precocity and quietness were still his nature. After the initial excitement faded, he looked puzzled at the intimacy between his parents, not understanding why his mother no longer seemed afraid of his father. Previously, his father had always given orders and everyone obediently followed. However, his mother had never dared to look his father in the eye, and if his father touched her hand or body, she would instinctively shrink back. But today, she allowed his father to hold her hand, embrace her waist without fear, and even showed a faint smile, her beautiful face turning slightly red. What was going on? He remembered his father had done the same with Aunt Jiang, and remembered that his father hadn’t treated his mother this way for many years; in his memory, it simply hadn’t happened. If “divorce” was as adults explained to him, and “pursuing” Aunt Jiang represented his father’s new “spring” (Grandmother had been talking about this word lately), then the current situation seemed utterly unreasonable. Like now, the three of them were having dinner at a restaurant. Dad ordered cod for Mom, removing the bones before letting her eat. When his own pork ribs arrived and he found them delicious, he cut a piece and placed it on his mother’s plate, carefully separating the ribs from the meat before eating his own. Of course, Tang Xueqian received the same care, but he keenly noticed the eyes were very different. He rarely had the opportunity to witness his parents dining together, especially since the home cook would always prepare boneless, perfectly cut food that wouldn’t require much effort. However, Xueqian knew that while his father was good at caring for others, he shouldn’t be this intimate or smiling. In fact, his father had always been self-controlled and rarely smiled, perhaps because he was unhappy. But this apparently happy father – what could this mean? Did it mean he now enjoyed dining with his mother? They were divorced, and Dad had a girlfriend. Last week, he even saw Grandmother’s favored Aunt Zhou, so Dad shouldn’t be behaving like this, right? Tang Xueqian’s beautiful little face suddenly turned serious.
Yes, Mom, I was just discussing with Dad,” Tang Xuexian assured emphatically.
