Chapter 18 Professor Si, You Have Become Bad

The anxiety, fear, and entanglement that had been lingering in my heart for so long now melted away little by little in the gentle gaze of my mother, like snow melted by the spring breeze.

It turns out that once the pent-up worries find an outlet, even the air will become lighter.

She raised her head from her mother's arms, her nose rubbing against her clothes. "Mom, I don't understand. If you already knew, why did you send a WeChat voice message to Fei'er?"

Su Hong blinked, a sly glint in her eyes, like a child who had stolen candy. "This is called 'luring the snake out of its hole,' one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of War. But now it seems I've killed two birds with one stone. I've learned the truth and helped you test our friendship. You see, Fei'er didn't sell you out until the end."

Su Nian was so amused by her that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She reached out and punched her mother's arm: "Mom, you're turning your life into a palace drama!"

"Of course not!" Su Hong raised her chin proudly.

Outside the window, the moon that was originally hanging in the middle of the sky had quietly hidden in the clouds at some point, leaving only a few shining stars. It seemed as if they were also amused by the conversation between the mother and daughter, and were blinking and watching secretly.

Su Nian looked down at the cup of milk in his hand. The temperature of the cup wall was just right. The warmth in his palm spread through his blood vessels to every part of his body, making him feel extremely comfortable.

That night, when Su Nian curled up in bed and sent a message to Lin Feier, there was warmth on his fingertips.

It turns out that it feels so relaxing to talk about your worries.

"I told my mom everything. It wasn't the violent storm and feather duster I'd imagined." The light from the screen reflected on her face, which was a little embarrassed and red. "Fei'er, I was wrong. I shouldn't have kept it from my mom for so long. I should have told her earlier."

Within two seconds of sending the message, a reply arrived. Lin Feier's voice was moisturized, akin to the sound of someone just finished applying a face mask: "Silly Nian Nian, aren't the people who love us the most in this world our parents? Aunt Su is a wise mother who knows how to love children better than most people."

"Yeah." Su Nian nodded at the screen, her eyes a little warm again, "Thank you too, Fei'er."

"What are you thanking me for?" Lin Fei'er's voice suddenly came closer to the receiver, with a slightly mischievous smile, "But next time you use me as a pretext, I will ignore you. I'm the type that can't be coaxed."

"Okay, I promise I won't do it again." Su Nian agreed with a smile.

After hanging up the phone, only the warm yellow light of the bedside lamp remained in the bedroom.

Su Nian hesitated for a few seconds and clicked on Si Yan's dialog box.

She took a deep breath, her fingertips hovering over the keyboard, and finally typed: "I told my mom."

The moment I pressed the send button, my heart started beating uncontrollably again, like a little rabbit that just woke up.

When Si Yan received the news, he was sitting in his study with a medical book spread out in front of him. The light from the desk lamp cast a thin outline on his face.

The moment the screen lit up, he saw that it was a message from the little girl.

"Well, I'm sorry for making you feel wronged. Mom must be very upset after something like this happened."

Su Nian looked at the words, her nose aching, and her fingers quickly replied: "My mother wants us to sit down and talk."

"Okay." Si Yan replied quickly, with unquestionable determination, "That's as it should be. You guys decide on the time, and once it's set, tell me and I'll arrange the venue. Or you can ask Auntie if my family needs to be there too?"

Si Yan thought that this was a big deal after all, especially since the woman had been wronged. In order to solve the problem, the man should show due sincerity.

"Okay, I'll ask my mom." Su Nian looked at the words on the screen, and the stone in her heart fell down again.

"Su Nian, can... I meet you first?"

Su Nian also wanted to tell him about his conflicting thoughts, "Yeah, okay."

"Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow."

When I put down my phone, the stars outside the window had emerged from the clouds again, and the moonlight shone through the gauze window, weaving a fine silver web on the floor.

Su Nian touched her lower abdomen, which was still flat, but she seemed to be able to feel a faint pulse.

She suddenly felt that those obstacles that she once thought were insurmountable were not so difficult to overcome with the support of her family.

Tomorrow will be a new day. She curled up in the quilt and had a dreamless night.

The next day at noon, Si Yan chose a quiet Western-style restaurant. Soft music drifted through the air, and sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a grid of shadows on the tabletop.

Su Nian sat opposite, her fingers unconsciously stroking the wall of the lemonade glass.

"Look at what you want to eat?" Si Yan handed over the menu considerately, and his bony fingers lightly paused on the edge of the leather menu.

Su Nian lowered his head and flipped through two pages, then pointed at the steak section. "Order a fillet, medium rare, with black pepper sauce. And a vegetable salad."

"Would you like another serving of cream of mushroom soup?" Si Yan looked at her. "This is their signature dish, it warms the stomach."

Su Nian was stunned for a moment, subconsciously touched her belly, and nodded gently: "Okay."

Si Yan called the waiter over and read out the dishes in a clear voice. At the end, he added, "Turn down the temperature of the iron plate for the steak, and replace the raw onions in the salad with cherry tomatoes. Thank you."

Su Nian looked up at him and met his smiling gaze: "Raw ones are more pungent, tomatoes are milder." Her cheeks felt slightly hot, and she lowered her head to pick up the lemonade and took a sip.

While waiting for the meal, she took a deep breath and looked up at Si Yan: "I've been thinking about us... and the child for a long time."

Si Yan put down the menu in his hand, looked at her intently, and motioned her to continue.

"My mother wants me to make the decision on this matter myself." Su Nian's voice was soft, but with a sense of certainty.

"You are lucky to have a good mother." Si Yan said sincerely.

"Well, I only have my mother." Su Nian said softly, "I haven't told you that I grew up in a single-parent family. My mother raised me by running a tailor shop."

"Then your mother is great. She raised you so well." Si Yan was a little surprised, his tone full of sincerity.

"I've been feeling conflicted," she began. "My mind tells me I'm still a student and should focus on completing my studies and mastering fashion design. But since this little life has chosen me, how can I bear to leave it?"

There was a hint of confusion in her voice. "Before this, I never thought I would become a mother at this age. How can I be a good mother when I lack common sense?"

"Well, I understand." Si Yan looked into her eyes and said seriously, "But this is not just your problem. I'm here! I can make up for whatever you lack." He paused and asked softly, "If you think about it this way, will it give you more confidence?"

"And..." Su Nian bit her lip. "Regarding the other option you mentioned, Professor Si, you're too outstanding. There's a huge gap between you and me. We don't have much emotional foundation, and relying on a child alone shouldn't be enough to sustain a marriage. Love shouldn't be a bondage, and responsibility shouldn't be a shackle."

"It seems that I don't meet the requirements of your ideal partner. As you young people say, I'm not your cup of tea." Si Yan smiled self-deprecatingly.

"No, no!" Su Nian waved her hands hurriedly. "Professor Si, you are handsome and capable. It's me who feels I am not worthy of you."

Su Nian muttered softly, "How can I afford this Michelin three-star dish of yours?"

A smile flashed in Si Yan's eyes, "Haven't you already eaten?" He said this seriously. Su Nian was stunned and her face suddenly turned red.

Professor Si, you have become bad!