Chapter 32 Mom should be happy
After shouting that, Lin Jialang angrily went back to his room and slammed the door shut.
The group of people downstairs didn't look too good.
Lin Ke's heaving chest gradually calmed down. She picked up her daughter, turned around, and left without saying another word.
Si Yuming glanced at Lin Qiliang and his wife, then looked around the huge villa, his eyes filled with gloom.
He picked up the bag Lin Ke had left behind and followed his wife and daughter, who had already walked away.
Si Xiaotie was really frightened. On the way home, Lin Ke kept comforting him and didn't have time to say anything to the people next to her.
Back at the old house, Si Xiaotie and Qin Mancheng went out to play. Lin Ke went upstairs to her room, and Si Yuming followed her in. She stopped him and said in a low voice, "I want to be alone for a while."
Si Yuming checked his watch and gave her some time. "It's two o'clock now. Four hours before dinner, is that alright?"
Where can you find a fixed time?
But Lin Ke didn't want to say another word. She nodded and closed the door.
The greenhouse downstairs.
Two little figures squatted in the flower bed watching ants move their nest. Si Xiaotie's small voice was full of sadness, "Brother, I'm not happy."
"Why?"
"Because my mom is unhappy."
"Oh? Did Uncle make Aunt angry?"
"No, it's my maternal grandfather and aunt. They are bad people. I hate them."
Qin Mancheng didn't know what was going on. After a moment of silence, she whispered to herself, "I'm not happy either."
Si Xiaotie turned his head and looked over, asking with concern, "Brother, what's wrong?"
The boy said sadly, "I don't have a father anymore."
No dad? How could you not have a dad? Si Xiaotie said, "I'll give you my dad!"
Qin Mancheng wiped her eyes and couldn't help but laugh: "But your father is my uncle."
"Then what should we do?"
This made me even more distressed.
Si Xiaotie got tired of squatting and plopped down.
Qin Mancheng frowned when he saw his younger sister sit down on the ground.
However, after thinking for a while, he sat down as well.
After sitting down, he thought, "So this is what it feels like to sit on the ground. It's so comfortable."
The little boy held up his chin with both hands and continued to share his unhappiness, "Xiao Tie, I don't want to be a child anymore."
"I don't want to be a child either. I want to grow up quickly, but brother, how old do I have to be to grow up?"
Eighteen years old.
“Eighteen…” Si Xiaotie stretched out his two little hands and counted carefully on his fingers, “One, two, three, five, seven…” It became more and more difficult to count to the end. He counted seven again, and then to nine.
Si Xiaotie puffed out his cheeks and gave up.
Forget it, it's too difficult. She's still just a child.
Anyway, I have to grow up eventually. The girl clenched her little fist. "When I grow up, I can protect my mom!"
"I want to protect my mom too!"
The two children were chatting outside. Inside the house, Si Yun saw the man coming downstairs, holding a coffee, and asked, "What's going on? Are you arguing?"
She saw Lin Ke's face when she came back; it was incredibly grim.
Lin Ke is a gentle person; she speaks softly to everyone she meets, which is quite rare.
Si Yun asked again, "Didn't you go to the Lin family today? Did you get into an argument? Or did you ask you for something again?"
Si Yuming glanced at her, but didn't reply. He went straight to the kitchen to get water.
Silence means you've guessed half right. Si Yun leaned against the dining table and laughed: "I told you long ago, the Lin family is no pushover. Her stepmother can talk to ghosts. How could Lin Ke possibly fight her?"
Si Yuming took a sip of water, still holding the water bottle in silence.
"Back then, what did you think was the reason Lin Ke was able to marry you so easily? You can guess without me saying it: the Lin family sold their daughter for personal gain. They practically forced Lin Ke to sign the agreement with me. You didn't see the expression on her stepmother's face."
Si Yun scoffed, "And her father, he has no opinions of his own. He just does whatever his wife says. No wonder people always say that having a stepmother means losing your father. Her twin siblings are the same. They were so young back then, but they kept calling me 'sister,' which gave me goosebumps."
“The thought of Xiao Tie calling those people ‘grandpa’ and ‘grandma’ makes me sick. Who knows, when Xiao Tie grows up, this family might use their status to profit from him.” Si Yun’s eyes showed disgust and disdain, half of which was a warning: “I don’t care what you two are like, just don’t take Xiao Tie there anymore.”
