Chapter 39

After Chu Tong left downstairs, Chu Qinghe slowly stood up from the balcony. Having crouched and bent over for too long, she inevitably felt a wave of dizziness as she rose.

Looking at the empty street, Chu Qinghe smiled bitterly to herself. Tongtong is such a fool. As soon as she answered the phone, she rushed straight to the balcony and suddenly announced she was taking out the trash. Yet she ran downstairs without bringing a single piece of garbage. Does she take her mother for a fool who has never had a romance behind her family’s back?

She lit a cigarette and leaned out again to take another look downstairs, as if confirming whether a man was standing there.

Just now on the balcony, even through the curtain of rain and across the umbrella, she could tell the man’s bearing was definitely not that of Tongtong’s peers, nor was he an ordinary person.

And Tongtong had flown right into his arms with such joyful excitement.

At this thought, the hand Chu Qinghe used to hold her cigarette couldn't stop trembling.

When Tongtong came back last winter vacation, she had already detected clues through various traces that Tongtong’s "romantic" relationship was probably far from normal. Having depended on each other for so many years, Tongtong and she had always been closer than ordinary mother and daughter. Since childhood, Tongtong loved to chatter away with her, endlessly recounting big and small matters, yet she kept her lips tightly sealed about this "romantic" object. Even when pressed, she refused to say anything at all.

Coupled with the fact that this man was lavish with Tongtong—frequently providing first-class air tickets and private cars from the airport straight to their doorstep...

No matter how unwilling Chu Qinghe was, she had to make the worst-case assumption.

In her youth, the world was more chaotic than it is now. When she went south to work as a laborer, there were countless girls around who relied on their beauty to attach themselves to wealthy tycoons, but which of them ever came to a good end? Did they really think a rich man's pockets were so easy to empty? If money wasn't the goal, that was even worse; in the end, both money and affection drifted away like flowing water along with their youth.

She, too, had suffered.

Back then, she had followed a big boss from the southern provinces. Being proud and haughty, she made bold boasts that she didn't want money, only a sincere heart. And in the end? She was beaten half to death by his legal wife's hired thugs and only clung to life with the help of her close girlfriends.

She knew all the better that if a poor woman possessed only beauty, that beauty was a disaster. Even if you were unwilling to step into that swamp, countless hands would pull you, push you, and demand that you enter.

What a sweet trap that was.

Therefore... therefore, when Tongtong wanted to leave her and go north for her studies, she gave countless earnest instructions and even entrusted Xiang Chengyuan to look after her, precisely for fear that Tongtong would walk down such a crooked path...

Yet, she should have known that with Tongtong growing up so beautiful, how could she possibly escape it?

A place like the capital city held too many temptations.

However, even with all these grand principles placed first, and all sorts of maxims suspended above her head, it couldn't override the fact that Tongtong was clearly enjoying it immensely.

Therefore, she was unwilling to interfere; letting her be happy for a while was not a bad thing, as it would surely have an expiration date.

To be able to make Tongtong—such a clever, lively, and adorable daughter—plunge into it so blindly, that man must be exceptionally charismatic.

Sure enough, even from the hurried glance she stole on the balcony just moments ago, seeing only the man's legs encased in dress trousers and those polished leather shoes, she could tell his physique was tall and his bearing extraordinary.

This only added to Chu Qinghe's despair and heartache.

Her poor daughter, if she fell in love with this man, what would she do? If she became heartbroken, devastated, and suicidal upon breaking up, what would she do?

In her youth, she had seen it too many times—girls discarded after being played with by rich men, unable to withstand the trauma and jumping from buildings; she couldn't count them on one hand.

Counting it up, it had been at least a year.

It was time to call it off.

Otherwise, Tongtong would end up squandering her entire youth in her early twenties.

***

With Uncle Zong navigating according to Chu Tong's directions, he drove the Maybach to a newly opened supermarket nearby.

Chu Tong asked, "It's so far, why did you drive here?"

"The car was originally in Shanghai, driving it over wasn't far."

From a distance, the large newly opened supermarket could be recognized. Through the veil of rain, it was a bustling sea of bobbing heads, densely packed.

Chu Tong glanced back at Shao Yihuai. The man was impeccably dressed, from his overcoat and suit to his leather shoes, all immaculate. Every inch of him from head to toe spelled out nobility. To have him squeeze into a supermarket with people purchasing New Year goods...

It truly compromised his elegance.

Seeing the way she looked him up and down with a small pout, Shao Yihuai couldn't help smiling. "What is it?"

"...Taking you to crowd into a supermarket, it really is..."

Shao Yihuai chuckled. "What of it? I'm a human being too."

He glanced through the front windshield; indeed, there were a lot of people. He frowned almost imperceptibly.

Chu Tong immediately burst into laughter. "Look at you, you just agreed, and immediately you're frowning, aren't you?"

"Finding it funny, are you?"

Shao Yihuai pulled her toward him and casually raised the privacy partition.

She struggled while laughing. "I was wrong, I was wrong, I shouldn't have laughed at you."

