Chapter 142 PUA, who can't do it?

Zheng Anze: "Li Mai, your sister-in-law and I really can't live together anymore. Divorce is inevitable, but Mom can't accept it. Call her and talk to her. She just had surgery not long ago, and I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it."

Li Mai fiddled with the leaves of the flowers and said casually, "What's the use of me making a phone call? It's more effective for you to find a woman to marry right now."

Zheng Anze: "Do you think getting married is easy? I've had enough of this marriage, and I have no intention of remarrying so far."

Li Mai pursed her lips and remained silent.

She didn't care at all whether Zheng Anze got married or not.

I just said it offhand.

Seeing that Li Mai remained silent, Zheng Anze said, "Mom's situation isn't just my problem; you should also care about her."

Li Mai found it funny.

This guy always stood on his moral high ground and told her what she should do.

People's hearts don't grow cold overnight.

She had long since lost all hope in Li Shirong and had no expectations for that family anymore.

Just thinking about Li Shirong's face made her feel scared.

care……

She can't do it.

She will never be able to get close to Li Shirong in her entire life.

Zheng Anze got angry when he saw that she still didn't speak.

“Li Mai, did you hear what I said? You can’t be so cold-hearted! Last time Mom was discharged from the hospital, you asked a stranger to handle it and had a stranger bring her back. I haven’t even said anything to you about that yet, and you’ve gone too far.”

Li Mai: "Big brother, aren't you going too far? Why didn't you come when I called you? Mom just had surgery and you ran away."

"I……"

“Don’t tell me you have something to do. Aren’t you a filial son? Aren’t you Mom’s most beloved son? No matter what’s wrong with you, you should put Mom first, overcome all difficulties to stay by her side, and take care of her personally.”

"Only in this way can you live up to her love and care for you all these years, and only then can you live up to the image of a dutiful son."

PUA, who doesn't know how to do that?

She can do it too.

Zheng Anze was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

He never knew that his usually quiet sister was so eloquent.

Unable to find a rebuttal to Li Mai, he suddenly changed the subject: "I've been transferred to Beijing by my company, and I'll be reporting for duty in a few days. Mom will be living with me in Beijing from now on."

Li Mai frowned.

Are they also coming to Beijing?

However, thinking that Li Shirong didn't want to see her and that the chances of them meeting again were slim, she relaxed.

Back when she lived in Suzhou, she and Li Shirong hadn't seen each other for several years.

If someone doesn't want to see you, it's very difficult for you to run into them.

Zheng Anze said, "After we get there, let Mom stay at your place first. I'll pick her up after I've settled in."

"no!"

Zheng Anze did not expect Li Mai to refuse.

"Li Mai, what are you doing? That's your own mother!"

Li Mai's eyebrows were furrowed tightly.

"She stays in a hotel, and I'll pay for it."

She was afraid at the thought of living under the same roof as Li Shirong.

Li Shirong's disdainful and indifferent gaze irritated her.

It would be one thing if it were just her, but now there's Chengcheng and Zhou Songyan at home too.

She didn't want them to suffer the same suffocating scorn she did.

Before Zheng Anze could say anything more, Li Mai firmly stated, "This matter is not open to discussion."

He then hung up the phone.

Zheng Anze was furious.

...

Later, when Li Mai was setting up the sunroom, she kicked over three flower pots and broke one of them.

I cut my hand while picking up ceramic shards.

When it was lunchtime, Li Mai drove Chengcheng out for steak and pasta.

Chengcheng looked at her fingers wrapped in a bandage, his eyes showing concern: "Mom, didn't you wear gloves when you were working?"

Li Mai snapped out of her daze and glanced at her fingers: "I forgot."

After hanging up Zheng Anze's call, she was absent-minded and forgot to put on her gloves.

"Baby, it's okay, it's just a small cut."

Zhou Songyan texted back saying he had a social engagement that evening and wouldn't be home for dinner.

Li Mai replied: 【Okay.】

She didn't feel like cooking, so she just cooked something simple for Chengcheng for dinner, or ordered takeout.

Zhou Songyan returned at midnight.

Li Mai wasn't asleep; she was sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling through her phone.

Zhou Songyan took off his overcoat, then his suit jacket, and walked over to the petite woman.

I saw her watching short dramas again, this time a different one.

He asked in a low voice, "Is it that good-looking?"

Li Mai didn't look up: "It's alright, just passing the time."

Zhou Songyan reached out his index finger and touched her face. His finger was cold, and Li Mai shrank back.

Zhou Songyan withdrew his hand and didn't touch her again: "It's getting late, go to sleep early. If you like it, you can watch it tomorrow."

Li Mai put away her phone and looked up at him.

Zhou Songyan did not smell of alcohol.

Has this guy really quit drinking?

She lay down, pulled the blanket up to her neck, and looked at the tall man with her watery eyes: "Go take a shower."

Zhou Songyan turned off the main light for her and then went to the bathroom.

As Li Mai listened to the sound of water coming from the bathroom, her agitation subsided somewhat.

When Zhou Songyan returned from his shower, Li Mai moved closer to him and snuggled into his arms.

He had just finished showering, and his body was still damp, with a pleasant, faint scent of shower gel.

Zhou Songyan paused for two seconds, then reached out and hugged her.

"What's wrong today?"

Li Mai snuggled closer to him and said in a muffled voice, "My older brother's job has been transferred to Beijing, and my mother is coming with him. My brother asked her to stay with me for now, but I refused."

Zhou Songyan: "Well done, you deserve praise."

Li Mai: "..."

She paused for a moment and asked, "Don't you think I'm cold-blooded?"

“I don’t think so. My Mai Mai is the gentlest and kindest. If your mother and your older brother treated you like that, I don’t know what terrible things I would have done. You’ve already been very kind, so don’t feel guilty.”

Li Mai leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

Zhou Songyan's words put her at ease.

"Zhou Songyan, thank you."

Zhou Songyan placed a gentle kiss on her head.

"Remember, no matter what happens, I will always be on your side. From now on, don't worry about the love you can't have; I will give it to you in double the amount."

In the darkness, Li Mai's eyes reddened.

She has never relied on anyone since she was a child, and no one has ever said they would always stand by her side.

She was used to bearing everything alone.

Zhou Songyan was the first to say that.

This man has been entangled with her for so many years.

At this moment, she wanted to try to believe him.

"Zhou Songyan, let's start over."

Zhou Songyan cupped her face in his hands, looked down at her with a fervent gaze.

Are you serious?

"Yes, I want to give each other a chance, and I also want to give Chengcheng a complete family."

Zhou Songyan was overjoyed, his hands trembling.

"MaiMai, I will definitely not let you down this time! We will be together for a lifetime, and if possible, I want to meet you in the next life and the life after that."

Li Mai muttered, "You're getting more and more mushy."

"dislike?"

"I like it. Tell me more about it in the future."