"Xiaoxiao, where are you? I have something to tell you. Can I come out and meet you?"
Bai Xiao thought for a while, but did not refuse her: "I'm at Jing Xi's school. Just tell me where it is. I'll go find you later."
"..."
After agreeing on a location with Su Manrong, Bai Xiao hung up the phone and Xu Jingyan looked at her: "Do you have anything to do later?"
"...I guess." Bai Xiao raised his head and looked at him: "I may not have time to accompany you around Fengcheng. How about I help you find a tour guide."
Xu Jingyan took a sip of water from the glass: "I happen to be a little tired, so I can just go back to the hotel."
Before leaving, Bai Xiao first sent Yu Jingxi to the classroom. At the crossroads between the classroom and the school gate, the little guy walked straight ahead, trying to skip class.
As soon as he took a step, Bai Xiao pulled him back and flicked the uninjured side of his forehead: "The bell rang, go back to class!"
Yu Jingxi covered her forehead, puffed out her little face, and stared at her with her big round eyes, then she hummed, turned around, and walked to the classroom in a big way.
Bai Xiao was relieved when she saw the little guy entering the classroom. She stood up and turned around, saying to Xu Jingyan: "Let's go too!"
Xu Jingyan was distracted for a moment while watching the interaction between her and Jing Xi. When he heard her voice, he collected his chaotic thoughts and nodded, "Okay."
When they arrived at the school gate, Xu Jingyan offered to send Bai Xiao there.
Bai Xiao learned that he was staying at the Yuehua Hotel, which was close to the place where she and Su Manrong had made an appointment, so she didn't show any pretense and got into Xu Jingyan's car.
The car Xu Jingyan drove belonged to his cousin Xu Heng. After getting in the car, the temperature inside the car was high, so he took off his coat and put it on the back seat.
Halfway through, Xu Jingyan's cell phone rang in his coat pocket.
When Bai Xiao leaned over and handed it to Xu Jingyan, he accidentally glanced at the caller ID, Xia Lan, his wife?
"...Well, I'm driving... Don't worry, nothing's wrong... Brother has gone back in the morning... Remember to take your medicine on time... Okay, bye."
After pressing the phone, Xu Jingyan glanced sideways and noticed the curiosity in Bai Xiao's eyes, and smiled lightly: "My wife's phone number."
Bai Xiao nodded. Judging from the tone of the two people talking on the phone just now, even if they are not loving, their relationship after marriage must be very harmonious.
"Just park here." Bai Xiao pointed to a stop sign on the side of the road: "There is an alley ahead, so it's not convenient to drive in."
Xu Jingyan took a look, and sure enough, there was a narrow alley ahead.
The car stopped slowly, Bai Xiao got out of the car, glanced at the Yuehua Hotel not far away, and said goodbye to Xu Jingyan through the car window: "Drive safely."
"Okay." Xu Jingyan did not drive away immediately, but sat in the car and watched Bai Xiao's back gradually go away.
It wasn't until Bai Xiao's figure disappeared around the corner of the alley that Xu Jingyan restarted the car. As soon as his hand grasped the gear lever, a champagne-colored car stopped in front of him. The driver's door opened, and he could see clearly who was getting out.
, in an instant, all movements became stagnant.
Su Manrong was wearing a long khaki trench coat. She had a beautiful face and a gentle and generous manner. She locked the car door and walked towards the alley.
Xu Jingyan tightened her grip on the gear lever and wanted to get out of the car, but suddenly, her legs felt like lead.
She passed by the car window, just like the scene when she passed by him last night. It was so similar that she never stopped for him, not even for a second.
In the rearview mirror, he watched her walk into the alley and into that cafe...
The sudden ringing of the cell phone made Xu Jingyan seem to wake up from a dream. He brushed his face with his hands, closed his eyes and leaned back on his seat.
After so many years, he wanted to meet again, and met again... He has never forgotten it.