The man lowered his brows, concealing the somber emotions that flashed in his eyes.
Two children pushed open the door and came in from the backyard. Si Xiaotie, seeing his father, immediately hugged his leg, crying, "Daddy~"
Si Yuming looked down at his daughter, smoothed the messy hair on her forehead, and asked gently, "What's wrong?"
"Is Mom happy now?"
"Um?"
"I want to make my mom happy."
Si Yuming said, "Mom will handle her own emotions. Xiao Tie doesn't need to worry about Mom. As long as Xiao Tie is happy, Mom will be happy too."
"Really?"
"Um."
Si Xiaotie turned to look at his brother: "Then brother should be happy too!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Mancheng immediately looked up at her mother, blushed, and ran to the music room, saying, "I want to practice the piano."
"Me too!" Si Xiaotie ran after him.
The two children came and went like a gust of wind, and the living room became quiet again.
Si Yun said nothing more, finished the last sip of coffee, and walked to the music room.
After the two children played the piano for a while, she sent Si Xiaotie away, pulled up a stool and sat down in front of the piano bench, touched her son's little face, and said, "Manman, Mommy has something to tell you."
Aside from when she wasn't practicing the piano properly, her mother was rarely this serious. Qin Mancheng sat up straight and said, "Hmm."
“Manman, there are some problems between your dad and me. Mom was very sad recently, so we often argued. I'm sorry for making you sad.”
Si Yun said gently, "So it's a good thing that Mom and Dad chose to separate, because separating will make us both more relaxed and happy. Mom isn't unhappy now, and Manman shouldn't be unhappy either."
"Although Manman lives with her mother, her father will always be her father. You can call him if you want, without needing her mother's permission. If her father has time, he will also come to pick her up to play."
She stepped forward and hugged the little boy, giving him a heads-up beforehand, "But Daddy is busy with work and has his own life, so he may not be able to spend as much time with Manman as before. But Daddy loves you very much, there's no doubt about that."
The strong little boy shed two streams of tears, his words becoming slurred, "Waaah, Mommy..."
"Mom is here."
"I know... then don't be unhappy..."
Si Yun's throat tightened, and a sour feeling spread through her.
She gently patted his little shoulder, "Okay, Mommy will be happy."
......
Auntie said that Grandma Li had some good food, so Si Xiaotie went to find her. Sure enough, Grandma Li had some good food! It was yogurt!
Si Xiaotie sat obediently in the chair and ate. Seeing her shaking her head, the aunt laughed and said, "Xiaotie is so happy eating yogurt?"
The girl blinked, as if she understood something, "Will eating yogurt make me happy?"
The aunt didn't understand where her logic came from, but she didn't explain much, simply saying, "Yes."
So the little girl put down her spoon, grabbed the woman's hand, and said, "Grandma Li, I want another bottle!"
The aunt gave it to her, and Si Xiaotie, clutching the yogurt that was about the size of her little hand, immediately went upstairs to find her mother.
Mom seemed to be sleeping. The room was dark. Si Xiaotie tiptoed and gently closed the door. Then she took off her shoes and quietly walked to the bedside. She first put the yogurt on the table, and then took off her little coat.
Then, with his hands on the mattress and his right foot on the edge of the bed, he climbed onto the bed with a push.
I was about to lift the covers and hug my mom, but she woke up!
Si Xiaotie snuggled into her arms, his little voice sweet and affectionate: "Sleeping with Mommy~"
Lin Ke wasn't asleep. She glanced at the little girl as she pushed the door open, but didn't move, wondering what she was up to. Now, looking at the little ball in her arms, she found it somewhat amusing. "Baby, are you sleepy?"
"No," Si Xiaotie looked up. "Mom, do you want some yogurt? I brought it up for you."
Lin Ke had little appetite, but she couldn't refuse the little girl's hospitality. She reached out and turned on the light, then sat up and leaned against the headboard. Si Xiaotie also leaned against her shoulder.
Not only was there yogurt on the bedside table, but it also thoughtfully included a transparent spoon. Lin Ke opened the yogurt, scooped out a spoonful, and fed it to the little one first. Si Xiaotie squinted his eyes happily, "Delicious~"
Lin Ke also took a bite; the yogurt had a rich and thick texture, like ice cream.
Sugar makes people feel happy. She lowered her head and kissed the top of Si Xiaotie's head. "Thank you, baby."
"Mom, are you happy now?"
