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Tao Xihong simply sat there, watching her. The papers in her hand slowly drifted to her side, and the silence was so profound that even their breathing could be heard clearly.
After a brief moment of losing control, Jian Xi apologized rationally, “I’m sorry.”
Tao Xihong brushed it off with a casual “Mm.” “I won’t force you or make you choose. I’m just telling you some truths you don’t know. Xiao Xi, raising you wasn’t easy for your father and me. We want you to live well. Life choices are far more important than fleeting emotions.”
Jian Xi lowered her eyes, biting her lip and remaining silent.
Tao Xihong stuffed the documents back into the envelope and placed it on the table as if it had never been opened.
“Romance is between two people, but when a woman reaches the stage of marriage, her investment and stakes are much greater than a man’s.” Tao Xihong’s voice remained calm. “Don’t talk about how he won’t let you down. If he truly loves you, he should show his abilities and sincerity to earn our trust and peace of mind. But what I see now is only unreliability and impracticality.”
Jian Xi nodded, feeling that this conversation had reached its conclusion.
Neither mother nor daughter had convinced the other, resulting in an unsatisfying and muted departure.
Jian Xi picked up her bag, and Tao Xihong tried to keep her. “Xiao Xi, stay for lunch before you leave.”
“No need, I have to go back to the hospital for my shift.” Using that as an excuse, Jian Xi didn’t linger.
After leaving home, Jian Xi drove aimlessly, eventually finding herself at He Ran’s company.
Parking her car, she sat in the restaurant downstairs from his office. With nearly an hour left until noon, she sipped honey yuzu tea through a straw.
As the end of the workday approached, more people began to gather, and the previously empty restaurant gradually became busy.
Feeling a bit awkward occupying a seat with just a glass of juice, Jian Xi waved over a waiter to order food.
“Braised beef, stir-fried asparagus tips, wild crucian carp soup with plenty of shredded radish. And one dessert.” After handing over the menu, she realized that all the dishes were He Ran’s favorites.
Ah, she really missed him.
Ten minutes before the end of work, Jian Xi prepared to text He Ran. Just as she took out her phone, she saw a group of men and women exiting the office building through the large glass window.
At the forefront was He Ran. Jian Xi pressed her face almost against the glass, counting carefully—six men and three women. He Ran walked at the back, next to a woman wearing knee-high boots.
Based on her appearance, this was likely the HR manager He Ran had mentioned.
Jian Xi quickly sent him a text:
[Do you want me to pick you up and treat you to lunch?]
[No need, hubby has a business lunch.]
Jian Xi licked her lips and continued:
[You don’t want me anymore.]
[What’s going on, baby? Did you drop your phone? Is this really you?]
Seeing this, Jian Xi couldn’t help but smile and replied:
[My phone didn’t drop. I am your genuine darling.]
[Good girl, hubby is busy now. I’ll come see you tonight.]
Looking at the table full of He Ran’s favorite dishes, Jian Xi felt utterly disheartened. Thinking about the argument with her mother that morning made her feel even worse. At this moment, only He Ran could give her a strong sense of existence.
Holding her phone, Jian Xi locked and unlocked the screen repeatedly, her heart feeling an unbearable void. She opened the chat window.
[Who are you having lunch with? Are there any women? Do you have to drink again?]
A barrage of questions flew over, and this time, the wait felt incredibly long.
So long that Jian Xi’s heart deflated like a punctured ball, filled with an inexplicable sense of grievance and childish resentment. These feelings intertwined, writing two words in her heart: painful.
When her phone rang again, it wasn’t a text message but a call directly from He Ran.
Jian Xi answered immediately, like a sulking child afraid that the adult might leave.
“What’s wrong with you? Why did it take so long to reply? Was the food that good? Was the wine that tasty? Are there women around you? Your manager, right? Keep your distance, don’t let her perfume overwhelm you; otherwise, you’ll come home smelling like another woman, and I won’t let you into my room.”
Jian Xi rattled off her words without taking a breath.
The other end of the line was eerily quiet.
Jian Xi’s eyes grew misty. Could it be? Had the call dropped?
She shook her phone violently left and right. Impossible, had her phone broken?