——————————
Not long after Bai Xiao sat in the cafe, Su Manrong also came in, and the wind chime at the door jingled as she pushed the door open.
As soon as Su Manrong took her seat, she noticed the jade bracelet on Bai Xiao's left wrist.
She also had a similar bracelet. The night before she married Yu Zhengdong, Mrs. Yu came into her room and put it on for her personally.
It is said that Mrs. Yu made a total of three jade bracelets to give to her three daughters-in-law.
Who would have thought that one day, two of these bracelets would be worn by a mother and daughter. It may seem like a legend, but it is not an honorable thing to tell.
Bai Xiao also noticed that Su Manrong was staring at his bracelet. Soon, he and Su Manrong thought together, and subconsciously put his hands under the table.
Mother and daughter became sisters-in-law... Even if she didn't recognize Su Manrong as her mother, it couldn't change this fact.
"Have you ordered anything to drink?" Su Manrong spoke first, looking at her softly, and her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of surprising Bai Xiao.
Bai Xiao asked for a glass of boiled water. Su Manrong saw that her brows were a little tired. Thinking of what happened last night, she asked with concern: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"
"..." Bai Xiao shook his head: "I just walked around and was a little tired. Why are you looking for me?"
Bai Xiao went straight to the topic, Su Manrong's concerned words were choked in her throat, her lips murmured, "Oh", she lowered her head, opened her handbag and flipped through it.
When a bankbook was pushed to Bai Xiao, she raised her head and frowned: "What do you mean?"
Bai Xiao's attitude was cold, even slightly displeased. Su Manrong was afraid that she would get up and leave, so she hurriedly explained: "Mom doesn't mean anything else. You have to take a look first."
Bai Xiao glanced at her, opened the bankbook, and saw a series of zeros. He counted them, no more, no less, exactly one million.
"You should take the money first and treat it as pocket money. If it's not enough, tell mom." Su Manrong clasped her hands together, looking a little embarrassed. She took a deep breath and said, "I took all the property in my name before."
It’s time to make an investment. When the lawyer prepares the documents in a few days, I’ll bring them to you to sign.”
Su Manrong might not have said it clearly because she was nervous, but Bai Xiao probably understood what she meant.
Bai Xiao closed the bankbook and put it back on the table. Without any joy, Bai Xiao said: "I'm not short of money, you can take it all back."
"..." Su Manrong said: "No... Xiaoxiao, don't get me wrong, mom's money belongs to you and Yiwei from now on."
"Then give it all to her." Bai Xiao looked as usual, but felt a little sour in her heart. Is this money really hers? If they had not met at Yu's house, if she had not wanted to marry Yu Shaoting, would Su Manrong recognize her?
?No, in that case, Bai Xiao is just Bai Xiao, not someone else’s daughter.
Perhaps due to the sudden change in mood, Bai Xiao frowned, feeling nauseous again and feeling uncomfortable in her throat.
"Xiao Xiao, what's wrong with you?" Su Manrong immediately noticed the strange look on Bai Xiao's face.
Bai Xiao didn't say much, got up and ran to the bathroom...
When she finished retching and rinsed her mouth out, Su Manrong caught up to the bathroom door and reached out to support her: "Do you want to go to the hospital?"
"I'm fine." Bai Xiao returned to her seat and took a sip of boiled water before gradually suppressing the rolling discomfort in her internal organs.
Su Manrong had given birth to a child herself, and she didn't think about it because she was worried. Now, looking at Bai Xiao's expression, she immediately guessed something.
"Xiaoxiao, are you..."
"Yes." Bai Xiao admitted directly. Sooner or later, the Yu family would know about her pregnancy.
Su Manrong's eyes flashed and she looked at Bai Xiao's still flat belly. Her eyes were very kind and she moved her lips: "How many months have it been?"
"More than three weeks." Bai Xiao felt that the two of them had nothing else to talk about: "If there is nothing else, I'll leave first." After saying that, he went to get the bag next to him.