Lin Ke was slightly surprised.
Children are the most sensitive, and they can't control their emotions, but they can always observe the hidden feelings of adults. Every word and action of their parents can affect them.
Feeling guilty, she put down the yogurt and hugged the person, saying, "Mommy is fine, Xiaotie, don't worry."
“Mommy wants to share. Teacher Bai said that if you’re unhappy, you must tell your parents and teachers. So Mommy also wants to tell Xiaotie.” The little girl was very serious, like a little teacher.
Lin Ke smiled and said to her seriously, "Because when Mom was at Grandpa's house, she thought of some unhappy things from the past, so she felt a little depressed and needed some time to deal with it."
Si Xiaotie didn't quite understand. His little brain, which was filled with images of dinosaurs and spiders, thought for several seconds before looking at the person and asking, "Can Xiaotie help Mommy with this?"
Lin Ke took the yogurt, a smile playing on her lips. "Look, Xiao Tie is helping Mommy with this. Mommy isn't unhappy anymore."
Si Xiaotie's eyes widened in surprise, his logic seemingly jumping off a tangent. "Wow, Grandma Li is right, yogurt really does make people happy!"
......
downstairs.
Si Yuming walked to the window and took out his phone just as Lin Qiliang called. He pressed the call button to answer.
Lin Qiliang: "Yu Ming, Jia Lang is in a bad mood today, so I'd like to apologize to Ke Ke on her behalf."
Si Yuming spoke in a deep voice, his tone devoid of the gentleness of an elder or junior, but filled with an imposing, condescending air: "You should indeed apologize, for Lin Jialang's sake, and for your own. You and your husband have been too indulgent and have failed to properly educate your daughter, allowing her to speak to her own sister like that."
In the past, when he accompanied her back to the Lin family, he always made sure to put on a good show. The two siblings seemed sensible and well-behaved, and Lin Ke never complained to him.
I had guessed she had suffered a lot of injustice, and today I witnessed it firsthand.
Lin Qiliang felt extremely guilty. "Yes, I'm sorry, Keke. I didn't teach Jialang well."
There seemed to be a whisper on the other end of the phone. Lin Qiliang paused for a moment before speaking again, "Yu Ming, we just want to meet with the Wei family, what do you think..."
The man interrupted, his voice cold, "Let Lin Jialang and Lin Ke apologize first."
He then hung up decisively.
Si Yuming looked up at the second floor, and soon after, dialed the phone again.
After a few rings, Jiang Chengyin answered, puzzled: "President Si? Looking for me?"
"Yes, I'm looking for you." Si Yuming asked directly, "Is Wei Yuhong your cousin?"
“Yes, how come…” Jiang Chengyin’s words were suddenly cut off. Recently, the mess her cousin had gotten into had been bothering her aunt for a while, and her mother had been nagging about it every day until she didn’t want to listen anymore. Now, after thinking about it, she guessed, “Do you know Yu Hong? Or do you know that girl?”
"Lin Jialang is Lin Ke's half-sister."
Jiang Chengyin was truly speechless, and couldn't help but say, "How come her younger sister isn't as mature as her? Such a young child..."
Although this matter had little to do with Si Yuming and he didn't have any particular feelings for Lin Jialang, he still interrupted upon hearing this, saying, "Jialang is nineteen years old, and if I remember correctly, Wei Yuhong is already in his twenties. In this matter, the man bears more responsibility."
As a junior, and moreover, a relative of a friend, Si Yuming barely knew Wei Yuhong. He only knew of him from occasional gatherings where someone mentioned him, saying that he was a womanizer and changed girlfriends every month.
He had seen him a few times at several gatherings, but the last time he saw him was at Jin Yang's birthday party. At that time, he didn't think much of it when he saw him with Lin Jialang. Who would have thought that Lin Jialang would get pregnant now?
He then asked, "What are your plans to do?"
Jiang Chengyin did not answer immediately.
She didn't know much about the matter, and she didn't know if her aunt knew that the girl was Si Yuming's sister-in-law. However, according to her mother's retelling, the girl came from an ordinary family and ran a decoration company.
The gist of it is that they'll just give him some money and be done with it. Yu Hong won't get married anytime soon, especially since his fiancée is a girl who's not even twenty yet and is already pregnant.
But now this phone call...
If Si Yuming personally intercedes, then this matter...
Jiang Chengyin considered for a moment, then cautiously asked, "What do you plan for us to do?"
