Chapter 129 Extra Chapter 2: The Ambiguous Lantern Festival

Chapter 129 Extra Chapter 2: The Ambiguous Lantern Festival

After the princess urged them that time, she never mentioned the topic of children again.

Since their last open discussion, Shen Tang and Meng Huaiyan haven't interfered much in the matter of having children, truly adopting a "go with the flow" attitude.

The days passed by peacefully and smoothly, and soon it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Today, according to custom, all the families gathered together in the old lady's courtyard for a reunion dinner.

After the meal, everyone went their separate ways. Shen Tang, holding Man Man's hand, was about to walk towards Qingyun Courtyard.

Meng Huaiyan suddenly whispered in her ear, "Let's go to the lantern festival."

Shen Tang glanced at him in surprise. She knew he always disliked crowded and noisy places. She remembered that Meng Caiwei had asked him to accompany her to the lantern festival, but he had refused after begging him for a long time.

In the end, it was only after the old lady spoke that they had no choice but to agree. They never expected that she would take the initiative to mention going to the lantern festival today.

"Why are you suddenly going to the lantern festival?"

Meng Huaiyan said, "I just suddenly felt like going. Will you come with me?"

He really disliked crowded and noisy places, but on this day of family reunion, he suddenly wanted to go to the lantern festival with her and the children.

Before Shen Tang could answer, Manman immediately became excited upon hearing the words "Lantern Festival": "Mother, I want to go, I want to go!"

Shen Tang squatted down and affectionately tapped her nose: "You're everywhere."

Manman snuggled closer to her, looking a little shy.

Shen Tang picked her up and said to Meng Huaiyan, "Let's go then."

"Let me carry him." Meng Huaiyan reached out and took Manman from him.

Manman is quite heavy now, and it was a bit difficult for Shen Tang to carry her, so he didn't stop her.

The streets were brightly lit and packed with people. Meng Huaiyan carried Manman in one arm and held Shen Tang's hand with the other.

Shen Tang didn't want him to hold her hand at first, since they were outside, but seeing so many couples holding hands on the street, their family wouldn't stand out so much in the crowd, so she let him go.

The southern part of the city also has lantern festivals during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but they are not as lively as those in the capital.

The streets were bustling with people guessing riddles, making lanterns by hand, performing fire dragon dances and lion dances, as well as many acrobats performing various programs.

My eyes were so full that I couldn't take it all in.

In the crowded area, Shen Tang's shoulder was unexpectedly bumped. The person who bumped into her quickly bowed and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I was rude."

Shen Tang shook her head and returned the greeting, saying, "It's alright."

Seeing this, Meng Huaiyan frowned and pulled her to the inside: "Did you hurt yourself?"

Shen Tang rubbed her shoulder: "It's okay, it doesn't hurt too much."

Upon hearing this, Meng Huaiyan's brows relaxed a little, and he switched arms to hold Manman: "Go to the inside, there are fewer people there."

"good."

The three strolled leisurely and suddenly came to the largest lantern tower in the capital, where people could solve riddles.

Looking at the familiar lantern tower before him, Meng Huaiyan suddenly recalled the Dragon Boat Festival many years ago, when he had won a lantern for each of his younger siblings, only to find Shen Tang nowhere to be seen when he turned around.

After returning to Beijing from that injury, he rested for almost half a month before his wound finally healed.

During my convalescence, relatives, friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers all wanted to visit me.

He declined most of them.

People from all branches of the Meng family sent gifts to visit him, but Shen Tang seemed to have forgotten about him since returning to the capital and never came to see him.

Every time Qingyang and Tingsong came to report that someone had come to visit, he felt a little disappointed when he heard that it wasn't her name.

At that time, he didn't understand why he felt lost, nor could he figure it out. It wasn't until later that he realized it was because he missed someone.

He waited and waited, until he was completely cured, but she never came.

The Dragon Boat Festival was their first meeting a month after he returned to Beijing. He had initially felt some dissatisfaction with her, but upon seeing her, he suddenly felt happy.

So he didn't refuse any of the drinks offered by his younger siblings that day, and happily drank them all.

Then she suddenly disappeared during the lantern festival. Meng Caiwei told him not to worry, saying that she probably went to have fun.

But he couldn't help but worry. They had just survived an assassination attempt, and it was hard to say that the person might also harbor resentment towards Shen Tang and try to kill her.

He and his subordinates searched for a long time, but unexpectedly, while he was worrying about this place, Shen Tang had hired a male prostitute and was having a great time, completely lost in the pleasures of life.

Even now, recalling these past events still evokes some resentment in Meng Huaiyan, who asked Shen Tang, "Do you still remember this lantern tower?"

Shen Tang pondered for a while, but couldn't recall any memory of the lantern tower: "What happened to this lantern tower?"

Meng Huaiyan looked at her with a forced smile: "A few years ago, during the Dragon Boat Festival, you suddenly disappeared from this lantern tower. I searched for you for a long time, only to find that you and Wang Xi were on a boat, ordering male prostitutes to listen to music."

Upon hearing him mention male prostitutes, Shen Tang's face flushed instantly, recalling past events: "You...how did you know?"

“I saw it.”

It was Shen Tang's first time ordering a male prostitute, and she was dragged along by Wang Xiqiang. Little did she expect that her first time ordering would be seen by Meng Huaiyan.

Shen Tang scratched his face awkwardly: "Ah... this... you still remember something from so long ago? Haha... haha... haha..."

Meng Huaiyan smiled slightly: "It's true that my memory is just too good."

Still Meng?

Shen Tang couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Meng Huaiyan's jealousy was just too much. It had been so long, yet he was still holding a grudge.

Shen Tang tentatively asked, "Are you angry?"

Meng Huaiyan remained silent, carrying Manman as he slowly walked forward.

Why are you so easily angered?

Shen Tang smiled helplessly and gently scratched his palm with her finger. Meng Huaiyan paused, then prepared to move forward without making a sound, but Shen Tang gently pulled him back.

Seeing that Shen Tang had stopped, Meng Huaiyan asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Tang didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to look around and saw that it was a secluded corner with dim lighting and not many people around. She then spoke to Meng Huaiyan.

"Lower your head."

"What's wrong?" Although Meng Huaiyan was puzzled, he still obediently lowered his head.

Shen Tang's heart immediately started pounding. She glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, quickly tiptoed and kissed Meng Huaiyan on the lips.

The warmth on his lips was fleeting, yet Meng Huaiyan's blood suddenly boiled, and his whole body felt a tingling, electric sensation.

"you..."

Meng Huaiyan's breathing became hoarse, his face flushed completely, and the hand he was holding tightened unconsciously.

It was the first time Shen Tang had done something like this in public, and she felt both shy and embarrassed.

Their eyes met, then they both looked away, and the air seemed to become somewhat ambiguous and sticky.

The streets were still noisy and bustling, but their place seemed to be isolated, so quiet that you could almost hear each other's heartbeats.

It was only when she spoke up that the somewhat ambiguous atmosphere was broken, and she said angrily, "Mother, your dear father, I want him too!"

When Shen Tang heard Manman say that, her already flushed face burned even hotter. She had acted impulsively in a moment of impulse and forgot to avoid the child.

Shen Tang quickly kissed Manman on the cheek.

Manman was finally satisfied and continued eating her sugar figurines.

Meng Huaiyan took her hand and continued walking forward.

Shen Tang glanced at Meng Huaiyan discreetly and, seeing the smile on his lips, felt relieved.

Although Meng Huaiyan is jealous and petty, he's actually quite easy to coax.