He Ran: “If you shake it again, your phone might explode with bubbles. Try it if you don’t believe me.”
Finally, there was sound, but it seemed like a live broadcast.
Jian Xi frowned, then turned her head, stunned to see He Ran standing by the revolving door of the restaurant, holding his phone with an amused yet exasperated look.
“How did you get here?” Jian Xi was surprised. After a brief moment of joy,委屈 and irritation surged once again.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at a business lunch? How did you appear so quickly? Were you lying to me? If I hadn’t thrown a tantrum, who knows which mature woman you’d be with right now.”
“Damn it.” He Ran chuckled and cursed under his breath as he approached her. “Did you eat explosives today?”
Furious, though her words and actions were all sarcastic, her mood indeed felt like she had consumed several pounds of dynamite.
Jian Xi lowered her head, saying nothing.
He Ran assumed she was still angry and patiently walked over to the dining table, teasing, “All my favorite dishes. Are you reminiscing about me? Hmm?”
Jian Xi whispered, “Don’t look down on me.”
He Ran found it amusing and reached out to pinch her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve got lots of ‘whats.’ Which one do you mean?”
“Tsk,” He Ran took her hand. “Are you mad because I didn’t have lunch with you? How about I have lunch with you now?”
“Who wants to have lunch with you!” Jian Xi muttered, feeling wronged, her nose turning red.
He Ran quietly observed her, and after a while, he said, “Clients came to the company, and I had to entertain them. This business deal is related to the HR department, so Manager Xiao was also there.”
Connecting all the frustrating events from the morning, Jian Xi still felt disheartened, especially hearing He Ran explain the male-female relationship. The big bold letters “Private Room 506, Baoshan Restaurant, One Hour Alone” clanged loudly in her mind.
Her tone hardened. “Reluctant refusal, attempting to cover up, you’re done for.”
He Ran almost burst out laughing. Leaning closer, he whispered a warning near her face, “Keep making a fuss, and I’ll really leave you.”
From both his tone and expression, it was clearly a joke.
But like a floodgate breaking, emotions rushed forward uncontrollably.
Jian Xi raised her voice, “Fine, if you don’t want me, then who cares! You better find some time to go to my place and take those two unused boxes of condoms. Go home and cry with them yourself.”
As she spoke, her emotions were collapsing, her eyes brimming with unshed tears of委屈.
He Ran calmly listened to her vent, never letting go of her hand.
Finally, he freed his right hand, reaching behind her head and pulling her into his embrace.
He gently pressed the back of her head against his chest and softly said, “Good girl, cry if you want to.”
Jian Xi couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, letting them soak into his shoulder.
Their table was in the corner, but many passersby glanced curiously.
He Ran didn’t care, only wanting to give his woman a broad, comforting hug.
After a while, He Ran brushed his lips against Jian Xi’s hair, whispering softly in her ear, “Don’t let me be the reason you have unpleasantness with your mother. Don’t be angry with her, don’t argue with her.”
Jian Xi froze, lifting her head with a choked voice. “How do you know?”
He Ran smiled. “Because I’m smart.”
Jian Xi sniffled. “Why aren’t you resentful towards her?”
He Ran smiled deeper. “Silly, because she’s your mom.”
Jian Xi furrowed her brows, looking at him pitifully. “Boss He, how can you be so good? So good that I want to fight for you.”
He Ran released her, using his thumb to rub around her tear-streaked eyes until they were clean. “Don’t say that. Just be good.”
Jian Xi rubbed her nose, her emotions finally stabilizing a bit. “Don’t you have a business engagement?”
“The first time my little kitten threw a tantrum at me is a historical moment. Business engagements can go to hell.” He Ran grinned charmingly. “As the male lead, I naturally have to rush to the scene to support the performance.”
“What nonsense.” Jian Xi was amused, the clouds in her heart gradually clearing. “What kind of girlfriend picks fights for no reason and is still happy about it?”
“Such a sensation.” He Ran sighed. “My girlfriend throwing a tantrum is like performing a comedy sketch. No one else has that. How can I not be thrilled?”
Jian Xi laughed and scolded him, “Pervert.”
“Happy now?” Seeing her smile, He Ran finally felt reassured.