Su Manrong stopped her by calling: "Xiao Xiao..."
Bai Xiao was about to stand up when he heard this, looked at Su Manrong, and heard her say: "I plan to take Yiwei back to Ireland later this month."
"Yu Yiwei and Pei Qiyou..." Bai Xiao was surprised, didn't they say they had children?
Su Manrong rarely showed a firm look: "The child will be aborted. Even if Pei Qiyou doesn't mention it, I will not agree to the marriage."
Even if Pei Qiyou doesn't mention it - what does this mean?
"You don't know?" Su Manrong smiled bitterly: "Pei Qiyou said he couldn't marry Yiwei, but that's okay. They are not suitable in the first place. Even if they are tied together now, the family will definitely be in chaos in the future.
It’s better to forget it like this.”
After turning eighteen, Bai Xiao couldn't figure out what Pei Qiyou was thinking. Now, she doesn't want to think about it anymore.
Su Manrong looked at Bai Xiao, with tears suddenly shining in her eyes: "Did you have a hard time in the Pei family during those years?"
Bai Xiao turned away his eyes and said calmly: "What's the point of recalling the past now?"
Hard work or not, she has survived these twenty years.
"Xiaoxiao, Mom hopes you can go abroad with Shao Ting. I heard from the old lady that the Xu family knew that Jing Xi was not Xu Shuyuan's child... about your marriage, Jing Xi's life experience, Shao Ting's father
If mom finds out, the consequences will be..." Su Manrong hesitated, "I'm afraid they won't be able to accept it."
——————————
Bai Xiao came out of the cafe, carrying a bag with a thin layer of sweat on her palms.
In her ears, there seemed to be Su Manrong's words: "Do you really think that Dad has never doubted you? He is such a shrewd person... He is not as easy to fool as Mom, the capital of Star Language, a divorced woman, and you happen to live there,
Later, Shao Ting insisted on marrying you, so we only need to contact you a little bit for everything..."
"Just because he doesn't say it doesn't mean that he hasn't thought about it. Maybe in order not to break the layer of paper, he would rather turn a blind eye, not even bothering to check your background, and just believe what Shao Ting saw for him, but that's not true.
It means that he must be on your side. If one day - I can say that he will be the first to get angry."
Bai Xiao was walking in the alley, worried about something. The phone in her bag rang. She took it out and it was a call from Yu Shaoting.
At this time, Bai Xiao took a look and found that it was around three o'clock in the afternoon.
Bai Xiao answered, and his deep voice sounded over there: "Where is it?" The magnetic baritone sounded a bit pleasant.
Her originally complicated mood improved because of his phone call. She kicked a pebble on the side of the road and said, "Aren't you busy at work at this point?"
"..."
"Is something wrong?" Bai Xiao asked. He would never call her without any reason.
There was no words spoken there, only the sound of the man's gentle and shallow breathing, and even her breathing rate was consistent with his.
"Hello? Why don't you speak?"
Bai Xiao couldn't help but feel nervous, wondering what happened: "Speak, what's going on? Did you encounter..."
Before she could finish her words, her right shoulder suddenly sank, she turned her head suddenly, a fleeting kiss fell on her lips, and she closed her eyes subconsciously.
The familiar masculine scent surrounded her, a faint smell of tobacco, mixed with the fragrance of aftershave.
And the taste of green tea on my lips and teeth right now...
Yu Shaoting quickly let go of her, but his warmth still remained on Bai Xiao's lips. Why was he here? How did he get behind her? When he approached her from behind, she didn't even notice.
, or that he has been following her since she came out of the cafe?
Bai Xiao stared at him blankly, as if in a dream, her eyes wandering over his facial features in disbelief.
Yu Shaoting took the phone from his ear, turned his head and glanced in the direction of the cafe: "Drinking coffee here with my sister-in-law?"
