Chapter 131 Delicate Flowers
A bitter taste rose in Cheng Jianming's mouth. He knew that this young girl was determined to never see him again, and it certainly wouldn't be just the sudden scolding from Lei Yuji.
His thoughts immediately drifted from the bustling traffic in front of him to the day of the Cheng family banquet.
Cheng Ou is a pilot, and Xu Songning is an air traffic controller. The two of them standing together are a perfect match and a very good couple.
Cheng Ou's parents were very satisfied with Xu Songning, except for one thing: they disliked Xu Songning's profession.
"Songning, what are your career plans? Do you want to leave the airport and become a university teacher like your mentor?" Cheng's mother asked her with a smile.
The requirements for air traffic controllers to switch to teaching are quite stringent. Only outstanding first-level controllers like Cheng Jianming can successfully switch jobs. Xu Songning didn't know how to start a conversation for a moment.
"What kind of question is that? Do you want her to continue working as an air traffic controller?" Mr. Cheng asked, displeased.
Xu Songning glanced at Cheng Ou, who had her head down, and seemed to understand something. "Uncle and Aunt, what do you think of my profession?"
Cheng's mother gave an awkward smile, wiped her mouth, and said tactfully, "It's not that I have any opinions, it's just..."
"Stop dawdling!" Mr. Cheng interrupted Mrs. Cheng. "Let me be blunt. Your industry is high-pressure, low-paying, and with unstable rest hours. What will you do when you have children? Who will take care of them? To put it simply, with our family's circumstances, we can find a girl who is much better off than you and will wholeheartedly take care of the family. If you still want to be with Cheng Ou, quit your job!"
"Oh dear, why are you saying all this? Don't scare the child." Cheng's mother tugged at his sleeve.
Mr. Cheng scoffed, "What? Do I have to coax her? One disobedient son is enough. Why did she insist on becoming a pilot? What will happen to our family business? Who will inherit it?"
"If you ask me, why don't you two quit your jobs together? Cheng Ou can come back and take over the family business, and you can be a good wife and mother. Wouldn't that be more comfortable than working at the airport? What's the difference between air traffic controllers and traffic police? It doesn't sound good to others!"
Xu Songning clenched her hands under the table. These people were all from the Cheng family. Cheng Ou sat silently beside her, while Cheng's mother and father played the roles of good cop and bad cop, respectively.
She looked at Cheng Jianming pleadingly. Cheng Jianming was not only a member of the Cheng family, but also her mentor. At least, someone would be on her side...
Xu Songning suppressed her emotions and looked at Cheng Jianming, but Cheng Jianming did not react and remained silent.
She forgot that Cheng Jianming had left the air traffic control team half a year ago. He was now just a university teacher. When his relatives asked him what the difference was between air traffic controllers and traffic police, his silence could be considered a form of agreement.
"Uncle, air traffic controllers and traffic police are different." Xu Songning dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a tissue, his good expression, which he had maintained all day, finally darkened.
"I don't care if they're the same or not. If you two still want to be together, make a choice," Mr. Cheng said impatiently.
Cheng's mother was still hypocritically trying to persuade him, "Oh, it's great that the child likes the job. Besides, he doesn't have children yet. He can quit his job and come home after he has children."
Xu Songning suddenly felt that his lover sitting next to him was a stranger. From beginning to end, the whole meal was filled with his family criticizing him, and Cheng Ou didn't dare to say a word in rebuttal.
Cheng Ou gave her a reassuring look, but unfortunately, Xu Songning didn't even glance at him.
So Cheng Ou secretly reached out to hold her hand, but Xu Songning deliberately avoided it.
"I'm finished eating, everyone please enjoy your meal."
Xu Songning knew that her behavior was impolite. This was her first time meeting Cheng Ou's parents, and she had only taken two bites of the food in front of her before leaving the table. She was sure she would be lectured.
But she didn't care about etiquette anymore; if she didn't leave the table soon, she was going to explode.
The Cheng family has a detached villa. Xu Songning rushed into the back garden in her high heels and took a few deep breaths.
What a suffocating family.
The garden is filled with vibrant flowers, each one delicate and beautiful; a gentle breeze can blow a few petals down.
Xu Songning knew that if she agreed to Cheng's parents' request, she would become a delicate flower in the Cheng family's backyard.
The petals, meant for people to admire, become nutrients for other flowers when torn off by the wind.
She heard hurried footsteps behind her, and without turning around, she knew who was chasing after her.
"Songning, that's not what my parents meant!" Cheng Ou explained hurriedly.
Xu Songning looked at him. Although the two were about the same age, Cheng Ou always had a fiery temper, which she disliked.
When Cheng Ou was in college, she was full of energy. Even though she was a bit impatient, Xu Songning could accept it. She felt that this was how college students should be: full of energy and with a positive attitude.
However, once he started working, Xu Songning realized that Cheng Ou's personality wasn't really suitable for a long-term relationship, and he found it difficult to settle down.
He prefers long-haul international flights to domestic routes, and flying across continents makes him feel free.
When he was in China, he was always very busy, meeting with friends and dealing with business partners at home, leaving her with very little time.
Xu Songning had a clear understanding of this relationship, and when she said goodbye, she wasn't as upset as she had imagined.
"Cheng Ou, let's break up."
Cheng Ou looked at her in disbelief, as if she had misheard or was on the wrong wavelength, and grabbed her arm tightly.
"Songning, don't joke with me. My parents like you very much. They were just confused for a moment when they said that. I can handle it! They won't force you to resign!"
This man, who kept saying he could handle it, chose to remain silent when his parents said those things.
Xu Songning no longer wanted to believe him. "I originally wanted to leave directly and talk to you on the phone. But that seems too informal. Only by saying it in person can I show my determination."
Cheng Ou gripped tightly; her arm ached.
Xu Songning brushed his hand away, gave him one last resolute look, and turned to walk out.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, and in that instant she turned around, that fragrance and her silhouette were destined to be imprinted in Cheng Ou's mind for a lifetime.
Cheng Ou reacted slowly for a few seconds. He turned to chase after him, but then he heard his father's voice behind him.
"Why chase after her? She can't run away. Let her go back and think about it for a couple of days! With our family's status, she's already marrying above her station."
Cheng Ou hesitated for a few seconds, but Xu Songning's figure had already disappeared. Cheng Ou felt empty inside, as if he had finally realized what he had lost.
When he tried to chase after her again, Cheng's mother stopped him.
"Alright, alright, young man, it's good for you to calm down. Do you really think she can break up with you? Silly boy, just wait for her to come looking for you!"
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