Jian Xi nodded, then lowered her head again.
He Ran checked the time. “Alright, I need to hurry back. The boss and clients are waiting. Go take a nap, and we’ll have dinner together tonight.”
With that, he stood up to leave, taking large and quick steps, clearly in a rush.
Jian Xi grabbed his hand, stopping him.
“Hmm?” He Ran turned around, his eyes questioning.
“I’m sorry.” Jian Xi looked at him, her voice filled with heartache and apology, speaking softly. “I felt terrible. I just wanted to see you. I couldn’t hide my emotions. I’m sorry.”
She repeated her apology twice, her cautious and fearful demeanor making He Ran’s heart ache.
He gripped her hand tightly. “We’re going to spend our whole lives together, tied by a red string. There’s no question of owing each other. Jian Xi, you need to trust me.”
“Trust what?”
“If you stab me here, I won’t fight back. I’ll willingly endure it.”
Jian Xi’s hand, held tightly by He Ran, was pressed firmly against his heart.
It was too heartbreaking; Jian Xi couldn’t bear it. “What’s wrong with me? I used to be so strong. I wouldn’t even flinch at seeing a corpse. Since being with you, I could switch careers to flooding the Leifeng Pagoda.”
He Ran laughed. “Your mouth must be very idle, always spouting nonsense. If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll find something for you to bite on tonight.”
“What nonsense…” Jian Xi’s face turned beet red, lowering her head in embarrassment.
“Oops, I really have to go.” He Ran patted her head. “Drive carefully on the way.”
Walking out of the restaurant, He Ran’s shoulders instantly slumped.
The most troubling thing still inevitably happened. It was clear why Jian Xi suffered委屈 from her mother. He Ran took a deep breath, looking up at the not-so-blue sky, his emotions swirling like spilled ink.
Messy, impossible to wipe clean.
He Ran was fully aware that the biggest boss of the Jian family hadn’t made a move yet.
He remembered the first time he asked Lu Hanxiao about Jian Xi’s father.
That fool Lu Hanxiao said, “He’s a civil servant.”
Hmph, no problem.
After finishing the business entertainment, He Ran skipped two hours of work and rushed to the suburban Sanbao Pavilion.
________________________________________
After that stifling conversation, the relationship between Jian Xi and her mother remained lukewarm.
She still visited home twice a week. Neither cold war nor resentment existed between her and Tao Xihong; they responded to everything superficially.
However, confrontations still occasionally emerged unintentionally.
After dinner on Friday night, the city was unusually quiet, and Jian Yanqing also had time to sit in the living room and watch TV together.
Coincidentally, an ethical drama was airing—a girl secretly married a wandering singer without her family’s knowledge and ended up abandoned, meeting a pitiful fate.
Jian Xi fussed about changing the channel. “What kind of nonsense is this?”
Tao Xihong gently blew on her flower tea to cool it. “Art originates from life. Such stories happen often. Although the logic may be flawed, it still reflects real-life events.”
Jian Xi: “These are all scripted by writers. Audiences love melodrama, so it’s just catering to their preferences.”
“Why do they like it?” Tao Xihong sipped her tea. “It’s because everyone is accustomed to finding a sense of existence in others’ stories.”
“Only prejudiced people need to find a sense of existence.” Jian Xi said, “Truly independent and clear-minded individuals live vibrantly and love freely. They don’t need to highlight their superiority by pointing out others’ shortcomings.”
Tao Xihong gave a faint intake of breath.
Jian Yanqing finally spoke up. “What’s going on with you two? Watching a TV drama turned into a debate competition.”
Jian Xi didn’t speak. Tao Xihong leaned over to pour her husband a glass of cooled tea. “You’ve worked all afternoon. Drink some; it’ll help cool you down.”
At this moment, a cheerful voice came from the doorway. “What cooling down? Who’s hot? Can anyone be hotter than me? My Weibo followers have surpassed 100,000!”
Tao Xing arrived, dressed in a fresh white down jacket, making a stylish entrance. He sweet-talked everyone he saw. “Oh, this dignified and elegant woman looks so much like my mom. And that gentleman, with such extraordinary presence, definitely looks like someone in charge of the urban management team.”