Sister-in-law... He didn't feel embarrassed at all when he called Su Manrong.
Bai Xiao couldn't help but look around again, and Yu Shaoting asked, "What are you looking at?"
"The person following me..." Bai Xiao muttered, not finding anyone suspicious around him: "Otherwise how did you know I'm here."
But Yu Shaoting suddenly stepped forward and hugged her from the front without any warning.
Bai Xiao was caught off guard and was hugged firmly between his arms. She staggered back half a step. With a little force, he put one hand around her lower back and the other against her shoulder blades, caressing her softly.
He said emotionally: "What were you thinking about when you were so distracted just now?"
Bai Xiao's face turned red, and she suddenly forgot to ask the question, and she didn't react. In other words, she was not used to Yu Shaoting talking like this.
"Hey... there's someone next to you..." She glanced at the passers-by not far away in embarrassment.
His chin was pressed against her neck, stubbled, and he rubbed it gently, a little itchy, and his tone was a little playful: "Are you afraid of being seen by them?"
Bai Xiao was ticklish and turned her head away from him, but still asked her doubts: "Why are you here suddenly?"
Yu Shaoting didn't answer, and gently let go of her. He seemed to be in a good mood, raised his hand to look at his watch, took her hand and walked out into the alley.
"where to?"
Yu Shaoting tightened his grip and said in a somewhat pretentious manner: "We'll find out when we get there."
Bai Xiao's curiosity was aroused and she chased him to ask. However, Yu Shaoting's mouth was as tight as a river clam and could not be pried open.
It was April weather, she had taken off her cotton-padded jacket, and the sun was shining brightly. Bai Xiao was wearing a lemon yellow knitted jacket, a white Korean-style shirt underneath, light-colored loose jeans, and a pair of New Balance casual shoes with long black legs.
Her hair was casually pulled into a bun, like a bun, making her look young and playful.
If she hadn't told her, no one would have thought that she was already the mother of a six-year-old child, and she was pregnant with another baby.
When a handsome mature man in a suit pulled a beautiful young girl out of a deep alley, he still attracted a lot of attention from the roadside.
Su Manrong stood in front of the window on the second floor of the cafe and naturally saw the scene where Bai Xiao was taken away by Yu Shaoting.
Maybe this is fate?
She picked up the cup and took a sip of the bitter coffee. When she stood up, she inadvertently saw the man at the top of the stairs.
Su Manrong's hands hanging by her sides were clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms, but she couldn't feel the slightest pain. She just looked at Xu Jingyan walking over and tried to calm herself down. Back then, when she was driven away by the Xu family with her child in her arms, she felt that way.
This humiliation will never happen again in this life.
That winter night, when the snow was falling, they were face to face like this, but at that time, he chose not to walk towards her, but to turn around and leave.
He said: "In this case, Ning Xuan, I will let you go."
The past events that she had promised to keep forever came to mind again, and Su Manrong's eyes turned red, even though she tried her best to suppress them.
Picking up her handbag and about to leave in a hurry, Xu Jingyan strode forward and grabbed her hand: "Ning Xuan!"
The moment she was caught by him, Su Manrong stiffened and looked at him indifferently: "You have the wrong person."
"...Admitted the wrong person?" Xu Jingyan laughed self-deprecatingly: "I also hope that I have admitted the wrong person, or should I call you Man Rong now?"
Su Manrong pursed her lips tightly and said nothing.
The waiter happened to come over to pay the bill. Su Manrong went to get the money, but Xu Jingyan took out his wallet first and handed the money to the waiter: "It's too much, no need to change."
However, before the waiter reached out to take it, Su Manrong had already snatched the two red coins from Xu Jingyan's hand.
She gave her money to the waiter, but as for Xu Jingyan's money, she put it on the table, "I can't afford any of your Xu family's money, and I don't even bother to use a cent."
After saying that, regardless of his stunned look, he went downstairs.