He cupped the back of her head, his voice dropping a few octaves. "Stop squirming, let me give you a kiss."

As the deep, sexy voice entered her ears, Chu Tong felt as if her hands and feet had been bound, instantly turning obedient.

Shao Yihuai smiled softly and kissed her lips. Whether it was because they were back in her hometown, she felt inexplicably a bit constrained. His voice was extremely low, matching the intimacy of pillow talk: "Give me your tongue."

She tentatively poked out the tip of her tongue and was captured by him. The sensation of her tongue being sucked made her entire body go limp. As her mouth relaxed slightly, his tongue drilled in, probing deeper, brushing back and forth against her tongue and the roof of her mouth, mimicking precisely that other action.

This made her press her legs together and let out a soft moan.

Her winter clothes were indeed rather thick.

Her padded outer jacket was pulled open, and her thin, form-fitting knit sweater was tugged out from inside her jeans, then lifted up.

His hands were somewhat cool, startling Chu Tong into a gasp that he swallowed back with another kiss.

The kiss never stopped.

She gripped his arm, and lowering her gaze just slightly, she could see the shape of the knuckles on the back of his hand beneath the knit sweater, right where his palm was cupping her.

***

When things finally slowed down, Chu Tong thought it was over, but instead, he folded the center console back into the seat cushion and pressed her down onto the upholstery.

As his palm moved away, just as she was about to heave a sigh of relief, his lips and tongue replaced it.

She was on the verge of crying; Uncle Zong was still in the front seat.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she felt the car jolt, as if the driver's side door had opened, Uncle Zong had gotten out, and the door had closed again.

Buttons were undone; not just his fingertips, but the entire palm and heel of his hand pressed against her skin.

Outside the car window, a fine drizzle drifted endlessly.

Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes, and Chu Tong let out a sharp, stifled sob.

Shao Yihuai chuckled softly. "...So soon? I haven't had enough yet."

She glared at him tremblingly, still catching her breath. "...Please, this is on the street..."

Outside were crowds of people coming and going to buy New Year goods...

With desire suppressed in his half-drooped eyes, Shao Yihuai curved his lips as if he didn't care at all. "Wasn't it fun?"

"...I don't like things this thrilling."

"...This is barely anything."

Between the two of them, during those first two years, the absolute peak of excitement had been just this once.

It was only much, much later, when everything was back on track, that Chu Tong learned that during those two years, he had never truly indulged himself to the fullest. Considering her young age, he hadn't played any wild tricks at all.

***

The newly opened supermarket was massive. The vegetable and fruit section was packed with middle-aged and elderly people acting as if they were scrambling for supplies, though fortunately, the snack section was mostly filled with young people and children, making it relatively pleasant to browse.

Shao Yihuai pushed the cart, loading it up with potato chips, nuts, and candies—everything she liked since she wasn't picky. She mentioned how things had been tight at home when she was little, and how common things like Want-Want Milk were things she had never tasted.

To back up her white lie, she naturally had to buy some beverages.

The shopping bags were heavy. Shao Yihuai carried them in one hand while holding her hand with the other as they walked out.

Uncle Zong hurried over to greet them. "Sir, the car is parked a bit far, sorry for making you walk a few extra steps."

"Mhm."

Uncle Zong took the shopping bags and walked ahead.

Holding their umbrellas, Chu Tong lowered her voice and laughed. "Hey, a lot of people were looking at you just now."

As they spoke, they got into the car.

The Maybach drove toward Chu Tong's home.

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning."

The group hadn't started its holiday yet, and work couldn't be delayed.

"Then can I come see you one more time? Using the excuse of buying breakfast?"

Shao Yihuai smiled. "...Don't bother, I have a meeting in the morning, I might not have time to see you."

"Oh, okay."

She couldn't hide her disappointment.

"Be a good girl, there will be plenty of time in the future."

Buoyed by those words, Chu Tong grew happy again.

Her home was in a bare, old apartment building with no gated community and no guard post.

It featured an old-fashioned open balcony that occasionally leaked during heavy rainstorms.

In the rain, there was hardly anyone outside the building. The Maybach parked near the green belt beside the building. Shao Yihuai got out, holding the shopping bags and an umbrella, and walked her down to the building entrance.

Realizing belatedly that she feared running into neighbors who might embellish the story and gossip to Chu Qinghe, Chu Tong pushed him away. "You should go."

Shao Yihuai turned his head. "Kiss me."

She quickly lifted her face to give him a peck. "I'm going."

As she ran up the stairs, she turned back, freed a hand to wave, and smiled, "See you back in the capital."

Shao Yihuai gave a slight nod.

Back on the third floor.

"Mom, I'm back."

Chu Qinghe was watching television in the living room. She grunted an acknowledgment without turning her gaze.

Feeling something was slightly amiss, Chu Tong called out again, "Mom?"

Only then did Chu Qinghe turn her head, cast a quick glance at her, and look away again. "Mom's going to cook some little rice dumplings for you."

