Chapter 95 Don't become a stepmother, I'll take care of you!
The little cub felt incredibly sorry for itself upon hearing these words.
"No, that's not it, Auntie... ...Gender equality. I know people still have prejudices against divorced women, but you have to believe that true equality will be achieved in the near future. You've just escaped a terrible situation; of course you can pursue the person you love with dignity!"
Cuiping was stunned.
With gender equality, will there really be people who won't look down on divorced women in the future?
I really hope that such an era will come soon.
Zhizhi pursed her lips and finally mustered the courage to ask the question she most wanted to know.
"Auntie, do you... have feelings for Uncle Zhengyang?"
She asked Uncle Zhengyang the same question at noon today.
She was certain that Uncle Zhengyang liked her.
He was just worried that his feelings for her would cause her trouble, so he chose to protect her silently.
In this day and age, if a man actively pursues a divorced woman who is three or four years older than him, people won't gossip about what's wrong with the man.
They will only condemn the woman, assuming that she seduced the man.
Uncle Zhengyang was thinking of Aunt Cuiping's feelings, so he kept his affections hidden deep in his heart.
But if you like someone, you like them. Even if you don't say it out loud, it will show in your eyes when you look at the person you love.
The cub's innocent question completely stunned Cuiping.
Do you like Zhengyang?
How is that possible?!
For the first time, she showed an extremely flustered expression, her gentle and quiet face filled with resistance.
"No! I didn't! I absolutely wouldn't!"
She treated him like a younger brother, and could only treat him like a younger brother.
Let alone being together, ever since Wang Qingshan forced himself on her in the middle of the night, she hasn't dared to see Li Zhengyang at all.
Not to mention considering the two of them being together.
Cuiping felt a sharp pang of sadness in her heart, and her words came out in broken, intermittent bursts.
"He is the most promising among the younger generation. He will be able to marry a virtuous and beautiful lady from a respectable family, Zhizhi... He can marry any woman, but he absolutely cannot marry a divorced woman, especially one who has lived next door to him for so many years. You must never mention such things in front of outsiders."
Cuiping looked at Zhizhi cautiously, her moist eyes filled with pleading.
"A person as good as him shouldn't be burdened by me..."
Zhizhi slowly widened her eyes, pursed her lips, and her soft, chubby face was full of confusion.
Why?
She really wanted to ask that.
Aunt Cuiping's unusual emotional outburst was for Zhengyang.
Even though Aunt Cuiping is such a strong-willed person, she showed a pleading and humble attitude, all for his sake.
To put yourself in his shoes and think so much for him, what else could it be but liking him?
The little cub opened its mouth, and the cold wind blew again and again before its low voice could be heard.
"But liking someone is liking someone..."
That short sentence was like a gentle knife, slowly slicing through Cuiping's heart.
If you like something, you like it; it shouldn't be influenced by family ties or public opinion.
But she couldn't, she couldn't...
... ...
late at night
Li Zhengyang sneaked back home under the cover of night, intending to drink with his comrades that evening.
He was reeking of alcohol and didn't want to wake his family.
I was just about to go to the kitchen to get a couple of sips of hot water when I noticed the small kitchen light was on.
He pushed open the door and, by the dim light of the kerosene lamp, found Cuiping leaning against the wall, taking a nap. Her fair face even had traces of tears that had not yet dried.
Li Zhengyang stared at her with a complex expression, wishing he could etch her image into his heart inch by inch.
Why is she crying?
For which man are her tears falling?
He used to be Wang Qingshan, and he'll be Chen Laowu in the future... but he'll never be himself.
Noticing the intense gaze, Cuiping slowly woke up and met Li Zhengyang's complex eyes.
The moment their eyes met, neither of them said much, but something in the air seemed to be subtly changing.
Cuiping hurriedly looked away. "You've been drinking? I... I'll go cook you a bowl of noodles."
As she spoke, she hurriedly stood up, but unexpectedly her wrist was grabbed by a strong and powerful hand.
Li Zhengyang stared intently at her with his dark eyes, and his magnetic voice slowly rang out, "You went on a blind date, did you find someone you liked?"
Cuiping's heart, which had barely calmed down, was stirred up again by his question, like a bottle of vinegar being spilled, causing a sour ripple.
She nodded, though not entirely honestly. "Maybe."
She has already severed ties with Chen Laowu, so she hasn't really found a suitable marriage partner.
But she couldn't tell Li Zhengyang; telling him would be giving him hope.
"Can we not leave?" Li Zhengyang asked hesitantly, then quickly added, "Zhizhi and Yuanhui both need you."
"But this room will soon be lost. The housing authority said the house will be vacated next week."
Cuiping gave a bitter smile, her gentle tone filled with helplessness, "Where can I live if I don't get married?"
"Stay at my house!"
"Can't!"
Cuiping was horrified and shook her head frantically, "Absolutely not!"
If she stays at Grandma Li's house, then things will get complicated between her and Li Zhengyang!
Will the neighbors gossip?
They could be drowned by a single spit from each of them!
"Nothing is impossible. If I say it's okay, then it's okay."
Li Zhengyang gripped her wrist tightly and suddenly pulled her closer.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, he completely lost his usual smiling and kind demeanor, instead revealing his originally extremely aggressive side.
He lowered his eyes and stared intently at the woman in front of him.
"Don't go and become someone else's stepmother. Stay with me, even if you stay forever. I'll take care of you...!"
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