Si Yuming had no intention of interfering in other people's lives. If he made her abort the child, Lin Jialang might hold a grudge against Lin Ke. If he helped her marry into the family, he would blame them for any regrets or misfortunes that might happen to her later.
He couldn't make that decision either.
"I need to ask my wife."
......
Before dinner time, Lin Ke took the little girl downstairs, and afterwards, everything was normal: eating, playing, and watching cartoons together.
It was almost 10 o'clock when the person who had been put to sleep went back to their room.
Si Yuming patiently waited for her to finish showering and get into bed.
The two leaned against opposite sides of the large bed. Si Yuming looked over, and Lin Ke met his gaze, speaking first: "What's your name, Wei something?"
"Wei Yuhong".
"What kind of person is he?"
“He’s not a good man.” Si Yuming asked, “What do you plan to do about it?”
Lin Ke chuckled: "So, I can just do whatever I want with it?"
“Hmm, not difficult.” The man was very calm and gave his advice. “However, I suggest you don’t get involved in this matter. Lin Jialang is not old, but she is already an adult. She has to be responsible for her own actions.”
Lin Ke nodded, "I know, and I don't want to get involved, or I'll just get myself into trouble."
Si Yuming moved closer, pulled the person into his arms, and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?"
Lin Ke and Lin Jialang didn't have a good relationship, so even if Lin Qiliang and his wife really intended to marry their daughter into the Wei family, there shouldn't have been such a big reaction.
Was she referring to Lin Jialang in her last sentence today?
Si Yuming's words were tinged with guilt: "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been forced to marry someone you didn't like."
The woman in his arms chuckled softly, "Then you really should apologize."
The topic seemed to have turned heavy, and Lin Ke sighed inwardly.
After a long pause, she asked, "When did my dad go to see you?"
"I forgot, it should have been before the bidding for the retirement community project."
Lin Ke bit her lip, her voice lowered, "You helped?"
"No, it went through the normal process. Your father's company got the door and window business."
"oh."
"Si Yuming..."
"Um?"
The woman paused for a few seconds before mustering a bit of courage to ask, "Do you look down on me?"
Over the years, or rather from childhood to adulthood, her pursuits and ideals have always been positive. The only gloom in her life is the way she married him. When she is depressed, she feels that she is just an accessory or commodity in a transaction.
Occasionally, I would hear people expressing their disdain for the Lin family and mocking their behavior, and I, as the subject of their conversation, would always blush with embarrassment.
I know I shouldn't dwell on it, but hearing about that today still made me lose control of my emotions.
Lin Ke looked at the arched balcony not far away, her heart clenching slightly.
The old house is decorated in a French style, as is Si Yuming's room, with arches, lines, and crystal chandeliers, creating a romantic and exquisite atmosphere. The curved balcony, in particular, is reminiscent of the classic backdrop in movies and TV dramas where elegant princesses and queens in elaborate suits lean out.
When Lin Ke first stood here and looked around the entire room, she felt anticipation.
Her inner turmoil stemmed not only from her father's ruthless exchange of interests, but also from the dark secrets hidden in her heart that she couldn't bear to see the light of day.
It's not a matter of liking or loving, but Si Yuming, as he grew up, was outstanding and dazzling, like a stable star, radiating a warm and lasting brilliance, and unconsciously becoming the center of gravity for people.
She couldn't escape the worldly admiration for strength and the yearning for excellence.
But this expectation turned into a fire after she realized she might have broken up a perfect couple, burning her with shame from time to time.
The scene that unfolded before him today completely exposed all her vulnerabilities.
“Lin Ke, I have never looked down on you.” Si Yuming’s tone was gentle as he answered the reason for his guess. “Everyone is an independent individual. You are you, your father is your father. We have known each other for so many years, and I have my own judgment about what kind of person you are.”
After a while, the woman asked again in a low voice, "Where's my sister?"
"Si Yun simply doesn't like the Lin family." The man lowered his eyes and said gently, "Lin Ke, don't overthink this matter, and don't look down on yourself. The confidence you have while sitting at the translation desk..."
He paused.
After a moment, she continued in a low voice, "I like it very much."
Silence lingered for a long time.
The echo resonated within her body, striking her heart and shattering the gloom.
Lin Ke raised her face, kissed his chin, kissed his lips, and deepened the kiss little by little.
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Author's Note: Beep, please turn to the next chapter~
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