Thinking they would eat together as a late-night snack, Chu Tong waited as the dumplings were cooked and served at the table, but Chu Qinghe said, "Mom's tired and is going to sleep first. Wash the dishes yourself when you're done eating."

"...Haven't you been suffering from insomnia at night? What's going on today?"

Chu Tong asked with a smile.

Since Chu Qinghe was used to working night shifts, whenever her days off came around, she invariably tossed and turned all night.

Chu Qinghe didn't say much, only patting her head.

***

Although Shao Yihuai had said he might not have time to see her, early the next morning, Chu Tong still used the pretext of buying breakfast to detour to the street where the hotel was located to try her luck.

She cherished every single possibility of meeting and spending time together.

From afar, she spotted the familiar Maybach parked at the hotel's main entrance, and her heart soared as she jogged over joyfully.

The car's engine was off, so she made her way into the lobby.

Early in the morning, the main lights in the lounge were off. Shao Yihuai was sitting on the sofa with a laptop propped on his knees, looking as though he were in a meeting.

Not wanting to disturb him, she stood off to the side until Uncle Zong spotted her, leaned over to whisper something to Shao Yihuai, and the latter raised his eyes to look over.

Chu Tong tilted her head and smiled.

Shao Yihuai quickly closed the laptop, handed it to Uncle Zong, and walked toward her. Chu Tong hurried to meet him, lifting her face with a cheeky smile.

He lowered his gaze to look at her face and chuckled, "Why did you come after all?"

"Because I wanted to see you."

She said it as a matter of course, her tone innocent and radiant.

A soft warmth melted into the depths of Shao Yihuai's eyes. He hooked a finger to lift her chin and turned to kiss the corner of her lips.

Always afraid of delaying his important business, Chu Tong took the initiative to say, "Do you have to go now? Should I walk you to the car?"

Shao Yihuai raised his wrist to check his watch.

He truly had to leave.

Coming here this trip was originally to fulfill the promise he made her during winter vacation to visit her home, and now, that matter was finally settled.

At the hotel's main entrance, Uncle Zong opened the rear car door.

Shao Yihuai and Chu Tong stood by the car, bidding each other a reluctant farewell.

A persistent rain that had lasted two days had just stopped. The ground was damp with occasional small puddles, and the sky remained overcast. Fortunately, there was no wind, and the crisp, biting air filled their lungs with every breath.

Chu Qinghe stood beneath the eaves of the building, watching the pair by the car.

Her precious daughter was looking up, saying something to the man—fragmented phrases like: *I don't want you to leave*, *You have to miss me*.

The man smiled, coaxing her like a child. He kissed her lips and said something in a voice too low to hear.

The scene was agonizingly piercing.

Tongtong’s profound devotion and the man’s poised, unhurried nonchalance were almost tangible in this setting.

The driver shielded the doorframe as the man got into the car.

The driver walked around to the driver's seat and inadvertently glanced over. Chu Qinghe hurriedly averted her gaze, raising a hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

The Beijing-plated Maybach slowly drove away.

Watching the car turn, merge into the traffic, and disappear, Chu Tong slowly turned around.

After taking only two steps, she looked up to see Chu Qinghe standing there, her face full of bitterness and desolation.

Chu Tong's heart plummeted as if into an icy abyss.

She ran to her mother's side and called out anxiously, "Mom."

Chu Qinghe squeezed out a smile and softly responded with an "hm."

Chu Tong was practically at a loss. Did Mom see? Will she overthink this?

Still smiling—a smile more bitter than tears—Chu Qinghe adopted a breezy, deliberate tone. "Tell Mom, how much older than you is he?"

Having reached this point, it could no longer be hidden. Chu Tong answered honestly, "...Ten years."

"What does his family do?"

"...A prominent and powerful family in the capital." Chu Tong weighed her words and mentioned a few names. "You know these people, right? He's a son of the Shao family, and those people are all his relatives."

Chu Qinghe felt a shock inside, which then shattered into pieces.

She took a deep breath, her tone carrying an unprecedented earnestness, filled with a tender affection and protectiveness for her daughter. "...Darling, Tongtong, let's break up early, okay?" She couldn't hold back, and tears spilled from her eyes once more. "...Just spare a thought for your mother's heartache, please."

Chu Tong burst into tears. "Mom, don't be like this."

Chu Qinghe stroked her head. "Can you understand Mom? Mom just doesn't want you to fall in too deep."

Chu Tong nodded.

Of course she understood. No matter what she said, Mom wouldn't believe that Shao Yihuai was serious.

First there was Xiang Chengyuan, and later Ren Mingyuan. With such a massive gap on display, so many people didn't believe the two of them could last forever, let alone a mother who loved and cherished her so dearly and wished to spare her from harm.

Unless, unless...

The corners of Chu Qinghe's bitter eyes curved in a sigh-like tone. "...It's impossible for him to marry you, right? What's the use of dragging this out?"

That was right, unless Shao Yihuai wanted to marry her.