Jian Xi closed her eyes painfully. Her brother was so loud.
“Tsk tsk tsk, that beauty pretending to sleep.” Tao Xing darted in front of her, draping an arm over her shoulder familiarly. “Don’t want to see me? Jealous of my good looks? Don’t have ideas. Born from the same parents, our genes can’t be that different.”
Jian Xi was utterly崩溃. Already troubled in her heart, she got up and returned to her bedroom.
Jian Yanqing slightly frowned. “You chased your sister away.”
Tao Xing felt hurt. “What’s going on? Two people leaving. Not my sister, but at least my dad. This mayor doesn’t seem to care much about the citizens.”
Jian Yanqing remained expressionless, walking upstairs to read reports in his study.
“Mom, they’ve all left. I’m your biological child; don’t abandon me.” Tao Xing draped an arm over Tao Xihong’s shoulder, massaging her playfully. “I adore you so much.”
Tao Xihong calmly sipped her tea. “Speak. Are you short of money or short of money?”
“Mom, why are you siding with Dad and Sister?” Tao Xing’s massage was quite comfortable. “Little Miss Tao, you haven’t been behaving well these past couple of days.”
Finally getting to the point, Tao Xihong put down her teacup. “Adult matters, you meddle less.”
“That’s unacceptable. I have to inherit my father’s legacy, maintain city order, and foster good relations with the citizens.” Tao Xing sighed deeply. “Mom, you’re a graduate of a prestigious university. Why are you still clinging to feudal society practices?”
Tao Xihong frowned. “Do you know about your sister’s affairs?”
“I’m very familiar with them. We’ve eaten together, slept together, and he even helped me tuck in my blanket.” Tao Xing recalled fondly. “He’s such a nice person.”
“I see. Neither of you siblings understand human nature.” Tao Xihong said, “He was disloyal to your sister.”
“No worries, Mom. Did you investigate him too? Elders making mistakes should be treated equally. It’s your fault for abusing Old Jian’s authority. How could you misuse it?”
Tao Xihong was somewhat speechless.
“It’s just that you saw him entering a private room with a woman for an hour.”
Tao Xihong snorted. “Men and women alone in a room. Don’t tell me they were playing cards.”
“So clever of you! They were playing cards!” Tao Xing pulled two colorful sheets of paper from his pocket and handed them over.
“What’s this?”
“The **Landlord Competition, regional match at 10 PM on the 20th. First place, champion with ID 15837214586. This competition is continuous, so you can’t quit midway.” Tao Xing handed over the second sheet. “Here, this number belongs to He Ran. I even printed out the phone records for you.”
Tao Xihong: “...”
“He was genuinely playing Landlords. He did nothing else.” Tao Xing earnestly explained, “You’re an experienced elder. Isn’t this how business entertainment works? He’s not a big boss; many things are beyond his control.”
His overly mature tone made one want to smash him with a brick.
Tao Xing continued seriously, “Now with conclusive evidence, the charges are cleared. If you persist, it’s prejudice. Such a woman, none of us in the family love.”
Tao Xihong: “...”
She lowered her head, examining the two pages filled with screenshots, realizing it actually made sense.
“Look how smart this man is. After winning first place, he knew to take a screenshot and post it on social media. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to clear his name.” Tao Xing sighed. “Life is so coincidental, one link leading to another, making me feel like Sherlock Holmes.”
Tao Xihong frowned. “Don’t praise yourself. You couldn’t have fabricated such convincing evidence.” She lifted her head and placed the papers on the table. “Did He Ran ask you to explain?”
Waiting for this exact moment!
Tao Xing quickly responded, “For my sister, he even hugged my leg, crying and begging me to set things up. So touching.”
Tao Xihong’s temples throbbed from her son’s nonsensical style. Wanting him to shut up, she directly fulfilled his ultimate purpose for the evening.
“Alright, alright, you’re all traitors. Set a time; let him come over and meet.”
Tao Xing felt relieved, extending his index and middle fingers towards his mom—
“Victory.”
Author’s note: Bought a new washing machine and got completely absorbed in it.
The update is a bit late, please don’t be mad.
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