Chapter 29 Reward: "Please grant me the right to be a part of your life"...
29
This moment and this scene present an absolutely perfect opportunity to tell her the truth.
All we need to do is trust Fang Huaixu a little more, believe that he won't ignore our predicament and will use it as leverage later.
Fang Huaixu was a gentleman and a modest person, so this choice did not seem difficult.
But the word "trust" was still too much of a luxury for Meng Yao.
Her past experiences taught her that every gift comes with a hidden price, especially the kindness of those in positions of power.
This was the first lesson Lin Tianhai taught her when she was 14 years old. At that time, her grandmother had already developed health problems, and she agreed to Lin Tianhai's gradual assistance, which he claimed was compensation for her.
The price was that her maternal grandmother and father had a custody battle that lasted for several years, which was ruled amicable divorce based on the existing custody and transaction records between them, resulting in a complete defeat for her.
Even if the odds were slim, she couldn't afford such a gamble. The words that were on the tip of her tongue rolled back in her throat, and she subconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Finally, she gave a reason that even she found unconvincing: "It's about choosing a school... I don't know whether I should take the exam to go to another city."
As soon as she finished speaking, the study fell silent for a moment. She could sense that Fang Huaixu's gaze had become somewhat disappointed, as if he had seen through her hastily constructed facade at a glance.
Meng Yao felt she was about to break under this damn pressure, but after a long while, he simply raised the corners of his lips slightly and continued her words in a steady voice, revealing no emotion: "Why are you hesitating?"
Whether it was a way of giving her an out or she genuinely didn't realize it, Meng Yao did feel a little lighter, but then a deeper, more complex emotion welled up inside her. This was indeed a problem she had considered before: "We are still in an arranged marriage, after all. If I go to study in another city, it will be very inconvenient if you need me for an important occasion. Besides, my grandmother is still here, and I can't be too far away from her."
She put down her pen: "So, as a second choice, staying in the local area is the best option. It's just that for my major, the best resources and schools are indeed located in other places."
The reason was perfectly reasonable, but after listening, Fang Huaixu unconsciously tapped his fingers on the edge of the desk, the subtle rhythm suggesting he was thinking. After a moment, he leaned back, his posture more relaxed: "So, is your state today just because of this?"
His tone carried a hint of mockery, as if he was surprised that she would be held back by such a trivial reason.
Hearing him speak so casually, Meng Yao forced herself to say, "This is also a very important matter."
But Fang Huaixu didn't think it was a big problem: "Marriage is a cooperative relationship, not a personal bond. If your studies conflict with our important occasions, I can adjust the time or handle it on my own. Transportation is very convenient now, and there are almost no trips that can't be completed in a day. The problems you mentioned are not unsolvable."
He paused, thinking for a moment: "As for your grandmother, there are the best medical resources here, and Uncle Zhou and Chen Jie can take care of her at any time. Your pursuit of a better future will definitely be a good thing for her."
Meng Yao was surprised that he was even more decisive than she had expected, giving her a straightforward answer.
But she is still worried: "Being separated by distance will always be inconvenient. I don't know what might happen in the future, and I want to be by her side as soon as possible."
"Don't be nervous. You don't need to be so tense all the time," Fang Huaixu said softly. This was the first time he had interrupted Meng Yao. His clear and gentle words carried a strange, comforting power.
“We are all adults. Being an adult means that everyone has the ability to solve problems on their own. Not everything is so bad that we have to force you, a 24-year-old girl, to come up with a perfect solution so that the world won’t be destroyed.”
His words, like his whole being, were like a gentle breeze, easily dispelling the weight that had accumulated in her heart.
No one but her grandmother had ever said these words to her.
She was unwilling to be Lin Tianhai's bargaining chip and wanted her grandmother to see that she could stand on her own. Under the heavy pressure of life, she could only keep running with her head down, unafraid of any storms or obstacles, but only these gentle words would pierce the emptiness in her heart.
"Be a little more lenient with yourself."
Fang Huaixu got up and came to her side, reaching over to quickly pat her head before letting go: "Also allow yourself to have moments of confusion and willfulness. I believe your grandmother truly loves you. You told me before not to underestimate the power of others. Now I'm returning that advice to you. Believe that the people around you are also strong and brave. She'll be even more afraid of becoming a burden on your progress, won't she?"
Meng Yao swayed with his touch, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.
Although this was not her original intention in bringing up the topic, she was indeed enlightened by Fang Huaixu once again.
Sometimes she felt resentful. He was clearly a few years older than her, so why could he see through her struggles and pretenses so easily every time?
She clearly hated discipline, but Fang Huaixu was always like this, never forcing or exposing her stubbornness, but calmly and gently smoothing down every bristle of her fur, making her completely unable to get angry.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she was also relieved of the heavy anxiety she had felt about her grandmother's serious illness.
Who cares about the consequences? Things will work themselves out. I've overcome so many difficulties on my own, what's a little trouble like this?
Once you start doing something, your anxiety will decrease a lot. As for the outcome, leave it to fate. She quickly came up with a preliminary idea: first, find out about the experimental results of the special drug, and then consider whether to find Lin Tianhai or Fang Huaixu first.
Once she relaxed, she regained her usual smile, sniffed awkwardly, and subconsciously tried to crack a joke to ease the overly sentimental atmosphere: "Alright, since Teacher Fang's words are so wise, I won't stand on ceremony. If I accidentally get into a university across the sea, Mr. Fang will be left alone again, a living widower."
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, hoping he would show a shy or helpless expression.
But Fang Huaixu's reaction this time was unexpected.
He remained completely unmoved, instead raising an eyebrow. A knowing look flashed in his deep eyes, accompanied by a hint of inquisitive interest. He smiled and said, "Actually, after spending so much time with you, I've noticed a habit of yours. I don't know if you've noticed it yourself."
Meng Yao's expression froze for a moment: "What?"
Fang Huaixu's smile became even more pronounced: "Whenever you encounter something embarrassing or touching, you especially like to cover it up with jokes."
He spoke clearly and at a measured pace: "It's as if as long as you see the other person looking embarrassed, you can successfully shift the focus and detach yourself, so that you can put yourself in a position that seems to be in control and never awkward."
He smiled, looking meaningfully into her eyes: "But as long as the other party doesn't cooperate..."
He stopped talking, deliberately pausing at a crucial point in his speech. Meng Yao was starting to panic, but she pretended to be calm: "Finish what you're saying. What's wrong with not cooperating?"
His eyes curved slightly, making the small mole under his eye look particularly cunning: "That's why you've become so anxious."
Meng Yao's neck instantly turned red.
She had no idea that Fang Huaixu had evolved so quickly. Just a few weeks ago, he would blush and become speechless at the slightest teasing. How did he learn to retaliate so quickly...?
But she wouldn't let herself be defeated, and gave a couple of forced laughs: "Why am I in such a hurry now? A new lame joke, huh? Interesting..."
"I guess it's because I've been teased by you so many times that I've gradually discovered some patterns. Compared to carefully respecting boundaries, expressing my thoughts to you directly is much more effective than waiting in a subtle way."
Fang Huaixu ignored her excuse, his captivating eyes gently locking onto her, and asked in a playful yet extremely serious tone, "So I want to try and see how you would react if I didn't pretend to be confused and didn't accept your widower joke at the end."
Meng Yao's heart pounded; under his focused gaze, she felt utterly exposed: "What are you talking about? How would I know..."
"What I mean is that I'm saying all this today because in my heart you've always been a resilient and lovely person."
Fang Huaixu spoke bluntly, without batting an eye, but it shocked Meng Yao so much that her pupils dilated and her face turned bright red instantly: What is Fang Huaixu saying? Has he taken the wrong medicine and gone crazy?
Fang Huaixu didn't give her time to process it: "I know you didn't express your real troubles just now."
With just one sentence, Meng Yao immediately became wary again. As Fang Huaixu's gentle aura gradually approached, her emotions were written all over her face, too easy to see through: "There's no need to be wary of my purpose. I said I would be completely honest today because from just now until now, my purpose has always been the same."
His voice softened, carrying an indescribable magnetism: "I've been waiting, waiting for you to say to me, 'Help me.'"
Meng Yao froze completely, her mind going blank with a sudden, electric shock.
Fang Huaixu remained unmoved, his eyes resolute: "Just as you said, this is a business marriage. I haven't forgotten that. But you are very good. I am not willing to just maintain a polite relationship with you, observing each other's lives from the sidelines."
After he finished speaking, he said in an almost earnest tone, "So I'm waiting for you to give me a chance, at least to let me know that I have the right to be a part of your life."
The air seemed to freeze. Meng Yao's ears were burning so badly she could barely feel them anymore, and she had no idea what Fang Huaixu was doing.
Is this... a test of their relationship?
Meng Yao had become mute, completely baffled by Fang Huaixu's sudden and unexpected statement.
But looking at Fang Huaixu's calm and resolute demeanor, she quickly realized that he might have been saying these things with the intention of solving the problem, seemingly unaware of how ambiguous his words had been.
Meng Yao held her breath, and it took her a lot of determination to finally ask, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Fang Huaixu said without any hesitation: "I am seeking the answer to my question from you."
His offensive continued: "If you're too shy to speak, just close your eyes and nod. Then, just like at the banquet last time, I'll banish all the things you find annoying, wait for you to awkwardly take my arm, and then I'll get a reward from you that belongs to me."
Author's Note: Finally, the second update is here!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
